Malcolm had begun to notice the pattern after the Thorne vault.
It started small—faint pulses in his HUD whenever he sealed a rift, defeated a boss fragment, or even finished a quiet night of recitation on the rooftop. At first he thought it was residual feedback from the Blood Resonance augment or the Veil of Eternal Night. But the notifications were too consistent, too private, too… personal.
They only appeared when he was alone.
The first time it happened properly was three nights after Darius fled. Malcolm had slipped away from the ward's evening gathering—too many voices, too many eyes still looking at him like he was half myth, half savior. He climbed to the old minaret balcony, the one no one used anymore because the stairs were crumbling. There, under stars that were finally visible through thinning clouds, he sat cross-legged and recited Surah Al-Mulk until his breathing steadied.
That's when the interface bloomed—silent, golden-edged, visible only to him.
Hidden System Initialized: Personal Legacy Cache
Owner: Malcolm Thorne (Sole Access)
Synchronization complete with Cosmic Eater & Thorne Blood Resonance
You have unlocked the Loot Box System.
Only you can summon, open, and claim rewards.
All contents are soul-bound and invisible to others.
He stared at the translucent panel floating in his vision, heart rate climbing.
Current Cache Balance: 3 Draws
Source: Accumulated merit from sealed rifts, purified fragments, and personal trials
Draw now? Y / N
Malcolm's thumb hovered over the mental "N". Every instinct screamed trap—another temptation from the void, another leash disguised as a gift.
But the Eater didn't stir. No hunger spike. No whisper of consumption.
Just quiet certainty.
He selected Y.
Three crystalline orbs materialized in the air—small, weightless, glowing softly gold-black. No sound. No flash. Completely invisible to anyone who might look up from the courtyard below.
He touched the first.
Loot Box #1 – Common Tier
Reward: 12,000 Credits (Clean – Guild-tagged & untraceable)
Reward: Void-etched Dagger (Rare) – +18% shadow penetration, self-repairs in darkness
The credits appeared as a silent transfer to his hidden account. The dagger materialized in his palm—light, perfectly balanced, runes pulsing faintly before going dormant. He slipped it into a concealed sheath under his cloak.
Second orb.
Loot Box #2 – Uncommon Tier
Reward: Mana-Infused Stimulant (x5) – Instant 30% stamina recovery, no crash
Reward: 1x Maid Contract Token (Bound Servant – Level 1)
Description: Summons a loyal humanoid attendant (customizable appearance & personality). Bound to serve discreetly, invisibly to others unless permitted. Cannot betray or reveal your secrets.
Malcolm froze.
A maid?
He almost dismissed the orb without claiming it—but curiosity won. He accepted.
A soft chime only he could hear.
Contract Token Activated.
Please specify parameters (mental prompt accepted).
He hesitated, then thought carefully:
Discreet. Intelligent. Non-romantic. Combat-capable if needed. Can blend into any environment. Name: Safiya. Prefers quiet efficiency.
Reality folded for half a second.
A woman appeared—standing two paces away, completely silent.
She was dark-skinned like him, mid-20s appearance, short black curls pinned neatly, wearing simple dark tunic and trousers that looked like ordinary ward clothing. Her eyes were calm amber, expression composed but attentive.
Safiya (voice low, private to him alone): "I am here to serve, Master Thorne. No one else can see or hear me unless you allow it. How may I assist?"
Malcolm stared.
She bowed slightly—polite, not servile.
Malcolm (whisper): "You're… real?"
Safiya: "As real as the contract allows. I exist to ease your burdens—logistics, scouting, protection, discretion. I do not require food, sleep, or payment. My loyalty is absolute."
He swallowed.
Malcolm: "No one can know about you. Not even the team."
Safiya: "Understood. I will remain unseen until you command otherwise."
He nodded once—still processing.
Third orb.
Loot Box #3 – Rare Tier
Reward: 45,000 Credits
Reward: Shadow-Ward Amulet (Epic) – Grants temporary invisibility to scrying & detection (30 min cooldown)
Reward: 1x Maid Contract Token (Bound Servant – Level 2)
He claimed it all.
The second token he left unactivated—for now. One hidden ally was already a lot to wrap his head around.
Safiya stepped closer—still silent to the world.
Safiya: "Shall I begin inventorying the ward's supplies? Or scout the lower tunnels for Voss's trail?"
Malcolm exhaled.
Malcolm: "Trail. Quietly. Report only to me."
She inclined her head and simply… vanished. Not shadow-step—more like she'd never been there.
Malcolm sat back against the minaret wall, heart pounding.
A secret system. Hidden loot boxes. Money he could funnel anonymously to the ward. Weapons he could distribute without questions. And now… a completely loyal, invisible attendant.
He could fund orphanages. Buy medicine. Arm the vulnerable. Track enemies. All without anyone knowing where the resources came from.
And no one—not Margarita, not the team, not even Liora—could ever find out.
Because if they did, the questions would never stop.
Where did this come from?
Why only you?
What else are you hiding?
He stared at the empty air where Safiya had stood.
The Eater hummed—soft, approving, almost amused.
Malcolm closed his eyes.
Malcolm (whisper): "La hawla wa la quwwata illa billah…"
He would use it. Carefully. Quietly. For the people below.
But he would carry this secret alone.
Some shadows, even he couldn't share.
To be continued...