“The beast made a sudden charge,” I declared dramatically.

  Selene let out a quiet gasp, her eyes wide with anticipation. She wore a faded blue cotton frock, an old hand-me-down that Elaine had outgrown, but which had been carefully mended and tailored to fit Selene perfectly. Her wavy brown hair was tied back into a ponytail, allowing her bright hazel eyes to shine unhindered. A soft blush colored her tan cheeks as she eagerly asked, “Then what happened?”

  “I side-jumped off the fallen tree behind me to give myself a boost and just barely dodged the orc’s reckless charge.”

  Arthur mirrored Selene’s awestruck expression. His short hair was a darker shade than our mother’s auburn, but he had inherited her vivid jade-green eyes—those same warm, glowing eyes that always made you feel safe. His ever-present cowlick stuck out stubbornly at the back of his head, a trait that had irritated Mom for years. Dressed in a simple brown woolen tunic and matching trousers, Arthur leaned forward on the bed, his arms digging into the covers. “Then you stabbed it in the neck, right?” he asked, eyes gleaming.

  “Uh, not quite,” I admitted. “When I landed, I tried to drive my dagger into its back, but its hide was so thick that the blade just bounced off.”

  Both of them let out synchronized sounds of astonishment, eyes wide with fascination.

  “What did you do once you realized the dagger was useless?” Elaine asked suddenly. She had been sitting quietly on a small chair to our right, simply watching as I recounted the encounter. Elaine still wore her black hair straight down, the same no-nonsense style she’d had for as long as I could remember. Her bangs framed her face sharply, reminiscent of a predator’s fangs. It was perhaps because of her assertive personality, or maybe just the way they’d been trimmed. They parted just enough to reveal her molten brown eyes, which were now fixed on me with a look of intense curiosity. Her frock was similar in cut to Selene’s, though hers bore muted shades of brown and black, a stark contrast to Selene’s more vibrant hue.

  “I aimed for its ankle, hoping to cripple it,” I continued, “but that didn’t work either. The blade bounced off, just like before. I had a feeling that might happen, though, which is why I’d grabbed a handful of dirt beforehand to blind it if needed…” I paused, wincing at the memory. “As soon as I threw it, the beast landed a brutal kick. I barely managed to withstand it by throwing up a barrier at the last second.”

  Arthur shuddered at the thought, visibly wincing.

  “After that, it turned into a chaotic game of dodging. Each time I avoided a blow, it got angrier, more reckless. Eventually, it became so furious that it went for another charge.” I grinned at them, letting the suspense linger. “Which was exactly what I was counting on. I lured it toward the sturdiest tree I could find, and just as it lunged at me, I dove aside at the last moment. It rammed headfirst into the trunk and collapsed almost instantly...…” I leaned in a little, lowering my voice for dramatic effect. “….....and that’s when I poured wolfsbane straight into its mouth.”

  Selene clapped her hands, eyes shining with awe, while Arthur let out a cheer and clapped me firmly on the back. “That’s my little brother!” he said proudly, beaming from ear to ear.

  Sys hovered down next to me.

  You’ve got them completely fooled.

  “I have to. It will only make things worse if I tell them what actually happened.”

  For me to use ants to kill it from the inside, and to put wolfsbane into my own mouth just to kill it? It’s too insane for a seven year old to think of.

  No kidding. If I'm being honest, you were scaring me back there.

  "I scared you?"

  Yeah, it was crazy. That was the first time I've ever seen you like that.

  Just what happened?

  What happened, huh?

  “I just realized what I was doing wrong.”

  Sys shivered.

  Well, if you do that ever again, just give me a heads up. It felt like I was looking at the Demon King.

  "Shut up, cornball. I wasn't that-"

  “Is that so?”

  Both Sys and I looked at Elaine.

  She crossed her arms. “Is that really all that happened? From what I heard, both you and that orc must’ve been in a very long and difficult fight.”

  Uh, what?

  She thinks I’m lying? Well, she is right, but why?

  Arthur stood up. “What do you mean, Elaine?”

  Elaine simply looked at me.

  This really isn’t good. Things would worsen if they somehow realize I’m lying about what happened.

  Elaine let out a small sigh as she got up. Walking over, she placed a hand on my shoulder. She gave me a small smile. “If you’re not yet comfortable with sharing what happened, then that’s fine. We’ll wait as long as needed until you can fully relax.” She gave me a small kiss on my forehead. “We’re thankful that you even managed to come back to us.”

  Oh.

  Ms. Lonnie opened the door with a bowl of stew in hand.

  “Guys, your parents asked you to come back. It’s getting pretty late.”

  Arthur and Selene groaned loudly, while Elaine lightly pouted.

  “Can I please stay with Beric?” Selene asked with puppy dog eyes.

  Ms. Lonnie lightly pinched her cheek. “I’m sure you all do, but you guys need your rest just as much as Beric does.” She let go of her and opened the door fully. “It’s coming after all.”

  Oh yeah, the festival.

  The three left the room while Ms. Lonnie entered. She went to the table with her medical supplies and placed the bowl. “So, Beric, how are we feeling?”

  “I actually feel really good.”

  “That’s great to hear.” She nodded.

  She shook a bottle while adjusting her table.

  “Status.”

  Name: Elfrida Lonnie

  Race: Human

  Age: 23

  Class: Sorceress

  Strength: 1,387

  Speed: 1,513

  Stamina: 1,876

  Endurance: 1,498

  Durability: 1,401

  Mana: 2,419

  Soul Rank: Stable

  Soul Color: Green

  I was right. This status upgrade does affect the Status UI of others. And these spells listed here: Mystic Pulse, Shard Volley, Phantom Edge, Rift Lance—they're all offensive Arcane spells. And that’s just scratching the surface. There’s even more I haven’t mentioned yet. She also has defensive Arcane spells like Null Field and Phase Shift, not to mention utility spells such as Detect and Anchor Step. And that’s without even diving into her elemental spell arsenal yet.

  Sys flew around Ms. Lonnie’s head.

  That’s what’s expected of a young and brilliant sorceress like Elfrida here.

  I wonder if she could tutor me as well. Elder Walden only taught me the most basics of the basics.

  Eh, I have a feeling that’ll change soon.

  “What?”

  You’ll see.

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

  Are you sure you’re not rushing things?

  Sys asked as he hovered around.

  “It’s not like I can just stay in this bed forever.”

  Shade stood by the bed, prepared for anything that might happen.

  “Ready when you are, Master.”

  Alright then. Just be sure to not apply too much pressure on your legs. Make sure to lean on Shade.

  “Yeah, I know.”

  Very carefully, I moved my legs off the bed. As they dangled over the edge, I adjusted my torso into a position where I could simply lean forward and slide off. Placing my right arm on Shade for support, I pushed myself forward. The moment my feet touched the floor, a sharp instinctual cringe ran through me and my legs immediately started to buckle.

  Shade moved quickly, catching me before I could collapse. "Are you okay?" He asked, steadying me.

  I forced myself upright, gritting my teeth as I straightened my posture. "Thanks for the save."

  Once the tremors in my legs subsided, I cautiously lifted my hand from Shade’s shoulder, testing whether I could stand on my own. To my relief, I remained upright.

  To be standing even just a day after waking up from that state.

  Sys fluttered down to hover near my legs.

  This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

  It doesn’t hurt?

  “No, not really,” I replied. “There’s a bit of a tingling sensation, but that’s about it.”

  Sys floated back up, a thoughtful emoji appearing on his face.

  Try taking a few steps while leaning on Shade.

  “Roger that.” I placed my arm back on Shade for support and slowly raised my right leg. It responded to my will, but it felt heavy, like lifting a block of lead. As I stepped forward and set my foot down farther ahead, the tingling flared into something sharper. It felt closer to a light burn. I took a few more steps. With each one, the burning sensation grew more noticeable, though still manageable.

  How do you feel?

  “The tingling’s getting worse with every step.” I looked up at Sys. “It’s my nerves, isn’t it?”

  A green checkmark flashed on Sys’ face.

  Correct. The nerves in your legs are still regenerating from the fight, so you’ll feel a sense of heaviness, along with that irritating tingling.

  “I see.” Taking another breath, I pushed forward one more step. “But that means it’s working, right? My legs are healing.”

  Yep. You’ll need to do stretches, massages, mobility work, the whole rehab routine. But you will make a full recovery. And at the rate your body’s recovering, it could happen in a week……maybe even just a few days.

  “Three.”

  Three?

  “I’ll be done in three days.”

  ………Okay then.

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

  Ms. Lonnie has been helping me with my workouts for the past two days, and we’ve already made huge strides. I can now walk on my own without any support. My balance is stable and my footing is sure, but I’m still lacking speed. Plus, I don’t yet have the endurance for long-distance sprints. There’s progress, yes, but still a ways to go.

  Word of my recovery has spread fast, and everyone’s been excited to hear about it. I’ve had a steady stream of visitors recently: family, the village elders, nobles, even other townsfolk dropping by to check in. Hell, even Rune and Orion showed up for a quick visit. At first, I thought they came looking for trouble, but to my surprise, Rune kept quiet and simply asked if I was doing alright. After hearing my update and seeing my condition for himself, he gave a short nod and left without another word. Orion gave me a small nod in acknowledgment before following him out. I don’t know what kind of training Elder Walden put Rune through to whip him into shape, but whatever it was, it clearly worked.

  Matthias has been a near-constant presence, showing up multiple times a day to assist Ms. Lonnie during my sessions. Turns out, that’s partly because he actually lives here in the town hall. I’d always wondered about his so-called “outcast” status, and now I finally know why. He wasn’t born here. One day, the elders woke up to find a crying infant wrapped in a bundle of worn cloth left at the front doors of the town hall. No note. No trace of who had left him. Just the child. The elders took him in, of course, and sent a few villagers out to search the nearby area, hoping to find a sign of his parents. But they came back empty-handed.

  With no leads and no family stepping forward, the villagers began pitching in, donating food and supplies to help raise him. Still, while they were willing to help from a distance, none of them stepped up to adopt him as their own. So, Matthias grew up essentially alone. The elders were often too preoccupied with managing village affairs or traveling to other settlements, which meant he had to learn how to take care of himself early on. He became independent out of necessity, quietly navigating life in the shadows of others.

  That’s why he’s the target of bullies………though from what I’ve heard, Rune isn’t as active as he used to be.

  Finish your set!

  Sys somehow blew a whistle that rang throughout my head.

  “Shut the hell up!” I yelled as I finished my set of squats.

  Never mind that, there’s a few things you should know. Yesterday, while Selene was visiting, she asked a simple question that genuinely surprised me.

  “Why can’t you just heal yourself with magic?”

  I answered that I didn’t know healing magic, so she then continued by wondering why Ms. Lonnie or the elders didn’t do it.

  I have to admit, I was curious as well, which is why I asked Ms. Lonnie later that day.

  The answer is interesting.

  There are rules when it comes to using instant recovery magic. First, cursed wounds or injuries inflicted by monsters don’t respond well to it. In fact, they tend to flare up under healing spells, often making the situation worse. Second, relying on instant recovery magic can actually hinder the body’s natural ability to adapt and heal. It weakens the body’s internal recovery process, leaving it sluggish and less effective on its own. (This is mainly present in the bodies of younger people whose bodies are still growing) Third, not every mage is equally skilled in recovery magic. Proficiency varies depending on the mage’s affinity. Some are naturally better at it while others are worse.

  Ms. Lonnie isn’t particularly experienced in the healing arts. Among the elders, only Elder Walden truly excels at it. But even he was adamant: using instant recovery magic on me would have been a mistake. Instead, he insisted on a slow, controlled healing approach, to use gradual recovery magic that would stabilize me just enough to survive. It turns out that when they found my body, they didn’t dare risk more damage by using a high-level spell. So, they cast a weak healing spell that was just enough to keep me breathing. From there, the rest was up to me. I had to wake up on my own. (The elven blood.)

  But, that’s not the only magic-related issue I have.

  “Status, summons.”

  “Ant”: 1 mana

  Rogue: 25 mana

  Nightclaw: 50 mana

  Drill: 40 mana

  Melvin: 25 mana

  Jittear: 30 mana

  Shade: 100 mana

  Nuts: 30 mana

  Tank: 30 mana

  Luci: 40 mana

  Geek: 30 mana

  Pickle: 80 mana

  “Orc”: 250 mana

  There’s the full list of my summons, along with that orc. The mana cost for it isn’t the problem. I have enough for it, but also, just like with Rogue, the mana cost for summons can become lower depending upon the gradual usage and mastery. The problem is this.

  How do I explain summoning an orc to everybody?

  The whole foundation of taming magic is exactly what it sounds like, taming. It’s used to form bonds with animals like birds, wolves, bears, and even magical beasts. The elves, though, have a unique offshoot called bonding, a special branch of taming magic. It relies on their natural affinity with nature and their abundant mana reserves, allowing them to forge deep, spiritual connections with their tamed creatures, deep enough to summon them at will.

  But orcs? They aren’t exactly known to be among the tamable. And besides, I killed that orc. So how could I have possibly tamed it? Is it best to simply keep this orc summon a secret for now?.............I guess so. There's no need to reveal all my cards just yet. Besides, I’ve got more pressing matters to focus on.

  Now that I’m almost fully recovered, the elders have agreed it’s time for me to resume my education. Only this time, I won’t be attending school in the usual sense. Instead, I’ll be receiving private tutoring from not only Elder Walden, but also from Elders Alric and Liora.

  You get to skip school. Finally, the days of sitting in class while being bored out of your mind are going to be over.

  "Yeah, yeah."

  What's up? You don't sound too enthusiastic.

  "I don't?"

  I used to hate school. Where every waking moment felt like a slow sentence in a stuffy, soulless prison. When I was continually told to shut up and just listen. Who was the main obstacle that forced me to abandon that stupid dream. The place that forced useless knowledge down our throats and expected us to memorize it all.

  The isolated prison where I both met and lost friends.

  It was the same here-No, that's a lie.

  This school wasn't so bad.

  It was actually kind of enjoyable.

  Funny how things turn out.

  I get that but uh.........you’re sort of asleep most of the time.

  “Shut up.”

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

  The nobles are leaving today. The entire village had gathered to send them off, voices raised in heartfelt farewells as the massive wagon prepared to roll out. Roland, overcome with emotion, thanked the villagers with tears streaming down his face, swearing he'd do everything in his power to improve their lives. Elara stood beside him, smiling gently, nodding in agreement, and occasionally echoing his promises with polite affirmation. Selene said her goodbyes to my family, hugging each of them tightly, her sobs muffled against their shoulders. She clung to them like she didn’t want to let go. The elders watched the farewell in calm silence—Alric grinning openly, Liora offering a warm smile through misty eyes. Even Elder Walden couldn’t help the faint curve of his lips.

  “Beric!”

  Selene ran up to me and wrapped her arms around me in a crushing hug. I nearly stumbled back from the impact.

  “So you’re finally leaving, huh?”

  She let out a strange, muffled sound—a confirmation, maybe? Hard to tell, since her face was pressed deep into my stomach.

  I gently patted her back. “We’ll miss you.”

  “I’ll miss you guys too,” she whispered, her voice small and shaky.

  Weak.

  …………..

  To be this distraught over a simple farewell—pitiful. Letting your emotions dictate your actions to the point of wanting to stay in a rundown village rather than return to the safety and comfort of a noble estate…….Hah. How foolish.

  “She is weak.”

  …………….

  “But she won’t stay like this.”

  Name: Selene Velmont

  Race: Human

  Age: 7

  Strength: 96

  Speed: 125

  Stamina: 102

  Endurance: 87

  Durability: 83

  Mana: 201

  Soul Rank: Stable

  Soul Color: Abyssal Black

  I looked at Selene who was still holding tight.

  “She’ll become strong one day.”

  “Hey Selene?”

  “Yeah?”

  “You remember our promise, right?”

  She slowly looked up. “Of course.”

  “Then, you better keep it.” I pinched her cheek.

  She tried to look annoyed, but I could tell she was happy. “I will.”

  Oh right.

  “Selene, there’s one more guy who wants to say goodbye.”

  Her eyes lit up. “Mr. Rat?”

  Rogue appeared on top of my head and flew right into her hands.

  “Mr. Rat!” She screamed in joy.

  Rogue nuzzled her cheek affectionately. “It’s Rogue, but I guess it’s fine.”

  Hohoho, looks like Rogue finally warmed up to her.

  “You’re back already?”

  Huh, what are you talking about?

  “Never mind.”

  “Beric.”

  I turned to see Roland and Elara.

  Roland had a huge smile. “You know, I don’t think I’ll ever not be happy seeing you walk.”

  Elara nodded. “It truly is a warming sight.”

  “I’m happy too.” I tapped a foot onto the ground. “Though, it might take a few more days before I’m back to my normal self.”

  Roland’s face fell. “I understand. I wish that we could've done more to help. All we’ve done is overstayed our welcome. Maybe if we stayed a few more days, we could-”

  Elara karate chopped his head. “Dear, like you’ve said, we clearly overstayed our welcome, and we’ve missed a lot of things back at our home. It’d be wise to return and get back to normal proceedings.”

  Roland frowned. “I know, but-”

  “Then go back.”

  They looked at me.

  “Go back and fix things there. You remember our promise, right? To do your jobs better and to become nobles that help everyone, even the common folk. To support Selene as she grows and learns more of the world."

  Roland was silent before letting out a huge laugh. “You’re right, the promise. Then, Beric-” He placed a hand on his heart. “As the count of this province, I solemnly swear that I will pay close attention to everyone, regardless of status. I will do my best to make our home a safer place for all, to create a haven that is free from monsters and the like.”

  Elara joined in. “As the countess, I swear to help my husband with this path, along with supporting Selene into becoming a respectful and intelligent young lady who can continue on this path alone.”

  I smiled. “Then, go.”

  They bowed their heads with respectful smiles, before making their way toward the wagon.

  Selene, clearly reluctant, handed Rogue over to me before turning to follow her parents……….or so I thought. At the very last second, she spun around and rushed back, throwing her arms around me in one final hug.

  Hahaha, you’re blushing.

  “Like hell I am.”

  Throughout these days of recovery, I've begun to see Selene as a younger sister.

  With that final embrace, she returned to the wagon without another word.

  The driver, a skilled villager who had volunteered for the task, clicked the reins, and the wagon began to roll forward, creaking gently as it made its way into the forest path. The villagers shouted their goodbyes as loudly as they could, waving and cheering with all their heart. The nobles leaned out of the wagon windows, waving back with bright smiles and words of gratitude carried on the wind.

  I stood there with Rogue nestled in my arms.

  I’m going to miss them.

  Sys floated beside me, a crying emoji now glowing on his face.

  Was I going to miss them? Yes. But I don’t have time to dwell on that. I need to recover. I need to train harder. Become stronger. Faster. Smarter. Because the next time we meet, the next time we stand face to face, things will be different.

  We will all be stronger than before.