Rewards -2

Leonardo's room, humble and sparse, had transformed into a spectacle of radiant lights the moment he had disappeared into the crystal ball. Vibrant colors—blues, greens, golds, and reds—danced across the walls in rhythmic pulses, as if the room itself had come alive. The light emanated from the crystal ball left behind on his table, its glow shifting in intensity, casting long, moving shadows.

In the next room, Leonardo's sick mother stirred. She had noticed the strange glow seeping through the cracks of his door. For a fleeting moment, she considered checking on her son, but the thought of disturbing his rest held her back. Believing Leonardo was asleep, she convinced herself it was just her weary eyes playing tricks. She turned over in her bed, her heart heavy with worry but her body too frail to investigate.

The room continued to shimmer until, hours later, Leonardo returned. His breathing ragged, his clothes soaked with sweat.Back Home

Leonardo woke up in his bed, drenched in sweat. The crystal sat on the shelf, its glow faint but constant.

He touched his pocket, feeling the reassuring weight of the crystal. The experience had been real—there was no denying it. The rewards he had earned, the battle he had fought, the monster he had slain—it was all real.

His hands trembled , clutching the dagger that had saved his life. He was exhausted, his mind struggling to process the surreal battle he had just endured in the otherworldly realm.

Leonardo's tired body sank into the thin mattress. He let the dagger fall to the floor with a soft clink,He glanced at the dagger on his bedside table, its crest now fully illuminated.

His gaze fixed on the ceiling. His thoughts raced. The two-headed monster, the suffocating darkness of the forest-like realm, the glowing crystal ball that had pulled him in—it was all too much for his 14-year-old mind to comprehend.

But his thoughts were interrupted by a soft thud. Startled, he sat up, scanning the room. His eyes landed on the small table near the window. There, sitting next to the still-glowing crystal ball, was the leather pouch.

Leonardo blinked in disbelief. He had left the pouch behind when he was pulled into the crystal ball. How had it returned? He rubbed his eyes, half-convinced he was dreaming. But the pouch was undeniably there, as real as the dagger now lying at his feet.

He pushed himself off the bed, his limbs heavy with fatigue, and approached the table. The pouch looked exactly as it had before—worn leather, its surface smooth and cool to the touch. Carefully, he untied the string and tipped it over.

Gold coins spilled out, clinking softly as they landed. Their gleam was mesmerizing, each coin worth more than he and his mother had earned in years. But they weren't the only contents this time. Alongside the coins lay two new items: a silver bracelet and a tightly rolled scroll.

The bracelet caught his attention first. Intricate runes were engraved along its surface, glowing faintly in the dim light. Its craftsmanship was unlike anything Leonardo had ever seen. He picked it up, marveling at its delicate beauty. But the moment his fingers wrapped around it, the bracelet seemed to come alive.

Before he could react, the bracelet slipped from his grasp and wrapped itself around his wrist. Leonardo stumbled back, his heart racing as he tugged at it. The metal felt warm against his skin, pulsing softly, as if it were syncing with his heartbeat.

"What is this?" he whispered, his voice trembling. He tried to remove it, but it wouldn't budge. The bracelet clung to him as if it had always belonged there. Slowly, the initial shock gave way to curiosity.

Leonardo flexed his fingers, noting a subtle change in how his hand moved. His grip felt stronger, more controlled. His entire arm seemed to hum with energy, the sensation spreading throughout his body. He clenched his fists, the surge of power both thrilling and terrifying.

His attention then shifted to the scroll. Carefully, he unrolled it, revealing a sheet of parchment covered in strange symbols. At first, the markings were incomprehensible, but as he stared, they began to rearrange themselves. One word emerged, glowing brighter than the rest: Summoning Rune.

Leonardo frowned, his mind racing with possibilities. What was a summoning rune? And how was it connected to the bracelet now secured on his wrist?

He placed the scroll back on the table and picked up the crystal ball, its surface smooth and cold against his skin. Memories of the otherworldly realm flooded back—his desperate fight against the monster, the voice announcing his completion of Level 1, and his unexpected return home.

Leonardo sat down, the weight of everything sinking in. The pouch, the bracelet, the scroll, and the crystal ball—they were all pieces of a puzzle he didn't yet understand. He clenched the ball tighter, its faint glow pulsing as if responding to his emotions.

Across the room, the leather pouch began to fade, its edges shimmering before it vanished entirely. Leonardo watched in silence, his thoughts a whirlwind of confusion.

For the next few moments, he sat quietly, staring at the bracelet on his wrist. His fingers traced the glowing runes, their warmth strangely comforting. Despite the chaos of the past few hours, a sense of purpose began to stir within him.

Meanwhile, his mother stirred in the next room. She had drifted into a restless sleep, unaware of the battles her son had fought and the treasures he had brought back. To her, Leonardo was still the fragile boy who needed her care.

Leonardo, however, knew he was no longer the same. Whatever path lay ahead, it was one he would have to walk alone. For now, he needed rest. He placed the crystal ball and the scroll back on the table and climbed into bed, his mind heavy with unanswered questions.

As the first rays of dawn filtered through the window, Leonardo finally closed his eyes. The mysteries of the leather pouch and its gifts would have to wait.

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Are you curious about the mysteries surrounding Leonardo's journey? What secrets do the bracelet, scroll, and crystal ball hold? What challenges lie ahead for him as he uncovers the true purpose of these items?

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