By the afternoon, the light in Veldan had changed.
The pale gray of morning was gone, replaced by a golden glow clinging to the stone walls.The streets were full; sellers shouting, people bargaining, children running between carts. All of it echoed across the cobblestones.
I walked through the crowd carefully, my shoulder giving a small throb with every step.
Even without opening the System panel, I could feel it watching me from somewhere just out of sight.
"Medicine, salve, herbs…" I muttered."And probably an expensive bill."
⟪SYSTEM⟫[MINOR REMINDER]
– Health Status:• Left Shoulder: In the process of healing.• Infection Risk: Low, but not negligible.
Recommendation:– The touch of a proper healer will improve your performance in future fights.
Local Suggestion:– Healer: LIRA
"I know," I said. "I'm already going to her. Let me make one smart decision on my own for once."
⟪SYSTEM⟫[SHORT NOTE]
– Rare event.– Added to records.
I sighed.
Lira's shop sat a little off the main street, behind a narrow door half-hidden between a row of houses.
The sign above it still read:
"LIRA – Herbs, Salves, and Solutions for Troublesome Problems"
The door was slightly ajar.The smells from inside were strong enough to drown out the bread and grease of the street: mint, sage, dry earth, bitter roots, and a faint metallic scent.
I pushed the door open slowly and stepped inside.
A tiny bell above the frame rang with a sharp little chime.
The shop was smaller than I expected, but the ceiling was high.Bundles of dried plants hung from the shelves; roots dangled from the rafters; jars lined the walls in uneven rows.Some jars held leaves, some powders, some cloudy liquids that clung to the glass like veins.
Behind the counter stood a young woman in a dark green apron.
Her chestnut hair was loosely tied back, a few strands falling around her face. Her eyes were a calm, careful green, not unlike the herbs hanging above her.
The moment she saw me, her gaze dropped straight to my shoulder, then to the bandage.There was no fresh blood, but the cloth still held a dark, dried stain.
"Assassination attempt in an inn room," Lira said, as if she were talking about the weather."Almost as common as breakfast these days."
I blinked.
"Gossip travels fast in this town, I see," I said. "Or do the walls have ears too?"
"The walls don't," she replied. "The inn staff do. And they have tongues."
I walked up to the counter.
"My shoulder," I said. "It's alive, but not happy."
Lira came out from behind the counter and moved toward the back of the room.
"Sit on the chair," she said. "Open your shirt as much as you can. Nothing to be embarrassed about; I'm looking at the wound, not you."
"You could at least say something romantic," I muttered."Like 'I'll save you today' or something."
"First let's make sure you don't die," she said. "The romantic parts come later—if you last that long."
I couldn't help a small, reluctant chuckle.
I sat down on the chair and carefully slid the shirt off my shoulder.When my hand moved toward the bandage, Lira raised her hand.
"Wait," she said. "If you rip it off, you'll pull the scab with it and reopen the wound. Slow, and breathe out while you do it."
I did as she said.Layer by layer, the rushed bandage from last night came off. Some parts had stuck to my skin, some had loosened.
"The emergency wraps the guards carry work," Lira said. "Just don't expect fine craftsmanship. It's guard work, after all."
When the last layer came free, the wound on my shoulder was fully exposed.Red, irritated flesh, a clean but deep line, the edges a little swollen.
My heart sped up for a moment.It was the literal mark of you almost died here.
Lira leaned closer, but didn't touch the skin. She held her hand hovering a hand's breadth away.
⟪SYSTEM⟫[PASSIVE OBSERVATION]
– Object: Lira's hand– Effect:• Slight temperature decrease around the wound.• Short-term reduction in perceived pain.
Preliminary Note:– She may not be a completely "normal" healer.
Note:– "Lira" flagged for deeper analysis later.
Lira acted as if nothing unusual was happening.
"No sign of infection," she said calmly. "That's the good news."
"Whenever someone tells me I'm 'lucky,'" I said, "there's usually bad news right after."
"Correct," she said.She turned back toward the counter and picked up a jar with a scratched leaf symbol carved into its lid. Inside was a thick, dark green salve.
"This will sting a bit," she warned. "Then it will feel better."
"Do all healers learn that exact sentence at the same school?" I asked. "Standard line or something?"
"This," she said, "is called 'not lying to the patient.'"
She scooped a bit of the salve onto a clean cloth and carefully pressed it against the wound.
The first contact was… hell.
Fire shot from my shoulder up my neck and down my back.I clenched my teeth; the chair creaked under the tension.
"Breathe," Lira said. "In… out… Again…"
After a few breaths, the sharp fire faded into a heavy, spreading heat.The pain hadn't vanished, but it felt more distant, as if someone had turned down the volume.
⟪SYSTEM⟫[EFFECT DETECTED]
Object: "Lira's Salve" (Local Item)
Temporary Effects:– Pain: Reduced.– Infection Risk: Significantly lowered.– Healing Speed: Slightly increased (short duration).
Note:– Ingredients cannot be fully analyzed.– Added to the "Items to monitor" list.
"Better," I managed. "Feels like someone pulled a red-hot iron out of my shoulder."
"Check it again tomorrow morning," Lira said. "For now, I'll put on a fresh bandage."
She pulled out a new roll of clean cloth. Her hands moved much more methodically than Rian's had; clearly she'd done this hundreds of times.
"Lots of excitement in town last night," she said as she wrapped the bandage."Professional assassin, unknown guest, guards visiting an inn in the middle of the night… Decent material for the first chapter of a story."
"So that means," I said, "I'm drawing too much attention."
"What it means," she corrected, "is that you might have started breathing in the wrong place at the wrong time."
She was smiling, but her eyes weren't.
When she finished, my shoulder felt more stable.I pulled my shirt carefully back into place.
"How much do I owe you?" I asked.
Lira reached for a small wooden board behind the counter. Faded numbers and short notes were scratched across it.She pretended to calculate for a moment, then set it back down.
"For today," she said, "I'm not taking money."
I raised my eyebrows.
"A free favor," I said. "That's a concept I haven't seen much in this world."
"Learn it," she replied. "And then don't forget this part: all 'free' favors have a hidden cost."
She set a small brown glass bottle on the counter.The pale green liquid inside rippled faintly in the light.
"Keep this with you," she said. "Drop a little into water and drink it when you're exhausted. It'll ease it a bit. But don't take it every time you feel slightly tired. Only when it's truly needed."
"So you're trying to prevent me from becoming addicted to your potions," I said. "Fair enough. I'll be careful."
"In return," she added, her voice lowering just a touch, "I want a small favor from you. Nothing too big."
Of course.
⟪SYSTEM⟫[NEW QUEST CREATED]
[MICRO QUEST – YELLOW]Quest: Lira's Small Request
Description:– In this world, 'free treatment' almost doesn't exist.– Most salves, potions, and smiles collect their payment later.
Preliminary Objective:– Find out exactly what Lira wants from you.– Decide for yourself whether to accept.
Estimated Reward:– Small increase in relationship with Lira.– Basic knowledge about local herbs.
Failure:– If you reject her request too roughly, you may lose access to her help.– Or… she may choose different methods to keep you "in hand."
"Is that an actual threat," I asked silently, "or just statistics?"
⟪SYSTEM⟫[SHORT REPLY]
– Statistical projection.– You are fully capable of generating paranoia on your own.
Lira reached under the counter and brought out a small envelope sealed with wax.There was no name on it—just a single slanted line in the corner.
It reminded me a little too much of the mark Mira had drawn on the corner of my file.
"Take this," Lira said. "When you go back to the Copper Lantern, give it to Bran. Don't open it. Don't look inside. Just hand it to him."
My breath hitched for a moment.
"Did Bran ask for this?" I asked.
"No," she said. "But there are people who know him. Some messages are safer when they come from the right mouth."
"This doesn't happen to be full of triangle symbols, illegal herbs and 'Don't tell anyone' notes, does it?" I said.
"You won't be opening it," she replied with a smile. "So you don't need to worry about what's inside."
Just then, a soft thunk sounded from the back of the shop—like a small door being closed in a hurry.Lira glanced in that direction with the corner of her eye, then looked back at me.
"Do you want to ask more questions?" she said.
"Yes," I thought."About money, the watch, Morgan, triangles…"
Out loud, I only said:
"I think I've gotten enough answers for today."
The bell rang again as I left the shop.
The street outside had never stopped moving.People were still buying, shouting, hauling crates from place to place.
In my hand: a small bottle from Lira.In my pocket: her sealed envelope.
I stopped for a moment and glanced around.
"Since I'm already out here," I muttered, "might as well take a quick detour. The System wanted city observation anyway."
⟪SYSTEM⟫[SIDE QUEST – PROGRESS]
Side Quest: "Learn to Breathe in Veldan"
– Day: 1 / 3– Sub-Objective:• Observe a different part of town → In progress.
Note:– The town is not just the main square.– Looking into the side streets may help you see future threats early.
"Alright, alright," I said. "I'm scouting for free anyway."
Instead of taking the shortest route back to the Copper Lantern, I cut through a side street.
A few turns later, I stepped into a narrower but livelier lane.It was like a small market: stalls piled with fresh fruit, dried meat, old but repaired weapons, and second-hand cloaks.
A hand-written price board caught my eye at one stall:
"Simple Knife – 8 CopperSturdy Gloves – 5 CopperPatched Leather Vest – 12 Copper"
I remembered the small coin pouch I received when I checked into the inn and fished it out, weighing it in my hand.
⟪SYSTEM⟫[NEW DATA – ECONOMY]
Local Currency (Veldan Region):– Copper Shard (smallest unit).– Silver Mark ≈ 100 Copper Shards.– Gold Crown ≈ 100 Silver Marks.
Current Balance (Rough Estimate):– 63 Copper Shards.
Comment:– You are not in the "wealthy" category.– You are in the "not starving yet" category.
"Could be worse," I said. "At least I'm not broke and dead."
At another stall, an old merchant was lowering a crate when his leg gave out. The crate tipped and spilled, sending small cloth-wrapped packets rolling across the dirt.
He cursed and grabbed his knees to steady himself.
After a heartbeat's hesitation, I stepped forward and helped him upright, then crouched to gather the scattered bundles.
"You alright?" I asked.
"I'm fine, I'm fine…" he grumbled. "These legs just aren't what they used to be. Thanks, lad."
⟪SYSTEM⟫[MICRO EVENT DETECTED]
[MICRO QUEST COMPLETED]Quest: Help the Merchant Who Dropped His Crate
Reward:– +1 Copper Shard.– Very small amount of General Experience.
Note:– Small kindnesses bring small returns.– But everything adds up.
The old man shoved the last packet into the crate, then dug into his own pouch and flicked me a single copper.
"You didn't have to," I said.
"Take it," he replied. "Can't let your help go unpaid. And you don't look that rich anyway."
"Looking around," I said, "no one here looks very rich."
I took the coin and turned it between my fingers.
It was the first coin I'd "officially" earned in this world.
Not from killing, but from helping.It felt oddly satisfying.
⟪SYSTEM⟫[NEW NOTE]
– Micro quests:• May not directly improve your survival chances.• But they speed up your integration with the town.
Long-term:• Certain locals may begin to see you as a "familiar face."
"Did you seriously just call them NPCs earlier?" I muttered internally.
⟪SYSTEM⟫[TERM ADJUSTMENT]
– Local equivalent: "ordinary people"
But you knew what I meant.
I shook my head, trying not to laugh.
Eventually, I found my way back to the street where the Copper Lantern stood.
The inn looked different in daylight.Two customers argued loudly by the door; the smell of food and cheap beer drifted from inside.
The common room was crowded when I stepped in.One table held men throwing dice, another hosted travelers eating in silence, and a corner buzzed with laughing guards.
Bran sat at a side table, half-finished plate and mug in front of him, chair tilted back. His armor pieces were off; he wore only light leather.
Our eyes met and he raised a hand, motioning for me to come over.
"You're still breathing," he said as I approached. "So Lira didn't kill you."
"For now," I said. "I think she decided to keep me alive so she can kill me later if needed."
"A reasonable choice," Bran said. "I'd do the same."
I sat down. The weight of the envelope in my pocket suddenly felt heavier, like it knew who was sitting across from me.
I didn't put it on the table right away.I waited.
Bran took a small sip from his mug.
"You go to headquarters?" he asked.
"I did," I said. "Told Mira all the boring details. Rian sent me off with a 'we're not planning to hang you yet' smile."
Bran chuckled.
"A foreigner who survives an assassination on his first night," he said. "Veldan isn't used to that. I'll admit, your story's interesting."
I slipped my hand into my pocket.
"By the way," I said quietly, lowering my voice, "I've been trusted with something that's supposed to go to you."
I wrapped my fingers around the envelope and slid it out beneath the table, placing it beside his mug.
For a brief moment, the wax seal and the slanted line in the corner caught the light.
Bran's expression didn't suddenly break or anything.But a very slight tension flickered in his eyes.
He put his hand over the envelope, then casually shifted his mug to block it from view before anyone else could notice.
"From who?" he asked, his voice lower now.
"Not from the sender," I said. "Just from the messenger. Lira."
Bran's jaw tightened almost imperceptibly.Then his relaxed look returned.
"Of course," he said. "Lira is… familiar. Thanks, Ethan."
⟪SYSTEM⟫[QUEST UPDATE]
Quest: Lira's Small Request
– Status: Delivery Completed– Extra Objective: Observe your surroundings during handoff → Partially successful.
Rewards:– Relationship with Lira: Slight increase.– "Interest Level" with Bran: Increased.
Note:– Bran showed brief, subtle tension at the sight of the envelope.– He hid it immediately without showing it to anyone.
Gain:– Very small amount of General Experience.
"So that's it?" I thought. "The experience bar still barely moves."
⟪SYSTEM⟫[SHORT REPLY]
– The experience bar is moving, very slowly.– You may be confusing 'growth' with 'dramatic explosions.'
Bran drained the last of his drink and pushed his chair back.
"What do you say?" he asked. "If the shoulder can handle it, I can show you a few basic moves out in the yard. Next time someone comes at you with a knife in the night, maybe you're the one who ruins their balance."
I touched my shoulder.It still ached, but thanks to Lira's salve, it was manageable.
"If we keep it slow and basic," I said, "I won't run."
"If you do run," Bran said, "we'll count that as part of the training."
There was a small yard behind the inn.Two walls boxed it in; the ground was packed dirt.A few wooden dummies and battered targets stood crooked in the middle.
Bran took two wooden practice swords from a rack leaning against the wall. He tossed one to me.
My shoulder twinged as I caught it, but my hand closed around the grip on reflex.
"First rule," Bran said. "In this world, if you lose your balance, you die. So we start with the feet."
He showed me simple stances:How far apart to keep my feet, where to place my weight, how to step back without falling on my ass.
On my first tries, I nearly toppled over twice.Both times, Bran caught me by the arm before I actually hit the ground, laughing before he bothered to pull me straight.
"Your body's weak, but not useless," he said. "No muscle memory, but at least your brain looks like it wants to learn."
"I can't tell if that's an insult or a compliment," I said.
"Both," he replied.
⟪SYSTEM⟫[ROUTINE OBSERVATION – TRAINING]
– Physical Activity: Basic sword stances and footwork.– Duration: Short but intense (beginner level).
Gains:– Strength: Very small increase.– Agility: Very small increase.– Endurance: Micro increase.
New Record:– SIGIL GRID – Flesh Branch: "Basic Balance" node is faintly glowing.• Currently locked.• May unlock with repeated training.
"Finally," I thought. "We're actually grinding, even if it's tiny."
Bran kept tapping my wooden sword with his own, then pulling back, sometimes deliberately trying to throw off my stance and make me stumble.
"Notice anything?" he asked after a while.
"That my body hates me?" I said.
"No," he said. "Remember the moment the assassin broke your bed leg? If you'd had this basic footwork then, you could've wrecked his balance even more."
"I don't really want to replay that scene in my head," I said. "But I get your point."
Bran rested the wooden sword on his shoulder.
"No one in this town gives sword lessons for free," he said. "Don't forget that. Just like Lira, I expect something in return."
"My debt book is filling up fast," I said. "What do you want in return?"
"For now," he said, "just stay alive.No point in investing in someone who dies immediately."
He said it with a relaxed face, but the words "the ones investing in you" left a cold spot in my chest.
By late afternoon, when we walked back in from the yard, my legs were trembling slightly.
My shoulder ached, my muscles burned, but strangely… there was a small, real sense of satisfaction.
⟪SYSTEM⟫[END OF DAY SUMMARY – UPDATE]
Side Quest: "Learn to Breathe in Veldan"
– Day: 1 / 3
Today's Tasks:– Morning physical training: Completed.– Visit to healer and treatment: Completed.– Observation of a new part of town: Completed.– Initial deeper contact with healers, guards, and local "connections": Beginner level completed.
Progress Reward:– +1% System Synchronization– Small observation bonus for the Veil branch.
"Not bad," I said, exhausted. "I didn't just avoid dying today—I actually did a little training."
⟪SYSTEM⟫[NOTE]
– For a first day, your performance is statistically "above expected."– This may increase System expectations for future days.
"Is that supposed to be a thank you or a threat?" I asked.
No answer.
I headed toward the inn's stairs.In my pocket, the small bottle from Lira; somewhere with Bran, the envelope I'd just handed over; a fresh bandage on my shoulder and a burning ache in my legs.