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The passage of time had long since lost its meaning to me.
The trees surrounding my home were no longer just trees. They were my history, my prison, my only company. Their bark was scarred with thousands upon thousands of lines—each one a day, each one a reminder that I still existed. Centuries had passed, yet the weight of the past clung to me like a second skin.
Matines City had been a broken ruin the last time I saw it, a graveyard of shattered stone and lost souls. But as I stood on the edge of a cliff overlooking the land, the sight before me was almost unrecognizable.
The city was alive.
Massive structures reached toward the sky, crafted with a precision and power far beyond what had existed in my time. Glowing energy coursed through the streets, illuminating pathways that once lay in ruin. People filled the city, moving with purpose, their auras burning brightly. Power users—thousands of them.
I had been gone so long that the world had moved forward without me.
I scoffed, leaning against a tree as I watched from a distance. "Guess they didn't need me after all," I muttered, though the words felt hollow.
Boredom gnawed at me like a dull blade. I had spent centuries refining my swordsmanship, training my body beyond its natural limits, and surviving on nothing but my instincts. And yet, there was nothing left to challenge me. The demons that once plagued these lands had dwindled, and those that remained were nothing more than insects beneath my heel.
Perhaps it was time for a walk.
As I wandered through the dense forest, my feet carried me along familiar paths worn smooth by repetition. I had explored every inch of these woods over the centuries, yet somehow, they always seemed different.
The wind carried the scent of damp earth and old leaves. Birds sang their endless songs, oblivious to the being that had walked among them for lifetimes. I exhaled slowly, allowing my thoughts to drift.
I had done much in my time here—built weapons, refined techniques, studied ancient texts, hunted monsters for sport. I even tried meditating once, hoping to unlock some hidden power deep within me. Spoiler alert: it didn't work.
I had seen seasons change a thousand times over, watched trees grow from saplings into towering giants, only to wither and fall. The stars above remained the only constant, their cold light watching over me as I carved my endless tally of days.
Yet, despite all of it, I had never once stepped beyond the boundaries of my solitude.
Until now.
A sudden rustling in the underbrush snapped me from my thoughts.
I turned my gaze toward the noise, sensing the faint stirrings of mana in the air. Three creatures emerged from the shadows—C-ranked monsters, by the look of them.
Wolf-like beings, each the size of a horse, their fur bristling with dark energy. Their crimson eyes locked onto me, hunger and hostility radiating from their snarling jaws.
I sighed, rolling my shoulders. "Really? This is what passes for a threat these days?"
The first one lunged.
I stepped aside effortlessly, my hand moving without thought. My blade, dull from disuse, whistled through the air. A single clean strike—its head rolled across the ground before its body even hit the dirt.
The second hesitated, growling lowly. I met its gaze, waiting. It charged, fangs bared. I shifted my stance, sidestepping at the last second. A flick of my wrist, a flash of silver, and it collapsed in a heap, lifeless before it even understood what had happened.
The third turned to flee. I let it go. No point in killing something that had already accepted defeat.
Wiping my blade clean, I glanced at the remains. It was barely even a fight.
Still, I gathered what I could—meat, herbs, anything useful.Survival habits never truly fade, even after centuries.
With my supplies in hand, I made my way back home.
The fire crackled softly, casting long shadows across the wooden walls of my home. I sat in my usual spot, eating without much thought. The meal was simple—cooked meat, wild berries, and a hint of herbs for flavor. It was nothing special, but I had long since stopped caring about such things.
I chewed slowly, my mind wandering. The city, the people, the sheer number of power users thriving just beyond my forest.
What would they think if they knew an old relic like me still existed?
A sudden noise shattered my thoughts.
A knock.
My entire body tensed.
I turned toward the door, waiting. Silence followed.
Cautiously, I stood and approached, my senses stretched to their limits. I had lived alone for centuries. No one ever came here. Nothing ever disturbed my solitude.
I reached for the handle, hesitating for only a moment before pulling the door open.
Nothing.
The night stretched before me, quiet and undisturbed. The wind whispered through the trees, carrying no hint of an intruder. My brows furrowed. Had I imagined it?
Then I looked down.
A small casket sat at my doorstep.
I stared, my pulse quickening. Slowly, I knelt and unlatched the lid.
Inside, wrapped in soft cloth, was a…
„A… A Baby?"
I muttered
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