Location: The Shaded Bough Inn – City of Origins
Time: 6:12 AM – Blade Horizon Online
Sapphire stirred beneath the soft weave of moss-silk blankets. The bed pulsed faintly with mana warmth, matching the rhythm of her own breath. For a moment, she lay still—listening to the faint chiming of glass leaves outside and the quiet trickle of water from the inn's ambient soundscape.
A glowing notification hovered just above her eyes:
[You are Fully Rested.]
HP and Mana fully restored.
Fatigue cleared.
Minor Buff Applied: [Focused Clarity] – Slight increase to mental resistance and mana control for 3 hours.
Sapphire blinked and sat up.
There was no stiffness. No grogginess. No residual system lag.
Just calm.
She swung her legs over the side of the bed, toes brushing against a carpet of soft, flowering moss. Her braid had loosened slightly during the night—she re-tied it with practiced ease before slipping into her gear once more. Cloak. Gloves. Blade.
The Echo Sigil Ring on her finger pulsed once in greeting. Its faint spiral runes shimmered softly in the early light, still syncing with her mana signature.
She checked her status and inventory:
[PLAYER STATUS – Sapphire]
Race: Umbrafallen
Class: Longsword Initiate (Tier I Starter Class)
Level: 6
EXP: 210 / 600
HP: 320 / 320
Lumen (ℓ): 2,100
Location: City of Origins – Moonbridge District
Affiliation: None
Titles: Mana-Touched
---
Attributes:
Stat Value Notes
STR (Strength) 8 Increases melee damage and carrying capacity
AGI (Agility) 11 Boosts evasion and weapon speed
VIT (Vitality) 10 Increases HP and physical resistance
INT (Intellect) 6 Influences magic scaling (low for her class)
WIT (Wits) 9 Affects reaction speed and perception
CHA (Charisma) 7 Determines influence over NPCs
MR (Mana Resonance) 12 Umbrafallen racial stat; empowers Veil-based effects and [Mana-Linked Skills]
Unspent Stat Points: 0
---
Equipped Gear:
Weapon: [Common Longsword] – DMG I
Armor: [Common Cloth Tunic] – MIT I
Accessory: Echo Sigil Ring
Trinket Slot: Locked (Unlocks at Lv.10)
---
Skills:
General Skills:
[Meditation I] – Accelerates EN recovery and triggers Echo reactions
[Weapon Handling: Longsword I] – +5% swing control, reduced stamina drain
[Dodge Roll] – Grants invincibility frames, 6 sec cooldown
[Quick Step] – Short dash burst forward, usable outside combat
Racial Skill:
[Moonwoven Presence] – Glimmer effect that slightly increases passive NPC favor, lowers aggro radius by 5%
---
Inventory:
[Guidebook – Codex Edition] [Quest Item: Basic Mana Core] [5x Etherbound Thread]
---
With a breath, she stretched and exited the room.
Downstairs, the innkeeper gave her a respectful nod.
"May your steps be guided by the quiet wind," the NPC said with a small smile, offering a wrapped meal pack. "For the road ahead."
Sapphire took it silently and stepped into the morning light.
Outside, the City of Origins was beginning to stir. The early risers—players and NPCs alike—were setting up their stalls in the plaza. The floating map towers shimmered with updated notices, quest chains, and guild recruitment boards. The sky was pale lavender, streaked with the soft glow of the Horizon Spire far in the distance.
She didn't stop to chat or browse.
Her path was already set.
She made her way back to Dorian's Repository, each step echoing quietly over the cobbled stone. The city was still beautiful in its silence—almost sacred this early.
By the time she reached the arched entryway, Dorian was already waiting, seated at his desk with a cup of steamleaf tea.
He looked up with a slight tilt of his head.
"You're early," he said.
"Crowds," was all she said in explanation. "You said the ruins were just the beginning."
A faint smile curled on his lips. "Indeed I did."
He gestured, and a scroll of light unfurled in the air between them.
[New Quest Available – Lesson II: Mana in the Stone]
Description: The negative mana through more than dust. Stone holds mana. Song. And warning.
Objective:
• Learn [Identify] skill
• Use Identify on (3) Stone Mana Markers in the lower district
• Return with the engraved rune from each mana
Optional Objective: Complete within one day (Bonus Affinity + Extra EXP)
Recommended Level: 5+
Quest Rewards:
• 600 EXP
• 800 Lumen
• [Runechiseled Mantle] – Uncommon
• Unlock [Identify] General Skill
• +Affinity with City Archivists
Sapphire accepted the quest with a blink. The scroll vanished.
"You'll find the Stone Mana Markers in the lower quarter—near the old aqueduct paths. Mind the moss. It's slippery."
Sapphire turned to go.
"Oh," Dorian added, "and Sapphire?"
She paused.
"Some of the runes might… sing."
She tilted head head in question.
"Try not to be alarmed."
Sapphire said nothing. She just gave a faint nod and stepped out into the street again, the faint sound of the city sharpening as she passed through the mana-warded threshold of the Repository.
The lower quarter awaited.
---
Location: City of Origins – Lower Quarter, Aqueduct Paths
Time: 6:35 AM
The lower district was a quieter, older part of the city. The roads here curved around low stone terraces and gently crumbling waterways that once carried mana-infused runoff from the spires above. Now, most of the aqueducts were dry or faintly trickling, overrun by glowing moss and semi-sentient ivy.
Few players wandered here this early. A group of NPC city sweepers moved through the foggy alleys, murmuring small talk as their enchanted brooms quietly cleared away the night's mana drift.
Sapphire walked in silence, the meal pack from the inn stored neatly in her inventory for later. Her steps were light, calculated, quiet—not out of stealth, but simply how she moved.
Then her UI pinged.
[Quest Zone Reached – Stone Mana Markers Nearby]
Soft glimmers appeared in her vision, overlayed on the environment. Three subtle pings—bluish-gold points—spread across the district map, each radiating with low mana resonance.
She headed toward the first one.
In Blade Horizon Online (BHO), the skill [Identify] was classified as a General Utility Skill, not tied to any class or weapon. It was essential for uncovering hidden information about magical objects, ancient ruins, runes, and even advanced item traits.
To unlock [Identify], the player must complete a basic lore-aligned questline involving mana resonance and environmental exploration. There were multiple ways to obtain it, but the most common early-game method was through the quest Sapphire was currently ongoing. During this quest, Dorian temporarily enabled the [Identify I] function as a learning prompt to interact with the runes. Upon completing the quest, [Identify I] would become permanently unlocked.
The first Stone Mana Marker stood in the center of an overgrown plaza, half-flooded with shallow water and drifting mana algae. The statue atop the fountain had long since eroded into an unrecognizable form, but at its base was a stone rune carved into the basin's edge.
Sapphire crouched and placed her fingers near the rune, activating the prompt.
[New Skill Unlocked – General Skill: Identify I]
You have unlocked a Core Skill required for Codex interpretation and mana inscription analysis.
SKILL ACQUIRED: [Identify I] [Temporary]
• Type: General Utility
• Cast Time: 1.5 sec
• Cooldown: 6 sec
• Effect: Reveals the function, meaning, and system-linked description of magical items, runes, anomalies, and certain NPC auras.
────────
She tapped it. And a soft glow passed over her eyes. The rune flared in response.
[Rune of Stillwater Memory]Progress: 1/3 Runes Engraved
Sapphire stood.
"Hmm," she muttered.
Tucked behind a broken stairwell near the remains of an old outpost tower, was the second Stone Mana Marker. Two NPC workers were arguing over whether to demolish the section or reinforce it. Neither paid Sapphire any mind as she slipped past and descended a short set of cracked steps.
The rune was carved into the base of a supporting column. It pulsed irregularly.
She used [Identify].
This time, the mana kicked back just slightly.
The air shifted and a low hum, like a dissonant chord, echoed from the walls. Her vision flickered, then it passed. She hissed in discomfort.
The rune burned blue and etched its meaning into her log:
[Rune of the Hollow Pulse]Progress: 2/3 Runes Engraved
Sapphire frowned slightly. "Bad rune." She didn't like how the rune felt slightly like touching a boiling stone.
The final marker was located at the end of a narrow overgrown path, where the aqueduct curved into a half-sunken archway lined with hanging moss and flutter-leaf ferns. The stone here was smooth, but just beneath the surface—embedded like a vein—was the final rune.
She touched it.
[Identify I Activated]
The rune pulsed.
[Rune of Veiled Descent]The deeper one walks, the heavier mana becomes. Do not forget your shape.Progress: 3/3 Runes Engraved – Objective Complete
She stood and exhaled, brushing moss from her gloves.
[Optional Objective Completed – All Runes Engraved within 1 Day]+Bonus Affinity: Archivists (↗ Friendly)+50 EXP
A new prompt shimmered into her log:
Return to Dorian with the Runes
Sapphire began walking back.
The city was fully awake now—players gathering in the central district, merchants hawking goods, rumors spreading about new dungeon zones and strange field bosses appearing near the fringe of the first layer.
But she tuned it all out.
The runes were still playing softly in her memory—tones of stillness, pain, and descent. Warnings, maybe. Or something else.
By the time she reached the Repository again, Dorian was already standing near the steps, as if he'd been waiting.
"Well?" he asked, watching her approach.
Sapphire nodded once and took out the runes. They floated in the air between them.
Dorian's expression flickered.
"Hmm… stillwater, hollow pulse… and veiled descent. Interesting."
He tapped the runes. They spun and archived.
"You did well."
A scroll of light unfurled.
[Quest Complete – Lesson II: Mana in the Stone]+600 EXP+800 Lumen+Item Acquired: [Runechiseled Mantle] – Uncommon Light Cloak+Skill Unlocked: [Identify I]+Affinity: City Archivists (↗ Friendly)
[Level Up – You are now Level 7]Stat Points Gained: +2New Passive Available: [Tier I – Blade Mastery Branch]
Dorian handed her a folded cloak of dark cloth etched with faint mana veins.
Sapphire slipped the Runechiseled Mantle over her shoulders, a lightweight cloak of dark, flexible weave, laced with silver thread along the hem. It felt cool to the touch, and shimmered faintly in sync with her mana flow.
The system confirmed:
[Item Equipped: Runechiseled Mantle]+1 AGI+2 MR (Mana Resonance)Passive Effect: Slightly reduces mana cost of General SkillsCloak Slot Unlocked
She didn't say anything as she pulled up her stat screen, allocating the 2 unspent points:
+1 AGI → bringing her to 12 AGI
+1 MR → bringing her to 14 MR
Quick. Efficient.
Dorian sipped his tea, watching her work. When she finished and dismissed her interface, he nodded toward the center of the Repository, where a new projection had bloomed—this one a slowly rotating spire made of luminous wireframe data.
"Ready for the next step?" he asked.
Sapphire nodded. "Mhm."
Dorian set his cup down and stepped around the desk, motioning toward the projection.
"Then you'll need to understand how [Mapping] works.
The projection spun slowly—a luminous, vertical tower that resembled the Horizon Spire itself, rendered in flowing layers of glowing lines and geometric grids. Each level was detailed with soft runic markings and node clusters representing known waypoints, mana gates, and player entry logs.
Dorian extended a hand, and a portion of the wireframe zoomed in to display Floor One—a wide expanse of broken terrain with forest paths, crystal reefs, and what looked like a sunken ruin at its center.
"[Mapping]," he said, "is not just for orientation. It's a form of magical cartography—one that binds mana observation with memory and movement. It records not only where you go, but how the world responds to your presence."
He gestured again, and three flickering outlines of players appeared on the miniaturized projection—different paths, overlapping at times, diverging sharply at others.
"Every player's map will look different," he explained. "Because the Spire responds to their mana resonance. To you."
Sapphire's expression didn't change, but she leaned in slightly. "How do I unlock it?"
Dorian smiled faintly, pleased.
A scroll of light unfurled in front of her:
[New Quest Available – Lesson III: Lines in the Ley]
Objective: Unlock the General Skill [Mapping] by attuning to a ley-marker node.
• Locate and activate the Forgotten Beacon beneath the City of Origins.• Calibrate your personal leyline attunement.• Record at least one manually mapped location using your guidebook.
Recommended Level: 6+
Rewards:
• Unlock [Mapping I]
• +450 EXP• +300 Lumen
• [Mapweaver's Compass] – Tool
• +Cartographer Affinity (Neutral → Familiar)
• Unlock Field Map Interface
Sapphire accepted the quest with a flick of her eyes.
Dorian turned and began walking toward a stairwell that led down into the Repository's restricted archives. The stone steps were illuminated by runes that glowed more brightly as they descended.
"The Forgotten Beacon is below this facility," he said. "It predates the city. No one knows who built it, only that it links directly into the Horizon Spire's fieldwork grid."
Sapphire followed him down without hesitation.
The room below was dim and circular, filled with floating crystal shards and carved stone that pulsed with slow, rhythmic mana waves. At its center stood the Beacon—a triangular pillar of obsidian with channels of silver light running through it, shaped like a compass rose embedded in an altar.
Dorian gestured for her to approach.
"Place your hand here," he said, pointing to the center groove.
Sapphire stepped forward and rested her palm against the surface.
The reaction was immediate.
The light flared outward. Mana flooded the chamber like a soft tide, illuminating etched lines in the floor that spiraled outward into patterns like veins or neural paths. A notification bloomed in her interface:
[New Skill Unlocked – General Skill: Mapping I]
You may now record environments and leyline-charged areas in your personal guidebook.
• Passive map tracking (within 100m)
• Manual landmark recording
• Field notes and Rune Markers can be added
• Integration with quest logs and dungeons enabled
Skill Synergy Bonus: Mana Resonance detected – Mapping detail improved
Another prompt followed:
[Quest Objective Updated]
• Map a personal landmark using the Guidebook• Return to Dorian once complete
Sapphire opened the Guidebook and selected the Beacon chamber as her first point. She tapped [Record Location] and named it:
[Underhall Beacon – Repository Access]
The system acknowledged it:
[Landmark Saved – Mapping I]
Cartographer Note: Mana Saturation High. Symbolic Convergence present.
She closed the book and stepped back. "Done."
Dorian inclined his head slightly. "Good. You're learning quickly."
"Efficiently," she corrected, without a hint of irony.
He chuckled.
As they walked back up the steps together, he added, "With that, you're officially ready to step beyond the walls. Most players won't make it far into the Spire without those three skills—Meditation, Identify, and Mapping."
Sapphire said nothing. But she was already thinking about having a nap. Interacting with people (and yes, she considered the NPCs as people) was exhausting.
'I'll finish the The First Few Lessons questline after.' Crafting in the Beta took some time. Depending on if a player was good at it or not, it could take days if not weeks to complete the quest. It was best to start it when she was refreshed and with a good mentality.
Dorian glanced at her as they stepped out into the soft daylight of the Repository's upper level, but he didn't press further. He was perceptive enough to notice the subtle shift in her posture—the slight drop in her shoulders, the way her gaze drifted not toward the Spire, but toward the quieter streets near Moonbridge.
"You've made more progress in a day than most manage in three," he said mildly. "Rest is a wise choice."
Sapphire gave a small nod, her expression unreadable as always.
Another quest marker hovered in her UI, pulsing faintly:
[Quest Available – Lesson IV: Professions]Learn the fundamentals of making a living.Rewards: [Skill – Crafting I], 750 EXP, 5x Synthesis Components, [Dustweave Toolbelt]
She marked it as "Paused."
'Later,' she thought. 'Too tired.'
The mental stamina drain from constant engagement—subtle though it was—had built up. Even the simulated brightness of the city was starting to feel like static behind her eyes.
She turned and exited the Repository, slipping into the flow of early player foot traffic. There were more now—parties forming, trade requests flickering in the air, guild recruiters calling out from chalk-marked kiosks.
Sapphire kept walking.
A few players noticed her and stepped aside. Whether it was her confident stride, her rare cloak, or the fact she looked almost entirely unchanged post-avatar-sync, she didn't know. Nor did she care.
The streets curved gently back toward the quieter Moonbridge district. The inn's sign shimmered into view.
The Shaded Bough.
She entered.
The mossy hush of the lobby was a balm in itself.
The innkeeper, ever serene, greeted her with a quiet, "Welcome back, traveler. Your room is still yours."
Sapphire gave a faint, tired thumbs-up and made her way upstairs.
Her room welcomed her like an old friend. The bed hadn't changed. The ambient mana still pulsed in rhythm. The woven moss underfoot was still cool and gentle.
She slipped off her cloak, blade, and gear with practiced economy, then dropped into the bed face-first.
[Resting State Activated]HP/Mana Recovery AcceleratedFatigue Recovery: ModerateTime until Full Refresh: 8 hours
As the interface dimmed and the world hushed, Sapphire buried her face deeper into the pillow.
"NPCs are too talkative," she mumbled into the blanket.
And with that, she dozed off, finally allowing herself to just breathe.