Back in the square, the lights of the Spring Festival still glowed soft and inviting. The atmosphere felt even more festive than last night. More people, bigger celebration. Seems like even the hardcore grinders have stopped for a while to enjoy the events.

  I made my way toward Sheila’s stand, tucked between the flower garland booth and another cooking station. I saw she had upgraded her banner, which now read “Sheila’s Sweets – Buff Your Belly”, in oversized pink lettering.

  Buff Your Belly?, I couldn’t help but let out a laugh.

  I waited in line for a couple minutes. Sheila spotted me right away.

  "Orion! It’s good to see you!" she smiled. "You look like you have fought for a whole day without break!"

  "Well, you’re not wrong. We’ve dealt with a fairly nasty spirit up in Riverhear," I said, interested in how she reacts to recent news.

  "So you are the Hero of Riverhear?!" she gasped. "We have heard about the battle of the graveyard. You saved so many people!"

  "I didn’t do it alone. Besides, that is our job as adventurers."

  "Take this Sunrise Berry Cake. It’s my newest creation, still warm."

  She gave me a piece of cake that had a brigh yellow cream inbetween the pastry, with forest berries on top. It looked amazing.

  As I was reaching into my pocket to pay for it, she shook his head. "It’s on the house."

  "You can’t keep feeding me for free!" I protested.

  "Just take it! As a gift, from a friend," she smiled.

  "In that case, thank you." My gratitude was sincere.

  The moment I took a bite I felt all my exhaustion fading away. Just like before, this was the best dessert I have ever had in my life. The phrase “Buff your belly” really did make sense. Speaking of which…

  "Buff Your Belly?" I asked with a playful smile.

  "Yes," She laughed. "One of the adventurers had explained to me what a “buff” meant in adventurer context, and I felt like it made sense. It’s also funny and cute."

  "Yeah, it’s the perfect slogan for you," I said sincerely. Her delicacies did actually give minor buffs as well, like the luck buff from the Erdberry Cake. This Sunrise Cake actually increased my maximum health by 5 for 30 minutes, which was pretty useful.

  I chatted a bit more with her then I decided to find a spot to sit and finish the cake. It was soft, sweet, with just the right amount of tart from whatever berries she had made it from. The kind of food that reminded you why Godsrealm was more than just fighting and looting.

  I found a quiet bench under a lantern-lit tree and leaned back. My limbs ached, and my eyes were heavy. The taste of the dessert, the feeling of the wind and the ambient music all helped me relax a bit. I didn’t want to move.

  But I still hadn’t figured out what the people have seen at the northern ridge of Fang Forest, and I wanted to at least check it out before calling it a day.

  I lingered around the village for about half an hour.

  The lanterns still flickered gently in the night breeze, casting long golden shadows across the cobblestones. Most of the crowd was focused on the main square, only a few players and villagers lingered near the edge of the village or at the association hall, either bartering, chatting or just killing time.

  My body was tired. Sore in that strange virtual way that wasn’t real pain but still found its way into your bones.

  As I was walking towards the northern gate I recalled what I had heard back in the tavern.

  It was in the woods, past the northern ridge. A shadow, big as a barn, moving through the trees. But it didn’t make a sound – not even a twig snapping.

  Could have been a bear.

  Bears don’t glow.

  At the time I was almost certain it was just flavour dialogue. Good worldbuilding, but most likely just a fairy tale. But then it kept tugging at me.

  If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

  When I reported it to the Association officials, they acted like I was crazy… but I noticed the others whispering. I think they know something.

  The northern ridge of Fang Forest was more desolate than the rest. Not many adventurers went there to hunt and grind, since mobs were much scarcer there, and as far as I knew, there weren’t any points of interest around.

  I stretched and tightened my gear. I had about an hour left before the 12 hour mark. Plenty of time for a walk.

  I made my way past the square, down the narrow path that curved north out of Carpa, and into the first trees that hugged the outer ridge.

  I didn’t expect to find anything, but part of me hoped I was wrong.

  The lanterns of Carpa dimmed behind me as I stepped off the road and into the woods. The path north of the village wasn’t even properly drawn on the map. It was just a loose suggestion of a trail all the way until the crossroads that eventually lead to Riverhear, slowly swallowed by roots and dust. The ridge rose ahead like a great sleeping beast, its back lined with ancient trees that leaned inward, as if trying to whisper secrets to one another.

  The climb was easy at first. Gentle inclines, moss-covered rocks and old log steps that had long since decayed into the underbush. The air was crisp here, and quieter than anywhere else I had been all day. Not just silent, but untouched.

  I kept my bow in my hands, ready. Just in case.

  Sure enough, it didn’t take long for the first hint of danger to show up. A level 11 Forest Scarab skittered out from behind a fallen log. A bulky, six legged thing with a bark-colored shell and mandibles that twitched with aggrssion.

  I stepped to the side as it charged, drew and loosed a Flaming Arrow in a smooth, practiced motion. The impact lit up its carapace with a dull whoosh, and a second shot finished the job.

  I crouched down, carved a usable shell piece from its back and tucked it into my pack.

  Further up, a pair of Moss-Furred Wolves padded across a sunken trail, almost silent. Simple predators with green-tinted fur and alert yellow eyes.

  Unlike the Scarab, they didn’t charge at me recklessly. They didn’t take their eyes off of me, but were standing still. I walked past them slowly, watching their reactions. They meant no threat to me.

  By the time I reached the crest of the ridge, the stars were bright and the moon had risen high. From here, I could see the treetops stretching north like an endless sea, undisturbed. There were no campfires, no monster roars. Not even birds.

  Just wind and trees and stars.

  I found a wide flat stone and sat down, rolling my shoulders and glancing at the time. Thirty-seven minutes left. Enough to rest and then con-

  Something moved.

  A flicker.

  Not a player, or a monster. Just a light. Pale, faint. Gone as soon as it appeared, like moonlight winking through a drifting fog.

  I stood slowly, eyes fixed on the shadows between the trees. Whatever it was, it hadn’t made a sound. Not even a twig.

  I didn’t move at first. The glow – soft, blue and pulsing – had already vanished between the trees below the ridge. But the afterimage lingered in my mind, just clear enough for me to recall every detail about it.

  It was quiet, just like in the story the man in the tavern had told.

  My instincts said it wasn’t a threat, so I started moving.

  The descent from the ridge was trickier than the climb. Slopes were too steep for a straight line, roots were grabbing at my boots and one bad step could have meant a miniature rockslide.

  I kept my pace measured. Every dozen meters, I caught it again. A flicker of pale light ahead. Never for long, never in full view. It was always distant, always moving.

  It wasn’t running from me but it didn’t let me catch up either.

  Somehow it felt like the forest was changing around it. Moss thickened underfoot. The wind died away. Even the moonlight, strong just moments ago, began to seem muted, like I had passed through some unseen threshold.

  And then the light appeared again, closer, still.

  It stood beyond a small ravine, across a trickle of water that sparkled where the glow reflected off its surface. I stepped forward slowly, boots pressing gently into the moss. My breath was quiet.

  And finaly, I saw it. Not fully, just the outline.

  Antlers.

  Taller than any creature I had seen in the game so far. Not hulking or monstrous, but regal. Still. Watching.

  It was shining with a faint blue light like the moonlight was woven into its fur and antlers, pulsing in a slow rhythm.

  The moment I focused on it, the creature turned slightly and stepped behind a tree. Gone.

  I only had 9 minutes before reaching the 12 hour mark, and I had about 8 hours left until dawn. This meant that if I decided to keep going, I will be forced to stay offline for almost a whole day after I logout.

  Still, this quest felt like a one of a kind experience.

  Speaking of one of a kind experiences… being the first to unlock the goblin quest, getting saved by Stone, beating the Duskwolf Alpha, getting the Epic leg armor, unlocking the unique Woe storyline, last minute reinforcements by Los Asesinos, getting saved by other players again… It felt like I was the protagonist of a movie. My plot armor seemed to be working overtime.

  I stared at the quest notification for a long second. The Elder Stag had already vanished. The forest was silent. This was it. I didn’t hesitate any longer.

  Accept quest!