Bjorn stood at the mouth of the cavern, the soft light of dawn spilling over the cliffs. For the first time in years, his heart felt unburdened. He turned to the Oracle, bowing deeply.
“Thank you,” he said, his voice heavy with sincerity. “Not just for the strength you gave me… but for teaching me how to wield it without losing myself.”
The Oracle, bathed in the glow of ethereal fire, only smiled.
“Your true battles have not yet begun, Bjorn. But you have taken your first steps toward becoming more than a warrior. Go. And remember the strongest blade dulls if it forgets its purpose.”
With that, Bjorn ascended back to the surface, his spirit tempered, his will sharpened.
But peace did not greet him.
As he trekked through a valley of golden fields, smoke rose in the distance. A village burned. Screams echoed across the plains. Bjorn’s jaw tightened as he hurried forward.
Knights in gleaming armor rode through the streets, cutting down farmers and herders in the name of a pompous noble who demanded taxes the people could not pay. Bjorn did not hesitate his axe carved through steel and arrogance alike, scattering the oppressors.
When the dust settled, only a handful of villagers remained alive. Among them, huddled behind a collapsed cart, was a small half-elf girl. She had curly blonde hair tied into twin buns, freckles marking her cheeks, and wide emerald eyes shimmering with both terror and resolve.
She trembled as Bjorn approached, clutching a cracked wand.
“You… you’re not going to hurt us, are you?” she stammered.
Bjorn sheathed his axe and crouched, meeting her gaze.
“No. I came to stop the ones who would.”
Her shoulders sagged in relief, but then she puffed out her cheeks, flustered.
“Y-you’re reckless! Charging in like that! You could’ve gotten yourself killed!”
Bjorn blinked in surprise. After all the bloodshed, it was the first time in years someone had scolded him.
The girl hesitated, then straightened, dusting off her frilly, potion-belted dress.
“My name’s Liora Everglade ‘Sunpetal,’ if you want to be proper. I… I’m a healer. A real mage, not just some… c-cute sidekick!”
She flushed as the words tumbled out, but her eyes burned with determination.
“I’m coming with you,” she declared. “Someone has to keep you from destroying yourself and besides… if you’re really fighting against monsters like them…” She glanced at the corpses of the knights. “…then I want to help.”
Bjorn studied her for a long moment. The Oracle’s words echoed in his mind: Your true battles have not yet begun.
He gave a small nod.
“Then stay close, Sunpetal. The road ahead will not be easy.”
Her emerald eyes widened, then softened into a shy, proud smile.
And so, Bjorn the wanderer no longer walked alone.
BẠN ĐANG ĐỌC
Game Over, Reborn: The Final Save File
Phiêu lưuOrion was once a legend at least online. In his twenties, he was a pro gamer with a devoted fanbase, crushing tournaments and streaming to thousands. But that was a lifetime ago. Now at forty, he's single, broke, working a soul-crushing fast-food jo...
