Quest

Dim light flickered against the walls, the single lantern projecting shadows over the polished wooden floors. Aric sat at his desk, hunched slightly forward, his sharp eyes scanning the interface floating before him. 

The faint hum of the system was ever-present in the quiet room, a subtle reminder of its constant presence in his life. He hadn't slept, not properly, in days—but he didn't need rest right now. What he needed was clarity. 

The system chimed softly. 

[Sub-Quest Activated: Intercept the Draken Envoy.] 

Aric exhaled through his nose, his jaw tightening as he read the details of the mission. The Draken envoy wasn't just a nuisance; their arrival was a threat to everything he had worked for. If they reached the imperial court, they'd displace the careful threads of manipulation and alliances he'd spent months weaving.