Murphy dreamt of a village surrounded by tall mountains, as if something huge and tremendous had fallen there.
Serene and filled with laughter and celebrations, the village seemed as though it were something straight out of a children's fantasy book. A radiant moon bathed it in ghostly, pale light.
Strong winds crashed into the mountains over and over again, screaming in powerless rage, as if cursing this village, asking why it was so happy, so beautiful, and yet so terrifying...
Suddenly, every being started screaming, running, and fighting one another.
Some swung their swords frantically in the air, as though trying to kill a large, profane being...
Others unleashed magical abilities, destroying everything around them. The explosion of colorful spells would have been a breathtaking sight—if not for the rivers of blood flowing beneath their feet.
Every being had gone mad, as if plagued by a mental curse. Everyone fought, ran, and killed their invisible foes.
Wait, not everyone—
There was a breathtakingly beautiful young maiden, dancing a graceful, enchanting dance that could incite nations to wage war just to receive a glance from her.
If Murphy had not been in the body of a child, surely, he would not have been able to contain himself.
Strangely enough, Murphy didn't even notice anything odd about a dem—no, fairy—dancing among mortals as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
Suddenly... a Wh□□ F□□□
Suddenly, the moon fell below the horizon. The sun rose from the west, streaked across the sky, and disappeared into the east.
Red autumn leaves jumped from the ground and returned to the embrace of trees.
Murphy realized he was witnessing the flow of time in reverse.
In an instant, several months passed. Autumn retreated, summer came and went, and trees bloomed with cherry blossoms. This scene played out three or four times.
Murphy couldn't even tell if it was possible for such plants to grow in a pit surrounded by mountains.
Cold shivers ran down his spine as he noticed that he had forgotten something... but even that thought was destroyed before it could fully for...
BREAK.
It felt like something broke—or was fixed? As if a cogwheel had returned to its place, but even then, a broken one.
Time slowed, stopped, and then resumed its usual pace.
[Aspirant! Welcome to the Nightmare Spell. Prepare for your First Trial…]
Everything went dark. He couldn't even hear clearly—everything was a distant murmur.
He saw something...
Then, suddenly, something soft and light fell on his nose, and—SNEEZE.
He woke up, looking around frantically, as if someone had poured cold water on a sleeping cat.
What he saw was something straight out of a Japanese medieval drama—cherry blossoms flying in the wind, people walking with luggage through the streets, distant shouts from vegetable sellers, guards patrolling, and children running, laughing, and playing.
Surely, even this peaceful scene must have a dark side—but still, only one word came to mind: UTOPIA.
It looked like a place worth protecting, even at the cost of one's life.
Just how sad it was that this utopia would be destroyed by the chain of monsters that would appear a few years from now.
Looking behind him, it seemed he had been sleeping in the shade of a tree, and a falling petal on his nose had woken him.
"Remember: the first thing you must do once inside the Nightmare is to check your Attributes and your Aspect.
If you get a combat-oriented Aspect—something like Swordsman or Archer—things will be easier.
If it's reinforced by a physical Attribute, that's even better. Combat Aspects are the most common, so the probability of receiving one is high."
Once he shook off his daze and confirmed everything was fine, he remembered Paul's advice and was just about to check—when something like a hammer struck his head, followed by an angry shout:
"How dare you sneak away from the family Dojo in the middle of training!"
"Huh? Who are you, baldy?"
He blurted it out reflexively after seeing the unfamiliar face—and he could swear he saw veins pop on the man's bald head.
"Baldy, huh? BALDY!? You BRAT!! I should educate you properly!"
For the rest of the day, screams echoed through the family manor—but it must have been an illusion, for no one else seemed to hear them.
As if it were just a dream... or a delusion.
'As it turned out, the bal—esteemed gentleman in front of me is the head of the elders and the strongest saint in the village.
His most notable feat is killing a great demon, a wood monster from beyond the Bowl.
In fact, the blooming cherry blossoms and the variety of flowers in the village are only possible due to his lingering influence.
Also… he's my grandfather.
That means I'm a young master—at least until the day I die. I'll live and enjoy it.'
"Now brat, remember to come to the Dojo tomorrow and learn your way with the sword.
If you don't, I'll make sure you'll never be able to sit on your ass again!"
A shiver ran down my spine.
"YES!!"
'I guess my dream of being a spoiled young master till I die… will remain a dream.
Honestly speaking, the situation is extremely good. I would have begged a saint to teach me—
If not for the fact that my death is certain.
Because no matter what I do, I can't stop the group of wolves... lions... birds... monsters... creatures of nothingness... n□□□??'
BAAM!
A loud noise echoed in the corridor. A middle-aged woman lay on the floor, towels and clothes scattered all around her.
"What are you doing here?"
"Ah, young master, my name is Shen Xi. I'm here to bring you fresh clothes and towels for your bath."
"Ah, yes. Leave them outside—I'll wear them after my bath."
She subtly bit her lower lip, a mix of dejection and determination in her eyes as she asked:
"I can accompany you in your bath."
Murphy raised his brows and looked at her. Seeing this, Shen Xi quickly bowed her head and spoke in a fearful yet seductive tone:
"I meant I could wash your back and help you reach... places you can't reach."
Murphy looked at her more closely.
Her looks were only slightly above average, but she dressed well.
She wore a green robe with long sleeves and trousers, embroidered shoes, and a pearl hairpin in her black hair. Her whole figure radiated a mature charm.
To Shen Xi, Murphy's potential to reach saint-level was enormous. If she became his concubine, she could elevate from a servant to a noble—a huge leap.
'But I could tell... she only sees me as a stepping stone. She doesn't care about me at all.
The real question is—
Should I take advantage of her and throw her away later… or just let her go?
Wait, what am I thinking? This feels like some foreign thou—'
Before he could finish the thought, he was distracted by her half-exposed bosom, purposely displayed to seduce him.
"No, I'm fine. As long as you don't get in my way, then you can go aside and scram, I don't need to care about you. But if you dare to pull this stunt again I'll make sure that you would sold to cheap brothel as the cheapest whore."
After saying this, he walked into his room—then straight into the bathroom. Leaving her completely terrified and shocked as if she couldn't quite comprehend what was said.
Only when he stood in front of the mirror did he realize—his body wasn't that of an 8 or 9-year-old as expected. It looked more like a 13 or 14-year-old.
Weird.
Finally, it was time to look at his Status:
Name: Murphy
True Name: —
Rank:Aspirant
Soul Core: Dormant
Memories: —
Echoes: —
Attributes:[Perfect Sorcerer], [Ember of Divinity], [Terror]
Aspect:[Spectator]
Aspect Description:Whether it is at an extravagant banquet or a lively street, a Spectator is always just a spectator—they can never take the stage themselves.
What in the LOTM is that?!