Quest Completed

After examining the contents of the beginner's package, Zephyx stored everything in the inventory except the Basic Elemental Manual. The worn cover of the manual felt oddly familiar in his hands, a basic book of the game he once knew. He opened it, the parchment pages crinkling softly, and began to read.

The manual was rudimentary, explaining the fundamental principles of controlling elemental affinities. For most people, it would take weeks or even months to grasp the concepts within. But as Zephyx read, his [Prodigy] trait began to act. Each sentence seemed to imprint itself directly onto his mind, as if the knowledge was flowing effortlessly into him.

The book spoke of the essence of the elements—how to feel the flow of mana within oneself and connect it to the natural forces around them.

"Mana is the bridge between the soul and the elements," Zephyx muttered, repeating the line from the book. Closing his eyes, he focused inward, trying to sense the mana within his body.

It was there—a pulsing, vibrant energy that surged like a river beneath his skin. For the first time, he truly felt the power of his complete and strengthened soul. He could feel the icy cold of his Ice Affinity, the warmth of Fire, the fluid grace of Water, the grounded steadiness of Land, and the free-flowing presence of Wind.

Following the instructions in the manual, Zephyx held out his hand. The first exercise was simple—summon a spark of an element. He decided to start with ice, his original affinity.

He concentrated, visualizing the chill of frost spreading across his palm. Mana surged through him, and within moments, a small shard of ice materialized in his hand. Unlike his previous life as Zephyx, there was no excruciating pain, no sense of discomfort. The shard gleamed in the dim light, a testament to his newfound potential.

Motivated, he decided to try another element—Fire. The manual cautioned against overexertion, but he felt confident. Focusing on the warmth of a flame, he channeled his mana again. A small flicker of fire appeared above his palm, wavering but steady.

"I can do this," Zephyx whispered, his voice filled with determination.

He continued experimenting with the elements, summoning drops of water, gusts of wind, and pebbles of Land. Each success filled him with a sense of fulfillment he had never experienced before. The broken boy who couldn't perform even the simplest magic was gone. In his place stood someone who had the power to reshape his destiny.

By the time he finished practicing, hours had passed, and the room was dimly lit by the glow of the moon filtering through the window. Exhaustion began to weigh on him, but Zephyx's heart was light.

Closing the manual, he placed it into his inventory. His gaze drifted to the window, where the world beyond stretched vast and unknown. The challenges ahead were daunting, but for the first time in either of his lives, he felt ready.

Then system message rang in my head, startling me out of my reverie.

[Quest completion: Learn to control your affinities.

Reward: 100 gold coins.]

He blinked. That was... easy. Too easy, really. But then again, with the help of strengthen soul, and the with [Prodigy] trait the knowledge had come to him almost instanty.

He watched as the coins appeared in his inventory, bringing him total to a neat 200 gold. He hadn't expected the reward to be so... well, mundane, but he wasn't about to complain. It would be useful, no doubt.

With the gold safely added, he closed my eyes, drifting into sleep. The exhaustion from a long day of practicing magic finally caught up to me, andhe let the darkness take him.

Morning came far too quickly. The sunlight filtered through the window, its warm rays tugging me from the depths of sleep. He groggily opened his eyes, squinting against the light as it assaulted his senses.

He let out a soft yawn and stretched, feeling the muscles in his body groan in response. It had been so long since he had felt this kind of energy—this sense of... vitality. He was no longer the broken, hollow version of Zephyx.

Sitting up in bed, he grabbed the Beginner's Armor Set from his inventory. It was a sleek black, lightweight but durable. The chestplate felt snug against his body as he slipped it on. It wasn't much, but it was enough for now.

After getting dressed, he walked out of his room, heading down the stairs of the inn. The place smelled faintly of stew, a welcoming scent that made his stomach growl.

He passed the common area, where people were chatting and laughing. They barely noticed me as he made his way toward the public bathroom.

The tap at the washbasin was simple, a water rune carved into the stone, and he couldn't help but admire its elegance. He washed his hands, the cool water refreshing against his skin.

As he looked up into the mirror, he saw his reflection for the first time. Zephyx. Or... was it him now? The face that stared back at him was a mix of familiarity and unfamiliarity, like the face of someone he had known but had never truly held.

He sighed, shaking his head. There was no point in pondering this right now.

He walked back downstairs, where the innkeeper—a girl he recognized from the night before, who let him stay here for free, though the room was bad but again beggars can't be choosers—approached him. She greeted him warmly, her smile bright.

"Good morning! Ready for breakfast?" she asked cheerfully.

He nodded, sitting down at a small table in the corner.

A few moments later, she returned with a plate of bread and stew. The smell was irresistible, and he dug in, savoring the warm meal.

As he finished eating, he stood up, ready to leave. The city outside awaited him, and he had no time to waste.

He made his way out of the inn and onto the bustling streets. The city was alive, full of people going about their daily business. He asked around for directions to the Adventurer's Guild, his voice steady despite the fluttering anticipation in his chest.

It took him some time, but eventually, he found himself standing in front of a large building with the familiar symbol of the Adventurer's Guild emblazoned on the sign.

This was it. His next step in this new life. He took a deep breath, steeling myself for whatever lay beyond those doors.