The tavern fell silent the moment the mysterious woman closed the door behind her.
Her silver-glowing eyes swept across the eight friends like she could see their search history, insecurities, and the last snack they stole from each other.
Zoya immediately hid behind Mira.
Kian casually stepped behind Dev because "muscle shield."
Dev stepped behind Kian because "emotional support shield."
The woman smiled knowingly.
"Don't be afraid," she said, her voice soft but echoing like she had reverb turned on. "I am here to guide you."
Aria straightened. "Guide us… where, exactly?"
The woman glided closer, her dress flowing like mist. "Into the story that binds this round. The tragic tale that needs your hands—your choices—to rewrite its fate."
Rhea whispered, "So we're basically unpaid interns in a magical breakup?"
Kian whispered back, "Shh, interns get paid with experience. We'll get trauma."
Ravi cleared his throat. "Ma'am, with all due respect, can we get a tutorial? Or like… a manual? A dictionary? Anything?!"
The woman lifted her hand.
Instantly—
WHOOSH!
The tavern darkened, the lanterns glowing brighter, floating slightly in midair like drunk fireflies. Dust swirled into the room, forming shimmering shapes.
"Listen carefully," she said. "The first story is called—"
The dust burst into an image:
A grand castle.
A moonlit garden.
Two lovers standing inches apart.
A storm brewing overhead.
"—The Forgotten Ballad of Two Lovers."
The friends leaned in despite themselves.
"In this world," the woman continued, "lived a noblewoman named Elise… and a hunter named Aiden."
The dust figures shifted—Elise appearing elegant in a flowing gown, Aiden rugged and handsome, bow slung across his back.
"They loved each other fiercely," the woman said, "but fate forbade their union."
Zoya sighed, already invested.
Kian gagged.
Dev wiped an imaginary tear.
Yuvan muttered, "This game is shipping NPCs harder than my ex shipped herself away from me."
The dust turned darker, swirling violently.
"One night," the woman said, her voice dropping, "Elise vanished. Aiden searched endlessly. When he finally found her… she no longer remembered him."
A collective gasp filled the room—
mostly from Zoya.
"And the tragedy only worsened," the woman added.
Aria stepped forward. "What do we have to do?"
The woman turned to her. "Live the story. Fix what went wrong. Uncover the truth."
The scroll on the table glowed.
OBJECTIVE UPDATED:
Find Elise.
Find what stole her memories.
Restore the love… or repeat the story forever.
Yuvan groaned. "Repeat the story forever? Bruh, I can't even repeat my gym reps."
Dev glared. "You don't go to the gym."
"Exactly."
The woman extended her hand, and suddenly the tavern floor began to ripple like water.
"Wait—WAIT!" Aria yelped. "We didn't agree—"
Too late.
The floor dissolved beneath them.
THUD!
They landed on cobblestone streets.
When they opened their eyes, they were in a moonlit medieval city—old stone buildings, ivy-covered balconies, torches glowing warm along narrow alleys.
Villagers walked past them, completely ignoring their modern facial expressions of panic.
"What… just happened?" Mira whispered.
"We teleported," Ravi breathed. "We're in the story."
"AND WHY AM I WEARING A CORSET?" Zoya screamed. "I CAN'T BREATHE. I CAN'T EVEN THINK."
"You never think," Kian replied.
She kicked him.
He deserved it.
Aria took a deep breath. "Okay. Mission one: find Elise."
They turned a corner and stopped dead in their tracks.
Because standing right in front of them—
in a moonlit garden full of roses—
was Aiden, the hunter.
Tall.
Dark hair.
Sharply defined jawline.
Eyes that looked like they had been marinated in heartbreak for 72 hours.
Zoya whispered, "Oh lord, he's hot."
Rhea blushed.
Mira blinked twice.
Even Dev whispered, "Respectfully… damn."
Aiden spotted them and walked closer, bow in hand, suspicion in his eyes.
"Who are you?" he demanded.
Aria stepped forward quickly. "Uh—we're travelers! Passing through! Sightseeing! Love tourism!"
Kian smacked his forehead.
Aiden narrowed his eyes. "Travelers? At this hour?"
Rhea whispered, "Someone lie convincingly—Aria's sweating."
Ravi stepped up and announced boldly, "We're… official heartbreak investigators."
Everyone stared at him.
Ravi added confidently, "We investigate heartbreaks. And fix them."
Aiden's eyes widened.
"What did you say…?"
Oh no.
Everyone looked at Ravi like he just detonated a bomb.
Aiden grabbed Ravi's collar.
"You can help her?! You can restore Elise's memories?!"
Zoya squeaked. "RAVI, CONGRATULATIONS, YOU ARE NOW A CERTIFIED THERAPIST."
Ravi gulped. "We'll… try?"
Aiden's expression cracked—
hope spilling through for the first time.
"She's in the castle," he said. "But she doesn't remember me. Doesn't remember anything… except her nightmares."
"Nightmares?" Kian repeated.
Aiden nodded.
"She sees a monster. One no one else can see."
The group exchanged a look.
This was no ordinary love story.
Mira whispered, "Guys… the game wouldn't give us a simple romance. There's something hiding in this story."
Rhea shivered. "Something that took her memories."
Aiden stepped back, gripping his bow.
"If you truly want to help… then follow me."
He turned and ran toward the castle path.
Aria sighed dramatically.
"Okay guys," she said. "Round 1 officially begins."
Yuvan raised his hand. "Quick question—on a scale of one to ten, how deadly do you think this story is—"
A distant roar echoed across the night.
They froze.
"…oh great," Kian muttered. "The story has a boss monster."
Zoya whispered, "I want to go home."
Dev shook his head. "We're eight people. We can do this. WE GOT POWER OF FRIENDSHIP—"
Another roar shook the ground.
"FRIENDSHIP IS NOT ENOUGH," Dev corrected immediately.
Aria took a deep breath.
"Let's go."
The eight friends stepped into the castle shadows—
just as glowing eyes appeared in the darkness behind them.
But they didn't see that.
Not yet.
And so…
Round 1 truly began.
---