Leon sat in the sanctuary, his mind buzzing with thoughts. The elven city was peaceful, but the tension was thick in the air. He had been granted temporary safety, but the Elders' warning still echoed in his ears—one misstep, and he wouldn't leave the Heartwood alive.
Leon opened the system interface, hoping to find more information that could help him navigate his new reality. The translucent blue screen floated in front of his vision, displaying his current status.
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[Leon Thorne]
Class: None
Level: 3
XP: 150/300
HP: 140/140
Mana: 70/70
Skill: Soul Absorption, Minor Regeneration (Passive)
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His level had increased after the battle with the goblin & now he had one more skill, but they were still meager compared to what he imagined the creatures of this world might possess. The elves, for instance, exuded a natural strength and grace that made him feel like a novice by comparison. He needed to grow stronger, quickly.
Before he could dwell further, the wooden door to his chamber creaked open, and Aria Valenwood stepped inside. She closed the door behind her and regarded Leon with a guarded expression.
"The Elders have decided you may stay in the sanctuary for now, but there are conditions," she said. "You will be monitored closely, and you will assist us in defending the Heartwood. If you refuse, we will have no choice but to consider you an enemy."
Leon nodded, already expecting something like this. "What kind of assistance do you need?"
"There's been an increase in goblin attacks, and more dangerous creatures have been spotted near the outer edges of the forest. The Elders believe something is driving them closer to our territory. You will be part of a scouting group that leaves tomorrow to investigate."
A scouting mission. It wasn't exactly what Leon had hoped for, but it was a chance to prove himself—and perhaps learn more about the threats lurking in this world.
"I'll help," he said firmly.
Aria seemed to soften slightly, though her suspicion remained. "Good. Prepare yourself. We will leave at dawn."
With that, she turned and left the room, leaving Leon alone with his thoughts. He knew he couldn't rely solely on the system to survive. He needed to understand this world and the powers that existed within it. His skill, Soul Absorption, gave him an edge, but it wouldn't be enough unless he used it wisely.
He decided to spend the rest of the night familiarizing himself with the sanctuary. The city was alive with magic, its people moving gracefully between the living structures of wood and stone. Everywhere he looked, the elves were focused on honing their craft—archery, swordplay, spellcasting. Leon felt like an outsider in a world far more advanced than his own.
But he wasn't here to blend in. He was here to adapt.
The next morning, Leon joined Aria and a small group of elven scouts at the sanctuary's gates. The group was made up of five elves, all armed with bows and slender blades. Their eyes were sharp, and they moved with the fluidity of seasoned warriors. Leon, in comparison, felt out of place, clutching a borrowed sword that felt heavy in his hand.
Aria, who appeared to be the leader, glanced at Leon. "Stay close and follow our lead. If we encounter any creatures, don't engage unless necessary. We're here to gather information, not to pick fights."
Leon nodded, adjusting the sword at his side. He felt a strange mix of excitement and anxiety as they moved into the dense forest. The Heartwood was even more mysterious outside the sanctuary, the trees towering above like ancient guardians. The magical energy in the air was palpable, making Leon's skin tingle.
As they ventured deeper, the silence became unnerving. The birds had stopped chirping, and the rustle of leaves in the wind was the only sound. The elves were tense, their hands hovering near their weapons.
"Something's wrong," one of the scouts muttered. "The forest is too quiet."
Suddenly, there was a low growl from the underbrush. Leon's heart raced as he turned to see a hulking, wolf-like creature emerge from the shadows. Its fur was black as night, and its eyes gleamed with malice. Behind it, several more appeared, their fangs bared.
[Enemy: Shadow Wolves - Level 5]
Leon instinctively reached for his sword, but Aria held up a hand. "Stay back," she warned, drawing her bow. "We'll handle this."
The elves moved swiftly, firing arrows that struck the wolves with precision. Two of the wolves went down, but the others charged forward, undeterred. Aria shouted something in Elvish, and the ground beneath the wolves erupted in vines, ensnaring them in place.
Leon watched in awe as the elves made quick work of the remaining wolves, their movements coordinated and efficient. Within moments, the threat was neutralized.
Aria approached the fallen creatures, her brow furrowed. "This is unusual. Shadow Wolves don't normally venture this close to the sanctuary."
One of the scouts knelt beside the wolves, inspecting their bodies. "They've been tainted by dark magic."
Leon felt a shiver run down his spine. Dark magic? He didn't know much about the forces at play in this world, but that sounded like trouble.
Aria turned to him, her expression grim. "We need to report this to the Elders. Whatever is driving these creatures toward our lands is more dangerous than we thought."
Before they could leave, Leon felt a strange pull in his chest—a familiar sensation that he had felt after defeating the goblin. His Soul Absorption skill was activating.
Without thinking, he stepped forward and touched one of the wolves. A pulse of energy surged through him, and a notification appeared in his mind.
[Soul Absorption activated. Acquired skill: Shadow Step.]
Leon gasped as the new ability settled into his mind. He hadn't expected the skill to work on animals, but here it was—another power added to his growing arsenal. He quickly read the description of his new ability.
[Shadow Step: Allows the user to briefly merge with shadows, becoming invisible for a short time. Useful for stealth and quick escapes.]
A stealth ability. That could come in handy, especially if he needed to avoid detection. He glanced at the elves, but none of them seemed to notice what had just happened. Good. He wasn't ready to reveal his secret yet.
Aria gave him a questioning look. "Are you alright?"
"Yeah," Leon replied quickly, standing up. "Just… a little shaken."
She nodded, though her eyes lingered on him for a moment longer. "Let's move. We need to get back to the sanctuary."
As they made their way back through the forest, Leon couldn't stop thinking about the dark magic and what it meant for the future. This world was more dangerous than he had imagined, and if he was going to survive, he would need to grow stronger—and fast.
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**End of Chapter 3**