Himmel sat on his bed, staring at the two wooden pques in his hands. The a nguage carved into them glowed faintly uhe dim dlelight, as if whisperis he wasn’t yet meant to know. The names Sigil 98 and Sigil 99 stood out, an ominous remihat the assassins weren’t ordinary killers—they were part of something far bigger.

  The system’s rea from earlier still echoed in his mind.

  "Why are they here?"

  She had seemed… frustrated. Almost armed. That wasn’t the usual cold and teasing voice he had e to expect from her.

  But now?

  Silence.

  She refused to expin. That only meant ohing—whatever Sigil was, Himmel wasn’t strong enough to face it yet.

  With a sigh, he stored the pques in his iory and leaned back against the wall. There was no point in w about things he had no trol over. As long as he grew strohe truth would eventually reveal itself.

  "I o get stronger… fast."

  At that moment, a system notification popped up in front of him.

  [New Mai Issued!]

  Objective: Grow Stronger

  Hunt moo increase mana capacity.

  Learn new spells.

  Seek out a ruins for fotten magic.

  Survive.

  Failure ditioh.

  Rewards: ???

  Himmel smirked.

  "At least she’s being ho about it this time."

  He got up from the bed, stretg his stiff muscles. His battle with the assassins earlier had drained him, but there was no time to waste. His enemies now knew where he was. Staying in the capital was too dangerous. If Sigil had more members lurking in the shadows, he would be a sitting duck if he remained here.

  He had to leave.

  Before leaving, Himmel knew he had to prepare. He couldn't just walk into the wilderness empty-handed.

  His first stop was the Royal Capital Library.

  The momeepped ihe st of old part filled his nostrils. T shelves filled with aomes and grimoires stretched into the distance, illuminated by the gentle glow of magic mps.

  A young librarian approached him with a polite smile.

  "Wele, sir. How I assist you?"

  "I need grimoires on advanced magic," Himmel said. "bat magic, elemental spells, and anything useful for battle."

  The librarian blinked. "That’s quite a broad request, sir. Are you perhaps a schor?"

  "Something like that," he said vaguely.

  The librarian didn’t pry further and guided him toward a secluded se of the library. Several thies were stacked ly on the shelves, each humming with magical energy.

  Himmel ran his fingers along the spines, pig out a few that caught his i. One in particur stood out—"The Principles of Mana Circution".

  "This should be useful."

  After purchasing several grimoires, he headed toward the marketpce to buy additional supplies—food, potions, and a durable cloak to ceal himself.

  By the time he was dohe sun had already started setting. The streets were still lively, but Himmel felt a subtle shift imosphere.

  It was time to go.

  As Himmel approached the city gates, he took o g the t walls behind him.

  This pce had been his home for a while, but now it was nothing more than a trap waiting t. The moment those assassins failed to kill him, his enemies would send more.

  Staying here was no longer an option.

  The guards at the gate gave him a brief look but didn't stop him as he walked past. They were used to adventurers ing and going.

  Beyond the capital, the open road stretched into the unknown.

  With a deep breath, Himmel stepped forward.

  His journey had just begun.

  ---