The corridor outside the arena smelled of sweat and cooling magic.
Thane leaned against the stone wall, cloak drawn around him, as the last tremor of the fight faded from his limbs. His mana pool was nearly empty, his muscles sore—but his head was sharp. Steady.
He opened his screen.
And saw the aftermath of war.
[STATUS]
🧍 Name: Thane
🧬 Race: Human
🌍 Origin: Unknown Plane
❤️ Vitality: 4
💪 Strength: 3
⚡ Agility: 5
🧠 Intelligence: 8
🔥 Mana: 3 (4/50)
🔁 Passives:
• Law of Absolute Repetition (Active)
• Quiet Casting
• Flow Casting
• Fire Affinity
• Magma Affinity
• Magma Control – Lv. 1 — EXP: 44 / 500
• Poison Resistance – Lv. 2 — EXP: 4 / 25
🎒 Skills:
• Firebolt – Lv. 1 — EXP: 76 / 100 — Mana Cost: 10
• Flame Arc – Lv. 1 — EXP: 43 / 100 — Mana Cost: 12
• Burning Chain – Lv. 1 — EXP: 29 / 100 — Mana Cost: 14
• Flame Ward – Lv. 1 — EXP: 5 / 100 — Mana Cost: 8
• Flameblade – Lv. 1 — EXP: 11 / 100 — Mana Cost: 10
• Magma Sword – Lv. 1 — EXP: 18 / 100 — Mana Cost: 16
• Lava Geyser – Lv. 1 — EXP: 20 / 100 — Mana Cost: 18
• Scorch Zone – Lv. 1 — EXP: 10 / 100 — Mana Cost: 20
📈 Level: 3
🧪 EXP: 44 / 140
📜 Spell Blueprint: Meteor (Uncastable)
• Mana Requirement: 500
• Magma Control: Rank 4
• Flame Sovereignty: Required
• Progress: 1.2%
Not bad for a single fight.
He closed the screen.
Time to find a place to sleep.
The Guild had marked his new rank officially: B. With it came privileges. Most practical. One symbolic.
The first was a lodging voucher—metal-stamped, marked with the Halcyra insignia. It granted one free night at any inn within city walls.
He took it to the Red Hart, a clean stone inn three blocks from the guild, its doorway lit by red lanterns and ivy curling up the frame.
The woman at the counter looked up, ready to quote prices.
Then saw the voucher.
And the rank tag on his cloak.
Her posture changed instantly.
"Of course, sir. You'll want a second-floor room, I imagine. Quietest we have."
He nodded.
She handed him a room key with both hands, head slightly bowed.
"Dinner is complimentary for B-rank guests. Served until night bell."
The room was simple. One bed. One desk. No dust.
He washed his hands in the basin, rinsed his mouth, and changed his torn shirt. The mirror showed him tired eyes, a face still far too young to carry what he had done.
He didn't linger.
The dining hall smelled of roasted meat and spiced potatoes. Most of the adventurers sat in pairs or small groups, weapons sheathed but close at hand. Some wore light leathers, others half-armor and capes. Voices buzzed beneath the music of a stringed instrument from the far corner.
He claimed a seat at a small table near the hearth.
Food arrived quickly—steak, buttered roots, a hard roll. No charge.
But it wasn't long before company found him.
A trio of women—clearly adventurers—settled at the table next to his.
They were quiet at first, whispering.
Then one turned.
She had red braids and a sharp jaw, with a sword strapped to her back.
"You're the one from the trial floor, aren't you? The one who fought the Vice?"
Thane didn't respond immediately.
"Yes."
The second girl—dark-haired, younger—leaned in, eyes wide.
"Where did you train? You didn't use a staff. And you didn't even speak your spells…"
He shrugged.
"I learned alone."
"Seriously?" said the third—tall, freckled, wearing a short bow on her hip. "That's not normal. Even prodigies need someone."
"I'm not a prodigy."
"Well, whatever you are," the red-haired one said, "you just jumped half the ranks and no one knows your name."
"Thane."
She smiled.
"Seren. These are my teammates, Mira and Sova. We're Silver Band, C-tier."
A brief pause.
"You from Aetherra originally?"
"No."
"Then where?"
He stared into the fire.
"South."
Seren tilted her head.
"You're not one of the nobility. And you don't talk like a city boy. But you fight like someone who's either very lucky… or very broken."
He said nothing.
Sova leaned in.
"Well, if you're staying in Aetherra, you'll want to know the map."
Mira gestured across the table, sketching invisible lines.
"Aetherra's the human kingdom. West of us is Talmor—elven territory, all forests and floating platforms. East is Varnor, built on the desert and steel. Dangerous. North is the Cradle of Ice, but no one lives there unless they're suicidal."
"And south?" Thane asked, eyes unreadable.
Seren paused.
"Technically part of Aetherra… but barely. Scattered villages, no protection. Goblin territory, now."
He nodded once.
And took another bite of his food.
They kept talking, asking where he learned to fight, what his family was like, if he wanted to form a party.
He answered none of it directly.
Just smiled slightly.
And let the mystery burn.