The city gates loomed closer with every step.
Tall stone walls rose high into the sky, carved with defensive runes that pulsed faintly with mana. Guards stood at the entrance, clad in leather armor reinforced with metal plates, spears resting casually in their hands—but their eyes were sharp.
Too sharp.
I slowed my pace, my mind racing.
Act normal. Breathe. Don't stare.
The system's presence lingered at the edge of my consciousness, quiet but attentive, like something waiting for permission.
[Spell Memory System standing by.]
Now's a good time, I thought.
"Open the system interface," I whispered.
The translucent blue screen unfolded before my eyes, invisible to anyone else—or at least I hoped so.
Spell Memory System
Function: Preserve, seal, restore, and manage forgotten spells
Authority Level: 0 (Incomplete)
Active Slots: 1
Locked Archive: 99.9%
Below it, a single entry pulsed faintly.
▶ Ember of Oblivion (Forbidden | Inactive)
I stared at it, a chill creeping up my spine.
"Just one spell… and it's already forbidden."
[Explanation available.]
"Go ahead."
The screen shifted.
Ember of Oblivion
Type: Destruction / Erasure
Effect: Burns target's existence, not matter
Mana Cost: Extreme
Side Effects: Soul strain, memory loss, potential self-erasure
Restriction: Cannot be activated without Authority Fragment
I swallowed hard.
"That's not a spell," I muttered. "That's a disaster."
No wonder it had been erased from history.
I closed the description and scrolled further.
System Functions (Limited Access):
Spell Memory (Active)
Archive Search (Locked)
Authority Restoration (Locked)
Guardian Sanctuary (Locked)
System Evolution (Locked)
Everything important was locked.
Typical.
I sighed internally. "So how do I unlock anything?"
The answer came immediately.
[Condition: Recover Authority Fragments.]
[Fragments scattered across the world.]
[Fragments react to Guardian proximity.]
"Basically," I muttered, "go on a dangerous scavenger hunt."
That figured.
The system dimmed as I approached the gate. I dismissed it just in time as one of the guards stepped forward.
"Halt," he said. "State your business."
I hesitated, then gave the safest answer I could think of. "Traveler. Looking for work."
The guard's eyes flicked over my robes, lingering just a fraction too long.
"You don't look like a farmer."
"I'm not," I replied calmly. "I'm… a freelancer."
A pause.
Then the guard snorted. "Another mage, then. Go on. Don't cause trouble."
He waved me through.
I exhaled only after passing the gates.
Inside, the city was alive.
Market stalls lined the streets, selling everything from glowing crystals to strange meats that twitched slightly even after death. Adventurers walked past in groups, weapons strapped openly to their backs. Mages in academy robes argued loudly near a mana fountain.
Magic wasn't rare here.
That was good.
It meant I could hide.
As I walked deeper into the city, a sudden tug pulled at my consciousness—sharp and unmistakable.
[Alert.]
[Forgotten spell resonance detected.]
I froze mid-step.
The tug came again, stronger this time, pulling my awareness toward the western district.
My heartbeat quickened.
"A fragment?" I whispered.
[Possibly.]
[Caution advised.]
Of course it was dangerous.
I glanced around. No one seemed to notice my sudden stop. Slowly, I adjusted my path, following the faint pull while pretending to browse stalls.
The resonance grew stronger near an old alleyway, far from the main road. The buildings here were worn, their walls cracked and stained with age.
At the end of the alley stood a door.
Just a door.
No sign. No runes. No mana aura.
But the moment my eyes fell on it—
[Warning.]
[Seal detected.]
My instincts screamed.
This wasn't coincidence.
I stepped closer, every sense on high alert. The door looked ordinary, but the air around it felt… thin, like reality itself was stretched.
"This city," I murmured, "is already hiding things it shouldn't."
I reached out, stopping just short of touching the door.
The system chimed softly.
[First Authority Fragment within range.]
[Host decision required.]
I pulled my hand back slowly.
Opening that door would change everything.
It would put me on the path of reclaiming my power—and painting a target on my back.
I turned my head slightly, scanning the alley.
Empty.
Too empty.
I clenched my fist.
I didn't come back to life to stay weak.
I placed my hand on the door.
The moment my skin touched the wood, the seal reacted.
Light flared.
And somewhere deep within the Spell Memory System—
Something awakened.