The sun was barely clearing the horizon when Sylas buckled on his satchel, determination setting like a stone in his chest. The chickens had been fed, the coop had not collapsed, and for the first time, Captain Beak had not attempted to kill his shins.
It seemed a decent day to start moving ahead.
He looked out at the dusty road curving east, its subtle wagon tracks etched through the grass. On the other side of that road was the closest town—a possibility of supplies, information, and perhaps a shower that didn't come from chilled water out of a pail.
"Okay," he grumbled to himself. "Time to level up my life."
> [New Goal: Get to the Closest Town]
Note: You do not yet have proficiency in the local tongue. Exercise caution.
He blinked. "You're only telling me now?"
The System did not answer. Naturally it did not.
Sylas shrugged and began to walk.
The road was empty. Birds tweeted in the trees. Every now and again, he passed low stone monuments with faint inscriptions—likely distance markers or directions, though to Sylas the symbols were just squiggles. Nevertheless, he walked the road confidently. After a good hour, the town appeared.
It wasn't large—no towering walls, no crowded gates—but it lived. Wooden buildings huddled close, a market square barely seen from the road. A small stone arch split the entrance apart.
Sylas walked up with a widening smile.
"I'm finally here," he breathed.
Two guards at the gate. Light armor, spears slung at their sides, and tired looks on their faces. As Sylas came closer, one of them lifted a hand.
" Sylas stood still.
"Uh… sorry. I don't speak…"
The guards looked at each other. One narrowed his eyes and took a step forward, speaking more slowly but still in the same unintelligible language. He pointed firmly—back the direction Sylas had entered.
Sylas held up his hands in peace. "Look, I just want to go inside. Buy some stuff. Figure out where the heck I am."
The guard pointed again, this time pointing to a nearby wooden sign.
Sylas moved forward and raised an eyebrow. The board was written on. Twisted symbols, flowing and cursive—totally illegible.
He took a breath.
"I don't guess you have subtitles?"
> [System Notification: You are currently not able to read or understand written or spoken language.]
[New Quest: Master the Local Tongue (Progress: 0%)]
Difficulty: Medium
Reward: Literacy & Communication Skill
Optional Reward: Enhanced Reputation with Local Areas
One of the guards advanced and gave him a firm push on the shoulder—not hostile, but definitely final.
Sylas staggered back, fists curling. Not with rage. Just… helpless frustration.
".Right," he muttered. "I'll return when I'm less useless."
He retreated more slowly than he had approached, each step heavier than the last. The excitement that had driven him earlier now seemed silly.
"This isn't a game," he said out loud.
The System chimed softly within his mind, not with quests or abilities, but with subtle presence.
He came to the edge of the forest and sat beneath a tree, allowing the cool shade to mellow his thoughts. His hands settled on his knees, fingers twitching faintly.
"System," he said, eyes closed. "Assist me. I don't want to be an ignorant foreigner anymore."
> [Activating Limited Language Integration]
Skill Unlocked: Linguistic Absorption (F)
Description: With consistent exposure and practice, you will start to link sounds with meaning. Reading is slower to learn.
Progress: 1%
Tip: Listening to dialogue and practicing simple symbols will enhance fluency.
Sylas breathed a sigh of relief. "Thanks."
He hesitated, then continued, "But no shortcuts?"
> [Because of lack of prerequisite characteristics, instantaneous fluency cannot be achieved. Perseverance is necessary.]
He laughed feebly. "Of course. Can't have it too easy."
Nevertheless, it was something. A string to tug on. A path forward.
At his little patch of earth, Sylas splashed water on his face and gazed into the wooden bucket, water trickling from his jaw.
"I was so convinced I could just go in, speak to folks, sort things out," he grumbled. "It's not that easy."
The image in the water glared back, weary but brighter than before.
He looked over at the fence post, where Captain Beak now lounged primping his feathers. The rooster saw him and looked up with one disdainful cluck.
Sylas grinned. "Yeah, yeah. I get it."
For the next several days, Sylas dedicated himself to studying.
He searched around for broken planks and inscribed the symbols he remembered with charcoal on one of them. He practiced reciting the tone and language of the guard behind closed doors, repeating it to himself so they would seem more familiar. He rehearsed as he toiled—scrubbing chickens, chopping firewood, mending tools—reciting things quietly to himself as a madman.
> [Linguistic Absorption (F) – Progress 9%
Observation: Consistent effort increases retention. Small words understood: yes, no, you, stop.
The System even started to whisper meanings softly in his mind, as if an echo. The process was slow, maddening, and riddled with errors—but also strangely fulfilling.
Each word learned felt like treasure.
He constructed a tiny wooden board and carved symbols on it, coloring them with pieces of paint and soil. "My first flash cards," he joked.
At night, he slept under the stars, recounting all he'd learned, resolved to force his way through the barrier which had halted him at the gate.
"I'll enter that town," he muttered one night, gazing upwards at the moon. "Just not today."
> [Quest Updated: Learn the Local Language – Progress 13%
Optional Tip: Conversation with fluent speakers will speed learning.
On the fifth day, Mira came again.
She raised an eyebrow at the array of symbols carved into his fence. "So… you've become a scholar of chicken scratch?"
"Language," Sylas said proudly. "Or at least… my attempt at it."
She looked impressed, then gave a teasing smile. "You even got that one almost right. 'No' is pronounced a bit shorter."
Sylas perked up. "You understand the writing?"
"I grew up close to the town. Basic education." She clicked on one of the symbols. "This is 'stop.' Handy to know."
> [Linguistic Absorption Progress: +3%]
Bonus: Exposure to Fluent Speaker
Sylas smiled. "You have no idea how useful that is."
"Oh, I do think so," she said. "You're the first I've seen attempt to learn unaided."
"Didn't have much of a choice," he said. "The town guard essentially told me to leave."
Mira nodded. "They don't trust outsiders much. Not until you can talk like one."
He glanced down the road. "I'll try again once I can carry on a conversation. And read signs. And perhaps convince the guards that I'm not some lost fool."
"You'll get there," she said, patting his shoulder. "Just don't try to learn the whole dictionary in one night."
That evening, Sylas stood at the edge of his small homestead, observing fireflies blink slowly in the tall grass. The coop was still. The moon was low.
He breathed deeply.
"I was dying once. Back in a hospital room. Machines beeping. Nothing to look forward to but silence."
He tightened a fist.
"But now I have something to fight for. Even if it's just a chicken farm and some odd symbols."
The System beeped softly.
> [Milestone Reached: First Setback Overcome]
Trait Gained: Resilient Learner (Passive)
You learn faster when bouncing back from failure. +10% experience to mental skills after setbacks.
Sylas grinned.
"Next time, town. I'll be ready."