Kael woke to the clatter of buckets and low voices outside his hut. Morning activity had already begun. He stepped outside and stretched, blinking at the warmth of the early sun. The villagers had started to grow used to his presence. They no longer flinched when he passed or avoided eye contact. A few even greeted him with quiet nods.
He decided it was time to give back.
Kael spent the morning helping carry water from the stream, stacking firewood, and mending broken fences. The work was simple but grounding. Children followed him around curiously, asking about his powers and whether he had fought dragons. He smiled and gave vague answers, still uncertain how much to share.
By midday, as he paused to rest, a soft chime echoed in his mind.
[New Quest Available]
His eyes widened. He opened the interface.
[Quest: A Villager in Pain]
Description: One of the villagers suffers from severe abdominal pain caused by gallstones. Use your skills to help them.
Reward: +1 Level
Status: Incomplete
Kael frowned. This was different. The system had noticed something. He asked around and was directed to a quiet house near the edge of the village.
Inside, a middle-aged woman named Elira lay curled on a bed of straw, her face pale and glistening with sweat. Her husband explained between worried glances that she had been in pain for days. Herbal poultices hadn't helped. The local healer said it was beyond her abilities.
Kael knelt beside Elira. "I think I can help," he said gently. "But only if you allow me. I'll be using magic."
Elira looked at him through narrowed eyes, wary and desperate. "Will it hurt?"
"No," he said. "But I need your trust."
It took a while. Her husband argued, fearful of strange powers. Elira eventually nodded, more from exhaustion than belief.
Kael activated Omni-Vision.
The world shifted—colors peeled away and were replaced with layers of glowing anatomy. He focused on her abdomen, narrowing in on the gallbladder. He saw the irregular shapes lodged within, disrupting flow, causing pain.
He activated Minor Teleport.
He focused carefully, teleporting one stone at a time, gently, only from open spaces within. One. Then another. Then a third. With each, he watched the stress in her body ease.
When he was done, he released the skills and exhaled deeply.
Elira sat up slowly, dazed but already looking better. Her husband stared, mouth slightly open.
[Quest Complete]
[+1 Level Earned]
Kael smiled. "You'll still need to rest, but the pain should be gone."
The man clutched his hands together and bowed his head.
"Thank you," he whispered.
Outside, the village watched from a distance. They didn't cheer, but they didn't retreat either.
Kael stepped into the sun, feeling the weight of their stares.
He was no longer just a visitor.
He was becoming another villager and for the moment he didn't mind that.