Kael led her down a winding dirt path that curved through withered trees and clusters of mossy stone. The further they walked, the quieter it became—until they reached a small clearing at the edge of the forest.
There, nestled between the gnarled roots of two ancient trees, was a modest mud house. Its walls were smooth, dark brown with age, and held together by dried vines and straw. The roof, made of thick thatch, sloped unevenly, giving it a slightly crooked but lived-in look. Despite its simplicity, there was a strange charm to it.
Just beside the front wall stood a shaded area, formed by wooden poles and a roof made of dried palm leaves. Underneath it sat a few blackened pots, a stone stove, and bundles of herbs strung up with twine. That was clearly the kitchen—open to the air, exposed to the wind, yet neatly arranged.
He stopped in front of the door and gave her a proud look, as if to say, This is home.
Athena looked around. There was only one visible room, one entrance, no windows. A single wooden chair rested outside, patched and worn, with a folded cloth draped over its back.
Kael busied himself by the shaded outdoor kitchen, moving with ease. He gathered a few sticks, sparked up a fire with flint and stone, then placed a flat stone over it to roast the fish he'd caught earlier. No seasoning, no oils—just bare, gutted fish sizzling against heated stone.
The smell was… strong.
As the fish cooked, Kael glanced over at Athena, then at the extra portion he was now preparing. He muttered something under his breath in Elven, wiping his hands on a rough cloth. His brows furrowed for a moment, as if remembering something important.
He looked toward the distant sea and sighed. He wasn't just feeding himself anymore. He'd have to fish again. Maybe tonight. Maybe tomorrow morning. Either way… things had changed.
Once the fish was done, he plopped two cooked ones onto a cracked wooden plate and walked back to her. With a soft grunt, he placed the plate in front of her and gave a quick gesture: two fingers to his eyes, then pointing to the trees. I'll be back, it said without words.
Athena nodded automatically.
Then she looked down.
And almost gagged.
The fish stared up at her, lifeless and gray. The skin was barely crisp, the insides still a bit too… present. She poked one with a finger. It jiggled. This is poison, she decided. Literal, dry, soul-destroying poison.
She forced a smile Kael didn't see as he walked away.
As soon as he disappeared down the path, she groaned, resting her forehead on the table beside the plate. "Ughhh," she muttered. "Can someone please just help me..."
Ding!
A mechanical chime echoed in her ears.
> System activated...
Welcome, host, to the Scholar's System.
Athena shot up. "Wait, what?!"
She looked around wildly.
But the voice came again, as calm and direct as ever:
> Initializing translation matrix... Downloading Elven language pack...
0%... 10%... 45%...
She blinked. "No way. A system? A real system? I thought those were just stories."
>85%... 100%.
Download complete. You can now understand and speak Elven. Congratulations, host.
She slowly turned her head back to the fish.
"...Does this system come with spices?"
The mechanical voice responded calmly, almost too cheerfully for the chaos it was about to unleash.
> Yes, but you will receive them as rewards.
Athena blinked. "Rewards? For what?"
> For completing missions.
She nodded slowly, her brain still trying to catch up. "Okay… yeah, fine. That makes sense. You're a system. That's what systems do, right?" She took a deep breath and sat up straighter, channeling all the bravery she didn't have. "Alright. What's my first mission?"
There was a pause.
> System Mission 001: Replace the island's core.
Silence.
Then—
"ARE YOU CRAZYYYY?!"
She leapt to her feet, nearly knocking over the plate of fish. "Do I look like someone seeking death?!" She paced a little before flailing her hands in the air. "Didn't you hear what Gran Mirela said?! THE ISLAND CORE IS CURSED! It's like—dragon fire, lava, and explosive doom down there!"
> Do not worry, Host. I am here to assist you.
"Oh wow, that's SO reassuring," she muttered, voice dripping with sarcasm. "Next you'll tell me I have to wrestle a volcano bare-handed."
Ding!
>Relic unlocked : Esha'lora Call
She paused. "What's that?"
> An ancient melody used to soothe and occasionally tame dragons. The song, once sung by the High Priestesses of the Veiled Grove, has the ability to resonate with draconic energy and subdue it.
Athen blinked, so that's the reason but wait...
"Where's the rest? Is this just it?"
>I don't understand host. You have all you need to carry out the mission now. I suggest you leave as fast as possible.
She stared at the air in front of her, trying to process it all. Her hands slowly slid down her face. "Oh my god, I'm going to die."
Athena exhaled, tension lacing her shoulders as she sat back down in front of the untouched fish. "Well... guess I'm not just here to eat bad seafood after all." She decided to leave the next day, she hoped the dragon was still weak from it's fight.
Eira's heart hammered in her chest. She couldn't find her voice, couldn't think of what to say. Then, without realizing it, she began to hum.
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Verse 1
Esha'lora, thy wings of flame,
From the skies, where shadows came,
By the bond of fire and earth,
We sing thy name, the song of birth.
In the whispers of the stone,
Ancient voices, soft and lone,
Thy heart beats with the winds of time,
Echoed through this sacred rhyme.
Chorus:
Awaken, fire, from deep below,
Esha'lora's call we bestow,
In thy name, we seek the light,
Guide us through this endless night.
By the flame that burns so bright,
Esha'lora, come to sight,
With thy wings, so free, so strong,
Come, O dragon, hear our song.
Verse 2:
Through the storms, through the haze,
Thy gaze, eternal, will not fade,
Bound by magic, bound by fate,
In thy power, we await.
Stars above and roots below,
Thy breath, it whispers, soft and slow,
O ancient one, whose fire burns,
Let us speak, as the world turns.
Chorus:
Awaken, fire, from deep below,
Esha'lora's call we bestow,
In thy name, we seek the light,
Guide us through this endless night.
By the flame that burns so bright,
Esha'lora, come to sight,
With thy wings, so free, so strong,
Come, O dragon, hear our song.
Bridge:
Beneath the stars, the ancient flame,
In silence, we call thy name,
Esha'lora, heed the plea,
Come forth, and set the world free.
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