The road had grown quieter.
Gone were the bustling caravans, the familiar banners of noble houses, and the heavily patrolled trade routes. The trees now stood taller, the skies stretched wider, and the land ahead seemed untouched by royal banners or noble jurisdiction.
Kazuki, Garron, and Elara reached a worn wooden sign half-covered in moss. It read:
> “Beyond this point: The Free Province of Noreldan. The Land Without Chains.”
Elara tilted her head. “Noreldan?”
Garron rubbed his chin. “I’ve heard that name before. Adventurers call it the Newerlands.”
Kazuki stepped forward, brushing the moss off the rest of the sign. Underneath, a carved inscription read:
> “Here, no crown commands you. No chains bind you. Strength and heart define your worth.”
They stood in silence.
> “So this is what they meant,” Kazuki said softly, his eyes scanning the wilderness ahead. “A land not ruled by kings, but by the strong.”
Elara looked uneasy. “Which means... lawless?”
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Garron nodded. “Bandits, rogue adventurers, hidden dungeons, magical beasts—no guilds, no kingdoms, just survival. But I’ve also heard of relics here… and trials set by ancient sorcerers.”
Kazuki remained still, then smiled faintly—just barely.
> “Perfect.”
---
Later That Day – Deeper into Noreldan
The group made camp by a crystal-clear stream. As Garron hunted for food and Elara collected herbs, Kazuki sat by the fire, eyes closed, mentally reviewing his status screen:
> [Status Update]
Kazuki
Class: None
HP: 620
MP: 645
Strength: 72
Agility: 94
Intellect: 90
Skills: Analysis (Lv.3), Recovery, Swift Swing, Elemental Fury, Search (Range: 10 miles), Dark Magic, Fire Magic, Earth Magic, Wind Magic, Light Magic, Minor Heal (Upgraded)
New Area Discovered: Noreldan - >The Land Without Chains
He opened his eyes.
“So this land is a test,” he thought. “A place with no titles, no rules… only raw power.”
---
Meanwhile – A Watchful Presence
Unbeknownst to them, they were being watched.
High atop a cliff, a figure cloaked in gray robes observed them through a magical lens. A crystal orb pulsed softly in their palm.
> “He has arrived,” the figure whispered. “The one who broke the cycle.”
Another voice replied from the shadows, deeper, colder.
> “Then the prophecy was true… The Child of Forgotten Lives walks Noreldan. We must alert the others.”
---
Back at Camp
As the group shared food and stories, Kazuki remained quiet again.
Garron nudged him. “You’ve been acting distant lately.”
Kazuki glanced at him. “Just thinking.”
> “You’re always thinking,” Elara added softly, “but you used to smile when you did. You don’t anymore.”
Kazuki looked into the fire. “The more I know... the harder it is to smile.”
The others went quiet.
Elara shifted closer. “Then let us carry some of that weight. You’re not alone.”
Kazuki didn’t answer, but the firelight reflected a faint shimmer in his eyes. For a moment—just one—his expression softened.
---
As they prepared to rest, Kazuki activated Analysis, scanning the surroundings once more. His screen flickered:
> [Analysis Triggered]
Unknown Entity Detected.
Type: Observer.
Distance: 1.6 miles.
Status: Stationary. Magic Signature: Unfamiliar.
>Threat Level: Unknown.
Kazuki’s expression darkened.
“So they’re already watching me.”
He didn’t wake the others. Not yet. Not until he knew what they were dealing with.
He stood alone, silhouetted under the moonlight, cloak billowing in the wind—eyes cold, mind racing, the weight of prophecy pressing silently against his back.
