[QUEST COMPLETE: SURVIVAL'S FIRST STEP]
REWARDS EARNED:
- Basic Recovery Potion x3
- 100 EXP
- Skill: [Danger Sense - Lv 1] acquired
The notification appeared exactly twenty-four hours after I'd woken up in this body. I was in my room, having just finished a light training session with the rusted sword I'd found in the mansion's abandoned armory. My body was still weak, but at least the wound on my neck had fully healed.
I dismissed the notification and pulled up my status window.
[STATUS WINDOW]
NAME: Zane Morgenstern
AGE: 16
LEVEL: 2 (100/200 EXP to next level)
TITLE: The Disowned, The Marked, One Who Defies Destiny
TIER: Novice III (Aura) | Novice II (Mana)
ATTRIBUTES:
- Strength: 12
- Agility: 14
- Endurance: 10
- Intelligence: 16
- Willpower: 18
- Charm: 8
SKILLS:
- [Basic Swordsmanship - Lv 3]
- [Mana Manipulation - Lv 2]
- [Aura Sense - Lv 1]
- [Danger Sense - Lv 1] NEW!
Still pathetically weak. Two weeks until the academy term started, and I was barely at Novice III. At this rate, I'd be cannon fodder within the first month.
But I had a plan.
The Infinite Seed.
In the novel, Liam had discovered it during his first month at the academy. He'd gone on a training expedition with some classmates into the ShadowForest and stumbled upon it by accident. The fruit had accelerated his growth dramatically, pushing him from Novice V to Apprentice II in just two months.
The novel had described it as a rare treasure, one that appeared only once every decade in specific locations. And I knew exactly where and when it would appear.
Three days from now, in the heart of the ShadowForest.
The forest was a two-day journey from the mansion. If I left tomorrow morning, I'd arrive just in time to claim it before Liam even started at the academy.
I was changing the story already. Taking something meant for the protagonist. But I didn't care. If I wanted to survive in this doomed world, I needed every advantage I could get.
A knock on the door interrupted my thoughts.
"Young Master?" A familiar voice called out. "Are you awake?"
Not Martha this time. This voice was younger, more energetic.
"Come in," I said.
The door opened and a girl around my age stepped inside. She had short brown hair tied back with a simple ribbon, bright hazel eyes, and wore the standard maid uniform. But unlike Martha's reserved demeanor, this girl had a casual air about her.
"Finally!" she said, walking in without waiting for permission. "I've been back for two days and you haven't even checked on me once. What kind of master are you?"
Ah. This was Eliza.
Zane's memories filled in the details. Eliza had been assigned to him three years ago when she was thirteen. Unlike the other servants who treated him with cold formality, Eliza had always been... different. She spoke to him like an equal, teased him, and generally acted more like a childhood friend than a servant.
She'd been on sick leave for the past week, recovering from a fever.
"You're feeling better?" I asked.
"Obviously. Do I look sick to you?" She plopped down on the chair near my desk without asking. "Martha said you've been acting weird. More talkative, she said. I didn't believe her, but here you are actually asking about my health. Did you hit your head or something?"
I couldn't help but smile slightly. Her bluntness was refreshing after Seraphina's intensity.
"I'm just in a better mood," I said.
"Hmm." She studied me with narrowed eyes. "You do look different. Less... mopey. It's an improvement, honestly. The whole 'tragic prince' thing was getting old."
"Eliza," I said warningly.
"What? I'm just being honest." She grinned, but there was a hint of nervousness in her eyes. She always pushed boundaries, but she knew exactly how far she could go before risking her position. "So, what's the plan? Martha said Lady Seraphina visited yesterday. Did she bring more of those pastries you like?"
"She did."
"And you didn't save me any? Rude."
I shook my head. This girl was impossible. But she was also exactly what I needed right now.
"Actually, I need your help with something," I said.
Her expression shifted to something more serious. "What kind of help?"
"I need to go somewhere. A two-day journey. And I need someone to come with me."
She blinked. "You want me to come with you? Where?"
"The ShadowForest."
Her eyes widened. "The ShadowForest? Young Master, that place is dangerous. There are monsters there. Why would you want to go?"
"Training," I said simply. "I need to get stronger before the academy term starts. The forest has areas suitable for combat practice."
It wasn't entirely a lie. I would need to fight monsters to reach the Infinite Seed's location.
Eliza looked skeptical. "And you need me because...?"
"Because you're the only servant in this mansion I trust not to report my movements to my family."
That was true. Zane's memories confirmed that Eliza had always kept his secrets, never running to Damian or Celeste with information they could use against him.
She was quiet for a moment, then sighed. "You know I could get fired for this if something goes wrong, right?"
"I know."
"And you're asking me anyway?"
"Yes."
She studied my face, then grinned. "Well, at least you're being honest about it. Fine. I'll come with you. But if we die, I'm haunting you in the afterlife."
"Deal."
"When do we leave?"
"Tomorrow morning. Pack light but bring a weapon if you have one."
"I have a dagger. Will that work?"
"It'll have to."
She stood up and stretched. "This is either the stupidest thing I've ever agreed to, or the most interesting. I'm betting on stupid, but I'm bored enough not to care."
"Your confidence is reassuring," I said dryly.
"Hey, someone has to keep things realistic around here." She headed for the door, then paused. "Young Master?"
"Yes?"
"I'm glad you're feeling better. Whatever happened, whatever changed... It's good to see you actually caring about something again."
Before I could respond, she left, closing the door behind her.
I sat down on my bed and pulled up my inventory. The three Basic Recovery Potions appeared as small vials of red liquid. They wouldn't heal major injuries, but they'd help if we got hurt.
Tomorrow, the real journey would begin. I'd take the Infinite Seed before Liam even knew it existed. I'd change the story's trajectory and give myself a fighting chance.
The system chimed softly.
[NEW QUEST: THE INFINITE SEED]
Obtain the Infinite Seed before the protagonist discovers it
REWARD: Infinite Seed, 500 EXP, Title: "The One Who Steals Fate"
FAILURE: Miss the opportunity, the protagonist obtains the seed
TIME LIMIT: 3 days
I smiled. The system understood what I was trying to do.
Three days. Two-day journey to the forest, one day to find the seed and return.
I could do this.
I had to.
---
The next morning came quickly. I woke before dawn and dressed in practical travel clothes—dark pants, a simple shirt, and a worn leather jacket I'd found in Zane's closet. I strapped the rusted sword to my belt and packed a small bag with supplies.
Eliza was already waiting by the mansion's back entrance when I arrived. She wore similar practical clothes and had a small pack slung over her shoulder. The dagger was visible at her hip.
"Ready?" I asked.
"As ready as I'll ever be for a potentially suicidal journey into monster-infested woods." She grinned. "Let's go before I come to my senses."
We left through the back gate, avoiding the main entrance where we might be spotted by other servants. The sun was just starting to rise, painting the sky in shades of orange and pink.
The ShadowForest was to the east, past several small villages and farmlands. According to Zane's memories, the journey would take us through relatively safe territory for the first day. The second day would be more dangerous as we got closer to the forest proper.
We walked in silence for the first hour, following a dirt road that wound through fields of wheat and barley. The morning air was cool and fresh, and for a moment, I could almost forget the danger waiting ahead.
"So," Eliza said suddenly, breaking the silence. "Are you going to tell me the real reason we're going to the forest?"
I glanced at her. "I told you. Training."
"Right. And I'm the Queen of Astoria." She rolled her eyes. "Young Master, I've known you for three years. You've never cared about training before. You barely practiced your swordsmanship. And now suddenly you want to go fight monsters in the ShadowForest? Two weeks before the academy term starts?"
She was more perceptive than I'd given her credit for.
"Things have changed," I said carefully.
"Obviously. You've been different since yesterday. More focused. Less..." She paused, searching for the word. "Less defeated."
I didn't respond.
"I'm not going to pry," she continued. "Whatever happened, whatever made you change your mind about things, that's your business. I'm just glad you finally decided to do something instead of just accepting everything."
Her words hit harder than I expected. The original Zane had given up. He'd accepted his disgrace, his isolation, his fate. He'd stopped fighting.
But I wasn't him.
"Thank you," I said quietly. "For coming with me."
She waved a hand dismissively. "Don't get all sentimental on me. I'm only here because sitting around the mansion was boring. This is way more interesting."
But there was a slight smile on her face.
We continued walking as the sun climbed higher in the sky. The road was mostly empty, with only the occasional farmer or merchant passing by. No one paid us much attention—just two travelers on the road.
Around midday, we stopped by a small stream to rest and eat. Eliza had packed bread and dried meat, which we shared while sitting on a fallen log.
"How much further today?" she asked between bites.
"We should reach Millbrook Village by evening. We can stay at an inn there for the night."
"An inn? Can you afford that?" She looked at me skeptically. "No offense, Young Master, but you're not exactly wealthy."
She was right. Zane's allowance from the family was barely enough to maintain the mansion, let alone pay for travel expenses.
"I have enough," I said, though I wasn't entirely sure. I'd grabbed some coins from Zane's room before leaving, but I hadn't counted them.
"If you say so." She didn't sound convinced.
We finished eating and continued on. The road grew busier as we got closer to Millbrook Village. We passed merchants with carts full of goods, families traveling together, and even a group of adventurers heading in the opposite direction.
I kept my [Danger Sense] skill active the whole time, but it remained quiet. No immediate threats.
By the time the sun started to set, we could see Millbrook Village in the distance. It was a small settlement, maybe two dozen buildings clustered around a central square. Smoke rose from chimneys, and I could hear the faint sounds of people talking and laughing.
"Finally," Eliza said, stretching her arms. "My feet are killing me."
We entered the village and quickly found the inn—a two-story building with a wooden sign that read "The Sleeping Fox." It looked clean enough.
Inside, the common room was warm and filled with the smell of cooking food. A few locals sat at tables, eating and drinking. Behind the bar stood a middle-aged woman with tired eyes.
"Help you?" she asked as we approached.
"Two rooms for the night," I said.
She looked us over. "That'll be six silver coins. Meals included."
I reached into my pouch and counted out the coins. Exactly six silver. Just enough.
The woman took the coins and handed me two keys. "Rooms three and four, upstairs. Dinner will be ready in an hour."
"Thank you."
Eliza and I went upstairs. The rooms were small but clean, each with a single bed and a washbasin. I dropped my pack on the bed and sat down, exhausted.
A soft knock came at my door.
"It's me," Eliza's voice called.
"Come in."
She entered and closed the door behind her. "So, tomorrow we reach the forest?"
"Yes. We should arrive by afternoon if we leave early."
"And then?"
"Then we go in. Find what we're looking for."
She crossed her arms. "You're really not going to tell me what we're actually looking for, are you?"
"It's better if you don't know."
"That's ominous." But she didn't push further. "Fine. Just promise me we won't die."
"I can't promise that."
"Great. Really inspiring confidence here, Young Master."
Despite her words, she was smiling slightly.
"Get some rest," I said. "Tomorrow will be harder."
"Yeah, yeah." She headed for the door, then paused. "Hey, Young Master?"
"Yes?"
"Thanks for trusting me enough to bring me along. Even if you won't tell me everything."
Before I could respond, she left.
I lay back on the bed and stared at the ceiling. Tomorrow, we'd enter the ShadowForest. Tomorrow, I'd face actual monsters for the first time in this world.
And somewhere in that forest was the Infinite Seed. The key to my survival.
I just had to live long enough to claim it.