Seven days had passed since the stigma ritual. The news of the disappointment, Nox van Strier, spread like wildfire.
"I'm known as the god's failure now, huh?" Nox said, standing on the training grounds.
Nox's shoulders tensed, the whispers of the village still echoing in his mind.
He stood in the training arena with twelve massive stone pillars looming over him, each holding the remnants of a shattered target.
"I should have much higher stats by now."
Nox focused on the emptiness before him, and a screen, invisible to everyone except him, appeared.
As he muttered the word, "expand," a faint translucent glowing screen appeared before him.
Stigma: ???
Strength: 6,1
Stamina: 4,8
Agility: 5,3
Mana: 10,2
Equipped items: -
Skills: Water release, Wind strike
Nox knew all too well that numbers were just a result of hard work. His eyes scanned them again, each one a reminder of how far he still had to go.
There are three ways to increase one's stats.
One can meditate and absorb mana from one's surroundings to grow reserves.
While fighting or training, one will automatically increase strength, stamina, and agility, depending on the type of activity.
Through various items.
One's mana and stamina decrease while fighting. To replenish them, one can either wait or use potions.
"I can't read the name of my stigma, but my stats seem high enough now. I should go hunt some different monsters for once."
Nox grabbed his dimension bag and left the arena. He ran toward the big forest that surrounded the village. The sun wasn't high yet, causing the trees to look unnaturally large.
The forest's shadow swallowed him, each step a drumbeat of nervous excitement and dread. The dream kept reappearing in his head.
Even though he was sure it had to be related to the gods or his stigma; he could never fully understand what that being tried to convey to him.
"Two can be one and one can be two." He had even asked his father what that meant, but the result was just another talk about Nox's future.
"He wants me to go to Yom Academy…"
Yom Academy, located in the Holy Empire, was known as the most prestigious magic academy on the continent. It was a place where all the geniuses gathered and became great mages.
"What would someone like me even do in a place like this?"
He balanced carefully over a narrow wooden plank spanning a raging river. Water gurgled below, catching the faint light of the morning sun. Each step creaked, and his boots slipped slightly on the damp wood.
A silent warning echoed in his mind, as he felt a different mana source nearby.
Nox froze. His hand instinctively went to the hilt of his sword. Two shadows shifted between the trees. Their eyes glimmered, thorned tails flickering with precision.
The wolves moved silently, circling him. Nox tensed. He could feel the weight of their gaze, the predator's patience.
One lunged. Fast. Too fast. Nox barely sidestepped, scraping his knee on the mossy ground. He swung his sword, cutting through the air. The wolf's claws scraped the earth instead of his arm.
The second wolf attacked from the side. Nox twisted midair, rolling onto the soft underbrush. His boots sank slightly into wet leaves. He spat out dirt but immediately stood back up.
The first wolf snapped at him again. Nox pushed his mana into his palms and fired the river's water. The wolf yelped, stumbling backward. Not enough to defeat it, but enough to make it cautious.
Nox's pulse raced. Each movement required calculation. He knew instinctively that rushing in could be fatal. He ducked under a swipe and kicked at a low branch, sending it swinging into the side of one wolf. The creature yelped, more surprised than hurt.
The wolves regrouped, circling. Their low growls blended with the sound of the river. Nox took a step back, eyes scanning the terrain. He felt the cold bite of fear but also the thrill of testing his skill.
Water shot from his hand, narrowly missing the first predator as it twisted away. He adjusted his stance, wind lifting his hair, mana humming in his veins. The wolves leapt and lunged again, sharp teeth glinting.
After a few tense exchanges, both wolves paused, wary now of his attacks. Nox's chest heaved. His breath formed clouds in the cold air. Tiny scratches lined his arms, but nothing serious.
He smiled faintly. "Not too bad," he muttered, "but strength isn't everything."
As Nox felt the water behind him, he gulped heavily. Pouring mana into his feet, he launched himself into the air.
His stomach twisted as he stood still for a split second.
Thanks to his proficient wind control, he was able to land safely behind the two confused monsters.
Before they even knew what was happening, a strong wind strike hit them.
One of the wolves' heads was cleanly severed, while the other flew into the destructive waves of the raging river.
Shortly after, items appeared in his dimension bag.
—You have defeated 2 black wolves
—You have obtained 2x black wolf's mana crystal
—You have obtained 1x wolf's claw
"Wow, I even got one wolf's claw. I could sell that for good money or use it to craft something," he noticed.
"The wolves weren't even that strong."
Nox's expression was proud, but his hands still trembled from the near-death experience.
He decided to enter deeper into the forest. The more he walked, the darker it seemed to get.
The territory wasn't far from the village, so he decided to visit Helga afterwards.
Still pondering his thoughts, Nox suddenly realized he hadn't seen a single wolf since his fight at the river.
"Could there be something else?"
An eerie silence lingered in the air, as if the forest itself were watching his every step.
Just as he was about to turn around, he heard a loud bang far to his left.
"That's where the village is!"
Before he could organize his thoughts, a tree right next to him broke, and an even louder bang rang out.
The boy couldn't scream as he was slammed against the ground. On top of him stood a massive black wolf. Its teeth were as long as baseball bats, and its body as big as a truck.
"What is a boss monster like this alpha wolf doing here?!"
His chest tightened as adrenaline surged, instincts sharpening even as panic clawed at his mind.
Its massive form slammed into him with bone-crushing force. Leaves and dirt sprayed into the air. Nox felt the ground smash against his back. Pain shot through his ribs, his shoulder pressed into the earth.
Warm blood filled his mouth as the wolf's jaw snapped inches from his face. Saliva dripped down his hair. He kicked and twisted, trying to free himself, but the beast's weight pinned him. Every instinct screamed to fight, but he could barely move.
The air stood still for a split second before another bang echoed.
A flash of white light streaked from the treeline. The wolf recoiled slightly, growling low. Nox squinted through the mud and leaves. Helga and a man appeared, moving with calm precision.
Relief and guilt collided in his chest as the white flash hit again, striking fear and awe into the beast simultaneously.
Helga's eyes scanned Nox for a heartbeat, then she turned her focus to the wolf.
The man's giant hammer swung in a controlled arc, striking the wolf's side. The monster staggered but remained upright. Nox noticed the strikes weren't fully lethal; the wolf still lived.
It was as if they were playing with a toy. Nox wasn't sure if they truly fought or held back.
Seeing the difference in strength, the monster finally turned away and limped back into the shadows, casting one last glance at its attackers.
"Helga and Rupert, what are you doing here?" Nox asked, desperately trying to stand up.
"I saw an alpha wolf on the edge of the forest, so I asked my man to come help me scare it away. Are you okay, little Noxi?" she asked.
"Yeah, thanks to you guys," he said, with an embarrassed face.
"Well, I suppose you've realized your mistakes, so you won't come here alone again, right?" Rupert asked, with an intimidating gaze.
As Nox nodded, the three of them made their way back to the village.
As they walked, Nox felt ashamed and guilty.
"I had to be saved by two old people. Shouldn't it have been the other way around?"
Nox glanced at Helga and Rupert, who walked calmly beside him. Their presence was steady, almost casual, but he couldn't shake the feeling that they hadn't fought with their full strength.
Something subtle in their movements suggested restraint, but without thinking much of it, he quickly discarded the thought.
By the time they reached the outskirts of the village, Nox's resolve had solidified. The cold wind no longer bit as sharply, and the weight in his chest had eased slightly.
"I'll go to Yom Academy. I'll train. I'll grow. And I'll make sure nobody ever calls me a failure again," he promised, gripping his bag.
When they passed the houses and entered Helga's store, Nox pulled out the crystals he had collected over the past few days.
Helga's eyes widened as she saw the two black wolf's crystals.
"Wow, you even managed to get those things, huh? I will give you 12 silver coins for these."
"No need to take them out."
With a wide grin, Nox turned and took a short, red shimmering sword from the shelf.
"Hehe, finally it's time," he said, slamming his entire savings on the table.
Nox's fingers flexed around his bag strap, the resolve in his eyes finally catching his wavering confidence.
"I know I can't convince you otherwise, so just take it," Helga sighed, a flicker of anticipation reflecting in her eyes.
As he left, only the two adults remained.
"Did you feel it too?" she asked.
"Yeah, that pressuring feeling. Seems your guess about his stigma was correct."
"I already made thorough preparations. No matter which one it is."