Danmachi: God of Heroes

First-person narration (Veldrin):

My first mistake was opening my eyes too quickly.

A lash of pain shot through my skull, forcing my eyes shut again with a grunt. My mouth was dry as if I had swallowed sand, and the cold ground beneath my back did nothing to ease the feeling of absolute shit I was sunk into.

I tried to move, but my body protested with every muscle. Something creaked near me, and I looked down to see a pitcher of beer overturned on the floor. A little further away, Xander sat with his arms crossed, watching me with a mix of anticipation and suppressed amusement.

"Shit..." I muttered, running a hand over my face. "What the hell happened last night...?"

Xander tilted his head, as if considering his answer. Then, with irritating calm, he pointed to the hand mirror nearby.

"You might want to take a look at yourself."

I frowned. Something in his tone made a chill run down my spine. I took the mirror somewhat awkwardly and turned it towards me, but I saw nothing out of the ordinary on my face.

"Your back, genius."

My brow furrowed even deeper.

I turned slightly, holding the mirror at an angle to see my back.

And then I saw the marks.

Brands that shouldn't be there.

Brands I knew.

A Falna.

My body went completely still. I couldn't read the characters; divine writing wasn't something ordinary people could understand. But I knew what it was.

My lips parted, but no words came out.

No. No. No.

I forced myself to speak, my voice coming out hoarser than I expected.

"Tell me this is a joke."

Xander smirked, but there was no mockery in his expression.

"If I were, do you think I would have written so ugly?"

He did not deny it.

He didn't try to divert the subject.

He said it like it was the most normal thing in the world.

I felt my stomach turn. A tingle ran up my spine, a mix of disbelief and a sense of something much bigger than me bearing down on my shoulders.

I sat up straight and turned to face Xander.

"Are you a fucking god?"

The silence that followed was heavy.

Xander rested an elbow on his knee and held my gaze with an irritating calm.

"It took you a while to realize."

My jaw tightened.

Xander sighed.

"Yeah, well… I guess I'm special."

I wanted to scream at him. I wanted to hit him.

But all I did was close my eyes for a second and take a breath.

"What did you do to me?"

He shrugged.

"Give you a purpose, maybe."

I opened my eyes and stared at him.

"Explain yourself. Now."

Xander stood up, stretching as if he had just woken up from a nap.

"Veldrin, I know you have a lot of questions, but let me answer the most important one first." He looked me straight in the eyes, and this time his tone no longer held a trace of mockery. "I didn't screw up your life."

My mouth opened to retort, but he held up a hand to silence me.

"I'm serious. Whatever happened last night… I didn't do it on purpose. Or well, not entirely. But it happened. And now, on your back, you have something that takes most adventurers years to achieve."

I froze.

"Magic?" I said, clearly unsure.

Xander nodded.

"And skills." That god continued saying, with a face that made me want to hit him and run at the same time.

A new chill ran through my skin. This was not normal.

Adventurers could go their entire lives without developing a skill. Some never picked up magic. But according to Xander, I had both… from day one.

I swallowed.

"This is crazy."

"Welcome to Orario."

I ran a hand over my face. This was too much. Too much, too much.

I had come to this city in search of freedom. Not to follow absurd rules, not to fit into a system that had never accepted me.

The elves always saw me as an outcast. As a mistake. As someone who never belonged in their precious society.

Until one day, finally, I fed up with the wrong people.

And they kicked me out.

Without a home, without a purpose. Only a desire that I couldn't ignore: to live as I wanted, without chains, without limits.

And now, Xander had given me the chance to get exactly that. Though I would have to chain myself to someone else. But given what we went through yesterday, I guess he's more forgiving.

I straightened up, looking at the god with an unreadable expression.

"I don't know what you did exactly," my voice was more controlled now, "but this… this doesn't change anything."

Xander raised an eyebrow.

"Oh, no?"

I shook my head.

"I'm still me. And now that I have this…" I turned slightly, feeling the invisible weight of the mark on my back. "I better learn how to use it."

Xander smiled, this time with a different glint in his eyes.

"I like your attitude."

We were silent for a moment. Then, without warning, I lunged at him, grabbing him by the collar of his shirt.

"But if this gets me into trouble with some angry god, I swear I'll drag you with me to hell."

He just laughed.

"We'll see, Veldrin. We'll see."

…

Xander and I stepped out of the ramshackle building where we had woken up, our boots clicking against the rotting wooden floor. Outside, the morning air was crisp, with the city of Orario beginning to come to life in the distance. This place, though…

I looked around with a frown. We were in a part of the abandoned district, a collection of ruined buildings and empty streets that had long been forgotten. I had heard rumors that it was once a prosperous area, but now it only served as a haven for thieves, homeless people, and, apparently, drunks who play with the fates of others.

Xander stretched his arms, letting out an exaggerated yawn.

"Well, I guess we survived the night. That's something."

I gave him an incredulous look.

"And where is your familia headquarters?"

"Ah. I don't have one."

I stood silently, staring at the crumbling facade, the splintered wood and broken windows.

"You have to be kidding me."

He just shrugged.

"Nah. I'm broke."

My brow furrowed even deeper.

"How the hell is a god bankrupt?"

Xander snorted.

"Do you know how many gods come to Orario penniless? Believe me, more than you think. And I'm one of them."

I crossed my arms, trying to take in the situation.

"But I thought gods had families, followers, things like that."

"Yeah, sure, the folk gods." Xander gestured broadly. "I, on the other hand, barely make enough to support myself. I work here and there, do a few shows, and that's enough for me to eat and drink… though, I do have to pay off a loan I owe."

This guy was literally living in ruin.

"So… You mean your 'familia' consists of exactly one member?"

Xander smirked.

"Well, now there are two of us."

I swallowed. The weight of his words fell on me harder than I expected.

Not only had I joined a familia, but I had joined one that hadn't even existed until now.

Xander leaned against a half-ruined wall, his arms crossed and an expression that was a mix of curiosity and mockery.

"Well, since you're officially part of my glorious and prestigious familia…" he said, making an exaggerated gesture with his hands, "I have an important question."

I frowned.

"That?"

"Where the hell do you live?"

I snorted and looked away.

"Here and there."

Xander raised an eyebrow.

"That sounds like a fancy way of saying you're homeless."

"It's none of your business."

"Well, now it is."

I sighed in frustration, running a hand over my face.

"I manage. I sleep wherever I can— in a tavern when I have money, in alleys when I don't. It's nothing new for me."

Xander watched me silently for a moment before letting out a snort.

"What a couple of disasters we are."

I rolled my eyes.

"I don't know whether to include myself in your personal disaster."

"Too late, you're already part of the package."

I stared at him in disbelief. Great. Not only was I stuck in a familia that had literally been born out of drunkenness, but my "God" was nowhere to be found either.

First Person Narration (Xander):

I nodded with my arms crossed, watching Veldrin as he digested all the information I had just given him. It wasn't every day that one wakes up with a hellish hangover only to find out that they somehow ended up receiving the Falna of a god.

"Well, listen to me carefully," I finally said, leaning my back against the ruined wall of the abandoned district. "Your ability is called Incarnation (Demon Hunter). Basically, your body adapts to the history of the Demon Hunter hero. That means you'll develop skills and magic based on what a Demon Hunter could do."

Veldrin looked at me with a mixture of disbelief and suspicion.

"And what the hell does that mean in practical terms?"

"You already have magic and abilities without even having set foot in the dungeon once."

That seemed to get his attention.

"You have two spells for now," I continued. "The first is Burn Mana. It's chantless magic, so you don't need to chant anything to use it. It fires a beam of negative energy that burns 15% of the target's mind and deals damage in proportion to the mind removed."

Veldrin raised an eyebrow.

"Mind?"

"It's what adventurers use to cast spells. The more mind you have, the more magic you can use before you run out. And this spell requires the target's magic stat not to be at I0."

He frowned.

"So basically you gave me a spell that would only be useful against wizards."

"Not for long," I replied with a smile. "You just need to train and improve your magic."

Veldrin let out a snort, but didn't argue further.

"And the other one?"

"Immolation. It's also chantless. It generates a layer of flames around your body. It constantly consumes mind while it's active, so if you use it uncontrollably, you could run dry very quickly."

The elf was silent for a moment, processing my words. Finally, he let out a low, humorless laugh.

"This is fucking ridiculous," he muttered, holding a hand to his face. "Yesterday I was drinking like an idiot on the street and now I have magic. How the fuck did this happen?"

I laughed too, shrugging.

"Welcome to the Xander familia."

His gaze sharpened upon hearing that.

"Xander familia?"

"That's how it is."

I smiled in amusement, tilting my head slightly as I looked at him.

"I'm glad you're not a complete idiot at least," I said with the casualness of someone pointing out that the sky is blue.

Veldrin huffed in exasperation, crossing his arms over his chest. His silver eyes shone with a mix of irritation and resignation as he looked to the side, as if he expected that by turning his head all this would cease to be real.

"Shit," he finally muttered.

I let out a short laugh, nodding.

"A lot of shit."

Veldrin ran a hand through his silver hair, making it even more disheveled than it already was. His face reflected exhaustion, but also a certain twisted amusement, as if he had come to the conclusion that fighting this was pointless.

"Fuck, this is going to be a disaster," he said with a dry laugh, full of disbelief.

I shrugged, shoving my hands in my pockets as I looked at him with a lopsided smile.

"Yes, but now it's our disaster."

For a moment, Veldrin held my gaze, and in his eyes I saw something beyond frustration: a spark of defiance. As if, in some way, he was accepting the madness that had just engulfed him.

And so, without needing any more words, we both understood that there was no turning back.

"Look, I'll be honest with you…" I said, looking at Veldrin with an expression somewhere between tired and resigned. "I'm not going to be able to support you much financially."

The elf raised an eyebrow, crossing his arms skeptically.

"And why does that not surprise me?"

I ignored his tone and continued.

"I have a debt with the bank. I took out a loan to pay for my first few months in Orario and… well, I'm still paying it off." I shrugged. "I make enough to support myself, but just barely. So if you were expecting me to fund your adventuring life… forget it."

Veldrin clicked his tongue, looking away.

"Tsk. As if I need your money."

"Oh, sure. Because you surely have a steady source of income, right?"

He frowned, but didn't answer. I assumed that meant he was just as screwed as I was.

"What I can do," I continued, ignoring his unfriendly look, "is give you basic advice on using your magic. I'm not the best teacher, but considering this magic comes from me, I suppose I can help you understand it better."

Veldrin was silent for a few moments, as if he was processing what he had just said. Finally, he let out a low laugh, somewhere between disbelief and mocking.

"So you give me power, but no money. What a generous familia I have."

I rolled my eyes.

"Welcome to the Xander familia. We offer free adventure, trouble, and sarcasm here. That's my motto."

Veldrin shook his head, but couldn't hide the small smile that appeared at the corner of his lips.

"Well, since we're here and there's no one to complain if you accidentally set something on fire, you might as well try using your magic."

Veldrin looked at me suspiciously.

"Is it that simple?"

"Yes. It's your magic after all. You just need to activate it. Try Burn Mana first. Although in this case, it won't work on inanimate objects, because it only affects beings with minds. But at least you can practice your aim."

The elf frowned, but didn't argue. He took a moment to concentrate and extended a hand forward.

"And what am I supposed to do?"

I shrugged.

"Point at something and imagine you want to shoot lightning. In theory, you should be able to activate it just by thinking about it."

Veldrin snorted, looking at an old, broken barrel a few meters away. He was silent for a few seconds, and then, from his palm, a thin, dark blue line of lightning shot out, moving straight past the barrel without damaging it.

The elf blinked, surprised.

"It didn't destroy anything."

"Obviously. Like I said, it doesn't affect inanimate objects. But at least the beam was formed correctly. Now try to improve your aim. Aim for something smaller."

Veldrin clicked his tongue, but did as I said. This time, he reached for an old glass jar lying on the ground and tried to hit it. The first attempt failed. The second failed as well. But on the third attempt, the lightning passed right over it.

"Shit."

"You're getting better. Keep going."

Veldrin snorted, but continued firing. After a few minutes, he was managing to hit most of his shots.

"Enough for now. Try it out in motion and in real combat when you get the chance. Now let's move on to Immolation."

Veldrin took a deep breath, relaxing his body. He closed his eyes for a moment, and when he opened them again, orange flames began to envelop him, dancing around his body without burning him.

The elf watched the flames with a mixture of wonder and caution.

"It feels... strange."

"It consumes your mind while it's active. Don't keep it up too long or you'll end up on the floor with a headache. Or worse, passed out."

Veldrin flexed his fingers, trying to feel control over the flames. He seemed to be handling it well, until suddenly, the flames increased in intensity.

"Hey, turn it down before you burn yourself."

"I don't know how!" Veldrin growled, but as soon as he said it, the flames suddenly dissipated, as if his concentration had been broken.

The elf staggered a little until he fell to the ground and put a hand to his head.

"Shit... it hurts."

I burst out laughing

The next three hours were… interesting, to say the least.

Although we made some progress in his magic control, Veldrin spent half the time passed out on the ground, victim of mind down.

"For the love of… How many times has it been now?" I muttered, looking at the elf collapsed on the ground.

It wasn't long before he woke up again, with a frustrated groan, his hand going to his head.

"Fuck..." he cursed, sitting up with difficulty. "This is shit."

"It's not my fault you don't know how to manage your mind."

Veldrin gave me a dirty look, but I was too exhausted to do anything about it.

"It's not that easy, dammit. Magic should be more intuitive."

I shrugged.

"If it was easy, anyone would be able to use it without any problem. Do you think high-level wizards didn't go through the same thing? They just had teachers or formal studies. You're learning the hard way."

The elf snorted, closing his eyes for a moment. He was still exhausted, but it was clear he didn't want to give up.

"Tch… I need to increase my magic stat."

"Not only that, but also your control. You empty yourself too quickly because you use more than you need. Think of it like you're pouring water into a glass. If you do it all at once, you waste half of it."

Veldrin sighed, massaging his temples.

"Damn... I thought magic would be a little more glorious than this."

"Welcome to reality."

We sat in silence for a few moments. The training had been productive, but it was clear that we needed a different strategy.

"That's enough for today. If you continue like this, you'll end up on the ground by tomorrow."

The elf grunted, but did not argue. He fell back onto the ground, exhaling wearily.

"So… what's next?"

I crossed my arms, thoughtful.

"For now, rest. Then, we'll have to find a way for you to gain more magic resistance. Because with what you have now, you won't last two minutes in a real fight."

Veldrin closed his eyes and let out a dry laugh.

"Great. More hellish training."

"Exact."

I sighed, resting my hands on my hips as I looked at Veldrin, who was still lying on the ground trying to regain some dignity after his umpteenth faint.

"Anyway, if you're really going to be an adventurer, we need to register you with the Guild as part of my familia."

The elf opened one eye and frowned.

"Is that necessary?"

"Unless you want to get arrested for entering the Dungeon without permission, yes."

Veldrin grunted and sat up, brushing the dust off his clothes.

"Tsk… bureaucracy."

"That's the way things work here, whether you like it or not."

He rolled his eyes, but didn't argue further.

"I guess if I'm already in this, I have no other choice."

"Exact."

I turned and started walking towards the central district. Veldrin struggled to his feet and followed me, still showing signs of exhaustion.

"If this gets me into any more trouble, I'm going to kick your ass."

I smiled sideways.

"That sounds like a problem for the Veldrin of the future."

The road to the guild was… slower than expected.

Veldrin walked beside me, but every now and then he would stagger slightly, his expression screaming exhaustion. The fatigue of training had taken its toll on him, and although he tried to maintain his composure, his face betrayed how much it was costing him to move.

"Are you sure you don't want to get some rest before this?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.

The elf snorted, straightening his back proudly.

"I don't need to rest."

Just as he finished speaking, he tripped slightly on a stone.

"I don't need to rest, of course..." I muttered sarcastically, catching his arm before he ended up slammed into the ground.

He growled, pushing my hand away in annoyance.

"I'm fine."

"Sure, sure."

The rest of the way was spent in silence, with Veldrin making a visible effort not to appear weak. I didn't comment, but internally I wondered how long it would last before I simply collapsed again.

Entering the guild building, the orderly and disciplined atmosphere contrasted with the informality with which we had been wandering around the abandoned district. Desks were lined up, adventurers were registering their expeditions, and guild employees were professionally reviewing documents.

We approached the counter and there she was, a young woman with pointed ears, shoulder-length brown hair and emerald eyes that conveyed absolute calm. She seemed busy going over some documents when she noticed us and looked up.

"Welcome to the guild. How may I help you?" he asked in a calm voice, though his gaze briefly rested on Veldrin, assessing him curiously.

"He needs to register as an adventurer and join my familia at the same time," I replied naturally.

The girl blinked a few times before turning her attention to Veldrin.

"Are you new to Orario?" he asked softly, though his tone held a hint of concern as he noticed the tiredness on her face.

The elf crossed his arms, trying to appear normal.

"You could say." Good point, I should write it down. I guess I'll never ask him about the places in Orario.

Eina watched him for a moment longer, then sighed and nodded.

"Very well, you will fill out some forms to officially register. Do you know what it means to be an adventurer?"

Veldrin shrugged.

"Kill monsters, win Valis, and avoid getting killed in the process. I think I've got this figured out."

Eina frowned at his simplistic response, but didn't argue.

"There's more to being an adventurer than that," he said, his tone denoting how seriously he took his job. "If you don't prepare yourself properly, if you don't understand the dangers, the Dungeon will swallow you alive. So I'll do my best to guide you in whatever you need."

Veldrin looked at her with a mixture of skepticism and something else, perhaps a hint of respect.

"You make it sound like you're used to dealing with idiots who don't know what they're doing."

Eina sighed.

"More than I'd like to admit."

I couldn't help but let out a light laugh.

"You'll get used to it," I commented. "Though I admit you might be more concerned about your own life, Veldrin."

The elf clicked his tongue, but said nothing more.

Eina handed us the documents, and as Veldrin looked through them, she looked back at me.

"Xander familia… I hadn't heard of your familia until now."

I looked at her with a casual smile.

"This is my first member, I just arrived at Genkai a few days ago."

His expression indicated that he wanted to ask more, but in the end he decided not to press the issue.

"That being the case, please take care of him," he said, before focusing on helping Veldrin with the registration.

Eina handed us the documents, but before Veldrin started looking through them, she looked back at us with a more relaxed expression.

"By the way, I haven't introduced myself yet. My name is Eina Tulle, I'm one of the guild's receptionists. If you have any questions about being an adventurer or need guidance, you can ask me."

Veldrin watched her for a moment before nodding slightly.

"Veldrin Lightstorm," he said without much formality.

"Pleased to meet you, Veldrin," Eina replied with a slight professional smile.

She then began to patiently explain the forms to him, making sure he understood each point before he signed his record.

Eina placed a small cloth-wrapped package on the counter, along with a scroll detailing its contents.

"The guild offers a starter pack for new adventurers," he explained, his tone calm and professional. "It includes a standard dagger, a leather torso armor - not the best, but it'll get you started - and a pouch to store magic stones. All for 3600 Valis."

Veldrin took the dagger and inspected it with a raised eyebrow.

"Does this cut?" he murmured, sliding it through his fingers.

"It serves its purpose," Eina replied, ignoring the elf's attitude. "It's not a top-quality weapon, but it will be useful until you can afford something better."

For his part, Xander clicked his tongue, crossing his arms.

"I can't even afford to pay my own bills, so if you want the package, you'll have to pay for it yourself."

Veldrin sighed and placed the dagger back on the counter.

"Great, I'm broke and now out of commission," he said sarcastically. "Isn't there a discount for being new?"

Eina shook her head.

Xander searched his pockets, hoping to find some money that had survived last night's drunkenness. To his surprise, he felt some loose change, and pulling it out, he quickly counted it.

"Thousand Valis…" he murmured, looking at them with a mixture of resignation and relief.

Veldrin raised an eyebrow.

"Wow, you're not so broke after all."

Xander snorted.

"Yeah, right. I could barely buy about 3 decent dinners with this, let alone an adventurer's outfit."

Eina, who had been patiently watching the scene, intervened in an understanding tone.

"If you want, you can give those thousand Valis as an advance and pay the rest within a month. There will be no interest."

They both turned to her in surprise.

"Really?" Veldrin asked, with some disbelief.

Eina nodded with a slight smile.

"The guild understands that not all adventurers come with a lot of money. The important thing is that they have the minimum equipment for their safety."

Xander sighed, looking at the coins in his hand.

"Well, I guess it's better than nothing."

With no other option, he dropped the coins on the counter.

As soon as we took a few steps outside the guild, Veldrin adjusted the pouch he had been given and looked at his new dagger with a thoughtful expression. It wasn't much, but at least he had something to defend himself with.

As soon as we took a few steps outside the guild, Veldrin adjusted the pouch he had been given and looked at his new dagger with a thoughtful expression. It wasn't much, but at least he had something to defend himself with.

"Well, since we basically spent every last coin on this, I'm going to head to the Dungeon. I need at least some magic stones so I can buy dinner."

Xander stopped dead in his tracks and looked at him like he had just said the stupidest thing in the world. His expression went from disbelief to annoyance in a matter of seconds, before he let out a snort.

"Excuse me? Are you going to enter the Dungeon alone after almost fainting five times in training?"

Veldrin shrugged nonchalantly, as if it were the most normal thing in the world. His amber eyes held determination, but also a carelessness that irritated Xander.

"I'm not going to go up to the tenth floor or anything. I'm just going to clear out some goblins near the entrance. We need money, and fast."

Xander frowned, clearly uncomfortable with the idea.

"I know, but going alone as a level 1 with such basic equipment is a recipe for disaster. I don't want you to end up in a pulp on the first day."

The elf let out a sigh, running a hand through his silver hair.

"I'm going to be okay. I'm not an idiot, Xander. I know I can't take unnecessary risks."

Xander clicked his tongue, crossing his arms. He knew Veldrin wasn't the type to back down, but that didn't make him like the idea any more.

"Even so…"

No matter how much he thought about it, there was no good alternative. They were completely broke, and hoping to find another method to get money just wasn't viable. He sighed in resignation, releasing the tension from his shoulders.

"Fine. But as soon as you get enough for dinner, you're out of there. Not a second more."

Veldrin smirked, a hint of confidence that Xander found almost irritating.

"Deal."

And without further ado, the elf turned on his heel and began walking towards the entrance of the dungeon, his new dagger securely fastened to his belt. Xander watched him walk away with his arms crossed and a frown on his face.

I watched Veldrin disappear into the crowd, his new dagger hanging from his belt and a carefree attitude that did nothing to ease my concern. But there was nothing I could do about it… besides, I had to make some money myself.

I let out a long sigh and stretched, feeling the effects of the accumulated fatigue from last night's binge. It's not like I had slept much, and considering I was now in the negative on my debt payments, I might as well get to work.

"I guess I'll do the same thing as yesterday."

With that thought in mind, I headed towards the central square. By now, there should have been quite a few people out and about, and hopefully some with spare change and a desire to hear a good story.

As I walked along, I wondered what story I should tell this time. Something exciting, something that would grab people from the first moment.

I smiled confidently.

"Yeah… I think I have just the right story."

When I started to tell the story, everything happened as usual. My voice reverberated through the square, catching the attention of passersby, some curious, others bored, but all willing to listen to a story if it was told well. It seems that my performance yesterday bore some fruit, now they did not ignore me at the beginning.

"Recent orc uprisings in southern Lordaeron have forced the Alliance to take decisive action..."

Several heads turned toward me. Perfect. I continued in a steady voice, letting the story wash over the audience.

"To contain the orcish threat, King Terenas has sent two of the realm's greatest champions: his son, Prince Arthas, and the legendary Uther Lightbringer. Together, they march into battle with one purpose... to end the orcs once and for all!"

People started to come closer. I had caught their attention. But then, I felt something... strange.

A spark inside me.

As I spoke Arthas' name, something changed in my peripheral vision. For an instant, I felt my body grow heavier, my posture firmer. Then, I saw the expressions of some of the spectators change. Not in the usual way, not with the fascination of someone listening to a good story, but with surprise.

Confused, I continued.

"Uther's troops are already in the field, training for the inevitable fight. And it is at that moment, when the tension can be felt in the air like the edge of a sword, that Arthas arrives at the camp..."

As he spoke, I felt a tug at my body. I looked down and nearly had a heart attack. Arthas's armor… was upon me. Or at least, a projection of it. My clothes were still there, but overlaid upon them, with an ethereal sheen, were the folds of real armor.

"Uther the Lightbringer steps forward, his golden armor gleaming in the sunlight. His voice is deep, filled with respect and unquestionable authority.

'Welcome, Prince Arthas. The men and I are honored by your presence.'"

And just as I mentioned Uther, the weight on my shoulders shifted. I felt bigger. More robust. I looked down at my arms and saw a new figure superimposed over me.

It was Uther.

Or rather, his ghostly silhouette, projected onto my body as if I were him at that moment.

The audience stepped back, mouths agape. Some even rubbed their eyes, as if they couldn't believe what they were seeing.

Shit.

My mind was going a mile a minute, but my instincts told me to keep going.

"But the young prince, with no patience for formality, just smiles with youthful confidence.

'Enough of the formalities, Uther. I am not yet king. I am glad to see you.'"

Immediately, the golden armor disappeared and I felt Arthas' silhouette superimposed on mine again.

People gasped.

This… this wasn't normal.

It was my authority.

In some ways, my divinity as the God of Heroes was manifesting itself through my storytelling. I wasn't just telling the story… I was acting it out, shaping its characters through myself.

The emotion ran down my spine like a shiver.

I kept my composure, although my mind was still processing what was happening.

"Uther gave a low laugh, folding his arms over his imposing golden armor. His eyes, full of wisdom and pride, settled on the young prince."

My voice changed, becoming deeper, more imposing, as if the very essence of Uther inhabited me for an instant.

"You too, boy. I'm glad King Terenas sent you to help me."

The weight of his figure on mine was overwhelming, as if my body was actually wearing his armor. The crowd was completely absorbed, unable to look away.

Then I changed again. Uther disappeared and Arthas's silhouette took his place. His youth, his confidence, his barely contained ambition.

"Father still hopes that your patience and experience will influence me."

At that moment, I again noticed the fascination on the faces of the spectators. They were watching more than just a narrative; they were witnessing living history.

Uther reappeared over me, his posture firm, his tone fatherly.

"It's a father's right to dream, isn't it?"

A laugh escaped from the spectators, but most remained completely enthralled.

I wasn't just telling the story. I was making it real.

And I… I was enjoying every second.

As the story progressed, the magic of my storytelling came to life in a way I had never experienced before.

As Arthas spoke, his figure overlapped mine. His noble bearing and shining armor took shape over my body, as if he were the one telling the story.

"Look, this is where we are."My voice echoed with his tone, "Our scouts have confirmed that there is an orc camp hidden somewhere over the next ridge."

I barely finished the sentence when the image changed. Uther's imposing silhouette replaced Arthas's above me. His presence was stern and firm, his holy mantle falling over his golden armor.

"As I suspected."

A shiver ran through the audience. Some stepped forward, completely absorbed.

Uther's figure disappeared and in the blink of an eye, Arthas reappeared in my place, his brow furrowed and his gaze fixed on the horizon.

"It gets worse."I said with the weight of his concern, "They are preparing to attack the nearby village of Strahnbrad. As far as we know, the village is completely defenseless."

The transition was fluid. As soon as I finished the sentence, Uther's silhouette melted back into mine, his solemn determination.

"I need to move against the orc base immediately."I felt his firmness in my voice. "Can you handle the defense of Strahnbrad on your own?"

Arthas returned, his image reflecting confidence, although with a barely perceptible shadow of doubt.

"Of course, Uther. Don't worry about me."

Once again, Uther's silhouette enveloped me one last time.

"Fine. Meet me at the orc camp once you've saved the village. Be careful, Arthas."

And with that, his image dissipated like mist, leaving only mine in its place.

The audience held their breath. There was something about the scene, something about the way the figures appeared and disappeared, that held them completely mesmerized.

The tension in the square grew as I raised my voice, immersing myself further into the story. As if my own authority as a god of heroes responded to my will, the figure of the slave master began to superimpose itself on mine.

"Take these wretches to the rest of them!" I roared, my voice transforming into that of a cruel and ruthless man.

The audience watched in fascination as my silhouette deformed, projecting the image of the brutal warrior mounted on his dark steed. His red skin shone in the sunlight, and his eyes glowed with inhuman ferocity.

"Get them out of here!"

The tension on the faces of the spectators was palpable. Some seemed to be holding their breath, completely immersed in the story.

And then, with a subtle but undeniable shift, the man's figure dissipated, as if vanishing into thin air, and in its place appeared another. Now, above me, the imposing image of Arthas took shape.

His great hammer glowed with a holy light, his stance strong and determined.

"Release those villagers, right now!" my voice thundered, filled with the conviction of a paladin prince.

My figure changed back to the slave master

"And who do you think you are, human child?" I sneered, his fangs bared in a cruel grin. "You're nothing more than another sack of meat waiting for its turn to die."

The murmurs in the crowd were intense. I knew I had them in the palm of my hand. And just then, I raised my voice even louder.

"Without another word, Arthas charged with his sword raised, determined to free the village."

The spectators leaned forward, caught up in the scene. The battle was about to begin.

I raised my voice, immersing the crowd in the climax of the story.

"Arthas did not hesitate. As soon as he saw the slave master, he charged at him, his warhammer gleaming in the sunlight."

"Die, human!" the orc roared, raising his axe above his head before delivering a brutal blow.

"But Arthas moved with the precision of a trained warrior. He deflected the blow with a twist of his hammer, diverting the trajectory of the enemy weapon before counterattacking with a devastating sweep."

"The impact rumbled like thunder, striking the orc in the chest and sending him crashing to the ground."

"The beast spat blood, but had not yet fallen. With a snarl, it staggered to its feet and charged again."

"But Arthas was already done with him."

"The paladin raised his hammer above his head, channeling the holy energy of the Light. A golden glow enveloped the massive weapon as it came down with unstoppable force."

This is being a success, I love it, I love this feeling.

"The orc barely had time to let out one last breath before the hammer struck him, crushing him into the ground with a deafening crash."

"Arthas stood over his fallen enemy. The battle was over. The village was safe... for now."

The crowd erupted in applause and cheers. I smiled in satisfaction, letting the tension of the story slowly dissipate. Yeah… storytelling might not be as lucrative as raiding a dungeon, but at least, it was something I was really good at.

I raised my voice once more, letting the emotion of the scene permeate my words.

"Arthas and his forces advanced like an unstoppable wave, sweeping away the remaining orcs in the village."

"The villagers, who had previously been shaking in fear, began to gather around their saviors. Whispers of relief could be heard, some falling to their knees in gratitude."

"God bless you, Prince Arthas!" a woman exclaimed, her voice shaking with emotion.

"But what about the others who were taken away?" asked a villager, desperation written on his face.

Arthas held his hammer firmly, his gaze filled with determination.

"Don't worry, son," I said, mimicking his resolute tone. "We'll find them and bring them home safely."

I made a clang of metal cut through the scene and my stance stiffened. Now, the figure of a heavily armored knight loomed over me, his voice filled with urgency. "Prince Arthas, Lord Uther needs you at the orc camp immediately!"

Arthas appeared once more in my frame, letting out a soft sigh. His expression went from calm to determined in an instant. "It's impossible to get bored here."

I spun on my heels as if mounting an invisible steed and raised a hand as if holding the reins. "Let's get moving!"

The figures suddenly disappeared, and once again, I was the only one left, a satisfied smile on my lips as I looked out at the expectant crowd. The story wasn't over yet, but that moment, that brief instant where their eyes were fixed on me, where every word I said held their hearts in its grip... that was enough.

I let the silence settle for a moment, enjoying the anticipation on the faces of the crowd. Some were on the edge of their seats, others leaned forward without realizing it, caught up in the story.

I smiled. "Well… what do you say?" My voice resonated with confidence, letting the excitement seep into every word. "Do you want me to continue?"

Some nodded quickly, others let out murmurs of approval. A boy near the front practically jumped in place. "Yes! Keep going!"

An older woman crossed her arms with a smile. "You can't leave us like this, young man. We want to know what will happen to the prince."

I laughed softly, feeling that little jolt of satisfaction. It was as if the very air was vibrating with anticipation.

"Okay, okay." I adjusted myself, straightening up dramatically. "Then let's get on with the story..."

And with those words, the magic of storytelling enveloped us once again.

I continued narrating, letting the figures reappear and overlap me as I spoke.

"Just twenty minutes later, Arthas arrives at Uther's position, near the Blackrock Clan camp."

Uther's image appeared first, imposing and wise, his armor reflecting a nonexistent light.

"Ah, good timing, lad. I sent two of my best knights to parley with the orc leader. They should return shortly."

Riderless horses burst onto the scene, passing through me like ghosts.

"Damn it." Uther's figure frowned, his expression hardening. "These savages will never surrender."

My figure changed with Arthas's as he loomed over me with determination in his eyes. "Then let's get in there and destroy those beasts!"

But as he shifted to Uther, the expression on his face did not change. "Remember, Arthas, we are paladins. Vengeance cannot be part of our duties. If we allow our passions to turn us into bloodthirsty beings, then we will become as vile as they."

Arthas's figure faltered for a moment. "Yes, Uther."

"Now, if you're feeling up to it, I want you to lead the attack."

Arthas's eyes sparkled with excitement. "Me? Of course!"

Uther nodded with unwavering calm. "I will stay here and make sure none of the foul beasts threaten the camp."

Arthas raised his hammer, ready for battle. "I will not fail you."

Uther's figure slowly faded away, leaving only his last words hanging in the air. "I know you won't."

I let the moment breathe, feeling the tension in the crowd. And then, with a sly smile, I continued

The figures manifested themselves again above me as I narrated, projecting the scene before the spectators with an almost tangible intensity.

"As Arthas prepared for his attack, a shadow moved through the trees. And then, with a firm step and a burning gaze, an orc emerged from the mist."

His image was superimposed over mine: a towering, shirtless warrior, with muscles sculpted by countless battles. A flag fluttered from his back, and in his hands he held a curved sword that looked thirsty for blood.

"Foolish Paladin!" the swordmaster roared, his deep voice echoing through the crowd. "The Blackrock Clan's Warlocks have spoken. Soon, demons will rain down from the sky and this wretched world will burn!"

Uther then appeared, his majestic silhouette shining with the golden glow of his armor. With his hammer in hand, he stood firm before the orc's words.

"Yes, I've heard that rhetoric before." His voice was hard, devoid of doubt. "You orcs will never learn."

"And with that, Uther moved forward without hesitation."

The swordmaster reacted quickly, his blade flashing through the air. But Uther was already prepared.

"With a single swing of his hammer, he hit the orc square in the chest."

The sound of the blow echoed in the plaza, and the sword master dissipated in a whirlwind of black mist.

Uther's image frowned, turning his head in search of his enemy.

"She was just a clone," he said, his voice heavy with suspicion.

He crossed his arms, his face hardened.

"Damn it, what are these bastards up to?"

The figures faded away again, leaving me standing, the square plunged into a tense silence. I took advantage of the pause to gauge the crowd's reaction before continuing.

The figures superimposed themselves over me again, projecting the intensity of the battle in every word I spoke.

"Arthas stood with his hammer raised, fury in his gaze."

His silhouette loomed over mine, his armor shining in the glow of victory.

"Finish them! Finish them all!"

"The clash of steel against steel, the roar of horses and the cries of war filled the square, catching the crowd in the maelstrom of battle."

"The knights surged forward in a wave of silver and gold, overwhelming the remaining orcs. The fight was brief but fierce. With a final blow, the swordmaster fell before Arthas, his blade crashing to the ground as his life faded away."

The images slowly faded away, leaving only the figure of Uther, who watched the battlefield with a serene expression.

"You did well, boy. It was a resounding victory."

Arthas, frowning, turned his gaze to the ground, where traces of the dark ritual still remained.

"I don't know, Uther." His words were filled with doubt. "The orcs were slaughtering the villagers. I think they were trying to summon demons."

"The senior paladin placed a hand on his shoulder, his presence as firm as his faith."

"Have faith, boy," he said in a solemn tone. "These orcs try to cling to dying traditions. We defeated their demons long ago."

He turned around, looking at the sky tinted by the sunset.

"Let's go home. It's been a long day."

The figures disappeared, and I was left alone on the makeshift stage, with the crowd immersed in the weight of the story they had just witnessed.

Applause erupted loudly, echoing across the square as excitement still vibrated in the air. Some people even stood up, applauding the story enthusiastically.

I lowered my voice, as if I had just woken up from a daydream, and let out a dramatic sigh before looking at the bucket. To my surprise, it was once again filled with Valis, more than I had expected.

I smiled with satisfaction.

Well, it looks like today's story was a success.

I bent down to pick up the bucket, feeling the weight of the coins. Yes, it had definitely been worth it

It was still early, so I decided to head back to the inn I was staying at. With Valis's cube in hand, I walked through the streets of Orario with a slight sense of satisfaction. It wasn't a fortune, but at least I could breathe easy for a while.

When I reached the inn, I climbed the stairs to my room, closed the door behind me, and emptied the contents of the bucket onto the bed. The coins clinked against each other, forming a small mountain of Valis.

Okay, let's see how much I won this time.

I sat down and began counting them, separating them into piles for easier counting.

After finishing counting, I stared at the coins piled in front of me.

Eight thousand Valis… again.

I frowned. It wasn't that I was complaining, but this was too much for just telling stories in the plaza. Did the people of Orario really pay that much for good storytelling, or was there something more to it?

I leaned back in bed, letting out a sigh. Maybe I was thinking too much. At the end of the day, the important thing was that I now had money to keep me going… at least for a while

I put the coins in a small bag and hid it among my things in the room. I couldn't afford to lose them or, worse yet, have someone steal them.

With that done, I stood up, brushed some dust off my clothes, and left the inn. It was still early, but I preferred not to waste time.

As I walked through the streets of Orario, the city was still as bustling as ever. Merchants calling out to passersby, adventurers talking about their expeditions, and gods lounging around without many worries.

Finally, I reached the large plaza in front of the Dungeon entrance. I leaned on one of the nearby railings and crossed my arms, observing the crowd.

"Let's see how long it takes this idiot to get out of there…" I muttered to myself.

…

Two hours.

Two damn hours of waiting, watching dozens of adventurers enter and leave the dungeon. Some with big smiles and bags full of magic stones, others with minor injuries, and a few carried unconscious or worse.

Just when I was considering going to look for it myself, I saw it.

Veldrin walked out of the dungeon's large entrance, walking with heavy steps, fatigue evident on his face. But what caught my attention the most was his arm, with a visible cut and blood running down the fabric of his clothes.

"What the hell did you do in there?!" I exclaimed, pushing through the crowd to get to him.

Veldrin looked at me with an expression somewhere between exhausted and resigned.

"Well… let's just say that groups of goblins aren't as easy to kill as they seem."

I sighed deeply, running a hand over my face before focusing on his arm.

"Here, sit down, you idiot," I said, carefully taking his wrist to inspect the wound more closely. It didn't look life-threatening, but it was bleeding quite a bit.

Veldrin grunted, but offered no resistance as I led him to one of the benches in the square. I quickly pulled a clean piece of cloth from my robes and began to bandage his arm firmly.

"Seriously, you got into trouble so quickly. I told you to be careful," I grumbled as I secured the bandage.

Veldrin gave a tired smile.

"Oh, sure, and I had plenty of options when I got ambushed by three goblins at the same time."

I rolled my eyes.

"And that's why you're not supposed to go to the Dungeon alone while you're tired." I lightly tapped his forehead with my knuckles, causing him to let out an annoyed snort.

"Yeah, yeah, I got my lesson," he said, leaning back against the bench with a sigh.

"Good. Now get some rest before you collapse right here."

I crossed my arms and watched him as he closed his eyes for a moment. At least he had returned alive. That was a victory in itself.

Veldrin let his head fall back, taking a deep breath.

"At least Immolation served a purpose."

I raised an eyebrow, curious.

"Oh yeah?"

"Yes." He replied with a small, satisfied smile. "I didn't expect it to work so well against those damn goblins. As soon as they surrounded me, I activated the spell and their skins started burning within seconds."

I imagined the scene: Veldrin surrounded, lighting the flames around him as the goblins screamed and writhed. It had certainly been an effective strategy.

"Not bad," I admitted, resting my elbows on my knees. "But I imagine it drained your mind like crazy."

He nodded.

"Yeah, that's why I almost passed out after the fight," he said with a dry laugh. "But at least I didn't die."

I sighed.

"It's not exactly the highest standard of success, but I'll take it."

I tightened his bandage a little more, making sure it wouldn't come loose.

"Well, you've had enough for today. Let's go get some food and rest."

Veldrin didn't argue. He looked too exhausted to do so.

"Well, do you want to exchange your magic stones at the guild now or would you rather rest and do it tomorrow?" I asked, watching as Veldrin could barely sit up without looking like he was going to fall asleep at any moment.

He exhaled heavily, tilting his head to the side. "Mmm… tempting to leave it for tomorrow, but I also want to have money in hand as soon as possible."

"Decisions, decisions." I muttered with a smile. "Though seeing the state you're in, I wouldn't be surprised if you collapsed right on the guild counter."

Veldrin chuckled. "Nah, I can hold on for a bit longer… I think."

Veldrin could barely walk straight, so I ended up putting an arm around his shoulders to help him along as we made our way towards the guild. His steps were heavy, and every now and then he let out a low moan as his wound reminded him of its existence.

Upon arriving at the guild, we were greeted by the same half-elf as before, Eina, who frowned at us as soon as she saw Veldrin's condition.

"For heaven's sake, what happened to you?" he asked, crossing his arms.

"Work." Veldrin replied with a tired smile.

"Almost suicidal work, you mean," I added, rolling my eyes. "Can we change these magic stones before he passes out on his feet?"

Eina sighed, clearly displeased, but nodded. "Leave them with me, I'll evaluate them right away."

Eina finished the assessment and left the magic stones on the counter before sliding a small sack of coins towards us.

"In total, there are 3000 Valis."

Veldrin took the bag with his free hand and weighed it slightly in his palm, nodding in satisfaction. "Not bad for a first day."

I, on the other hand, sighed. "Not bad, but I'd prefer you to come back in one piece next time."

Eina looked at us with a serious expression. "If you keep up this pace, you'll need better equipment. Especially if you plan on continuing to enter the Dungeon with so little preparation."

Veldrin smiled mockingly. "I'll keep that in mind."

"You better," I replied, before turning towards the exit. "Come on, we need food and rest."

Before we could leave, Eina crossed her arms and frowned at us.

"Wait a moment, Veldrin." Her tone held a hint of genuine concern. "I don't want to hear that you ended up dead in the Dungeon. If you're going to continue adventuring, at least allow me to advise you. I can give you information about monsters, basic combat strategies, and recommendations to improve your survival."

Veldrin blinked a few times, surprised by the offer. "Mmm... I'll think about it."

Eina sighed, but didn't press the issue further. "Fine. But seriously, think about it."

I patted Veldrin on the shoulder and pulled him along a bit to keep us walking. "Come on, you don't want to keep bleeding here at the guild entrance."

With that, we finally left.

…

We entered my room at the inn, and without saying much, I guided Veldrin to the bed. As soon as he touched the mattress, he let out a heavy sigh and let himself fall limply.

"Get some rest," I said as I walked over to the only chair in the room and dropped into it.

Veldrin closed his eyes for a moment, still breathing somewhat heavily. His injured arm was already bandaged, but the exhaustion from his first foray into the Dungeon was clearly taking its toll.

For my part, I stayed in my chair, watching him in silence. I guess today had been a busier day than expected.

When I returned to the room with the extra pillow in my hand, I saw that Veldrin was already awake. He had sat up a little in bed, rubbing his eyes with his good hand as he let out a soft sigh.

"Did you sleep well?" I asked, closing the door with my foot before walking towards him.

Veldrin looked at me with some confusion at first, but then nodded slowly. "Yes… although I think I could sleep until tomorrow."

I let out a light laugh and threw the pillow at him. "Well, just in case you need it."

He caught it awkwardly with his good arm and looked at it curiously. "And this?"

"I'm going to sleep in the chair. I don't want you waking up tomorrow with a crooked neck because you took half the bed." I shrugged as I plopped down into the chair again. "Consider this part of the Xander familia premium package."

Veldrin rolled his eyes, but adjusted the pillow beneath his head anyway. "Yes, yes. How generous."

"I'm going to update your status" I said "Take off your shirt"

"I'm not gay, don't sit on my back" This idiot…

"I'm going to do it from the chair, so don't complain and just do it."

After Veldrin took off his shirt and leather armor, he laid down on the bed and I walked over to the edge from the chair. I took out Veldrin's small dagger and put it on my finger to make it bleed to update its status.

Veldrin Lightstorm

Level 1

•Strength: I0 → I33

•Endurance: I0 → I25

•Dexterity: I0 → I19

•Agility: I0 → I72

•Magic: I0 → I66

Magic:

•Burn Mana: Magic without chant. Sends a beam of negative energy that burns 15% of the target's mind, dealing damage in proportion to the mind eliminated. Requires the magic stat to be different than I0.

•Immolation: Magic without chant. Generates a small layer of flames around the user, consumes mind while active

Skills:

•Incarnation (Demon Hunter): Through the altar of the elders, the body adapts to the Demon Hunter's history. Manifestation of Demon Hunter Skills and Magic

I stared at her status update with a frown, going over the numbers again and again as if my gaze could make them change. But no, there they were. Ridiculously high growth for someone who had just started.

"What the hell…?" I muttered, unable to help myself. "Even I, who is having a familia for the first time, know that this growth is too big to be normal."

Veldrin blinked, still lying face down on the bed. "Huh? It's that bad?"

"No, it's not bad! It's absurd." I waved the sheet of paper with his status in front of my eyes, trying to process it. "You've gone up a lot in all stats, especially magic and agility. And don't even mention the skill you already have… What were you doing in there? Were you dancing on the corpses of goblins or something?"

He gave a light laugh. "Nothing too exaggerated. I just fought. I made sure every hit counted… and I guess the magic helped a lot."

He had said that before, but now it all made a little more sense. His immolation spell and the other one, "Burn Mana," seemed designed to wear down the enemy quickly. But this…

"Incarnation… Demon Hunter…" I muttered, reading the skill description. "This is definitely not normal. This is something completely different from what I've seen before."

My theory is that Veldrin's body is going to try to catch up to what the Demon Hunter once was. As if what was in his Falna, in his soul, was influencing his body.

Veldrin turned his head slightly to look at me, though his expression was difficult to read. "Is that good or bad?"

I pressed my lips together, thinking about it. "Good for you… Bad if someone starts asking questions we don't want to answer."

Because if it continued to grow like this, it would attract attention. And attention was not always good in this city.

We were both exhausted. Veldrin barely had the strength to move after his status update, and I… well, after spending the entire day telling stories and worrying about whether this guy would make it back from the Dungeon in one piece, I was running low on energy too.

Dinner was the last thing on our minds. We simply let tiredness get the better of us.

Veldrin took the bed, which made sense since he had been the one fighting all day. I settled into the uncomfortable semi-reclining chair in the room. It wasn't the most pleasant thing, but with the pillow I'd requested, at least it wasn't a total ordeal.

I closed my eyes and let out a sigh. I should visit Alise soon.

Tomorrow would be another day.