---
The breeze was unusually cold, slipping between the trees as if the forest itself breathed with an ancient fear.
Arthur stood at the edge of the dirt path leading into the depths of the eastern forest, observing the tangled shadows before him.
Suddenly, a blue frame appeared:
---
[First Quest Activated]
Quest Name: Shards of Fate
Objective: Save "the Outcast" before she falls into darkness.
Reward: Increase physical stats + unlock a new function of Insight Eye
Failure Penalty: Target dies… and becomes one of your future enemies.
---
Arthur raised a brow.
"The Outcast? Who do you mean?"
The system shouted with exaggerated enthusiasm:
[Ooooh! It's your first quest, show some excitement!]
"I'm excited… internally."
Arthur replied coldly.
The system cleared its throat—despite being just a voice—then continued:
[Alright… the target is a girl. She's supposed to get lost today, enter a cave corrupted by darkness, and remain trapped there for years.
The cave devours mana, tortures those who enter… and eventually breaks their mind, turning them into someone entirely dark.]
Arthur walked calmly, following the faint traces of small footsteps on the ground.
"Her name?"
[She's not famous yet… but she will become one of the most dangerous characters in the future.
Her title will be The Lady of Ash.]
Arthur stopped.
That name… was not unfamiliar.
"The one who blows up an entire city in quest 512?"
[Yes, yes… the very same. Man, you really read the game a lot!]
the system said in admiration.
"I was stuck in the higher levels for months… of course I know."
They continued walking as the trees grew denser, turning daylight gradually into near dusk.
Suddenly, Arthur stopped.
There was a girl.
Standing between the trees, trembling.
Her dirty silver hair reached her shoulders, and her blue eyes were filled with fear.
Her clothes were torn at the edges, as if she had been running for a long time.
The system whispered:
[Target… has appeared.]
The girl hadn't noticed Arthur; she was staring at the entrance of a cave that swallowed light.
The cave's mouth looked like the jaws of a beast, exhaling cold air tinged with dark mana.
Her steps were moving toward it unconsciously… just as the original story foretold.
Arthur called out in his calm tone:
"You. Stop."
The girl froze, then turned slowly.
Her eyes were hollow… as if she was moments away from falling into despair.
She said in a hoarse voice:
"I… I'm lost… I don't know… where to…"
The system whispered with dramatic fear:
[If she enters now… she'll never be the same again. This is the original fate!]
Arthur approached her step by step, then asked with a cold gentleness:
"What's your name?"
She replied in a voice barely audible:
"Eliara…"
Yes… that was her true name, mentioned only once in the entire game.
Arthur extended his hand to her.
"You are not in the right place, Eliara."
She hesitated, stepped back, then looked toward the cave with terror—
as if something inside was calling to her.
She suddenly screamed:
"No… no, that voice… I hear it… it says it can help me…"
The system whispered:
[The corruption is whispering to her. This is very, very bad.]
Arthur looked at the cave with something resembling disgust, then said quietly:
"Shut up."
He wasn't talking to Eliara.
He was talking to the cave itself.
For a moment… even the air fell silent.
He extended his hand again to the girl, who was seconds away from collapsing:
"If you want to live… take my hand."
Eliara trembled violently, then fell to her knees, crying:
"I don't want… to hear that voice anymore… I want to leave this place…"
Arthur approached her, placed his hand on her shoulder, and said firmly:
"I won't let you fall."
A window suddenly appeared:
---
[Congratulations! Fate has been altered.]
Eliara has been saved from entering the cursed cave.
New story branch unlocked: "The Lady of Ash… Saved."
[Quest Reward: +5 Stats]
[Bonus Reward: +1 Endurance]
---
The system commented in a surprised tone:
"Man… you're changing the story faster than I expected!"
Arthur replied while lifting the unconscious Eliara:
"The story… belongs to me now."
Then he walked away from the cave, the darkness behind him exhaling in silent frustration.
---