CHAPTER 13: The Broken System
Zodac walked out of Boss's forge, his new armor glinting under the morning sun. Across the dusty road stood another large building — nearly as big as Boss's shop, though darker in tone, its sign etched with faint runes that shimmered faintly in green.
He crossed the street and stepped inside.
At once, the smell of herbs, smoke, and something faintly metallic filled his lungs. The interior was dim but rich with color — shelves stacked with glowing potions, vials, and charms of every imaginable shape.
"Wow…" Zodac murmured, curiosity taking over as he lowered his hood.
He stopped before a shelf holding a glass bottle filled with green liquid. The label was simple — a painted eye staring from a black background, framed by crescent moons.
His system panel flickered.
[Item Detected: Night Vision Potion]
Effect: Temporary night vision (3 hours)
"Night vision, huh," he said, eyes bright with interest.
"Nice, isn't it?" a voice said suddenly behind him.
Zodac nearly jumped out of his skin, turning sharply. Behind him stood a short old woman with a head of black hair streaked with silver, draped in a dark cloak fastened by iron buttons. Her eyes were sharp, far too alert for her age.
"You startled me," Zodac said, exhaling. "You wouldn't happen to be the enchantress?"
"Former enchantress," she said flatly. "I'm retired. But everyone still insists on calling me that."
"Cool. I need—"
"Whatever you need, the answer is no."
Zodac blinked. "What?"
She squinted up at him, barely reaching his chest. "You heard me. No."
"But why?" he asked, his voice cracking slightly.
"You really have to ask?" she said with a glare. "Half the kingdom's whispering about you, boy. I've got a reputation to protect. If people see me working with you, my business will crumble faster than your name did."
Zodac frowned, his patience thinning. "But—"
"No buts. Out!" she barked.
"Can I just—"
"I said out!" she shouted again, pushing at his chest with surprising strength.
Zodac's hands clenched. His patience snapped.
"I DIDN'T DO IT!!!" he roared, his voice booming through the room.
The old woman froze mid-step, eyes flicking toward the table behind her. On it sat a transparent orb cradled in a crystalline prism, glowing faintly blue.
Zodac followed her gaze and tilted his head. "What's that?"
The enchantress hesitated, then sighed. "...Come here. Let's make this quick."
Zodac blinked. "Wait—what changed your mind?"
She ignored the question and sat down at the small wooden table, motioning for him to take the seat opposite. He hesitated a moment, then obeyed, settling into the chair.
The prism drew his attention immediately — smooth, almost liquid-like crystal, humming faintly with the same energy as the pendant Boss had worn.
"You see this crystal?" she asked.
"Yeah. Looks like a lie detector. Same as the one Boss had," he said.
Her brow lifted. "Boss?"
"The blacksmith across from you."
"Oh—Mr. Carter," she said, amused.
"I'll stick with Boss. Easier," Zodac replied, deadpan.
She smirked slightly. "Right. Well, this is a stronger version of that pendant. You don't need to ask questions for it to tell truth from lies. The crystal reacts directly to intention — to your words."
She pointed at the chair again. "Now sit. No more chatter. Do you need my help or not?"
Zodac didn't argue. He placed his hands on the table.
"Boss said you might help me. I… can't hold weapons," he admitted.
The enchantress tilted her head. "Can't hold weapons?"
He nodded. "Every time I try to touch one, I get hit with lightning. It's like the system rejects me. Even wooden handles."
She rubbed her chin. "Interesting. Never heard of that before — especially not from a Hero."
"So you can help?"
"I don't know," she said honestly. "But I can check."
"Alright," Zodac said quietly.
"Place your hand on the prism."
He obeyed. Her wrinkled fingers rested beside his, and a faint hum filled the air. A white light began to bloom from her palm, seeping into the crystal.
The orb flickered — then projected a holographic light onto the ceiling above them.
Zodac looked up.
At first, it was just color — streams of red and white light swirling like flame. Then the image twisted, unstable, flickering in and out.
Suddenly, the light stabilized — revealing a burning village. Houses turned to ash. Screams echoed faintly from the hologram as fire consumed everything.
Among the ruins stood a shield — a red shield covered in red crystals, its edges black and cracked, pulsing faintly as if alive.
Then the hologram glitched violently and vanished.
Zodac blinked, lowering his gaze. "What was that? What did I just see?"
The enchantress was silent for a long moment. Then she whispered, "I'm not sure… but I think I know what's wrong with you."
Zodac leaned forward, eyes sharp. "Tell me."
"The instability we saw — that flickering? It means your system is incomplete. You're missing half of it."
He frowned. "A glitch?"
She nodded. "Exactly. You're running on an unlinked system — one side active, the other… lost or sealed. That's why you can't handle weapons. Your essence rejects them because your synchronization isn't whole."
Zodac's chest tightened. "So how do I fix it?"
The enchantress stood, her cloak rustling softly. "There's one way."
Her tone had changed — quieter, almost eerie. She stepped toward him slowly.
Zodac's instincts prickled. He shifted back slightly, every movement cautious.
Her eyes glowed faintly blue as she whispered, "But it won't be painless."