Part 1 - A Bigger World Than You Think
The guild was louder than usual. Not chaotic. Just... alive. Voices overlapped, boots scraped against wood, mugs clinked somewhere in the back and all of it dipped slightly when Adrian and Benjamin walked in. Not silent. Just quieter.
Adrian sighed under his breath. "...Yeah, I'm starting to miss being ignored."
Benjamin smiled. "A rare privilege."
They approached the counter. The same receptionist looked up then paused. Not surprised. Just... ready.
"...Report?" she asked.
Benjamin rested his staff lightly against the floor. "Scar hunt. Completed."
"...How many?" she asked.
Adrian leaned an elbow on the counter. "roughly Ten."
The pause this time lasted much longer.
"...Ten," the receptionist repeated.
Benjamin nodded in confirmation. "yes definitely ten confirmed."
She didn't question it or argue. Instead, she just reached for a ledger, flipping through the pages quickly before marking something down. "...Bodies?" she asked.
Adrian gestured casually behind him. "Outside. Tried to keep them in one piece. No promises."
"...We'll send someone," she replied, placing a heavy pouch of coins on the counter.
Adrian picked it up, weighing it in his hand. "...I'm assuming this is the part where I say 'worth it.'"
Benjamin adjusted his cloak. "It was not."
"...Yeah, that tracks." Adrian leaned slightly closer to the counter. "...Quick question."
The receptionist looked up at him.
"...The wolf," Adrian said.
Her expression shifted instantly not with fear, but with recognition. "...You encountered it?"
Benjamin answered this time. "Briefly."
"...And you're alive," she noted.
"...Working on it," Adrian replied.
There was a heavy pause. Then she spoke, her voice dropping. "That's a Dread Wolf."
The name landed heavier than expected. Adrian exhaled slowly. "...Yeah, that sounds like something I should avoid."
"You should," the receptionist said flatly. "No one hunts those."
Benjamin nodded once in agreement. "Tier Three, Low."
Adrian glanced at him, raising an eyebrow. "...You say that like it helps."
"It does," Benjamin replied calmly. "It explains why we left."
"...Fair." Adrian hesitated for a second, then leaned in. "...What about the girl?"
The receptionist blinked, caught off guard. "...Girl?"
"In the forest," Adrian explained, gesturing with his hand. "Green-silver magic. Told us to leave before we died. Very persuasive."
Benjamin gave a small nod. "That would be Elena."
Adrian glanced back at him. "...You say that like I'm supposed to know who that is."
Benjamin folded his arms slightly across his chest. "She's the guardian of Shadowfen."
"...Or as close to one as we have," the receptionist added quietly.
Adrian frowned, looking between the two of them. "...So she just... lives out there?"
"Watches it," Benjamin corrected.
"...That's worse." Adrian leaned back slightly, processing everything. A wolf. A guardian. Shadowfen.
"...Alright," Adrian said after a moment. "...New question."
Benjamin raised an eyebrow. "I'm concerned already."
Adrian gestured vaguely around them. "...What is all of this?"
There was a brief pause. "...You mean the forest?" the receptionist asked.
"No," Adrian said, before clarifying, "...All of it." The room. The guild. The world.
Benjamin studied him for a second longer than usual. Then, he turned. "...Come with me."
The back of the guild hall was much quieter. There was less traffic here, and the atmosphere felt more intentional. Shelves lined the walls, crowded with old books, detailed maps, and ancient records things people only touched when they were looking for real answers.
Adrian glanced around, taking it in. "...This feels like where the important stuff is."
Benjamin nodded. "It is."
An older man sat at a desk near the centre of the room, flipping through a worn book. He didn't look up immediately. "...If you're here to return something late," he said calmly, "I already know."
"We're not," Benjamin replied.
That caught his attention. The man looked up, his eyes sharp despite his age. "...Ah," he said, his gaze landing on Adrian. "You're the one."
Adrian blinked. "...I'm starting to hear that a lot."
Benjamin gestured toward the large table behind the old man. "Map of everything right there."
The man gave a single nod. He stood up slowly, walked over to the table, and pulled back a heavy cloth revealing a massive, worn, and incredibly detailed map of their world.
Adrian stepped closer without realizing it. "...Okay That's not small place."
At the top of the parchment, one name was written in bold lettering: ERYNDOR.
Benjamin rested a hand lightly on the edge of the table. "This," he said, "is where you are." He pointed toward the centre of the map at a tiny, marked location. "Stonehollow."
Adrian nodded slowly. "...Tiny."
"Very, not much of a town more of a small settlement" the older man confirmed.
"A frontier town," Benjamin added. "The border of monster territory."
"...Great," Adrian sighed. "Love that for me."
Benjamin moved his hand across the map to the west. "To the west Verdant Reach."
Adrian's eyes followed his hand, tracing a region covered in dense, deep green forests.
"High elves," Benjamin explained. "Spirits. Ancient territory, hidden from most."
"...So not somewhere I can just walk into."
"No atleast not easily."
"...Figured."
"North," Benjamin continued, shifting his hand upward toward jagged, snow-covered peaks. "The Frostcrown Mountains."
"Dark Elves and Ice Elves," the older man chimed in. "Constant war."
Adrian raised an eyebrow. "...Sounds very... relaxing."
"It is not."
"To the east the Iron Spine Mountains," Benjamin said, tapping the map to indicate a rugged range. "The Dwarven Kingdom."
Adrian leaned in slightly. "...That sounds more stable."
"It is, do lots of trades with other countries" Benjamin said. "Strongholds underground. Master craftsmen. Their king is Tier Four, High."
Adrian paused, looking up. "...And Tier Four is the limit."
"it is the peak of power" the older man said simply.
"...Interesting."
Benjamin moved his hand downward toward a vast, golden expanse. "The Sunfire Desert. Orcs, goblins, and lizardmen," he explained. "A harsh land. Survival-based strength."
"...So everything there wants to kill you."
"Yes."
"...Consistent world design."
"To the southwest the Sapphire Coast." Benjamin traced an area of ocean filled with ships and scattered islands.
"Pirates," Benjamin said.
Adrian nodded. "...Of course every world as pirates."
"No laws," the older man added.
"...Even better."
Benjamin tapped the upper west region, labeled the Northern Wilds. Adrian's eyes followed the gesture across forests and scattered ruins.
"...Beastkin?" he guessed.
Benjamin gave a small, approving nod. "Warchiefs. Strong leaders. Tier Four, High."
Adrian exhaled slowly, the weight of the map sinking in. "...So everyone strong is just... everywhere except here."
"Correct."
"...Great the best place to spwan."
"Spawn?" old man says confusinly
"Nevermind don't worry about it" adrian says brushing it off
Finally, Benjamin's hand moved slightly to the side. It was closer to their current position, painted in a noticeably darker shade. "Shadowfen."
The name felt heavier now. The map showed it clearly—a dark stretch of marshlands, twisted terrain, and unclear borders.
"...That's where we almost died," Adrian said.
Benjamin nodded. "Monster-controlled why no one controls it because of all the monsters the warchief hole diffrent corner around shadofen."
The older man spoke quietly, his voice grim. "...Few return from deep within."
Adrian's eyes lingered on the dark patch of the map. "...And she lives there."
"Watches it," Benjamin corrected again.
"...Right, That's still insane." He leaned back slightly, crossing his arms as he took it all in slowly, carefully.
"...Okay," he said after a moment. "...So let me get this straight." He gestured broadly at the map. "...I'm in a world where everything is stronger than me..."
Benjamin nodded. "...Correct."
"...Most places are dangerous..."
"Yes."
"...And the one place I just went into—"
"—is one of the worst," Benjamin finished for him.
Adrian sighed deeply. "...Fantastic."
A quiet beat passed before he straightened slightly. "...Alright. Good to know."
Benjamin watched him carefully, analyzing his reaction. "...You're taking this well."
Adrian shrugged. "...I fought ten sharks yesterday. ...This feels consistent."
Despite his casual words, his eyes drifted right back to one specific place on the map. Shadowfen. It sat there on the parchment—quiet and still.
"...Elena," he muttered under his breath.
Part 2 - Iron and Instinct
Adrian left the guild hall with one very important realization: he was underdressed. Not socially, but physically.
"...I'm fighting sharks, walking through the cobblestone streets of Stonehollow, "and my current strategy is 'don't get hit.'" He paused, then added dryly, "...Solid plan. Very sustainable."
Benjamin walked beside him, unusually quiet for once. For Benjamin, that silence meant something big was coming.
Adrian glanced sideways at his companion. "...You're thinking."
Benjamin smiled. "I am always thinking."
"...That's more concerning."
They moved into the busier part of town, navigating past market stalls, bustling cloth merchants, and prominent weapon racks displayed outside shops each one looking like a quiet invitation to spend money that Adrian barely understood yet.
"...So," Adrian said, gesturing vaguely at their surroundings, "where do people usually go when they want to not die slightly less?"
Benjamin didn't hesitate. "Ironroot is the best around."
Adrian blinked. "...That sounds expensive."
"It is."
"...Great."
The shop itself wasn't flashy. There were no glowing signs or dramatic displays to catch the eye. It was just solid wood, reinforced stone, and the heavy, rhythmic sound of metal striking metal from somewhere deep inside.
Clang. Clang. Clang.
Adrian paused outside for a second, listening to the rhythm. "...Yeah," he said quietly, "this feels like the right place."
Benjamin pushed the heavy door open. "Try not to insult him."
"...I feel like that's targeted advice."
"It is."
The heat hit them first, followed closely by the thick smell of iron, fire, and something heavier beneath it. The forge burned brightly in the back, its flames casting shifting orange light across racks of weapons and polished armor. At the center of it all stood a man—broad, solid, and precise in every movement despite the sheer weight behind his frame.
The hammer came down one last time. CLANG.
Sparks flew, but he didn't look up from his work. "...If you're here to waste my time," he said, his voice deep and steady, "leave."
Adrian glanced sideways at Benjamin. "...Friendly."
Benjamin ignored the comment and stepped forward. "Borin my favorite dwarf."
That caught his attention. The hammer stopped mid-motion, then lowered slowly. The man turned, his sharp, focused eyes measuring them instantly. "...Benjamin," he said. Then, his gaze shifted directly to Adrian and stayed there.
The silence stretched between them not awkward, but heavy and intentional.
Adrian shifted his weight slightly under the scrutiny. "...I get that look a lot lately," he said. "Should I be concerned?"
Borin didn't answer immediately. Instead, he stepped forward, each footstep landing solid against the stone floor. "...You're the one," he said.
Adrian sighed. "...Yeah, that seems to be going around."
Borin stopped a few feet away close enough to inspect, but not close enough to crowd. "...Hold out your arm."
Adrian raised an eyebrow. "...You usually buy someone dinner first, or—"
"Arm."
"...Right. Straight to business." Adrian held it out.
Borin didn't grab it or touch him. He just looked, studying it much longer than expected. Finally, he spoke. "...Not human."
Benjamin nodded slightly. "Not entirely."
Adrian blinked, looking between them. "...We're just saying that out loud now?"
Borin ignored him, continuing his inspection. "...Your structure is unstable."
"...That feels rude," Adrian muttered.
"...And efficient," Borin added.
"...Okay, that one I'll take."
Borin stepped back slightly, thinking and evaluating. "...You don't need armor."
Adrian paused. "...I'm sorry—what?"
"Armor slows you," Borin continued. "Restricts movement. You don't fight like that."
"...I fight like someone trying not to die."
"Exactly."
After a beat, Adrian sighed. "...That's not reassuring."
Borin turned and walked toward a side table. "...You need something that adapts."
Adrian glanced sideways at Benjamin. "...That sounds expensive."
Benjamin smiled. "It is."
"...I'm starting to regret asking."
Borin picked up a piece of dark fabric. At first glance, it looked simple, but as he moved it, the material shifted with a subtle, strange quality—almost like it caught the light wrong. "...This," Borin said, holding it out slightly, "is a defensive weave."
Adrian leaned in closer. "...That doesn't look like armor."
"It isn't."
"...Great."
Borin stepped back toward him. "...It responds to impact. Distributes force. Reduces damage."
Adrian blinked. "...So... a magic hoodie?"
Benjamin coughed lightly. "...Cloak."
"...Right. Magic cloak. Very dignified."
Borin's eyes narrowed slightly. "...You joke with my equitment."
"...Coping mechanism," Adrian replied instantly.
"...Good," Borin said, a heavy pause hanging in the air. "...You'll need it."
He stepped forward and placed the cloak over Adrian's shoulders. It settled perfectly not heavy or restrictive, but just... there, like it belonged.
Adrian blinked. "...Okay," he admitted quietly. "...That's actually kind of nice." He rolled his shoulders slightly, feeling no resistance or drag. "...well that's nice."
Borin watched him carefully. "...It fits."
Adrian looked down at himself, examining the dark cloak, its reinforced lining, and the subtle, almost invisible stitching along the edges. "...Yeah," he said slowly. "...It does."
Benjamin smiled faintly. "Appropriate."
Adrian glanced at him. "...For what exactly?"
Benjamin didn't answer. Of course.
Borin turned away, already moving back toward the forge. "...You'll need better later. This is a start."
Adrian blinked. "...A start?"
"...Don't die," Borin added simply.
"...Working on it." Adrian hesitated for a second, then spoke up. "...Why?"
Borin paused, though he didn't turn around. "...Why what?"
"...Why give me this?" Adrian said. "You don't know me."
A beat passed. "...I know enough," Borin said, finally glancing over his shoulder. "...You'll either die soon..."
Adrian nodded. "...Or?"
"...Or you'll become something this world hasn't seen."
Silence filled the room. Benjamin didn't interrupt, joke, or deflect. Adrian exhaled slowly, the weight of the words settling over him. "...No pressure."
Borin turned back to the forge. "...None at all."
CLANG.
The hammer fell again, making it clear the conversation was over.
Outside, the air felt cooler and noticeably quieter than the intense heat of the forge. Adrian adjusted the new cloak slightly, still getting used to the way it sat on his shoulders.
"...So," he said, breaking the silence, "that just happened."
Benjamin nodded. "It did."
"...He basically said I'm either going to die or become a problem."
"Yes."
"...Great. Love my options."
They walked in silence for a bit, navigating the cobblestone streets. Then, Adrian glanced back toward the quiet stone shop. "...Ironroot, huh."
Benjamin smiled faintly. "One of the best."
Adrian nodded slowly. "...Yeah," he said. "...I can see that."
But his mind was already moving forward, racing toward everything that lay ahead: training, fighting, Shadowfen, Elena, and the Dread Wolf.
"...Yeah," adjusting his grip on reality. "...I'm definitely underprepared."
Part 3 - Small Cuts, Bigger Problems
Adrian stepped out of the shop and paused. It wasn't because of danger, or anything dramatic it was just a feeling.
"...Right," glancing up at the sky. "...Time."
It wasn't an exact or precise measurement, but it was close enough. That strange internal sense the one tied to the door, to the world, and to whatever he was becoming was getting clearer by the second. He didn't have long left.
"...One more day," he said under his breath.
Benjamin glanced at him. "You're leaving again."
Adrian blinked, turning to his companion. "...I didn't say that out loud."
"You didn't need to."
After a brief pause, Adrian sighed. "...I'm starting to hate that."
Benjamin smiled. "I find it useful."
Adrian adjusted the cloak slightly, still finding it weird just how natural the fabric felt against his shoulders. "...I've got one thing left to check," he said.
Benjamin tilted his head, curiosity catching him. "Oh?"
Adrian didn't answer right away. Instead, he just looked past the edge of the town toward the distant, dark treeline of Shadowfen.
"...Yeah got a lot to do still."
The forest greeted him the same way it always did quiet. Too quiet. Adrian stepped carefully through the trees, his eyes scanning the shadows, his body loose but ready.
"...Okay, quick visit. No life-threatening mistakes. In and out." He paused, then added dryly, "...I give that plan about thirty seconds."
It lasted two minutes, which, honestly, was progress.
The sound hit him first: high-pitched, fast, and coming from too many directions at once. Adrian stopped in his tracks. "...Yeah," he sighed, "there it is."
Human voices shouted frantically up ahead.
"—There's too many!"
"Fall back!"
"I said fall—"
Something shrieked. Not just one, but a dozen of them.
Adrian stepped quickly through the treeline and immediately saw the problem. The small creatures were fast and too numerous to count at a glance. They had grey-green skin, jagged teeth, and clawed hands, moving like a swarm as they climbed over each other and lunged in chaotic bursts.
"...Those," Adrian said to himself, "are not fun."
Just ahead, a group of adventurers struggled near a broken rock formation, desperately trying to hold the swarm back. They were doing it poorly. Very poorly.
"HEY!" Adrian shouted, stepping forward.
One of the frantic adventurers glanced back at him, his face pale. "...RUN!"
"Yeah," Adrian said, rolling his shoulders slightly to loosen up, "working on something else."
The creatures turned all at once, dozens of small, glowing eyes locking onto him as a single collective threat.
"...Cool," staring down the horde. "...Love being the center of attention."
They rushed him. They were fast—too fast for clean targeting, and far too many for single hits. Adrian stepped forward anyway.
"...Alright, let's try something new."
He raised his hand. It wasn't fire this time, nor was it ice. It was something else entirely. He tapped into that same internal pull, but this time he made it sharper, lighter, and faster.
The air around his palm shifted. It wasn't heavy or burning; it was cutting.
The runes flickered—
[ Skill Fragment Detected: Wind Alignment (Incomplete) ]
Structure Integrity: 29% | Mana Efficiency: 22%
Optimization Possible.
[Dissect] [Store] [Reject]
Adrian didn't hesitate. "Store."
Something snapped into place within him rough, unstable, but entirely usable.
"...Okay," watching the approaching horde, "let's see what you do."
The first gremlin lunged. Adrian moved, but instead of stepping back, he dove forward. He swung his arm, and the air itself followed the motion in a sharp, invisible arc.
SLICE.
The creature split mid-motion. It was clean far too clean.
Adrian blinked in surprise. "...Oh well I am clearly very talented."
More came, but he didn't stop or think. He just moved. Each motion grew sharper, and each strike became faster and more controlled. It wasn't perfect, but it was enough.
"that's actually useful."
But there were simply too many. They swarmed, climbed, and scratched. One managed to slip through his defense, its claw dragging sharply across his cheek. Feeling the sting, Adrian flinched slightly. "...Rude."
He stepped back, adjusted his stance, and focused. "...Alright. Less chaos, more control."
He raised both hands this time. The air around him tightened and compressed, then violently released.
"Slicing Wind!"
A wide, invisible arc tore forward with undeniable force. The entire front line of creatures collapsed, cut clean all at once.
The swarm hesitated just for a second, but that was enough. The remaining creatures scattered, retreating and vanishing back into the dense forest as if they had never been there at all. Silence returned, sudden and complete.
Adrian exhaled slowly, lowering his hands. "...Okay, that's new...I say that too much..."
Behind him, a voice broke the quiet. "...You just... cut the air."
Adrian glanced back. The group of adventurers were staring at him in utter shock. One of them a mage, judging by the robes stepped forward slowly.
"...What were those things?" Adrian asked.
The mage blinked. "...You don't know?"
"...I try not to assume things that want to eat me."
After a brief pause, the mage gave a stiff nod. "...Fair." He adjusted his stance slightly before continuing. "...Those were Chrizzlings."
Adrian nodded slowly. "...Sounds annoying. Accurate name."
"Tier One, High," the mage explained. "Weak individually, but dangerous in numbers."
"...Yeah, I got that part."
The mage hesitated for a moment, then added, "There are... other types."
Adrian raised an eyebrow. "...There always are."
"Grey Gremlins," the mage said. "Tier One, Mid. Much weaker. Usually used for beginner hunts."
"...Great. Starter enemies."
The mage frowned slightly, thoroughly confused. "...I don't know what that means."
"...Don't worry about it."
"There's another," the mage continued, his voice dropping slightly. "Rare. Not many have seen it."
Adrian tilted his head slightly. "...Let me guess."
"Smaller. Faster. Almost... cat-like."
Adrian froze for half a second, his mind instantly flashing back. "...You're kidding."
The mage blinked. "...You've seen one?"
Adrian stared off into space, a small, chaotic, grinning creature flashing through his memory unstable and definitely not normal.
"...Yeah, I think I have. ...That explains a lot."
The mage shifted his weight slightly. "...And then there's the last type."
Adrian looked back at him, unimpressed. "...There's always a last type."
"...Tier Three," the mage said quietly.
That landed with a heavy weight. "...Excuse me?" Adrian asked.
"Rare," the mage continued. "Mostly found in the Northern Wilds. Not many survive encounters with them."
Adrian exhaled slowly, rubbing the back of his neck. "...So the strongest gremlin is Tier Three."
"Yes."
"...Of course it is."
A heavy pause settled over the clearing. Then, the mage spoke up again. "...Thank you."
Adrian waved it off casually. "Yeah, yeah. Try not to get eaten next time."
"...We'll keep that in mind."
Adrian turned his back on the group, looking deeper into the dense forest, toward Shadowfen, toward nothing. There was no movement. No sign of her anywhere.
He exhaled slowly, the disappointment settling in. "...Yeah," he muttered. "...Guess not today."
Suddenly, the internal pull hit him. It was much stronger this time, sharp and unmistakably clear. His time was up.
"...Alright," he said quietly to himself. "...That's my cue."
The world folded around him faster, smoother, and completely familiar now.
He was back in his room, back on Earth. It was the same bed, the same walls, and the exact same quiet.
Adrian sat there for a second, processing the sudden shift, before standing up. "...Okay, Let's see how much time passed."
The moment he opened the bedroom door, his grandmother was standing right there in the hallway. Immediately, her expression changed.
"...Adrian."
He blinked, caught off guard. "...Hey, Gran."
She stepped closer, her eyes narrowing slightly as she stared at his cheek. "...Your face."
Adrian froze. Then, the realization hit him. The cut from the gremlin. Right.
"...Oh," he said, trying to play it cool. "That."
"...That?" she repeated.
"It's nothing," he said quickly, backing up a step. "Just a work thing."
She crossed her arms, completely unimpressed. "...Your job is sales."
"...Aggressive sales?"
She didn't smile or even blink. "...Adrian."
After a heavy pause, he finally exhaled. "...Okay," he confessed. "...So there was a... situation."
Her expression remained completely stoic. "...What kind of situation?"
He thought rapidly for a second, trying to come up with a believable lie. "...You ever trip," he said, "and then somehow the ground wins harder than expected?"
Silence stretched between them. "...The ground," she repeated deadpan.
"Very hostile," Adrian confirmed with a nod.
She stepped closer, examining the clean cut on his cheek carefully. Then, she let out a soft sigh. "...You're eating, right?"
Adrian blinked, derailed by the sudden question. "...What?"
"You look slimmer," she said, her critical gaze studying his posture now. "...Healthier."
Adrian froze slightly. "...Yeah. Of course."
She raised an eyebrow, unconvinced. "...Of course?"
Adrian smiled faintly, leaning into a familiar joke. "...I only have this belly because you keep feeding me."
That got her, breaking her stoic expression just a little bit. "...Hm." She reached up, adjusting the collar of his shirt slightly like she always did. "...Just make sure you're taking care of yourself."
Adrian nodded. "...I am."
She studied his face for one more second before finally relenting. "...Alright."
With that, she turned and walked off down the hallway.
Adrian stood there in the quiet, completely still, before slowly letting out a long exhale. "...Okay, That was far too close."
He walked back into his room and glanced at his reflection in the mirror. The cut on his cheek was faint, already healing much faster than any normal injury should. His build looked slightly leaner subtle, but undeniable to anyone who knew him.
"...Yeah," he said quietly to the empty room. "...Something's definitely changing."
And somewhere deep inside him, a hidden spark shifted watching, waiting, and growing.