Eris' Resolve
Eris exhaled slowly.
The numbers on her status screen weren't just statistics—they were proof. Proof that she was no longer the girl who had cowered in self-doubt just a month ago.
Over the next four weeks, Eris dedicated herself to a rigorous regimen.
Each day was structured meticulously:
Mornings began with intensive combat training, where she honed her skills with various weapons under the watchful eyes of Sir Alec. Afternoons were reserved for magic practice, refining her phantom constructs and sharpening her control over creative energies.
Four times a week, she pushed herself through dungeon crystal challenges, each session forcing her past her limits and providing invaluable combat experience. After every battle, she carefully analyzed her performance, pinpointing weaknesses and strategizing improvements.
This relentless cycle—training, battling, reassessing—hardened her. She was no longer just a girl wielding magic; she was a warrior, balancing physical prowess with refined magical control.
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[SYSTEM STATUS UPDATE: ERIS VALE]
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[NAME] Eris Vale
[MAGIC CLASSIFICATION] Neutral Magic – Creativity
[MAGIC POWER] 3,850 Units (+1,350 Units Increase from Dungeon Challenges)
[ENERGY RECOVERY] +30% (Enhanced regeneration in Hub Zones)
[SYSTEM RECOGNITION] Potential Growth Detected – Intermediate Access Granted
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[CORE ATTRIBUTES]
[PHYSICAL CAPACITY] C+ (Increased endurance, agility, and minor strength boost.)
[MENTAL RESILIENCE] C (Improved resistance against fear, mind-affecting effects, and system pressure.)
[SYSTEM AUTHORITY] Minimal Access Granted (Can now make hidden system inquiries.)
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[BATTLE SKILLS]
Woven Constructs (Advanced control over created structures; increased efficiency.)
Precision Manifestation (Higher efficiency, reduced energy cost for small creations.)
Phantom Awakening – Formless Combat Mode (Heightens instinctive reactions and fluidity in battle for a short duration but rapidly consumes stamina.)
Arcane Resonance (Amplifies the potency of her creations by tapping into ambient magical energies.)
Aetheric Shielding (Generates protective barriers that absorb a portion of incoming damage.)
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[TITLES UNLOCKED]
Survivor of the Hollow (Recognized in the Hub; grants slight favor from system NPCs.)
The Unyielding (Minor boost to stamina recovery in prolonged fights.)
Dungeon Delver (Increased rewards and experience from dungeon challenges.)
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[REWARDS GRANTED]
Blood Coins Earned: 4,600 (Total earned from all trials and dungeon challenges.)
System Credits Earned: 14 (Can be exchanged for rare hub items.)
Hidden Reward: Trial Influence Detected – Creativity Growth Paths Unlocked (System shop access expanded.)
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After four weeks of relentless training, Eris felt a creeping sense of stagnation.
Her days had been filled with magic drills and combat exercises, each session pushing her limits in the isolation of the Hub. Despite her progress, something felt... off.
The next trial loomed two months away, and a nagging doubt settled in her mind—was solo training enough?
Memories of Aven and the others surfaced—seasoned players whose skills far surpassed hers. They had faced challenges together before, and their camaraderie had been a source of strength. Training alone had taken her far, but if she truly wanted to elevate herself, she needed guidance.
Determined, she rose and gathered her gear. The decision was clear.
She would find them.
---
The house still stood in stark contrast to the rest of the Hub.
Everything else here was too new, too pristine, as if the world had been freshly built just yesterday. Smooth roads without cracks, metallic structures that gleamed unnaturally, air that never carried the scent of rain or decay—an artificial perfection that always made her uneasy.
But the house… it felt real.
The wooden beams bore signs of wear, scratches and dents that spoke of past occupants. The faint scent of old wood and lingering smoke clung to the walls, grounding her in a way the rest of the Hub never could.
It was the only thing in this place she knew that didn't look untouched by time.
The door creaked slightly when she stepped inside. The warmth of a smoldering hearth filled the air, carrying the mixed scents of burning wood, metal, and dried blood. A sharp contrast to the sterile atmosphere outside.
Ash noticed her first. His sharp gaze flickered over her, assessing. No surprise. No hostility. Just quiet recognition.
Aven leaned against a crate, fingers idly tapping against her knee. The soft, rhythmic sound of her nails against the wood was oddly soothing. She didn't reach for a weapon—meaning Eris wasn't seen as a threat.
Saria, still tending to a set of weapons, barely paused in her work. The scrape of a whetstone against steel filled the silence. Orin glanced up from his rations, raised a brow, then went back to eating, the crunch of dried meat punctuating the stillness.
No one was shocked. No one was offended.
She had left. Now she was back. Simple.
Eris stopped at the edge of the hearth's glow, the warmth licking at her skin. She met their gazes evenly before speaking.
"I trained the last month. I want to join you. I can pull my weight now."
A pause.
Then Aven nodded once. "Reasonable."
Ash studied her for a beat longer, then shrugged. "Makes sense."
Orin smirked faintly. "Figured you'd come back."
Saria finally set her blade aside, exhaling through her nose. "You survived. That's enough proof you're learning."
The tension in Eris' shoulders slowly unraveled. No probing questions, no demands for explanations—just quiet acknowledgment.
She had expected to fight for her place again, to argue, to prove herself. But the unspoken acceptance in their responses sent a wave of relief through her, so subtle yet powerful that she almost felt lightheaded.
A faint smile ghosted across her lips before she could stop it. This was what she had been missing.
Debka—who had been silent until now—tossed a ration pack her way. "Eat."
She caught it automatically, the soft weight grounding her in the moment. The leather-wrapped meal was warm from the heat of the fire, the scent of dried meat and preserved grains filling her nose.
Just like that, it was settled.
Eris sat down, her fingers tightening around the ration pack before she forced herself to relax. She had earned her place. No words needed.
An hour passed before Lirian arrived.
She moved like a shadow slipping through the dimly lit space, her presence shifting the atmosphere instantly. Conversations hushed. The crackling fire seemed louder.
Lirian's gaze swept over the group before landing on Eris. The intensity in her golden eyes made the small hairs on Eris' arms rise, but she didn't flinch.
A slow nod. "You're back."
Eris met her stare, her heartbeat steady. "Yes."
Lirian considered her for a moment, then reached into her coat.
A sharp pulse of energy filled the air.
A dungeon crystal—jagged, dark, and brimming with raw power—glowed between her fingers. The veins of blacklight within it pulsed like a living heart.
She tossed it forward.
It hit the ground with a low thrum, sending a ripple of pressure through the air.
A 3,500-coin dungeon crystal.
Eris inhaled sharply as the energy pressed against her skin, its weight settling in her chest—not fear, but sharp awareness.
Backing down meant admitting she wasn't ready.
Her fingers curled into a fist.
"Fine." Her voice was steady. "I'll do it."
Lirian's expression remained unreadable. Then, with the faintest hint of approval, she nodded.
"Then let's begin."