Heroes of the fallen

Seraphina leans back in her chair, arms crossed, her expression thoughtful.

"The Heroes of Eldoria... they're remembered as the greatest threat to the kingdom's survival. That's what we were taught, at least."

Christian tilts his head. "Taught how?"

Seraphina exhales sharply.

"That they were arrogant, reckless. That Elias Vaughn, their leader, was the worst of them—a manipulator who orchestrated wars and rebellions in secret, using his influence to bring ruin to the world."

She shakes her head. "He was called the 'Harbinger of Chaos.' The one responsible for nearly tearing civilization apart."

Christian narrows his eyes. "But? I can hear it in your voice. You don't fully buy that."

She hesitates before nodding.

"My father once met Elias Vaughn. He told me that Elias was... different. Not some power-hungry tyrant, but a man devoted to his people and his wife. He always spoke of him as someone who genuinely wanted to help others, even if it meant making difficult choices. He could be wrong, though. Bias clouds judgment, and history paints a very different picture."

Christian hums in thought, but before he can respond, a strange static buzz fills his ears.

Genesis flickers erratically, the text on his interface distorting as if something inside the system is... resisting.

[—SYSTEM ERROR. UNKNOWN DATA SOURCE DETECTED.—]

A sudden chill washes over Christian as a new notification appears, but unlike before, it feels different. Less like a calculated system alert and more like a whisper from something buried deep within.

[—Message Retrieved: "To the One Who Bears This System..."—]

Christian inhales sharply, his fingers clenching. "What the hell?"

Seraphina watches him curiously. "Something wrong?"

He quickly hides his expression, forcing a casual shrug.

"Nah, just—tired. Thanks for the history lesson, though. I'll see you later."

Before she can question him further, he spins on his heel and strides out of the room.

Seraphina watches him go, her gaze drifting toward the window. She exhales, raising a hand, and slowly, the air around him shifts. A faint, shimmering aura flickers to life around his fingertips, pulsing with restrained energy—not as broken as creation magic, but powerful nonetheless.

Her fingers curl into a fist. "There were many records that burned after all the heroes died"

She mutters to herself. 

"The truth erased. The kingdom even changed its name from Eldoria to Estrel, like they were trying to bury the past."

She clenches her jaw, her thoughts dark.

"But the past doesn't just disappear there has to be somewhere that the Kingdom forgot to burn.''

The moment he steps into his quarters and locks the door, he pulls up the message.

The screen flickers once—then a voice fills the air.

Ragged, weak, barely above a whisper, but unmistakably human.

"If you're hearing this... then I failed."

Christian's breath catches. The voice continues, hoarse and filled with exhaustion.

"They will tell you I was the villain. That I wanted to rule. That I betrayed them. Don't believe it. I fought for them. I fought for a future where power wasn't a death sentence. And in the end, it was power that got us all killed."

A sharp intake of breath. Then, softer.

"I don't know who you are. But if you've inherited this system... don't let them rewrite the past."

Silence follows. Then, barely above a whisper—

"Live. Hope. And when the time comes... choose better than I did. You are chosen because..."

A burst of static cuts through the message, the voice abruptly ending as the system glitches violently.

Christian stares at the screen, his mind racing.

The last hero of Eldoria. The 'Harbinger of Chaos.'...

Something in his gut tells him the truth is far from what history claims. And for the first time since waking up in this world, he feels something heavy settle in his chest.

A responsibility he never asked for. And a story that isn't finished yet.

His fingers twitch, and he exhales sharply. "Genesis, what the hell was that?"

The system flickers uncertainly before responding.

[Unknown. The data does not exist in my current archives. However, I was given a task—to deliver this message should I ever register you listening to Elias's history]

Christian narrows his eyes.

"So, you don't know where it came from? No hidden files, no corrupted logs?"

[Negative. But the existence of this message implies that there is more information buried beyond my accessible limits.]

He leans back, kicking his feet into the air. "Great. Just great."

After a moment of silence, he exhales sharply.

"Genesis, what exactly is recorded in history about the heroes? What did they do?"

Genesis flickers for a moment before responding.

[Official records state that the Heroes of Eldoria were instrumental in multiple conflicts, often acting outside the kingdom's authority. They were seen as both saviours and destroyers, their power shaping wars as much as it ended them. The kingdom credits them with victories but also blames them for countless losses.]

Christian frowns. "That's vague. Give me something specific."

[Records cite Elias Vaughn as the strategist behind several major battles. Reyna the Stormheart single-handedly wiped out an enemy battalion with weather manipulation. Darian the Adamant held off an invasion alone for three days. Lucien the Phantom Blade assassinated high-ranking officials accused of war crimes. Selene the Everlight attempted diplomacy but was executed for treason. Aeris the Dawnflower was...]

The system hesitates, as if searching for more data.

[No further records available.]

Christian grips the edge of his desk.

"So, they weren't just warriors. They were a force of change. But history twists their actions to fit a narrative."

He exhales, then leans forward. "So how do I get stronger?"

Genesis flickers before responding.

[Physical stats—Strength, Speed, and Durability—can only improve through rigorous training and physical conditioning. Magic, Mana, Mana Control, and Intelligence, however, increase through the use of Creation Magic or by completing missions. The more you utilize your abilities, the more they will evolve.]

With that, Christian bolts from his room and runs straight back to Seraphina's study, bursting through the door—only to freeze instantly.

Seraphina stands in the middle of the room, mid-motion, changing into just her underwear.

Christian's eyes widen as he takes in the sight.

"Holy ass.."

The system flickers to life, unprompted.

[Observation: Large proportions detected.]

Christian nearly chokes on air.

Genesis, what the hell?! Let me enjoy it ALONE

Seraphina quickly noticing his presence, grabs a towel and wraps it around her waist with a sigh.

"You really have no sense of knocking, do you? I sleep with nothing on—it's cooler that way."

"Yeah, yeah..." Christian mutters, though his eyes betray him as they struggle to look away from her ass.

He clears his throat, shaking off the momentary distraction. "Anyway, have you ever met elves?"

Seraphina raises an eyebrow. "Only through diplomacy. Why?"

He crosses his arms. "Because I met one. In the back of the estate. And she wants my generator and fridge."

Seraphina's jaw practically drops. Her mouth hangs so wide open that Christian swears he could fit ten donuts in there and still have room for more.

"Elves never interact with humans unless absolutely necessary!" she exclaims.

Christian shrugs with a smirk. "Guess I'm special."

Taking a breath, he continues.

"Now, how can I travel four kilometers north from here? Because, one, I'll be exhausted walking that distance, and two, I want someone strong to come with me."

Seraphina, still recovering from the shock, runs a hand through her hair.

"Well, if you're looking for a faster way to travel, we have horses, but if you want something more stable, there are carriages too."

Christian hums in thought. "Horses, huh... might be a good chance to learn how to ride."

She leans back against her desk.

"As for someone strong to accompany you, I suppose I could go myself. But if you're looking for a proper escort, there are knights or mercenaries available."

Christian smirks. "Oh? And here I thought you'd let me run off alone."

The next morning, Christian and Seraphina prepare for their journey. With supplies packed to last a week, they step out into the courtyard where a carriage awaits them. Before he can climb in, several orphan children rush to him, hugging him tightly.

"Stay safe, Mr Christian!" one of the younger ones cries out.

Christian ruffles the child's hair, a fond smile on his lips. He had spent his free time playing with them, teaching them little tricks and skills.

"I will, don't worry. Just make sure to listen to the maids while I'm gone, alright?"

Meanwhile, Seraphina entrusts the estate to her second-in-command, a stern but capable man named Garreth, while her son, Adam, is left to oversee operations in her absence.

Once inside the carriage, Christian takes in the interior—lined with plush seats, sturdy wooden panels, and a soft overhead lantern illuminating the space. The ride will take a couple of hours, giving them time to settle in.

Seraphina, now dressed in a sharp traveling coat over a durable tunic and leather armour, rests her sword against the seat beside her. Christian, opting for a more practical outfit, wears a reinforced jacket with light padding and sturdy boots fit for travel.

As the carriage begins moving, he stretches, glancing at Seraphina

"So, two hours, huh? Got any good stories to pass the time?"

Seraphina smirks, leaning back.

"That depends. Are you interested in battle stories or political nightmares?"

Christian groans. "Neither. Tell me something entertaining."

She chuckles. "Fine. Ever heard about the time I had to negotiate with a tribe of orcs using nothing but a loaf of bread and a misunderstanding?"

Christian leans forward, intrigued. "Oh, I have to hear this. How did that even happen?"

Seraphina chuckles, shaking her head. "It was during one of my father's diplomatic missions. I was supposed to stay back, but I got curious and wandered too close to the orc camp. One thing led to another, and suddenly, I found myself face-to-face with their chieftain."

She stretches slightly, as if reliving the moment. "They thought I was there to challenge them, but I had no weapon—just the loaf of bread I was carrying from our camp's rations. So, in a moment of pure panic, I held it out as an offering. Turns out, they interpreted it as a traditional peace gesture."

Christian blinks. "Wait... you're telling me you made peace with a tribe of orcs using bread?"

Seraphina nods, grinning. "Not just any bread. Apparently, their culture values food offerings highly, and that particular loaf was made with honey—something they rarely had access to. By the time my father arrived, they had already welcomed me as an honoured guest."

Christian laughs. "Wow that is actually impressive."