Amadeus studied the man by the fire.
He wasn't going to fall asleep anytime soon, his grip on the sword tight, eyes sharp.
Amadeus.
I think I have an idea
Amadeus slid quietly down the cliff.
Crown floated after him, whispering.
"Whatever you're planning, just make sure you don't die."
Amadeus whispered back.
" i will keep that in my mind "
The man heard the sound of footsteps and immediately stood, sword raised.
"Who's there?! Show yourself!"
Amadeus stepped into the firelight, both hands raised high in surrender.
"Don't attack. I can't harm you."
The man narrowed his eyes.
"Who are you? What are you doing out here?"
Amadeus said, his voice trembling with false weakness.
"I'm a merchant, Bandits attacked me… they stole everything."
" Even my clothes. I had to steal from an old temple just to cover myself."
The man studied him carefully.
Amadeus wore no weapons, no proper clothes, and his refined, noble-looking face didn't match the story of a struggling merchant.
"I don't believe you. No merchant comes near the edge of the Barren Land."
" And even if you did, the closest trade route is far from here."
" There's no way you made it this far on foot, in that condition."
Amadeus smirked.
"You're smarter than you look."
The man's face twisted with anger.
He lunged forward, sword raised.
A voice echoed in Amadeus's mind—the Knight's memory.
"Look at his posture. His footing is wrong."
" He's never had proper training. He swings a blade like a stick."
" Predictable."
" As soon as he slashes—drop low."
Amadeus waited, calm.
The man swung horizontally, exactly as expected.
Amadeus ducked, the blade whistling harmlessly over his head.
Amadeus.
If he's as dumb as you say… then I have an idea.
the Knight Memory warned.
"Careful, The next strike will be vertical."
Amadeus.
That's what I'm counting on.
Amadeus scooped a handful of sand.
When the man brought his blade down, Amadeus flung the sand into his eyes.
The man staggered, blinded.
"Gah—!"
"Where… where did he—?"
Before he could recover, something pressed heavily on his shoulder.
He looked up.
Amadeus stood was sitting on his shoulders, holding a broken sword covered faintly with white sparks—fresh from his inventory.
The man.
W-when did he get—?
The man's thought ended as Amadeus drove the blade straight into his eye.
He collapsed lifelessly.
Amadeus panted, catching his breath.
A glowing panel appeared before him.
[ You killed an Easy Human ]
[ Reward: 1 Essence ]
Essence: a single one could increase any stat. The harder the kill, the more Essence rewarded.
Amadeus muttered.
"Now… which stat should I raise? But first…"
He glanced at the man's armor and sword.
"If I touch them, will they—?"
The moment his hand touched the armor, it dissolved into white dust.
A panel appeared.
[Armor of the Messenger]
[ Rarity: Uncommon ]
/ Armor granted to messengers of the Violet House, displaying their authority and prestige.
The armor materialized on Amadeus's body—a light knight's set with a violet cape and hood, marked with the crest of the Violet family.
Amadeus glanced at himself.
"Not bad."
He picked up the sword.
[Straight Sword]
[ Rarity: Common ]
/ A standard straight sword.
Amadeus while looking at the panel, said.
"Better than that broken scrap."
then he moved into the stats Menu.
HP – Increase body Durability
STM – Increase Endurance
Mana – Increase Mana reserves
STR – Increase Physical damage
AGI – Increase Speed
INT – Increase Magic damage
After thinking a bit, he said.
"I've decided."
He placed the Essence into strength.
[ STR Lv. 0 --) STR Lv. 1 ]
A rush of power filled his body.
He swung the sword experimentally—the difference was real.
he muttered.
"I'm still weak, but not as weak as before."
Crown chuckled.
"Congratulations. Your first step to becoming the strongest."
Amadeus searched the camp and found food, coins, and something more valuable—a sealed letter.
The armor's description was true: the man was a messenger.
The letter bore the Violet family seal.
It was addressed to a Quarry in the Barren Land, demanding increased gold shipments and containing other secrets.
The trading of slaves, storing illegal items, killing some merchants as they passed by their area, and more.
why am i not surprised.
Amadeus frowned.
"Strange. Why would they entrust such an important letter to someone this weak?"
" Or maybe his not the true messenger ".
Crown.
" Or they could be cheap Nobles "
Amadeus.
" With that kind of armour, i don't think they are cheap ".
As he finished reading, a panel flashed before his eyes.
[ Side Mission: The Quarry ]
[ Goal: Reach the Quarry ]
[ Reward: 1 Essence ]
[ Note ]
[ The Mission Goal and Reward will change once the Current goal is complete ]
He weighed the risk. He needed Essence. He needed everything.
Amadeus.
" this might be a golden chance, since i don't know what the next reward will be "
Unfolding the map from the messenger's pack, he noticed a marked location.
A meeting point where Quarry guards would escort the messenger safely to his destination.
Amadeus smirked.
"When the sun rises, I'll go meet them."
" Play the role of messenger, and let them lead me to the quarry."
Crown floated beside him, unimpressed.
"A simple plan."
Amadeus said, gripping his sword.
"All that matters, is gathering Essence."
He sat, planting his blade beside him under the starlight.
Crown settled on a rock by the fire.
"Wake me when you're ready."
Amadeus closed his eyes entering the Memory Domain.
The Knight Memory began to materialize, in his hand a sword ready ready to train Amadeus.
the Knight asked.
"Are you ready?"
Amadeus grinned.
"Of course.".
Amadeus dashed forward, swinging wildly at the Knight's memory.
Slash after slash cut through empty air.
The knight Memory slipping past each strike with no effort.
With a single precise motion, the knight twisted his blade, disarming Amadeus in an instant.
Before Amadeus could react, The Knight kick struck his stomach, sending him crashing to the ground, skipping across the the Domain ground.
Coughing, Amadeus struggled to push himself up.
The Knight's memory planted his sword into the ground, staring down at him with cold eyes.
"You're no different from the man you just killed."
" The only reason you won was because I guided you "
" And because you fought without honor."
Amadeus gritted his teeth, forcing himself upright.
He grabbed his fallen sword and raised it, his gaze unwavering.
"Then teach me… so I can fight with honor."
For the first time, the Knight's memory smiled faintly.
He lifted his blade, pointing it toward Amadeus.
"Perhaps it's true, then. A fragment of me really does live within you."
The weight of his presence pressing down like a storm, he said.
"Get ready. From this moment on, we will train until you can wield the sword as a true swordsman."
To be continued…