The sun was just beginning to crest the horizon when Sylas slung his satchel over his shoulder, a sense of resolve hardening in his chest. The chickens were fed, the coop was holding up, and for once, Captain Beak hadn't tried to assassinate his shins.
It felt like a good day to move forward.
He glanced at the dirt road winding eastward, its faint wagon ruts cutting through the grass. Beyond that path lay the nearest town—a promise of supplies, knowledge, and maybe a bath that didn't involve freezing water from a bucket.
"Alright," he muttered to himself. "Time to level up my life."
> [New Objective: Reach the Nearest Town]
Note: You currently lack fluency in the local language. Proceed with caution.
He blinked. "You're only telling me this now?"
The System didn't respond. Of course it didn't.
Sylas shrugged and started walking.
The road was quiet. Birds chirped lazily in the trees. Occasionally, he passed low stone markers with faint carvings—probably indicating distance or directions, though to Sylas, the symbols were nothing but squiggles. Still, he followed the path with confidence. After nearly an hour, the town came into view.
It wasn't huge—no towering walls or bustling gates—but it had life. Wooden buildings clustered together, a market plaza just visible from the road. A small stone arch marked the entrance.
Sylas approached with a growing grin.
"I'm finally here," he breathed.
Two guards stood at the gate. Light armor, spears at their sides, and weary expressions on their faces. As Sylas neared, one of them raised a hand.
"
Sylas froze.
"Uh… sorry. I don't speak…"
The guards exchanged a look. One narrowed his eyes and stepped forward, speaking slower but still in the same indecipherable tongue. He gestured firmly—back the way Sylas had come.
Sylas raised his hands in peace. "Look, I just want to get inside. Buy a few things. Learn where the heck I am."
The guard pointed again, this time tapping a nearby wooden sign.
Sylas stepped closer and squinted. The board had writing etched into it. Curved symbols, elegant and looping—completely unreadable.
He sighed.
"I don't suppose you have subtitles?"
> [System Notification: You are currently unable to comprehend the written or spoken language.]
[New Quest: Learn the Local Language (Progress: 0%)]
Difficulty: Moderate
Reward: Basic Literacy & Communication Skill
Optional Reward: Improved Reputation in Local Regions
One of the guards stepped forward and gave him a firm shove on the shoulder—not aggressive, but clearly final.
Sylas stumbled back, fists clenching. Not in anger. Just… helpless frustration.
"…Right," he muttered. "I'll come back when I'm less useless."
He walked back slower than he had come, every step heavier than the last. The excitement that had fueled him earlier now felt foolish.
"This isn't a game," he said aloud.
The System chimed gently in his mind, not with quests or skills, but with quiet presence.
He reached the edge of the forest and sat beneath a tree, letting the cool shade soften his thoughts. His hands rested on his knees, fingers twitching slightly.
"System," he said, closing his eyes. "Help me. I don't want to be a clueless foreigner forever."
> [Initiating Limited Language Integration]
Skill Unlocked: Linguistic Absorption (F)
Description: Through regular exposure and practice, you will begin to associate sounds with meaning. Reading takes longer to learn.
Progress: 1%
Tip: Listening to conversations and practicing basic symbols will increase fluency.
Sylas exhaled in relief. "Thanks."
He paused, then added, "But no shortcuts?"
> [Due to lack of prerequisite traits, instant fluency is not possible. Hard work is required.]
He laughed weakly. "Of course. Can't have it too easy."
Still, it was something. A thread to pull on. A way forward.
Back at his small plot of land, Sylas poured water over his face and stared into the wooden bucket, droplets dripping from his jaw.
"I was so sure I could just walk in, talk to people, figure things out," he muttered. "It's not that simple."
The reflection in the water stared back, tired but clearer than before.
He glanced at the fence post, where Captain Beak now sat preening his feathers. The rooster looked up and gave a single, judging cluck.
Sylas chuckled. "Yeah, yeah. I get it."
Over the next few days, Sylas committed himself to learning.
He scavenged broken boards and used charcoal to copy symbols he remembered from the sign. He tried to mimic the guard's tone and phrasing in private, repeating them until they felt less alien. He practiced even as he worked—feeding the chickens, gathering wood, repairing tools—all while muttering words under his breath like a lunatic.
> [Linguistic Absorption (F) – Progress 9%]
Observation: Consistent effort increases retention. Minor words understood: yes, no, you, stop.
The System even began to whisper meanings faintly in his mind, like an echo. The process was slow, frustrating, and full of mistakes—but also oddly satisfying.
Every word understood felt like a treasure.
He built a small wooden board and etched symbols into it, using bits of paint and dirt to color them. "My first flash cards," he joked.
At night, he lay under the stars, going over everything he'd learned, determined to push past the wall that had stopped him at the gate.
"I'll get into that town," he said one evening, staring up at the moon. "Just not today."
> [Quest Updated: Learn the Local Language – Progress 13%]
Optional Tip: Interaction with fluent speakers will accelerate learning.
On the fifth day, Mira visited again.
She raised an eyebrow at the array of symbols carved into his fence. "So… you've become a scholar of chicken scratch?"
"Language," Sylas said proudly. "Or at least… my attempt at it."
She looked impressed, then gave a teasing smile. "You even got that one almost right. 'No' is pronounced a bit shorter."
Sylas perked up. "You understand the writing?"
"I grew up near the town. Basic education." She tapped one of the symbols. "This means 'stop.' Useful to know."
> [Linguistic Absorption Progress: +3%]
Bonus: Exposure to Fluent Speaker
Sylas grinned. "You have no idea how helpful that is."
"Oh, I think I do," she said. "You're the first person I've seen try to learn without help."
"Didn't have much choice," he replied. "The town guard basically told me to scram."
Mira nodded. "They don't trust outsiders much. Not until you can speak like one."
He looked toward the road. "I'll try again once I can hold a conversation. And read signs. And maybe convince the guards I'm not some lost idiot."
"You'll get there," she said, patting his shoulder. "Just don't try to learn the whole dictionary overnight."
That night, Sylas stood at the edge of his little homestead, watching fireflies blink lazily in the tall grass. The coop was quiet. The moon hung low.
He took a deep breath.
"I was dying once. Back in a hospital room. Machines beeping. Nothing to look forward to but silence."
He clenched a fist.
"But now, I have something worth fighting for. Even if it's just a chicken farm and a few strange symbols."
The System pinged softly.
> [Milestone Reached: First Setback Overcome]
Trait Gained: Resilient Learner (Passive)
You learn faster when recovering from failure. +10% experience to mental skills after setbacks.
Sylas smiled.
"Next time, town. I'll be ready."