The sun had barely risen over the jagged peaks surrounding Greystone when Kaelen stepped out of his humble wooden home. The chill of dawn seeped through his thin cloak, but he welcomed the cold more than the stifling heat of midday.
Around him, the village stirred to life—an uneven scatter of dirt huts, crude farms, and struggling livestock. The faint aroma of smoke from early fires mingled with the sharp tang of earth and sweat.
Kaelen's gaze swept over the cracked fields and empty granaries. Hunger was their constant companion. Without rain for months, crops had failed. The few stores of grain left were precious beyond measure.
"Brother! Brother, wait!" A small voice called from behind him.
Turning, Kaelen saw Liora running toward him, clutching a bundle of wild herbs. Her dark eyes shone with the intensity of youth who refused to surrender to despair.
"Liora, what have you found this time?" Kaelen asked, forcing a smile.
She held out the herbs. "Wild thyme and some bitterleaf. It's not much, but it can help with digestion and keep us from getting sick."
Kaelen took the offering gratefully. "Good work. Every little bit helps."
Despite their hardships, Liora's spirit was unbreakable, and it was that spirit that gave Kaelen the strength to carry on. She was not just his sister; she was the spark that ignited hope in this forgotten village.
As they walked toward the village square, Kaelen's mind raced. The Refund System had activated only hours ago, its glowing interface still fresh in his memory.
Welcome, Lord Kaelen.Refund System activated.Current Refund Multiplier: 15xSystem Points (SP): 0
The system's voice, calm and emotionless, had felt surreal. How could something so powerful have been bestowed upon him—a low-level lord of a forgotten village?
Yet, the system was clear: everything spent on his village, his people, his territory—would be refunded many times over. The potential was limitless, but the rules were strict.
Kaelen shook his head as if to clear the overwhelming thoughts.
"Come on," he said to Liora. "We need to check the traps and see if there's any chance of hunting today."
Outside the village perimeter, the dense forest loomed like a living wall. The trees, though scarred by the harsh seasons, still harbored the wild game that was the villagers' only reliable source of food.
Kaelen adjusted the simple bow strapped to his back. Hunting had never been his strength, but survival required that he try.
"Remember what I taught you," he said. "Quiet footsteps, sharp eyes."
Liora nodded, her small frame already crouching low as they approached the first trap.
To their relief, a rabbit was caught, its struggles feeble.
"Good," Kaelen breathed. "It's not much, but it's something."
As he reached down to free the animal, a small notification flashed in his mind's eye:
Resource spent: Hunting Supplies (5 units).Refund Multiplier Active: 15x.Refunded: 75 units.System Points earned: 0.
Kaelen blinked. The system had already started refunding his investments—even on hunting supplies.
"Wait," Liora whispered, pointing to a small glowing symbol hovering near the rabbit. "What's that?"
Kaelen focused. The system's signature shimmer surrounded the animal—a sign that the Refund System was working even on natural resources they used.
"This is... incredible," Kaelen muttered. "If this continues, we can rebuild faster than anyone thought possible."
Returning to Greystone with their modest catch, Kaelen and Liora were greeted by curious eyes. Villagers gathered in small groups, whispering anxiously.
Kaelen cleared his throat and addressed them.
"People of Greystone, I know times are hard. But today marks the beginning of our rise."
He revealed the glowing interface of the Refund System projected before him.
"This system will refund every resource we invest back to us multiplied many times over. If we use it wisely, we will have more than enough food, weapons, and tools to build a strong village."
Skepticism rippled through the crowd.
"What do you mean, refund? Where will these resources come from?" an elderly man asked.
Kaelen shook his head. "I don't know the full details yet. But I do know it works."
He then explained the mechanics as clearly as he could:
Every resource spent on the village, its defenses, hunting, or territory expansion is refunded at a multiplier starting at 15x, potentially going up to 10,000x with upgrades.
For every 100x refund milestone, we earn System Points (SP). These SPs can be used to upgrade our stats and purchase powerful skills.
There is a special exploit rule for summons: we can only refund summonings three times per week, making them valuable and strategic.
Refunds also apply when spending on the people — training, healthcare, and technology.
The system will issue quests for important events to help guide us.
The crowd's murmurs grew hopeful.
One villager, a burly hunter, stepped forward. "If this is true, then I'm with you, Lord Kaelen."
Later that evening, Kaelen found Liora in the small workshop they had built beside their home. She was surrounded by strange devices—crystals glowing faintly with elemental energy, small vials filled with swirling liquids.
"I've been working on something," she said without looking up. "If we can control the elements a little, maybe we can grow food faster and protect ourselves better."
Kaelen watched her with pride. Liora's hybrid class—Elemental Artificer—was rare and powerful in its own right. She didn't rely on souls or spirits like he did; her strength was in mastering natural forces.
"If your inventions work, we'll be unstoppable," Kaelen said, smiling.
Liora finally looked up. "And when we use the Refund System, the resources spent on these inventions will be refunded to me. It means I can keep improving faster."
Kaelen nodded. "Our skills complement each other perfectly."
Just as night fell, Kaelen's system interface beeped urgently.
New Quest Available:Title: "Secure Food Supplies"Description: Hunt and gather enough food to sustain the village for one month. Use the Refund System to maximize returns.Reward: 10 System Points, access to hunting skill upgrades.
Kaelen smiled grimly. This was just the beginning.
"Liora, we have our first quest," he said.
She grinned. "Then let's get to work."
That night, as the village lay quiet, Kaelen stood outside gazing at the stars.
The path ahead was daunting. There were powerful lords beyond their borders, untamed beasts in the forests, and a looming war whispered on the wind.
But with the Refund System and his sister's unique talents, Kaelen felt something he hadn't in years—hope.
The journey from a lowly lord of a struggling village to a powerful necromancer commanding undead armies was just beginning.
And one day, they would be ready for the war that would shake the very foundations of the realm.