Fairy Tail: Lost One

Rudra woke up feeling surprisingly refreshed, with no trace of the soreness that had weighed him down the day before. He sat up on the bed and stretched his arms and legs, feeling his body loosen up after a restful night. As he finished a satisfying stretch, a familiar mechanical voice echoed in his mind.

"Good morning, Host. Quests are now available."

Rudra blinked, a bit startled but also curious. "Good morning. Show me the quests."

The moment he spoke, a translucent blue window appeared in front of him, displaying two quests:

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Quest 1: Path to Power

Objective:

-100 push-ups
-100 sit-ups
-100 squats
-10 km run

Reward: Perfect Body

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Quest 2: Path of SteelObjective:

-100 slashes
-100 stabs
-100 cuts

Reward: Soul of the Sword

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Rudra's eyes widened as he read through the details. The tasks seemed simple, yet clearly demanding. He raised an eyebrow and spoke aloud. "Are these quests mandatory?"

 "Host, completing the quests is not mandatory. However, it will significantly aid your growth and enhance your strength."

Rudra thought for a moment, mulling over the options. "Alright, I'll do it. Let's start with the basics."

Just as he made up his mind, the door to his room creaked open, and Roland, the kind old man who had taken him in, stepped inside carrying a tray of food. Seeing Rudra standing, Roland's expression immediately turned to one of concern.

"Young man, what are you doing?" he asked, rushing over and setting the tray down on the nearby table. "You should be lying down, you're still injured."

Rudra smiled and waved a hand dismissively. "Don't worry, Sir Roland, I'm fine. Thank you for taking care of me."

Roland raised an eyebrow at the nickname but didn't comment. Instead, he continued, "It's no trouble. You're a guest here. Eat up."

Rudra chuckled softly, gratefully accepting the food. The warm meal brought a sense of comfort and normalcy, soothing him as he ate.

As Rudra took his time with the meal, Roland pulled up a chair and sat beside him, his gaze thoughtful. "Young man," he began, his tone shifting, "What exactly happened to you? And… your arm? What's the story behind it?"

Rudra paused, swallowing his food before responding. He chose his words carefully, blending the truth with just enough fiction. "I don't remember anything from before I woke up here, Sir Roland. The only thing I know for sure is my name—Rudra. As for my arm... it was like this when I woke up this morning."

Roland's brows furrowed, and his eyes softened with concern. "Lost your memory, huh? That's a tough break. But don't worry. You're safe here, and you can stay as long as you need to, until your memory comes back."

Rudra looked up at Roland, genuine gratitude in his eyes. "Thank you, Sir Roland. I really appreciate it."

Roland gave a small smile and waved his hand dismissively. "No need for the formalities, boy. Just call me 'Gramps' like everyone else does." He stood up, stretching his back with a groan. "Anyway, I'll leave you to finish your meal. Rest up, alright?"

Rudra nodded, his heart warmed by Roland's kindness. "I will. Thanks again, Gramps."

With that, Roland left the room, and Rudra was left in peace to finish his meal, his mind already focused on the quests ahead.

After finishing his meal, Rudra stood up, left the room, and stepped outside. He spotted Roland stacking firewood onto a cart. Seeing this, Rudra called out, "Gramps, are you going somewhere?"

Roland turned around, a smile on his face. "Heading to town to sell some firewood," he replied, and with a grunt, he began pulling the cart away.

Once Roland was out of sight, Rudra took a deep breath, his mind already focused on the tasks ahead. It was time to begin his training. He started with push-ups, then moved on to squats and sit-ups, pushing himself through each set with determination.

When that was finished, he ran laps around the cabin to complete the 10 km run. It took him a little over two hours, and by the end of it, he was drenched in sweat and completely exhausted. He collapsed onto the ground, breathing heavily, but feeling a sense of accomplishment.

As he caught his breath, the system's voice echoed in his mind.

"Path to Power completed."

Rudra's eyes widened slightly as he checked the reward notification:

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Reward: Perfect Body

-Immune to poison

-Ability to adapt

-Enhanced learning of martial arts

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Rudra felt a surge of satisfaction. His body now felt more resilient, and the promise of enhanced martial arts learning was especially exciting. Before he could dwell on it, Roland returned, pulling an empty cart behind him. Seeing Rudra sitting on the ground, looking utterly spent, he walked over with a concerned look.

"What happened? Are you alright?" Roland asked, pausing in front of him.

Rudra smiled weakly, wiping the sweat from his brow. "Oh, Gramps. Just a little training."

Roland sighed, shaking his head. "You really need to take it easy. You can't push yourself too hard, especially not so soon."

Rudra chuckled softly, looking up at him. "I'm fine, Gramps. Really. Actually, I wanted to ask you something."

Roland raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "What's on your mind?"

"Do you happen to have a wooden sword? I need one for my training," Rudra asked, looking hopeful.

Roland thought for a moment, then nodded. "Hmm... I think I have one. Wait here." He headed inside the house, returning a few minutes later with a wooden sword in hand. He handed it to Rudra. "Here you go."

Rudra took the sword with a grateful smile. "Thanks, Gramps."

Roland waved him off, heading back inside without another word. Rudra looked down at the wooden sword in his hands, feeling the weight of it, and then turned his attention back to his training.

With the sword in hand, he began working through his second quest. His movements were slow at first as he practiced slashes, stabs, and cuts, but as time passed, his strikes grew more fluid and precise. The rhythmic sound of wood cutting through the air echoed through the quiet forest as Rudra lost himself in the motions.

By the time he finished, the sun had dipped low on the horizon, painting the sky with beautiful shades of orange and red. He wiped the sweat from his forehead and stood still for a moment, admiring the peaceful sunset. His body felt tired but strong, and he knew his training was paying off.

With the completion of his second quest, he allowed himself a brief moment of satisfaction before heading back inside to rest.

Exhausted but satisfied, Rudra made his way back inside, the warm aroma of food greeting him as he entered. He found Roland at the stove, cooking dinner. The comforting scent of the meal filled the air, making Rudra's stomach growl in appreciation. He walked over and sat down, ready to end the day on a high note.

Roland glanced up and smiled. "Done with your training?"

Rudra nodded, his body still buzzing with the aftereffects of the grueling workout. "Yes, Gramps."

Roland chuckled. "Well, sit down then. Dinner's ready."

Rudra sat down, and the two enjoyed a quiet meal together. Roland asked about Rudra's plans for the future, and Rudra shared what he could, despite the gaps in his memory. Roland responded with stories of his own, and as the conversation flowed, Rudra found himself feeling more at ease.

After dinner, Rudra thanked Roland. "I appreciate the meal, Gramps."

Roland waved him off. "It's nothing, just eat and rest."

Rudra nodded, feeling thankful, and headed to his room. He was tired but content, the day's training still weighing on him, but his mind felt clearer than it had in a while.

He then made his way to his room, tired but content. Lying down on the bed, Rudra opened his status window to reflect on his progress:

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Name: RudraAge: 18

Class: Swordsman / Ninja

Abilities: Perfect Body / Soul of the Sword

Stats:

Strength: E

Endurance: D

Dexterity: E

Agility: D

Intelligence: A

Willpower: B

Shop: Available

Coin: 500

Quest:

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Curious about his abilities, Rudra tapped on the Soul of the Sword ability. The text expanded to reveal: "Enhanced learning of swordsmanship and ????" The mysterious second part left him intrigued, but it was something he decided to put aside for the moment.

As Rudra lay back, he couldn't help but replay the conversation he'd had with Roland earlier. According to Roland, it had been four years since the Fairy Tail guild and its master disappeared. That meant Rudra had three years to grow stronger before they might return.

His mind raced as he mentally mapped out the path ahead, his determination settling into focus. He wasn't going to waste any time. The next three years would be crucial.

With a final thought of resolve, Rudra closed his eyes, allowing the fatigue of the day to catch up with him. Sleep soon overtook him, and he drifted off, ready for whatever challenges lay ahead.