I couldn't help but twist my face in confusion while staring blankly at Alvin. My mouth opened but only after a few seconds I mustered to ask:

  "I think I misunderstood what you were saying. Could you please repeat what you just said?"

  Alvin frantically looked around, his voice was low and quiet as he came toward me in a hurry, barely loud enough to faintly hear him spout something.

  "Nestor, the giant just spoke directly into my head."

  I was perplexed. Did Alvin go mad? No, there was definitely a reason for Alvin's strange behavior.

  "Could you please expand in what the 'giant' said and how he did so?"

  Alvin's expression shifted a few times. He seemed to mumble to himself, lost in thought. After a few seconds he then explained:

  "This giant was a second-circle mage. His left over resentment sought for someone who could enact revenge for him— If possible. He was slain by an elf named 'Morhud' with blond hair and green eyes. He said that I could use his remaining Runestones to unlock my first and second circle..."

  "Stop. Wait for a moment." I exclaimed. Alvin's explanation was too much to process at once. I tried to organize my thoughts. I took my time as I did go through the information step by step.

  Firstly: Seeking revenge for a being that died long ago. Wasn't that foolish and a way to make enemies out of others unnecessarily?

  Secondly: Giants and elfs exist in this world. What other humanoid races could possible exist on this planet. The goddess of knowledge once mentioned the myriad of human-like species— but how many were there.

  Lastly: Runestones? Were they the missing compoment for forming a circle? How do they work? How do I form a circle with a Runestone around my Magic Core that didn't exist in the physical plane?

  Alvin stood in front of me, his skin slowly got its color back. He walked to the corpse, leaving me behind in my thoughts. With a bend he picked up one Runestone and articulated:

  "This Runestone is of the Water affinity and a so called rank 1 Rune stone. I don't know what levels there are or what affinities exist, but I know that the Water affinty complements me well. If you don't mind I'll take this one for myself."

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  Puzzled, I couldn't form a proper response and simply nodded at Alvin.

  I had to confirm so much now— my heart beat with excitement as I was yearning for adventure. Now we finally had a clue on how to get stronger and we sure wouldn't wanna waste it.

  Alvin saw my nod and then stepped away from the corpse after bowing to it with his own hands knotted.

  He left the other two Runestones on the ground—which left me to quickly ask:

  "Why aren't you taking them with you?"

  Alvin sighed, before answering me.

  "Those two Runestones are second-circle ones with the earth affinity. I can't use them. I don't want to take too much from the corpse."

  Alvin then slowly descended the staircase— fully intending to leave.

  I stepped towards the corpse. It smelled less disgusting as I thought. The rotting corpse in front of me was once a being that brimmed with strength, but now it was reduced to a pile of meat and bones, full of resentment for its slayer— resenting them through countless years.

  Revenge couldn't revive him. Revenge couldn't satisfy someone long dead. It was a futile hope that somebody would enact revenge upon his request. And yet its resentment persevered

  I could only focus to gain more power in response to this tragedy, if I could not gain enough strength, I would only end up as a corpse somewhere, to be forgotten. I had to keep a strong mind as I grabbed the two second-layer Runestones from the corpse and stored them away.

  Alvin was already waiting for me downstairs. He scanned me before sighing. We both then decided to find our way back to our huts and accumulate more strength and further our knowledge.

  The sun descended into the horizon as we were walking through the woods. Every now and then there would be some piles of snow. The air was fresh, cold but also grassy. Wildlife became more active in spring and we saw many footprints in the earth.

  Awooooo!

  Wolves howled in the distance but Alvin and I were unfazed. We both had become strong enough to fight on even grounds with wolves without magic abilities.

  This time we didn't rest. At midnight we, two exhausted boys, arrived at our campsite. Everything seemed fine, without any unnatural blemishes but we kept on our guard. We couldn't possibly know if something or someone was hiding here.

  After we inspected everything and nothing was wrong, we both got into our respective huts. We were located near a mountain wall inside a pine forest. Winter was almost over and we had the time and resources to grow stronger. For now we had to figure out the use of Runestones and pave our way to strength.

  --

  This night, sleep didn't come easily. The hay beneath me rustled with every tiny movement. Until now, every night I controlled my metabolism to slow down and grant me a sleep full of rest. The problem this time was that my heart was full of excitement—thus making me unable to drift into sleep. My mind was full—too full. Of giants, of runestones, of vengeance that lingered past death.

  I wondered if Alvin to, was restless with a Runestone in his fist—anticipating tomorrow. But alas, how could I pry into the mind of others? And even if I had the chance to acquire such an skill, I'll probably decline to. People think of to many unnecessary things.

  Maybe, just maybe, I myself am caged in my on thoughts— my mind just like a prison.

  Dreams fade into oblivion when you grow older, while ambitions dim. When I was young I wanted to be someone great, famous and just. When I reached adulthood I thought of myself as smarter than most people, thinking extraordinary achievments for me are given to me in time. And then, until the moment I died, I was ordinary, my ambitions were washed away, I had lost my passions and always dreamed of breaking free from society— to finally go after my own needs and do what I want. But life is fickle. Who can truly take control of their own life? There always were external factors that lured in the dark threatining your life. In truth, I grew complacent with the ways things were, even though I felt a need for change.

  So now, to prevent myself from growing comfortable again and falling into the abyss of complacency, I must actively seek after uncomfortable situations–Sharpening my own mind with hardships and setbacks. Only by living that way, I will not die in grief.

  I’ll live honestly. No more pretending, no more waiting. Just me, walking the path I choose. And for the firs

  t time in a while, I could truly rest, and drifted into a deep slumber.