⋅•⋅⊰∙∘☽༓☾∘∙⊱⋅•⋅
The moon hung high in the sky, casting a silver glow over the silent city. I figured it was the perfect time for a little night-time exploration.
"[Victor, what exactly are we looking for?]" asked Merlin, floating beside me with a gentle glow.
"Ah, I thought maybe at night we could hear things we can't during the day. And you need to dim your light or someone's going to see you," I replied, adjusting my cold-weather gear.
"[Oh! Got it! I'll look for clues then!]" said Merlin, dimming her light until she was nearly invisible.
I began walking through Cirgo's deserted streets. The silence was almost absolute, broken only by the howling wind. I passed by various parts of the city: the now-empty market, narrow streets lined with stone houses, and the imposing gates marking the city's limits.
I could run at high speeds without making a sound—kind of eerie when you think about it.
Lost in thought, I realized I still knew very little about this world. Cirgo, in particular, was isolated, and my attempts to gather information had been limited. I really wanted to explore larger places; I'd probably learn a lot more.
How was I supposed to find clues about what was going on if I didn't even understand how this world worked? Maybe it was some magic artifact, a rogue mage, who knows—I didn't even know what I was supposed to be looking for.
My wandering thoughts took me near the castle. Not that I suspected anything specific, but my senses had warned me earlier. I figured I might as well check out the area.
While sprinting toward the castle, I thought I'd do a quick self-analysis.
» Name: Victor
Species: Metamorph
Age: 6 days
Threat Class: (A) «
Nothing unusual here, aside from my age. Six days old already—wow! Is this analysis always this accurate?
I stopped running with a thought.
I tried using my Appraisal skill on a wooden box lying in the street. The result was as useless as expected.
» It's a wooden box. «
Of course it is.
My Appraisal skill was only really useful on living creatures, providing specific info. I couldn't think of how to make it more helpful. Apparently, lots of people had an Appraisal-type skill, so common it often went unused.
My footsteps echoed through empty streets as I passed a narrow, dark alley where moonlight barely reached. That's when I felt it—a presence. A chill ran down my spine. I turned quickly, expecting a threat.
Instead, I saw a woman, about 1.66 meters tall, standing at the alley's entrance. She had bright red eyes and long green hair flowing down her back. Her gaze was intense, but not hostile.
"You're Victor, right?" she said, her voice soft as a whisper in the night.
"Who are you?" I asked, trying to hide my surprise.
Without another word, she punched me. My senses warned me to dodge, but there wasn't time, so I caught her fist—causing a shockwave that cracked nearby windows.
That hurt...
My hand tingled, a sharp pain concentrated in the palm.
"You're strong. I'm someone who knows many things," she replied with an enigmatic smile. "Little pup, you should explore the mountains around the city's third district. You might find something... interesting."
She called me "pup," which threw me off. Her presence was strange and powerful. Instinctively, I tried to use Appraisal on her.
» Unable to analyze. Skill block detected. «
That warning surprised me and made me even more cautious. Seriously...? Is Appraisal playing games with me?
» ... «
What?! Looks like I annoyed you a bit. Didn't know you had feelings, sorry about that…
"Wait! What do you know?" I asked, trying to get more out of her.
She paused for a moment, her expression softening as she took a step back.
"Just take my advice. There's more going on here than you realize. Good luck, pup." With that, she turned and vanished into the shadows, leaving me with more questions than answers.
I stood there for a moment, processing the encounter. What is it with people in this world appearing and disappearing at will? I sighed.
Guess I'll forget the castle for now—I have a lead, more or less.
As I walked back home, I thought about everything that had happened. My Appraisal didn't work on her; I needed to figure out what to do. People just kept tossing me around...
So there was a skill that could nullify others. I wondered if there was a way to bypass that kind of ability.
I decided to do a quick test—maybe I had stumbled on a little secret.
"Appraisal, what is that?" I pointed to a pile of snow on the ground.
» Snow. «
"And what is snow?"
» ... Snowflakes are formed by frozen water in a crystalline structure that reflects light, appearing white and translucent. «
"Can you tell me whose voice you're using?"
»... Skills designed to provide information or communicate with the user may use a small fragment of the Voice of the World to accomplish this task. «
"So you know what the Voice of the World knows?"
» Negative. I only report what the individual Victor is currently seeing. «
So it simply passes on information from what I observe…
"Where is Merlin?"
» I don't know. «
So that's it. This opens up a new horizon for me. I might've just made a major discovery.
» Notification: The skill [Appraisal] has received an evolution boost. «
Hmm? That was the usual Voice. An evolution boost, huh...? So asking it questions actually improved it? I should do this more often…
As I walked, I noticed Merlin approaching quickly, revealing herself.
"[I found something interesting. What about you?]"
"Me too... Kind of. Something interesting found me, actually. Anyway, what did you discover?"
"[Signs. At the guild where you were working. I overheard some members—apparently a suspicious group was seen gathering in the forest a few days ago.]"
"A group, huh? Let's investigate tomorrow. A strange person told me to check the mountains around the third district—right after trying to attack me."
"[Attack?!]" Merlin exclaimed with a surprised emoji.
After returning to Thom and Eliza's house, we sat with cups of tea, discussing theories.
"The monsters might be under someone's control," I suggested. But according to Merlin, creatures like the ones Sentil described lacked their own consciousness. They were more like puppets, controlled by a skill or artifact.
If that was true, and considering the ongoing attacks for over a week, two possibilities came to mind: either someone wanted Cirgo's destruction, or they were setting the stage for something bigger. The sustained attacks, with no apparent progress, suggested a cover-up—but what was the true goal? I didn't know!
"Maybe we should bring in more people..." I muttered, more to myself than to Merlin. But with no solid evidence, it was all speculation. For now, I had to trust that suspicious girl in the alley. If what she said about the mountains was true, maybe we'd uncover something tomorrow…
No—let's check the forest first. I want to absorb some new monsters.
"[This is so hard... But I think it's better you get stronger first. We don't know what's out there in the mountains…]" Merlin lamented, materializing a sad emoji in her speech bubble.
"Yeah... Never thought I'd become a detective. And I haven't even been alive ten days yet."
Reflecting on mysteries was exhausting, both mentally and spiritually—for both me and Merlin.
I wished I had something to help speed up my search—something beyond my senses. A tool that worked automatically, like Merlin's unique ability that processed everything she saw, heard, and felt with no conscious effort.
Then a lightbulb went off in my mind. I decided to analyze myself again.
» Name: Victor
Species: Metamorph
Age: 6 days
Threat Class: (A) «
"What are my innate abilities?" I asked, not expecting much.
» Innate Abilities: [EnhancedSenses]; [PainResistance]; [SuperhumanStrength]; [Adaptation] «
I'd noticed the strength and sharp senses before, but "Adaptation" and "Pain Resistance" were new. Merlin explained that "Adaptation" was natural to all Metamorphs, allowing the body to adjust to anything—probably why I didn't feel the cold anymore.
That confirmed it: my senses were a skill, ready to be fused with another one. Theoretically, it should be possible.
"I want to combine the skill Appraisal, part of my unique skill [Skillful King], with my [Enhanced Senses]."
"[Hmm? Why?]" Merlin asked, puzzled.
"I want Appraisal to work automatically, tied to my senses. Not sure if it'll work, but I want to try."
» The skill Appraisal has been successfully fused with [Enhanced Senses]. The skill [Enhanced Senses] has evolved into [Analytical Awareness]. «
I was right. After a few quick tests, I mastered the new skill: a meticulous analysis of everything detected by my senses, a second consciousness dedicated to observation while I remained focused on the present.
With this evolution, my usefulness in investigations just skyrocketed. Perfect!
And so, I ended my sixth day with a very welcome evolution.
∘₊✧──────✧₊∘
At the break of dawn, I left the warmth of home, my heart light on the seventh morning since I was born into this strange world. "See you later, Thom, Eliza. Take care," I said with a smile as they went about their morning routines.
Lilia, the little flower of the house, was still sleeping. No one asked me to, but the weight of responsibility led me to leave Merlin behind to watch over her quietly. After all, it's not every day you meet generous souls who help without expecting anything in return.
Maybe kindness was more common in this world—though I had my doubts. The city of Cirgo, with its deeply cold climate, might have taught its people to be more compassionate. At least, that's how it seemed in the district I was in.
Cirgo was divided into four parts, each district spanning twenty million square meters, totaling eighty million—a kingdom considered small in this world.
The castle, built on a central hill, seemed to attract the cold like a magnet. And it wasn't just a feeling; after a short chat with Thom and Eliza, I learned that homes near the castle were always empty—because the cold there was unbearable for ordinary people.
Pushing such thoughts aside, I found Sentil in a forest I hadn't yet visited—a sanctuary of snow and bare branches.
Even with my body gradually adapting to the cold, I couldn't help but admire the resilience of those who called this place home.
"You really came..." Sentil approached, resting a hand on the hilt of his sword, though his expression was calm. "Shall we begin?"
"Yes. But first, I have a suggestion," I said, and he gestured for me to continue. "I'd like permission to explore the forest and the mountains outside the city. I heard rumors about a suspicious group spotted there a few days ago."
Sentil raised an eyebrow, confused.
"You think it's related to what's been happening?"
"Yes. I believe someone's orchestrating this from the outside," I admitted, choosing honesty over fabrication.
"Alright, you can go. You're not planning to run away, are you?"
"I won't."
"And how can I be sure of that?"
"I owe a debt to the family who helped me. I won't leave until I know they can live peacefully here, without this issue."
"That sounds convincing." He smiled and nodded.
And so, off I went. I don't blame him for being cautious; after all, I'm still a monster. For now, I'll cooperate without complaints. Earning the prince's trust is a valuable investment, especially if he's willing to help me later on.
As we traveled, my new skill flooded me with information: people awakening, their heights, genders—even a spatial map of the surroundings thanks to distant echoes. It was a storm of data, but a parallel consciousness handled it all, leaving me free to focus on what mattered.
No more need for screen messages—I now understood everything my senses detected. No more guesswork. This ability was proving more useful than I imagined.
This is getting technical..
Sentil led me to a carriage pulled by two sturdy horses. Looks like I was in for another carriage ride—something I never expected to experience in my previous life.
"Come on, the gates are far," he said, taking the reins.
"Alright, alright..." I replied, climbing into the carriage.
We departed, from the second to the third district. The trip was short, thanks to the horses' surprising speed. I noticed even the carriage wasn't normal—the animals had a special movement ability that turned hours into minutes. The empty road helped too.
∘₊✧──────✧₊∘
The journey went by with deceptive calm, the carriage advancing slowly through the frozen landscape. After a short rest, we decided to continue on foot—a decision we didn't regret.
As we walked, Sentil and I encountered bizarre creatures: wolves I had faced before and a snowman that was far more than a pile of snow. This abomination conjured spears from nowhere, camouflaged itself, and had supernatural regeneration.
But with an opening, I defeated and absorbed it.
» Extra skill [Ultra-Regeneration] acquired. Class (A) skill. «
Not bad!
Sentil, a class (A) warrior, fought with lethal grace. His sword wasn't just a blade—it was a weapon of ice, capable of freezing air and creating copies of itself to launch like deadly darts. He also conjured a barrier of ice, an impenetrable defense against surprise attacks.
As we moved forward, I asked Sentil about the abnormal cold around the castle. He confided in me about his younger sister, Serena, and her problematic ability. He didn't give details, and I respected that.
Apparently, she couldn't leave the castle because she was "too cold." Probably an uncontrollable ice ability. I think Sentil has a soft spot when it comes to her—must be serious.
We finally reached the mountains. The place was massive, like a hall painted in white. I saw nothing on the horizon but snow-covered peaks.
"Let's look for anything out of the ordinary," I said, eyes scanning the terrain carefully.
It was early, and the mountains stretched before us, vast and inviting. Using my senses to find something hidden would've been easy—if not for the endless howling wind.
Then Sentil, with a fluid motion, drew his sword, alerting me to the danger.
"A snow golem is here!" he warned, shifting into a combat stance.
The Snow Golem emerged, a four-meter tower adorned with blue spikes and eyes glowing with sinister golden light. The cold aura it emitted could freeze a soul.
» Ice Golem. A magical snow entity, typical in mana-saturated regions. Its abilities are freezing and raw destruction. A class (B) monster. «
So, there's a high mana concentration here?
As I pondered, Sentil dashed forward, striking the golem with precise, rapid blows. But the creature only roared, slamming an ice-coated fist toward him.
"Activate: Ice Wolf!" Sentil shouted, rising after being thrown.
A majestic white wolf formed from pure mana appeared and attacked with sharp blue claws.
"Oh!" I exclaimed, impressed.
"Don't just stand there! Help me!" Sentil shouted, returning to the fight.
"Got it—on my way!"
I launched fire attacks at the Golem. They worked—but only made it angrier. In a frenzy, it fired ice spears in all directions. I dodged and countered, using my [Ice Manipulation] to grab a spear and hurl it back, piercing its head.
"Ugh... It won't die!" I grumbled, amazed by its endurance.
The Golem wasn't thinking—it was a war machine, attacking with relentless ice strikes and tanking everything.
In the climax of the fight, when the Golem finally showed a weakness after endless fury, I lunged with sharp claws, shredding the icy spikes on its back. A roar of pain echoed through the mountains.
Sentil's wolf, a beast of pure mana and instinct, bit into the Golem's head, tearing it off with supernatural strength. Sentil, with swordmaster precision, stabbed its chest as ice clones of his blade impaled it from all sides. With a final gesture, I absorbed the Golem, ending the battle.
» Total energy increased by 5%. «
No new skill this time, but I'll take the boost.
"We did it..." Sentil muttered, sheathing his sword as the wolf faded into particles of light.
My absorption skill proved decisive against these elemental creatures—the Snowman, and now the Golem. I suspect my class (A) status amplifies my energy capacity, allowing this. But would it work against stronger foes unless they were severely weakened? I doubt it.
"So... These monsters appear in high mana zones, right?" I asked, thinking aloud.
"You think there's a hidden mana reservoir here?" Sentil wondered, his face serious. "It's possible. But without magical detection skills, we're in the dark."
The idea of a blind search was discouraging, but we had no choice—only instincts and careful observation to guide us.
"Let's return to the city. I'll contact some men and mages to start a proper search here tomorrow," Sentil concluded.
It was the best course of action—leave it to the professionals. I still managed to absorb a good number of monsters, so I was satisfied.
∘₊✧──────✧₊∘
Serena's room was a sanctuary of solitude, a realm of ice where time seemed frozen along with everything else. The walls shimmered with frost crystals, reflecting the bluish light from the blind princess's eyes. Her long, white, uncut hair spread across the floor like a snowy cloak.
She sat curled in a corner, hugging her knees, dressed in only a white shirt and simple black pants, contrasting with her pale skin.
The room's temperature was unimaginable—the thermometer had long since shattered, unable to record the nearly -500 degrees enveloping the space. A magical barrier kept her imprisoned there. It didn't stop the cold from seeping beyond the walls—a constant reminder of her curse.
She wondered if people saw her like icy thorns: beautiful but dangerous, better left untouched.
"Why me...?" she whispered, a voice weak with repetition—a question she'd asked thousands of times.
There was an untold story in her heart—a chapter turned too soon in the life of a young mother, and the loneliness of a daughter left behind.
She remembered the tales told to her as a child, how magic was a gift, a blessing. But to her, it was a sentence—an isolating force. Her touch was a curse, her presence a threat.
Serena's eyes glowed brighter when emotion overflowed, lighting the room in a deep blue hue she couldn't see but could feel. She wondered if, should her vision return, she'd see the world as cold and distant as the reality she lived in.
Rising, she walked to the window. A thin ice layer distorted the outside view. She touched it, and the ice melted—but the magical barrier remained. Even blind, she felt the world outside: gray, snowing, storming. Still, Serena imagined a beautiful place—blue skies, smiling faces, people together. A fantasy she clung to. Maybe everyone was happy... as long as she stayed trapped.
"Sentil..." she murmured. Her brother's name warmed her frozen heart. He was her link to the world—the only one still trying to reach her. But even he couldn't break the chains of her miserable existence. He wasn't strong enough.
Serena stepped away from the window, returning to the room's center. She closed her eyes, focusing on her breath, trying to calm the storm within. But each exhale was a gust of frozen air, each heartbeat an echo in the icy vastness of her soul.
She knew she couldn't give up—that something beyond these walls awaited. There was hope, fragile though it was. She had to believe there'd be a way to control her power—to turn her curse into something that brought joy, not fear. But time had taught her this, too, was fantasy. She dreamt of the day it would end. But that day... might be the day she died.
"I'm so tired..." Serena whispered to the silence.
She stood slowly, every movement light and delicate. With hesitant steps, she approached her bed—more like an altar of ice. There, she curled up, drawing into herself.
Her untouched white hair was her only comfort. Serena pulled it over herself like a veil, seeking shelter. Beneath that silver shroud, she hid.
In the stillness of her frozen room, Serena closed her eyes, allowing a moment of vulnerability. Tears would've frozen instantly—so she didn't cry.
She longed for a tomorrow where a warm hug wouldn't be a distant memory, but a real, living thing. A tomorrow where her curse was just a painful memory—not an anchor holding her down. But that tomorrow felt so far away.
Serena lay still, as the world kept turning beyond her ice prison. And in that moment, she was both princess and prisoner of a fairytale without a happy ending.
∘₊✧──────✧₊∘
She, a wanderer in the frost of solitude,
Blind to spring, untouched by the sun,
Walks unseen through winter's quiet interlude,
Where hope fades—and healing has just begun.
⋅•⋅⊰∙∘☽༓☾∘∙⊱⋅•⋅