[Aric's POV]
A cold breeze brushed against my skin as the system screen glowed in front of —a deep blue light that floated mid-air like a quiet whisper from the heavens.
But the content?
It wasn't quiet at all.
[Quest Complete – Choose Your Reward: One Elite Skill]
Three golden panels shimred one by one, and each na hit harder than the last.
---
1) Teleportation
> Allows instant movent to a point within 50 ters.
Cooldown: 10 minutes
Mana Cost: 20 per use
I blinked.
"Only 20 mana?" I muttered.
Teleportation... A rare ability in any world. Just 50 ters might not sound like much—but in a real fight? It was life-saving. Blink behind soone, dodge a spell, run from a monster. A perfect escape tool. Clean, fast, simple. And only ten minutes cooldown?
Still... sothing about it felt too safe.
---
2) Auto Dodge Attack
> Instantly dodges any incoming attack once.
Cooldown: 1 minute
Mana Cost: 10 per use
I raised an eyebrow.
That sounded broken. One minute cooldown, just 10 mana...
For people who relied on reflexes, this was a godsend.
If I tid it right, I could walk through sword swings like a ghost.
But it was still a reaction skill. I'd only be avoiding danger, not controlling it.
---
3) Instant Attraction
> Choose one target. That target will feel irresistibly attracted to you—physically and emotionally—for 2 minutes.
Level difference must be under 10.
Cooldown: 5 minutes
Mana Cost: 100 per use
I stopped breathing for a second.
Two minutes might sound short, but for ?
Two minutes was all I ever needed.
Once I made a target lower their guard, I could activate Slave Will. The ability didn't need hours of persuasion or fighting—it only needed one handshake. One mont of weakness. One crack in the armor.
And this skill?
Instant Attraction would give exactly that mont.
---
I grinned.
> "It's mana per use is enormous. It's short. But it's perfect."
"It's made for ."
The other two were strong—useful in war, maybe.
But I wasn't fighting a war. I was building an empire, one broken soul at a ti.
> [Skill Acquired: Instant Attraction]
I felt my heart beat faster. This skill would change everything.
---
After walking another ten minutes through the trees, the forest finally began to thin out.
I stepped forward and saw it:
> Fumas.
The village was surrounded by wooden walls, not high enough to be military-grade, but solid enough to keep out beasts. A giant tal gate stood in the middle, and two guards in light armor stood lazily by it—one leaning on a spear, the other smoking sothing out of a small pipe.
But the real life was inside.
From behind the gate, I could hear shouts of traders, the clank of coins, and the sll of spices in the air.
> "Oranges from the East! Cheap, sweet, and juicy!"
> "Get your beast hides here! Only 5 silver for a full skin!"
I took a deep breath.
This was it.
A place full of rchants, wanderers, greedy fools, and lost won.
A perfect hunting ground for soone like .
.....
I reached the gates of Fumas just past noon.
Two guards stood lazily on either side of the tal gate—both dressed in worn leather armor, their expressions bored, like they'd been doing this for years without a single real threat.
I walked up to them calmly and pulled out my migration certificate from Solin.
One of the guards squinted at it, his eyes following the ink like he could actually read.
> "Ooh... you're from Solin, huh? Which house do you serve?"
I put on a humble smile.
> "House of Revelle," I said casually.
The other guard perked up a bit.
> "House of Revelle? You here to buy goods or sell sothing?"
> "Just buying. My masters sent for supplies."
They nodded like that explained everything.
We chatted a little more—small talk about the roads, the weather, the latest prices of beast at—and after a few minutes, they waved through the side gate.
---
Fumas opened up in front of like a breathing marketplace.
The streets were muddy, but packed.
Dozens of small huts, cloth-covered stalls, and wooden carts were scattered everywhere. People yelled, bargained, begged, and boasted. The air slled like spice, sweat, and roasted at.
> "Fresh daggers! Cheap but sharp!"
"Buy herbs! Healing herbs, mana herbs—everything you need!"
Here and there, nobles in colorful robes walked through the crowd, followed by attendants, their expressions twisted with superiority. But no one bowed too deeply here. Fumas was wild—free—and no noble dared act too far out of line.
I blended into the noise, checking every stall.
I bought so sweets—not the fancy kind, just sugar cubes and fruit rolls—for Sarah, Darcy, and Lindy. I grabbed a few strips of dried at, and two cheap iron daggers. Nothing special, just enough to keep up appearances.
---
And then I saw her.
A noblewoman, standing at a stall that looked far too elegant for a place like Fumas. She was examining a silver necklace with a small red gem, her fingers brushing it with grace.
She was stunning.
Her tight silk robe hugged her hips and chest with precision, and her posture scread arrogance.
I smirked.
> "Perfect."
I focused, narrowing my eyes slightly, and reached into my system.
A soft buzz ran through my body.
> [Activating Skill: Instant Attraction]
Mana drained from . The world slowed slightly.
But just as the skill was locking onto her...
Soone bumped into her from behind.
A slight stumble.
Her body twisted—and the target shifted at the very last second.
> Skill locked onto new target: Confird.
"Shit," I muttered under my breath.
The skill didn't care who I was aiming for. It just locked onto whoever my attention was closest to when activated.
And now...
It had chosen the woman who bumped into the noble.
---
The noblewoman staggered forward and imdiately spun around.
> "How dare you, you filthy commoner—"
Her hand raised, about to slap the woman...
But sothing changed in the air.
Everyone saw it.
The woman who had pushed her wasn't dressed like a noble, but on her black robe, near her chest, was a Mage Emblem. Two silver stars shimred faintly on it.
The crowd gasped quietly.
A Two-Star Mage.
That wasn't just so peasant.
Even nobles had to think twice before offending a ranked mage. Mages held power... and fear.
The noblewoman's hand froze mid-air. Her face twitched.
The mage woman, flustered, bowed quickly.
> "I'm sorry. I didn't see you."
Again. And again.
The noblewoman swallowed her pride, turned around, and left without a word. Her cheeks were red, but she knew better.
And now the mage girl turned to —eyes locking with mine.
Her lips parted slightly.
Sothing was off in her expression. Curious. Drawn.
The skill had worked. Even though I didn't an to.
---
> [Inspect Activated]
Na: Nora Benett
Level: 12
Class: Earth Mage
Status: Mildly Confused. Emotionally Receptive.
Dark skin, smooth and sharp features. Her eyes were a soft brown—like lted chocolate—and her black robe flowed around her like shadows wrapped in silk.
She looked strong. Quiet. Dangerous.
But right now?
She was looking at with a subtle smile.
The pull of the skill was faint, invisible, but real.
I didn't even need to talk.
---
I chuckled silently to myself.
> "Well... that was unexpected."
But sotis, fate likes to roll the dice for you.
And this ti?
I was going to make it count.
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