secrets of Invernia

Lisa and Nasuke walked through the bustling streets of Invernia. The city was alive with activity, the cobblestone roads crowded with merchants, adventurers, and townsfolk going about their day. Every so often, someone would wave or nod in Lisa's direction, to which she responded with a polite smile and a slight bow of her head.

"You're quite famous around here," Nasuke remarked, glancing at her.

"Well, I am the leader of the Holy Knights," Lisa said with a smirk. "What did you expect?"

They soon arrived at a building with a large wooden sign hanging above the door. The sign read The Silver Hearth Inn in bold, elegant lettering.

"Let's head inside," Lisa said, opening the door. "Ryo might be here."

Nasuke followed her into the inn, immediately hit by the smell of roasted meat and freshly baked bread. The warm glow of a crackling fireplace illuminated the room, casting flickering shadows on the walls. Adventurers sat at tables, sharing stories over mugs of ale, while a bard strummed a lively tune on his lute in the corner.

At a table near the back, Ryo sat alone, his dark hair slightly disheveled. He had a confident air about him, lounging in his chair with his feet propped up on the table. As Lisa and Nasuke approached, Ryo looked up, his expression shifting to one of surprise.

"Ryo, look who I've brought," Lisa said, gesturing to Nasuke.

Ryo's feet hit the floor with a thud as he stood, his eyes wide with shock. "Nasuke! You survived!"

Nasuke sat down across from him, his expression serious. "What is this game?" he asked bluntly.

"Straight to the point, huh?" Ryo said, grinning as he sat back down. "I like it."

Nasuke folded his arms. "Tell me everything."

Lisa pulled out a chair and joined them. "This isn't just a game, Nasuke," she said, her tone grave. "This is a world far beyond human understanding."

"How so?" Nasuke asked, leaning forward.

"This world, Invernia, was created by the gods," Lisa explained. "Not just as a game, but as a battleground. A rogue god once sought to destroy the balance between the real world and the divine realm. To stop them, the other gods sealed them here."

Nasuke raised an eyebrow skeptically. "So, what, they trapped the rogue god in the game?"

Lisa nodded. "Exactly. But the gods couldn't leave Invernia unguarded. They remained here, watching over this world to ensure the balance wasn't disrupted again."

"So where do we come in?" Nasuke asked, his curiosity piqued.

"The gods chose people like us," Ryo said. "They gave us powers, abilities beyond the reach of ordinary players, to ensure that we'd be able to deal with any threats that arise."

Nasuke frowned. "Wait a second. Lisa, how do you know about Arcanis? Did he choose you, too?"

Lisa shook her head. "Not exactly. Each of us has a god who guides us. My god told me about you—and about Arcanis."

Ryo leaned back, smirking. "I have to hand it to you, Nasuke. No one who's been granted Arcanis' system has ever made it this far before."

"Why?" Nasuke asked.

"Because Arcanis doesn't mess around," Ryo said. "His quests are brutal, and his expectations are sky-high. Enjoy the peace while it lasts, because once your break is over, things are going to get intense."

Nasuke processed the information quietly for a moment. "So, both of you have rare classes, right?"

"That's right," Ryo said.

Lisa nodded in agreement.

"What about the third one?" Nasuke asked.

"She's out on a quest," Lisa replied. "And believe me, she's one of the strongest system holders out there. If anyone can handle the challenges this world throws at us, it's her."

Nasuke shifted the topic. "What about the rules of this world? How does it work?"

Ryo shrugged. "It's pretty simple, really. Everything here functions just like it does in the real world."

"Right," Lisa added. "For example, if you eat here, your body in the real world feels full. And if you don't eat, you'll feel hunger—even outside the game."

Nasuke's eyes widened. "Wait, so the people in this world... are they real?"

"They're as real as you and me," Ryo said, his tone serious. "If you kill someone here, they won't respawn. Once they're gone, they're gone for good."

Nasuke sat back, letting the weight of those words sink in.

Ryo stood, stretching. "Lisa and I have some business to take care of. We'll see you around."

Lisa smiled at Nasuke. "Take care of yourself. You've got a lot to learn."

With that, the two of them left, leaving Nasuke alone at the table. He stared at the flickering candle in front of him, his mind racing. Suddenly, a notification from the system appeared before him.

System Notification:

Rest here for the day.

"Of course," Nasuke muttered. "It waits until after they leave to tell me what to do."

Sighing, he stood and approached the receptionist's counter. A young woman stood behind it, her auburn hair tied back in a neat ponytail. Her name tag read Chloe Mirabel.

"Hi, how can I help you?" she asked, her voice smooth and polite.

"I'd like to book a room," Nasuke said.

"For how long?" Chloe asked.

"A week," Nasuke replied. "If everything works the same as in the real world, a week should be enough before I head back to school."

"That'll be 60 bronze coins," Chloe said with a friendly smile.

Nasuke reached into his pocket and pulled out three gold coins. "How much is this in gold?"

Chloe's eyes widened slightly. "One gold coin is more than enough, sir," she said, her voice tinged with surprise.

"Great," Nasuke said, placing one gold coin on the counter.

Chloe hesitated for a moment before taking the coin. She handed him a key with a room number etched into the tag.

"Your change, sir," she said, holding out a small pouch.

Nasuke waved her off. "Keep it."

Chloe blinked in surprise but nodded her thanks as Nasuke walked away, heading toward the staircase.

Once inside his room, Nasuke locked the door and threw himself onto the bed. The mattress was surprisingly comfortable, and he stared up at the ceiling, his thoughts drifting. A new quest notification appeared in his vision.

System Notification:

Tomorrow's Objectives:

1. Visit the guild and sign up.

2. Purchase new clothes and armor.

"That's manageable," Nasuke thought, his eyelids growing heavy. As the events of the day replayed in his mind, exhaustion finally overtook him, and he drifted into a deep sleep.