Dawn of Light

Chapter 4: Quest Complete



After examining the contents of the beginner's package, Zephyx carefully stored everything in the inventory except the Basic Elemental Manual. The worn cover of the manual felt oddly familiar in his hands, a relic 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 manifest. 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 Earth, 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 incompleteness. The shard gleamed in the dim light, a testament to his newfound potential.

Emboldened, 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 earth. 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.]

I 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 me almost instanty.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

I sighed, shaking my head. There was no point in pondering this right now.

I walked back downstairs, where the innkeeper—a girl I recognized from the night before—approached me. She greeted me warmly, her smile bright.

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

I 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 I dug in, savoring the warm meal.

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

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

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

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


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