By the time I returned to the inn, the sun was already hiding behind the buildings.
The streets were still lively, but the frantic pace of day had slowed into the heavier steps of evening.When I stepped through the door, the inside of the Copper Lantern Inn felt familiar in that warm, noisy way.
A group at one table was gambling with dice, another corner had someone drinking alone, and behind the counter Darron was polishing cups as always…
He spotted me as soon as I came in.
"You're covered in dust again," he said. "Basement or a brawl?"
"Basement," I replied. "Feels similar, but this time I fought paper instead of fists."
He chuckled.
"At least you earned coin for a sword this time?"
"For now, just bed and food money," I said. "The sword is still in the daydream stage."
I sat at the bar for a moment to rest. The coins in my pocket clinked softly against one another. In my other pocket, the thing that truly felt heavy was the thin, dusty book.
I quietly scanned the room. No one seemed particularly interested in me. Darron looked like he didn't care about anything beyond his cups… but his eyes still swept the room out of habit from time to time.
"So, what are you eating tonight?" he asked. "I'm not sending you to bed empty, don't worry."
"Whatever's the cheapest thing that can keep me alive until morning," I said.
"Doesn't sound romantic," he snorted, "but it's practical. I can work with that."
I ate my dinner in silence. Just as I finished, Darron leaned in slightly and spoke in a low, almost off-hand tone:
"If you plan on staying in this town long," he said, "learn to walk not just on the streets, but through the papers too. Some battles start with ink, not steel."
Then he turned away immediately and called out to another customer,as if he hadn't said anything noteworthy at all.Maybe he hadn't.Or maybe he had.
I just nodded and headed up to my room.
My room was exactly as I left it in the morning.I sat down on the edge of the bed and drew a deep breath. The exhaustion of the day settled in, mixing with the ache in my muscles. But the real weight was sitting in my pocket.
I pulled out the book.
I dusted the cover once more. The title came into clearer view:
"A Brief Introduction to the Paths of Power in Areneth"For beginners and the curious.
As soon as I held it properly, the System popped up a small window:
⟪SYSTEM⟫ [ITEM: SHORT DESCRIPTION]Object: Basic information bookUse: Reading
Recommendation:– Useful for understanding basic paths to power in this world.– Direct "download" or "copy-ingest" of its contents is currently unavailable.
"Sometimes reading it yourself is more valuable than having it memorized for you."
"So, you're not going to summarize it for me," I said. "I actually have to read."
⟪SYSTEM⟫ [RESPONSE]Correct.Some things need to take shape inside your own mind.
For once, it had a point.
I opened the book. On the first page, in old but clear handwriting, there was a preface.
"This text does not explain every path of power in Areneth.But for those who do not wish to be lost,it offers at least a rough map."
I turned the page.
Chapter 1 – The Frame of the World
The first section explained the world in rough strokes.Continent name: Areneth.Borderlands, inner kingdoms, empires, trade roads, old great wars…
I couldn't remember most of the names, but the main idea was clear:This world was filled both with ordinary people and with "power users."
One line especially caught my eye:
"Power does not always reveal itself through the sword.Some rule by muscle,some by wit,some by the pacts they forge,and some merely by the fear of those who believe."
"Muscle, mind, contracts, fear…" I muttered. "Nice little quartet."
I turned the page.
Chapter 2 – The Basic Paths of Power
The book grouped the paths of power into four broad categories:
The Path of the Body– Strength, reflex, endurance.– Knights, guards, hunters, brawlers.– Training, combat, real danger → direct physical growth.– Some special techniques supposedly pushed the limits of the body to create "unnatural" bursts of power.
The Path of Flow (Mana / Energy)– Internal energy, mana, aura…– Mages, healers, elemental users.– Required innate talent plus training, discipline, and focus.– This section stayed fairly surface-level, but emphasized that magic demanded "mind, discipline, and proper guidance."
The Path of Bonds (Pacts)– Contracts.– Deals with spirits, creatures, and sometimes darker entities.– Power that came from outside one's own body.– The book used a very cautious tone here, especially in this line:
"No bond is without price.Realizing who is using whom often comes too late."
The Path of Faith– Gods, idols, concepts, ideals…– Priests, saints, some knights.– Power sourced from "collective belief" and ritual.– This section was shorter than the others but written with careful neutrality.
Beneath these was a short note:
"There are also those who choose none of these paths,and gain their power through trade, politics, knowledge, and intrigue.They often leave deeper scars than those who carry swords."
"So, the classic question," I said softly. "Sword, spell, pact, or brain? The menu is… wide."
The System dropped a small notice:
⟪SYSTEM⟫ [KNOWLEDGE RECORD]– Basic concepts of Areneth's power paths recorded.
Note:This does not yet open a concrete "path" or skill tree for you.Your choices and experiences must shape that over time.
"I didn't expect to open the book and immediately cast a fireball anyway," I said.
I flipped further.
Chapter 3 – Training and Limits
This section was about where and how people actually grew stronger.
– Small training halls, guilds, and fighting circles in towns and cities.– Academies, magic schools, holy temples in larger cities.– Hunter guilds and mercenary bands on the borders…
One sentence grabbed my attention:
"In border towns, especially near ruins and dangerous zones,structures exist behind the official records.Some organizations mark themselves with symbols;they rarely see the need to speak their names out loud."
There was a faded ink blot just below that line, like someone had pressed their pen down there and then changed their mind.
My eyes drifted to the lower corner of the page. There was a faint, nearly erased doodle—too faded to make out clearly, but it had a vaguely three-sided shape. A triangle.Maybe it was nothing.Or maybe my brain was dragging that black triangle from the basement into the page.
I turned the page.
From here on, the book's tone grew even more careful:
"Each path has its official teachers,and those who teach in the shadows.Official records, most of the time, only hold what is meant to be seen."
The next few pages looked like they were supposed to continue this topic… but they had been torn out.Sentences were cut off halfway, paragraphs ended mid-thought.Only a few disconnected words remained:
"…symbol…""…off-the-record agreements…""…those who saw it, disappearing…"
I pulled the book closer to my face.
"Did you do this?" I whispered—not to the book, but to the empty air. "Or did someone steal pieces of you?"
The System answered briefly:
⟪SYSTEM⟫ [UNKNOWN]The missing parts were lost before I came into the picture.
Restoration: Currently impossible.Access to the complete version: Not available at this time.
"At this time," I repeated. I didn't miss that choice of words.
Just as I considered closing the book, a small note scribbled near the back caught my eye.The handwriting was different from the main text—more casual, like a later reader had left a message for the next one.
"Learn the paths of power,but never forget who stands behind each 'path'.If something is missing,it is missing for a reason."
The writing was old, but steady.
For a moment, I had the urge to touch the pocket watch in my pocket.I didn't.
I took a slow breath and closed the book gently.
"So the summary is this," I said to myself. "In this world, if I want to get stronger:– I can train my body,– One day I might learn the Flow / mana path,– I can dive into pacts, but they come with a price,– Or I can walk the path of faith and put my neck under someone else's rules…"
The System opened one more small window, like it was helping organize my thoughts:
⟪SYSTEM⟫[PERSONAL NOTE]Your strongest traits for now:– Flexibility (physical and mental)– Curiosity– Will to survive
For concrete power paths:– Continue regular training (Body Path)– Find appropriate mentors or sources later (Flow / other paths)
Note:I cannot tell you which path to choose.That decision must be yours, not the System's.
"Good," I said. "If I was going to hand my life entirely to a program, I wouldn't have made it this far."
The lantern's light flickered softly. The room felt heavier with the book in it.
I lined up what I'd learned today:– This world has multiple paths to strength.– Border towns can hide things behind official records.– The black triangle is "just an official mark"… at least on the surface.– Some pages in the book were torn out—especially those talking about hidden groups.
Someone had deliberately cut certain pieces of knowledge out.But not all of them.Which meant someone else had read this before me… and assumed someone would read it after me.
I lay down and put the book beside my pillow.
"Tomorrow, same plan," I told myself. "Morning training, then town, then more knowledge…For now, I'll lean into the Path of the Body and keep my eyes open for the rest."
When I closed my eyes this time, the System remained silent.Good.
For the first time, I'd seen a real map of this world's power paths.The edges might have been burned, some routes deliberately erased…But at least I wasn't completely blind anymore.
And I wasn't here just to survive.
I was here to survive, grow stronger,and eventually settle the score for every piece that was left missing on purpose.