I slipped through the cobbled alleyways behind the starter town, feeling the old familiarity settle in like a second skin. I could almost hear the startled shouts of new players in the town square—fighting over slime quests and starter gear.
I had no time for that.
The Forgotten Heirloom burned faintly against my chest. No one had ever figured out what it did. In my last life, it sat in my bank for years—just another "useless trinket." But I knew better now.
I opened my interface.
Name: Aiden ChaseLevel: 1Class: Spellforged ScribeHP: 100/100MP: 250/250Stats:STR: 3 | DEX: 5 | INT: 12 | WIS: 14 | END: 4 | LUK: 2Skills:
[Arcane Ink] – Imbue paper with magical effects.
[Scriptweave] – Write temporary enchantments on nearby objects.
[Quick Quill] – Boost writing speed and clarity.
[Passive] Scholar's Eye – Gain +10% EXP from deciphering magical or historical objects.
Most players would scoff at this loadout. No raw damage, no flashy skills. But I didn't need those.
Not yet.
I made my way north, past the fields teeming with level 1 mobs, until the terrain turned rocky and twisted. This was where I first died in my old playthrough. A hidden rune-etched alcove nestled beneath a ruined watchtower.
I traced my hand along the moss-covered stone.
There.
[Secret Area Discovered: The Cradle of Words]The silence here vibrates with ancient echoes...
I stepped inside.
The ground shimmered. Glyphs bloomed in the air like petals, rearranging themselves into coherent patterns. A ghostly figure emerged from the runes—half-faded, cloaked in scholar's robes.
"Ah. A Scribe…"[Quest Updated: Dust to Divinity – Step 2: Inherit the Forgotten Lexicon.]
A battered book hovered before me. Its cover shimmered with golden text that refused to settle.
[Item Acquired: The Forgotten Lexicon]This book binds itself to your soul. It will grow as you grow.
As soon as I touched it, pain lanced through my chest. The amulet pulsed.
And then—
[SYSTEM WARNING: Soul-Link Detected – Fragment of Origin Synchronizing.][Integration 2%...]
The ghost recoiled. "You… are not supposed to be here."
I tried to speak, but the world lurched again.
[SYSTEM NOTICE: Monitoring Elevated. USER TAGGED: 'Anomalous Loopwalker.']
When I came to, I was lying just outside the cave. The book in my hand. My interface now flickering with new sub-menus.
Spell Creation Unlocked.
Now we were getting somewhere.