The moon hung high over Eldergrove Vilge, its pale glow spilling across empty streets and flickering nterns. The distorted stranger's words still echoed in my mind. Now, my css was broken, my HUD was glitching, and UNKNOWN kept sending me cryptic breadcrumbs.

  I leaned against the wooden railing of the inn’s small balcony, staring out over the quiet vilge square. My new outfit—the Empress of Shadows Attire—clung to me like a second skin, dark patterns glowing faintly along the seams. The Midnight Fang hung heavily at my side, its obsidian bde glinting under the moonlight.

  Lucien stood nearby, his arms crossed over his chest, his usual carefree demeanor absent.

  “My Lady,” he said carefully, “I feel compelled to remind you that wandering into mysterious quests in the dead of night is, historically, how most grand tragedies begin.”

  I smirked faintly. “Noted. But tragedy or not, there’s no going back now.”

  I opened my HUD and hovered over the unread message from UNKNOWN.

  [SYSTEM MESSAGE: UNKNOWN]The world’s edges are fraying. The next marker is set deep within the Mistwood Expanse. Don’t trust everything you see.

  [NEW QUEST OBJECTIVE: Travel to Mistwood Expanse]

  The Mistwood Expanse… I pulled up my map. It was a sprawling forest region several zones over from Eldergrove. It would be a long trip, and from the looks of it, mostly uncharted territory.

  “Looks like we’re going on a hike, Lucien.”

  The bard sighed, strapping his lute securely across his back. “Then let us step boldly into the dark, my Lady, and pray that the shadows are kind.”

  ?????°???°?????

  The vilge gates loomed rge and foreboding as we passed under them. Torches flickered against the stone archways, and two NPC guards barely gnced at us as we walked past. Outside, the world opened up into rolling hills, sparse woodnds, and winding dirt roads. The sky was painted in deep hues of purple and blue as dawn began to creep over the horizon.

  Lucien gnced at me sideways. “My Lady, might I ask—what do you hope to find out there?”

  “Answers,” I said firmly. “Whatever this is—whatever happened to my css—it’s not normal. Devon can’t help me from the forums. And whoever UNKNOWN is, they seem to know more than anyone else.”

  We walked in silence for a while, the distant sound of birds greeting the coming dawn.

  The path grew narrower as we approached the edges of the Mistwood Expanse. Ancient trees loomed over the road, their twisted branches casting dark patterns across the ground. A faint mist clung to the air, and the sound of running water echoed from somewhere unseen.

  A notification appeared:

  [Entering Zone: Mistwood Expanse][Recommended Level: 15+]

  I winced. “Lucien… what level are we again?”

  The bard gave me a sideways gnce. “With all due respect, my Lady, I believe our levels are best left… unspoken.”

  I pulled up my stats. Level 10. Barely.

  “Fantastic,” I muttered.

  The path forked ahead, one branch leading deeper into the mist and the other veering toward what looked like an old stone bridge.

  Before I could decide, faint voices drifted on the wind.

  Lucien held up a hand, signaling me to stop. “My Lady, someone approaches.”

  We ducked behind a mossy rock, peering out cautiously. Two pyers walked into view, their armor gleaming faintly in the mist.

  [PLAYER: ArdentBze][PLAYER: LicHex]

  Their names hovered above their heads, guild tags glowing faintly beneath them.

  “Guild pyers,” I whispered. “Should we talk to them?”

  Lucien hesitated. “They do not look friendly, my Lady. They move with… purpose.”

  The two pyers stopped on the bridge, looking down at their HUDs.

  “Did you see that server message earlier?” ArdentBze said. His voice was sharp, tense.

  “Yeah,” LicHex replied. “Some corrupted data spike. Admins didn’t fg it, though. It’s like they don’t even see it.”

  “Someone’s messing with the backend code. who do you think it is?”

  LicHex shrugged. “Does it matter? Orders are to investigate and eliminate if necessary.”

  I sucked in a sharp breath.

  Lucien gnced at me. “My Lady, we should not be here.”

  I nodded. “Agreed. Let’s move—quietly.”

  We began to backtrack, slipping into the mist-covered underbrush. But as fate would have it, Lucien stepped on a twig.

  CRACK!

  Both pyers turned sharply.

  “Who’s there?!” ArdentBze barked, drawing his sword.

  Lucien’s hand darted to his dagger, but before either of us could react, a new voice cut through the mist.

  “stop where you are.”

  Out of the fog emerged a woman cd in sleek, bck leather armor reinforced with dark metal ptes. A high-colred cloak fluttered softly behind her with each deliberate step. Two sheathed daggers rested at her sides, hilts polished and ready. Her cloak billowed slightly with every step, and her piercing amber eyes locked onto me instantly.

  But it wasn’t the armor or the weapons that caught me—it was her.

  [PLAYER: Selene][LEVEL: ???]

  ArdentBze and LicHex froze.

  “Lady Selene,” LicHex stammered, bowing slightly.

  Selene’s face was sharp and angur, her jawline set with quiet authority.

  Her skin was smooth, kissed by warm undertones that glowed faintly in the moonlight. Strands of her dark hair, slightly tousled, framed her face and fell just above her shoulders, the faintest glimmer of silver threading through a few strands. But it was her eyes—piercing, amber eyes that practically glowed with intensity—that held me in pce.

  She tilted her head slightly, examining me in a way that made me feel like she was peeling back my yers, reading every detail the shadows dared to hide.

  “So…” she said, her voice low and smooth, almost melodic. She walks over to me with a slow and confident gait. “You’re the one causing all this noise.”

  I froze under her gaze. My voice stuck somewhere in my throat. My HUD flickered faintly in the corner of my vision, but it felt like a distant hum compared to the sharp crity of her presence.

  Lucien shifted nervously beside me, clutching his dagger but aware he was outmatched. The two guild pyers—ArdentBze and LicHex—remained frozen in pce, waiting for Selene’s next move—I waited for her next move as the sound of blood rushed in my ears

  Selene narrowed her eyes slightly, her lips curving into a faint smirk.

  “Kiera, right?”

  My breath hitched. She knows my name. Only remembering after the fact she might have been reading my gamer username. My cheeks grew hot at the thought of being embarassed.

  “Are you the Kiera that Devon mentioned?” Selene continued, crossing her arms over her chest.

  That snapped me out of it.

  “Wait—you know Devon?” I blurted, blinking rapidly as I forced myself to focus.

  Selene nodded once, her smirk fading into something more serious.

  “Yeah. Our guilds run in the same network. He mentioned you and your situation and thought I could help. And now that I’ve seen you in person, I can see why.”

  I shifted uncomfortably, shadows curling faintly at my feet as if reacting to my unease. “Why what?”

  “Why everyone seems so damn interested in you,” Selene said simply.

  I swallowed hard. “So… I’m guessing this isn’t a friendly meet-and-greet?”

  Selene’s lips twitched slightly, but her smirk didn’t reach her eyes. “Depends on your definition of ‘friendly.’”

  She gestured with her hand, and ArdentBze and LicHex stepped back, sheathing their weapons. Her gaze flickered briefly to Lucien.

  “The bard can stay quiet, right?”

  Lucien straightened, clutching his chest dramatically. “I am but a humble performer, my dy. Silence is a virtue I possess in abundance.”

  “Good.” Selene turned back to me. “You’re coming with me. Now.”

  I hesitated. My HUD was still flickering slightly, and error messages were dancing at the edges. Something about Selene felt dangerous, but at the same time… she wasn’t attacking me.

  “Where are we going?” I asked cautiously.

  “To my guild’s base. We’re too exposed out here. Trust me, if you think I’m dangerous, you really don’t want to meet the people who’ve been looking for you.”

  “you mean about that Guardian Oberon thing that attacked me?”

  I could hear ArdentBze and LicHex whisper behind me about seeing “one of them” and “the hidden Mod guards”.

  Selene smirked. “Yeah, I only ever heard about them through secret message forums and posts on the dark web. They’re something of an “urban legend,” and you, Kiera, just woke up the boogie man.”

  Lucien gnced at me, waiting for my signal. I exhaled slowly and gave a slight nod.

  “Lead the way.”

  ?????°???°?????

  The journey to Raven’s Refuge felt quicker than it probably was. Selene moved with sharp precision, effortlessly navigating the twisting paths of the Mistwood Expanse. She led us deeper into the Mistwood Expanse, taking paths I never would have noticed—small breaks in the tree line, narrow trails hidden behind mossy boulders, and steep descents down rocky ravines. Her every step was purposeful, her presence both commanding and intimidating.

  Lucien kept pace beside me, uncharacteristically quiet. Occasionally, he gnced at Selene, his usual smirk repced with something unreadable as our boots muffled by the damp forest floor.

  Occasionally, I caught glimpses of faint glowing symbols etched into trees or rocks—markers, perhaps. Whatever they meant, Selene seemed to know them well.

  “So...,” I said after a long silence, “you were contacted by my step brother and was going to keep tabs on me...?”

  Selene didn’t slow her pace or look back. “Not sure if its keeping tabs if you notice a walking glitch with shadows curling at her feet. But You’re lucky I found you first.”

  Lucien raised an eyebrow. “Lucky seems… subjective.”

  Selene smirked at that. “Fair point, bard.”

  “Why do you care about what happens to me, anyway?” I pressed. “You don’t strike me as the charitable type.”

  She paused briefly, gncing back over her shoulder. “Because whatever happened to you isn’t normal. And whatever you’ve become? It’s going to paint a target on your back the size of a raid boss.”

  Her words sat heavy in the pit of my stomach.

  After nearly an hour of hiking, passing through dense forest trails and hidden alcoves, we reached a cave entrance hidden behind a waterfall. Selene stepped through the cascading sheet of water with a nonchance that suggested she’d done this a hundred times without hesitation, her cloak barely getting damp. Lucien and I exchanged gnces before following.

  Lucien paused before the falls, side-eyeing me. “Water and lute strings, my muse… they do not mix well.”

  “Then press it to your chest and move quickly,” I said, pushing him forward.

  We emerged from the waterfall, and the scene before stole my breath away.

  A sprawling cavern stretched out, softly illuminated by glowing crystals embedded in the walls. Wooden ptforms, rope bridges, and metal scaffolding formed a vertical maze of walkways and structures, bustling with activity. Pyers in dark armor carried crates, NPCs moved supplies, and guild banners depicting a raven perched atop a crescent moon hung from the cavern walls.

  Selene gestured for us to follow her across a wooden bridge toward a central chamber carved into the stone.

  Inside, the cave expanded into a massive underground cavern lit by glowing crystals embedded in the walls. Wooden ptforms and rope bridges crisscrossed the space, connecting small structures carved into the rock. A waterfall poured into a rge basin at the center, its surface shimmering with faint magical runes.

  The words fshed across my HUD, and for the first time in hours, I let out a breath I didn’t realize I’d been holding.

  [Entering Safe Zone: Raven’s Refuge]

  “Welcome to Raven’s Refuge,” Selene said, her voice softer now. “My guild’s safe house. You’ll be safe here… for now.”

  Pyers (and some everyday NPCs) bustled around the cavern, carrying crates, adjusting equipment, or huddling over glowing maps projected on makeshift tables. A few of them gnced our way, their eyes lingering on me just a little too long.

  Lucien let out an impressed whistle. “Well, color me intrigued. A guild that builds a fortress behind a waterfall—it’s like something out of a bard’s tale.”

  “Stay close,” Selene said, motioning for us to follow.

  Selene led us into a rge chamber carved directly into the cavern wall. A massive wooden table dominated the center, covered in scattered maps, enchanted scrolls, and glowing crystals. Torches flickered in iron sconces, casting warm light across the faces of seated guild members.

  As we entered, a tall man in heavy leather armor gnced up from the table. His bck armor was less decorative than Selene’s, built for function rather than style. His hair was cropped short, and a thin scar ran across his left brow.

  His name hovered over his head:

  [PLAYER: Kael][LEVEL: 42]

  “Selene,” he said, his deep voice carrying authority. “You brought… guests.”

  Selene nodded. “This is Kiera. And the bard is… well, the bard.”

  Lucien bowed extravagantly. “Lucien at your service, my good sir. A humble accompaniment to a grand tale.”

  Kael’s eyes flicked over Lucien briefly before returning to me. “So... you’re the one causing the ripples in the system, eh? The one Devon’s been mentioning to us. You’ve stirred up quite the mess, miss.”

  I shook my head. “It’s not like I chose… well, knew this would happen. Someone—UNKNOWN—sent me a message. I didn’t know what it would do.”

  Kael’s jaw tightened. “UNKNOWN is an underground faction—hackers, rogue developers—people who exploit the game for profit, power, and control.”

  Selene stepped closer to the table, her arms crossed. “They’ve been trying to access the game’s binary root code for years. The devs anticipated this and broke the code into fragmented pieces, scattering them worldwide in the game—and, of course, the fail-safe in the Guardian mods as you are well acquainted with.”

  Kael seemed surprised by that information for a moment, but it disappeared just as quickly as it appeared as he spoke, “And now? You’re their retrieval tool. That command you entered gave them access through the game’s firewall. By accident or not, you caught their stray code, probably meant for one of their own, but now they’re using you to fetch those binary fragments.”

  Lucien gnced at me cautiously. “So that means what for my muse? And why do they want this binary code so badly.”

  Selene’s amber eyes locked onto mine. “She’s an asset. But an asset that’ll draw the wrong kind of attention. As for you, bard, you’re a sentient AI made by the game’s program. The Nexus is a vast MMORPG where virtual reality is and feels like reality. You can control and be anything, in the wrong hands the possibilities or wrongdoings would be endless.”

  Lucien grinned faintly though his eyes were serious, gloomy almost. “Ah, and here I thought I was simply charming.”

  They did have a point. I never really questioned how Lucien spoke or understood specific phrases that only a human could use.

  Kael continued. “You have two choices, Kiera. You can stay here, y low, let this whole mess fade away, and let us handle this—or…”

  Selene smirked faintly. “Or you keep moving, follow the markers, and find those fragments. And I’ll go with you to make sure you don’t get yourself—or everyone else—killed and capture them once and for all.”

  The room was silent for a moment, save for the distant sound of water dripping somewhere in the cavern.

  “You want to use me as bait,” I said softly.

  Selene shrugged. “Better bait with a bodyguard than bait left dangling on a hook.”

  Lucien cleared his throat. “Ahem, as much as I adore our little family dynamic here, may I ask… what about me?”

  Kael exhaled. “You stick close to them. If we can harness whatever is going on with her css and use your sentient skills to our advantage, we might stand a chance.”

  I clenched my fists.

  “Alright,” I said finally. “I’ll keep moving. I’ll follow the markers. But Selene—” I looked up at her, meeting her piercing amber gaze. My throat tightened. “You better have my back.”

  Selene smirked faintly. It was gentler than previous exchanges. “Always.”

  [NEW PARTY MEMBER ADDED: SELENE][Party Objective: Retrieve the Fragmented Binary Code]

  Selene gestured toward the cavern exit. “Get some rest, Kiera. We leave at dawn. You’ll need your strength.”