⊙---System Guide

A sudden series of system notifications jolted Kael from his thoughts. The chime resonated in his ears, sharp and insistent. A translucent screen flickered to life in his peripheral vision, hovering just within reach.

[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION]

You have yet to complete the tutorial quest.

The words glowed faintly, accompanied by a soft pulse of light. Kael's chest tightened as he read the details of his next task, the weight of responsibility settling over him like a shroud.

[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION]

[Next Tutorial Quest: Begin Your Journey]

Destination: Evergrove

Objective: Meet the town elder and assist him in collecting herbs.

[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION]

[Main Quest Now Available]

You have five incomplete main quests.

Kael's gaze lingered on the notification, curiosity sparking within him. Main quests? he thought, intrigued by the possibilities. Eager to investigate further, he reached out to open the menu—but was promptly met with an error message.

[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION]

You have not reached the required level or fulfilled the necessary conditions to access Main Quests.

Conditions:

--Meet your System Guide – Incomplete

--Reach Level 5 – Incomplete

--Complete the Tutorial Quest – Incomplete

Kael frowned. A sharp sting of disappointment settled in his chest, but confusion quickly took its place. Meet your System Guide? He blinked. I've already done that... haven't I?

The question gnawed at him, unease curling in his gut like a serpent. He hesitated before speaking, his voice tinged with suspicion.

"A System Guide? Aren't you the system guide?"

His words were directed toward the ever-present entity lurking within his subconscious. For a moment, there was only silence—then, a low chuckle echoed in his mind, rich with amusement.

"No, I'm not," the entity replied, its tone calm yet detached, as if indulging a child's misunderstanding.

Kael's frown deepened. "Then… what are you?"

A long pause followed, heavier than it should have been, as though the entity was weighing its answer. When it finally spoke, there was an edge to its voice.

"Hmmm. You lack the strength to make me reveal my true form or even my name."

Kael clenched his jaw.

Frustration simmered beneath his confusion.

"What's that supposed to mean? How am I supposed to find my System Guide if you won't even tell me who you are?"

The entity offered no reply, fading back into silence.

Kael let out a slow breath, forcing himself to push aside the irritation. Before he could dwell on it further, another chime rang in his mind, and a glowing notification appeared.

[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION]

[Unclaimed Rewards Detected]

Kael blinked. "Rewards? Oh, right," he muttered, recalling the earlier system message he had ignored in his rush to survive. He navigated the menu with a few quick motions, and there it was:

[Reward Earned: Beginner's Luck Chest]

"Beginner's Luck, huh?" Kael said, tilting his head. "Well, let's see what you've got for me then." He selected the option to open the chest.

[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION]

[Would you like to open the Beginner's Luck Chest?]

Kael hovered over the confirmation for a moment, anticipation building. "Yes," he said aloud, his voice steady.

As soon as he confirmed, the chest materialized before him, hovering mid-air and radiating a soft golden glow. The air seemed to hum with energy as the lid creaked open. 

A blinding burst of light erupted from within, forcing Kael to shield his eyes. The metallic hum of the system echoed in his mind, punctuating the radiant display. The brilliance faded after a few moments, revealing the treasures inside.

When the light subsided, he found himself staring at the chest's contents: 100 gleaming coins, a rusty iron sword that looked more ornamental than practical, and a torn piece of parchment.

[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION]

[Items Acquired: 100 Coins, Rusty Iron Sword (Beginner Level), Map Fragment of Erendath]

Kael reached for the coins first, their cool metallic surface clinking together with satisfying weight. "So, coins are the currency here in Erendath," he muttered. 

As soon as he touched them, they vanished in a flash of golden particles, their value seamlessly added to his virtual bank. A notification blinked into his peripheral vision:

[Total Coins: 350]

"Not bad," Kael noted. "Looks like killing Darkspawns and completing quests will be the way to go. And…" He picked up the map fragment. "I guess treasure hunting is on the agenda too."

A quiet chuckle echoed in his mind.

"Treasure chests, Darkspawns, and secret realms. You're diving headfirst into Erendath's intricacies. Just don't bite off more than you can chew."

Kael turned the rusty sword over in his hands, his nose wrinkling. The blade was chipped and dull, its weight unbalanced.

"This thing wouldn't cut through butter, let alone a Darkspawn."

The entity's voice was laced with amusement. "Even the humblest tools have their purpose. Though, granted, it might take a miracle for that sword."

Kael rolled his eyes and refocused on the map fragment. A notification flickered into view.

[Map Fragment of Erendath: 1/10] 

[Description: A piece of the legendary map of Erendath. Collect all 10 fragments to reveal its secrets. Fragments can be found in treasure chests, secret realms, or by exploring abyss rifts]

"Ten pieces," Kael muttered, exhaling sharply. "Figures it wouldn't be that easy."

He tried querying the system about secret realms and abyss rifts, but the familiar message appeared:

[Information Restricted. Level Requirement Not Met]

Kael groaned. "You've got to be kidding me! Every time I want to learn something useful, it's either locked or off-limits."

"Patience," the entity chided. "You're trying to sprint before you've even learned to walk. Finish the tutorial first. Then we'll talk about maps and rifts."

Kael sighed and opened his quest log, bringing up the next objective:

[Tutorial Quest: Gather Herbs]

[Description: Travel to Evergrove and meet with the Town Elder to start the quest]

[Objective: Collect medicinal herbs for the village healer]

[Reward: 50 XP, 50 coins, Basic Healing Potion x1]

He selected the quest, and a glowing path unfurled before him. Adjusting the rusty sword at his side, he set off.

The forest trail was alive with rustling leaves and distant birdsong, but tension coiled in Kael's gut. The entity's warning about Darkspawns lingered in his mind, making every shadow seem like a threat.

Then, the air grew heavy. The chirping of birds ceased. Kael's breath hitched as a prickle ran down his spine.

A pair of glowing red eyes stared at him from the underbrush.

The Darkspawn emerged, grotesque and predatory.

Kael's grip tightened around his sword. His heart pounded.

The system chimed.

[Darkspawn: Level 1] 

Threat Level: Low

Engaging in Battle Mode.

"Low threat, huh?" Kael said, his voice tinged with skepticism.

Kael swallowed hard. Low threat or not, this thing looks ready to kill.

He had no choice but to fight.

He drew the rusty sword. It felt awkward in his hands, but it was all he had.

The Darkspawn lunged, claws slicing through the air. Kael barely dodged, stumbling as he swung the sword in a wide arc. The blade scraped against the creature's hide, leaving only a shallow cut.

"Terrible form," the entity quipped. "Center your weight. Watch its movements. Anticipate."

Kael gritted his teeth, adjusting his stance. The Darkspawn circled him, its movements fluid and predatory. 

The Darkspawn lunged again, faster this time.

Kael clenched his jaw, exhaling sharply as he shifted his weight. He wasn't just reacting now—he was waiting. The moment its claws slashed through empty air, he pivoted, bringing the sword down with everything he had.

The rusty sword connected with its neck, severing the head in a spray of dark ichor.

[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION]

[Darkspawn Defeated: +50 XP]

[All stats increase by 1]

[SP +2]

[Dark Essence x 1]

[Coins: 50]

Kael let out a shaky breath, staring at the motionless corpse.

"I actually did it," he said, a small laugh escaping him.

"Barely," the entity replied. "But progress is progress. Onward to Evergrove. The journey's just begun."

Kael wiped the blade clean on the grass and continued down the trail, his confidence bolstered despite the lingering adrenaline. 

For the first time, he felt a flicker of excitement. This world was dangerous, yes, but it also held potential—for growth, for discovery, for something greater.

By the time he reached Evergrove, the village's modest buildings were bathed in the amber glow of late afternoon. Villagers watched him with a mix of curiosity and wariness as he passed. 

He ignored their stares and focused on the quest at hand. A small hut bearing the healer's insignia stood at the edge of the village.

Kael approached it, his resolve firm.

"Alright," he muttered.

"Let's finish this tutorial and find that System guide. One step at a time."