Ruel got engrossed in the words of the spirit.
She narrated a past that he had never expected.
He knew his family's fall was because they were framed by the greedy—but now he realized that what they were greedy for ran deeper.
Ruel's family was apparently a prosperous family and faction in the world, Enma.
In the early ages of Enma, they were world travellers who went between Enma and their original world.
They rose to prominence and supported the inhabitants of that world, ushering in a better era.
As time went on, the power of Ruel's ancestors and their future spread fear.
They were betrayed…and attacked.
They left their original world and Enma, then escaped to this world, leaving a few people of the family left.
But this wasn't enough.
Their enemy chased them till the bitter end.
They slowly created a dark past for Ruel's family and prepared for the final attack.
It was 15 years ago, when Ruel was 3 years old, that their plan was completed, turning the Elmond family into what they were today.
Ruel leaned forward, desperate to know more. But the spirit shook her head gently.
"I wasn't given everything," she said. "I only have the fragments important at the start of the family's Savior. The rest… we'll need to find it together."
Ruel clenched his fists. Even with the truth, so much still lay hidden in shadow.
The air around Ruel felt palpable as his anger sent slight shivers through the spirit.
"Was my father's sickness also caused by them?"
"I believe so," She replied. "You need not worry, though. With the money you've inherited, it's only a matter of time before you can buy medicine in Enma."
'I can heal… father?' He still reflected his thoughts as he muttered, "I can… do that?"
Ruel found all this too overwhelming and pulled out a chair, sitting to ponder quietly.
The spirit watched him without saying anything, curious to see how things would go.
"Is it because we're hard to kill that they didn't completely eliminate us?" he asked after a while.
"That is possible, but that's most likely a secondary reason," she said. "If I were to guess, it's because they are still looking for the family's inheritance and they might still need you."
Looking through the window, towards the dark, slum-like streets, she sighed.
"You were driven to a location that's dangerous, where you'll have other things to worry about while they are busy with their own work."
Ruel was only growing more angry as his forehead protruded veins.
"I will tear these people apart! All this suffering just for their selfish ambitions?! Our estate was brought to ruins just because of greed and fear?!"
He fumed with anger causing the spirit to fall to the floor and walk towards him.
She stretched her translucent arm to his head and rubbed it gently, doing her job as his guardian.
"Ruel, right now, you are no different from them; you let your emotions overwhelm you."
She let her words sink in before she added:
"Now that you've been given an opportunity, do you really want to use it to lead people to their deaths?"
The world rang in Ruel's head as he remembered his father's teachings.
Even after their fall, the man was never inspired to take revenge, instead he decided that he'll build a safer place for his family.
The Spirit smiled.
"There are more criteria than just awakening high-tier strength to be the family's Savior. What is your goal?"
"My goal?" he muttered. "My goal is like my father's. To return to our glory days… and I also want to help the people of this town…"
"Now, this is a better goal."
As the spirit said, Ruel didn't hold back his reply.
"However, if my family is on its path to glory, we will once again be attacked. I swear I shall have no mercy for my enemies."
"...That is good, too."
Silence enveloped the room for a while, leaving Ruel to calm down.
"Where do we start?" he asked after taking a deep breath. "I want to upgrade my Talent as soon as I can."
If he was to change anything—his future, his family's fate—it had to begin now.
"I'd like to mention something first," The spirit, who had been looking around the room, said, "The ritual to upgrade your… Talent can be dangerous and painful. How far you upgrade it also depends on your will."
"Please, explain," he said, prompting the spirit to begin her explanation.
After she finished, he told her he was going to go through with it regardless, despite there being other ways for him to obtain power once he entered Enma.
Talents were still the fastest yet easiest way to acquire strength.
"Let's start with going through your status. Say status."
"Status," Ruel said.
- - -
Name: Ruel Elmond
Citizen Tier: 1
Talent: Cold Touch [D]
Core Stage: 3 Rings
En Coins: 50,000,000
Haven: Hollowwood
Quests: 1/3
Inventory: 0/10
• Shop •
- - -
"This En Coins is money right?" Ruel asked, shock evident in his tone.
"Yes."
"What's the value?"
"25 En can buy basic clothing for a commoner."
Ruel was left speechless. He couldn't believe this.
"Am I... insanely rich?"
He rubbed his face in disbelief.
"There's still more to come," The spirit said with a slight smile.
He refrained from asking the spirit a question since she had already said he'll know more when he entered Enma.
"It even records my ring count…" he muttered.
As Ruel read the information, he looked at the Spirit hovering around him, wondering how much he should trust her.
There were actually two main reasons why he did:
The logical reason was the connection he felt with her—once she said she was linked to him, he used his knowledge to confirm it.
The illogical reason was that he believed she was truly his family.
The spirit had said she was a being created from his ancestor's soul to support his ventures. Her green eyes—something his father had told him was a core family trait—she had them.
"What's your name?" he asked.
The Spirit shrugged. "I'm like a newborn, I lack a name."
"Calling you spirit is weird, so I'd like to name you. Is that okay?"
"I have no problems with that."
Silence enveloped the room as Ruel took a moment to consider.
'She doesn't look older than me based on her looks… She could even be mistaken as my sister if someone sees her.'
This reminded Ruel of the names they had for the unborn child his mother eventually miscarried after the stress of falling to grass.
Still, he didn't want to use those exact names, so he chose a similar one.
"Muriel," he said, "That's your name."