I opened my eyes to the sight of a familiar wooden ceiling, its dark beams warped with age and memories I couldn't quite place. The air carried a faint, musty scent, the kind you’d smell in an old retirement home. Slowly, I began to sit up, only to be met with a sharp pulse in my skull. My limbs ached, heavy and sore, as if I had been crushed and barely stitched back together. I could only manage to lift my upper body, the rest of me refusing to move without protest.

  Where am I?

  The question echoed in my mind as I looked around, squinting through the soft golden light spilling into the room. It was small, no larger than my old bedroom back on Earth. The wooden walls looked ancient in the light, with dust drifting lazily through the air, catching the sunbeams that slanted through a tiny, grimy window. I was resting on a small bed with a small gray blanket that had numerous holes. Nearby stood a squat, square wooden table. Its surface was splintered and worn, the wood darkened with age and old stains. Resting atop it was an assortment of primitive medical tools. Bone needles glinted dully in the light, silk-threaded sutures lying beside them in neat coils. A glass bottle, half-filled with a clear liquid, sat near a chipped porcelain bowl. A clay jar, crusted with dried blood at its rim, was placed next to several rolls of bandages.

  I winced, a sharp breath escaping my lips as I reached toward the table. Pain flared down my side, stopping me short. I looked down, my fingers gingerly tracing the bandages tightly wrapped around my arms and torso. My right leg was immobilized in a crude brace, thickly padded and strapped with what looked like leather cords.

  The orc.

  I survived. The realization hit me slowly, as strained breaths escaped my lips. I was rescued……by who? The elders?

  You’re already awake?

  A glowing blue square phased through the door, floating right toward me like it had a mind of its own. It didn’t just hover there; it drifted, almost lazily, as if defying the laws of physics. The square was blue, but at its center was a bright white light, and—wait—was that a face?

  I squinted at it, my vision still blurry.

  Yeah, it was a face. But not a normal one. It looked like something a kid would draw during recess: two dots for eyes and a half circle as the mouth. The kind of face that made you tilt your head and wonder if they were trying to be funny or just didn’t know how to draw. It shifted, too—at first, it was smiling, then it morphed into a puzzled look. The animation was……..definitely more quirky than professional.

  Are you alright, Beric?

  That voice could belong to only one annoying being.

  “Sys?”

  The one and only!

  Sys darted around in an excited little circle before shooting straight up into the air. Confetti burst out in tiny, colorful puffs, followed by a few celebratory fireworks that sputtered and popped like they were trying to impress me. Above all this, SYS flickered in holographic letters, bold and sparkly.

  I blinked a few times, still trying to catch up with my scrambled brain. “How are you......here?”

  It’s a new feature! You unlocked it after you cleared that mission, the one with the orc. It was a boss, after all.

  “A boss?” I repeated, my mind still trying to process what he had just said. It felt like I’d been asleep for a long time.

  Yep! Sys seemed to nod or at least move in a way that made it look like he was nodding. It was an optional mission that popped up. Not only did you complete it, but you also absorbed the orc. That’s a huge deal. You gained a lot of experience from it.

  I rubbed my temples, trying to piece together the mess of memories. The orc…....the battle…...I’d barely survived, but somehow, I’d managed to beat it.

  “Status.”

  Name: Beric Bome

  Race: Half-Elf

  Age: 7

  Level 90:

  Strength: 240

  Speed: 244

  Stamina: 267

  Endurance: 263

  Durability: 229

  Mana: 402

  Soul Rank: Stable

  Soul Color: Blue

  Okay, for starters, I was amazed by my current stats. 402 mana is honestly incredible, but my attention was snatched by the new additions on my status screen.

  Spells:

  Mana Missile: F

  Barrier: D

  Passive Skill:

  Meditation Recovery: C

  Soul Magic Spells:

  Soul Sense: A

  Soul Absorption: A

  Soul Summoning: B

  Soul Communication: B

  Sense Share: C

  From the dumb look on your face, I’m guessing you see the upgrade to your status screen.

  Sys hovered closer, floating next to my head as we observed the status screen.

  Now you can see the spells you know, their ranks, and how much you’ve actually mastered them. I’ll assume you’re familiar with how the rankings work. F-E-D-C-B-A-S and so on.

  “Yeah, I got that.” I murmured.

  As for me, uh…….Honestly, I don’t have a clear explanation.

  “How surprising.” I said dryly.

  Sys darted around, clearly undeterred by my sarcasm.

  What I can tell you is this: I can pretty much fly anywhere within a twelve-meter radius of you. Think of me as your second set of eyes, a scout, if you will.

  “I have Rogue for that.”

  Can Rogue fly?

  “I have Nightclaw.”

  Oh yeah? Does he have access to a massive library of information about this world, about everything you need to survive here?

  “Nah.”

  I thought so. Also, just so you know, you don’t need to talk out loud to communicate with me. You can just think at me, like I’m doing now. Telepathically.

  “Like this?” I tried, sending the thought through my mind, and the little face bobbed happily in confirmation.

  Yep. It’s just as how we talked before, when I was still in your head.

  I stretched my arms out. “There’s a lot to unpack here.” I winced as my side pulsed in pain. “That reminds me, who saved me?” I asked, suddenly remembering how everything had gone black after the fight.

  Isn’t it obvious? The elders did. When Count Velmont and his family made it back to Lurindell, the elders came in on your wolf summons. They saved you a few minutes after you passed out.

  “How do you know that?”

  Well.......

  Sys floated in a lazy circle.

  I was testing out this new form right after you passed out. I tried to wake you up, but you were totally out cold. So, I flew around, keeping an eye out for any other monsters that might’ve been attracted by all the noise you two made.

  This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

  “Must’ve been stressful.” I muttered.

  You have no idea.

  Sys responded with an exaggerated sigh, almost like he was still recovering from the experience.

  When the elders found you, they talked for a bit. I couldn’t hear it all, probably because you were completely knocked out and that affected my hearing software, but I gathered it was about the fact that you were sleeping on a dead orc’s body.

  Sys paused, as if remembering something.

  Shortly after, they moved you to a wolf and brought you back home. I had to fly as fast as I could to keep up. That wasn’t easy, mind you.

  “Thanks for your hard work.”

  I flopped back onto the bed, the sudden movement sending a jolt of pain through my body, but I didn't care. I raised an arm toward the ceiling, staring up at the wooden beams. It still hurt, but that only encouraged me.

  “I’m still alive,” I muttered to myself, testing the words.

  Yes, you are.

  “You know,” I said slowly, “I was really prepared to die back there.”

  ……I saw.

  “But I’m glad I didn’t.” I clenched my fist, a sense of resolve bubbling up from somewhere deep. “I realized I still have a lot of things I want to do.”

  I’m glad as well.

  A sharp pain suddenly stabbed through my stomach. “Wow, I’m starving.”

  Of course you are. You’ve been asleep for the past three days.

  I shot up in bed, heart racing. “Three days?”

  Duh. Do you know how depleted you were, mentally and physically? It would’ve been more believable if you’d woken up after a month. You’re still just a kid.

  I glanced down at the bandages covering my arms and torso, a grimace pulling at my face. “Was it really that bad?”

  From my perspective, it looked like you were in a coma. Maybe rhabdomyolysis formed from the stress your body went through, and that led to a forced comatose state. It’s pretty much a miracle you’re awake now.

  I gingerly touched my chest, wincing slightly at the tender spots. “I don’t feel too bad, aside from a few sore limbs.”

  That’s thanks to your meditation recovery.

  “The passive skill?”

  Exactly. While you were unconscious, your body automatically went into a meditative state. It helped your soul flows move faster, and in turn, sped up your healing. You’ve been practicing it for years, so it evolved into an actual skill. A pretty useful one, too.

  “And that’s why I’m recovering so quickly?”

  Uh-huh.

  If that’s the case, what other passive skills could I gain?

  While thinking, I felt my arm pass over a cold object. I reached inside, curious, and pulled out a small bell. It was delicate, with an intricate design carved into its surface. I gave it a soft ring. The sound hadn’t even finished echoing before the door flew open with a loud bang, rattling the frame on its hinges.

  A tall woman rushed in, her breath coming in quick, desperate gasps. She gripped the doorframe to steady herself, eyes wide with worry and confusion. Her white shirt clung to her frame, soaked through with sweat, the sleeves rolled up to her elbows. Her raven-black hair was pulled into a tight, no-nonsense bun, every strand in place despite the chaos. Her skin, dark and rich, seemed to glow faintly in the dim light, and her eyes, those bright orange eyes, were sharp, full of a fierce, immediate awareness. She saw me, and her expression softened, all the tension melting away in an instant.

  “Ms. Lonnie?” I asked out loud.

  Without another word, she rushed forward and pulled me into a tight hug. It felt like a boa constrictor was squeezing the life out of me. “You’re awake!” She cried, her voice filled with a mix of relief and joy, nearly vibrating with excitement.

  “I won’t be for long if you keep squeezing me like this.” I gasped, trying to wiggle free without using too much energy.

  She finally released me, though I was left with the feeling of her warmth still lingering. “I need to tell everybody!” She practically shouted, her voice brimming with excitement. And just like that, she darted back out of the room, her footsteps fading quickly down the hall.

  This room’s about to get crowded real soon.

  ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

  More rapid footsteps echoed down the hall, and before long, Arthur’s head popped through the doorway, his wide eyes locking onto me.

  “Beric!” He rushed inside, his arms quickly wrapping around me in a tight hug.

  I tried my best to hug him back, but my body refused to cooperate, my arms barely moving in their bandages.

  “What happened to you? All we heard was—AH!” Arthur yelped, a sharp gasp escaping him as Elaine appeared from behind, pinching his ear.

  “Careful, he’s still recovering,” she scolded, her tone playful but laced with concern. Her eyes softened as they met mine. “Good morning, little brother.”

  Before I could reply, the door opened wider, and Mom and Dad walked in, their faces pale and stricken with worry. But the moment they saw me, a flush of color returned to their cheeks, though they still looked a bit shaken.

  “My baby boy!” Mom cried out, her arms reaching for me as if she hadn’t seen me in years.

  But Dad was quick to step in, gently stopping her with a hand on her shoulder. “Be gentle.” His voice was calm but firm.

  Mom nodded, settling for a soft kiss on my forehead before bombarding me with questions. “Are you alright? How are you feeling? Oh, you must be starving! Tell me, what do you want to eat? I can make your favorite mushroom stew, or I could get you a few—”

  Dad placed a hand on her back, rubbing it comfortingly as he turned to me with a small, reassuring smile. “Do you feel okay?”

  “I’m-” Woah. Why did my voice crack?

  “I’m okay. I just feel a little sore, that’s all.”

  “No way!” Arthur interjected, shaking his head vigorously. “The elders said your legs were broken, that your lungs were close to failing, and that you had multiple fractures across your back!”

  I stared at him, my mind trying to process the words. “It was that bad?”

  “It was horrible.”

  We all turned as the door creaked open, and Elder Walden stepped into the room, flanked by Elders Liora and Alric.

  Walden’s stern face softened slightly as his gaze landed on me. “All of what that loudmouth boy said is true. You were in no proper state to be alive, and it was nothing short of a miracle that you managed to survive until we came to your rescue.”

  “Walden!” Elder Liora scoffed, clearly annoyed with his bluntness.

  Elder Alric, ever the calm presence, stepped forward, offering an apologetic smile. “I apologize for his words.” He looked at me with a grin, the kind that hinted at mischief. “But I have to admit, he’s not entirely wrong. For you to wake up and move your limbs after only a few days…….I’d say that’s nothing short of miraculous.”

  His eyes twinkled with something that made me shiver, a gleam I had seen before, when he was pushing the kids to do more exercises during school breaks.

  “What’s the issue? That just means Beric can heal super fast,” Arthur chimed in, not catching the serious undertone of the conversation.

  Elder Walden’s face tightened, and he crossed his arms, his tone turning more serious. “That’s precisely the issue, young hot-mouth. What caused Beric here to heal so quickly? What allowed him to recover from such a life-threatening situation?”

  They all turned to look at me.

  I felt the weight of their eyes on me, searching for an answer.

  Sys hovered near me, his voice low and almost cautious.

  You can’t exactly say you unconsciously used Meditation Recovery.

  It was true. How could I have used a skill I had barely begun to understand? After all, from their perspective, I’d only started learning meditation from Elder Walden recently. There was no way I could’ve mastered it so quickly, let alone to use it unconsciously...........However, Ms. Lonnie did have a theory that I unconsciously learned how to meditate at a young age, which would explain my early Soul Reset. But there was one other possibility I could bring up.

  “Isn’t it because I’m part elf?” I ventured, trying to sound confident, though uncertainty gnawed at me.

  Mom’s eyes widened in surprise. “Part elf...?”

  Elder Walden moved closer, his eyes examining me closely. He reached up and gently touched my ears, as if confirming something to himself. “Your ears haven’t reached the length of a typical elven kind,” he murmured, his fingers brushing lightly against my ear. “But your hair……and your bonding magic...” He looked thoughtful, his eyes narrowing as he considered the evidence. “They serve as irrefutable proof of your elven blood.” He stroked his chin in deep thought. “It’s possible that you’ve inherited a heightened regenerative factor from your elven side. That would explain the speed of your recovery.”

  Arthur, still processing this new revelation, let out a low whistle. “That’s so cool.” He looked at Elaine, a mischievous glint in his eye. “Why aren’t you an elf, then?” His mock hateful expression was all too familiar.

  Elaine shot back without missing a beat. “You’re not one either.”

  Arthur grinned. “Well, actually, considering all the times I tanked your monster-like hits, I’d say I’m more elvish than you.”

  Elaine’s eyes narrowed, her lips curling into a playful yet dangerous smirk. “Really? Then let’s see if that’s truly the case.” She raised a fist, clearly preparing to deliver a punch that would leave no room for argument.

  Before they could escalate further, Dad’s calm but firm voice rang out. “Enough, you two.” He stepped between them, placing a hand on Arthur’s shoulder to gently pull him back.

  I smiled at that. It was nice to see them fight again.

  “With all that elvish talk, it’s a bit strange that he’s supposed to be a magical swordsman…...” Elder Liora mused aloud, her brow furrowing as she regarded me with a mixture of curiosity and intrigue. “Typically, an elf is more suited to ranged weapons.”

  I could feel the weight of her gaze, but before I could reply, Elder Alric’s voice cut through the tension, playful as ever. “Hah! He’s still got some good old human in him. It’s pure luck that his human genes focused more on his physical talent, that’s all.” He scrutinized my body, his eyes lingering on my toned muscles, no doubt analyzing the way my body had adapted to the strain I’d endured.

  Just as the calm mood in the room settled back, a loud rumbling of footsteps interrupted, shaking the atmosphere.

  Who could that be?

  “BERIC!” Two voices rang out in perfect harmony, one of a young girl, the other belonging to a male adult.

  Oh, that makes sense.

  “What, who is it—” My question was immediately answered as Roland and Selene burst through the door, looking like a storm of raw emotion. Their faces were streaked with tears, and their noses ran as they stumbled into the room. If it weren’t for the heaviness of the moment, I might’ve laughed at how they looked like children throwing a tantrum. (Well, one of them was a child)

  “Beric!” Roland’s voice cracked, hoarse and heavy.

  “B-Ber-Beric—” Selene sniffled, trying to wipe away her tears, but they just kept coming.

  Elara followed behind them, her expression much more composed, though the worry on her face was impossible to miss. She stepped into the room with an air of quiet strength, glancing over at me with a raised brow. “Beric?”

  I raised a hand in a half-hearted wave, still lying in bed, trying to keep things light.

  They all froze, as though they couldn’t believe I was actually awake, actually alive. They probably thought they were staring at a ghost.

  I gave them a lopsided grin and did the old inside-out eyelid trick. “Yo.”

  That was enough to break them free from their frozen state.

  “Beric!” Arthur and Selene yelled in unison as they rushed toward me, their arms wide, desperate for a hug. But before they could reach me, Elara was quicker than I expected. With the precision of a trained warrior, she yanked them back by their collars, which was no small feat considering how much momentum they had. She swiftly karate-chopped Roland’s head and pinched Selene’s ear with a twist that looked like it could bend steel. “He’s still recovering,” Elara scolded them. She turned back to me then, her gaze softening as she took a deep breath. For the first time, I saw a hint of emotion break through her usual composure, which was a small tear forming at the corner of her eye. “It’s good to see you again,” she said quietly, her voice trembling slightly.

  "Same here." I answered back.

  They're alive and healthy..........I did it.

  I saved them.