Chapter 22: The Forgotten Lake Beckons
—Where Memories Sleep Beneath Still Waters
---
Three days had passed since Elric bonded with Aetherion's broken blade.
Three days of hiding it beneath his bed, pretending everything was normal.
Three days of Grandpa watching him like a hawk, pretending everything wasn't.
The sword hadn't spoken again.
But it pulsed.
Like a heartbeat.
Like something waiting.
And then… the letter came.
---
The Letter Without a Name
Delivered by a sleepy-eyed crow from the village's old courier post, the letter had no name. No seal. Just aged parchment folded neatly, tied with a thread of beast hair.
Elric opened it at breakfast.
> "Come to the Forgotten Lake. Bring what you should not have touched.
Midnight. Alone."
Grandpa's eyes flicked toward the note. "You showin' me that?"
"Would you still let me go?"
"Nope."
"Then no."
Grandpa growled, "I hate you."
Elric grinned. "I know."
---
The Journey Through Fog
That night, he slipped out with Voidy nestled in his hood and the cursed blade sheathed under his cloak.
No one in the village remembered a lake nearby.
But the System did.
> [Map Marker Added: The Forgotten Lake – ???]
→ Status: Sealed Memory Location
→ Warning: Unknown Threat Level
He followed the old forest path past the training fields, past the grazing stones where the elder sheep sometimes gathered, and past the beast border where few dared to tread.
Fog settled in like a living thing. Trees bent unnaturally. The wind carried whispers that weren't quite words.
Then, through the mist, he saw it.
Still. Black. Mirror-like.
A lake with no ripples.
No fish.
No moonlight.
Just silence.
---
The Voice Beneath the Water
At the edge, a stone pier jutted out into the water. Cracked. Moss-covered.
Elric stepped onto it, each footfall echoing louder than it should have.
> "You came."
The voice again. Not in his mind this time.
From beneath.
The water rippled.
Voidy hissed and curled tighter.
> [Aetherion's Memory Fragment II – Attempting Connection…]
→ Status: Locked by Spirit Guardian
→ Challenge Triggered: Trial of the First Sin
Suddenly, the lake split.
From the center, a shape rose. Not a beast. Not human.
Something between.
A woman made of mist and bone, with no face and long black hair floating in water that clung to her like a shroud.
> "Speak your first sin," she whispered. "Or be dragged under."
---
Trial of the First Sin
Elric's mouth dried. His heart pounded. But he refused to flinch.
"Fine," he said. "I'll play."
He stepped closer to the edge. "I was born weak. Died weak. I took this second life because I hated that. I want power. I'll lie, cheat, steal it if I must."
He met her eyeless gaze. "Is that enough sin for you?"
Silence.
Then laughter.
Not cruel. Not mocking.
Just… sad.
> "He said the same," she whispered. "The first Shepherd."
She raised her hand.
The lake shimmered with dark light.
> [Sin Accepted.]
[Trial Complete.]
[Memory Fragment II Acquired – "The Pact of Teeth"]
[Bonus Unlocked: Summon – Wraithbound Hound (Rank 1)]
→ Status: Soul-linked beast
→ Trait: Stealth + Drain
[Memory Fragments Found: 1/3]
---
The Wraithbound Hound
A ripple pulsed from Elric's chest.
Dark mist gathered beside him, coiling like smoke, then solidified.
A dog.
No—something more.
It was canine in shape, but its fur shimmered like shifting shadows, with piercing violet eyes and ethereal fangs. It stood silently beside him, then lowered its head in submission.
Voidy growled. The new summon growled back.
"Oh great," Elric muttered. "Sibling rivalry already."
---
The Curse Deepens
The broken blade on his back hummed again. Brighter this time. Stronger.
> [Curse Progression: Phase II Initiated]
[Sword Memory Integration Increased: 13%]
→ Warning: Further progression may attract… attention.
Elric didn't like the sound of that.
---
Home Again
By dawn, he slipped back into the house, boots wet, a shadow dog following silently behind him.
Grandpa was waiting, as always, drinking tea with the kettle boiling for no reason.
"You smell like curse."
"You smell like old man," Elric shot back.
Grandpa sipped his tea. "You met her, didn't you?"
"The lake ghost?"
"She was my sin, too," Grandpa muttered.
Elric froze. "You…?"
"Later." Grandpa stood. "Next time you sneak out, take a bigger weapon. You've got demons to meet soon."
"…What?"
"Check the calendar," Grandpa said. "Academy testing starts in a month."
---
Chapter 23: The Invitation Written in Blood
—Where Ambitions Begin and Shadows Trail Close Behind
---
Morning light dripped through the wooden shutters like syrup—slow, warm, and blindingly unwanted.
Elric groaned as he rolled over, the cursed blade humming lightly under his bed and Voidy sprawled across his feet like a lazy cat-dog. The new one, the Wraithbound Hound, stood vigil by the door, completely still. Too still.
Grandpa had already left. Probably digging up his stash of "just-in-case" weapons again.
Just another quiet morning in a village that sat on the edge of the unknown.
Until—
Tap. Tap. Tap.
Not a knock.
More like... claws.
Elric rose, heart skipping, and slowly pushed open the door.
There was nothing.
No, wait—there was something.
A scroll, nailed directly into the wood. With a fang.
And written in blood.
---
The Blood Invitation
Elric tugged the scroll free, noting the fang: long, hollow, and curved like a serpent's.
The blood-writing was jagged, yet elegant:
> "To the one who bears a cursed bond.
The Academy of Eldara demands your presence.
Entry test: 11 days from now.
Location: Obsidian Path, Forest of Whispering Bones.
Failure to attend will be seen as defiance."
At the bottom was a symbol: a stylized eye with six wings.
Voidy licked it once, hissed, and trotted back inside.
> [New Quest: Academy Bound — Survive the Entrance Exam]
→ Objective: Reach the Forest of Whispering Bones in 10 days
→ Reward: System Evolution Unlock – "Class Module"
→ Warning: Hostile Forces Detected Along Route
"Of course it's the forest with a creepy name," Elric muttered. "They couldn't just say 'south gate' or 'training hall.' No, it's gotta be bones."
The System chimed again.
> [Auto-Path Unlocked]
[Mini-Map Marked – Threat Zones Highlighted in Red]
[Estimated Hostiles: 6]
[Minimum Combat Readiness Recommended: Summoner Rank C-]
Elric looked at his own rank.
> [Current Rank: F+]
→ Yikes.
---
Telling Grandpa
That evening, Elric showed Grandpa the scroll.
The old man didn't blink. He didn't shout.
He just stared at the symbol at the bottom.
"You're being watched."
Elric already knew that. The trees whispered now. The crows stared a little too long. Even the village well had eyes… probably.
"You're gonna need gear," Grandpa said. "Real gear. Not that rusty knife and bone armor you stitched together like a poor taxidermist."
"I like my bone armor," Elric argued.
"It squeaks."
"It rattles. There's a difference."
Grandpa sighed. "Fine. Let me take you to the Bandit's Basement."
"…What?"
---
The Bandit's Basement
Hidden beneath the chicken coop, covered by decades of hay and the world's most passive-aggressive rooster, was a trapdoor.
Down a long ladder. Into the dark.
And then…
A vault.
Weapons of old. Cloaks of fading invisibility. Charms that pulsed with demonic energy. Bones carved into blades, eyes preserved in crystal, and a crown of black feathers sealed inside a cage made of starlight.
"You were a hoarder?" Elric whispered.
"I was prepared." Grandpa cracked his knuckles. "Pick three."
"Only three?"
"Don't be greedy."
"You're literally a bandit!"
Grandpa winked. "A retired one."
---
Elric's Choices
1. Shadow Fang Cloak – A worn black cloak that muffled footsteps and added bonus evasion in night-based environments.
2. Whispering Bell Dagger – A curved knife that silenced any sound within three meters when drawn.
3. Soulshackle Collar – A slave collar with adaptive runes. Can bind any race if weakened and consent (or submission) is triggered.
Elric looked at the last one. "This is…"
"Your leverage," Grandpa said. "You're weak now. This helps you flip the odds."
He didn't like it. But he took it.
---
Onward to Eldara
Ten days to make it through monster-infested woods with a cursed sword, two summons, zero social tact, and enemies waiting to stop him.
Perfect.
As Elric left the village under the cover of twilight, villagers whispered behind shuttered windows. Some prayed. Some watched.
And one old woman dropped a pendant into his hand at the edge of the border.
"For luck," she whispered. "And for truth."
The pendant pulsed like a heartbeat.
> [Item Acquired: Pendant of Remnant Sight]
→ Passive: Reveals lies within 3 feet
→ Bonus: Unknown Memory Fragment Reaction Detected
---
Chapter 24: Through the Forest of Whispering Bones
—Where Paths Twisted, and Trust Was Tested
---
The wind in the Forest of Whispering Bones didn't howl.
It whispered.
It whispered names.
Elric tightened his Shadow Fang Cloak, one hand on the Whispering Bell Dagger, the other keeping Voidy close to his heel. The newly bound Wraithbound Hound slithered beside them, its silent presence unnerving even him.
> [Mini-map Active]
→ Threat Zones: Ahead (Red)
→ Hidden Paths: Unlocked (2)
→ Time until Academy Trial: 9 Days, 12 Hours
"Remind me again," Elric muttered, "why couldn't the Academy be in a field of bunnies?"
Voidy barked softly. The bark echoed—three times.
Not from Voidy.
> [Warning: Echo Creatures Detected]
→ Rank: D+
→ Quantity: 4
→ Trait: Mimicry. Weak to sound disruption.
He flicked his eyes to the dagger at his waist.
The Whispering Bell.
"Right… let's test you out."
---
First Battle in the Forest
Elric threw a stone to the left. The bark echoed again, but this time, he watched it.
The tree barked back.
And then the bark became teeth.
With one clean motion, Elric drew the Whispering Bell. The air within a three-meter radius fell silent—no footsteps, no growls, no leaves crunching.
Perfect for assassination.
Voidy dashed first, silent as a ghost, sinking his fangs into the nearest mimic's throat. The Wraithbound Hound slashed through the second with ghostly claws that passed through bark but not bone.
Elric stabbed the third mimic square in its eye-socket, the dagger cutting through its illusion like paper.
Only the fourth turned to run.
But the Wraithbound Hound didn't let it.
> [Beast Defeated: Echo Mimic (Rank D+)]
→ Loot Gained: Bone Bark (x3), Echo Core (x1), Lucky Drop!
→ Acquired: Echo Mimic Egg
→ Do you wish to bind this creature as a Familiar? [Y/N]
Elric blinked. "Well damn. First egg drop already?"
> [Binding requires Soul Contract Slot (Available: 1)]
→ Beast Type: Illusion-Scout
→ Suggested Name: Echo
He selected Yes.
---
Nightfall by the Bone Stream
Elric and his pack stopped near a shallow stream, the water black but oddly clean. Moonlight filtered through bone-white trees as the Wraithbound Hound stood guard.
Elric poked at the small fire he'd made with a flint and some of Grandpa's "don't die" starter pack.
His mind drifted.
Academy of Eldara.
A place filled with elites.
Nobles.
Prodigies.
And probably people who bathed daily.
He'd be the kid from nowhere. With a shadow wolf, a cursed sword, a slave collar in his backpack, and a pack of odd creatures.
He wasn't ready.
But he had to be.
---
A Mysterious Encounter
A rustle from the other side of the stream.
Too slow to be an animal.
Too careful to be a beast.
A girl stepped into view.
Tattered cloak. Wide eyes. No shoes. Bloodied ankle.
She was human.
Barely older than him. Maybe 10?
She limped forward, then froze as she saw his summons.
"No," she gasped. "You're one of them."
Elric didn't move.
"One of who?"
Her voice shook. "The... the collar-bearers. The ones that serve the Black-Eyed King."
Elric frowned. "I don't even know who that is."
> [Passive Skill: Pendant of Remnant Sight Activated]
→ Lie Detected: "I don't know who that is."
→ System Warning: Memory Fragment Hidden. Awakening Soon.
His breath hitched.
Why did he lie without knowing it?
Why did the System warn him?
The girl collapsed before he could ask more. Her ankle bled into the moss.
Voidy sniffed her.
Wraithbound Hound didn't growl.
A sign.
> [New Optional Quest: The Lost One]
→ Help the girl recover and uncover her identity.
→ Potential Rewards: Unknown
→ Warning: Hidden Enemy Mark Detected on Target
Elric sighed, lifting her gently into his arms. "Every time I think it'll be a peaceful trip…"
---
Chapter 25: The Girl With No Name
—Where Secrets Unfold, and Alliances Are Tested
---
The wind howled through the trees again, but this time, Elric barely noticed it. He was too busy carrying the girl through the darkening forest, his thoughts tangled in confusion. Who was she? Why had she claimed to know about the Black-Eyed King? More importantly, why had he lied to her—without even realizing it?
His breath came out in heavy puffs as he trudged through the underbrush, Voidy trotting alongside him, his eyes keenly watching the surroundings. The Wraithbound Hound followed silently behind, its ghostly form blending seamlessly with the shadows.
The girl was light in his arms, but there was a strange weight in her presence, like something was pulling him toward her. Something familiar. Yet, Elric couldn't place it.
---
The Girl's Awakening
It wasn't long before they reached the camp. Elric set the girl down gently on a bedroll, Voidy curling up beside her protectively. The Wraithbound Hound stood watch at the edge of the camp, eyes glowing faintly in the darkness.
Elric took a moment to inspect her injury. The blood from her ankle had stopped flowing, but the wound still looked deep. He pulled out a small vial of healing salve, one of the few things he had learned to make back in the village. As he gently applied it, the girl stirred, her eyelids fluttering open.
Her eyes were wide with panic, and for a moment, she tried to pull away from him. But then, her gaze locked onto his, and something in her expression softened.
"You..." She swallowed hard, her voice rasping from the dryness. "You're not... you're not like the others."
Elric raised an eyebrow. "I assume you're not talking about the collars?"
She nodded weakly, her eyes narrowing slightly. "No. The ones who wear the Black-Eyed King's collars... they're the ones who drag people into his army. But you... you're different."
Elric paused, wiping his hands on a cloth. There it was again. That weird sense of déjà vu. She knew things about him—things he hadn't even realized himself.
"Who are you?" he asked quietly, his voice steady despite the swirl of uncertainty in his chest.
The girl hesitated, her eyes flicking to Voidy, who sat beside her, watching intently. Then, she looked back at Elric and opened her mouth to speak, but nothing came out. She gasped in frustration, then shook her head.
"I... I don't know," she admitted softly, her voice trembling. "I can't remember my name. Or where I'm from."
Elric knelt beside her, his hand resting on his dagger. His eyes scanned her face, trying to read any clue that might tell him more. But all he saw was confusion and fear. She was still a stranger to him, but her connection to him—whatever it was—felt undeniable.
"Don't worry," he said, though he wasn't sure if he was reassuring her or himself. "You're safe now. You'll remember soon."
---
A Flicker of Memory
The night grew colder, but the fire was warm. Elric sat by the edge of the camp, staring into the flames, lost in thought. The girl had fallen into a restless sleep, her breathing even and shallow.
Voidy lay nearby, his tail thumping softly against the ground. The Wraithbound Hound had vanished into the shadows again, but Elric could feel its presence lingering. The pack had become an extension of his will. It was strange. He hadn't even tried to form a bond with them, but somehow, it had happened.
That was how things worked in this world, wasn't it? Uncertainty. The unknown. The pull of the strange and supernatural. He glanced at the girl again. She hadn't spoken much after their brief exchange, but the distant look in her eyes told him she was far from asleep.
"Voidy," Elric murmured, his voice barely above a whisper, "what do you think of her?"
The wolf's ears perked up, and his tail wagged slowly, as though contemplating. He didn't answer, of course. Voidy never did. But Elric got the feeling the wolf understood more than he was letting on.
Suddenly, the air around them grew heavier, thick with an unnatural pressure. The hairs on Elric's neck stood on end. He wasn't sure what was happening, but something wasn't right.
---
A New Threat
A rustle in the trees.
Then, a shadow.
Another.
Then another.
"Elric!" The girl's voice was frantic as she scrambled to her feet, her injured ankle forgotten. She reached for Voidy, but the wolf had already bolted to the edge of the camp, his growl low and menacing.
The air was heavy with magic. A powerful magic. And Elric could feel it.
> [Alert: Multiple Hostile Entities Approaching]
→ Rank: C++ (High Tier Threat)
→ Time Until Arrival: 4 Minutes
"Damn it," Elric cursed under his breath, scrambling for his gear. He reached for the Whispering Bell Dagger, the familiar weight of it easing some of his tension. His mind raced as he quickly assessed their options.
He couldn't fight all of them—not yet. Not with just his pack and a half-healed girl who didn't remember her name.
"We have to run," he said to Voidy. "Get the Wraithhound—now!"
But just as he spoke, a dark figure stepped into the light of the fire. A tall figure, draped in a cloak made of dark feathers. His skin was like the void, black and swirling with an almost unnatural glow.
The Black-Eyed King's agents. They had finally found him.
---
The Agent of the Black-Eyed King
The figure stepped closer, his eyes gleaming from beneath the hood of his cloak. They were pitch-black, void of all light. There was no humanity left in them.
"Leave us," Elric said, his voice cold and commanding. "I don't have time for your games."
The agent didn't respond. Instead, he raised a hand, and the shadows around them seemed to shift, grow stronger, darker.
Elric's heart raced. There was something unnatural about this one. Something wrong.
"You should not have entered the Forest of Whispering Bones," the agent said, his voice a deep, almost hollow whisper. "The Black-Eyed King will take his due."
> [Warning: Corruption Detected]
→ Immediate Threat: Agent of the Black-Eyed King (C++)
→ Suggestion: Prepare to Defend
Elric's eyes narrowed. "Not tonight."
Without warning, he summoned his Shadows, thick tendrils of darkness coiling around his arm. He was going to need everything he had to survive this.
The agent smirked. "Your little pack won't save you."
The battle was about to begin.
---