I Received System to Become Dragonborn

Very far from the scarred halls of the Elf Palace and the lingering aftermath of battle, the human lands remained untouched by the chaos.

In a quiet corner of the territory, nestled beside the edge of a winding road that led deep into a forest, stood a modest but well-frequented tavern.

Beside the tavern stood a small inn with wooden sign that swinging gently in the evening breeze. Together, the tavern and inn served as a vital waypoint for adventurers. It is a place to rest, drink, and prepare before venturing into the nearby wilds.

The forest was dense and dangerous, filled with beasts, magical creatures, and the occasional rare herb or alchemical ingredient that drew many risk-takers through its tangled paths.

The skies painted in the soft purples and oranges of twilight, the tavern was already almost full. Most nights, the crowd would peak closer to midnight.

The mood was still calmer now. The kind of peace that came only after a hard-earned victory.

At a table near the fireplace sat four figures, all leaning slightly back in their chairs, the weight of exhaustion still clinging to their bodies despite the warmth of the food before them.

Jan, the ranger, sat with his bow leaning against the wall beside him. His tunic was stained with dust and blood. He carved into his steak with hunger, don't care about the smear of blood in his arms.

Across from him, Annette the priest sat with her hands clasped around a warm cup, the gentle steam curling toward her pale face.

Her white robes were stained and frayed at the edges, but her soft smile hadn't faded. She looked across the table at her companions with quiet pride.

Hund, the big guy had no time for anything but the meat in front of him. He tore into the thick steak like a starving bear.

His armor had dents from the day's fight, and his knuckles were still swollen, but just like Jan, he don't care.

And beside him, Esther quietly sprinkled a dark purple powder onto her food — some alchemical enhancement, no doubt.

Her dark robes hung loosely on her thin frame, and her wide-brimmed hat had been placed carefully on the chair beside her.

Her eyes didn't wander much; she simply ate in silence, content to savor the food, her thoughts drifting elsewhere.

They had reason to be quiet. Only hours ago, they had taken down a massive forest beast. It was a horned reptilian creature that had charged them in a clearing thick with fog. The fight had been brutal and nearly fatal for two of them. But they'd emerged victorious, as always.

Now, there was only steak, firelight, and the quiet comfort of survival.

Jan leaned back while chewing thoughtfully.

"We should get the bounty for that thing by morning," he said. "Maybe even enough to buy a better map of that eastern ridge."

Hund snorted angrily. "Fuck the maps! I'm buying a better sword! That thing nearly chewed my old one in half."

"You could also buy better armor, Hund," Annette said then chuckled softly.

"Bah," he waved a greasy fork. "What's the fun in fighting if you can't feel the hits?"

"You'll feel more than hits if you keep relying on brute force. One of these days, something's going to crush your spine, and no amount of steak will fix it," Esther finally spoke, voice calm and cool.

He grinned at her. "Then you'll just put my pieces back together, yeah?"

She didn't reply — just took another bite.

The tavern door creaked open, and a group of new adventurers entered, laughing softly among themselves. The barkeep gave them a nod, already pouring drinks.

Jan glanced toward the door, then back at his group. "We'll rest tonight. But tomorrow... maybe we start heading north."

"North?" Annette asked.

"Something feels strange. The beasts are changing, again," Jan muttered. "That one we killed, it wasn't supposed to be that far from the deep glades. Something's stirring."

The table went quiet for a moment.

Then Hund picked up his mug and raised it slightly. "Well. Guess we'll find out the hard way. Like always."

They drank. And outside, the last of the sun dipped below the trees, the forest swallowing the light.

---

The next day, just as the first light of dawn crept over the horizon, the party was already on the move.

The world around them was still cloaked in shadow but Jan led the way with a quiet confidence. His eyes scanned the forest ahead with the calm precision of someone who had done this a hundred times over.

At only twenty-seven, Jan had the calm and hardened gaze of a man who had lived through more than most twice his age. Talent had brought him far but experience had sharpened him.

Under his lead, the party moved easily through the early morning woods.

Annette stayed close behind him, whispering quiet prayers when the cold crept into their bones. Esther followed while occasionally reaching down to gather a rare herb or two that caught her eye.

Hund brought up the rear, heavy boots crunching leaves beneath him, one hand never far from the hilt of his blade.

As time passed, the forest began to change with the light. Sunlight pierced through the dense canopy. The sounds of waking life returned like bird chirping and the distant rustle of animals and insects.

By the time the sun hung directly above them, they were deep into unfamiliar territory, far beyond the reach of the tavern and inn.

Jan paused near a thick tree root that jutted from the ground, pulling the map from his satchel.

He crouched low and unfolded it on a flat rock, his eyes narrowing. The parchment was old, marked with faint, almost cryptic symbols, the kind only rangers were able to read.

He studied it for a few moments, nodding to himself, then ran a finger along one of the lines.

"We're in the northern ridge now," he said, not looking up. "According to the map, there's an old structure nearby..."

He stood and looked at the others.

"A temple," he said.

Hund raised an eyebrow. "A temple? Out here?"

"That's what it says," Jan replied. "Marked in the old way but definitely a place of interest."

"Could be ruins," Esther muttered. "Could be something else. Some temples were abandoned centuries ago. Left to the forest. And not everything that sleeps stays quiet."

Annette glanced between them. "Do we go around it or check it?"

Jan folded the map and tucked it away. "We check it. We came this far to see what's stirring in the north. If the beasts are pushing out from somewhere, it might start there."

They continued forward, the atmosphere subtly shifting as they neared their destination.

The trees grew denser and looked older. Vines curled around trunks like veins. The sunlight dimmed, blocked out by a thick canopy above, and the sounds of the forest grew quieter.

Then Jan raised his hand, signaling them to stop.

Up ahead, partially hidden behind a curtain of hanging moss, was a stone archway.

Cracked and half-swallowed by time, it stood like the mouth of a forgotten place.

Strange markings were carved into the stone. Looks like unfamiliar runes that also dulled by age.

"There," Jan said quietly. "The temple."

No one spoke. They simply nodded and start to walk.

---