Arcane

"

"Listen, Zero," Mesa began, her voice tinged with a heaviness that made Zero's heart tighten. "I hate to be the one to tell you this, but I can't help you. I'm sorry."

Zero felt a sinking feeling in his chest. The weight of her words pulled him down, and he tried to keep his composure, but the disappointment was clear in his eyes.

Mesa noticed, and her expression softened with empathy. "It's not your fault," she continued, trying to offer some comfort. "You're new to this world. You're probably confused, maybe even scared. You don't know what to do or where to go, and that's completely understandable." Her voice took on a gentler, almost motherly tone. "But I can't help you. I have the responsibility of taking care of this village. I made a promise to the village elder when he was younger. I can't break it. I have to stay here and look after Kai and Rin."

"But it's not just my world that's being affected!" Zero's voice rose with desperation as he stood up from his seat. "Like I told you, these rifts are merging your world with mine! Aquila said it was because of the goddess and—"

"And that's the problem," Mesa interjected, her voice firmer now. "You're talking as if what you're asking for is a simple request. As if you want me to help you stop the goddess herself from merging our worlds together. That's practically suicide!" Her words came out sharper than intended, and she caught herself, exhaling slowly to calm down. "The goddess is not something you can fight against, Zero. She's more like a sentient force of nature. Whatever she wants to happen, happens, and there's nothing we can say or do to stop it."

Zero's eyebrows furrowed in frustration, his mind racing with thoughts he couldn't quite articulate. He opened his mouth to speak, but no words came out. Defeated, he slowly sank back into his seat, the reality of the situation weighing heavily on him.

Mesa watched him, her gaze filled with a mix of sorrow and resignation. "The situation you're describing sounds dire, something that could change the world as we know it forever. But even so, I can't leave. I care too much for the people of this village," she said, her voice softer now, almost pleading for him to understand. "This isn't some kids' story, Zero. I'm not a hero. I'm far from it. This is one situation I just can't follow blindly, not anymore."

A heavy silence fell between them, the air thick with unspoken words. Mesa looked as though she wanted to say more, but the weight of her responsibilities held her back.

"Listen," she finally said, breaking the silence. "The least I can do is offer you my hospitality. I can give you some minor training to help you get stronger. If you ever want to leave, I recommend heading northeast. Not too far from here is Starfell's capital city, Stellaria. Maybe you'll find someone there who's willing to help you. They might be of greater use than I could be." She gave him a weak smile, trying to offer some semblance of comfort.

"But if you ever decide you want to stay here, then like I said, I'd be more than happy to offer you hospitality. We could use all the help we can get dealing with those raiders. We also need to repair the village." Zero's heart pounded in his chest, his hands gripping the edge of his seat as he processed her words. The room fell into tense silence for a long moment.

Finally, Zero spoke, the adrenaline in his body giving way to a deep sense of hopelessness. "I think I'll stay here for a bit…" he muttered, almost to himself.

"That's completely fine," Mesa said, her voice warm with understanding. "I'll head to the inn and talk to the innkeeper so she can prepare your room for tonight." She offered a small, genuine smile, hoping to ease his troubled mind. "And let's say if you want to start training, we can begin tomorrow morning at dawn," Mesa added, her tone lightening a bit.

"Even if I wanted to train, it wouldn't matter," Zero said quietly, just loud enough for her to hear. He slouched in his seat and sighed deeply. "Like I said, in my world, magic doesn't exist, so… I'm pretty much useless here."

Mesa tilted her head, a hint of confusion crossing her face. "That's what I was curious about…" she said, her voice trailing off.

"What do you mean?" Zero asked, his eyes narrowing as he looked at her.

"You say magic doesn't exist in your world, but when I first met you at the gate, I used introspection on you," she explained. "Even now, I'm using it. I can see it coursing through your veins."

Zero's eyes widened in disbelief, his heart skipping a beat. "You can see magic in me?" Mesa nodded, a small smile forming on her lips.

"Although faint, I can see that you possess an affinity for Arcane magic."

"I—I can use magic?" Zero stammered, the revelation hitting him like a tidal wave.

"Not in your current state," she replied gently. "The magic in your body is weak, hardly noticeable. But maybe with training, you could learn to channel it better. Maybe even pick up a spell or two." She sounded optimistic, as if she truly believed in his potential.

"Wait, what exactly is Arcane magic?" Zero asked, his curiosity piqued.

Mesa shrugged, a slight frown creasing her brow. "All I know is that it's a very rare and old form of magic. Since not many people possess it, it hasn't been researched much. Most people simply call it 'forgotten magic' because of how little is known about it nowadays." She paused, glancing around the room before adding with a hint of embarrassment, "I would say you could go to a library to find some books about it, but… our library was destroyed a week ago haha." She let out a nervous laugh.

Even with this small setback, Zero felt a newfound hope stirring within him. "If I can really use magic," he thought to himself, determination hardening his resolve, "then I might have more of a chance in this world than I thought…"

"I'll do the training!" Zero suddenly declared, leaping out of his seat with energy that surprised Mesa.

"G-glad to have you onboard," Mesa responded, a bit taken aback by his enthusiasm.

"S-sorry," Zero stammered, awkwardly rubbing the back of his head. The tension in the room broke, and Mesa giggled. Zero joined in, their laughter filling the space. For a moment, Zero felt a sense of comfort—a brief reprieve from the overwhelming chaos that had engulfed his life.

In that moment, a new objective crystallized in his mind: to get as strong as he possibly could, to stop the goddess, and to save his world.

As they stepped out of the cabin, the cool evening air brushed against Zero's skin, carrying with it the faint scent of pine and earth. The village was quiet, save for the distant sound of wind rustling through the trees and the occasional murmur of voices from a nearby house. The sun was beginning to set, casting a warm, golden hue over the village. Everything felt almost serene despite the tension that lingered in Zero's mind.

Mesa turned to him with a gentle smile. "I'm heading to the inn to talk with the innkeeper and see if I can get you a room for the night," she said, her voice calm and reassuring. "Feel free to roam around and explore the village while I do that. Get a sense of the place. Maybe it'll help you clear your head."

Zero nodded, though his mind was still racing with thoughts of what lay ahead. "Thanks, Mesa," he said, trying to muster up a smile in return.

Mesa gave him a warm nod before turning and heading down the path toward the inn. Her figure gradually blended into the evening shadows as she walked away. Zero watched her go for a moment, then turned to look around the village. He took in the rustic charm of the place. Despite the situation, there was something comforting about the simplicity of the village—the modest houses, the small gardens, the faint glow of lanterns beginning to flicker on as the sun dipped lower.

Zero wandered deeper into the village, his steps slow as he took in his surroundings. The sun was beginning to set, casting long shadows across the ground. The few villagers he saw were heading into their homes, shutting doors and windows as if to block out the encroaching night. As Zero continued, he found himself in a more secluded part of the village. The atmosphere seemed to change. The houses here were old and abandoned, their windows dark and broken, doors hanging loosely on their hinges. The wind howled through the empty streets, adding an eerie feel to the already desolate area.

In the center of this forgotten corner of the village stood a large dead tree, its gnarled branches reaching out like skeletal fingers. Zero felt a chill as he approached it, his curiosity pulling him closer despite the growing sense of unease. "What is this place?" he wondered aloud, his voice barely audible over the wind.

As he neared the tree, something caught his eye—a piece of paper stapled to the rough bark. He squinted, trying to make out the strange symbol drawn on it in what looked like a red substance. The symbol was unfamiliar, intricate lines and shapes interwoven in a way that seemed almost alive. It pulsed with some hidden energy. "What the hell is this?" Zero muttered. He reached out instinctively, his fingers just inches from the paper when a voice suddenly cut through the air.

"Hey, you shouldn't touch that."

Zero jumped, his heart skipping a beat as he spun around to see Kai standing a few feet behind him. Kai's expression was serious, his usual aggressive demeanor replaced by a tense look. "Kai?" Zero asked, his hand dropping back to his side. "What are you doing here?"

Kai stepped closer, his eyes flicking from Zero to the tree and back again. "I could ask you the same thing," he replied, his tone calm but laced with concern. "This isn't exactly a place you should be wandering around in, especially not alone."

Zero frowned, glancing back at the tree and the ominous symbol. "I don't know... I just ended up here. What's the deal with this place? And that symbol—it looks like something out of a horror movie."

"A horror what?" Kai asked, his brows furrowed in confusion.

Zero blinked, realizing his slip. "Never mind," he said, shaking his head as if to dismiss the thought. The world he was in now was far removed from the one he knew. References to movies or anything else from his past life felt oddly out of place.

Kai looked back at the symbol, his expression serious. "This symbol is a sigil," he began, his tone taking on a more explanatory edge. "It was first placed here when Hawthorn was established a long time ago. Back then, the village was small and vulnerable, surrounded by dense woods. This sigil was imbued with mana—meant to keep the city hidden and protected from outsiders." His voice carried a sense of reverence. The sigil was more than just a symbol. It was a lifeline for the village.

Zero's eyes widened slightly, now seeing the paper in a different light. "Hidden? So it's like a barrier?"

Kai nodded. "Exactly. The sigil's magic was strong back then. It was almost like a shield. It kept the village cloaked from anyone who didn't belong. It repelled dangers that lurked in the woods—monsters, bandits, even rival clans. But... the talisman can only hold up for so long." His gaze shifted to the symbol, which now appeared even more fragile and faded. "As you can see, it's slowly running out of mana. With that, people are starting to discover our village."

"That's why raiders have been stopping by recently," Kai continued, his voice tinged with frustration. "They found the village barely protected, with few people to defend it. To them, it must've seemed like they hit the jackpot. Now they come and go, taking whatever little things are left, terrorizing those who remain."

Zero felt a pang of guilt as he realized the gravity of the situation. "And there's nothing you can do to restore it? Recharge the sigil?"

Kai shook his head, his expression grim. "The sigil is old, older than anyone in the village. Its magic is fading, and with it, our protection fades too. Even now, it can only hold off and repel common, weaker monsters from appearing in the village. But even that is starting to become less effective. It's like trying to keep out a flood with a crumbling dam," he said, his arms folded.