Chapter 2: The Rules of the Battlefield
A 'name' is not merely a sound by which we are called... but the first 'contract' the world gives to us... an invisible anchor that keeps our self from drifting away in the ocean of nothingness.
— From "On Name and Self"
After that day... the day I saw the "first light" in the darkness... life went on.
I didn't become a new person overnight. The "Shadow" still clung to my mind, and fatigue remained my closest companion. But now... something was different.
It wasn't a "weapon" to fight anyone with... but a small "anchor"... The memory of that smile and that warmth... was what kept me from sinking completely into the void.
I had begun to discover the "rules" of survival on this new battlefield... The first rule, I discovered it even before I knew love...
(Flashback)
...Weeks ago... back when I was still letting myself sink into indifference, I accidentally stared too long at the geometric mobile hanging above my crib. My vision was probably still blurry... but before I could stop myself, my cursed brain began to work automatically...
'The rotation... the balance of moments... the center of gravity...'
The thoughts flooded in... and the status window appeared for the first time...
[ Status ]
Name: (Not yet recognized)
...
MP (Mental Points): 7/1000 (CRITICAL)
...
[ Innate Skills ]
• Spark of Genius [Unique]: Massively increases initial INT and WIS. Drastically accelerates the speed of learning and understanding the world's fundamental principles. (Status: Always Active)
• Gaze of Structure [Unique]: By focusing on any object or phenomenon, one can perceive its "source code" or "fundamental structure."
[ Physical Traits ]
• Imperfect Breath: Reduces natural SP (Stamina) regeneration by 30% during rest, leading to easy fatigue.
• Fragile Blood Vessels: 20% chance of inflicting [Internal Bleeding (Low)] when the body is under heavy strain or when a large amount of MP is used in a short time.
[ Abnormal Status (Curse) ]
• The Devouring Shadow [Irremovable]:
• Drains 1 MP approximately every 6 hours.
• When MP falls below 10%, enters [Deep Dive] state: All stats are reduced by 80%, all skills are disabled, and perception of the surrounding world becomes blurred.
• Chance to enter [Apathy] state upon waking: Reduces the effectiveness of all MP recovery by 50% for 1 hour.
Back then... seeing the clear rules of the curse, I despaired... but at the same time... [...You have understood the 'principle of physical balance'...] This message appeared, along with 1 point of MP being restored...
That was the first rule I learned... 'Learning... is resistance.'
(End of Flashback)
And the second rule... was one I had just discovered... It was much more powerful.
One evening... while my mother was holding me and humming a gentle lullaby, my father walked into the room. He looked at me with a gentle gaze before speaking to my mother in a low, deep voice.
"How was... Faelix... today?"
Faelix...
The moment that sound struck my eardrums... my very soul trembled.
[...You have 'recognized' your name for the first time...]
[...Verifying compatibility between 'Name' and 'Soul'...]
[...Verification Result: 98% Compatibility...]
[...Condition Met: Unlocked 'Blessing of the Name' Lv.1...]
[ Blessing of the Name - Passive Skill ]
Lv.1: When called by name with "good intent" (love, care, well-wishes) by others, a [Mental Barrier] is created, preventing MP loss for 10 seconds, and increasing the efficiency of MP recovery from external sources by 50% for 1 minute.
My mother smiled broadly. "He was much better today... weren't you, my dear... Faelix?"
She called that name again... with a love that was palpable...
[...Effect of 'Blessing of the Name' activated...]
[...[Mental Barrier] created...]
[...You have received the effect of 'Familial Warmth'...]
[...MP recovery efficiency increased by 50%...]
[...MP restored by 2 points!] (From the usual 1 point)
My eyes widened... Not just a smile... but my "name"... it was a defense mechanism? The name my parents had given me in the hope that I would be "fortunate"... had truly become a tool to help me fight my own terrible fate.
The feeling of being "unworthy" still lingered... but now, another feeling had seeped in... the feeling of wanting to try... just once... to respond to this goodwill.
I looked at my mother's face... gathered all the strength I had... and uttered the first sound of my new life... a sound that mimicked the last syllable I had heard from her...
"...lix."
It was a faint and imperfect sound... but to my father and mother... it was the loudest sound in the world.
They both stared, wide-eyed... before smiles of pure joy bloomed on their faces... and in that very instant... I saw it.
[...You have formed a 'Bond' for the first time...]
[...Condition Met: Unlocked a new skill...]
[ Heartfelt Words - Active Skill ]
Lv.1: When speaking words that come from true feelings (gratitude, joy, sadness), slightly restores your own and the listener's MP (1-5 points, depending on the intensity of the emotion).
[...You have successfully used the skill 'Heartfelt Words'...]
[...MP restored by 5 points!]
So this... was the second rule of this battlefield...
'Bonds... are healing.'
I was still a wounded soldier... in a war with no end in sight.
But now... I was no longer fighting alone.