The first rays of morning sunlight streamed through the narrow window of a humble inn room tucked away at the quieter end of Brightvale's western quarter. The air was still and carried the faint scent of dew and the nearby bakery's fresh loaves. Birds chirped outside, their melody oddly harmonious — unlike any Ikarion had ever heard before. For a moment, as he lay there under the thin woolen blanket, he forgot where he was.
This wasn't Earth.
There were no traffic sounds, no glowing phone screens, no buzz of city life. Just the soft crackle of wood, the chirping of strange birds, and a feeling of stillness that made him feel... grounded.
He blinked slowly, his silver-white hair falling over his eyes as he turned his head toward the wooden beams of the ceiling. Then it hit him — not just the memory, but the notification.
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[SYSTEM INTERFACE ACTIVE]
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[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION]
Daily Side Quests Unlocked
Complete daily side quests to earn Soul Points and unlock additional ability slots.
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A translucent blue screen shimmered to life above him, runes pulsing slowly like a heartbeat. The system's interface was minimalist, clear, and yet somehow alive. He sat up, groggy but alert.system shows him a map where side quests are
"So it wasn't a dream," Ikarion muttered, rubbing the back of his neck. His eyes swept the room: a modest bed, a basin of water, a wooden chair, and a small nightstand. Simple but clean.
The memories of yesterday flooded back — arriving in this world, waking with no idea where he was, the sudden appearance of the system, the chaotic streets filled with humans, hybrids, and beastfolk, the fight to protect that girl, and the cheers that followed. Then there was Rikka's food stall, the glowing system screen, and finally, the message that changed everything:
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[SYSTEM INTERFACE ACTIVE]
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[Main Quest Unlocked: Path of Salvation]
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He exhaled slowly and stood, stretching. His body ached slightly, but it was a good ache — the kind that made him feel stronger. He approached the basin, washed his face with cool water, then quickly tied his simple tunic and fastened his belt. He still had no armor, no weapon, and very little knowledge of the world around him.
Just the system — and the strange sense that it was watching him.
The moment he stepped out of the inn, the town's morning rhythm hit him like a wave. Brightvale had already come alive. Merchants were setting up colorful stalls, the scent of spices, roasted meat, and fresh bread filled the air, and townsfolk moved about their business. The town was lively — almost deceptively normal.
Then came another prompt.
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[SYSTEM INTERFACE ACTIVE]
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[SIDE QUEST: Help the Fruit Vendor] Objective: Assist the vendor in carrying crates to her stall. Reward: +25 Soul Points
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Ikarion blinked. "That's… oddly specific."
Across the street, he saw a hunched older woman trying to lift a wooden crate filled with vibrant, golden-skinned fruits. She strained with effort, wobbling on her feet. Without a second thought, he jogged across the street.
"Let me get that for you," he offered, steadying the crate with both hands.
The woman looked up at him, her face weathered but kind. "Not many youngsters bother to help anymore. You're not from Brightvale, are you?"
He chuckled softly. "Nope. I'm… new here."
He carried two crates in total and followed her to her stall — a small wooden setup beneath a red-and-white striped canopy. She began arranging the fruits with practiced hands.
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[SYSTEM INTERFACE ACTIVE]
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[QUEST COMPLETE: +25 Soul Points]
Current Soul Points: 325 / 1000
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A gentle warmth bloomed in his chest as the reward registered. It was subtle, but it gave him energy. Confidence.
"Here," the woman said, handing him a small, green fruit. "A Brightvale sweetcore. "this one's free for you."
He bit into it, eyebrows rising as the tangy, citrus-sweet flavor burst on his tongue. "That's… actually amazing."
The woman laughed, a full-bodied chuckle. "Told you it's strange at first. But it grows on you."
He thanked her and moved on.
The rest of the morning was spent wandering deeper into Brightvale. Side quests appeared periodically, and he completed each with curiosity and growing ease.
He fed a stray beast pup with shaggy fur and warm, grateful eyes.
He scrubbed soot off the town's mission board.
He helped a hybrid boy — half-rabbit, judging by the ears — chase down his runaway kite.
Each quest gave him small rewards: copper coins, beginner equipment, and Soul Points.
He passed a colorful tapestry merchant and paused to admire the intricate embroidery of creatures he didn't recognize — flying lions, serpentine wolves, and what looked like a humanoid with wings of stardust.
A passerby caught his stare and chuckled. "First time seeing a tapestry from the Floating Isles?"
Ikarion blinked. "Floating Isles?"
"Yeahh," the man said, tilting his head. "Cities that drift above the clouds. Dangerous to reach, but beautiful."
Ikarion couldn't help but wonder — would the Salvation Core send him there someday?
System screen appears.
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[SYSTEM INTERFACE ACTIVE]
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You can reach there once you gain the A rank
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No one knew who mended the broken well or who returned the stolen bread to the baker's shelf. Fields bloomed overnight, and a sick child woke healed. The townsfolk whispered of miracles, but no name surfaced. In the shadows, the Ikarion System flickered:
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[SYSTEM INTERFACE ACTIVE]
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[Side quest complete. Fate redirected]
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He watched from afar, then slipped away unseen.
By midday, he was sweaty, tired, and more than a little hungry. The system screen displayed:
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[SYSTEM INTERFACE ACTIVE]
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[Daily Side Quest Progress: 4/5] [Final Bonus Quest: Speak to Rikka]
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"Looks like," he muttered, grinning. "System knows I'm starving."
He made his way toward Rikka's food stall, one of the busiest places he had seen so far. The savory scent of spiced stew and grilled meat greeted him long before he arrived. Rikka stood behind the stall, flipping a flatbread onto a plate with practiced ease.
She spotted him, hands on hips. "Well, well. The silver-haired vigilante returns."
He laughed. "That title again?"
She narrowed her eyes. "You're the one who beat the thugs yesterday, right?"
He blinked. "Yeah. Why?"
"You idiot."
He looked stunned. "You're welcome?"
She sighed and slid a steaming bowl of stew and a warm roll in front of him. "Eat. You'll need it."
He dug in gratefully. The stew was rich and flavorful — chunks of meat, soft root vegetables, and a broth that warmed his entire chest.
"You've got guts, ikarion," she said. "But those guys weren't just thugs. They're from the Kaiser Guild."
He paused mid-bite. "That bad?"
"They've been a plague on this town for weeks. Extortion. Threats. Some say they've bribed the local guards. They're untouchable."
"And I just punched one in public."
"Yup." She gave him a slow nod. "But thank you. Seriously."
"Atleast someone stand for the justice, you are different from others"she whispered
He exhaled. "So... what exactly are guilds?"
She raised an eyebrow. "You really are new."
He nodded. "Like, really new."
"Alright, listen closely. There are dozens of guilds — some small, some so big they run entire cities. Some answer to kingdoms. Others answer to no one. Mercenaries, monster hunters, explorers, assassins... all under the banner of their guilds."
She leaned closer. "And the most dangerous and powerful of them all is Aetherus Guild."
"Aetherus?"
"They say their leader once tamed a sky wyrm. Which is the size of the whole brightvale town.They don't serve any kingdom. They don't need to. The power they hold could flatten a city in a day."
"What are wyrm"he asked
As I heard about them, they are like dragon hybrid which contains magical mana and are dangerous"she replied
Ikarion sat back, stunned. "So guilds… are everything."
"In this world? Yeah. Kingdoms rise and fall, but guilds endure."
A silence passed between them before he asked, "What do people do if they don't join a guild?"
"Guilds are like safe place if you are not in any guild so anyone can kill you, if anyone has joined one, no one has guts to lay a hand on you except the other guilds"
"Hide. Or die."
He frowned. That... wasn't encouraging.
"Maybe I should join one," he muttered.
She chuckled. "Maybe you should start one. You've got that look — reckless, stubborn, a little too noble."
He smirked. "Is that a compliment?"
"Depends.
Are you free ??she asked
"Yes"he whispered
You going to help me with these boxes, or not?"she asked
He stood, wiping his hands. "Lead the way."
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[SYSTEM INTERFACE ACTIVE]
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[SIDE QUEST: Help Rikka with Supplies] Reward: +30 Soul Points
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The crates were heavier than he expected, filled with grain sacks and sealed jars. Sweat beaded down his neck as he hauled them into her backroom storage one by one.
As he carried the last crate, he heard two voices murmuring nearby. He paused near the door.
"Did you hear? The Kaiser thugs are already sniffing around. That silver-haired outsider… they're not letting this go."
A second voice, older, raspier: "Then they're fools. you already know how that silver hair guy defeats them in an instant, he looks like he's from a guild or he's a knight ."
Ikarion frowned. They're talking about me… and they thinks I m from a guild, am I become so powerful"?
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[SYSTEM INTERFACE ACTIVE]
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[QUEST COMPLETE: +30 Soul Points]
Current Soul Points: 355 / 1000
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As he finished, Rikka handed him a clean rag. "You did good, silver head."
He smiled. "Thanks, Rikka. For everything."
"Don't mention it. Just don't die."
He gave a mock salute and stepped back into the street. The late afternoon sun bathed the town in gold. Across the square, he spotted something new — a glowing pillar made of smooth crystal, covered in posters.
The Guild Recruitment Board.
He approached, eyes scanning the magical parchment.
Iron Reavers – Seeking B-Rank Swordmasters.
Azure Moon Knights – Accepting ranged classes.
Shadow Serpents – No cowards allowed.
Aetherus Guild – By invitation only.
His pulse quickened. He could feel it — the world opening before him. Politics, power, survival. All of it tied to the guilds.
"I picked a fight with one," he whispered. "Maybe it's time I joined one, or I can create one"
The system chimed again.
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[SYSTEM INTERFACE ACTIVE]
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[System Notice: Side Quest Chain Complete] [Skill Tree Access Granted – Basic Tier Unlocked]
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A new tab opened on his interface:
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[SYSTEM INTERFACE ACTIVE]
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[Skill Tree – Basic Tier]
Slots Unlocked: 3/10
Next Unlock: 500 Soul Points
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Abilities like Swift Step, Minor Shield, and Focus Strike shimmered faintly — locked, but visible.
Ikarion smiled.
It's just a beginning.
In the cold heart of the mountains, far from the bustling town, stood the impenetrable stronghold of the Kaiser Guild — carved from black stone, veined with crimson runes. Within its war chamber, shadows flickered across the walls, cast by a fire that never died.
The chamber doors creaked open as a bloodied scout limped forward, collapsing to one knee.
"He… he wasn't human. He moved like smoke. My entire unit wiped out… in seconds."
At the head of the room stood Valdrik Kaen, the current commander of the Guild. His sharp features were partially hidden beneath his hood, but his golden eye glowed faintly in the dark.
"Silver hair, you say?"
The scout nodded. "Yes, my lord. Just like the old prophecies… The Cursebearers."
Whispers erupted in the room. An elder leaned forward, voice low and gravelly.
"They're not curses… They're chosen. Marked by fate."
Valdrik raised his voice, silencing them all.
"So, fate has finally moved a piece."
"Interesting."
He walked to the window that overlooked the jagged valley below.
"He's young… wild… doesn't yet know what flows through his veins."
"Let's offer him something. Power. Brotherhood. Purpose."
The elder scoffed. "And if he refuses?"
A slow smile spread across Valdrik's face.
"Then we'll break him."
"Every tool has its use — whether by choice, or by force."
Deep beneath the stronghold, in a sealed vault of stone and chains, a forgotten relic glowed faintly — reacting for the first time in decades.