Arthas and William commanded their family's ten soldiers and the town militia, ordering them to prevent anyone from leaving the town or the estate.
They feared the intruder's intentions and the potential threat to their family's safety, as well as the possibility of a larger conspiracy that might endanger the entire town.
The blaring sound of horns shattered the tranquility of the night, their urgent notes cutting through the darkness like a cry for help.
Residents jolted awake, some rushing to their windows with worry etched on their faces, while others whispered in confusion and fear about the disturbance emanating from their lord's household.
After exchanging a few quick words with William, Arthas dashed into the forest with Ralph, their powerful strides leaving craters in their wake.
The forest, dense with towering trees and tangled undergrowth, seemed alive with shadows as the rain began to fall.
Arthas's sharp eyes scanned the ground for any trace of the intruder, his frustration mounting as the rain smeared the tracks.
Each step he took was purposeful, his warrior instincts guiding him deeper into the wilderness. "He can't have gone far," Arthas growled, determination burning in his voice.
Ralph, trailing slightly behind, sniffed the air in vain, the rain washing away any lingering scent. "Stay sharp, lad," Ralph cautioned. "The forest hides more than just our quarry tonight."
Lightning illuminated the darkened woods for brief moments, casting fleeting glimpses of claw marks on tree trunks and disturbed patches of ground. "He's moving fast," Arthas muttered. "But so will we."
"It's the middle of the night; what's going on?" a concerned townsman asked.
"Are the orcs invading this part of the kingdom?" a woman whispered. Her question ignited a ripple of panic through the growing crowd in the town square.
Edmond, Arthas's retainer, stepped forward to address the gathering. "There are no orcs invading our town," he assured them. "Some intruders broke into Baron Arthas's home. Please remain calm."
The explanation seemed to settle the crowd, and they gradually dispersed to their homes.
Meanwhile, William inspected houses, asking if anyone had seen a blonde man wearing an unusual skirt.
The townspeople shook their heads, leaving William and his men to sigh in frustration. Looking toward the manor, William noticed the skies darkening and heard distant thunder, signaling approaching rain.
"Go to your posts," William commanded. "You'll take alternating shifts. Guard all entrances and exits in the town."
The guards saluted and moved to their assigned positions.
As the militia dispersed, one militiaman turned to his comrade. "What do you suppose the intruder wanted from the baron's home? The family isn't rich—just knights and warriors."
His comrade glared. "Shut your mouth. If our liege hears you, he'll have you removed from your post." The warning silenced him.
Back at the manor, William entered through the broken main door.
He studied the fissure and shattered pillar in the living room, kneeling to inspect the damage.
The scent of sulfur lingered, evidence of magic—predominantly fire and earth elements.
William, ever envious of mages, felt a pang of regret. Despite being appraised as a talented warrior, he'd always yearned for the ability to manipulate the elements. It was still better, he reasoned, than his sister's fate of being deemed talentless.
As he examined a shard of porcelain he found on the ground, Marion and Eleanor burst into the room. Eleanor's wails echoed, filled with anguish and despair, reverberating through the manor like a haunting melody of grief.
Her cries seemed to pierce the hearts of everyone who heard them, leaving the room heavy with sorrow and tension.
"You took my baby boy away from me!" she screamed, her voice breaking into sobs.
"Do you have any idea what it's like to lose a child twice?" Eleanor's eyes were red and swollen, and her body trembled with the weight of her grief.
The accusation struck William like a blow. "Mother, where is Aldrich?" he asked, his voice trembling as he embraced her.
Marion, striving to calm herself, answered in Eleanor's stead.
She handed William a letter found on Aldrich's bed. He read it carefully.
The letter revealed Aldrich's true nature, confirming William's suspicions while plunging him into a sea of conflicting emotions.
Relief mingled with sorrow as he observed the heartbreak of his mother and sister.
"I told you there was another soul in there," William said softly, releasing Eleanor.
Eleanor's glare hardened. "I've always known he wasn't my baby! My child died during that attack when I was pregnant. But I'm thankful for the soul that possessed Aldrich. It saved my baby! And you—you treated him like an enemy! He just wanted to live as my child. How could you threaten to attack him when he did nothing to harm us?"
She lunged at William, but Magnus intervened, restraining her. "Please calm down, Mother."
Eleanor slapped Magnus before storming off to Aldrich's room, glaring at her sons.
Marion followed, her tear-filled eyes full of accusation. "He just wanted to be part of this family," Marion said, her voice choking with tears.
"Why couldn't you see that?" Her eyes shimmered with pain as she looked at her brothers one last time before retreating to her room, leaving a palpable silence in her wake.
William and Magnus exchanged heavy glances, guilt weighing them down.
"So Mother knew from the start," William murmured, sinking onto the couch. His usually commanding presence seemed diminished.
Magnus rubbed his bruised chest. "We can't blame her. We almost attacked our brother. But who was that strange man?"
William's eyes narrowed. "Maybe a mage from that organization. They kidnap children with potential and train them as assassins."
Magnus considered the theory but said nothing, slumping into the opposite couch.
In the forest, rain poured heavily as Arthas searched for tracks. The rain obscured the trail, and the scent of their quarry had vanished.
"Lad, he's gone," Ralph said, catching up. "Let's head back and ensure no one else has been harmed."
Arthas sighed and nodded, and they began their return. They were unaware the intruder was hiding on a nearby hill.
[QUEST: ESCAPE] (Completed)
Overview: Escape the premises of the Kane Barony
Reward: x2 Lottery Tickets, 50,000 experience points (claimable)
Aldrich smiled as he read the notification, a mix of relief and triumph washing over him. His heart raced as the reality of his escape sank in, tempered by the bittersweet pang of leaving behind the only family he had known in this new world.
Despite his success, a shadow of uncertainty lingered, but for now, he allowed himself a small moment of satisfaction. "That wasn't easy, but the rewards are generous."
He checked the spell cooldown—less than a minute remained—and plotted his next move.
"I need clothes that fit and a new town far from here. Then I'll start learning blacksmithing." He sighed, regretting that he'd spent his two years in the manor focused on languages instead of advanced knowledge from the library. Yet he knew language was vital for survival.
"If only I hadn't accepted that Rune reward. Still, there's no use dwelling on what-ifs. At least I can start anew." He smiled, though he missed the warmth of his family.
Seconds later, Aldrich used the Spectral Overdrive spell again, slipping deeper into the hill. The system notified him of another achievement:
[DAILY QUEST: 1000 pushups, 1000 squats, 50 km run (Complete)]
Reward: 100 EXP to Warrior Subclass, +0.01 to Strength, Agility, and Vitality.
He ignored the notification and kept running. Emerging from the hill, he realized he was outside the forest. He searched for shelter, spotting a hollow in a tree and crawling inside despite the cramped space.
Once settled, he claimed his rewards and checked his status panel:
[Status Panel]
Age: 2 / 75 years
Class: T1 Apprentice Forgemaster Level 3 (0/800)
Subclass: T1 Golden Disciple Level 3 (100/800)
Health: 40 / 40
Mana: 7.8 / 19.8
Strength: 4
Agility: 4.44
Intelligence: 1.98
Vitality: 4
Skill Points: 7
Unused Attribute Points: 0
Experience Points: 50,200
Power Tier: 1
Bonus Attribute:
Tier 1: +0.2 to Strength, Agility, and Vitality
Note: You are just beginning your journey. Cannon fodder.
"Getting stronger. These daily quests really help. If I stick to them for 100 days, I'll gain 1 point each in Strength, Agility, and Vitality. That's some serious grind—but hey, who needs sleep when you've got progress bars to fill?" Aldrich smirked, shaking his head at his own determination.
"Father said the higher your tier, the harder it is to grow stronger. Great. Just what I needed—more existential pressure." He vowed to stay diligent.
His excitement reignited. "Time for the lottery!" Aldrich announced dramatically, throwing his arms wide in the cramped tree hollow.
"Ladies and gentlemen, tonight's grand prize is… hopefully not a pair of socks," he muttered with a chuckle.
His eyes gleamed with anticipation, his mind racing with possibilities. "Let's see what the RNG gods have in store. Maybe a shiny new weapon, or some arcane knowledge that won't immediately set me on fire. That'd be nice." With a deep breath and fingers crossed, he prepared to claim his rewards, hoping they would aid him in carving out his path in this unfamiliar world.