Unknown Frontier

Ian was in the hospital, having arrived the day before. His recovery had been swift, and he was expected to be discharged the next day. Although much of his strength had returned, there was still a sense of fragility in him.

As he lay in the hospital bed, Ian's mind wandered. His body was weak, a novice still. Even though this world seem mostly safe, he knew that extraordinary forces existed. He couldn't afford to be reckless. There was no sense in rushing into adventure mode, not until he was sure he was fully prepared. His first priority was to get stronger and second one to be cautious and prepared.

He thought about his path - the Architect. It was a powerful path, but much weaker at the start and would require a lot of exploration and effort. The Wizard path, on the other hand, similar in nature, was much more accessible. It was revered among humans, followed by the majority, and even beginners had basic spells to work with. But Ian had chosen the Architect path, a decision that puzzled many, including Aeson.

Though Ian had briefly considered the Wizard path, he ultimately embraced the Architect. To compensate for the slower progress, he needed to improve his physical strength. The Eldritch path would enhance his physique and healing abilities, making him more resilient. That was a start, but he also needed self-defense training.

As Ian was deep in thought, a knock echoed at the door.

"Come in," he called.

Myrra, along with a few others, entered the room. They were familiar faces from the workshop, the same people Ian had worked alongside in the ruins. They greeted him warmly, happy to see his recovery was progressing.

"Look at you," Myrra said with a smile. "You look much better. How are you feeling?"

"I've been worse," Ian replied, attempting a light joke, though his voice still carried some weariness. "But I'm getting there."

Myrra handed him a small package. "My aunt made this for you. Some nourishment for the road ahead," she said. "The hospital food isn't exactly gourmet."

Ian chuckled softly and accepted the food. "Thanks, Myrra. You didn't have to do this."

"Well, you're family now," Myrra replied with a shrug, her smile warm.

They sat and chatted about Ian's recovery. Their conversation soon shifted to the ruins as Oryn shared some news.

"People from the district capital surveyed the area and discovered the ruins were of far greater significance than we initially thought. Word has already been sent to the territory capital, and reinforcements will arrive soon."

Ian nodded thoughtfully, absorbing the information. He had also learned from the Eilrens the previous day. Rolim and Vulre had visited him, mentioning that Aeson was still at the ruins, awaiting the arrival of higher-ups.

Their conversation continued, touching on their plans for the future. Eventually, Myrra and the others left, allowing Ian to rest.

The Following Day

Around the afternoon, Ian finished his discharge procedures. Once everything was settled, Myrra arrived to pick him up.

"Myrra, you didn't have to trouble yourself. I could have handled it on my own," Ian said as he left the hospital.

"No problem at all," Myrra replied, smiling. "You need to take it easy for now."

She guided him back to his quarters, and they chatted along the way. Myrra had noticed something different about Ian since his time away. It was clear that he had changed in some ways. He used to be much more distant, seeming like he was living in dreams, much like her after her parents passed away. But now, seeing Ian recovering and engaging with the world more directly, she felt hopeful for him.

When they reached Ian's quarters, they exchanged a few more words, and then she left, leaving him to rest.

A few days later, Ian was back in the workshop, greeting old colleagues and settling back into his routine. The atmosphere was filled with a renewed sense of purpose, everyone eager to get back to work after the ordeal with the ruins.

"Welcome back, Ian," Lirian, said as he clapped Ian on the back. "How's the recovery going?"

"Better than I expected," Ian replied. "I'm feeling almost like my old self again."

"That's good to here."

As the day came to an end, Ian joined some of his coworkers at a nearby restaurant to celebrate his recovery and the fact that everyone had made it out alive. They shared laughter and stories over dinner.

"Have you heard about the compensation yet?" Lirian asked, leaning forward. "Apparently, it's going to be a mix of stipend and other rewards. I wonder what they'll offer us."

"I heard part of the stipend part," Holone added. "But I think they'll also throw in some kind of artifact or piece of technology. I'm hoping for something that could boost my skills a bit."

Holone turned to Ian, curious. "What will you do with the stipend?"

"I'm thinking of taking some self-defense classes," Ian replied.

"That's a good idea, but you can do that without the prize money too," Kara teased. "Maybe we can take some personal classes together."

 "Uh…." Ian didnt know how to respond.

Myrra smiled knowingly. "Don't make Lirian feel bad," she quipped playfully.

"Of course, I'm joking, honey," Kara said with a wink, glancing at Lirian.

Kara and Lirian were well-known in the group for their relationship. Lirian, more reserved, complemented Kara's bold and confident personality. The two of them, along with Myrra, followed the Path of Pantheon's Favor.

"There are sword classes," Holone suggested, his face lighting up at the thought. He followed the Path of Innate Sword, but his mother, Shanaera, owned the workshop where they worked. One day, it would pass to him. Though skilled in Arcane Circuitry, he still trained with a sword regularly.

Velka spoke next. "You could try something that focuses on physical resilience. I follow the Bloodline Path, and my lineage has given me a natural toughness. I go to the boxing gym regularly, it might help build endurance."

Oryn, ever quiet and unassuming, piped up with his thoughts. "There's not much in town besides sword and boxing gyms, but if you're looking for something more serious, maybe try the place where the security personnel train. It's a bit more intense, but it could be what you need."

After finishing their meal, the group began to wrap up. They exchanged a few final words, a mix of casual remarks and lingering thoughts, before parting ways, each returning to their own path

Ian made his way back to his quarters, his mind preoccupied with the road ahead. Over time, he had devised various plans, carefully considering his approach, but to progress further along the Eldritch Path, he needed more resources. The rewards from the previous expedition could cover some of the initial costs, but whether it would be enough for the crucial components remained uncertain.

His thoughts drifted to the creature's corpse. The urge to study and experiment on it gnawed at him, yet the more practical part of him considered selling it. If the right buyer showed interest, he could secure a considerable sum, possibly enough to acquire what he needed. 

Talking about Eldritch Path, this was once far more cruel and terrifying than it was today. Long ago, the path was dominated by a being of malicious intent, one who planted seeds inside living hosts. As the roots burrowed and grew, they took control over the body, twisting it into something unnatural. Once the infection progressed beyond a certain point, the only way to reclaim control was to uproot the seed and its roots, a process akin to ripping veins from flesh. Few survived. Most either succumbed to the transformation or perished in the attempt to undo it.

But then, something unprecedented happened. One among the infected broke free on his own. No external force, no intervention - he wrestled back his consciousness through sheer will.

It was because of this anomaly that a revelation occurred, power could be gained from this process without complete submission. Rather than using a sentient host, he experimented with non-living vessels as the seed's foundation, creating a controlled environment where its energy could be harnessed without losing autonomy.

And he succeeded.

This was the true origin of the modern Eldritch Path. The man who achieved this eventually reached the peak of his power and, in the end, confronted and slayed the very being that had once controlled him. He lived many years after, passing on his knowledge, ensuring that the path would evolve beyond its grim beginnings.

Ian let out a slow breath, pulling himself from the depths of his thoughts.

His mind shifted back to self-defense. The boxing gym Velka had suggested seemed like a good starting point. Unlike sword training, which required significant time and dedication, regular self-defence offered a more practical and accessible approach to building strength and agility quickly. Ian figured that learning basic hand-to-hand combat would serve him well in unpredictable situations, and afterward maybe he can pick up some weapon to learn if needed. He decided to visit the gym the next day.

With plans forming in his mind, Ian closed his eyes and drifted off to sleep.