"SAAAYAAA!"
Julius shot up from the bed, gasping for air. His chest rose and fell rapidly, sweat dripping down his temples. His breathing was uneven, heart pounding like war drums. The scream still echoed faintly in the quiet room.
He blinked rapidly, eyes scanning his surroundings as he tried to process where he was. Behind him stood a small window sealed with wooden shutters. To the right was a narrow cabinet, old but polished, its handles made of cold brass. On the left, a sturdy study table held a lit oil lamp, scattered papers, an inkpot, and a quill. Two drawers rested beneath it, and a lone chair sat tucked into place. The room smelled faintly of aged wood and frost.
"Maiden Summon: Saya."
His voice was low, almost broken, but it carried a sense of desperate hope.
[You cannot summon Saya until 20:56:45 time limit]
As the message flickered before his eyes, tears began to stream down his cheeks. He didn't stop them. He didn't even try. His hands came up slowly, wiping away the moisture that blurred his vision.
"She's alive… thank god… she's alive."
His voice cracked mid-sentence. He wasn't sure if he was speaking to himself or to the room. He turned around and stepped toward the window. The shutters creaked open. Soft morning light poured in, bathing his face in gold. He lifted his right hand to shield his eyes from the sun's rays.
It was cold outside. Icy winds drifted in and kissed his skin. The world beyond the window was a sea of white. Snow coated every rooftop like a blanket laid by the heavens. Smoke curled out of chimneys. The villagers below moved like ants—tending to shops, clearing snow, leading livestock through the narrow paths. Children's laughter echoed as they threw snowballs in the distance.
Farther out, the mountains loomed tall and distant. Their peaks were veiled in clouds, cloaked in snow. It looked like someone had unfurled a sheet of white silk across the horizon.
Julius sat at the edge of the bed, fists clenched, jaw tight.
"Open system messages."
[You have successfully defeated the Mountain Tyrant]
[You have received 2,763 EXP]
[You have received 15,223 Fame]
[You have received 96 Roses]
[Saya has died by the hands of the Magma Tyrant]
[She cannot be summoned until the time limit of 20:55:56]
[You have successfully defeated the Magma Tyrant]
[You have received 12,654 EXP]
[You have received 18,654 Fame]
[You have received 154 Roses]
[You have leveled up by x1]
[Your current level: 53]
[You have completed the quest: The Hunt of the Magma Mountain Tyrant]
[You have received the Temperature Scroll x1]
[You have received 6,000 Fame]
[You have received 18,000 EXP]
[You have leveled up by x3]
[Your current level: 56]
[Serena received 15,327 EXP]
[Serena has leveled up by x7]
[Serena has learned a new skill: Unbound Arrows]
[Serena's current level: 32]
[Saya has received 1,323 EXP]
Julius scanned the list of updates with a focused stare.
"So if a maiden dies mid-battle, she doesn't receive the EXP from it... Saya only gained experience from the Mountain Tyrant. "
His fingers trembled slightly. He opened another command.
"Open stats."
[Current Level: 56]
[Stats:]
[Health: 181 pts]
[Defense: 175 pts]
[Sp. Defense: 173 pts]
[Attack: 175 pts]
[Sp. Attack: 173 pts]
[Speed: 181 pts]
[Magic: 237 pts]
[Accuracy: 181 pts]
[Intelligence: 177 pts]
[Additional Points: 8]
[Magic Points: 8]
"Add 3 additional points in Intelligence, Accuracy, and Special Attack... and 1 point in Speed."
"Add all the Magic Points to Magic."
[Points have been successfully added]
[Current Level: 56]
[Stats:]
[Health: 181 pts]
[Defense: 175 pts]
[Sp. Defense: 173 pts]
[Attack: 175 pts]
[Sp. Attack: 176 pts]
[Speed: 182 pts]
[Magic: 245 pts]
[Accuracy: 184 pts]
[Intelligence: 180 pts]
[Additional Points: 0]
[Magic Points: 0]
The message vanished from his sight, but the ache in his chest did not.
Julius stepped down from the bed, his bare feet clad only in thin black socks. He hadn't worn any slippers, nor had he bothered to find his shoes. As he glanced down at himself, he noticed something else missing—his coat. Only his plain black shirt clung to his frame, tucked neatly into matching black trousers secured by a leather belt. His signature wizard hat and staff were also absent.
The floor beneath him was made of aged wooden planks. As he took his first steps, the boards groaned beneath his weight.
CREAAKK.
The sound echoed faintly in the quiet room—sharp but soft, like the whisper of an old house remembering its age. Julius winced, pausing for a moment. He continued walking, pushing the door open with a slow creak before making his way toward the stairs.
CREAAKK. CREAAKK. CREAAKK.
Each step brought the same tired sound, but it was subtle—so subtle, only Julius could hear it in the silence. The inn below was calm. Outside, the evening had deepened. A burnt orange hue spilled across the wooden walls as the sun descended behind the snow-covered mountains, casting long shadows that danced across the floorboards. The faint scent of firewood and chilled wind crept in from outside.
And then... he heard something.
Voices.
Someone was speaking softly downstairs, words carried by the draft curling through the stairwell. The tone wasn't unfamiliar. In fact, it stirred something in his memory—voices he recognized.
He descended the last steps, one hand brushing the railing, and moved toward the main entrance hall of the inn. And there they were.
Zhou Rui and Yu Zhen.
The two stood near the front door, deep in conversation, their backs partially turned to him. A narrow gap in the door let in the outside wind—cold and impatient. It brushed past them and curled around Julius like icy fingers. He shivered. Without his coat, the evening air bit through the fabric of his thin shirt. The wind outside had grown stronger now, sweeping through the village like a silent tide, carrying with it the promise of another blizzard.
Still, he stepped forward.
"What are you two talking about?"
His voice broke through the quiet like a sudden gust through frosted shutters—calm, but cold.