Two years before enrolling in Nymphis Academy:

  After completing several D-rank quests, I finally had the opportunity to raise my status to the corresponding level. This meant I could now take on dungeon-related quests, although my first experience with them had left me with less-than-pleasant memories. Despite this, I decided not to rush and avoid such missions for the time being.

  Pleased with my completed work, I headed to the guild. Approaching the registration desk, I was greeted by the smile of a young brunette with hair that fell softly over her shoulders. Her name was Sophia, and she usually handled adventurers from E to C rank.

  — Ark, are you here to turn in a quest? — she asked, her voice friendly and slightly playful.

  — Yes, I’d like to get my new rank as soon as possible, — I replied, trying to hide my impatience.

  — Newbies are always so impatient, — Sophia said with a slight smirk, checking the completion of the quest. — Everything’s in order, the quest is complete.

  She handed me my reward and then gave me a copper badge, symbolizing my new rank.

  — Now you’re officially a D-rank adventurer. You can brag to your mom, — she said with a teasing tone. Her words weren’t meant to be hurtful; it was just her usual way of joking.

  — I’ll make sure to do that, — I replied, stepping closer to the counter and lowering my voice. — By the way, just between us, girls who tease kids usually end up alone, surrounded by a dozen cats.

  With that, I quickly left the guild, leaving Sophia slightly bewildered.

  — You little brat! — she exclaimed, lightly hitting the table with her fist. — You’ll still come back for a new quest tomorrow.

  Over six months had passed. I had taken one of the two quests required to advance to C-rank. It involved hunting an earth bear. For this, I had to venture into the western part of the forest, an area I usually avoided. The northern part was my usual route, but the western part was considered more dangerous—here, the chance of becoming prey yourself was significantly higher. The earth bear, as the name suggests, wielded earth magic. Its stone-like hide made it nearly invulnerable, and its habit of eating rocks added to its strangeness. The reason I even took on this quest was that old man Ice Mor saw it as a great opportunity for "special training." His previous "special" training sessions still haunted my nightmares.

  — So, where do I find this woolly boulder? — I muttered, wandering through unfamiliar terrain. — The guild said to look for areas with lots of vegetation or rocks.

  — Hey, old man, you said you wanted to do some special training. Is this going to be something like fighting a beast blindfolded? — I joked, addressing Ice Mor.

  — Keep calling me that, and your joke might become reality, — the old man replied dryly.

  — Sorry, oh great king and teacher Ice Mor, — I said with mock reverence.

  — Alright, moving on. See that cliff? — he asked, ignoring my joke.

  I approached the edge of the cliff and looked down. Below, the forest continued, dense and mysterious. The wind rustled through the trees, creating an almost ominous sound. I felt a slight chill run down my spine. Something told me this hunt wouldn’t be easy.

  — I don’t like this part of the forest, — I muttered, looking around. — It’s too quiet. Way too quiet for a forest. It’s unsettling.

  — Ark, create a mana flow in your eyes, — Ice Mor’s voice echoed in my head. — It’s the same thing you do with the ring.

  I followed his advice, directing the mana flow into my eyes. Under its influence, my vision sharpened dramatically. Looking down at the forest below the cliff, I could make out several animals, but most importantly—a huge rock that looked like it had been bitten into. This was a sure sign that the earth bear was nearby.

  Maintaining two mana flows simultaneously was extremely exhausting, but the principle was clear.

  — Cool! What else can I do? — I asked enthusiastically, addressing the old man.

  — If you limit yourself to your body, there are many possibilities, — he replied. — For example, you can strengthen or enhance your body or senses.

  ?That’s pretty much what I imagined,? — I thought. My mind immediately conjured up an image from an anime where the main character moved so fast he created illusions of himself.

  — Hey, dreamer, did you forget why you came to this forest? — Ice Mor’s voice brought me back to reality. I forgot that he could sometimes hear my thoughts.

  — Yeah, yeah, the earth bear, I remember, — I sighed.

  Deciding to try creating a mana flow in my legs to descend the cliff, I suddenly felt a sharp pain in my heart. Startled, I lost my balance and fell off the cliff. Falling from the height of a five-story building, I lost concentration, and the mana flow instantly dissipated.

  — Damn it... — I managed to curse before realizing I was falling.

  — You little idiot, quickly create a spear and grab onto something! — Ice Mor commanded, his voice sharp and authoritative.

  I instantly reacted, creating an ice spear and stabbing it into the rock. Hanging from it, I barely had time to catch my breath. I was about four meters from the ground.

  — I’m alive, — I muttered, breathing heavily.

  — How did you even make it to 19 years old on your own? — Ice Mor said sarcastically.

  — In my world, there were no stone bears, let alone grumpy old men sealed in rings, — I retorted. — And you didn’t say anything about side effects.

  — You’re just still too weak, — Ice Mor laughed.

  Creating another spear, I stabbed it into the rock below the first one, making an improvised ladder. Climbing down, I landed safely, though a bit shaken.

  Continuing my search for the target, I stumbled upon a small rocky clearing. There were many half-eaten boulders scattered around, clearly indicating the presence of an earth bear. I froze, listening to the sounds of the forest, ready to face the formidable opponent.

  — The bear’s got a cozy spot, — I said, walking past the bitten rocks. Suddenly, I stopped and directed a small mana flow into my ears. — Hrrr... Hrrr... — A quiet but menacing snore came from nearby.

  ?There’s my client,? — I thought, cautiously moving toward the source of the sound. Finally, I saw it.

  The earth bear, covered in a layer of stones like a living rock, was peacefully sleeping among the boulders. Its powerful body breathed steadily, but each breath and exhale caused the ground to vibrate slightly. I quietly crept up to the sleeping beast, careful not to wake it prematurely. From my pocket, I pulled out a small vial of green liquid—acid that could dissolve even stone. Knowing who I was dealing with, I had arranged with a local alchemist to acquire this solution. Going after such an opponent without preparation would have been pure madness.

  As soon as I poured the acid on the bear’s back, the liquid began to hiss, eating away at the stone armor. But this also instantly woke the beast.

  — ROAR! — The deafening roar shattered the forest’s silence. The bear jumped to its feet, its eyes blazing with fury.

  ?Looks like the bear is really unhappy,? — flashed through my mind. I quickly retreated to a safe distance, creating an ice bow in my hands.

  The first few arrows I fired shattered into pieces upon touching the bear’s stone hide. The only vulnerable spot was its back, where the acid had already begun its work.

  The bear charged at me, its powerful paws easily splitting the ground beneath it. I dashed to the right, hiding behind one of the boulders, but my cover was instantly destroyed—the bear hurled another boulder at it like it was a pebble.

  ?Damn, it’s too strong,? — raced through my mind as I darted from one hiding spot to another. Every time I thought I’d found a safe place, the bear destroyed it with terrifying ease. Its paws, like hammers, crushed the rocks, leaving behind piles of rubble.

  I peeked out from behind another boulder and fired an arrow straight into the bear’s face to distract it. The beast, even more enraged, charged at me, demolishing everything in its path. At the last moment, I created a mana flow in my legs, enhancing them, and leaped onto the bear’s back.

  The bear didn’t like this. It roared and began thrashing wildly, trying to throw me off. But I held on tightly, gripping its fur with one hand while creating a massive ice spear with the other.

  — Time to calm you down, — I whispered, gripping the spear with both hands. Gathering all my strength, I drove it into the exposed area on the bear’s back where the acid had eaten away the stone armor.

  — ROAR! — The bear’s death roar deafened me, but I didn’t let go of the spear until I felt the beast’s body begin to weaken. A few seconds later, the bear collapsed to the ground, its massive body shuddering one last time.

  — Finally, it’s dead, — I exhaled with relief, sitting on its back and looking at the clear sky.

  But the joy of victory was quickly replaced by a new problem.

  — What do I do with its carcass now? — I muttered.

  I couldn’t butcher it on the spot, and carrying such a massive beast whole was impossible. The acid had already been used, so the only option left was to cut off its head and bring it to the guild as proof.

  — Ice Mor, can’t I create a pickaxe with the ring? — I asked, hoping for help.

  — This is an arsenal, not a toolbox, — the old man replied dryly.

  — Got it, old-fashioned way it is, — I sighed, creating a massive ice hammer in my hands.

  — One, two, — I counted, striking the stone hide around the neck. Each blow reverberated through my arms, but I didn’t stop. After almost twenty minutes, I finally exposed the bear’s neck. With a swift strike of an ice sword, I severed the head and wrapped it in a sack.

  — Well, — I said, looking at my prize. — Time to head back.

  With those words, I headed back to the guild, feeling exhausted but satisfied with the completed quest.

  I don’t even remember how I made it back to the guild. My legs burned with fatigue, and my hands trembled from the strain. With a loud thud, I threw the sack containing the earth bear’s head onto the table in front of the registration desk.

  — I did it, — I said, barely holding back my tired breathing.

  — Ark, what’s this? — Sophia asked, her voice filled with confusion. She stood behind the counter, her eyebrows raised in surprise.

  — The head of an earth bear, — I replied, trying to sound confident, though inside I was seething with exhaustion and irritation.

  — ...

  — ...

  An awkward silence hung in the air. Sophia looked at the sack, then at me, as if trying to figure out if I was joking or serious.

  — How do I put this, Ark... — Sophia finally broke the silence, her voice tinged with regret. — This morning, the quest was removed due to paperwork errors.

  I froze for a moment, trying to process her words. Fatigue overwhelmed me so much that even my emotions felt muted. I just exhaled, unable to muster the energy for outrage or disappointment.

  — I’ll report this, and we’ll figure out what to do tomorrow, — Sophia said, forcing her usual smile, though her eyes showed a hint of embarrassment.

  I didn’t respond. Turning around, I left the guild, not even remembering that I’d left the sack with the monster’s head on the table.

  ?He left without a word. And what am I supposed to do with this? Ugh, it even stinks!? — Sophia thought, looking at the sack with disgust. Quickly grabbing it, she moved it away from the counter, trying not to inhale the unpleasant smell.

  As for me, walking down the street, I felt my fatigue slowly giving way to mild irritation. ?Well,? I thought, ?tomorrow’s a new day, and maybe new adventures await.? But right now, all I needed was to get home and collapse into bed.

  The next day, I stepped into the guild again. The fatigue from yesterday’s adventure still lingered, but I knew I had to deal with the unfinished business. Approaching the counter where Sophia worked, I was met with her usual smile.

  — Good morning, Ark. Are you here about yesterday? — she asked, her voice warm and friendly. Sometimes I wondered how she managed to smile so sincerely at everyone every day.

  — Yes, that’s why I’m here, — I replied, trying to hide my slight tension.

  — We wanted to give you the reward as stated in the quest, but the guild master decided to handle it differently, — Sophia explained, her tone becoming slightly more formal. — Ark, you should take a look at this.

  She bent down, rummaged through one of the drawers under the desk, and pulled out a sheet with a new quest. I took it and read it carefully:

  ?Escort mission; rank: any.?

  At first glance, nothing suspicious. But I knew that such simple wording often hid complexities.

  — The guild master wants you to take on this quest, — Sophia continued, her voice persuasive. — In return, the reward for this and the previous quest will be doubled. — She leaned forward slightly, as if trying to pique my interest. — And you’ll also rank up.

  A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

  I thought for a moment. Getting a new rank was extremely important to me right now, and a doubled reward of two million coins could be a huge help in the future.

  — I agree, — I finally said, nodding.

  — Great! — Sophia smiled even wider. — In two days, they’ll leave the capital through the southern gates and head to Nailit.

  — Nailit, huh... — I pondered, recalling the kingdom’s map. — That’s quite far from the capital. It’ll take almost a week to get there. Wouldn’t the train be faster?.. No, forget it.

  The train was definitely not an option. The thought of being in a confined space again brought back unpleasant memories. A wagon was better.

  — The client is a merchant, and he’s quite a traditionalist, — Sophia explained, as if reading my thoughts. — So he’s used to traveling in his wagon. — She suddenly slapped her forehead. — Oh, I completely forgot to mention! He’s an old friend of the guild master, so try to get along with him.

  — Got it, — I smirked slightly. — Seems like the journey will be... interesting.

  With those words, I left the guild, already thinking about how to prepare for the upcoming trip. Thoughts of the new quest, potential dangers, and, of course, the reward kept me on edge.

  The day of departure arrived. Early morning fog enveloped the capital, and I stood at the southern gates, chatting with the guards. We discussed the latest news and joked, but my mind was preoccupied with the upcoming journey. Soon, a large wagon pulled by two powerful horses approached the gates. A middle-aged man with graying hair sat on the driver’s seat, looking like he’d spent half his life on the road.

  ?He and the guild master really do look alike,? — flashed through my mind as I approached him.

  — Hello, Mr. River. I’m Ark, your escort from the guild, — I introduced myself politely, trying to sound confident.

  — Nice to meet you, kid! — he replied warmly, his voice friendly and welcoming. — I hope we’ll get along.

  — I hope so too, — I said, extending my hand.

  — Oh, cut the formalities, — he shook my hand firmly, then slapped my back so hard I almost coughed. — You just take care of us, kid.

  — Us? — I asked, surprised.

  At that moment, a soft rustling came from the back of the wagon. A few seconds later, a girl in a white cloak emerged, her hood hiding her hair. She looked about my age, but her gaze and posture suggested someone used to attention.

  — Hmm, so you’re our escort? — she gave me an appraising look, then smirked slightly. — You don’t look very reliable.

  — Emi, that’s no way to talk to people! — Mr. River immediately scolded her.

  Without thinking, I stepped forward and knelt on one knee, taking her hand in mine.

  — Forgive me, young lady, if my appearance has disappointed you. If my presence is unpleasant, I’ll do my best to stay out of your sight during the journey, — I said, completely copying a line from the game addressed to the main heroine.

  — Huh? I didn’t say you’re disgusting, just... fine, I don’t mind if you come with us, — she muttered, her cheeks flushing. She quickly pulled her hand away and hurried back into the wagon.

  ?Never thought a line from that green-haired peacock in the game would come in handy,? — I thought, watching the blushing girl.

  — Sorry about that, — Mr. River apologized, his voice slightly embarrassed. — This is Emi, my niece. She’s traveling with me.

  — It’s fine, it didn’t bother me, — I replied, shrugging.

  — Great! Hop in the wagon, and we’ll head out right away.

  Approaching the back of the wagon, I saw that more than half of the space was filled with goods. On the remaining space sat Emi, still red as a ripe tomato. Deciding not to embarrass her further, I returned to Mr. River.

  — I think I’ll stay with you, — I said, sitting next to him on the driver’s seat.

  — Great, kid! — he smiled and flicked the reins. The horses started moving, and the wagon slowly rolled down the road, leaving the capital behind.

  For several hours, Mr. River and I engaged in casual conversation. He turned out to be a great storyteller, and I listened to his tales with pleasure, occasionally adding my own comments.

  — Then he started throwing boulders around, I thought I was going to die! — I recalled my recent fight with the earth bear with a smile.

  — Hahaha! — Mr. River laughed. — In my youth, I also fought an unusual bear, but it was some kind of purple one with a crystal on its forehead.

  — You’re not talking about a Void Grizzly, are you? — I asked with genuine interest. — I’ve only read about it in the guild’s bestiary!

  — Kid, I don’t even remember what that beast was called, — he said thoughtfully. — Gilbert and I encountered it in one of the A-rank dungeons. Ah, youth...

  The rest of the day passed quietly. As the sun began to set, we made camp. I helped Mr. River start a fire, and soon the aroma of roasted meat filled the air. Emi emerged from the wagon, drawn by the smell of food. She sat next to Mr. River, not even glancing at me.

  ?Is she mad at me for what happened this morning?? — I wondered.

  — Oh, she’s definitely mad at you, — Ice Mor’s voice echoed in my head.

  I didn’t respond to the old man. From the outside, it would look like I was talking to myself, so I just ignored him.

  After finishing the meal, Emi quickly fell asleep. Mr. River and I remained by the fire, gazing at the starry sky.

  — Beautiful, isn’t it? — he said softly.

  — You don’t get to see so many stars every night, — I agreed. The sky was indeed filled with stars, as if someone had scattered a handful of diamonds across it.

  — Ark, you’re not upset with my niece, are you? — Mr. River suddenly asked, his voice serious.

  — No, her behavior is pretty much expected, — I replied, not taking my eyes off the sky. — Though, I’m still a kid myself.

  — Emi lost her mother when she was only six, — he began, his voice tinged with sadness. — Her father was too busy with work to pay her much attention, so I took over her upbringing. — He paused for a moment, as if remembering something. — But because of my work, we’re always traveling, and she never had a chance to make friends.

  — I didn’t get along well with people as a kid either, — I admitted, reminiscing about my past life. — Mostly because of my shyness. I didn’t have any friends until a certain age. — I fell silent, remembering the face of my first friend. — Until one persistent guy kept trying to talk to me. At first, it annoyed me, but then I thought: why not give it a try? That’s how I got my first best friend.

  ?That friend was San. I wonder how he’s doing after my death? Not that it matters, since I can’t go back anyway,? — I thought, a faint smile appearing on my face.

  — So, if Emi doesn’t push people away by hiding behind a mask of arrogance, she’ll definitely find someone she can call a friend.

  — You really don’t think like a kid, — Mr. River said thoughtfully. Suddenly, he stood up and approached me. His gaze became piercing, almost penetrating. — Are you hiding something dangerous?

  His tone shifted to threatening. I felt an immense pressure bearing down on me, as if an invisible force was squeezing my body. It was similar to what I’d felt during my first encounter with Guild Master Gilbert, but this pressure was even stronger. I barely held back a shiver, but a moment later, Mr. River relaxed and sat back down.

  — Sorry if I scared you, — he said with a slight smirk. — Old habits from my past job. I hope she really can find someone like that.

  ?Now I understand why Sophia advised me to get along with him,? — I thought, trying to calm my breathing. — ?Such pressure from just a glance... He’s definitely not just a merchant.?

  We fell silent again, each lost in our thoughts. The fire crackled, and the stars continued to shine above us, as if reminding us that there was still so much to explore in this world. After a while, Mr. River also went to sleep, leaving me alone by the fire. The night was quiet, with only the crackling of the fire breaking the silence.

  — That man noticed your mana flow, — Ice Mor’s voice echoed in my head. — He even suppressed it easily, though the one you maintain in the ring didn’t disappear. You haven’t been slacking off in your training.

  — I’ll take that as a compliment, — I mentally replied, continuing to focus on controlling my mana.

  I spent the entire night on guard, and to keep myself from getting bored, I trained my mana, trying to maintain its flow in different parts of my body. When morning came, Mr. River noticed I hadn’t slept.

  — Ark, did you stay up all night? Did you even sleep? — he asked, his voice slightly scolding.

  — Good morning, Mr. River. Don’t worry, I feel fine, — I replied, trying to sound cheerful.

  — Your body needs proper sleep to grow, — he said, his tone stricter. — From now on, we’ll take turns every four hours, and no arguments.

  — Yes, sir, — I replied, for some reason saluting him.

  We packed up the camp together and loaded everything into the wagon. When Emi woke up, we had breakfast and set off again. This time, I sat inside the wagon, across from her. An awkward silence hung between us.

  — The bear... — she said quietly, not looking at me. — You said you fought a bear? Is that true?

  — It’s true, — I replied, slightly surprised by her interest. — Are you curious about how it went?

  — Yes, very... ahem, I mean, I wouldn’t mind if you told me about it, — she quickly corrected herself, returning to her usual haughty tone.

  ?A tsundere, through and through,? — I thought, barely holding back a smile.

  As she asked, I told her about my fight with the earth bear. Occasionally, she broke character, asking questions or showing genuine interest, but quickly reverted to her haughty demeanor, as if trying to hide that she was genuinely intrigued.

  I started feeling a bit sleepy.

  — If you want to sleep, you can lie down for now. The road’s empty anyway, — Mr. River said, as if sensing my fatigue.

  — Alright, — I replied, leaning my back against the wagon wall.

  — How did he even fall asleep like that? Why didn’t he at least put a sleeping bag under his head? — Emi whispered indignantly.

  ?What if... No, Emi, that’s not right,? — she thought, a faint blush appearing on her cheeks.

  ?But he’s asleep anyway and won’t notice,? — she decided and, slightly embarrassed, moved to my side. Carefully tilting me, she laid my head on her lap. An old man in a ring watched this but, of course, remained silent.

  When I woke up, I found myself lying face down on the wagon floor.

  — I dreamed I was lying on something soft, — I muttered, wiping the dust off my face.

  — Idiot! — the girl across from me snapped, her cheeks slightly red.

  ?Huh? What did I do wrong this time?? — I thought, puzzled.

  — The less you know, the better you sleep, — Ice Mor said with a smirk.

  I just shrugged, not understanding what had happened, but decided not to dwell on it. The day passed without any major events, as did the next one. However, during this time, I managed to grow closer to Emi. It turned out she had an unusual affinity for spirit magic, which allowed her to see and interact with spirits. At first, I couldn’t understand how this was possible, as such abilities were usually only possessed by elves. But Emi removed her hood, revealing her snow-white hair, behind which small pointed ears were visible.

  — You’re... an elf? — I asked, surprised.

  — Half-elf, — she replied, slightly embarrassed. — My mother was an elf, and my father was a regular human.

  This explained her unusual abilities. Emi told me her mother had taught her the basics of spirit magic, but after her death, that knowledge remained untapped.

  — Want to see something interesting? — she suddenly asked, her eyes gleaming with mischief.

  — Sure, — I replied, intrigued.

  Emi extended her hand, and a small, almost transparent spirit appeared in her palm, resembling a miniature whirlwind. It spun and fluttered, as if playing with the air.

  — This is a wind spirit, — she explained. — Usually, only those with spiritual vision can see it. But... — she hesitated slightly, — if you hold my hand, you can see it too.

  Without thinking, I reached out. Emi took my hand, and at that moment, the spirit appeared before my eyes. It was tiny, but its energy was palpable even from a distance.

  — There it is, — Emi whispered, her voice almost reverent. — Wind spirits are free and playful. This little one has been with me since I was a child.

  I watched the spirit, mesmerized by its movement. It circled around our hands, as if dancing, then suddenly shot upward, scattering into thousands of sparks.

  — Did it leave? — I asked when the spirit disappeared.

  — No, it’s just playing, — Emi smiled. — Wind spirits rarely stay in one place for long.

  We sat in silence, but Emi quickly returned to her usual demeanor, slightly distancing herself.

  — So, impressed? — she asked, trying to sound haughty, but her eyes still sparkled with joy.

  — Very, — I replied honestly. — You’re amazing, Emi.

  She blushed slightly and turned away, but I noticed the corners of her lips twitching into a faint smile.

  From that moment on, our conversations became easier, and the awkward pauses grew shorter. Emi began sharing her knowledge of spirits, and in return, I told her about my adventures.

  It was the fourth day of our journey to Nailit. By evening, we were supposed to reach Seville—a small town along our route. We decided to stop there to spend the night in a proper bed rather than on the ground in sleeping bags. However, we weren’t destined to reach the town peacefully.

  — Ark, did you also notice we’re being watched? — Ice Mor’s voice suddenly echoed in my head.

  — Hard to miss such a crowd when they’re so eager to kill, — I replied quietly, continuing to listen carefully to the surrounding sounds.

  I had been enhancing my hearing with a mana flow, so I’d noticed the pursuit hours ago. The bandits had been following us for a while, and their intentions were obvious.

  — Mr. River, we’re being followed, — I whispered, trying not to alarm Emi. — Slowly, without raising suspicion, stop the wagon and join us inside.

  — Got it, — he replied curtly, following my request.

  — Uncle, did something happen? — Emi asked with slight concern, her eyes showing confusion.

  — Everything’s fine, just a quick stop, — he reassured her, trying not to give anything away.

  I created a massive ice shield and handed it to Mr. River. Then I stepped out of the wagon. The road was empty, but I clearly heard rustling and footsteps in the forest on both sides.

  ?Eight? Ten? No, there are thirteen of them. Six on the right, the rest on the left,? — I mentally calculated, finishing my assessment of the situation. At that moment, I felt a knife flying toward me at incredible speed. Reacting quickly, I dodged it, and the next instant, a nasty male voice rang out from the forest.

  — What a shame, the little beast turned out to be faster than I thought. Though that makes it more interesting, — the man said mockingly, emerging from the forest. He was half-naked, his body covered in red tattoos, and half his face was hidden by a white mask adorned with similar patterns. A serrated sword hung from his right side, but what caught my attention most was the necklace of animal fangs around his neck.

  Soon, the rest of the bandits emerged from the forest, resembling him but without the necklace. They surrounded us, their eyes filled with malice and greed.

  — Huh? Why are you frozen? Did you already wet yourself? — one of the bandits started laughing, and the rest joined in. — Hey! Answer when you’re being spoken to, pup.

  The leader’s patience was running thin, but I didn’t rise to the provocation, keeping my focus on the wagon. Right now, Emi and Mr. River’s lives were the priority.

  — What do you want from us? — I asked, not taking my eyes off the bandit leader.

  — Are you stupid? Kill the man, sell you and the girl into slavery. Simple as that, — his words made me nauseous. — Boys, get to work!

  At his command, half the bandits headed for the wagon. I quickly directed a mana flow into my eyes, created a bow, and instantly fired six arrows, hitting each of them in the legs. The bandits screamed in pain, immobilized.

  — Now this is interesting, — the bandit leader smirked, and the next instant, his blade was at my face with blinding speed. I barely managed to create an ice sword and deflect the strike, but the blade still grazed my shoulder, leaving a thin line of blood.

  Without giving me a moment to breathe, he immediately followed up with an upward slash aimed at my stomach. I barely parried, jumping back to create distance.

  — Not bad for a kid, — the bandit leader said with a joyful grin, as if enjoying the fight.

  — Sicko, — I muttered, switching to the bow. I quickly fired a couple of arrows, but he effortlessly sliced them apart with his sword. However, the ice mist from the shattered arrows obscured my actions. Seizing the moment, I closed the distance and struck at his neck.

  — Sorry, kid, but surprise attacks don’t work on me, — he blocked my sword with his left hand as if it were nothing.

  — What? — I blurted out, but the response was a powerful kick to the stomach. I flew back several meters, doubling over in pain.

  — That hurt, you bastard, — I hissed through gritted teeth, clutching my stomach.

  — Idiots, why haven’t you dragged the girl out of the wagon yet?! — the leader barked at his men. The remaining bandits rushed toward the wagon, but a few seconds later, one of them flew out like a sack of potatoes. Mr. River stepped out, holding a massive ice shield.

  — Ark! Don’t worry about us, focus on the leader! — he shouted, his voice confident and commanding.

  I quickly regained my composure, directing a mana flow into my legs. With a sudden burst of speed, I darted between the leader’s legs and struck at his throat.

  — Can’t you listen? — he blocked my strike with his sword again, but that was exactly what I needed. Upon contact, my ice sword shattered, creating a thick mist. At that moment, I grabbed his sword, and the ring’s curse instantly took effect—the weapon turned to ice and crumbled into pieces.

  — Not so fun now, you sick bastard! — I took advantage of his confusion. Hooking my right leg behind his supporting leg, I swept it out while pushing hard with my hands. The leader lost his balance and crashed to the ground.

  He tried to get up, but I was already on top of him, creating a new ice blade in my hand. His eyes widened as he realized he no longer controlled the situation.

  — The end, — I whispered, aiming the blade at his throat. At the last moment, my hand froze, the blade stopping just inches from his neck.

  — What, never killed a man before? — the leader sneered. He was right.

  Killing monsters didn’t weigh on my conscience. But now, with a human lying before me, everything felt different. For nineteen years, I’d lived in a society where murder was a terrible crime. But here, in this world, the rules were different: kill or be killed. And I needed to decide quickly.

  Taking advantage of my hesitation, the leader threw me off and pulled out a backup knife. Now I was on the ground, my arms pinned under his legs as he raised the blade for a killing strike.

  — Die, weakling! — he snarled, driving the knife toward my throat.

  Summoning all my remaining strength, I twisted to the side, redirecting the strike. The knife plunged into my shoulder, and I screamed in pain.

  — AAAAAH! — The cry tore from my chest, but I couldn’t afford to stop.

  — Stop squirming! — he hissed, pulling the knife from my shoulder and raising it again.

  Pushing through the pain, I created an ice dagger and stabbed it into his leg. The leader screamed and fell to the ground, losing his grip on me.

  — You little bastard! — he growled through the pain, but it was too late. I stood over him, a massive ice hammer in my hands.

  — You’ve got to be kidding me? — His eyes widened in fear as death approached.

  — See you in hell, asshole...

  BAM

  The hammer came down with such force that the ground shook. It was over.

  I sat next to the crushed corpse, my hands trembling and my body barely holding together. As the adrenaline wore off, the burning pain in my shoulder spread throughout my body. And as if that weren’t enough, the backlash from overusing multiple mana flows decided to kick in now. The pain from the wound was joined by an equally intense pain in my heart.

  ?It hurts! It hurts! It hurts! Am I dying? Again? No, I don’t want to, it’s too soon!? — The pain was so intense I could barely think.

  — Ark! — After dealing with the remaining bandits, Mr. River ran over to me. — Damn it, he needs a healing potion and bandages!

  — Neck... — Through the pain, I tried to speak, pointing at the leader’s body. — Necklace...

  — The necklace? — he asked, following my gaze.

  Everything in my vision blurred, and I lost consciousness, sinking into a sea of pain and darkness.