Levi walked beside Derek down a muddy forest path, his clothes filthy, stained with dirt. His heart raced—this place was nothing like Earth.The forest was wild, with trees so tall they blocked the sun, their bark crawling with vines,like something out of a fantasy game. Weird bird calls, sharp and unfamiliar, bounced through the air. Derek, meanwhile, was all chill, humming a tune that was just a little off-key, his bundle of healing flowers slung over his shoulder like he was on a Sunday stroll.
They passed an oak tree, its trunk carved with runes that looked older than time itself.Levi's chest tightened, like something touched his heart. His vision flickered, and when he caught his reflection in a puddle, his eyes were glowing—bright, unnatural blue. Derek stopped dead, his hand trembling toward the dagger at his waist. His face went pale,like he'd glimpsed a nightmare come to life, but he played it off, clearing his throat. "Keep up," he said, voice tight. "Don't get lost."
"What was that?" Levi asked, his heart pounding.My eyes… were they glowing because of those runes,or is something up with me ?
Derek shrugged, too fast. "Just the forest messing with you. Happens sometimes."Derek glanced aside, his jaw tight, like he'd seen something he shouldn't. Levi wasn't buying it.He knows something. What's he hiding?
Trying to shake the weirdness, Levi changed the subject. "So, this healer you're taking me to… she can fix my memory? Like, for real?"
Derek smirked, relaxing a bit. "Miss Lily? She's an excellent healer. She patched me up plenty of times, no charge, 'cause I was tight with her fiance before he… well, passed. Just don't be shocked if she tells you to sit your ass down and stop whining about your 'amnesia." He chuckled. "She's tough, but you want her in your corner."
The path curved upward, revealing Avalon. Its high stone walls,covered in patches of moss, rose against the horizon.Two massive bronze statues guarded the gate: a phoenix with wings spread wide, flames carved into its feathers, and a dragon coiled around a sword, its eyes shining with green gems. "The Guardians of Avalon," Derek said, noticing Levi's stare. "The Phoenix for rebirth, the Dragon for strength. Every guild here honors them—some say they're more than just statues.
Levi's jaw dropped.Avalon buzzed with life—merchants yelling about enchanted charms, carts rattling over cobblestones, the smell of fresh bread mixing with the sharp tang of molten iron from a nearby forge. Buildings leaned together, their timber frames carved with runes.In the distance, an old castle's spires stabbed the sky, shining like they were made of starlight.This is it,Levi thought,his heart racing.A real fantasy world.My shot to be somebody.
But the guards at the gate weren't rolling out the welcome mat. Clad in chainmail, they leveled spears at Levi, their eyes hard. "Hold it," one growled, a scar running down his cheek. "Who's this? We've had word of Shadow spies sneaking through. You aren't from Avalon."
Derek stepped up, hands raised. "Chill, Marcus. He's with me. I found him out in the forest, lost as hell. I'm vouching for him."
Marcus glared at Levi, then back at Derek. "You're too damn soft, Derek. If he's trouble, it's your head. Swear it on the Dragons fang."
Derek sighed, glancing at Levi like he was already regretting this. "Fine, I swear it. Can we go now?"
Marcus grunted, holding out a hand. "Four coppers. Entry fee for you both."
Derek tossed over the coins, and they entered Avalon, but Levi could feel the guards' eyes burning into his back.Spies?Shadow?What's their deal?
Inside, Avalon was a chaotic mess of color and sound. Stalls lined the streets, hawking glowing gems and fruits that looked too perfect to be real. A fishmonger shouted about a "fresh catch" discount, while a blacksmith's hammer banged nearby. Levi's eyes lit up at a weapon shop, its sign shaped like a dragon's head, spitting carved flames. Swords and axes shone inside.
Derek nudged him. "That's Draven's Forge. Best weapons in Avalon. An adventurer without a blade? Might as well be a dead man walking. Even mages carry weapons."
Levi nodded, his mind drifting to the System.Can I check my stats? A translucent window popped up:
[Status]
Name: Levi Graves
Rank: ?
Class: ?
Race: Human
Still nothing on rank or class,he thought,but a spark of excitement hit him.This system's gonna change everything.
Derek led him to the Avalon Guild, a massive stone fortress with stained-glass windows showing phoenixes flying through flames. Inside, the ground floor was a madhouse—adventurers in leather and plate armor swapping stories with mugs of beer, their tables scattered with maps and glowing crystals. A group of young rookies, probably a fresh party, laughed loudly, toasting some small victory. In a shadowy corner, cloaked figures whispered, their words too low to catch. The air smelled of roasted meat and something sweet, like magic itself.
"Reception's upstairs," Derek said, leading him to the second floor. A woman with sharp eyes—Elara, the receptionist—gave Levi a once-over. "No memories, huh? Sounds like a bad excuse. Healer's on the third floor. Don't waste her time."
They climbed to the third floor, where three women sat at a desk split three ways: a cat-eared beastkin with a playful grin, an elf with silver hair, and a human with a warm smile. Behind them, shelves held dusty tomes in a script Levi could somehow read. System's doing,no doubt,he thought.He signed a form Derek handed him, the ink flowing in the same strange script.
The cat-eared woman winked at Derek. "Miss Lily's in the healing room. Sign here for an emergency slot."
Before they could move, the door burst open. A bloodied adventurer stumbled in, his armor torn, blood dripping from a deep slash across his chest. His boots scraped weakly on the stone floor, leaving a trail of red. "Deepwood… beasts…" he gasped, his eyes locking on Levi with a strange, desperate stare. A System window flickered in Levi's vision: [Trace of ancient power detected]. He collapsed, hitting the floor hard, as shouts broke out around them. Levi's heart stopped. "What's going on?" he muttered, his voice shaking.