On the outskirts of a large city wall stood a lone figure — a young man in a black tunic about the age of twenty to twenty-three with chestnut, shoulder-length hair. He simply stood there, gazing into the vast green wastelands before him. As the large city gates groaned shut behind him, he exhaled softly, a weary sigh escaping his lips.
"Well, I saw this coming anyways," he murmured, turning to look at the towering wall of Grandveil with an emotionless expression.
He had been named an exile by his family — the great Drakul family, a noble household that held a very high status within the walls of Grandveil. He was branded a bastard son and cast out. Not only did they deprive him of undergoing the warrior’s awakening, but they also made sure he was expelled beyond the city’s high walls — the same walls that protected its residents from the Withered —effectively sending him to his death.
Rael couldn’t help but curse his fate. He had never asked nor wished to be reincarnated as a baby in a new world — a world that could only be described as terrifying. He’d lived a good life before — a wealthy tycoon in real estate across the globe. He was even seen as an idol by many younger people because, like most of them, he had started small, from a poor background.
Even when he was accused and sued for fraud — which, in fact, he was guilty of — and almost lost everything, he still remained a millionaire and lived a comfortable, happy life alone... until he was struck with an illness out of nowhere, which eventually led to his death.
Thinking that was his end, he awoke as a newborn — slowly recovering memories of his past life as he aged.
At first, he had thought he’d have an advantage due to his past life experience, only to find out the differences between this world and the one he came from.
This world was more medieval that lacked technology and a moral standpoint, but that didn’t make it look backward. In fact, to Rael, it made it more advanced, because what this world lacked in technology, it made up for with inscriptions, arrays, and runes that could even put technology to shame. Most of all, there was Aether — a kind of raw natural energy that he learned could be wielded by people, people who could break the limits of the human body. In his past life, they would have been considered superhumans ,if not gods.
Rael glanced down at the blunt, rusty short sword that he’d been given to protect himself with now that he was an exile.
"At least a sharp blade won’t hurt anyone," he muttered to himself. Although he wasn’t allowed to go through the warrior’s awakening, he didn’t let that stop him from learning basic combat.
Strapping the blunt sword to his waist, Rael stared ahead at the vast plain of towering trees and forest woods. Already knowing that he might not live to see the next day, all he could pray for was to be reincarnated into a better world and a better family — not one filled with politics.
Just as he took a step out of the shadow of the high walls, a line of words flashed across his mind.
[System Awakening]
[At 1%]
Rael froze mid-step.
"Huh, this pathetic thing again — but that’s new."
Rael wasn’t really surprised by the pop-up. Ever since he started regaining his past life memories, this word like panel had always appeared in his mind. At first, he was confused about what it was but he came to understand that it could be of help to him. He had thought it could help him adapt better to this world — but he was disappointed to see that after many years, it had only displayed System Awakening.
But now, there was something new: a 1%.
"Hmm, could it be it’s been awakening for years?" Rael murmured. That didn’t make him feel any better, because if it had, and it just got to 1%, didn’t that mean he’d be six feet beneath the ground or in the feces of some beast before it reached a 100%?
Rael closed his eyes, trying to interact with the interface, but nothing happened. He exhaled deeply.
"Why even bother?" he whispered, choosing to ignore it as he trudged in the direction of the forest — not like there was another way, since the entire city of Grandveil was surrounded by it.
Rael pressed forward into the forest, keeping his eyes sharp as sweat poured down his skin. He couldn’t help but curse at the suns of this world — yes, suns. There were two of them glaring down from above, which made the heat unbearable at day. The silver lining, however, was that there was only sunlight for three days per week and seven hours per day.
But Rael knew it was the suns that were probably keeping him alive, because as soon as they set, he’d be dinner for the beasts. He had to find a place to hide — if there was any.
As he stepped deeper beneath the thick forest canopies, the words flickered in his mind again.
[System Awakening]
[At 2%]
"Wait a minute... could it be?" Rael murmured.
"It seems the farther I get from the city, the more it awakens. Hmm, strange — hah, but if it keeps going at this pace, I’ll be too deep in the forest. How am I even sure this damn panel will be of any help?"
Rael felt helpless. He had planned to stay around the vicinity of the walls, but with this possible discovery, he might have to change his plans. As he turned to glance at the forest filled with tall, oddly shaped trees, he wasn’t sure he should risk it at all.
" But No risk, no reward after all," he sighed.
"I risked it in my past life. I risked it trying to steal the warrior manuscript — though that failed and got me kicked out of Grandveil. But still... if I stay here, I’ll die regardless, possibly at the hands of those bastards. But..." he gazed deeper into the trees.
"Not like I have any other choice anyways, well let’s see what this thing has to offer," he said with determination, stepping deeper into the woods.
[System Awakening]
[At 3%]