The forest beyond the southern ridge was alive with the low hum of insects and the distant cry of unseen beasts. Morning sunlight slanted through the trees, washing over the laborers' caravan in streaks of gold and green. Thirty men moved in a straight line, axes and saws glinting, horses pulling carts for the wood needed to build the new waterwheel.
The woods of Dawn were quiet that day—too quiet.
"Strange," one of the older workers muttered, glancing around the moss-laden trunks. "The birds are gone again."
Another nodded uneasily. "They say beasts've been prowling these parts since the last storm. Maybe it's the smell of blood."
"Blood?"
"Ah! That I saw a carcass of a grassdeer this morning in two jagged halves."
The older man spat into the grass. "Let's get this done quickly. The new lord's orders won't wait, but I don't want to die for some wood."
Axes rose and fell, the rhythmic striking echoing across the forest where they were cutting trees. For a while, it was peaceful—the sound of wood splitting, of labor in motion. Then, a sharp tremor ran through the ground. The earth groaned, as though something vast stirred beneath it.
"Did you feel that?" someone whispered.
"Feel what old man?" said another.
Before anyone could respond, a roar tore through the forest. Birds exploded from the trees in a frenzy.
From between the bushes, it came—a monstrous form that tore through bushes and small trees alike. Its body was thick as an ox's, covered in coarse black fur. Two jagged horns jutted from its skull like twisted iron, and its eyes glowed with a deep, black color and had the face of a boar.
"Boarox!" someone screamed. "It's a damned Boarox!"
The beast roared, a roar so loud that it resounded in the air like thunder. It charged, and the world around the workers turned into chaos.
The first man it struck was thrown through the air like a toy, his ribs snapping on impact with a rock near the trees. The second barely raised his axe before the creature's tusks ripped it from his grasp and sent him sprawling. The workers scattered, their tools abandoned, screams of panic filling the forest.
The Boarox rampaged, tearing through carts and stabbing anything in reach with its horns. Its eyes shone with an almost human hatred, and every swing of its horns left deep scars in the people, leaving them bleeding.
"Run! Run for your lives!"
Men fled in all directions—some stumbled and fell, others disappeared into the trees. Three were down, groaning in pain. And just when the beast turned to charge again—
A figure dashed from the forest's edge.
The newcomer moved with the grace of a trained fighter. His rapier gleamed as he leapt between the wounded and the charging beast. The Boarox bellowed, swinging its head low to crush him—but the man twisted, blade slicing across its face.
A spray of black blood splattered the leaves. The Boarox roared in pain, its charge faltering. The rapier-wielder pressed forward, footwork sharp and disciplined, his every movement honed by countless hours of practice.
"Come on, beast!" he shouted, parrying a tusk strike that would've gutted him. "You'll not touch them again!"
The Boarox hesitated, black eyes glaring into the defiant human before it. Then, with a snort that shook the ground, it turned and fled back into the shadowed woods, vanishing among the trees—but not before gazing one last look over its shoulder, its gaze lingering on the young man as though memorizing his face.
The clearing fell silent again. The forest, for a moment, seemed to breathe.
The workers, trembling and bloodied, began to gather around their savior. One of them gasped, "You—you saved us, Cyrus!"
Cyrus Dawn winced as he lowered his rapier, his right wrist bent at an unnatural angle. Sweat clung to his face, but his blue-gray eyes burned with stubborn determination. "Saved you? Hah. Don't thank me yet—I think that beast will be back."
He staggered slightly, pain etching across his features. The men rushed to help him, but he waved them off. "See to the injured first. Two have broken bones, maybe three. I'll live."
The workers hurried to follow his command, though their eyes were wide with fear and awe. The name Dawn still carried weight here, even after all that was lost.
By noon, the news had reached the manor. Eli sat in the courtyard, reviewing construction plans with Cryella, when the messenger stumbled in, face pale, voice shaking.
"My lord! The workers—they were attacked! A beast from the southern woods—a Boarox! Lord Cyrus fought it off, but—"
Eli stood immediately, his expression calm but his eyes sharp as steel. "Injuries?"
"Three men with broken ribs, my lord. Another with a twisted leg. Lord Cyrus's wrist was shattered."
Cryella gasped in her mind. "Cyrus…"
"Bring them all to the courtyard," Eli ordered. "Now."
Moments later, the injured were laid out on wooden tables brought from the kitchen. The smell of blood mixed with sweat and dirt filled the air. Cryella knelt beside her brother, her hands trembling as she examined his wrist.
"Foolish as ever," she whispered, trying to keep her voice steady without showing her tears.
Cyrus chuckled through the pain. "Still better than letting them die."
Eli crouched beside him, pulling up his sleeve slightly. "You did well. Most wouldn't have stood their ground against a Boarox."
"Did what anyone should've done," Cyrus said curtly. "I don't need your acknowledgement."
Eli gave a small smile, faint but genuine. "Then consider it gratitude, not praise."
He raised his right hand, and the faint blue shimmer of his Shop interface appeared—visible only to him.
[Infinite Shop Skill Activated]
[Category: Potions]
Available Items:
Minor Healing Potion (Cost: 25 SC)
Bone Restoration Salve (Cost: 100 SC)
Vitality Draught (Cost: 75 SC)
Anti-Venom Elixir (Cost: 25 SC)
Energy Recovery Brew (Cost: 50 SC)
[Selected Items: 5 Minor Healing Potions, 1 Bone Restoration Salve]
[Total Cost: 225 SC]
[Remaining Balance: 8,025 SC]
Six small vials materialized in his palm—each glowing faintly with emerald light. He distributed them quietly, applying the salve to the broken bones, handing the potions to the worst injured. The scent of herbs and mana filled the air as the potions took effect.
Within minutes, the groans of pain faded. The men stared at their limbs in astonishment as flesh mended and swelling subsided.
"What kind of miracle medicine is this?" one whispered.
"Drink," Eli said softly. "And rest. You've done enough for today."
He turned back to Cyrus, handing him a vial. "For the pain."
Cyrus hesitated, eyes narrowing. "You didn't have to waste resources on me."
Eli chuckled lightly. "Oh? And who will protect my workers if you can't hold a sword?"
That drew a reluctant smirk from the young man. "You think I work for you?"
"No," Eli said, tone calm but firm. "You work for Dawn. And that's enough."
For a moment, silence hung between them—unspoken respect, fragile but growing.
Cyrus exhaled and took the potion, drinking it in one gulp. "Fine. I'll keep the beasts away from your little project. But don't expect me to bow or call you lord. I'm doing this for the barony, not for you."
Eli's lips curved in a faint smile. "So he's a tsundere, huh? Fine by me."
Cryella blinked, confused by the unfamiliar word, but Eli simply waved it off, saying it was slang.
As the potion worked, Cyrus flexed his wrist experimentally. The bone crackled once, then settled, the pain fading into a dull ache.
Eli stood, wiping dust from his coat. "You have my thanks regardless. But tell me, Cyrus—do you often fight with a rapier?"
Cyrus frowned. "It's what I trained with under Father, who is a swordmaster. Why?"
Instead of replying, Eli activated his Glasses of Appraisal. The world shimmered faintly, and a translucent panel appeared before his eyes.
[Appraisal: Target – Cyrus Dawn]
Class: Unawakened
Talent: SWORDMASTER (A)
Awakening Trigger: Using a Longsword
Skills:
Dual Wielding
Dawn Swift Sword Arts (Longsword Style)
Eli's eyes widened slightly. Swordmaster? A-rank talent?
He looked up at Cyrus, who was staring at him in mild irritation.
"What?" Cyrus asked.
Eli hid his surprise behind a calm expression. "Nothing. Just thinking it's a shame you're wasting potential."
"Potential?"
Eli nodded slightly. "You're a swordsman, yes—but the rapier isn't your true weapon. You were born for the long sword. The moment you pick it up, you'll awaken your true strength."
Cyrus frowned, clearly skeptical. "You talk as if you're a prophet."
"Call it… intuition," Eli replied.
Cryella looked between the two, curiosity flickering in her eyes. "You can tell such things, my lord?"
Eli smiled faintly but said nothing. He didn't need to tell them about the artifact on his face.
Still, his gaze lingered on Cryella for a moment longer. He had checked her earlier that morning, out of curiosity—and what he'd seen then was no less shocking.
[Appraisal: Target – Cryella Dawn]
Talent: Space Magic (A) [Can grow till (S) ]
Awakening Trigger: Learning Basic Mana Breathing methods
Skills:
- Teleport (B)
- Spatial Storage (B)
Unlock upon awakening
Two A-rank talents. Both unawakened. Both are under his care.
Fate does play strange games, Eli thought, a flicker of warmth stirring within him. Perhaps Dawn's hope isn't dead after all.
He turned toward the workers, who were now standing, murmuring their thanks.
"Return home for the day," he ordered gently. "Tomorrow, we'll begin again. The forest won't frighten us twice". And distributes the wages for the day, which was set up by Cryella.
The men bowed deeply, happiness replacing fear as they shouted, "Thank you, Lord of Dawn". For the first time in months, the name "Lord of Dawn" carried weight—not from fear, but from gratitude.
As they dispersed, Cyrus sheathed his rapier, glancing sideways at Eli. "You're different from what I expected."
"Oh?" Eli raised a brow.
"I thought the Starbornes were all arrogant bastards," Cyrus said with a faint smirk. "Maybe you're just the exception."
Eli chuckled. "Or maybe exile teaches humility."
Cyrus paused, then nodded once. "Whatever the case, you have my word. I'll keep monsters away from the workers until that waterwheel's finished. But after that… my path's my own."
Eli inclined his head slightly. "Then I'll look forward to seeing which path a Dawn walks."
Cyrus turned to leave, his shadow long under the setting sun.
And as the last rays of daylight faded over the forest, Eli's gaze drifted toward the trees where the Boarox had fled. He thought, "I need to fortify the walls and build a few watch towers as well, but I need to get the Water and Food problem solved."
The wind whispered through the valley, carrying the faint, distant sound of a boar's roar reverberating from deep within the woods.