The Author's Viewpoint Chapter 4 - A Relic Awakening Token

[ You have received: Fire Elental Spirit Relic Token ]

Tave's breath hitched. A Relic Awakening Token?!

And on top of that, a Fire Elental Spirit Relic Token?!

Relics weren't just weapons. They were alive. Unlike natural elental affinities, Relics housed elental spirits, evolving alongside their wielder. So even self-repaired, making them nearly indestructible.

But obtaining one? Nearly impossible.

Monster drops? Too rare.

The usual thod required binding a spirit to a weapon, but finding a compatible one was even harder.

Yet, here he was, holding the very thing that could make it happen.

Tave couldn't stop the grin from spreading across his face.

This was beyond extraordinary.

Tave truly felt like a protagonist now!

Even though the reward only stated Fire Elental Spirit, the actual spirit he would receive would depend on how he awakened it.

But he wasn't worried.

He knew everything.

And he knew exactly how to get a high-grade spirit, one that would make his weapon far more powerful than an ordinary relic.

Yeah, his first mission was clear now.

His priority would be to awaken the perfect elental spirit for his future weapon.

A low chuckle escaped him. He was actually enjoying this.

For a mont, he almost forgot that this world was filled with chaos, war, and impending disaster.

Then, reality hit him again. He cursed under his breath.

Well... too late now.

Since he was already here, he needed to be fully prepared. And if anyone knew the chanics of this world inside and out, it was him. Because he was the one who wrote it.

A satisfied smirk crossed his face.

He stood up, stretching his limbs. Despite inhabiting Tave's body, he still retained all the muscle mory from its previous owner's rigorous training.

Poor guy. All that effort, wasted on bad luck.

But not anymore.

Tave cracked his knuckles, rolling his shoulders. This body was his now, stronger, faster, better than the wreck he had before.

Rest easy, original Tave. I'll take it from here.

The challenges ahead wouldn't be easy. He needed every advantage he could get.

So... a well-trained body and the mind of the author himself?

There was no better combination than that.

Tave stood up and instinctively began practicing combat movents, focusing on sword techniques without a weapon in hand. Yet, his body moved effortlessly, guided by muscle mory, proving that the original Tave had trained diligently.

However, while a sword felt familiar in his hands, he couldn't ignore the fact that his new sigil made daggers a much better fit.

Still, that was a problem for later.

Right now, he realized sothing far more pressing.

He wasn't wearing any clothes. And, to make things worse... He slled awful.

Well, that made sense. He had just gone through a stage breakthrough. The original Tave had collapsed afterward and must have been unconscious for days.

Had the original Tave died because of it?

Probably.

Failing a stage breakthrough could result in death, though it was rare for Gaia Apprentices.

Either way, there was no use dwelling on it now.

Following his instincts, Tave headed toward the bathroom, still feeling a bit strange about bathing in an unfamiliar place.

Turning on the shower, he noted how everything in this world was powered by magic.

The water flowed, heated by a monster core.

Monster cores were extracted from slain monsters and were used for energy across Yunatea.

As the warm water ran over him, Tave finally began to appreciate this new body. Especially since Gaia Force-enhanced bodies at the Gaia Apprentice stage already surpassed the peak capabilities of a normal human.

Realistically, he was now faster, stronger, and more durable than even the greatest athletes in his old world.

Stepping out of the shower, he quickly searched for clothes in the wardrobe.

Strange.

But yeah, he would have to get used to all of this.

Now, it was ti to greet the household. His family must have been worried about the original Tave.

Well... they were his family now.

A faint smile crossed his lips.

"So this is what it feels like to have a family?"

A dry chuckle escaped him.

He had never known his real parents. Not once in his past life.

Just as he was about to step out, there was a knock on the door.

"Tave, are you awake?" A girl's voice, probably in her teens.

Tave imdiately recognized it.

Lily.

The original Tave's younger sister.

Ironically, despite being three years younger than him, she had already reached Gaia Guardian.

Hah.

It was almost laughable.

Their father was the Knight Commander of this city, a man highly respected. anwhile, Lily was a prodigy who had awakened with a Sigil at just ten years old.

And Tave?

A disappointnt.

At least, the original Tave had been.

But that was fine.

Because now, he was going to be the new "extraordinary" person in this family.

"Yeah, Lil," he replied, the nickna rolling off his tongue as if it had always been natural.

The door swung open, revealing a young girl with short blonde hair, wearing a simple white dress.

Lily stared at him with a strange expression.

"Why?"

Her eyes narrowed.

"You don't look happy that I'm awake after passing out for... What, days?"

Lily sighed. "One week. We thought you were dead. We were about to bury you... your heartbeat was barely there."

Tave grinned. "Don't worry. I'm more alive than ever."

Lily stepped closer, tilting her head slightly as she examined him. "You seem... weird. I've never heard of a stage breakthrough making soone act differently."

Did she suspect sothing?

"What do you an? I'm just happy to be alive in this beautiful world."

Lily exhaled sharply and turned away. "Father is here. Breakfast is ready. Co down... I guess we won't have to bury you after all."

"You're too harsh on your brother, you know," Tave muttered.

Lily didn't look back. "Do you even realize I tried to heal you every day?"

Tave stiffened.

Every day?

He had been nothing but a failure in this family. Yet she still tried?

For the first ti since waking up, sothing unfamiliar tugged at his chest.

Sothing strange yet comforting.

He had a sister now.

And a father.

Their mother had died when they were young, so even in his inherited mories, there was nothing of her.

But for now... this was enough.

Tave made his way downstairs, and the first thing he saw was a tall, broad-shouldered man with dark hair, a thick beard, and a commanding presence. His sharp eyes carried both firmness and warmth.

Lily walked past him toward the dining table. "What are you waiting for? Co eat."

Tave followed, sitting beside Lily, directly across from the man who, at least now, was his father.

"You okay?" the man asked.

Tave hesitated for a mont before answering. "Yes... Father."

Tave smiled as he looked at him.

From his inherited mories, it was clear that this man truly cared for them. Despite Tave's weak Gaia Force, his father had never abandoned him, even going so far as to enroll him in the Knight Academy to give him a chance.

"Congratulations on your stage breakthrough," his father said.

Tave smiled and nodded. "Thanks, Father."

The man then reached down, grabbing sothing beside him.

With a heavy thud, he placed it on the table.

Lily frowned. "Father, can you put that sowhere else? You're making a ss."

"Hehe, sorry, Lil..."

Tave's gaze locked onto the object.

A sheathed sword.

The air around him felt heavier. His fingers twitched.

"I have a gift for you, to celebrate your stage breakthrough."

His pulse pounded. A weapon. A vessel. The key to his next evolution.

Now, he just had to see how good this sword really was.