The bronze-tinted sky shimmered with a faint, unnatural haze as Kaiden, Naō, and Ironstride rode their mounts east out of the Pale Grove. The air had turned heavier since morning, not just hot, but humid and strange. Pollen-like particles floated aimlessly, catching light as they drifted down like glowing dust. Kaiden coughed once, squinting as they crossed into Blackcoral.

  The contrast hit instantly.

  Blackcoral was buzzing with activity, a teleport-access hub that looked like a fusion of nature and architecture. Stone paths curved around thick, living roots. Vendors lined the walkways, carts brimming with materials, potions, salvage gear, and foods that shimmered with buffs. Overhead, glowing chat bubbles filled the air as players bartered and spammed trades:

  Antitoxin x3 for Mistbreak II scrolls

  Selling Cleaver-Bud Core, 30 Verdant Coins. DM fast

  Kaiden slowed as he took it in. Players dueled in designated PvP circles, while others clustered around quest boards or sat at a crafting bench locked in a queue. It felt alive, like the game had shifted gears into its next phase.

  He made a beeline toward the blacksmith station to upgrade his scythe. The heavy-set man with a leather apron took the weapon and frowned.

  He gave Kaiden’s weapon a once-over, squinting. “Hmm. It’s resistant,” he said, running a gloved thumb along the blade. “Won’t take reinforcement the way normal steel does. You temper this yourself?”

  Kaiden shook his head. “No, had it as-is.”

  The blacksmith grunted, returning the scythe. “Then it’s not standard gear. Best leave it alone before it decides it doesn’t like you.”

  Kaiden blinked. “Before it, what?”

  But the man had already moved on to another player.

  Naō had come up from behind him with a smirk. “Sounds like your weapon’s got trust issues.”

  Kaiden slid the scythe onto his back. “Yeah, well, I’m not giving it therapy.”

  Whatever the Photosphere did to it, the weapon clearly didn’t play nice with standard forging.

  They boarded a short-range rail shortly after, the ride descending through twisted tunnels until they arrived at Ashglass Market, a subterranean bazaar where the ceilings pulsed with faint bioluminescence. Vines laced over glass archways, and the root layered tunnels sprawled off in every direction for player exploration.

  Higher-level players dominated the central platform, while others closer to Kaiden’s and Naō’s level, filtered between sub-markets, gear exchanges, and tunnel entrances.

  “A lot of support builds,” Naō said as they walked, glancing around. “Status defense gear too.

  Ironstride responded with, “That’s because everyone here is brushing close to level fifteen.”

  “That’s the next job evolution, right?” Kaiden asked.

  Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

  “Yeah,” she replied. “It only gets harder from here.”

  Whispers trailed them. Then the overhead chat whispered in translucent gray:

  “That’s the Ghost from the tournament.”

  “No Rot meter. Probably a Breaker. Or a dev leak.”

  “He cleared two biomes without triggering aggro. What the hell is that class?”

  Naō snorted. “Guess I need a title now. ‘Ghost’s Sidekick’? Nah, Ghost’s Apothecary,” he said, with an exaggerated gesture of his hands.

  Kaiden chuckled. “Why not, you’re the reason I can still keep kicking it without wiping out.”

  “Mmhm, let’s Market that.”

  Ironstride only shook her head, mumbling under her breath, “Boys.”

  They turned a corner just as a group of players—two melee, a healer, and a tank—walked by escorting a small Unseelie child NPC, draped in a cloak. She looked no older than ten, with white-gray hair and glowing eyes like violet glass. A quest icon floated faintly above her.

  “Looks like they’re headed to the Seelie Courts,” Ironstride said. “Only a few hidden side quests can get you entry directly into the courts. This one I know that– if you find her, which isn’t easy– you can align yourself with the Seelie to imprison her there and get bypass access to the dungeon and bosses. But most players either can’t find the side paths, so they end up just running the dungeons.”

  Kaiden frowned. Something about the girl made him pause.

  She looked directly at him.

  He blinked and his HUD flashed.

  [Side Quest Opportunity: Child of the Bloom]

  Alternative Path Unlocked – Free Liri from Seelie Prison. Return her to her home in the Unseelie Courts.

  Y/N

  Kaiden didn’t hesitate. Yes.

  A new quest tracker integrated into their HUDs. Naō’s jaw tensed.

  “Wait, how’d you manage to find one of the paths already?” Ironstride exclaimed.

  Kaiden only shrugged. “Just happened, I guess.”

  Ironstride looked baffled for a half a second, but then it was replaced with a nonchalant shrug. “Guess we’re picking fights with the Seelie Courts now.

  “You know aligning yourself to one court specifically can lead to multiple paths and difficulties when we need to access the other courts?” Ironstride said flatly.

  “Guess that’s why RTS isn’t for everyone?” Kaiden shrugged his shoulders.

  “And here I thought today would be quiet,” Naō muttered. “We really do have a gift for chaos.”

  They watched the child be led into the rail gate. The marker for the Seelie Courts appeared on their maps, far to the northeast.

  Quest Added: [Child of the Bloom] Infiltrate Seelie Territory. Locate and Free Liri. Escort her to the Unseelie Grove

  They found an inn deep in Ashglass where player commerce was active but not overwhelming. The group would reconvene tomorrow with Ironstride’s contact of the whereabouts of CrimsonCrow.

  Kaiden logged out.

  ???°?°???

  Kaiden pulled the VR headset off. His limbs ached in that faint, disconnected way they always did after long sessions, but this time... his knees buckled slightly.

  He caught himself on the desk. Not just stiff, but lightheaded.

  His phone buzzed with several text messages:

  Mom: Call when you get a chance.

  Dad: Need to talk soon.

  Emir: Had to run to campus. Lock up if you leave.

  Kaiden stepped into the hall quietly. The door across from Emir’s was lit underneath. A shadow shifted just behind the frame.

  His roommate probably, Kaiden thought.

  Locking the door behind him, he staggered as he set up a rideshare to take him home.