《"Reborn in Lucala: From Broken Drunk to Blessed Degenerate"》 From Death to Rebirth — The Tale of Sakamoto Begins Chapter 1: From Death to Rebirth ¡ª The Tale of Sakamoto Begins If you asked me what hitting rock bottom looked like, I wouldn¡¯t even flinch. It¡¯s waking up at 2 p.m. with no job, no girl, a half-empty beer bottle in your hand, and waifugami still open on your second monitor. It¡¯s standing shirtless in your kitchen at 3 a.m., eating cereal with beer instead of milk because you ran out and can¡¯t be bothered to walk to the corner store. It¡¯s laughing with your boys about how ¡°life is a joke,¡± then staring at your ceiling later that night wondering if it even matters anymore. My name was Vaknin. Nineteen. Drunk. Broken. Done. That night, I decided I was tired of pretending things were okay. I turned off the lights, grabbed my phone to put on one last melancholic anime OST ¡ª ¡°Ichiban no Takaramono,¡± of course ¡ª and opened my browser. Not to write a goodbye letter. Not to message anyone. No. To delete my search history. Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road. ¡°Let me go with some honor¡­¡± I whispered to no one. But fate had other plans. Before I could even click "Clear All," I heard tires screeching. A flash of light. A blast of sound. Truck. Classic. --- I expected hell. Or nothing. Or maybe that old guy with the white beard every other isekai MC talks to. Instead¡­ I woke up to light. Warm, golden light. The smell of straw. The distant sound of birds chirping in a way I¡¯d only heard in fantasy RPGs. I tried to move ¡ª and realized my arms were tiny. My legs were soft. My voice¡ª > ¡°GAHHHH¡ªGA¡ªGAAAH?!¡± ...I was a damn baby. Not just any baby, apparently. A baby chosen by fate. A tall, muscular man with a huge sword strapped to his back entered the straw hut and stood over me. His brown eyes softened. > ¡°He¡¯s awake¡­ Our boy is awake!¡± Beside him stood a stunning woman ¡ª long silver hair, pointed ears, and glowing golden eyes. An elf? No. Something divine. A hybrid? She leaned down and brushed my forehead. > ¡°He has your strength,¡± she whispered to the man. ¡°And my eyes.¡± > ¡°His name¡­¡± the man said proudly, ¡°will be Sakamoto.¡± Sakamoto? ...Well damn. That actually sounds sick. Better than Vaknin, honestly. --- And just like that ¡ª I, a loser who couldn¡¯t even manage to delete his browser history before dying ¡ª was reincarnated into a world of swords, elves, and destiny. A world where cows had six legs. Where children trained with blades by age six. Where gyats were bountiful and waifus walked with magic in their veins. A world called Lucala. And me? I was now Sakamoto ¡ª son of warriors, born into legend. A second chance. A new life. A wild, lewd, dangerous, emotional, chaotic, unforgettable journey¡­ ...was just beginning. Chapter 2: Sword Wombs, Flying Cows, and the Day I Found Out I Was Doomed Chapter 2: Sword Wombs, Flying Cows, and the Day I Found Out I Was Doomed Infancy sucks. I know, I know ¡ª in every isekai, reincarnation comes with a cozy little reset. You think being a baby again means free milk, warm cuddles, and no responsibilities. Wrong. Nobody tells you about the explosive diapers, the itchy cloth, or the constant tickling from over-affectionate elf moms who giggle every time you sneeze like it¡¯s a divine miracle. But the worst part? I couldn¡¯t talk. I had all my memories. My sarcasm. My regret. My completely useless trivia about anime thighs. And yet, every time I tried to express myself: > ¡°WAAHHHHHH¡ªBWAAAA¡ª¡± I sounded like a busted Pok¨¦mon. --- Despite my humiliation, I quickly realized something important. This world was different. No, I¡¯m not talking about just the elf waifus. (Though yes, those are here, and yes, they are stacked like cursed temples.) I¡¯m talking about the sky. At night, it was purple ¡ª scattered with three moons that rotated around each other like a dance. During the day, massive air whales floated lazily overhead, grazing on clouds. Our village? A small settlement on the edge of the Yuza Wildlands, filled with wooden homes, warrior families, and farmers who treated flying cows like house pets. No lie. I saw a cow take off mid-moo and disappear into the clouds like a fat balloon. This book''s true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience. --- My parents were named Kael and Elira. Kael ¡ª a former monster hunter, known across the region as ¡°Kael the Unbreaking.¡± Dude had a body carved from pure muscle and a voice like thunder dunked in whiskey. Elira ¡ª a former temple guardian, rumored to have been kissed by the goddess herself. She could channel light magic like it was wind, and had that ¡°I could destroy you but I¡¯ll make you soup instead¡± aura. Together? Power couple. To them, I was their miracle baby. To me, I was a washed-up alcoholic in a baby skin suit praying for the day I could walk again. --- The Day Everything Changed On my third birthday ¡ª yeah, time skip, you¡¯re welcome ¡ª I was finally walking, talking, and trying to sneak food when no one was looking. (Old habits die hard.) Kael took me to the edge of the village. The training field. There, I saw something that shook me to my core. Children. My age. Sparring. With actual swords. Not wooden swords. Not toys. Steel. > ¡°Alright, son,¡± Kael said, placing a hand on my shoulder. ¡°It¡¯s time to awaken your lineage.¡± > ¡°Lineage?¡± I blinked. ¡°Uh¡­ you sure I shouldn¡¯t be playing tag or something?¡± He laughed. Then he handed me a sword. It was taller than me. Heavier than sin. I grabbed the hilt with both tiny hands¡­ and immediately faceplanted into the dirt. Kael nodded proudly. ¡°He¡¯s got potential.¡± I was wheezing. --- Then it happened. Kael knelt beside me and placed his palm over my heart. Elira stood behind him, whispering in a language that made the air hum. > ¡°By the pact of steel and star,¡± Kael intoned, ¡°grant him the awakening.¡± Suddenly, my chest burned. A soft light spread from my ribs to my arms, to my eyes, to my fingertips. My vision blurred. I screamed. Then everything stopped. The sword in my hand¡ª Began to glow. And I heard a voice. A whisper, soft and ancient, filled with teasing laughter and power. > ¡°Ohhh¡­ so you¡¯re the new one. You poor, broken thing¡­¡± > ¡°Let¡¯s see if you survive me, Sakamoto.¡± --- When I came to, I was still gripping the blade. Only now, it was no longer rusted. It had transformed ¡ª sleek, black metal with red runes pulsing along the edge. Kael was speechless. Elira looked¡­ worried. > ¡°Sakamoto,¡± she said gently, ¡°you¡¯ve awakened a Sword Womb.¡± > ¡°A what now?!¡± > ¡°A soul-forged weapon,¡± Kael added. ¡°Very rare. Very cursed.¡± > ¡°Wait¡ªCURSED?!¡± They nodded solemnly. > ¡°Your journey begins now,¡± Kael said. --- So, to summarize: I¡¯m three years old. I accidentally bonded with a cursed sword that talks in seductive riddles. I live in a world with flying cows. And I may or may not be destined for greatness or gruesome death. Classic. Welcome to Lucala. Chapter 3: The Blade That Knows Me Better Than I Do Chapter 3: The Blade That Knows Me Better Than I Do The sword didn¡¯t leave my side after that day. Kael called it a Sword Womb ¡ª a rare, soul-forged weapon that bonds with its wielder at the core of their being. They were mostly myth. Stories whispered by old warriors around fire pits. Blades that choose their bearer. Blades that whisper back. I didn¡¯t choose this thing. But it chose me. It started with whispers at night. Not loud. Not evil. Not demanding. Just¡­ present. > ¡°Why do you tremble in your sleep?¡± > ¡°Why do you flinch when your mother hugs you?¡± > ¡°Why does your heart cry out for numbness?¡± I told myself I was imagining it. That maybe the sword had just left a magical hangover or something. But deep down, I knew. The sword wasn¡¯t just some fancy weapon. It was alive. And it saw everything I tried to hide. --- Three Days Later Kael trained me every morning. Mostly to get me moving ¡ª sword swings, balance drills, breathing techniques. Even as a toddler, he expected effort. No whining. No shortcuts. Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation. > ¡°The blade you carry feeds on your soul,¡± he told me. ¡°If you¡¯re weak ¡ª it will eat you.¡± Awesome parenting. Elira, on the other hand, would sneak me honeyed bread and whisper, ¡°He forgets you¡¯re still just a child.¡± But she never told him to stop. She knew what this world was like. She knew what I''d need to survive it. --- That Night I sat alone near the edge of the forest, the cursed blade resting in the dirt beside me. Fireflies glowed faintly between the trees. The moonlight ¡ª all three moons ¡ª bathed the world in soft hues of silver and violet. I looked down at the blade. Sleek. Cold. Hungry. > ¡°You gonna say something creepy again?¡± I whispered. > ¡°¡­Only if you lie to me again, Sakamoto.¡± The voice was female. Soft, lilting, with a slight teasing edge. Like someone who¡¯d laugh at your pain but still hold your hand afterward. > ¡°Why do you fear your new life?¡± she asked. > ¡°Why shouldn¡¯t I?¡± I muttered. ¡°I was nothing in the last one. A drunk. A joke. A coward who couldn¡¯t even¡ª¡± My voice caught. I never told anyone that I died trying to take the easy way out. That I didn¡¯t just get hit by a truck by accident. The sword was silent for a long moment. > ¡°¡­You tried to die. And yet you live.¡± > ¡°You still fear love. Yet you crave it.¡± > ¡°You pretend to laugh. But you miss the taste of your tears.¡± > ¡°You¡¯re broken, Sakamoto.¡± > ¡°But broken things... make the sharpest blades.¡± That was when I asked her, quietly: > ¡°What¡¯s your name?¡± > ¡°You may call me Niris. The Blade of Burden.¡± > ¡°Until your soul breaks me... or I break you.¡± --- Later That Night Elira found me sitting there, still holding Niris, my eyes unfocused. She didn¡¯t scold me. She sat beside me, wrapping a soft woolen shawl around us both. Her voice was barely a whisper. > ¡°Your father sees a warrior in you.¡± > ¡°But I see¡­ a boy who¡¯s been carrying something heavy since before he was even born.¡± I didn¡¯t answer. She leaned her head against mine. > ¡°You don¡¯t have to say it. I just want you to know¡­ even if you never tell us where your eyes have been, or what nightmares live inside them¡­ I will always love you. As my son.¡± I bit my lip. Hard. I didn¡¯t cry. But I was close. --- The Forest Shifted Suddenly, the wind changed. The trees¡­ shuddered. The fireflies all scattered at once. Elira¡¯s head snapped up. > ¡°Sakamoto. Get inside.¡± > ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± > ¡°Now.¡± She stood. And then I saw it. A shadow in the forest. Something huge. Covered in smoke. Moving without sound. Its eyes glowing like ember shards. Niris pulsed in my hand. > ¡°Ohhh¡­¡± ¡°It begins, little broken boy.¡± ¡°You may want to survive this one.¡± Chapter 4: Blood in the Moonlight, Shadows in the Trees Chapter 4: Blood in the Moonlight, Shadows in the Trees > ¡°You may want to survive this one.¡± Niris¡¯ voice echoed in my chest like a cold whisper in a church. Elira¡¯s hand gripped mine tightly. Her gaze fixed on the forest, glowing moons casting pale light across the treetops. I followed her line of sight¡­ And saw it. A figure. Tall. Misshapen. Arms too long. Legs too bent. It stood like a broken puppet held by invisible strings. Its body was wrapped in shadows ¡ª not cloaks, not mist, but actual shadow. The shape twitched unnaturally, its head jerking from side to side, sniffing the air like a predator. Its eyes were the worst part. Burning orange slits. Like fire caught in crystal. Not of this world. --- > ¡°Sakamoto. Inside. Now.¡± Elira¡¯s tone was calm ¡ª but her magic had already lit across her hands, a soft white glow humming in her fingertips. She didn¡¯t wait. With one motion, she scooped me into her arms and sprinted back toward the hut. But we didn¡¯t make it. The shadow moved. Fast. It appeared between two trees and threw something ¡ª a curved black shard, like a twisted boomerang. Elira twisted mid-air, summoned a barrier of light ¡ª it hit with a loud CRACK, forcing us both to the ground. She shielded me with her body. I hit the dirt. Hard. > ¡°Mama!¡± I shouted, dazed. > ¡°I¡¯m okay!¡± she snapped. ¡°Sakamoto, listen to me.¡± If you come across this story on Amazon, it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it. > ¡°W-What was that?!¡± > ¡°A Kleyneth. A forest leech demon. They usually don¡¯t come this close to the village¡­¡± > ¡°This one smells something different,¡± Niris whispered in my head. ¡°Something... awakened.¡± --- Elira stood slowly, arms raised. The air around her shimmered with divine energy. A small ring hovered above her wrist ¡ª I hadn¡¯t noticed it before. It looked like a bracelet, but the longer I stared, the more it looked like a floating halo. > ¡°Get back!¡± she called to the creature. ¡°You¡¯re out of your depth!¡± The Kleyneth didn¡¯t reply. It screeched. The sound was like a dozen knives dragging across wet glass. Trees shook. Birds flew. My eardrums rang. Then it charged. --- What I Saw in That Moment Everything moved slow. Elira''s body glowed like starlight. She spun once, whispering a prayer. And released a ray of pure white fire from her palm ¡ª it struck the demon clean in the chest. The ground shattered. The Kleyneth roared, stumbled¡ª But didn¡¯t die. It lunged again. This time its arm stretched unnaturally ¡ª like liquid shadow reaching for my face. > ¡°Draw me.¡± > ¡°NOW, SAKAMOTO.¡± Niris'' voice boomed inside my skull. My body moved on instinct. I reached for the blade. The instant my fingers gripped the hilt¡ª Time snapped. --- The Awakening My vision flooded with red. Not rage. Warning. A flood of memories, of deaths that weren¡¯t mine. Flashes of men screaming. Women falling. Swords clashing. Niris¡¯ past? Or futures she¡¯d seen? I didn¡¯t know. But I swung. A single, clumsy, child¡¯s swing ¡ª barely a slash at all. Yet the blade howled. Black light erupted from the runes. And the Kleyneth¡¯s outstretched limb¡ª Disintegrated. The creature let out a high-pitched shriek and fell back, smoke pouring from the stump where its arm had been. Elira¡¯s eyes went wide. > ¡°Sakamoto¡­ what¡­?¡± > ¡°You called me cursed,¡± Niris whispered. ¡°But I am your only chance to survive this world.¡± --- The creature fled into the forest, trailing dark smoke. I collapsed. Elira caught me. She looked down at me, trembling. I didn¡¯t understand her expression. It wasn¡¯t fear. It was dread. --- Later That Night Back in the hut, Kael returned from patrol and nearly burst through the wall. When Elira told him what happened, he didn¡¯t speak for nearly a minute. Then he knelt beside me. > ¡°A three-year-old¡­ who forced back a Kleyneth.¡± > ¡°It wasn¡¯t me,¡± I muttered. ¡°It was the sword.¡± Kael shook his head. ¡°No. The sword chose you. The blade only unlocks what¡¯s already inside.¡± I didn¡¯t respond. > ¡°You still fear yourself,¡± Niris said later that night. ¡°That is wise. For now.¡± --- Meanwhile¡­ Far Beyond the Wildlands In a silver cathedral in a floating city, a man in robes gazed into a glowing mirror. He saw the child. The black blade. The ruined forest. He narrowed his eyes. > ¡°Another echo¡­ has awakened.¡± ¡°In the village of Kael and Elira no less.¡± ¡°This will not do.¡± He turned toward a kneeling figure clad in black armor. > ¡°Send a shadow. Observe the boy. If he speaks the sword¡¯s true name¡­ we move.¡± The knight bowed. > ¡°As you command, Cardinal.¡± Chapter 5: Sakamoto the Training Dummy, Talking Swords, and the Elf Girl Who Kicked Me in the Ribs Chapter 5: Sakamoto the Training Dummy, Talking Swords, and the Elf Girl Who Kicked Me in the Ribs --- They say greatness is forged through discipline. I say greatness is forged through daily trauma disguised as training. For the last two weeks, my mornings began with Kael dragging me ¡ª sometimes literally ¡ª to the village clearing, handing me a sword bigger than my torso, and yelling: > ¡°Swing it until your arms scream! THEN SWING MORE!¡± My biceps? Nonexistent. My stamina? Negative. My motivation? Mostly fueled by wanting to impress hot elf girls. But I showed up. Every day. Not because I had a dream. But because I owed it to myself to not waste this second chance. --- Sword Log: Day 13 > Swing count: 87 Time passed out: 3x Niris insult count: 12 Number of times Kael said ¡°good¡±: 0 Number of times Kael grunted in mild approval: 1 Progress. --- Dialogue of the Day > Niris: ¡°Your technique lacks grace.¡± Me: ¡°So does your tone, but here we are.¡± Niris: ¡°If sarcasm were steel, you might actually land a hit.¡± Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences. Me: ¡°If sass were power, you¡¯d have been unsealed in a boy with abs.¡± Niris: ¡°Touch¨¦.¡± --- The Local Brat His name was Ravian Valeheart. Son of a local noble. Blonde, smug, perfect posture. Already wore enchanted leather armor at the age of five like he was prepping to lead a kingdom. He showed up one morning during my training, arms folded, eyebrow raised. > ¡°You swing like a drunk squirrel,¡± he said, sipping from a fancy water flask. > ¡°And you look like a discount prince from a dating sim,¡± I shot back. We¡¯ve hated each other ever since. Kael calls it healthy rivalry. Niris calls him "milk bread." I call him ¡°mini-boss filler.¡± --- The Elf Girl Her name? Aelira. Age? Five. Hair? Mint green, tied into two short braids. Eyes? One green, one gold. Mismatched. Sparkled like chaos. First impression? She was chasing a chicken. In full speed. With a spell book duct-taped to her back. The chicken ran into me. I fell. She tripped over me and accidentally kicked me in the ribs. > ¡°Ow!¡± I cried. > ¡°Sorry! That was supposed to be for Sir Cluckles!¡± > ¡°You named the chicken Sir Cluckles?!¡± > ¡°He¡¯s a criminal.¡± She¡¯s insane. I liked her immediately. --- Magic System: Brief Lore Drop Aelira explained the basics while bandaging my ribs later (yes, she felt bad). Magic is categorized into four tiers in Lucala:
  1. Root Arts ¨C Basic elemental manipulation: fireballs, healing, wind slicing.
  1. Branch Arts ¨C Advanced versions: lightning calls, shadow stepping, blood magic.
  1. Core Arts ¨C High-level, divine-touch spells. Only performed by Saints and Archmages.
  1. Wombcraft ¨C Forbidden. Lost. Bound to weapons like Niris.
> ¡°And what tier are you?¡± I asked. > ¡°Root. But I accidentally set the mayor¡¯s shed on fire last week so I might be upgraded soon!¡± --- Tavern Talk That evening, Kael took me to the village tavern ¡ª not to drink (thankfully), but to eavesdrop on gossip. There was talk of: A new guild forming in the capital, backed by dragonblood nobles. Demon sightings to the south ¡ª too early for the season. A merchant caravan found torn to shreds in the plains. No bodies. Just bones. The tension was rising. The world wasn¡¯t peaceful. Kael noticed me listening. > ¡°One day, Sakamoto¡­ you¡¯ll leave this village. Whether by dream or by disaster.¡± He paused, then looked me in the eye. > ¡°The blade you carry¡­ means the world won¡¯t let you live quietly.¡± --- Closing Thoughts That night, as I lay in bed, I whispered: > ¡°Niris. Why me?¡± > ¡°Because you¡¯re broken, but not beyond reforging.¡± > ¡°Because you are afraid of power¡­ and that makes you worthy of it.¡± > ¡°And because... I¡¯m tired of being held by cowards.¡± > ¡°Let us sharpen each other.¡± Chapter 6: Chicken Hunt, Blood Sigils, and the Goblin Who Knew My Name Chapter 6: Chicken Hunt, Blood Sigils, and the Goblin Who Knew My Name --- There are moments in life that shape your destiny. A battle. A death. A prophecy. This was not one of those moments. This was a chicken hunt. --- > ¡°Explain to me again why we¡¯re chasing a poultry criminal,¡± I asked, panting. > ¡°Because he stole my lunch,¡± said Aelira, holding her open spellbook upside down. ¡°And because he¡¯s a menace to society.¡± > ¡°He¡¯s a chicken.¡± > ¡°He¡¯s a war criminal with wings.¡± Ravian rolled his eyes. ¡°I can¡¯t believe this is my party.¡± > ¡°You¡¯re not in our party,¡± Aelira and I said in sync. --- Our First ¡°Quest¡± Technically, we weren¡¯t registered in any guild yet. But when the village posted a flyer that read: > ¡°LOST: Sir Cluckles ¡ª mentally unstable chicken. Last seen stealing bread, feathers glowing faintly green.¡± Aelira declared war. Ravian insisted on tagging along ¡°to make sure she didn¡¯t burn another forest.¡± And me? I followed because, well¡­ I had nothing better to do. Also because I had a gut feeling. Something was off. --- Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation. The Woods Felt Wrong The further we got into the trees, the quieter it became. No birdsong. No wind. Just stillness. Even Sir Cluckles'' insane squawking had gone silent. > ¡°I don¡¯t like this,¡± I muttered. > ¡°You don¡¯t like anything,¡± Ravian replied. > ¡°Correction. I don¡¯t like you.¡± Aelira suddenly raised her hand. ¡°Wait¡­ listen.¡± We paused. Then we heard it. Not clucking. Not rustling. A low, guttural growl. > ¡°Goblin,¡± Niris whispered. ¡°Just one.¡± > ¡°How do you know?¡± > ¡°Because he just marked you.¡± > ¡°WHAT?!¡± --- The Ambush From behind a tree, a single goblin stepped out. Not a big one. Not armored. But it had markings. Red sigils drawn across its chest and eyes. Pulsing. > ¡°Aelira, behind me!¡± I shouted. She raised her spellbook. ¡°Already charged!¡± > ¡°Ravian¡ª!¡± > ¡°Way ahead of you.¡± He drew a dagger. Magical. Dull white light traced its edge. The goblin didn¡¯t attack right away. It looked at me. And in a voice that was clearly not its own, it said: > ¡°You should not exist here, cursed child.¡± The air went cold. > ¡°I don¡¯t like that he said that,¡± I muttered. > ¡°I hate that he said that,¡± Ravian agreed. Then the goblin lunged. --- My First Real Fight Everything blurred. I drew Niris. She pulsed in my grip like a heartbeat. The goblin¡¯s claw came straight for my neck. I ducked. Spun. Swung wild. Missed. > ¡°You¡¯re too slow,¡± Niris hissed. > ¡°Then move for me!¡± Suddenly, my vision doubled ¡ª my body moved on its own. My arm slashed sideways, just enough to nick the goblin¡¯s shoulder. The red sigils flared¡ª And the goblin exploded. Literally. In a cloud of red smoke and ash. We all coughed. > ¡°WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT?!¡± > ¡°A sigil-bound,¡± Niris replied. ¡°A puppet¡­ speaking someone else¡¯s will.¡± > ¡°Someone¡­ knows I¡¯m here.¡± > ¡°They knew the sword,¡± Aelira said, stunned. > ¡°They knew me,¡± I whispered. > ¡°But why would a goblin know your name?¡± Ravian asked. > ¡°Because this isn¡¯t just about the sword anymore,¡± I said. > ¡°It¡¯s about who I used to be.¡± --- Aftermath We never found Sir Cluckles. Aelira believes he was abducted by the goblin and is now leading a rebel force in the west. I didn¡¯t have the heart to tell her he probably got vaporized. Ravian just complained that his cloak got singed. But I? I sat by the stream that night, watching the water ripple. Niris rested across my knees. > ¡°That goblin,¡± I said. ¡°It wasn¡¯t strong.¡± > ¡°But it knew your scent.¡± > ¡°My scent?¡± > ¡°Your soul. Someone has begun to stir. And they do not like that you''re alive.¡± I didn¡¯t know what to say to that. So I asked the one question I was afraid of. > ¡°How long do I have?¡± > ¡°If you''re lucky?¡± ¡°Long enough to make them regret it.¡± Chapter 7: Welcome to the Guild, Try Not to Die Before Lunch Chapter 7: Welcome to the Guild, Try Not to Die Before Lunch --- Every hero needs a beginning. Every legend starts somewhere. And for me? It started with standing shirtless in front of a panel of grumpy guild staff while a bird tried to steal my pants. --- The Guild of Velduin The Velduin Guildhall wasn¡¯t big. A medium-sized building carved into the cliffs north of our village, built around a waterfall and humming with runic wards etched into its stone. Inside, the guild was divided by rank: Bronze: Beginners, couriers, glorified monster janitors Silver: Trained adventurers, usually in parties Gold: Elite, sponsored by noble houses or war guilds Onyx: Rare. Deadly. Wanted by the Demon King or hired by the Church. To join? You had to complete the Guild Trial ¡ª a practical and magical assessment. And today was my turn. --- Trial Day > ¡°You sure you¡¯re ready for this?¡± Ravian asked, arms folded. > ¡°Not at all.¡± > ¡°Good. That makes two of us.¡± Aelira skipped into view, tossing her staff in the air. ¡°Did I mention I exploded my first trial instructor?¡± > ¡°Yes. Repeatedly,¡± I said. > ¡°Then we¡¯re gonna do great!¡± Love this story? Find the genuine version on the author''s preferred platform and support their work! --- The Instructors Three evaluators waited inside:
  1. A minotaur woman with a clipboard.
  1. A blindfolded monk sipping soup through a straw.
  1. A man with three floating swords and no patience.
> ¡°State your name,¡± the minotaur barked. > ¡°Sakamoto,¡± I said. > ¡°Class?¡± > ¡°Uh¡­ not assigned?¡± > ¡°Weapon?¡± > ¡°Cursed talking sword.¡± > ¡°Any allergies?¡± > ¡°Emotional vulnerability.¡± A pause. The monk choked on his soup. --- Trial One: Weapon Control They gave me a training dummy. I summoned Niris. The blade pulsed in my hand, dark and smooth. I exhaled. > ¡°Try not to disembowel yourself,¡± she purred. I struck. Once. The dummy split into four clean pieces. The monk¡¯s soup cup dropped. > ¡°Cursed wombcraft,¡± one of them muttered. ¡°He¡¯s not Bronze¡­¡± > ¡°No,¡± the minotaur said. ¡°He¡¯s not.¡± --- Trial Two: Magical Signature They asked me to place my hand on a glowing stone called a mana sigil. It lit up. Blue. Then red. Then black. A swirl of colors that crackled the room. > ¡°That¡¯s not supposed to happen,¡± the monk whispered. > ¡°He¡¯s a mixed-type,¡± said the sword mage. ¡°Unstable. Or divine.¡± They didn¡¯t say anything more, just scribbled notes. --- Trial Three: The Dream During the break, I rested in a stone alcove. I must¡¯ve dozed off ¡ª because for the first time in Lucala¡­ I dreamt of Earth. I was standing in my old apartment. Beer cans on the floor. Monitor screen glowing. Chair turned toward me ¡ª and someone was sitting in it. > ¡°Took you long enough,¡± the man said. He had my face. But older. Calmer. Empty eyes. > ¡°You ran from me. But I¡¯m still in here. Every drink. Every memory. Every shame.¡± > ¡°Who are you?¡± I whispered. > ¡°I¡¯m who you could¡¯ve been¡­ if you hadn¡¯t died.¡± I woke up gasping. --- The Priestess After the exam, I sat outside the guildhall, shaken. A woman approached. Clad in dark silks, face veiled, with glowing sapphire rings on each finger. > ¡°Sakamoto,¡± she said. ¡°I¡¯ve been waiting.¡± > ¡°Who are you?¡± > ¡°Someone who knows the language your sword speaks.¡± Niris tensed in my hand. > *¡°Careful,¡± she hissed. ¡°She¡¯s not what she appears.¡± > ¡°What do you want?¡± I asked. > ¡°To offer a warning.¡± ¡°There are eyes on you. Eyes that see through time.¡± ¡°And the first seal is about to break.¡± > ¡°Seal?¡± She handed me a coin. Etched with the sigil of three broken moons. > ¡°When you hear the song of the glass crow... run.¡± And then she was gone. --- My Rank The results came in. Not Bronze. Not Silver. They gave me a blank badge. Unranked. > ¡°You don¡¯t fit in a box,¡± the minotaur said. ¡°So we won¡¯t put you in one.¡± > ¡°Is that good or bad?¡± > ¡°Depends on how long you want to live.¡± Chapter 8: Quest 001 – A Beast in the Lake, a Dream in the Water Chapter 8: Quest 001 ¨C A Beast in the Lake, a Dream in the Water Age: 4 Height: short. Muscle: decent (Kael-approved). Social status: Guild baby with a cursed sword and a sarcastic party. Not a bad start. Two weeks passed since the trial. Aelira and Ravian officially registered as my ¡°provisional party.¡± Which meant: We didn¡¯t get paid yet. We weren¡¯t allowed outside the region. We could only accept Tier 0 requests. That¡¯s right. Not Tier 1. Tier 0. --- The Quest Board > ¡°Alright, here¡¯s our options,¡± Aelira said, scanning the board. ¡°We¡¯ve got:¡± ¡°Sheep relocation duty.¡± ¡°River algae scraping.¡± ¡°Monster-identification and tail collection.¡± ¡°Or¡­¡± She leaned closer, then gasped. > ¡°¡®Track and drive out an unknown beast near Lake Elset.¡¯ No confirmed casualties. Minor flooding. Reward: 3 silver.¡± > ¡°That one,¡± I said. > ¡°That one,¡± Ravian agreed. > ¡°Why do you both pick the dangerous one?¡± Aelira groaned. > ¡°Because it says unknown. Which usually means awesome.¡± --- On the Road Again Lake Elset was about half a day¡¯s walk east of the village. Surrounded by reeds, forgotten ruins, and the occasional flock of horned geese that chased children for fun. Along the way: This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it. Ravian taught us basic trap disarming (which backfired and nearly triggered a skunk puff mushroom). Aelira summoned an animated root spirit that immediately tried to steal her shoes. I nearly fell into a puddle that turned out to be a baby slime. We¡¯re friends now. His name is Squish. > ¡°You attract weird things,¡± Ravian said. > ¡°Says the guy who uses rose-scented dagger polish.¡± --- The Lake When we arrived, the place was still. Too still. The water was calm. Glassy. The air buzzed with silence. We found a broken raft near the shore. Scratch marks. Burned grass. > ¡°Something came out of the water,¡± I muttered. Aelira held her staff low. ¡°Magic trace¡­ yep. Something slept here recently. Big. Very big.¡± Ravian knelt near the raft. ¡°Scales. Blue. Maybe aquatic drake family?¡± We stepped toward the edge. Then the lake¡­ moved. --- The Beast Not a drake. Not a leviathan. But something¡­ wrong. It didn¡¯t crawl from the lake. It rose. Slowly. A beast made of water and bones. Translucent skin, glowing heart. Dozens of cracked masks floated around its body like orbiting moons. > ¡°What the hell is that?¡± I whispered. Niris pulsed. > ¡°A Graveripple.¡± > ¡°That¡¯s a Core-class creature!¡± > ¡°Then don¡¯t let it touch you. It feasts on memory.¡± --- Fight Time Aelira struck first. Light bolt. Clean shot. It passed through the creature harmlessly. > ¡°It¡¯s intangible!¡± she yelled. > ¡°Then we make it solid!¡± I shouted. I charged. Niris glowed black ¡ª I focused, remembered Kael¡¯s lessons. I slashed across the air. The blade screamed. A thin wave of black light carved through the Graveripple ¡ª the water hissed, and one of the masks shattered. The beast shrieked. Then it looked at me. --- Memory Drain In an instant, everything shifted. The lake vanished. The forest vanished. I was standing back in my old apartment. Cold. Quiet. Earth. > ¡°What¡­?¡± A screen flickered. My old PC. My old chair. My own reflection. > ¡°Sakamoto¡­¡± The voice behind me was soft. I turned. It was her. The girl I used to love. The one I never told. The one who never knew. > ¡°You ran away¡­¡± > ¡°No,¡± I whispered. ¡°You¡¯re not real.¡± > ¡°You always run.¡± --- > ¡°Sakamoto ¡ª snap out of it!¡± Niris'' voice cut through the illusion. My eyes burned. The beast was feeding on my regrets. > ¡°Cut the memory, not the monster. The mask ¡ª slice the mask!¡± I raised the blade. Focused. Remembered her face¡­ and let it go. I slashed. Reality cracked. The Graveripple exploded in steam and shattered glass. I collapsed. --- Aftermath We returned to the guild with one shattered mask and a sealed Graveripple core. The clerk¡¯s hands shook when she logged it. > ¡°You¡¯re four. This quest was meant for Bronze parties with supervision.¡± > ¡°Then maybe adjust the ranking system,¡± I said, nearly passing out. Aelira brought me soup. Ravian sat nearby, polishing his blade, silent. We didn¡¯t talk about what we saw. We didn¡¯t need to. Something had changed. --- Final Scene That night, I dreamed again. But this time, I wasn¡¯t in my past. I was in a throne room. A dark one. And seated upon the throne was a figure draped in shadows, holding a sword that looked exactly like Niris. He smiled. > ¡°So. The broken child breathes.¡± > ¡°Let¡¯s see how long you last.¡± Chapter 9: The Blessing, the Warning, and the Boy Who Bled Light Chapter 9: The Blessing, the Warning, and the Boy Who Bled Light Title Ceremony Two days had passed since the Graveripple quest. I was summoned to the upper floor of the Velduin Guild ¡ª usually reserved for Silver and Gold-ranked adventurers. Kael stood at my side. Silent. Stern. Massive as ever. The minotaur clerk sat behind her desk, arms folded. And across from me¡­ Was her. A woman in white robes. Tall. Elegant. Long black hair that shimmered like starlight. Eyes veiled. Her name?
¡°I am High Priestess Selaine of the Shining Veil.¡±
Her voice was calm. Controlled. Like a river hiding under glass.
¡°I¡¯ve come to grant the boy his first title.¡±
The Title All adventurers in Lucala are given a foundational title upon proving they¡¯ve survived their first Core-affiliated creature. Most titles are boring: Me? They hesitated. The author''s narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. Priestess Selaine placed her hand on my head and whispered words in a forgotten tongue. A circle of light pulsed from the ground beneath me. And in glowing runes¡­ my title appeared:
¡°Echoborne.¡±
Everyone in the room froze. The orb cracked. Selaine stepped back. Kael¡¯s hand gripped his blade.
¡°What¡­ what does that mean?¡± I asked.
No one answered.
Meanwhile: Aelira While I tried not to panic, Aelira was having a morning. She¡¯d gone to train solo by the river. Practicing her usual chaos: summoning little water spirits and failing to control their emotions. But today¡­ something changed. She tried to cast Glimmer Dart ¡ª a basic light spell. Instead, a sigil she didn¡¯t recognize drew itself in midair. It sparked. Flickered. And then exploded. Not outward. Inward. For a moment, her magic went quiet. And then¡­ It roared.
Back at the guild, I felt it. A shockwave. Not violent. Just loud, magically. Everyone did. Ravian stood on a rooftop nearby and whispered, ¡°That idiot girl just broke something¡­¡±
The Warning Later that night, I was alone in the training yard. Niris leaned across my lap, quiet for once. Then I heard a voice.
¡°So. You¡¯re Echoborne.¡±
A boy stepped out from the trees. Older than me ¡ª maybe seven. Black cloak. Silver eyes. No emotion in his face. His arms were bandaged up to the shoulder. One eye had a faint glow.
¡°Who are you?¡± I asked.
¡°I¡¯m what happens to people like you¡­ when they live too long.¡±
He stepped forward.
¡°You carry a cursed sword.¡±
¡°She¡¯s not cursed. She¡¯s annoying.¡±
¡°You¡¯re wrong,¡± he said. ¡°That blade has taken lives. It remembers every one.¡±
¡°So do I.¡±
He paused. Then he smiled ¡ª just barely.
¡°Good. You¡¯ll need that kind of arrogance.¡±
¡°Why?¡±
¡°Because you¡¯re marked now. Echoborne. The first in nearly a century.¡±
¡°That supposed to mean something?¡±
¡°It means¡­¡± He pointed to the moon. ¡°When the second moon bleeds ¡ª you die first.¡±
He turned and vanished.
Niris Speaks Later, back in the hut, I stared at my reflection in a bowl of water.
¡°Echoborne¡­¡± I whispered.
¡°One who lives in echoes,¡± Niris said softly.
¡°What does it mean?¡±
¡°You exist between lives now. Between deaths. Between worlds.¡±
¡°So I¡¯m not¡­ fully here?¡±
¡°You are here. But the past doesn¡¯t let go.¡±
¡°Will it kill me?¡±
¡°Only if you forget who you are.¡±
Chapter 10: Wildfires, Bloodlines, and the Blade That Bled for Me Chapter 10: Wildfires, Bloodlines, and the Blade That Bled for Me When you live in a world of monsters, magic, and masked skeletons made of water, you''d think the scariest things are the ones that lunge at you. They''re not. The scariest things? Are the ones that wake up inside people you thought you knew.
Aelira, Unleashed It started small. Just a hum. A faint glowing spiral in her palm during morning training.
¡°Hey, uh,¡± I said, stepping back, ¡°your hand¡¯s doing that exploding-sun thing again.¡±
¡°It¡¯s fine,¡± she replied.
¡°That¡¯s what you said before you set the innkeeper¡¯s beard on fire.¡±
¡°That was fine too.¡±
But then she flinched. The glow cracked. Expanded. And her entire body lit up like a living glyph. Her hair rose. The grass around her withered. The clouds above shifted and formed a perfect circle. Aelira screamed once ¡ª not in pain, but in shock.
¡°What¡¯s happening?!¡± she yelled.
¡°You¡¯re surging!¡± Ravian shouted. ¡°Drop your focus!¡±
¡°I CAN¡¯T!¡±
Sakamoto Reacts Without thinking, I ran to her. Niris pulsed in my grip. This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.
¡°DON¡¯T!¡± she hissed. ¡°Her magic is overflowing. You¡¯ll both burn.¡±
¡°She¡¯s my party. I¡¯m not letting her go out like this.¡±
I reached Aelira. The magic struck me like a truck made of thunder and memory. Visions blurred my sight. A massive tree. A girl crying. A crown of flame.
¡°Sakamoto¡­?¡± she whispered.
¡°Breathe. Listen to my voice. You¡¯re not alone.¡±
Her body trembled. Then¡­ Everything stopped. The sky calmed. The light faded. She collapsed into my arms, sobbing.
¡°I didn¡¯t mean to¡­¡±
¡°I know.¡±
¡°It hurts.¡±
¡°I know.¡±
Aftermath: Her Magic Kael arrived minutes later. So did Priestess Selaine. They examined Aelira. The diagnosis? She carried Ancient Wildweave ¡ª a dormant bloodline from the forest spirits of the Old North. It reacts to emotion. It cannot be trained ¡ª only trusted.
¡°She will be powerful,¡± Selaine whispered. ¡°Or she will die young.¡±
¡°No in-between?¡±
¡°Not with Wildweave.¡±
Ravian¡¯s Bloodline Reveal That night, after everything calmed down, Ravian sat beside the fire. He rarely spoke about his past. But tonight, he did.
¡°My family isn¡¯t noble,¡± he said. ¡°We were blessed. Generations ago, one of my ancestors saved a dying deity.¡±
¡°What kind of deity?¡± I asked.
¡°The Maiden of Embers. She gave our blood her mark. We age slow. Heal fast. See glimpses of paths not yet walked.¡±
¡°Future sight?¡±
¡°Possibility sight,¡± he corrected. ¡°But it comes at a price.¡±
¡°What price?¡±
¡°We don¡¯t dream. At all.¡±
That Night: The Blade Bled I dreamed again. But this time, it was her. Niris. She stood before me. A woman in a torn black cloak, hair wild, eyes burning red. And she was bleeding. The blood was black. It poured from her ribs, staining the dream itself.
¡°They¡¯ve found me,¡± she whispered.
¡°Who?¡±
¡°The ones who made me.¡±
¡°What do they want?¡±
¡°To reclaim what they lost.¡±
She reached for my hand.
¡°Sakamoto. If I fall¡­ you fall too.¡±
I woke up screaming.
Final Scene: The South Far beyond the forests of Velduin, in the volcanic lands of Arcthen, a voice echoed in a dark temple.
¡°Echoborne¡­¡±
The figure knelt before a broken altar. His armor was molten black, face hidden behind a serpent-like mask.
¡°The cursed blade bleeds again. Prepare the Shadowsworn.¡±
Behind him, seven cloaked warriors emerged. One carried a whip of light. One rode a burning wolf. One¡¯s shadow moved even when they didn¡¯t.
¡°We will bring her home,¡± the masked figure said.
¡°And if the boy resists¡­?¡±
¡°Then we break the world again.¡±
Chapter 11: Sparks, Shadows, and the Letter From the Holy Flame Chapter 11: Sparks, Shadows, and the Letter From the Holy Flame After everything, you''d think life would slow down. It didn¡¯t. Lucala doesn¡¯t rest just because your party nearly exploded emotionally and magically.
Aelira Aelira had been quiet since the surge. Not sad. Not panicking. Just¡­ quiet. The girl who once named a chicken Sir Cluckles and threatened to marry a spellbook now sat beside rivers, staring at her hands like they were cursed.
¡°You good?¡± I asked one morning.
¡°I don¡¯t know how to feel power that could destroy a forest just because I got embarrassed.¡±
¡°You also accidentally summoned a bunny made of lightning.¡±
¡°That thing bit a merchant¡¯s shoe.¡±
¡°It also bowed before you.¡±
She smiled. Barely.
¡°What if I hurt someone?¡±
¡°Then you try again. Learn. Grow. We¡¯ve got your back.¡±
She leaned her head against my shoulder. If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it.
¡°...thanks, Sakamoto.¡±
Kael¡¯s Training Later that day, Kael called me into the woods. Just the two of us. No Ravian. No Aelira. No Niris. Just a father and the boy who carried a sword that once ended armies.
¡°You swing better now,¡± he said. ¡°But you still don¡¯t move like a warrior.¡±
¡°I¡¯m four.¡±
¡°And?¡±
¡°Fair.¡±
He taught me how to fall without breaking bones. How to breathe when surrounded. How to read pressure in someone¡¯s stance. Then he stopped.
¡°We¡¯re being watched.¡±
I turned ¡ª nothing. But Kael stared at the treeline.
¡°Out now.¡±
From behind the brush, a man stepped forward. He was tall, lean, wrapped in light blue robes with silver embroidery. Eyes hidden beneath a wide hat.
¡°Forgive me,¡± he said. ¡°I am Marev. A Seer from the Frostwind Circle.¡±
Kael tensed.
¡°What do the Frostwinds want here?¡±
¡°To observe. The blade awakens again. And her wielder¡­ sings.¡±
¡°What the hell does that mean?¡± I asked.
Marev smiled.
¡°You¡¯ll understand¡­ when she cries.¡±
He vanished like mist.
Ravian¡¯s Letter That night, Ravian sat beside a candle, reading a scroll sealed with red wax and a holy flame insignia.
¡°You okay?¡± I asked.
¡°No.¡±
He handed it to me.
To Ravian of the Embersight Lineage, The Church requests your return. The Moon will soon bleed. The boy must be tested. You are to confirm¡­ if he is the vessel.
¡°What vessel?¡±
¡°No clue,¡± Ravian said. ¡°But I hate the tone.¡±
¡°You going back?¡±
¡°Not without you.¡±
¡°I¡¯m not ready for politics.¡±
¡°Neither am I. That¡¯s why we¡¯re perfect.¡±
Final Scene: The Star Somewhere far beyond the cliffs north of Velduin¡­ In the dead of night¡­ A child stood barefoot in the snow, gazing upward. Above them, a bright streak cut through the sky. It wasn¡¯t a meteor. It wasn¡¯t magic. It was a pod. Metal. Cracked. Screaming with old energy. And inside? A girl. Eyes closed. Floating. Wrapped in violet flame.
¡°...wake up,¡± she whispered in her sleep. ¡°The sword is calling¡­¡±
Chapter 12: The Girl Who Fell From the Sky, and the Cold That Whispers Names Chapter 12: The Girl Who Fell From the Sky, and the Cold That Whispers Names Current Age: Sakamoto ¨C 4.5 years old Season: Late autumn Location: Village of Velduin, near the northern cliffs of Lucala The leaves were dying. Not just falling ¡ª curling, like they were afraid of what came next. That¡¯s when I first knew: Something beyond the woods had awakened.
The Arrival Three days after Ravian¡¯s letter¡­ Three days after Aelira¡¯s surge¡­ The sky cracked open. It wasn¡¯t thunder. It wasn¡¯t magic. It was something ancient falling fast. I saw it ¡ª a streak of violet light, cutting the clouds like a blade across parchment. It landed beyond the Northern Cliffs ¡ª a dead zone where no one traveled. Not even monsters. The guild didn¡¯t send a scout. They sent us.
Briefing
¡°We¡¯re sending you north,¡± the minotaur clerk grunted. ¡°You¡¯re the only team dumb enough to say yes.¡± The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.
¡°And desperate enough to try,¡± Ravian added.
¡°Any info on what fell?¡± I asked.
¡°Just a reading. Old mana. Not demonic. Not divine. Something... forgotten.¡±
¡°Perfect,¡± Aelira sighed. ¡°If we die, I¡¯m blaming Sir Cluckles.¡±
The Journey Begins We left that night. Velduin behind us. Aelira rode her summoned root boar (yes, she figured out how to summon a plant-mount). Ravian walked beside me, cloak drawn, hand near his dagger. I held Niris strapped across my back, humming with tension.
¡°Something sleeps up there,¡± she whispered. ¡°And it remembers me.¡±
¡°Everything remembers you,¡± I muttered.
¡°Not like this.¡±
The Cliffs We reached them by sunrise. Jagged black stone. Freezing wind. Old banners torn by time. And at the base? A crater. Still glowing faintly violet. Inside the crater was a pod. Metal. Covered in seals and runes I didn¡¯t recognize. The surface cracked. Inside¡­ a girl. Floating. Eyes closed. Hair white as snow. And then¡ª She opened her eyes. Violet. Piercing. She looked at me. And said:
¡°Sakamoto¡­ Echoborne¡­¡±
¡°How do you know my name?!¡±
She collapsed.
Back at the Hut We carried her back to Kael and Elira. Elira ran tests. Probed her aura. Weaved magic diagnostics.
¡°She¡¯s human¡­ mostly,¡± Elira murmured. ¡°But her soul is layered. Like it¡¯s lived more than once.¡±
¡°Like me?¡± I asked.
¡°No,¡± Niris said. ¡°Not like you. She didn¡¯t reincarnate.¡±
¡°She was sealed.¡±
Her Name When she woke, she stared at us like we were strangers in her childhood home.
¡°My name is Ireina.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know how long I slept.¡± ¡°But I dreamed of a blade¡­ that would wake the world.¡±
She looked at me again.
¡°And it¡¯s you.¡±
Final Scene: South Back in Arcthen¡¯s ruined halls, the masked figure stirred again. One of the Shadowsworn returned.
¡°The star has fallen. She¡¯s near him.¡±
¡°Then we move.¡±
He raised a relic: a blade of bone, wrapped in red cloth.
¡°Echoborne. Wildweaver. Embersight.¡±
¡°Three sparks. One curse.¡±
¡°Time to test what the new age is made of.¡±