Sonata of the Shackled Sky
-Name: [Not Set]
-Race: Aviankin (Aurelius)
-Title: Caged Songbird
-Class: Bard
-Age: 18
-Level: 5 (0/3200exp)
-Status: Healthy
-Health: 50/50
-Mana: 100/100
-Attack: 10
-Defence: 5
-Dodge: 70
-Strength: 2
-Endurance: 2
-Agility: 10
-Dexterity: 15
-Intelligence: 8
-Wisdom: 7
-Charisma: 15
-Luck: 8
-Free Points: 0
-Skills: Flight (Innate Racial), Hymn of Strength, Heart Melody, Dissonant Shriek, Appraisal (Innate), Serenade of Wind
-Equipment: Siren's Choker
It was when she looked at the Race Tab that she noticed something different about her body. First thing was the collar with a small silver bell attached to her neck.
While she felt no discomfort, she was usually not the type of person to wear a choker of all things.
It was then that she felt a ticklish sensation on her back, craning her head she saw a large set of silvery white wings. There were hints of black on the tips as if it was the fading notes of a song.
'W-Wings?! Why do I have Wings!!?'
It was then that she noticed that the reason she felt ticklish was that her top was completely backless and that her wings sprouted from her shoulder blades. With a mere thought, the wings spread to their full glory.
'They're beautiful….Wait no! I should be freaking out about having Wings of all things! Right?'
Her breath hitched at the sight of her fully extended wings, they were massive yet elegant and sleek. The weight on her back was unfamiliar but… not uncomfortable.
She flexed the muscles instinctively, and to her surprise, they obeyed with a natural grace. The sensation of air brushing against her feathers sent an odd shiver through her, a feeling both foreign and strangely nostalgic.
It was at that moment she noticed that there was a mirror in the corner of the room and she found herself practically entranced by what she saw.
"This is fucking insane…At least I won't have to worry about anyone recognizing me here. That's one good thing I guess…"
Her once Auburn hair had become a vibrant cherry red with streaks of silvery white flowing through it. While her appearance in the real world was androgynous, her feminine side had been brought to the foreground in the game.
'Did I always look this pretty? I would never be allowed to look like this in the real world…It's nice…'
Even her outfit was form fitting as her top was short, fully exposing her midriff while she also wore shorts that accentuated her curves
Aria ran her fingers through her hair mesmerized by the silky texture that felt nothing like her real hair. The silvery streaks shimmered in the light, making her feel almost ethereal—like a being of the wind.
She turned to the mirror again, stepping closer to inspect herself. The reflection staring back at her was both familiar and entirely new.
The sharp edges of her features were softened by the gentle glow of the game world, and the vibrant red of her hair contrasted beautifully with her silvery-white wings.
Despite the allure of her new form, a sense of discomfort lingered.
"This is just a game… isn't it?"
She muttered, doubts gnawing at the corner of her mind.
A soft breeze swirled around her, lifting a lock of her hair. She instinctively flexed her wings again, the muscles responding with an ease that felt... too real.
"Alright, calm down,"
she said aloud, taking a deep breath.
"You can do this. You're just getting used to it. This is all temporary. You're not really—"
Her thoughts cut off as she heard a soft ding from the system.
-The Goddess of Wind: ꛎ𖦪ꛈ𖤢ꚳꚳ𖤢 has granted you an Additional Blessing.
-Song of the Shackled Sky (Growth)(Unique): A sorrowful melody that carries the weight of a caged soul. The song resonates with the air itself, imposing the burden of gravity upon those who would defy it.
Aria was barely able to process the details of what this new skill was before there was another soft ding and a black screen appeared in front of her.
.
-Excess Favor has been granted to Player. Temporarily sealing Memories until Player can accept XXXXXXX
'Huh? What does that even mea…..'
She lost her train of thought. Why was she drawing a blank about creating her character? How did she get here? Those were things she didn't have an answer to and could only chalk it up to weird game design.
Looking at the screen, she saw the black screen and her brows furrowed.
Temporarily sealing memories?
What did that mean? Whose memories? Mine? Someone else's?
The more she tried to focus on it, the more the knowledge seemed to slip through her fingers like grains of sand.
Her breathing slowed. The system was telling her something important, but right now, she had no way to decipher it.
Instead, she looked at the other notification.
Her fingers twitched.
A blessing from a goddess?
This wasn't something she had chosen, nor something she had worked toward—so why?
Why her?
Her gaze dropped to her reflection once more, the girl in the mirror staring back with wide crimson eyes, silver-streaked hair falling over her shoulders like threads of moonlight.
"Even if it's only for a short while…Can I really be free?"
She felt her heartbeat quickening at the thought of freedom. She did promise Adam that she would stick with him for the time being.
"He said his name was Ouroboros, right? That's a tad cringe but whatever. What should I call myself"
Aria stared at the blank space where her name should be. It was strange—shouldn't she have picked one already? Why did it feel like she was supposed to remember something?
She tapped her fingers against the console interface, a slow rhythm matching the beat of her heart.
Names held power.
She could pick anything. She could be anyone.
Her crimson eyes flickered to the title she had been given—Caged Songbird.
A bitter smile ghosted her lips.
Even here, in a world supposedly built for freedom, she was still trapped in some way. But… she had wings now.
Wings were meant to fly.
She closed her eyes, listening to the distant and faint hum of wind moving through the room.
She would aspire to be free as her voice when she sings.
My name will be [Sonata].
The door opened to the outside world. She felt her feet rooted to the floor for a brief moment as anxiety tried to take hold of her again.
'No. Aria may have been afraid but I am Sonata now. I need to be brave..'
With a deep breath, she walked out the door in search of the man who had opened the door to her cage.