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Chapter 5 - A Ruff Wake up
🕑 Added 2025-03-23 21:00:06 +0000 UTCAs time flew by, the guards, James, and the rescued slave girl gathered what they could salvage from the bandits' camp. They loaded equipment, supplies, and any weapons they found onto a small cart hidden just off the main road, likely the same one the bandits had used in their ambush. James felt a strange weight settle over him as he helped lift various packs and bundles onto the cart. Each item told its own story—copper, bronze, and iron swords, dusty or muddy leather armor, scraps of cloth used to bandage wounds, and broken items that seemed almost useless.
The guards worked efficiently, their faces set with determination. They stripped the bandits' bodies of any useful gear or weaponry, carefully removing the Regalite bracelets from each corpse before placing the bodies onto a rapidly growing pile. Hegor gave a sharp nod as the guards handed him the collected Regalite, which he placed into a leather pouch. He intended to bring these to the Guild of Explorers, where the bracelets could be scanned to identify the bandits and determine if any had bounties on their heads. This would help justify the compensation for their operation later.
With a nod from the captain, one of the men struck a torch, and the flames licked hungrily at the pile, quickly consuming the lifeless forms in a crackling blaze.
James stood back, feeling an odd emptiness. The fire illuminated the faces of the men around him, casting sharp shadows, even though it was daytime, deepening the somber mood. He glanced over at the elf girl, who barely flinched at the sight of the flames. It was as if she had grown accustomed to the brutality of this world—a world that seemed to hold no mercy for anyone, least of all her.
The guards took a moment to stand back, watching as the flames rose, their job now complete. They had no interest in honoring those dead who had caused so much pain.
The guards worked efficiently, their faces set and determined, but even they moved with an unspoken heaviness. As the captain passed him a bundle of weapons, James noticed a flicker of something in his expression as he look at him—a hint of sorrow or regret that quickly disappeared.
The guards, James, and the elf slave made their way back toward the cart they came with, hauling the bandits' weapons, scattered supplies, and anything else of value they had managed to salvage. Each step felt heavy, weighed down not only by the equipment they carried but also by the grim memories of the scene they left behind.
Once they reached the cart, the guards began loading the items carefully, organizing them in a way that everything could be place inside. The silence that filled the air was thick, broken only by the occasional clank of metal against wood.
With the last of the supplies secured, the guards turned their attention to the grim task of honoring the fallen. A few of them took up shovels that were previously loaded in the cart and began to dig near the side of the road. James stood by, unsure of what he could offer, watching as they worked to create shallow graves for the innocent victims who'd suffered at the hands of the bandits.
The elf girl stood nearby, her gaze distant, as if lost in a different world. Despite the horror she'd endured, her expression remained stoic. She kept her head down, shoulders slightly slumped, but her silence spoke volumes.
As the graves were completed, the guards, one by one, gently laid the remains of the fallen travelers to rest, carefully taking their Regalite. For the time being, the Regalite would be kept at the guard barracks before being handed over to the priest, who would search for any surviving family members to inform them of their loved ones' passing. There was no ceremony, no words spoken. The harsh reality of their work had hardened these men to death, and this task, though solemn, was one they were all too accustomed to.
James watched, his chest tight, his thoughts racing. This was his first time witnessing something so brutal, so visceral. It was hard for him to shake off the image of the bandits' merciless acts, or to forget the rage and violence he had taken part in just hours before.
Just then, as if to distract him from such thoughts, James caught sight of something gleaming just off the path. Curious, he knelt down to examine it, brushing away the dirt to reveal a bracelet—a Regalite, he realized, like the ones worn by the guards, corpses, bandits, and slaves. The object seemed to have taken a hit, but its surface shimmered with an otherworldly sheen, casting a faint glow in the afternoon light. Without thinking, James slipped the Regalite onto his left wrist, wanting to try it on, feeling the cool metal press against his skin.
"NO!" The captain's panicked shout shattered the silence, his eyes wide with horror as he spun around, catching sight of James slipping the bracelet onto his wrist from the corner of his eye. Just moments earlier, he had noticed the final body—a figure draped in robes, now motionless in death—a priest, likely coming to deliver a new Regalite to a child from the village. In that instant, the captain made the connection between the two.
But it was too late. The Regalite snapped shut around James's wrist, locking into place like a vice. He barely had time to process the captain's warning before a searing pain tore through his wrist, climbing up his arm and flooding his entire body. It felt as though long, sharp needles were piercing every cell, every nerve, driving deeper with each pulse. The breath was ripped from his lungs as he gasped, clutching at his wrist in desperation. The agony only grew fiercer, spreading like wildfire through his veins, consuming him entirely from the inside out.
It was a pain beyond anything he'd imagined—a torturous flood that consumed every inch of his body. It felt as though his skin were being scalded and frozen at once, his insides twisted and torn apart. His nerves blazed with agony, each one screaming as if engulfed in flames, drowned in acid, or shredded by invisible claws. He couldn't move, couldn't think—only endure, helpless and pinned in place by the relentless waves of torment.
His vision blurred, the edges darkening like an encroaching storm. His legs gave out beneath him, sending him crashing to the ground. The pain was too much, too overwhelming. His mind surrendered, retreating into merciful silence as darkness claimed him.
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The darkness that consumed James after the Regalite latched onto his wrist was suffocating, an endless void where even the pain felt like a distant echo. When he finally opened his eyes, it felt like surfacing from the depths of a deep, freezing lake. His vision was blurry, and his body felt like it had been torn apart and stitched back together, every nerve raw and hypersensitive.
He blinked against the sunlight filtering through a small window, casting a golden beam across the rough wooden walls of the room. He was lying on a simple bed, his shirt replaced by a thin, linen tunic. The smell of herbs and a faint medicinal scent filled his nose.
His gaze fell on his left wrist, where the Regalite was still tightly clasped. He raised his hand, wincing as he tried to tug it off. The bracelet didn't budge—it felt as though it had fused with his skin. He gritted his teeth, pulling harder, but the metal felt like it was glued directly to his flesh, as if it were a part of him now.
Suddenly, at his touch, the Regalite's surface pulsed with a soft glow. A holographic display flickered to life, glitching erratically:
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*"Welc/me to t?!e Reg-al te Syst$em..."
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The message stuttered and glitched, fragments of code flashing across the screen. Then, the system seemed to struggle, cycling through repeated attempts to identify James:
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Error: User Identification Failed
Retrying...
Error: DNA Mismatch
Retrying...
Error: DNA Sequence Not Found in Records
Retrying...
Error: Invalid User Data
Attempting User Identification Again...
Verification Failed. Retrying...
DNA Test Proceeding...
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The display glitched violently, as if the system was malfunctioning. It tried multiple times, but each attempt ended in failure. The errors kept flashing, indicating that James's DNA was not present in the system's records.
Finally, the screen flickered one last time before stabilizing:
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Test Completed. Pure DNA Type Detected. Granting Access - Class 2
Access Level: Class 2 - All but Limited User Permissions
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The final text pulsed once, accompanied by a soft chime that echoed in James's ears. He blinked, staring at the words Class 2, feeling a shiver run down his spine. He didn't know what it meant, but it felt important—too important to ignore.
Before he could process any further, the door creaked open, and a young woman peeked inside. Her eyes widened when she saw him awake, and she quickly rushed out, shouting, "He's awake!"
The young woman's shout echoed down the hallway as she disappeared from view. Moments later, the door swung open again, and Captain Hegor stepped inside. His face was a mix of relief and surprise as he took in the sight of James sitting up.
"You're awake!" Hegor exclaimed, his voice laced with disbelief. "I didn't think you'd be up for a long time… if ever."
James rubbed his forehead, still disoriented. "What happened?" he asked, his voice hoarse and dry.
"You've been out for two days," Hegor said, pulling up a stool and sitting beside the bed. "While you were unconscious, I called for a priest to check on you. Unfortunately, there was nothing he could do to ease the pain—it had already hit by the time you passed out. He also tried to look into your identity but came up empty. You must have been extremely isolated for no one to register you with a Regalite from birth until now. That's almost unheard of."
"As for the Regalite, it bonded to you, but the process was… unusual. Normally, receiving a Regalite is done in a ceremony. Special herbs are used to put the person into a mild coma, making the process painless. But you… you went through it raw, without any buffer. From what we observed, the pain was far more intense than what's typical. You're lucky you came through it as well as you did."
James glanced down at the bracelet still clasped tightly around his wrist, its faint glow pulsing gently. The memory of the excruciating pain washed over him, and he shuddered. "And now it's stuck on me?"
Hegor gave a small nod. "Yes, it's yours now. The Regalite doesn't just come off. It's fused with your essence—your very being. But it's not all bad. You can access its functions. One of the most basic ones is the Status screen."
James looked up at him, confused. "Status?"
Hegor smirked, gesturing toward the bracelet. "Yes, just say the word 'status' out loud, or even think it, and the display should appear. It's a fundamental tool for us here. It shows you basic information about yourself—your job, skills, and other details. Don't worry, only you can see the display."
Taking a deep breath, James decided to try. "Status," he muttered.
Immediately, the holographic screen flickered into view before his eyes. The display glitched sporadically, with lines of code flashing and some of the text garbled or missing:
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N&ame: Ja#mes Bl&ackwell
A%e: 21 - Free M?an
**Job:** War?ior Lv3
Un??lo~ck Jo*b: Civilian Lv7
Sk!ll: B*ash
*C%%lass: [ERROR]
B%n@f?it: Appraisal - Ex, Item Box - Ex, %&?! - [UNREADABLE]
Title: None
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The screen flickered, showing multiple error messages before stabilizing somewhat. Red warning texts flashed briefly:
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Error: System Malfunction Detected
Error: Incomplete User Data
Warning: Pure DNA Type - Access Level: Class 2
Emergency call forwarded...
Pending....
.....
Received.
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"What the…?" James whispered, staring at the broken display. He could decipher most of it, but there were clear signs that the system was malfunctioning.
Hegor watched him closely, noting the look of confusion on his face. "Don't worry too much about the glitches. It seems like the bracelet got damaged during the attack, and the bonding process was disrupted, but that's not unheard of. It's just rare. You'll get used to it. The important thing is that you can see your Status screen and access the basic functions. For now, let's focus on getting you up and moving. Can you stand?"
James pushed the sheet aside and swung his legs over the edge of the bed. His muscles protested, still sore from the ordeal, but he managed to plant his feet on the floor. Hegor offered him a hand, and James took it gratefully, pulling himself to his feet.
"Good," Hegor said, nodding with approval. "You seem steady enough. Come on, we're heading to the Guild of Explorers. They'll want to see you."
The sun was high in the sky as Hegor led James through the village streets. Despite the lingering soreness in his body, James felt a sense of determination building inside him. The villagers bustled around them, going about their daily tasks, but James noticed a few curious glances thrown his way.
They arrived at a sturdy building with a wooden sign depicting a crossed sword and shield. The door swung open as they stepped inside, revealing a lively hall filled with adventurers. The atmosphere was one of camaraderie, with people sharing stories and discussing their recent quests.
Hegor guided James through the crowd to the front desk, where a sharp-eyed young woman greeted them.
"Hegor," she said with a nod, her gaze shifting to James. "And who's this?"
"This is James," Hegor replied. "He's here to register with the guild. And his the one I told you about."
The receptionist raised an eyebrow. "A new recruit ?"
Hegor smirked. "Check his Regalite."
She leaned forward, examining the bracelet on James's wrist. Pointing to a small metal plate on the counter, on which he put his wrist. She activated the display, her eyes narrowing slightly as she read the information:
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Name: James Blackwell
Age: 21 - Free Man
Job: Warrior
Title: None
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The receptionist's eyes widened in surprise. "A Warrior? And he dealt with bandits? What, like one or two of them maybe?"
"Nineteen of them," Hegor declared, a proud grin spreading across his face. "All by himself."
The receptionist let out a skeptical sigh. "Let me verify the records."
She tapped a few icons on her own interface, syncing it with James's Regalite. Her expression shifted from doubt to shock as she scanned the logs.
"It seems he did participate in the fight," she said, her voice tinged with disbelief. "The system logged his kills. With that, and the bracelet your men brought in earlier, he earns 7 gold coins and 13 silver coins as compensation, based on the bounties attached to those bandits. And… a promotion to Rank E, for now tap your Regalite on this plate again.. That's not unheard of, but before it's official, I must submit it to the guild leader. It should be approved in the coming days. Please return in a few days. "
Hegor clapped James on the back, nearly knocking him off balance. "See? I told you he was special."
James pocketed the coins and tap his bracelet on the metal plate again, feeling a mix of embarrassment and gratitude. The receptionist offered him a small smile. "Welcome to the Guild of Explorers, James. You're officially Rank G now, but you'll be promoted to Rank E soon."
As his stomach growled, James nodded, thanking her quietly. Hegor gave a hearty laugh. "You've earned a drink and a meal after all that. Come on, let's get you settled—it's my treat for getting you involved."
