Chapter 4
The world around Nicole was like stepping into a vivid dream—a snowy, medieval realm pulled straight from the pages of a fantasy novel.
Cobblestone houses, their roofs blanketed with a thin layer of frost, lined the winding streets.
Smoke curled lazily from stone chimneys, blending into the crisp winter sky.
Knights clad in polished armor practiced their swordsmanship in open courtyards, the rhythmic clash of steel ringing out like a battle cry.
Villagers bustled about, speaking in a version of Old English that sounded foreign yet oddly familiar, their tunics and cloaks swaying in the cold breeze.
Nicole stood at the edge of the bustling street, her hospital gown starkly out of place among the medieval scenery.
She felt like an intruder in a world that wasn't hers, yet there was something eerily grounding about it.
Was this real? A dream? Or something far more dangerous?
Her thoughts were interrupted by the heavy clop of hooves against cobblestone.
A knight on horseback approached, his armor gleaming under the pale sun.
His sharp eyes narrowed as they took in her strange attire, the hospital gown fluttering awkwardly in the cold wind.
"Hail, fair maiden," the knight called out, his voice formal and laced with suspicion. "Why dost thou wear such rags? From whence do you hail?" His gaze was sharp, lingering on the unfamiliar fabric like it was some sort of threat.
Nicole's heart pounded in her chest.
She opened her mouth, but the words stumbled out awkwardly. "Umm… my name is Nicole. I'm not from here."
The knight's eyes darkened. "Not from here?" he repeated, his hand drifting toward the hilt of his sword. "Then from where, pray tell?"
Before Nicole could stammer out another reply, a soft, urgent voice whispered in her ear.
"Say you're from Eidlervy," Ruby advised, her tiny form hovering just out of the knight's view.
Nicole swallowed hard and repeated the name. "I'm from… Eidlervy."
The knight's brow arched.
He studied her for a tense moment, then gave a short, dismissive nod. "I see," he muttered, though the suspicion in his eyes lingered.
Without another word, he tugged at the reins, his horse turning sharply as he rode off toward a group of knights gathered by the village inn.
Nicole let out a breath she hadn't realized she was holding.
"Good," Ruby whispered, her voice soft but pleased. "Now, let's get out of here. We need privacy if we're going to start the tutorial."
---
They left the village behind, following a narrow, snow-dusted path that led into the woods.
The cold bit at Nicole's exposed skin, but she barely noticed, her mind racing to catch up with everything she'd seen.
Once they were deep enough into the forest, far from prying eyes and curious knights, Ruby hovered in front of her, her wings glimmering faintly in the dappled light.
"Alright," Ruby said, her tone shifting to something more serious. "Say, 'System, my menu.'"
Nicole hesitated, but curiosity won out. "System, my menu," she repeated.
Instantly, a glowing interface materialized before her, suspended in mid-air like a hologram.
It displayed five options:
Status | Bag | Communication | Legacy | Skill Paths | Exit
Nicole's eyes widened, a mixture of awe and confusion settling over her. What the hell is this?
She tapped Status first, and the following details popped up on page 1:
Strength: 1 Speed: 6 Intelligence: 2 Endurance: 3 Presence: 8 Humanity: 88%
Her eyes lingered on the last stat. Humanity…? She didn't even want to imagine what would happen if that number dropped too low.
Page 2 of the status page:
Passive ability: Leveling up and Contestant.
Skills: Dagger proficiency
Next, she navigated to Bag.
It was sparse, but at least she wasn't empty-handed:
1 Copper Coin
Iron Dagger
Traveler's Dress
Without hesitation, she equipped the dress and gripped the dagger.
The fabric fit snugly, surprisingly comfortable despite its rough texture, while the dagger felt oddly natural in her hand.
Nicole had always been good with knives—too good—and the weapon felt like an extension of herself.
She moved on to Legacy, finding a questline with her first task: complete the tutorial by learning how to navigate the system.
It felt surreal, like she'd been dropped into a living video game, but there was no denying the strange logic of this world.
As she ticked off the tutorial objectives, she finally opened Skill Paths.
The screen exploded into a complex web of abilities, branching out in all directions.
Her heart raced as she scrolled through, noting skills that aligned with her strengths.
But four stood out immediately:
Invisibility
Telekinesis
Blitz
Critical Impact
They were locked for now, requiring skill points she'd earn through leveling up.
But just knowing they were there lit a spark of determination in her chest.
Curious, she clicked on Communication, finding what looked like an empty contact list.
Probably for connecting with other players… or contestants, she thought, frowning.
Finally, her finger hovered over Exit, but before she could ask, Ruby chimed in.
"Let me remind you," Ruby said, her tone grave. "The system doesn't shut down when you leave Revelation. You'll still have access to your menu and everything inside it, even outside this world."
Nicole's brows furrowed. "So this isn't just some… game?"
Ruby shook her head solemnly. "No. And I can't leave Revelation, nor interfere with how you choose to conduct yourself. But I'll know when your life ends."
A shiver crawled down Nicole's spine at those words. Before she could dwell on it, a new text prompt flashed before her eyes:
Ruby's expression darkened. "You'll need to find six giant stone statues scattered across this region. But be warned…"
She drifted closer, her voice dropping to a whisper. "This world only rewards those who get the job done—or spill blood. Cowards aren't just punished… they're erased."
A sudden, bone-chilling howl echoed through the forest, cutting through the silence like a blade.
It was close.
Too close.
Nicole's heart raced, and her grip tightened around the dagger.
Whatever was out there, it was hunting her.
And in this world, failure wasn't an option.