Snowhearth 5, 1850 (Arbiter Calendar), Alistair finds himself somewhere in the Whisperpine Expanse, a vast forest shrouded in frost and mist. "Hey, system! Save me!" he cries out as he has been chased by wild, snowy beasts for several days. Despite surviving and hunting multiple times, he has had little rest. It has been three months since he left Leaf Village to embark on his divine mission, which was presented as a way for him to train and become stronger, while also experiencing life outside the peaceful confines of the City of Valor territories. It feels like just a dream from yesterday...
Three months ago, on Duskrice 5, 1850 AC (Arbiter Calendar), an emergency meeting took place among the Family of Dawnstrike, the Leaf Village Elders, and Village Chieftess Selene Brightlance. Lady Selene spoke first.
"Thank you for gathering for this meeting regarding Alistair's situation. We cannot prevent the divine mission he has received. Alistair is still very young; he is only 15 years old. I do not know what the Goddess of Aura intends for him to accomplish for the future of the Two Arbiter Continents of Freedom and Neutrality. I also apologize to you, Astrid. This situation was completely unexpected."
Astrid patted Selene on the shoulder. "It's fine. I was shocked, and my heart ached painfully after yesterday's events. But at least, thanks to Lady Celestra's intervention, those people won't harm us or the Leaf Village. My worries now..." She began to tear up again. "My dear son is embarking on a dangerous task, and he has no idea what is happening. Just look at his face; he was completely shocked and shaken by the entire scene."
She cried painfully as everyone watched with saddened expressions, feeling powerless to speak in the presence of the Accordance of the Goddess of Aura.
Meanwhile, Alistar lay on the grassland near Leaf Village, staring up at the hot sunny morning and questioning the system. "System, what is your real intention? All I want is to live a peaceful life with my mother and sisters. Now, you want me to part ways and embark on a divine mission. You said it was an excuse for training. Because of this divine mission, I cannot decline such an important task, as it comes from the Goddess. So please, don't lie to me now; your mystery is beyond my comprehension, and I struggle to understand my purpose in serving you and accepting these gifts. I know I am neither talented nor smart in these matters. Living as a normal lumberjack without my aura would have been a greater joy; I could have spent the rest of my life in an ordinary family. But now that I have this aura and receive unimaginable gifts, I've become the center of attention, all while being restricted by the Accordance of the Goddess of Aura. So please, tell me, why was I chosen for the system? I'm just an ordinary person who got lucky because of your help…" The system took a moment of silence as a hot breeze passed by.
System: "The barrier that separated the Two Arbiter Continents of Freedom and Neutrality is starting to weaken. Soon, the continents beyond this barrier will discover these lesser lands. I have seen the future of the Two Arbiter Continents, and if things continue as they are, they will be enslaved by the greater continents. The hard work of ordinary people who discovered the Theory of Aura Manipulation and achieved the heights of civilization during the so-called Industrial Revolution will be destroyed and taken away from them. Due to strict regulations, I cannot disclose details about the greater continents; however, I know that they possess complex abilities known as the Theory of Mana Manipulation, commonly associated with what they call Magic."
Alistair was shocked upon hearing this and replied, "Are you telling me that I must become a hero to save both continents?"
System: "No, becoming a hero means carrying many burdens. Many people will rely on you and expect more than you can give. It is your free will to choose what you become. You were selected for this because..." The system hesitated, uncertain of how to continue, as it feared it might hurt Alistair. However, it decided to speak the truth. "I want to know if an ordinary person—someone who is neither particularly talented nor exceptionally smart, who leads neither a notably good nor a dark life—can embody the contrast between fairness and balance. You were chosen out of 1,000 candidates to receive this system and its gifts. I apologize for putting this pressure on you, but you do have the option to decline. I will personally rescind the divine mission if you choose."
Then Alistair interrupted, "There's no need for that. I'm fine with my current life. I'm already having so much fun—talking to you is the greatest gift of my entire life. So, no need to apologize. Maybe I'm still young and naive to fully understand your statement, but for now, all I can do is follow my heart. Thank you, System. I have a clear goal: for the sake of protecting the love I hold dear, I will gladly accept the gifts and become stronger, while also understanding the circumstances that will affect the place I was born and live." Alistair gave a thumbs-up, smiled at the system, and laughed afterward.
After a few days, Alistair stood outside the Leaf Village Gate, where many residents waved their hands in farewell, wishing him a safe journey. They encouraged him to return to his sweet home if he decided to temporarily halt his divine mission. He hugged his mother, Astrid, who had been in tears for the past few days, along with his two older sisters.
Alistair was equipped with armor, weapons, and tools provided by the Hunter Branch Guild, and his Hunter Badge was upgraded from Bronze to Silver. He had all the necessary clothing and funds for his trip, and the village elders gifted him maps outlining the journey ahead. Bowing his head to all of them, he said, "Thank you for the past 15 years. I shall go now. Goodbye, everyone!"
Alistair smiled as he walked further away from Leaf Village. Most of the residents assumed he was forcing himself to smile to avoid worrying his family and friends, but in reality, he was genuinely excited about traveling to an unfamiliar place with the system by his side.
"So, system, do you have any recommendations?" he asked.
The system responded, "Follow this map. We are going to the Whisperpine Expanse."
Alistair looked at the map and saw a white area indicating a region covered in snow. "What? You want me to go to a snowy place?" he exclaimed. The system gave a thumbs up, indicating that this would be the best way for him to grow stronger and gain experience from the wild snowy beasts lurking there.