Revelations by the Fire

Sitting around the crackling fire, Ricka's ears perk up unexpectedly, cutting through the silence that had settled over us. The tension from earlier was almost palpable, thick enough that I felt I could cut it with the dagger currently stashed in my inventory.

The silence was heavy, but I was occupied with more than just the atmospheric unease. My mind was racing through the potential of the perks I had collected, envisioning what I could achieve if I grew more powerful.

Yet, despite these ambitions, it wasn't the perks themselves that fascinated me—it was the gods I sought to control, not mere artifacts or residual powers. Defects like myself seemed inconsequential in comparison.

I needed them by my side.

"I am Avidia," she finally breaks the silence, her voice steady. Her demeanor was a stark contrast to the persona she had maintained in the dungeon. It was clear now that the facade she presented then was merely a mask, an act put up for my benefit. My irritation dissipates as I realize that, in the world we inhabit, trust is a luxury I can ill afford.

"It's kill or be killed," I think to myself. "No matter the cost. Sacrifices are inevitable on the path we've chosen." At the end of the day, we all must face the consequences of our choices. My path led me to accept whatever karma came my way, facing it head-on without flinching.

"I am Elga," she announces next, and the atmosphere seems to ease as she spreads her hands, a gesture indicating that she sees us as no threat. Her relaxed stance is a welcome shift from the earlier hostility. 

He nods in acknowledgment, and I take my turn to introduce myself.

"Cipher," I say, offering a quick smile to lighten the mood. His reaction is immediate and positive, his smile widening as if my introduction had lifted a heavy weight from his shoulders. "And your name is Ricka," I continue, adding a touch of humor to break the ice. His eyes widen with gratitude, the sparkle in them as though I had performed a great favor.

"Yes, I am Ricka," he confirms, his fingers playing with the firelight. He seems a far cry from the person who was ready to end our lives moments ago. "But can you tell me who I am?"

Elga's posture immediately shifts, her brows furrowing not in anger but in confusion. "What do you mean? Don't you remember anything?" she asks, concern lacing her tone.

I glance at the system interface, which displays a stark revelation.

[Yes. Ricka has amnesia. Due to a sudden awakening and his binding to your ring, an error has occurred, affecting his mana accumulation and hindering his ability to use magic and gain levels which will slowly come back given time.]

Elga's eyes also flick to the display, though I can't be sure if she sees it or simply senses the information. Her sigh is heavy with resignation. "There's nothing we can do. We don't remember," she says firmly as if it's a final word on the matter. I understand her caution; the first time Ricka went on a rampage, we were unprepared, and we couldn't predict what might trigger his next outburst. I can only hope we'll be better prepared when he eventually discovers the truth for himself.

Ricka glances around, his curiosity evident. "Where are we going?"

"We're heading to a tournament," I explain, gesturing towards Avidia. "To help her out." His ears perk up at the mention of Avidia. "Avidia was always the most skilled magic user in our group, apart from Elga, who was so powerful that I couldn't even gauge her strength. She was practically immortal."

Ricka's eyes light up with excitement as I recount their skills. "Oh, I see," he says, though his excitement seems to falter as he lowers his gaze, his ears drooping slightly. "My goal is too…" He struggles to articulate his thoughts as if some internal barrier prevents him from remembering or expressing his true objective.

I place a reassuring hand on his shoulder and meet his gaze directly. "For now, your goal can align with ours."

"And what is that?" he asks, tilting his head. I can see him trying to mask his excitement with a semblance of calm.

"To take down the gods that rule us," I state plainly.

His expression shifts, and the change is almost palpable. His eyes darken with a more sinister intensity, causing a shiver to run down my spine. "If Cipher is doing it," he says, his voice taking on a deeper, more serious tone, "then we'll take down the gods."

Elga rises, her stance firm and resolute. "Our first order of business is to make it to Longevity alive and stronger," she says, beginning to pace around the fire with her hands clasped behind her back. "We'll need to eliminate every beast and human that stands in our way." Her gaze meets mine for a brief moment.

"Agreed," we all affirm.

Avidia interjects, "If we reach Longevity early, we'll have access to training sessions with powerful instructors from the guilds. They'll mentor us until the time comes for battles and even in-between." Her enthusiasm is evident as she adds, "That's why I wanted us to arrive early, to get some lessons in."

Elga taps her chin thoughtfully. "We have only three weeks and a few days. Let's aim to reach Longevity in two weeks, leaving us one week for training."

Elga continues to circle the fire, her gaze sharp and calculating, she explains, "Longevity isn't just any place—it's where the strongest among us go to prepare for what's to come. At least, that's how it was in our era."

Ricka looks intrigued. "So, it was different back then? What do you mean by your era?"

Avidia pats his head gently, her smile warm. "You'll find out soon enough."

Elga adds, "Yes, it was once home to a type of elves quite different from the ones in your mundane stories. These elves were akin to Vikings—powerful and strong, wielding immense magical power. Nowadays, they're weak, far from their former glory."

I listen intently, my ears tuned to every detail. The more I learn about her world and its past, the more my curiosity is piqued.

"And the Spirit King's body was what they called the Spiritworld Tree, the source of magic for the elves," Elga continues, her voice growing somber. "It was what made them so powerful. But now, I have no idea what it has become since the purging."

"Make it to the lands said to be mythical and reach the village while fighting off beasts," I say, mentally noting everything. 

"We'll move at first light."