In the Town of Veylith, Central Square
Shanz seating before the fountain at its center. Around him, piles of decomposing bodies lay scattered, a grim reminder of the carnage that had taken place.
The stench and sickness clung to the air, making his stomach churn, though his Primitive Appetite trait fought against the nausea.
His body felt numb, weak from the horrors he had endured. Every breath was heavy, every movement a struggle. Despite the sickness trying to claim him, a small spark of resilience kept him upright, forcing him to cling to life even in the face of overwhelming despair.
Shanz's eyes scanned the square, half-hidden behind the fountain's stonework, every sense alert—but every nerve screaming fatigue.
The world around him was silent except for the faint buzz of flies and the distant creak of ruined buildings settling.
——
——
A sharp red chime rang in Shanz's ears.
[SYSTEM]
Warning: Health Critical!
Health is low! , Health is low!
.....
——
——
The System display floated silently before Shanz, but he ignored it entirely. Each breath grew heavier, his chest burning, yet his mind refused to yield—focused solely on survival.
"I should… be able to move," he muttered through gritted teeth.
Gripping his katana's sheath like a walking stick, he forced himself upright. Every step was agony, every movement a test of will. Leaning heavily on the weapon, he shuffled out of the Central Square, leaving behind the decomposing bodies and the stench that clawed at his senses.
"Good… focus on breathing… keep walking… must… go outside…" he panted, each word ragged.
Numbness crept through his limbs, threatening to buckle his knees, but he forced one foot in front of the other. Step by step, inch by inch, Shanz pressed onward, teetering on the edge of collapse, determined to survive whatever came next.
Shanz pressed on, each step heavier than the last, his legs trembling, muscles screaming in protest. Minutes stretched into hours as he staggered along the winding paths that led away from the ruined town. The sun climbed and shifted across the sky, yet he barely noticed, lost in the agony of every movement.
The stench of decomposing bodies slowly faded behind him, replaced by the earthy scent of open fields and distant forests. His breaths came ragged and shallow, each inhale burning, each exhale trembling through his chest. Every step was a battle against numbness, against weakness, against the overwhelming desire to collapse.
But Shanz refused to stop. Hours passed, the landscape slowly changing as he moved farther from the Central Square, following the winding paths as best he could. Dirt and sweat caked his skin, his torn clothes clinging to his body, but still he walked—driven by a stubborn spark of survival that refused to die.
Even as his vision blurred and his limbs threatened to give way, he pushed forward, step after agonizing step, leaving behind the horrors of Veylith. He had survived the town, and now the long, grueling journey continued.
Shanz focused on his breathing, willing himself to keep moving. Each step was agony, but he refused to give up, driven by the desperate hope of finding another town, another place where he could survive.
Hours had passed. His legs felt like lead, each movement slower than the last. Numbness clawed at his body, and his vision blurred, making it impossible to even look up to see if anyone—or anything—was nearby.
Every instinct screamed to stop, to collapse, yet his mind forced him forward for just a little longer.
Then, finally, his body gave out. His knees buckled, and he crumpled to the ground, exhausted beyond reason.
Shanz's vision blurred, darkness creeping at the edges. His body trembled, numb and broken, but his mind still fought.
"This… can't be… I will survive… But this time… Can someone… just help this young child…"
The last thing he saw before darkness claimed him was the System display flashing and glitching in red:
[SYS..TEM—N.OTI.CE]
Health Crit—ical! Survival at extre——me risk!
And then… nothing.
Meanwhile, high above the clouds, beyond the planets' atmosphere, past the galaxy, and out into another dimension…
Countless gods whispered quietly among themselves, comparing human models, some playing, some observing, yet all keeping their distance. Their attention, however, was fixed on a single place:
The Kingdom of Veylith.
Silent, distant, their gaze swept over the land, taking in the chaos and order alike, watching without interfering, leaving the world to unfold on its own
Far below, in the mortal realm, Shanz's body lay still, limp from exhaustion. The sun dipped lower, casting long shadows over the path he had barely managed to traverse.
When his eyelids fluttered open, the first thing he noticed was soft sunlight filtering through wooden beams. His body ached, every muscle screaming, but he was alive. The faint scent of herbs and fresh bread filled the air—a stark contrast to the stench of Veylith he had left behind.
Blinking away the haze of unconsciousness, he realized he was no longer on the muddy path. He was inside a small, humble room, warm and quiet. Outside, the distant sounds of a peaceful town reached his ears: the murmur of people walking, faint voices, and the gentle clatter of daily life.
Shanz tried to sit up, his limbs trembling. Where… am I?
A small System notice flickered in front of him:
[SYSTEM NOTICE]
Health Restored. Recovery in progress.
He exhaled shakily, relief mixing with lingering fatigue. Somehow… he had survived. Somehow… he had made it to this place.
"But I'm grateful that I survived… Still, what is this place?"
His eyes swept the room. The interior was simple, wooden, almost rustic. Beside the bed where he lay sat a small cabinet; in front of him, a table held neatly folded clothes and a few bottles. Above, a flat wooden ceiling stretched across the room.
"Well… looks like this place is just like an old infirmary in a forest…"
Suddenly, a soft footstep echoed from the door. The knob turned, letting in a sliver of light. A mysterious shadow moved with the person entering, mimicking their every step.
Shanz squinted, trying to make out the figure. Long hair… delicate movements… his mind immediately guessed, "Lemme guess—that's a woman… I mean, just sit here and pretend I'm traumatized or something…"
He adjusted slightly on the bed, trying to look calm, though his body still ached from the journey and the collapse.
The woman who entered was none other than a nurse, dressed in a white-and-brown dress, with a white handkerchief tied neatly in her hair, styled into a long ponytail. She carried a basket, inside which five empty bottles clinked softly with each step. Her sharp black eyes, defined nose, and red lips framed a strikingly beautiful face. She was taller than Shanz, and as she noticed him awake, her eyes widened.
Quickly, she set the basket down on the table.
"You're awake! My goodness… poor child. It must've been so hard for you… witnessing a raid."
She rushed to his bedside, her gaze scanning him with concern.
"Are you alright? Is anything wrong? Is there anything I can do? How do you feel?"
Gently, she reached out, sliding her hand from his cheek to his forehead.
"It seems your temperature is alright now… not like the other day…"
The other day… how many days has passed? Shanz thought, frowning. I should've started training much earlier… but how many days has it even been?
He turned his head toward her, meeting her eyes, his voice small as if still timid from recent events.
"A-ah… I feel… fine. Alright… seems I can move my entire body now."
Slowly, he stretched his arms, rolled his neck, and took a deep, steadying breath, exhaling with relief.
"But… where am I, sister? What is this place?"
Even as he spoke, he kept a careful eye on her, pretending a bit of caution, though inside he was already calculating his next steps and thinking through his own survival.
The nurse softened her gaze, kneeling slightly beside the bed.
"You're in a small town called Willowrest," she said in a calm, soothing voice. "There aren't many people here — the population doesn't even reach two thousand." Her words were gentle, steady, almost like she was trying to ease his nerves.
Shanz listened quietly, nodding at the right times, before speaking up in a small, timid voice.
"What kind of town is it? Are there any toys I can play with… or friends I can get along with?"
He played his role well — the picture of a nine-year-old child, vulnerable and harmless.
The nurse's gaze softened further, a tender smile tugging at her lips. In her heart, she pitied him deeply. Such a young child… already burdened with pain. She tucked her sorrow into her voice as she said,
"Yes… there's a nearby orphanage. I… I can take you there if you want." Her hand reached out, gently brushing against his small fingers.
Shanz caught the sadness in her eyes. He answered with a bright, innocent smile — so convincing it would fool anyone. But behind that mask, his mind was spinning.
RAHHH—she's insanely cute! A real beauty! he thought wildly. But no… appearances can't be trusted. She might be hiding her own hardships. I need to understand people better in this world… hope she's not just pretending to be kind—.
Shanz suddenly stuttered, his eyes darting across the room—cabinet, window, table.
Shit! My katana… where is it? Where is it!
The nurse noticed his restless movement, her face tightening with concern.
"What is it? Are you alright?"
But as she asked, a memory flickered in her mind. When they had first carried him here, she had seen that strange, curved sword lying beside him. That sword… it must be precious to him. But a child wielding such a weapon against monsters? Impossible… unless… no, the doctor already confirmed it—he doesn't possess any AZURA.
Her thoughts broke as Shanz turned sharply toward her, his voice tight with urgency.
"That long curved sword… is it here?"
Her eyes widened at his tone, and she hesitated before answering. "Y-yes… I saw it. It's not in this room though. We placed it in the storage room—just outside, beside the Healing Ward."
Shanz nodded quickly, relief flickering in his eyes. "Thank you… truly. But I have to go."
He swung his legs off the bed, tossing the blanket aside. The nurse hurriedly rose as well.
"Please… take care of yourself, young one. But—would you mind telling me your name first?"
Shanz paused, looking at her. Before he could answer, she flushed slightly, realizing her own manners.
"Ah—sorry, I should've introduced myself first. My name is Urae." She gave a gentle smile.
Shanz returned it, lowering his head slightly in a vow-like gesture.
"My name is Shanz. Thank you… for your hospitality."
Bright sunlight spilled over him as the door swung open, forcing Shanz to squint. Slowly, his vision adjusted, and what lay before him made him pause.
The town stretched out in modest beauty—rows of wooden houses with slanted roofs, their chimneys breathing faint smoke into the clear sky. Dirt paths wove between them, busy with villagers carrying baskets, children chasing each other, and merchants shouting faintly about their goods.
The sound of chatter and laughter mixed with the steady clatter of wheels over cobblestone in the central square.
Yet… something lingered beneath that warmth.
The breeze that brushed his face carried more than the scent of wood and earth—it carried a faint hum, almost like the world itself whispered here. He noticed strange carvings etched faintly into the wooden beams of houses, symbols that looked too deliberate to be decoration.
And as his gaze wandered, he caught the eyes of several townsfolk who glanced at him longer than they should have, only to quickly look away.
Willowrest was no ordinary place.
To Shanz, fresh from death's doorstep, it looked peaceful… almost too peaceful. But even as unease pricked at his chest, the tired child in him felt a rare flicker of comfort. For the first time in this cruel world, he wasn't surrounded by blood or silence. He was standing in the heart of life itself.
"Alright… new beginnings, huh?" Shanz muttered to himself, rolling his shoulders and stretching his small frame until his joints popped. "Ahh, that's refreshing."
His eyes widened as he scanned the rows of wooden houses around him. Each one looked humble yet sturdy, smoke rising faintly from a few chimneys. He frowned. Hmm… it seems it's not here. But why would the infirmary room be so far from the hospital—or, wait, what did they call it? The healing ward?
He tilted his head, confusion settling in. This doesn't feel like some regular room… more like…
Turning slowly, his gaze locked on the house to his right—the one he had just stepped out of. His expression stiffened as if he had stumbled onto a realization. Wait a second…—
Just as he was puzzling it over, the door behind him creaked open. The nurse stepped out, sunlight brushing against her hair as she nearly bumped into him.
"Oh… oh! It's little Shanz," she said warmly, her lips curving into a gentle smile.
Shanz blinked, forcing a grin back at her, though inside his head his thoughts ran wild. Damn… I really can't control myself around beauties. Nah… it's just horny feeling—.
The nurse's smile softened, her eyes kind. "Oh, what a coincidence. I was heading there myself—I've been assigned to take care of you." She tilted her head slightly, teasing in a gentle tone. "Well then, let's go! If you insist on holding my hand, you won't get lost, little child."
Shanz froze, his body jerking stiff at her words. "O-oh… okay, thank you…" he muttered, carefully slipping his small hand into hers.
Inside his mind, though, it was chaos. Damn it… why does this feel so embarrassing?She thinks I'm just an innocent kid—but really, inside I'm a grown man who's in this body!.
Walking through the heart of town, Shanz's small frame weaved between the bustling crowd. His wide eyes took in everything—rows of adventurers clad in worn armor, leather cloaks, and gleaming steel, their laughter echoing as they walked in groups. Some carried weapons slung across their backs, others marched in rhythm like seasoned bands—allied parties bound by trust and survival.
The clang of metal rang sharp against his ears. Clang! Clang! He turned his head to see a blacksmith's shop, its doors wide open, sparks flying as a burly man swung his hammer down against glowing iron. The smell of coal and sweat wafted into the street, raw and alive.
Shanz slowed his steps, a faint grin tugging at his lips. So this is the life of adventurers… living by strength, forging paths with comrades at their side.
His eyes wandered again, scanning rooftops and stalls, until something larger drew his gaze. A wide building stood proudly at the end of the street, its wooden frame towering higher than the shops around it. Adventurers streamed in and out of its heavy doors, their chatter and footsteps blending into one lively chorus.
Above the entrance, carved deep into a broad oak sign, were bold letters for all to see:
"GuildHall."
Shanz's expression hardened for a moment, but before his thoughts could drift further, Urae's gentle voice broke through.
"Here we are… the healing ward house! That small building to the back is the storage room, where we keep supplies."
She pointed with her free hand, her tone light, though her eyes flickered with a trace of concern. "But first, I need to tell the doctor that you're awake. Let's go inside, alright?"
Shanz gave a small nod, accepting her guidance.
The wooden door creaked as Urae pushed it open, and the warm air of the ward spilled out. Stepping inside, Shanz was met with the faint scent of herbs mixed with old wood.
His eyes scanned quickly, taking everything in—rows of wooden cots lined against the walls, neatly folded cloths stacked on a nearby shelf, bottles filled with strange-colored liquids resting atop tables.
A faint glow shimmered from lanterns hung on iron hooks, illuminating the place with a soft, golden light.
The room wasn't large, but it carried a quiet atmosphere, a sense of both recovery and sorrow—where lives were saved and, perhaps, where others had slipped away...