Chapter 6 - Suspension Tuesday (1)

I could notice how the faint glow of dawn filtered through the large opening in the hillside as my eyes slowly opened. A sense of calm enveloped me, as if time itself had decided to stop just as it had when I arrived in this world.

Despite the discomfort of the rocky ground, the makeshift shelter inside the hill had been my home for the past two days, and I was gradually starting to feel a strange familiarity with the place.

Of course, I still missed certain comforts of my old life, like potable water, electricity, a comfortable bed, and the internet.

"Damn, I really miss the internet."

I slowly sat up, feeling the numbness in my limbs, and rubbed my eyes to clear the sleep away. I surveyed the interior of my new home, seeing how the walls of the hill were a mix of compacted earth and intertwined roots, creating a rudimentary but effective shelter against the elements.

I noticed how the faint light revealed the marks I had left on the walls during these two days: small notes and drawings, memories of my stay that oddly comforted me.

The air inside the hill was fresh, with a slight smell of moisture and earth. Despite the rawness of the environment, I had found a certain peace in its silence. Every sound, from the crunch of branches to the distant birdsong, was amplified in the morning quiet, making me feel more connected to the nature surrounding me.

I stood up carefully, stretching my sore muscles from all the work of repairing that armor. I walked to the hill's opening, where the sunlight was beginning to penetrate more strongly. From there, I could see the outside landscape: the dense, lush forest I had crossed to get here, and the small clearings where wildlife moved freely.

"When the time comes, that wildlife is going to fill my stomach," I thought, which reminded me that I hadn't checked what utensils the cooking job had gifted me.

For these past two days, I had subsisted on what little I had found: the bread I bought, some wild berries, edible roots, and water from a nearby stream. It wasn't much, but it had been enough to sustain me.

In a way, this forest had been providing me with the essentials to stay alive, which had been an opportunity to reflect, to disconnect from the outside world, and to find some clarity amidst the mental chaos that had been plaguing me.

As I looked at the landscape, a gentle breeze brushed my face, bringing with it the scent of vegetation and reminding me that, although the shelter inside the hill was a safe place, it still wasn't a place worthy of being called home. So, I planned to remodel the hill's interior to make it more comfortable.

With one last look at my temporary refuge, I picked up the leather bag gifted to me by that woman. I was ready to tackle the problem that had arisen after I recovered this mechanical suit.

Even though it had "armor" in its name, it didn't quite look like one, so the stupid idea popped into my head to return to the junkyard and search for old armor parts that I could use to give it more of a medieval knight appearance. That way, this armor wouldn't draw so much attention.

Still, this idea is very stupid because of how dangerous it would be if I were discovered by the protagonist. I was very lucky yesterday, but maybe this time I won't be able to avoid being discovered. I could wait until my suspension ends, but the days are getting longer, and my patience is running thin.

Moreover, if I have the opportunity, I want to see if my absence has caused any significant alterations in the original course of the story. Before leaving, I wanted to test a mechanic that appeared in the game.

At the end of 'Act I,' it is revealed that what made the 'DragonsFang' sword special was its 'rune core.' We can link the core to any weapon of our choice, up to a maximum of three weapons at the same time, allowing us to switch between these three options at will. This provided greater versatility when fighting an enemy.

But the important thing is that Eliora gives the player a bracelet in which, by placing the crystal, we could summon the weapons linked to the 'rune core.' Narratively, this is explained as a way for Darius to always have his weapons at his disposal without drawing too much attention, although in terms of gameplay, it's there to justify the instant switching between chosen weapons, presumably to save on animation costs.

Now that I had the armor in my possession, I wondered if I could link it with the 'rune core' I had. I climbed into the cabin, where I took the 'rune core' out of my pocket. As I placed it in the power compartment, I waited for something to happen, but I had no idea how this linking process worked now that I was in this world.

"System, can you help me with this linking process?"

[-System-]

[Do you wish to link the 'rune core' with the 'Armor of the Lost Legacy'?]

[Yes / No]

"Yes, I want to link the 'rune core' with the armor."

After saying those words, a glow emanated from the 'rune core,' beginning to cover the entire armor. After a few seconds, the glow disappeared, and the 'rune core' gave a small flash.

"Did it work?"

I removed the 'rune core' to store it back in my pocket. Now I needed to find an object to place the core in so it would be more convenient to carry around. This way, I could summon the armor anywhere whenever I needed it.

I opened my bag, looking for a piece of clothing or an object suitable for discreetly holding the 'rune core.' As I pulled out the few clothes and things belonging to the original Rurik, I found a box hidden in one of the bag's pockets.

Opening the box, I found a gold pocket watch. I stared at it for a few seconds before feeling my cheeks moisten. Without realizing it, I had started crying upon seeing the watch. I didn't know why this was happening, and I had no interest in finding out; something told me it was one of those things better left unknown.

I examined the watch in more detail, pressing the crown button to look for a place to insert the 'rune core.' Seeing the inside of the lid that fully covered the watch face, I noticed it had a gem the same size as the 'rune core.'

Luckily for me, the gem was as easy to remove as it was to place. I took out the gem and stored it in the box where I had found the watch. I placed the 'rune core' where the gem had been, causing the watch to glow for a few seconds, and then the 'rune core' gave a flash.

"I'll assume that means it worked."

Without wasting any more time, I put the watch in my pocket. As I gave my home one last look, it was time to once again head to the academy.

Each step I took seemed to remind me of the mission ahead, a mission that filled me with frustration and a growing sense of unease. It wasn't just the fact that I had to spend hours rummaging through trash to gather the armor pieces I needed, but also the ominous possibility of coming face-to-face with Darius.

As I approached the edge of the academy, I could feel the intensifying smell of rusting metal characteristic of the junkyard, filling my nostrils and tightening my chest with a mix of revulsion and determination. This was a clear sign that I was one step closer to my goal. I knew that somewhere in the chaos of the junkyard, I would eventually find what I needed.

My mind tortured me, creating hundreds of fictitious scenarios where everything went horribly wrong. The mere thought of encountering Darius in this place, just as I had yesterday, filled me with immense stress. For a moment, I considered turning back, seeing that the risk was greater than the reward, but I had already come this far, so it was best to continue.

I tried to calm myself, remembering that I had chosen this time of day precisely because I assumed Darius and the other important characters would be busy with some academy activity. At least, I hoped that was the case, as otherwise, this would become much more difficult.

That's why paranoia accompanied me with every step. I looked around; every shadow and every sound became potential signs of danger. My senses were on high alert, ready for any eventuality.

The search for the armor pieces was slow and exhausting, mainly because I had to find pieces for someone over two meters tall. Considering the great diversity of species at the academy, this was not an impossible task, but it wasn't easy either.

Every time I was lucky enough to find a piece of armor, my heart pounded with a mix of relief for finding something useful and the anxiety of knowing there was still much more to search for. My frustration grew with each passing minute, feeling how time was slipping away and the possibility of a confrontation was becoming more real.

Finally, after what felt like hours, I had managed to gather almost all the parts I needed. Among them were shoulder pads, elbow guards, a chainmail skirt, knee guards, greaves, and sabatons. Due to their weight, I had to carry piece by piece to the entrance of the dungeon of the junkyard.

All I was missing was a helmet, so I just needed to take another round in search of a helmet that would give my armor the look of a true knight.

It didn't take me long to find a helmet that met my expectations. It was somewhat unusual, as instead of a visor it had several holes distributed on the front of the helmet; I suppose it was made this way to prevent attacks to the eyes.

Still, I was curious about how the original owner managed to see. I decided to try on the helmet which, due to its weight, caused me to lose balance and fall, making a lot of noise.

I got up and looked in all directions, hoping I hadn't attracted unwanted attention. It seemed my mishap had gone unnoticed, but, as if it were déjà vu, I saw Darius through an opening in a shelf that was next to the metal fence separating the junkyard from the rest of the academy.

Darius had an expression of surprise that quickly turned into one of rage. I stood still as I saw Darius start running towards the entrance while shouting in anger.

"Shit!"

I grabbed the helmet and ran to the entrance of the dungeon. I recited the runes as quickly as I could. I felt the adrenaline coursing through my body, increasing the already palpable tension in the air. I began to panic as I watched the dungeon entrance open slowly. Once it was open enough, I threw the pieces inside, then entered and recited the runes again, closing the entrance and giving myself a brief respite.

My body was covered in dirt and sweat, and my hands trembled from the effort and accumulated tension. I looked around one last time, ensuring I hadn't left anything important behind. Once again, I had a stroke of luck.

"WHERE ARE YOU HIDING?!"

I could hear Darius on the surface looking for me, shouting at the top of his lungs, surely with a vein visible on his face. I let out a small laugh, imagining Darius being quite angry and spitting fire from his mouth.

I took out the pocket watch to try summoning my armor. At first, nothing happened, which worried me since it seemed the binding hadn't worked. Then a magic circle appeared on the ground, from which my armor emerged, leaving me speechless.

"Well, I guess it's time to get to work."

The dungeon was almost in darkness, except for the intermittent glow of welding and the soft hum of tools at work. The air was heavy with the smell of hot metal and oil, and the rhythmic sound of hammering echoed off the stone walls. I adjusted my protective goggles and prepared for the task, taking a deep breath to calm my nerves.

I had to start by removing the rust from the armor pieces I had found. It didn't take me long, as I had gained practice from the repair I had done to my armor the previous day.

I approached the old pieces of armor I had acquired. The steel plates, with their dents and scratches, told stories of past battles, of honor and sacrifice. I wondered how brave their previous owners had been.

With meticulous precision, I began to weld piece by piece. The metal sizzled and melted, emitting a bright flash that, if not for my goggles, would have momentarily blinded me. The sensation of warmth and power filled me as the pieces began to fuse, combining ancient history with modern technology.

Although this was initially just an aesthetic matter, I had to admit that perhaps adding these parts would increase the armor's defense. With the first parts already welded, I opened my system and set out to buy large pieces of the same metal my mechanical suit was made of.

With the metal pieces, I built a metal frame that would cover the back of the cockpit, which I would later weld with plates of the same metal to give it the appearance of the backplate of medieval armor. I closed the dome and began welding more metal pieces so it would look like a breastplate.

Each weld was a small victory, each spark a step closer to my goal. The armor plates fit surprisingly well on the suit, as if they were meant to be a single unit. I just needed to weld the helmet onto the metal structure I had created. When I finished, I was satisfied with how the mechanical suit now had the look of a powerful and respectable knight.

I felt a mix of pride and anticipation as I worked. This project was more than just a technical upgrade; it was a statement of my intention to go unnoticed if needed in an emergency.

Finally, after adding the finishing touches and hours of work, I leaned back and looked at my creation. The mechanical suit, once a simple combat machine, now had the imposing appearance of a medieval knight. The steel plates reflected the little light that filtered into the dungeon.

I took off my protective goggles and wiped the sweat from my forehead. I was exhausted but also filled with a strange satisfaction. I had accomplished something I honestly wouldn't have achieved if it weren't for the job I had gotten by mistake.

I approached the entrance to listen if Darius was still around. After a few minutes of hearing nothing, I got into my armor and placed the gem in the fuel compartment to leave the academy without being seen.

As I exited the dungeon and confirmed there was no risk, I continued my route with extreme caution until my patience ran out, and I started moving the armor without caring about the noise it made.

As I moved away from the junkyard, the tension in my body began to ease, but the frustration remained, simmering. I knew this would not be the last challenge I would have to face. Each encounter with Darius, each visit to the junkyard, was a reminder of the harsh reality I now lived in.

Still, I wouldn't gain anything by crying just because this world didn't turn out to be my playground where I was praised by everyone. Now I have to earn a place in the story that doesn't involve dying or ending in disgrace at the hands of the protagonist.

With this small victory and my mind full of plans and strategies, I headed towards the safety of my refuge. The road was long and filled with obstacles, but with each step I took, my determination grew stronger. It didn't matter how many times I had to return to the junkyard, it didn't matter how many encounters with Darius I had to endure. I was willing to do whatever it took to survive in this chaotic world, no matter how frustrating or dangerous it was.

************

In the comfort of my home, I decided to finally learn a spell that I could cast. Although I now had the mage class, I still didn't possess any spells for attacking or defending myself.

I decided to look through the magic book for a basic spell that I could learn quickly. In the end, I chose to learn the 'mana shard' spell, which in the game was the spell given when you chose the mage class, so it should be easy to learn.

I found a clear spot, perfect for practicing without interruptions. I sat in the center, crossing my legs and closing my eyes, trying to remember every detail of the basic 'mana shard' spell.

I read the book once more to ensure I was correctly following each step to cast the spell. The theory seemed simple: concentrate the mana energy in the palm of your hand, shape it, and then fire it. But the practice... that was another story.

I took a deep breath and extended my hand in front of me, palm up. I closed my eyes and began to concentrate, trying to feel the flow of mana within me. It was like searching for a hidden current beneath the surface of a lake. Once again, I felt the tingling that indicated I was succeeding, and I began to guide the tingling towards my hand.

"Come on, focus."

Slowly, I felt the tingling accumulating in my palm, forming a small sphere. I opened my eyes and saw a faint bluish light, flickering and unstable. It wasn't much, but it was a start. I tried to stabilize it, focusing on giving it shape, but the sphere began to wobble.

"No, no, no..."

I tried to maintain my concentration, but the sphere fizzled out with a slight crackle. I sighed, letting my hand drop as a feeling of defeat washed over me.

"This is harder than it was in the game."

I closed my eyes again, trying to calm my mind. I visualized the mana as if it were the lake near my home, which was completely tranquil until an external force caused it to move, turning the lake into a river that flowed into my hands. This time, the blue light sphere appeared more quickly and with a bit more stability. I focused on maintaining it, breathing slowly and deeply.

"That's it... slowly..."

Trying to guide the energy precisely, the sphere began to spin gently, glowing with a faint but steady light. I felt a spark of hope and excitement. This time, I might be able to do it.

With a smooth motion, I tried to launch the mana bullet at a nearby tree. The sphere disintegrated in the air, but not without leaving a trail of light. Although it wasn't a successful launch, I had made a bit more progress than before.

I smiled to myself, feeling a mix of frustration and determination.

"This is going to take time, but I just need more practice."

I spent the next few hours repeating the process over and over, each time managing to keep the mana sphere a bit more stable, a bit stronger. As the sun rose higher in the sky and my stomach began to growl louder, I started to see small advances. The sphere became more solid, the launch more precise.

Finally, after many attempts, I managed to launch a mana bullet that hit the trunk of a tree, leaving a small burn mark. I was breathless, staring at the result of my effort with awe and joy.

"I did it!"

Feeling a surge of pride, I wanted to jump for joy. But my body collapsed to the ground, unable to move, as my eyes began to close. This was surely a side effect of having used up all my mana.