am happy with my life; I hold my little one in my arms, a blessing that still astonishes me. I cannot help but feel grateful for an existence that seems an undeserved reward. Although happiness overwhelms me, concerns persist, clouding my tranquility.
First and foremost, the meager payment I was able to offer the lady who played a crucial role in saving my son's life torments me. My gratitude is tarnished by the limitation of my resources, and that debt weighs heavily on my heart.
However, my greatest worry lies in the dark secret I hide. Although Steve has proven to be understanding, I lack the courage to reveal the truth about my origin. The idea of confessing that I do not belong to this world plunges me into internal conflict, fearful of how I will be received.
After a few days of reflection, I have made the decision to gather funds to provide financial assistance to Milena, the crimson forest witch, who selflessly contributed to the birth of my son. This gesture not only aims to settle the outstanding debt but also to express my profound gratitude for her pivotal role in our new and blissful life.
I prepare with some provisions to embark on my long journey, bidding farewell to Juliet and my little Naveen. I wish to fulfill my obligation; now I can take the journey at ease since no one's life is in danger this time. I walk for a long time until, in the distance, I see a tent resembling a circus.
I recall visiting some in my old life, although the violence and mistreatment suffered by the animals mortified me. Growing up, I learned that some caretakers considered those animals as part of their family. I hope they care for their animals in this place.
I don't have enough money to enter the show, so with great care, I approach some of the cages. To my surprise, I see a Shadowfeline. It is said that they are magical creatures resembling domestic cats that can communicate with other beings, possessing great knowledge of nature.
Upon detecting my presence, the Shadowfeline becomes agitated. I indicate that I have no intention of harming it and, on the contrary, am intrigued by its species, as I love animals with all my heart. Although initially wary of me, my persistence finally makes it reveal its name, Dolphinger.
I decide to introduce myself as Max, the Demon King. It trembles at hearing that nickname, but I cannot help but laugh heartily and clarify that, in reality, I am just a proud farmer living a few kilometers away. At that moment, we hear voices approaching. Dolphinger informs me that they are its caretakers and that it would be prudent for me to leave immediately. I thank for the advice and decide to depart as soon as possible.
As I continue my long journey, I decide to rest at the foot of a tree. For a moment, I reflect on the life I left behind and wonder if anyone will remember me. However, I decide to leave those doubts and the demons that chase me behind for a moment, immersing myself in restful sleep.
In my dreams, I visualize an immense lake. As I approach the shore, I cannot distinguish the bottom. The reason why this lake appears in my dreams intrigues me. Suddenly, I find myself inside the lake; the water envelops me completely. Despite feeling the weight of my body, I do not drown, and strangely, I do not lack air.
In an attempt to escape that lake, I wake up abruptly. In the background of the night, aware that my journey must continue, I spot in the distance the cabin of the witch who so generously contributed to the birth of my beloved son. The hope of finding her at home is mixed with the worry of not being able to properly compensate for her invaluable help.
Upon reaching the modest abode of the forest witch, I am met with the shocking scene of men in gleaming armor, who, destructively, are raiding the witch's house. Unaware of the reason for this action, I approach stealthily to unravel the confusing situation. I identify these intruders as the personal guard of the viceroy. Two of them desecrate the dwelling, destroying books and attempting to set fire to the home. One of these men, marked by an imposing scar on his face, proclaims that the crimson witch deserves such punishment and more for defying the viceroy's law.
Determined to intervene, I pull out a knife from my pocket and, with resolve, accost the individual attempting to set the crimson witch's house on fire. I shout vigorously, denouncing the abuse I witness, while the scar-faced man threatens me, insisting that I leave his accomplice alone. He mocks my status as a farmer, implying my supposed inability to comprehend the gravity of my act against the viceroy.
I decide to release the villain, and they depart upon observing my determination, not without mentioning that the viceroy will hear of this offense, and I must watch every step since unfortunately, my farm might suffer worse fate. The agitated witch thanks me while scolding me, saying that it was not necessary to endanger my life and make an enemy of the viceroy, as she was planning to leave this sad and desolate land, though she is pleased with my determination.
As I help her gather the few things they could not destroy, my attention is captured by a crystal ball in the corner. Pointing to it, she explains that this sphere not only allows observation but also unlocks the special abilities of humans. With genuine curiosity, I confess my lack of understanding of how these abilities work. Her incredulity is palpable, unable to conceive that someone from this world is ignorant of the functioning and origin of abilities.
Then, she shares a fascinating revelation, based on ancient elf tales. According to these tales, the true God Zephyr, before being chained for eternity, poured a portion of his blood into a river, giving rise to Ignal. It is believed that over time, this river grew to populate the world with its essence. Those who take a sip of this miracle, according to legend, are imbued with the blessing of the authentic God of this world, endowing them with exceptional abilities according to the natural talent of living beings.
It is believed that sympathizers of the impostor God defiled all the sources of drinking water around the world so that the abilities of the next generations would be created based on the profession with which we are born and not by attitude. Therefore, a person may have the aptitudes to be the hero who saves living beings from discrimination and racial bias, but due to not having a privileged profession, may be relegated to field jobs. Some witches took some drops of the river to create the crystal balls.
She asks if I want to see my abilities. I nod happily; all this magical world generates anxiety, and I wish to see its true purpose. She mentions that I am a farmer with two abilities: the first is 'the weakness hero,' and the second, too rare, is called 'Sinful Metamorphosis of Athar.' The name piques my curiosity, but she mentions that she cannot disclose its functioning.
Since it violates one of the taboos imposed many centuries ago and is impossible to unlock, as a series of events detailed in the cursed book of agonizing souls is needed. She says that it is impossible to know the content of that book since a radical group burned one of the most important libraries in the ancient city of Mesoph a long time ago.
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