First Quest!

Lindarion swallowed and lifted his chin slightly, doing his best to appear composed—despite the faint redness creeping onto his cheeks.

"…You may rise."

His voice came out softer than intended, yet it carried enough authority to be heard. The maids straightened immediately, their gazes carefully lowered, their postures stiff with discipline.

'Alright… that worked.'

Taking a steady breath, he continued down the long hallway, though he could still feel the weight of their lingering gazes. He didn't belong in that room anymore.

'I've been locked inside for far too long…'

[They had their reasons, Host.]

'I know, System, but still… it's been too long.'

Eventually, Lindarion reached a vast, open hall.

The walls were adorned with countless paintings, each so intricately detailed that their artists had likely dedicated their entire lives to them. Overwhelming in complexity—yet undeniably beautiful.

At the center of the hall stood a long white wooden table, its edges lined with gold, stretching so far across the room that it seemed endless.

At the far end sat his father, as was fitting for the head of the family.

Lindarion approached with a composed expression, doing his best to maintain his dignity.

"Father, I am glad to see you."

He spoke with a slight bow of his head, his voice as steady as he could manage.

"Sit, my son."

His father's voice was far stronger than his—commanding, regal. Every word carried the weight of authority and years of experience.

Slowly, Lindarion pulled out a chair, climbing onto it with as much grace as he could muster. Even then, his height barely allowed him to see over the table's surface, but there was little he could do about that.

His father remained focused on a stack of documents, his gaze sharp and unwavering. Yet, even when he wasn't looking directly at Lindarion, the prince could feel his presence—subtle, yet impossible to ignore.

For a while, silence filled the hall. His father studied his papers. Lindarion studied him.

Then, from the corner of his eye, something caught his attention.

A thin golden thread… floating in the air.

His father remained absorbed in his work, giving Lindarion the opportunity to move. Slowly, he climbed down from his chair and began walking toward it.

"Where are you going, my son?"

His father's deep voice echoed through the hall, filled with power.

"I am just going to look around, Father."

His answer was soft, yet it carried across the vast space. Even so, his feet refused to move until his father responded, as if an invisible weight had rooted him in place.

"Be careful."

A small nod signaled his approval. Lindarion bowed slightly and continued forward.

As he followed the golden thread, the System's voice rang in his mind, urging him onward.

[Host, follow it.]

'Follow it…?'

The closer he got, the clearer it became that the System was referring to something significant. His eyes widened in both surprise and excitement.

The golden thread wasn't just floating randomly—it was leading him somewhere.

Following the System's advice, Lindarion pursued its path, weaving through the palace halls like a character in a dream.

Countless maids bowed as he passed, but he didn't stop. He had a goal now.

Finally, he arrived at a grand open doorway leading into a breathtaking garden.

The air was thick with the scent of flowers. Ancient trees stretched high into the sky, their canopies casting dappled shadows below. 

At the garden's center stood a magnificent fountain, its stonework adorned with elven runes, as if sculpted by the hands of a master craftsman over decades.

'Should I go outside…?'

He hesitated at the threshold. His mother had told him not to leave the palace, but… the garden was still part of the palace grounds, wasn't it?

Looking down, he saw the golden thread extend further, leading him deeper into the garden.

[Quest Created!]

'A quest?'

For the first time in so long, the System had given him a task. A bright, glowing panel appeared before his eyes.

—[Quest Window]—

Objective: Follow the golden threads to the deepest part of the garden.

Reward: +2 Intelligence, +1 Strength, +2 Wisdom, ???, ???

Failure Penalty: None. Status: Pending.

————————————

He accepted the quest.

[Quest Initiated! Good luck, Host!]

Taking a slow, steady breath, Lindarion stepped through the doorway.

The moment he did, a fresh breeze caressed his face, crisp and invigorating—like a salty sea wind despite the dense forest surrounding the palace.

His steps quickened. The golden threads led him deeper into the garden, and he followed them like a man possessed.

'How far will these threads take me…?'

Just as he passed a thick hedge, his eyes landed on something unexpected—a massive circular stone platform surrounded by towering trees and vibrant flowers.

But that wasn't what made him freeze, his breath catching in his throat.

'Who in the world is this?!'

At the center of the platform sat an elven woman, her legs crossed, her eyes shut in deep concentration.

'Is she meditating…?'

Her long, silken hair spilled over the ground, rising slightly with each slow breath she took. Her beauty was beyond anything he had ever seen—ethereal, almost unreal. Her skin glowed under the dappled sunlight, yet she wore nothing but a simple white robe. No gold, no elaborate designs—just simplicity.

But what truly left him speechless were the thousands of golden threads floating around her, flickering like stars in broad daylight, dancing just above the ground.

His heart pounded in his chest. A warmth spread through his body at the sight of those glowing strands.

"Welcome, Prince."

'So she's going to call me just Prince as well…'

The woman's voice rang through the air—powerful yet elegant, carrying a weight that sent a shiver down his spine. But what startled him most was that her lips hadn't moved.

Instead, her luminous blue eyes slowly opened—vast and endless, like an ocean with no shore in sight.

Suddenly, the golden threads wrapped around his body, vibrating softly as if they were… celebrating.

'Are they happy to see me?'

The woman's lips curled into a gentle smile, her beauty so divine it felt otherworldly.

"Yes, Prince. They are."

'?!'

Shock pulsed through him. His mind reeled. His body tensed—not out of fear, but from a strange, excited anticipation. His legs felt rooted to the spot, the realization hitting him like a bolt of lightning.

"You… you can read my thoughts?"

His voice came out slightly unsteady—not because he was afraid, but because he was in complete awe.

The woman tilted her head slightly, amused, her smile deepening.

"Yes, Prince. Now, sit."

She extended her hand gracefully, motioning to the space before her.

'This still seems sketchy, but I don't have another choice.'

With slight hesitation, his legs moved on their own, carrying him toward her far faster than expected. Lowering himself onto the ground, he sat directly in front of her.

The golden threads still swirled around him, their energy buzzing in the air.

Then—

A blinding white panel suddenly appeared before him, so close he nearly flinched.

[Quest Completed!]

Quest: Golden Threads> — Completed!

Rewards:

+2 Intelligence

+1 Strength

+2 Wisdom

??? → New Ability Unlocked: Mana Sense!

??? → New Ability Unlocked: Mana Thread Manipulation!

Bonus Reward: First Quest Completed! (+5 Free Stat Points)

[Congratulations, Host, on completing your first quest!]

Lindarion stared at the glowing panel in disbelief. The rewards were incredible—far beyond what he had expected.

For the first time in his new life, he had finally taken a step forward.