Lucas sat alone in the modest room provided to him by Red Lake Academy. The walls were made of polished stone, and a soft, warm light filtered in through the crystal lanterns mounted on the corners. It was quiet, far too quiet for the storm of thoughts racing through his mind.
He had tried sixteen times already. Each time, he had tried to summon a spark of the lightning element he had claimed to awaken, but the result was always the same—failure.
"Failed again…" Lucas muttered, his tone filled with frustration.
His empty body center had become a prison, and each attempt to use powers only confirmed the dreadful truth. Nothing worked. No energy. No response. No element. The more he tried, the more hopeless it seemed.
"I can't conceal this forever. One day, they will find out," Lucas whispered to himself as he paced aggressively around the room, his mind spiraling into panic. "And when they do… the consequences could be severe."
He clenched his fists. "What should I do? What should I do!?"
Visions of his previous life flashed before his eyes—betrayals, loneliness, and weakness. He had been helpless then, but this was supposed to be a second chance. A new life where he could rise above it all.
"I refuse to live like that again. I wasn't given a second life to crawl in fear!" he growled.
Suddenly, a spark of determination lit in his eyes. "The records. Maybe the academy has information about this… something in the archives."
Lucas knew sneaking around would be impossible for most, especially for new students. But Lucas wasn't like the others—he had the wisdom of someone who'd lived 37 years before reincarnating. With calm precision, he slipped out of his room and navigated through the darkened corridors, avoiding every patrol and security rune with practiced ease.
He reached the record room—a vast archive sealed with protective arrays. Using basic trickery and sleight-of-hand with the runes, Lucas managed to bypass the defenses and slip inside.
He spent hours combing through scrolls, books, and crystal records, desperate for an answer. But nothing matched his condition. There were no records of a cultivator with a completely empty body center. Not even the ancient forbidden texts hinted at it.
Lucas slumped in a corner, his expression solemn. "Nothing... not even a clue."
He made his way back to his room, defeated but still thinking. He sat cross-legged and forced himself to calm down.
"Panicking won't solve anything," he murmured. "There must be an answer. I have to think…"
Suddenly, a memory flashed into his mind—the ancient legend. The River of Eternals.
"That's it…" he whispered. "If there's any truth to those old books… then that river might hold the key to my situation."
Determination surged within him. "If I want to survive and grow stronger, I need to find that river. Even if it's buried in myths, even if it means risking everything."
He stood up and made his decision.
"I'll leave this village. I'll leave the academy. I'll enter the forests, no matter how dangerous. I'm done sitting and waiting for answers. I'll carve my own path."
Lucas pulled out a sheet of parchment and began to write a letter to his family:
*"To my beloved family,
I'm sorry for leaving so suddenly. While cultivating, I encountered a problem that none of the elders could solve. My body center is... different. I cannot stay here and wait to be discovered and punished for something I don't understand. The only clue I have is the River of Eternals.
I'm going to search for it.
Please don't worry. I am not running away in fear—I am walking forward with hope. I promise I'll return stronger than ever.
Your son, Lucas Divelo"*
Lucas folded the letter and placed it carefully on the desk before vanishing into the night, leaving only silence in his wake.
—
The next morning, one of the academy elders knocked on the Divelo household door in Red Lake Village. Amantha opened it, surprised to see the elder.
"Lady Amantha, I have something urgent to deliver," the elder said gravely, handing over the letter.
Amantha opened it with trembling hands, her heart sinking as she read her son's words. Tears welled up in her eyes.
"No… Lucas… why?" she whispered.
Edith, who was nearby, rushed to her mother's side and quickly read the letter over her shoulder.
"He's… he's gone?" Edith said in disbelief.
Her hands clenched into fists. "That idiot! Why would he do this alone?! He should've told us!"
Amantha collapsed into a chair, weeping. "I should have sensed something… he was always calm, but I knew something was wrong…"
Edith wiped her tears, her face hardening. "He must have felt cornered. He's not the kind to run without a reason. If he's going after the River of Eternals… then it's serious."
She turned to the elder. "Please, do not tell the academy officials the truth of this letter. I beg of you."
The elder nodded with understanding. "I will keep it between us. That boy… he has something unusual about him."
Amantha stood, still holding the letter to her chest. "Lucas, please stay safe. Whatever mystery you carry… we will wait for your return."
—
Meanwhile, deep in the dark, dense forest beyond Red Lake Village, Lucas moved with silent determination. Despite having no cultivation, his years of experience helped him navigate the terrain and avoid beast trails.
The forest was vast, its shadows hiding creatures of power far beyond Rank 3. Every step was dangerous. Every breath was a risk.
But Lucas didn't hesitate. He wasn't afraid of dying anymore.
He was afraid of wasting his second life.
End of Chapter 3.