Acidic Bile Sac (Rare Material)
This sac, obtained from the digestive system of the Flesh Grub Queen, contains an extremely corrosive acid. The liquid inside is a light yellow-green color with a metallic odor.
Eiden woke up early in the morning, sunlight streaming through his window. He was examining his inventory. He stared at the image of the Acidic Bile Sac for a while.
"They look like testicles."
He stood up. The fatigue from yesterday still lingered in his muscles. He walked toward the basin in the corner of the room. The water looked fresh, probably Bertha had indeed prepared it last night.
"I need to clean up," he muttered to himself. He began removing his clothes.
When his upper body was bare, he looked at his body and frowned. His chest and arms were much thinner than expected. His body wasn't muscular, it could even be called scrawny. His shoulders were narrow, his ribs prominent, his arms almost as thin as sticks.
"Why do wizards always have to be so skinny?" he laughed to himself. "I probably need a few days of proper nutrition and village life. If the Flesh Grubs had seen me naked, they probably would have thought I was sick and not attacked me..."
After removing his pants as well, he looked at his bare feet. His legs were as thin as his arms, but they must have been quite durable considering he had completed a long walk.
His eyes drifted to the lower part of his body and he frowned slightly. He hadn't had a chance to compare with other men, but his own organ seemed quite normal to him — neither too big nor too small. "At least I don't need to worry about this part of my body," he thought, smiling slightly.
He came to the basin and dipped his hands in the water. The water was cool, just what his sweaty and tired body needed. When he bent down to wash his face, he saw his own reflection in the water's surface and froze in place.
The face on the water... couldn't be his own. The person he saw was a stranger he didn't recognize.
As his heart raced, he touched his own face with his fingers. The reflection was doing the same. On the water's surface appeared a young man's face with sharp features. A clean jawline, high cheekbones, a straight nose... And his hair — red on top, black underneath, strangely two-colored. There wasn't a single hair on his face, his skin was smooth and flawless.
"Is this... me?" he whispered, shocked. Not recognizing his own appearance showed how deep his memory loss was. He only remembered his name, he had even forgotten his own face.
He touched his hair. The upper part was indeed bright, vivid red — like fire. The lower part was as dark as night. This color change wasn't natural, it must have been the result of a magical effect. Or perhaps such things were normal in this world?
Eiden continued to look at the water, examining his own reflection. His face wasn't mature, he looked young — perhaps in his early twenties. But his eyes... his eyes were different. A deep blue color, but within them seemed to be the gaze of someone older, wiser.
"I don't remember who I am," he said to himself, running his fingertips along his cheeks. "But it seems I'm not an ordinary person. My hair is red for one thing."
Thinking about the thinness of his body and the strange color of his hair, he wondered if this was normal for a wizard. Perhaps using magic required a physical toll. Or maybe he was just naturally thin-framed.
Unable to find answers to his questions, he turned his attention back to washing. The coolness of the water somewhat calmed his thoughts. As he cleaned the dirt, blood, and sweat from his body, he felt as if he were starting a new life. Whatever his old identity was, he wasn't that person right now. For now, he was just Eiden — an amnesiac young man with strange powers and two-colored hair.
He approached the window and looked outside. Greenfall village looked different in the sunlight. People had already woken up and started their daily tasks. Farmers were heading to their fields, merchants were opening their shops, children were playing in the streets.
"Maybe Metro Selena can help me find out who I am," he said hopefully. "Or at least help me understand how these powers of mine work."
Before leaving the room, Eiden looked in the mirror one last time. The stranger in the reflection looked back at him. Perhaps he wasn't a stranger. Perhaps this was just a face he had forgotten and would get used to over time.
He took a deep breath. "I will learn who I am and why I'm here," he promised himself. "I just need to be patient."
With these thoughts, he left the room and stepped into the second day of his new life.
New Quest: [Getting Stronger]
Time is ticking.
• Objective: Train until you can create Fire Bolts instinctively.
• Reward: Fire Bolt Upgrade Point
• Objective: Train until you can create Big Fire Bolts instinctively.
• Reward: Big Fire Bolt Upgrade Point
"First breakfast."
Eiden descended the stairs, the rumbling of his stomach reminding him of his hunger. After last night's exhausting adventure, he needed a good breakfast. When he reached the common area of the inn, his eyes searched for Bertha, but someone else was standing in the old woman's place.
Behind the counter was a young girl with blonde hair, probably the same age as Eiden. Her hair fell to her shoulders, gleaming like gold under the morning sun. Her face was fresh and vibrant, her light blue eyes carefully scanning the customers in the room. She wore a simple but clean dress, and the apron tied around her waist indicated that she worked here.
As the girl passed behind the counter, Eiden could see her figure more clearly. She had a slender waist, hips with soft curves, and a feminine grace. Though her dress was simple, it couldn't completely hide her attractive features. As she moved, her dress swayed slightly, emphasizing the young woman's elegant posture.
Eiden paused for a moment. He wondered who this beautiful girl was. Perhaps Bertha's daughter or granddaughter? When his stomach rumbled again, he put his thoughts aside and approached the counter.
"Good morning," he said, with a confident smile on his lips. "Where might Bertha be?"
The girl looked up at him. Her eyes paused for a moment on Eiden's two-colored hair, then returned to his face.
"Good morning," she said in a formal tone. "My grandmother went to the market. I'm in charge today."
"So Bertha is your grandmother?" said Eiden, leaning his elbow on the counter. His smile widened a bit more. "May I know your name?"
The girl hesitated for a moment, then answered: "Lily."
"A beautiful name, befitting a beautiful face," said Eiden, suggestively. There was a slight change in Lily's facial expression, but she maintained her professional demeanor.
"Thank you," she said briefly. "How may I help you?"
Eiden continued without losing his smile: "I just arrived yesterday. My name is Eiden. Your grandmother gave me one of the rooms upstairs." He leaned in slightly and lowered his voice. "I'm sorry I haven't seen you before. I should have come here earlier."
Lily raised her eyebrows slightly, a faint smile appearing on her face. "I usually work in the mornings. My grandmother mentioned you, said you arrived last night."
"And what else did she tell you about me?" asked Eiden, moving even closer.
"Just that you were new and... in interesting circumstances," said Lily, choosing her words carefully.
Eiden scratched his nose slightly and began talking about the town's beauty: "Greenfall is really a beautiful place. I only saw it last night, but in the morning sunlight, it's even more impressive. Perhaps... you'd like to go for a walk together?"
Lily smiled politely but stepped back. "Thank you, but I'm very busy. Can I get you something? Breakfast is ready."
Eiden looked around from where he sat. The inn's dining hall was half full, people seated at tables eating their hot meals. The air was filled with the aroma of fresh bread and fried bacon, and his stomach rumbled again.
"Yes, please," said Eiden, moving a bit closer to the counter. "I'd like to eat whatever comes from your hands. Could you prepare something special for me?"
Lily narrowed her eyes slightly. "Our menu is the same for everyone, sir. We have bread, cheese, bacon, and eggs. For drinks, we offer milk or beer."
"Hmm, I suppose you know best," said Eiden, still grinning. "Then I'll have a bit of everything."
Lily nodded and headed toward the kitchen. Eiden watched her graceful movements. With her slender waist, proper posture, and swaying hair, she was truly beautiful. When Lily disappeared from sight, Eiden looked around. The other customers in the inn were quietly having their breakfast. Most looked like farmers or craftsmen — normal townsfolk.
"What the fuck am i doing? I'm making her uncomfortable! But somehow this behavior feels... natural to me?"
A few minutes later, Lily returned with a plate in hand. The plate was filled with freshly toasted bread, slices of yellow cheese, fried bacon, and two boiled eggs. Next to it was a large mug of milk.
"Here you are," she said, placing the plate on the counter. "Enjoy your meal."
Eiden looked at the food with appetite. "Mmm, it looks great. Thank you, Lily." He took the mug and had a sip. "This milk is very fresh. From your own cows?"
"Yes, we have our own animals," said Lily. "My grandmother makes sure everything is fresh."
Eiden tore off a piece of bread and put it in his mouth with some cheese. As the flavor spread in his palate, he closed his eyes. "Mmmm, delicious. You seem to be quite skilled, Lily."
Lily smiled slightly. "Thank you, but this is just a simple breakfast, you're exaggerating."
"I don't think so," said Eiden, with his mouth full. "While fighting those creatures yesterday, I couldn't even dream of such a breakfast."
Lily's eyes sparkled with curiosity. "Creatures? My grandmother mentioned something but didn't give details."
Eiden, noticing he had caught the girl's interest, straightened up a bit. "Yes, creatures called Flesh Grubs. I fought them before coming to town. I even killed a Queen. And I also killed a Giant spider."
Lily's eyes widened slightly. "Really? All by yourself?"
"Yes," said Eiden, puffing out his chest proudly. "I use magic. Fire magic." He showed a small spark at his fingertips, being careful not to produce an actual flame.
Lily took a step back. "Please don't use magic indoors! My grandmother has strictly forbidden it."
Eiden immediately lowered his hand. "I'm sorry, I just wanted to show you."
Lily looked at him carefully. "Are you... a wizard?"
"It seems so," said Eiden, somewhat embarrassed. "Actually, I'm not entirely sure. I've lost my memory. I don't know who I am or where I come from."
Lily's expression changed, from suspicion to curiosity. "You lost your memory and then found yourself fighting creatures? That's... unusual."
"Not exactly like that but... you could say so. It's surprising for me too," said Eiden, in a more sincere tone. "Actually, I was thinking of meeting with Metro Selena today. Maybe she can help me."
"You mean Matron Selia, I assume," said Lily, and giggled.
"Yes, her..."
"She's a wise woman," said Lily, nodding her head. "She can help you. She lives in a small cottage on the north side of town."
As Eiden continued with his meal, Lily began attending to other customers. Occasionally their gazes would meet, and Eiden would smile at her each time. Lily would respond politely, but without showing any obvious interest.
When he finished his breakfast, Eiden approached Lily once more. "That was a wonderful breakfast, thank you." He rummaged through his pockets. "Uh... actually, I don't have any money. After what happened last night..."
Lily's expression hardened. "What do you mean no money? The food isn't free, sir."
"I know, I know," said Eiden, raising his hands. "Maybe I can pay in some other way? Perhaps... I can help? Chop wood or do some other work?"
Lily crossed her arms over her chest. "No breakfast for freeloaders! My grandmother won't be pleased if she hears about this."
"Please," said Eiden, lowering his voice. "Just this once. I promise I'll pay as soon as I earn some money. Maybe... maybe I can get you something too? A gift?"
Lily frowned. "I don't need a gift, I just want payment for the breakfast you had."
"Alright, alright," said Eiden, desperately looking around. "There must be a place I can find money, how much do I owe?"
"10 Crown."
"10... Okay, give me a second, I'll be right back!" he said and quickly went back to his room.
When he opened his inventory, he saw that he had "118" Sparks.
"Can I have 10 Crown?"
[Are you sure you want to convert 100 Sparks to 10 Crown?]
"Yes."
10 copper Crown appeared in his hand. Each was smooth and round. On one side of the coins was an elegant crown engraving, and on the other was a face he didn't recognize.
He went back down the stairs and extended the 10 Crown to her. "Here you go."
Lily took the Crown and examined them carefully. Her eyebrows rose, and a surprised expression appeared in her eyes. "These coins... look very new. Like they've never been used."
Eiden nodded and stood up. "You're right. I value cleanliness, even my coins are spotless!" he said and took a few steps toward the door, then stopped and turned back. "By the way, perhaps we'll see each other again this evening? Maybe you could show me around town?"
Lily smiled slightly but shook her head. "I don't think so, sir. I'm very busy."
Eiden grinned. "You said my name before, why are you calling me 'sir'?"
"Because you're a customer," said Lily, maintaining her professional demeanor.
"Mmm, but I would prefer to be friends," said Eiden, winking.
Lily just smiled. "Good day, Mr. Eiden. I hope your meeting with Matron Selia goes well."
Eiden, realizing that Lily was politely rejecting him, left the inn without saying anything else. Outside, the sunny streets of Greenfall town awaited him.
Eiden stopped outside the door and shook his head with a smile. "Now I need to deal with that quest," he muttered to himself. He wanted to develop his abilities a bit more before meeting with Matron Selia.
"I need to find an open and empty area. I don't want to accidentally burn anyone," he said and looked around.
There should be an area outside the town, away from residential areas. He didn't want the locals to fear him, especially after Lily's warning that the use of magic wasn't well-received.
Eiden began walking toward the eastern part of town, looking for a suitable training area.
As he moved toward the eastern part of the town, he saw an open area at the edge of the forest. A few trees and stones formed natural obstacles. This place looked perfect for practicing magic—far enough from the settlement, but not completely isolated.