Chapter 5 – The First Step into Eldenross

Chapter 5 – The First Step into Eldenross

The creak of wooden hinges echoed as I stepped through the gate. No one greeted me. No one stopped me. But the world behind those walls… was alive. Wooden stalls lined both sides of the main road. Some sold warm bread, others offered leather garments, and children ran laughing across faded cobblestone paths.

Smoke rose from the forge at the far end, the rhythmic clang of metalwork breaking the stillness. Birds fluttered from roof to roof, and the sky—once grey—now turned to gold as the afternoon sun lit my face.

This… felt real.

I walked slowly. No one looked at me oddly. The people moved as if I'd always been here.

As if I belonged. But inside… I still felt like a shadow.

I stopped at a wooden bench in the town square. My stomach growled. The smell of baked bread and simmering soup from nearby stalls made me tremble. Back in the old world… I'd been hungry too. But that hunger could be endured. This hunger—here—felt wired into my very being.

Suddenly, something caught my eye: a tall wooden board near the fountain and some worn-out signposts — a Job Board. Several sheets were posted on it, though not in any familiar script. Then a notification blinked gently on my HUD:

[NEW QUEST AVAILABLE]

"The First Step"

Description:

"Seek basic sustenance in Eldenross. Complete a Minor Task in exchange for food."

Reward:

– Basic Meal Token

– 10 EXP

[Accept] / [Decline]

I glanced around. No one seemed to notice me standing there.

I pressed [Accept].

The HUD dimmed momentarily, then a soft directional marker appeared — pointing toward a medium-sized stone building marked "Supply Hall".

Objective: Speak to Supply Keeper Rinna.

I started walking. Slowly. Not out of fear… but disbelief. Every brick, every doorway, every breath I took… felt too real. If this was a game, it wasn't a normal one. If it was a dream, it was more detailed than reality itself. I reached the Supply Hall. A young blonde woman stood at the entrance, arms crossed, as if waiting.

But she didn't look at me. I stood still, just a few steps away. The HUD blinked—waiting for interaction. But I was frozen.

"What are you waiting for, Zaki?"

The question echoed in my mind. My own voice. Flat. Cold. Maybe… this was it. The moment to truly step into this world. "If this is a second chance… I can't keep living like a shadow." I clenched my fist slowly. And for the first time, I walked toward someone not as the man who failed in the old world—

—but as someone who might just… begin again.

[To Be Continued – Chapter 6: The First Encounter]

Glossary – Chapter 5

Eldenross – The first settlement in Ethereon, a safe haven for new players. Functions as a central hub where many game systems activate.

Job Board – A mission board that offers beginner quests. Often used by NPCs for daily assistance.

Basic Meal Token – A token or coupon that can be exchanged for basic meals at city stalls.

Supply Keeper – An NPC role responsible for providing basic supplies to newcomers and residents. Often the first contact for introductory quests.