The morning they left, half the village came to see them off.
Aren stood at the village gate with a travel pack on his back, his weathered staff in hand, and Torrhen beside him. His mother fussed over them one last time, adjusting Aren's cloak, making sure they had enough food.
"You have the money I gave you?" Elara asked for the third time.
"Yes, Mom."
"And the healing salves?"
"Yes."
"And you'll write once you get there?"
"Mom," Aren said gently, taking her hands. "I'll be fine. We'll be fine. I promise."
Elara's eyes were wet. "I know. I just… you're my baby boy."
"I'm sixteen now. Not a baby anymore."
"You'll always be my baby."
She pulled him into a tight hug. Aren hugged her back, trying not to think about how long it might be before he saw her again.
Chief Rodrick stepped forward, holding an official-looking scroll. "Aren Valewood. You are hereby released from Thornhaven to report to the capital for classification and registration. May the System guide your path."
Standard legal stuff. Aren took the scroll and tucked it into his pack.
Some villagers called out good wishes. Others just watched silently. The blacksmith—Mella's father—handed Torrhen a new dagger as a parting gift.
"Keep him safe," the blacksmith said quietly.
"I will," Torrhen promised.
Mella herself stepped forward, looking embarrassed. "Aren, I… I wanted to apologize. For how I treated you before. When you were sick. I didn't think you'd amount to anything. But you proved everyone wrong."
"It's okay," Aren said. "You weren't the only one who thought that."
"Still. Good luck at the academy. If you get in, I mean. Which you probably will with an A-rank class."
She hurried away before Aren could respond.
Finally, with all the goodbyes said, Aren and Torrhen walked through the village gate.
Aren looked back once. His mother stood there, waving. He waved back.
Then he turned forward and kept walking.
The road to Cairnhold stretched ahead. Three days of travel, according to Torrhen. Through forests, past smaller villages, eventually reaching the capital city.
"You ready for this?" Torrhen asked.
Aren felt the three spirits floating invisibly around him. Zephyra on his shoulder, Breeze and Spark darting playfully through the air.
"Ready as I'll ever be."
…
First Day on the Road
The forest road was well-traveled. They passed merchants with wagons, other adventurers heading to dungeons, farmers bringing goods to market.
Most ignored them. Two travelers with basic gear weren't particularly interesting.
But Aren noticed people glancing at his staff. The carved totems and feathers marked it as unusual. Shamanic, if anyone still remembered what that looked like.
"Keep your hood up," Torrhen advised. "Less attention is better."
Aren pulled his hood forward, shadowing his face.
They walked for hours. The morning sun climbed higher, warming the air. Birds sang in the trees. It was almost peaceful.
"Aren," Zephyra's voice spoke in his mind. "Something's watching us."
Aren's Spiritual Sense tingled. He looked around but saw nothing obvious.
"Where?"
"Trees to the left. Three of them. Not spirits. Physical beings."
Aren casually used Scout Wind, sending Breeze to investigate.
The little spirit zipped into the forest and returned moments later.
"Bandits!" Breeze reported. "Three men with weapons. They're following us."
Great. Not even one day out and already trouble.
"Torrhen," Aren said quietly. "We're being followed. Three bandits in the trees."
Torrhen didn't react visibly, just kept walking. "How do you know?"
"I… saw them. With magic. They're armed."
"Can you tell their levels?"
Aren focused his Spirit Sight. He could see the spiritual energy around living things, and stronger people had brighter auras.
"Not sure. Maybe Level 8 or 9? Not very strong."
"Alright. Keep walking. Let them make the first move. If they attack, I'll handle two. You take the third."
They kept walking as if nothing was wrong.
Five minutes later, three men stepped out of the forest ahead, blocking the road.
[BANDIT THUG - LEVEL 9] x3
They wore mismatched armor and carried rusty weapons. One had a sword, another an axe, the third a club.
"Well, well," the one with the sword said. "Two travelers. All alone. How convenient."
"We don't want trouble," Torrhen said calmly.
"Then hand over your coin and supplies, and you can walk away."
"Not happening."
The bandit grinned. "Then I guess we do this the hard way."
The three bandits spread out, trying to surround them.
Torrhen moved first. His bow was up and firing before the bandits could react. An arrow punched into the axe-wielder's shoulder.
[BANDIT HP: 280 → 210]
The man screamed and stumbled back.
The sword-wielder charged at Torrhen while the club-wielder came at Aren.
"You're mine, kid!"
Aren raised his hand. "Gust!"
Wind blasted the bandit off his feet. The man flew backward and crashed into a tree.
[BANDIT HP: 320 → 270]
The bandit groaned and struggled to stand. "What the—you're a mage?!"
"Ember Shot!" Aren fired a ball of flame.
It hit the bandit in the chest. His shirt caught fire.
[CRITICAL HIT - FIRE DAMAGE]
[BANDIT HP: 270 → 180]
The bandit panicked and rolled on the ground, trying to put out the flames.
Meanwhile, Torrhen had dodged the sword swing and put two arrows into the swordsman at point-blank range.
[BANDIT HP: 300 → 160]
"They're just kids!" the wounded axe-wielder shouted. "How are they this strong?!"
"Retreat!" the swordsman yelled.
The three bandits scrambled back into the forest, running for their lives.
Torrhen lowered his bow. "Well, that was easy."
Aren let out a breath he didn't know he'd been holding. "First real fight outside a dungeon."
"You did good. Quick reaction, good damage. Didn't panic."
"Thanks."
They checked the road to make sure the bandits were really gone, then continued walking.
"Does this happen a lot?" Aren asked. "Bandits on the road?"
"Often enough. The kingdom doesn't patrol every road. Easy pickings for low-level thugs who prey on weak travelers." Torrhen glanced at him. "But we're not weak travelers."
Aren thought about the fight. It had been over in seconds. The bandits never stood a chance.
Level 10 versus Level 9 didn't sound like a big difference, but apparently it was.
"How many levels do you think I need to be safe in the capital?" Aren asked.
"Safe? There's no such thing as safe there. But if you want to hold your own… I'd say Level 20 minimum. Level 30 to be taken seriously."
Aren was Level 10. He had a long way to go.
…
First Night - Roadside Camp
They made camp off the road, in a clearing hidden by trees. Torrhen built a fire while Aren set up their bedrolls.
The three spirits materialized now that they were alone.
"I don't like this place," Spark said, floating nervously. "Too many bad smells. Greed. Violence. Fear."
"It's the human world," Zephyra said. "This is what it's like outside safe zones."
"I prefer the forest," Breeze added.
Aren used Campfire Companion to make the fire burn cleaner and warmer. The flames grew brighter, more comforting.
Torrhen handed him dried meat and bread. "Tomorrow we'll reach Millbrook Village. We can resupply there and sleep in an actual bed."
"How big is it compared to Thornhaven?"
"Maybe twice the size? Still small, but they have a proper inn and a guild hall."
Guild hall. That meant adventurers. People who might recognize an unusual class or ask too many questions.
"Should I hide my spirits there?" Aren asked.
"Definitely. The fewer people who see weird things around you, the better."
They ate in comfortable silence, watching the fire.
"Torrhen," Aren said after a while. "Why did you really come with me?"
His brother looked at him. "What do you mean?"
"You could've stayed home. Helped Mom. Taken care of the family. Instead, you're following me into danger. Why?"
Torrhen was quiet for a long moment. Then: "Remember what I said about Dad? How he died pushing too hard?"
"Yeah."
"I was there that day. In the dungeon. We were clearing a D-rank together—me, Dad, and two other hunters. Everything was going fine until we reached the boss."
Torrhen stared into the fire.
"Dad thought he could take it. Thought we were strong enough. But the boss was stronger than expected. Level 25 instead of 20. It tore through our party. Killed one hunter instantly. Wounded the other. I panicked and ran."
"Torrhen—"
"Dad stayed. Fought it alone to buy us time to escape. And he won. Killed the boss. But he was bleeding out when we found him after. Died before we could get him to a healer."
Torrhen's hands clenched. "His last words were 'take care of your brother and sister.' Not 'take care of your mother' or 'I love you.' Just… take care of them."
Aren felt his throat tighten.
"So that's what I'm doing," Torrhen said. "Following Dad's last order. Making sure you don't die like he did, rushing into fights you're not ready for."
"I'm sorry," Aren said. "I didn't know."
"How could you? You were sick when it happened. Barely conscious. Mom and I decided not to tell you the details."
They sat in silence for a while.
"I won't die like Dad," Aren finally said. "I promise. I'm not that reckless."
"Good. Because if you die, I'll drag your spirit back and kill you again myself."
Aren laughed despite the heavy mood. "Deal."
…
Second Day - Millbrook Village
Millbrook was bigger than Thornhaven but still small by kingdom standards. Maybe a thousand people, with actual stone buildings and paved streets.
The inn was called The Rusty Anchor, which was weird for a place nowhere near water. But the rooms were clean and the food was hot, so Aren didn't complain.
They sat in the common room eating stew while adventurers talked loudly at nearby tables.
"Did you hear?" one adventurer was saying. "The Classification Bureau is cracking down on unregistered class holders. Arrested three people in the capital last week."
"What for?" another asked.
"Hiding their real classes. Turns out they were higher rank than they claimed. Bureau thinks they were planning something."
"Paranoid bastards. Not everyone who hides their class is a criminal."
"Tell that to the Bureau."
Aren kept his head down, eating quietly.
Torrhen leaned close. "See? This is what I was worried about. They're actively looking for people like you."
"I'm registered," Aren whispered back. "I have the scroll from Thornhaven saying I'm an A-rank Nature Mage."
"Yeah, but what happens when they test you and your abilities don't match? When you use purification magic or talk to spirits?"
Aren didn't have a good answer.
A man approached their table. Mid-thirties, scarred face, wearing decent armor. [ADVENTURER - LEVEL 22]
"You two heading to the capital?" the man asked.
"Maybe," Torrhen said carefully. "Why?"
"Roads are dangerous right now. Monster activity is up. Some kind of corruption spreading from the western forest. Smart travelers join caravans for safety." He gestured to a group of people near the door. "We're leaving tomorrow morning. Could use extra hands. Pay is 5 silver per person."
Torrhen looked at Aren, who nodded slightly.
"Alright. We'll join."
"Good. Name's Garrick. Meet us at the east gate at dawn."
The man left.
"Corruption spreading?" Aren said quietly. "Like what I saw in that wolf?"
"Maybe. Or maybe just normal monster aggression. Either way, traveling with a group is safer."
That night, Aren lay in an actual bed for the first time in weeks. It felt weird after sleeping on the ground.
Zephyra perched on the windowsill. "We're getting closer to the capital. I can feel the System's influence growing stronger. The spiritual energy is thinner here."
"What does that mean?"
"It means the further we go into civilization, the weaker natural spirits become. And the stronger the System's control gets."
"Will that affect our contracts?"
"Slightly. Our bond will hold, but I'll be less powerful in places where the System dominates. Like the capital itself."
Aren frowned. "So I'll be weaker there?"
"Your spirits will be. Your shamanic abilities will work, but not as well. That's why ancient shamans preferred wild places. Cities were hostile to them."
Great. So he was walking into a place where his main advantage would be weakened.
"Get some sleep," Zephyra said. "Tomorrow we travel with strangers. Stay alert."
…
Third Day - Caravan to Cairnhold
The caravan had twelve people plus two wagons of trade goods.
Besides Aren and Torrhen, there was:
∙ Garrick the scarred adventurer (Level 22)
∙ A merchant named Helena and her teenage daughter
∙ Three other adventurers (Levels 15-18)
∙ Two wagon drivers
∙ Three guards
Professional group. Well-armed. Experienced.
They made good time on the road. The wagons slowed them down a bit, but the extra security was worth it.
Around midday, one of the adventurers—a woman with twin daggers—fell back to walk beside Aren.
[SARAH QUICKBLADE - LEVEL 18]
"You're young for a traveler," she said. "Heading to the capital for your class registration?"
"Yeah," Aren said.
"What'd you get?"
"Nature Mage. A-rank."
Her eyebrows rose. "A-rank? At your age? That's impressive."
"I got lucky."
"Luck is one thing. But you're also Level 10 according to my Analyze skill. That's not luck. That's talent and hard work."
Aren hadn't realized people could check his level just by looking. "I've been training."
"I can tell. Word of advice though—in the capital, don't advertise your rank too loudly. People will either try to recruit you or try to rob you. Sometimes both."
"Thanks for the warning."
Sarah smiled. "No problem, kid. Us adventurers gotta look out for each other."
She moved back up to talk to the other fighters.
"She's fishing," Zephyra said in Aren's mind. "Trying to figure out if you're a threat or an opportunity."
"What should I do?"
"Nothing. Be polite, don't reveal anything important, and stay forgettable."
Easier said than done when you're a sixteen-year-old A-rank.
Around mid-afternoon, Aren's Spiritual Sense started tingling.
"Zephyra?"
"I feel it too. Something ahead. Multiple presences."
Aren sent Breeze to scout.
The little spirit returned quickly. "Monsters! On the road! Big ones!"
"How many?"
"Six! No, seven! They look sick. Wrong. Dark energy around them like that wolf!"
Corrupted monsters. Great.
"Torrhen," Aren said quietly. "Trouble ahead. Corrupted monsters. Seven of them."
Torrhen immediately moved to Garrick. "We've got company. Monsters on the road. Multiple targets."
"How do you know?" Garrick asked.
"My brother's a mage. He can sense them."
Garrick looked at Aren, then nodded. "Everyone, defensive formation! Fighters to the front! Protect the wagons!"
The caravan quickly reorganized. The adventurers and guards moved forward while the civilians stayed back.
They came around a bend in the road and saw them.
[CORRUPTED BEAR - LEVEL 14] x2
[CORRUPTED WOLF - LEVEL 12] x3
[CORRUPTED BOAR - LEVEL 13] x2
Seven animals, all with the same dark spiritual corruption Aren had seen before. Red eyes, foam at mouths, bodies twitching unnaturally.
"What the hell?" Garrick muttered. "I've seen rabid animals, but not like this. Not all at once."
The monsters charged.
"HOLD THE LINE!" Garrick shouted.
The fight erupted.
Arrows flew. Steel clashed. Magic burst out from the mages in the group. The corrupted animals fought with insane strength, no sense of self-preservation.
One of the bears nearly killed a guard before Sarah's daggers found its eyes.
Aren stayed back, using ranged attacks. Ember Shot to damage them. Gust to knock them off balance when they got too close to the wagons.
But he kept watching the corruption. The dark energy wrapped around them.
He could purify them. He knew he could. But that would expose his abilities.
One of the corrupted wolves broke through the line and charged at Helena and her daughter. The girl screamed.
Aren didn't think. He just moved.
"Purification!"
White light burst from his hands and struck the wolf mid-charge.
The corruption shattered. The wolf collapsed, the red leaving its eyes.
Everyone stopped fighting for a second, staring at Aren.
"What was that?!" Garrick shouted.
"Just… light magic!" Aren said. "Nature magic variant!"
"That's not nature magic!"
But there wasn't time to argue. The fight continued.
By the time they killed the last corrupted bear, three guards were injured and one of the wagons was damaged.
Garrick walked over to Aren, breathing hard. "That light you used. I've seen purification magic before. From priests. High-level ones. You're telling me a Level 10 Nature Mage can do that?"
"My class is… unusual," Aren said carefully.
"Unusual. Right." Garrick didn't look convinced, but he didn't push it. "Well, whatever you did, you saved that girl's life. So thank you."
Helena rushed over and hugged Aren. "Thank you, thank you! That monster would've killed her!"
"It's okay," Aren said awkwardly.
But he could feel the other adventurers watching him now. Suspicious. Curious. Calculating.
He'd exposed too much.
"We need to keep moving," Garrick said. "Whatever caused this corruption might still be out here. Let's get to the capital before dark."
…
Third Night - Approaching Cairnhold
As the sun set, they crested a hill and saw it.
Cairnhold. The capital city.
It was massive. Stone walls fifty feet high surrounded a city that seemed to stretch forever. Towers rose in the center, some hundreds of feet tall. Lights glowed from thousands of windows. Even from miles away, Aren could see people moving like ants on the walls.
[ENTERING: CAIRNHOLD - CAPITAL CITY]
Population: 200,000
Kingdom Rank: Capital
System Control: MAXIMUM
The notification made Aren's stomach drop.
"Maximum System control?" he said.
Zephyra's voice was grim. "I feel it. The spiritual energy here is almost completely suppressed. The System's influence is overwhelming. This place is hostile to shamans, Aren. Very hostile."
"Can you still function here?"
"Yes, but weaker. Much weaker. Be careful."
The caravan approached the massive gates. Guards in proper armor checked everyone's papers.
When it was Aren's turn, he handed over his scroll from Thornhaven.
The guard read it. "Aren Valewood. Class: Nature Mage, A-rank. Age sixteen. Level… ten?"
"Yes, sir."
The guard looked at him suspiciously. "You're supposed to report to the Classification Bureau within thirty days of receiving your class. That true?"
"Yes. I'm here to register."
"Fine. Go to the Bureau tomorrow morning. Don't make them come looking for you. Next!"
Aren and Torrhen entered the city.
The streets were crowded even at night. Shops still open. Adventurers everywhere, all higher level than anyone Aren had ever seen. Mages in fancy robes. Knights in shining armor. Merchants shouting about their goods.
"This is insane," Aren breathed.
"This is the capital," Torrhen said. "Welcome to the big leagues, little brother."
They found a cheap inn near the outer district. The room was small and the bed was hard, but it was shelter.
That night, Aren stared out the window at the massive city.
Somewhere out there was the Classification Bureau, waiting to examine him. The academy where he might train. The guilds that could offer work or exploitation. The nobles who controlled everything. And probably, somewhere in the shadows, the Systematists who hunted Ancient-class holders.
Tomorrow, his second life would truly begin.
Tomorrow, he'd find out if he could survive in this world.
He closed his eyes and tried to sleep.
But sleep didn't come easy.
…
[STATUS UPDATE - AREN VALEWOOD]
Class: Ancient Shaman (Displayed as: Nature Mage)
Level: 10
Location: Cairnhold - Capital City
HP: 220/220
MP: 290/290
STATS:
∙ STR: 11
∙ VIT: 29
∙ AGI: 18
∙ INT: 42
∙ WIS: 38
∙ LCK: 7
∙ SPI: 85
SPIRIT CONTRACTS:
∙ Zephyra (Wind Spirit, Intermediate) - Bond: 82% [WEAKENED IN CITY]
∙ Breeze (Wind Spirit, Lesser) - Bond: 68% [WEAKENED IN CITY]
∙ Spark (Fire Spirit, Lesser) - Bond: 65% [WEAKENED IN CITY]
ACTIVE QUESTS:
∙ Report to Classification Bureau (1 day remaining)
∙ The Fading World (No time limit)
∙ NEW: Survive the Capital
REPUTATION:
∙ Caravan Travelers: Suspicious but Grateful (+20 Gratitude, +30 Suspicion)
∙ Cairnhold: Unknown (New Arrival)
WARNING: System influence at maximum in this location. Shamanic abilities reduced by 30%. Spirit power reduced by 40%. Proceed with caution.