Chapter 2 Three Little Brats

The next day.
Eldric felt something crawl across his face and instinctively slapped it away. As his eyes adjusted to the dim light seeping through a small crack in the window, he stared at his palm, now smeared with the remains of a squashed spider.

"Aishh," he muttered, his tone tinged with irritation.

Sitting up, he winced as a dull ache throbbed in his head, a lingering reminder of the previous night’s events. He stood, pushed open the creaking door, and stepped outside, his gaze scanning for water to wash up.

Fortunately, there was a deep well not far from the shed. Using the bucket, he drew water and rinsed his palm, washing off the last traces of the spider. He splashed his face with the cold water, the chill jolting him awake.

As he straightened, the familiar emotionless voice echoed in his mind.

"Showing host’s basic information."

Eldric sighed, already accustomed to the sensation. A tug in his mind followed, and then illusory words appeared on an ancient-looking piece of parchment hovering before his eyes. This phenomenon had happened to him so often that it no longer surprised him.

Name: Eldric Liora
Occupation: Cannot be displayed

Foundational Level (Current)

Focus: Basic Understanding and Control
Manipulate basic forms of Essence, craft simple glyphs, and cast minor spells.

Essence Manipulation Foundational: Novice

Arcane Analysis Foundational: Basic Observer

Incantations Foundational: Hesitant Speaker

Cursed Resistance Foundational: Developing Shield

Memory Recall Foundational: Dormant

Hidden Archive Access: Basic (Unlocked)

Eldric stared at the glowing text for a long moment, his expression unreadable. Finally, he sighed again, muttering, “I don’t even know what half of this means.”

His tone carried more boredom than frustration, as though he’d already resigned himself to the enigmatic nature of his abilities.

The faint ache of hunger reminded Eldric of his predicament. He was so hungry that the glowing information hovering before him barely registered. Looking around, he spotted a tree stump, trudged over to it, and sat down, resting his palm against his cheek.

“Is there anything I can use to help me have a decent breakfast?” he muttered, half to himself.

The familiar, emotionless voice responded without delay:
"General knowledge of this world is already integrated into the host. Do you wish to access it?"

Eldric, his thoughts entirely preoccupied with hunger, replied without much care. “Yes.”

"Please set a command word to display information."

He blinked, still staring blankly ahead. “Command word, huh? Show?”

‘Show’ has been registered as the command word to display information.

“How do I use it?” he asked, his tone flat.

‘You may take any item or living thing and state the command word. If the information is within the unlocked knowledge (basic), it will display the relevant details.’

Eldric idly reached for the nearest blade of grass and murmured, “Show.”

Name: Herbstalk
Species: Plant
Information: Herbstalk is a common herbal plant found in forests during spring.
Usage: It can be used as a first aid treatment for non-serious wounds and injuries.
Appearance: (Displaying image of Herbstalk)

“How convenient,” Eldric muttered, though his stomach growled loudly, cutting through his attempt at indifference.

“Haah... life really isn’t making this easy,” he sighed, rubbing his forehead.

Dragging himself to his feet, he scanned the denser part of the forest, where he remembered seeing unique plants that might be edible.

“Show,” he whispered as he passed a low bush, his eyes narrowing as the illusory text reappeared. He repeated the process for trees and fruits around him, identifying potential food sources.

Each time, the information glowed before him, helpfully highlighting what was safe to eat. But then came a new problem.

“Why are these trees so tall?” Eldric groaned, staring up at a canopy of fruit high above his reach.

He sighed, already resigned to his fate. “Am I really going to have to climb just to get breakfast? Wow… perfect.”

A faint rustling broke the quiet, and Eldric turned to see the three kids from yesterday standing a short-distance away, baskets in hand. He tilted his head, crossing his arms.

“What are you doing here?” he asked.

The older boy adjusted his grip on the dagger at his side, his expression neutral.

“We’re just passing by. We happened to encounter you,” he said, though his eyes flickered briefly toward the younger two before returning to Eldric.

Eldric raised an eyebrow, noting the subtle glance. “Why are you in the forest so early?”

“We’re looking for food, and we need to check for herbs we can sell,” the little girl replied.

Click.

Eldric flinched slightly at a faint clicking in his head but quickly brushed it aside, turning his attention back to the kids.

The older boy had short, curly hair framing a pleasant face, while the girl, likely his sister, stood beside him with shoulder-length hair and a curious expression. The youngest boy, a freckled seven-year-old with short yellow hair, clutched his basket nervously, glancing between the others.

Eldric studied the group for a moment and thought, They may be cautious, but they could save me a lot of trouble.

“How about you make a deal with me?” Eldric offered, a small smile playing on his lips.

The children frowned slightly, their suspicion clear.

“We don’t make deals with strangers,” the little girl replied firmly.

Eldric raised an eyebrow at her boldness. “Ah, that’s right. I almost forgot. Because of you, three, I ended up in a mess yesterday. Now I can’t even have a proper meal.”

The kids exchanged uneasy glances, and then the older boy spoke.
“We were only following village protocol. We didn’t do anything wrong.”

“Yes, yes,” Eldric said, waving a hand dismissively. “I’m not one to hold grudges. But I do need your help with something.”

The older boy narrowed his eyes. “What is it?”

Eldric pointed toward a tall tree laden with fruit. “Climb that tree and grab me a few of those fruits. In return, I’ll help you find herbs to sell.”

The kids exchanged a look before the older boy spoke up.

"Didn’t you say you can’t remember anything? How do you expect to help us find herbs, then?"

Eldric clicked his tongue.

"Smart, aren’t we?"

"Let’s talk after you get me those fruits, alright? I’m so hungry that dealing with you brats is draining my energy."

“And don’t worry—your chief already grilled me yesterday. He’s letting me stay in this forest temporarily. Are we good now?”

Hearing this, the boy reluctantly climbed the tree and picked the fruits with ease. He handed them to Eldric, who ate without hesitation.

"Here, take some," Eldric said, tossing a fruit to each of them. "Consider it a thank-you for your help."

The children ate the fruits quietly, their earlier caution giving way to hunger. Once they finished, Eldric leaned back slightly, his gaze steady as he broke the silence.

"Alright, before we go any further, let’s get introductions out of the way. I can’t keep calling you brats, can I?"

"I’m Gui Larkin," the older boy said, motioning to the younger ones. "That’s my sister, Anilla, and our cousin, Merdin"

"Eldric Liora," he said simply. "Nice to meet you three."

The three dipped their heads politely, a gesture that caught Eldric off guard. After a brief hesitation, he mirrored the motion, feeling a touch out of place.

"By the way, you mentioned selling herbs. What do you trade them for?"

“We trade them for money," Gui said plainly, glancing at his sister and cousin for confirmation.

Sensing Eldric’s confusion, Gui clarified, 'We use coins—money—to buy things at the market or trade with merchants who visit the village.'”

Eldric stayed silent, the faint clicking in his mind like puzzle pieces falling into place. 'Is this part of the general knowledge?' he wondered, surprised at how natural the information suddenly felt.

"Wait," he thought, his brow furrowing as the realization dawned. He hadn’t noticed it amidst yesterday’s chaos, but now it struck him—"I’m not supposed to know their language… and yet, I do. Could this be why?"

Eldric was deep in thought before he asked.

"So... can I also buy new clothes?"

He glanced down at his worn outfit. It was his only set, and washing it while wearing it wasn’t exactly an option unless he wanted to walk around half-dressed.

"That depends on how much we can sell the herbs for today," Gui replied with a shrug.

"Got it," Eldric said, brushing off his clothes. "Let’s not waste any time, then. Lead the way."

They walked towards the deeper parts of the forest. Eldric noticed some plants that seemed to glow and noticed the three kids who started to pick them.

Eldric turned to walk in another direction when he felt a tug on his sleeve and turned to find Anilla and Merdin holding him back.

'What is it?' he asked.

“We can’t go that way,” Merdin said, his tone low. “It’s restricted unless you’re a hunter. Wild animals might attack."

"Ah, right. Drekson mentioned this yesterday," Eldric thought, recalling the chief’s stern warning about the forest’s dangers.

"His eyes fell on the fence and a sign warning of wild animals. Beyond it, he noticed intricate carvings etched into the wood.

“What are those?" Eldric asked, pointing at the carvings. Something about them felt familiar.

“They’re glyphs,” Gui explained, “crafted by the Essentari of our village.”

"Essentari?" Eldric echoed, the unfamiliar term piquing his curiosity.

“They are people who can manipulate essence. It’s like an aura of some sort. Some of the plants here in Verdant Grove contain essence, but they’re rare and difficult to find.”

Eldric’s gaze shifted to the restricted area. It was faint, but he could sense a subtle power emanating from that direction but considering the danger he shrugged it off.