Vargan’s Resolve

  Back in the bustling city square, Nash—better known as Vargan—made his way toward the Wayfinder’s Guild. The weight of the Fragment of Shadows quest lingered in his mind, but he knew he couldn’t tackle it yet. He needed strength, skills, and levels before diving any deeper into the mysteries of Eidolon.

  Entering the guild hall, he approached the same stoic NPC who had handed him the scroll before. The NPC’s expression didn’t change as Nash came into view.

  “You seem to be yourself,” the NPC remarked dryly, his tone almost mocking. “Did you realize the quest was more than you could handle and abandon it?”

  Nash shot the NPC a sharp look, his patience already thin. “I’ve completed parts of the quest,” he replied curtly. “But I need to reach level 20 to continue. Now, give me some hunting quests.”

  Without missing a beat, the NPC handed him another scroll. “This contains hunting grounds and quests suited for players between levels 5 and 20,” he said, his voice mechanical but efficient. “Remember, you may only take on 10 quests at a time.”

  Nash nodded, scanning the scroll. He quickly selected 10 quests, each targeting monsters in progressively challenging zones. The mix of objectives—from basic hunts to more tactical assignments—promised a steep learning curve, but Nash welcomed the challenge.

  “I’ll be back soon,” he muttered, turning to leave the guild hall, already planning his route through the hunting grounds.

  Kyle and Luna’s Search

  Kyle and Luna stood on the outskirts of the guild hall, the faint hum of activity from the building behind them blending into the distant sounds of the city. Both wore expressions of determination, though Kyle’s brow furrowed as he tried to piece together their next step.

  “Where do we even start?” Luna asked, glancing around as if the answer might reveal itself in the cobblestones or the faces of passersby.

  Before Kyle could answer, a faint shimmer flickered in the air before them, and Kaelith appeared, his silver eyes gleaming with an unsettling intensity.

  Luna tensed instinctively under his penetrating gaze, but Kaelith said nothing to her. Instead, he turned his attention fully to Kyle, his presence commanding and heavy.

  “I see you have chosen a helper for your quest to learn the purpose of the Rift,” Kaelith said, his voice calm yet weighted with hidden meaning. His gaze flicked briefly back to Luna. “A good choice. Her quest may lead you to the answers you seek.”

  Kyle straightened, ready to respond, but Kaelith’s tone shifted, sharp and warning. “Prepare yourself. The road is long and tedious, and there is no true end to it.”

  Luna opened her mouth to ask a question, but Kaelith silenced her with a raised hand, his silver eyes locking onto Kyle’s once more. “The person you seek is a Beastmaster,” he continued. “You will find him within the Wildlands.”

  Before Kyle could ask who or where specifically, Kaelith’s form shimmered and faded, leaving behind only the faintest trace of his presence.

  Kyle exchanged a glance with Luna, her expression a mixture of curiosity and unease.

  “A Beastmaster in the Wildlands,” Kyle repeated. “Guess we’ve got our next destination.”

  “And I’ve got some supplies to prep,” Luna said, already turning on her heel. “If Kaelith’s warning is anything to go by, we’re going to need them.”

  Kyle nodded, his thoughts drifting to Kaelith’s words: There is no true end to it. A chill settled over him as they began their preparations, the weight of the Rift and its implications pressing down harder than ever.

  Nash, walking the less-trodden path out of the city, froze as a shadow detached itself from the treeline and solidified into a familiar figure.

  “Do you not have anything better to do than stalk me?” Nash—Vargan in Eidolon—asked, his voice dry, though his fingers instinctively flexed near the hilt of his weapon.

  Eliath chuckled, his calm demeanor unshaken. “I prefer the term ‘observe.’ Besides, you’ve piqued my interest. I’m also shadow-affiliated, so I can provide you with some tips—if you’re open to them.”

  Nash didn’t respond. Instead, he brushed past Eliath, setting his sights on the first hunting ground marked in his scroll. Eliath followed with a smirk, his steps eerily silent.

  The First Hunt: Wyrm Hatchlings (Level 5)

  The first quest directed Nash to a shallow ravine crawling with wyrm hatchlings. The creatures were small but aggressive, their leathery wings beating frantically as they lunged at him.

  Relying on Shadowmeld, Nash moved silently between the jagged rocks, ambushing the hatchlings one by one. His strikes were precise, the ambush bonus allowing him to dispatch most of them in a single hit.

  “Good use of stealth,” Eliath commented from the shadows. “But don’t let your guard down. They learn.”

  Sure enough, the remaining wyrms began moving in groups, forcing Nash to rely on Veil Slip to evade their coordinated strikes. He took them down methodically, gaining experience and honing his timing.

  Nash wiped the sweat from his brow and glanced at the older shadow-affiliated player. “What exactly are you after, Eliath?”

  “Curiosity, mostly,” Eliath replied with a smirk, falling into step beside him as they headed toward the next hunting ground. “You’re an anomaly. I’ve seen plenty of players use shadows to hide, but you… you’re more than a sneak. What’s your class?”

  Nash hesitated, then replied, his tone measured. “I’m a Veil Seeker. It’s a class connected to the hidden realms between the physical world and the Veil. I can phase through dimensions, uncover secrets, and use that energy to manipulate reality in combat. The whole idea is unpredictability—controlling the battlefield and striking from places the enemy doesn’t expect.”

  Eliath chuckled, nodding approvingly. “A good fit for someone like you. But you’re barely scratching the surface. The shadows aren’t just a tool for hiding—they’re an extension of you. When you’re in stealth, let the shadows feed your movements. Don’t just sneak—blend. Become indistinguishable from them.”

  “How?” Nash asked, his interest piqued.

  Eliath gestured to a nearby tree where the light shifted faintly. “The key is flow. When you move, don’t fight the shadows around you—follow them. Notice how they stretch and shift with the light? Use that. Anticipate their patterns, and you’ll become harder to track. And when you attack, let the Veil augment your strikes. Focus on disorienting your opponent with sudden movements, emerging from places they can’t anticipate.”

  As they walked, Eliath continued offering small insights, pointing out the interplay of light and shadow around them. “Your abilities already grant you an edge—Veil Slip, Shadowmeld—they’re tools, but they’ll only be as strong as the instincts behind them. Trust your connection to the Veil, and it’ll start to work with you.”

  Nash absorbed the advice, glancing down at his hands where faint shadows flickered as if alive. For the first time, he began to think of the shadows not as a static cover but as something dynamic, fluid, and full of potential.

  By the time they reached the Hollow, Nash had begun experimenting with the techniques Eliath described, his movements growing more seamless with the environment around him. Eliath’s smirk widened as he watched. “You’ve got the makings of a true shadow warrior, Vargan. Let’s see how you handle the next challenge.”

  Nash paused at the entrance to the Hollow, the thick canopy above swallowing most of the light. The air was dense, filled with the distant rustling of unseen creatures. He exhaled sharply, his grip tightening on his blades.

  For a moment, he flicked open his quest log, his eyes skimming the entry for Fragment of Shadows. It was still there, waiting. Level 20.

  It felt distant, but with every fight, every skill sharpened, he was inching closer to it. And yet… a cold prickle ran down his spine.

  Why did it feel like the quest was watching him instead?

  He shut the log and rolled his shoulders, forcing the thought away. It didn’t matter. He just had to keep moving forward.

  Quest 2: Stalkers in the Hollow (Level 6)

  The Hollow stretched before Nash like a labyrinth of shadow and silence, its dense forest canopy blotting out most of the light. The air was damp, carrying the faint rustle of leaves and the low growls of predators lurking within. Nash tightened his grip on his weapons, his senses alert as he stepped deeper into the eerie landscape.

  The night stalkers struck without warning—wolf-like creatures with glowing eyes that pierced through the darkness. They moved like phantoms, their sleek bodies weaving effortlessly through the underbrush. Nash activated Shadowmeld, his form blending seamlessly into the dim environment. His first ambush was flawless; his blades sank into the nearest stalker, dispatching it with a precise strike. But as he withdrew, the pack adapted.

  The remaining stalkers circled him, their low growls forming a menacing harmony. Their glowing eyes reflected his every move, making it clear they had learned his tricks. Just as one lunged at him, Nash instinctively activated Veil Slip, phasing into the shadowy dimension for a brief moment. The stalker’s claws swiped harmlessly through his intangible form, leaving it vulnerable as Nash reemerged to strike.

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

  Eliath, perched on a nearby tree branch, observed with a satisfied smirk. “You’re learning to use your abilities together. That’s the mark of a true Veil Seeker.”

  As the fight raged on, Nash began to anticipate the shadows’ movements, syncing his own with their flow. He struck swiftly, retreating into the Veil when cornered, and reappeared unpredictably to deliver decisive blows. The pack dwindled, one by one, until the last stalker fell.

  Breathing heavily, Nash straightened and looked at Eliath. Before he could speak, a notification blinked into view.

  New Passive Skill Unlocked: Shadow Veil

  Description: Nash learns to blur the line between the physical and shadow realms, making him harder to detect in dimly lit or shadowed environments. Enemies have reduced accuracy against him when he is in stealth or obscured by shadows.

  Effect:

  Reduces enemy detection radius by 30%.

  Grants 10% evasion against ranged attacks when in shadows.

  Flavor: “The shadows embrace him, obscuring him from prying eyes.”

  Nash flexed his fingers, the sensation of the shadows around him deepening as though they had accepted him more fully. “It’s like they’re… alive,” he muttered.

  Eliath’s smirk widened. “Exactly. You’re not just using the shadows anymore—you’re becoming one with them. Keep that up, and you’ll be able to do things most players wouldn’t dare dream of.”

  Nash nodded, his confidence growing as he felt the weight of his progress. The Hollow, once oppressive and hostile, now felt like a part of him—an extension of his abilities.

  “Let’s move,” Eliath said, stepping off the branch and landing with predatory grace. “The next hunting ground won’t wait forever, and there’s more for you to learn.”

  Together, they disappeared into the forest, leaving behind the echoes of the defeated pack and the ever-deepening bond between Nash and the Veil.

  Quest 3: Lurkers by the Stream (Level 7)

  The stream glistened faintly in the dim light, its surface deceptively calm. Beneath its placid exterior, shadows writhed—lurkers, amphibian predators whose sleek forms blended seamlessly with the watery depths. Nash crouched at the bank, his eyes narrowing as he surveyed the treacherous scene.

  The first ambush came without warning. A lurker erupted from the water, its serrated claws slashing through the air. Nash barely evaded the strike, rolling back into the cover of the underbrush. “They’re quick,” he muttered, scanning the stream again.

  Activating Vision, he focused on the flowing water. Faint spectral images shimmered to life, revealing the lurkers' paths beneath the surface. Their patterns were erratic but decipherable, the Veil whispering their secrets to him. Nash’s lips curved into a determined grin. “Got you.”

  When the moment came, he struck with precision. As a lurker launched itself at him, Nash activated Shadow Surge, the fragment’s energy propelling him forward like a blur of darkness. His movements were impossibly fast, his ghostly blades slicing through the creature before it could retreat. The lurker dissolved into shadowy wisps, its threat extinguished.

  The stream’s surface rippled again as more lurkers emerged, their bulbous eyes gleaming with predatory intent. But Nash had already memorized their movements. With calculated strikes and deft use of Veil Slip, he phased through their desperate attacks, reappearing behind them to deliver fatal blows. One by one, the lurkers fell, their shadows fading into the stream’s depths.

  From the edge of the clearing, Eliath watched with crossed arms, his posture relaxed but his eyes sharp. “Clever use of Vision,” he remarked as Nash stepped back from the water, his breathing steady despite the intense battle. “The Veil doesn’t just hide—it reveals. Learn to see its truths, and it will guide you to victory.”

  Nash glanced at the stream, its once-threatening waters now eerily still. He nodded, his confidence bolstered by the hard-fought success. The Veil wasn’t just a tool for concealment—it was a force of insight and control, and he was beginning to understand its depth.

  Eliath pushed off the tree and gestured toward the forest beyond. “Come on. The next hunting ground is waiting. And trust me—it won’t be this forgiving.”

  Without another word, they vanished into the shadows, leaving the stream and its defeated predators behind.

  Quests 4–6: The Grind to Level 10

  The marsh reeked of decay, its dense fog clinging to Nash’s cloak as he entered the domain of the carrion beetles. The incessant hum of their wings grated against his nerves, their reflective shells catching the faint light as they swarmed. Shadowmeld became his lifeline, allowing him to remain unseen as he picked off smaller groups along the edges of the marsh.

  The first few kills were clean and efficient, but as he ventured deeper, the swarms grew larger and more aggressive. Acidic spit rained down, sizzling against the damp earth, forcing Nash to react swiftly. Activating Shadow Surge, he propelled himself away from danger, the sudden burst of speed allowing him to reposition and regain control. His strikes became sharper, each movement timed to perfection as he used the shadows to outmaneuver the swarming insects.

  Eliath observed from the edge of the marsh, his sharp eyes following Nash’s movements. “Better,” he remarked. “But control, Vargan. The shadows aren’t just a tool to survive—they’re your weapon.”

  The next test awaited in the crumbled ruins of a forgotten age. Towering golems, their stone forms etched with glowing runes, stood sentinel over the desolate landscape. Nash’s initial strikes barely scratched their hardened exteriors, his frustration mounting as his blades glanced harmlessly off the unyielding stone.

  “Use the Veil,” Eliath called out, his voice calm but firm. “It doesn’t just hide—it reveals. Look deeper.”

  Focusing, Nash activated Vision, the air around the sentinels shimmering with faint echoes of past battles. Glowing cores pulsed faintly beneath their stone chests, the runes shifting slightly to expose weak points. Nash adjusted his approach, his strikes becoming surgical, each one aimed at disabling the cores.

  The battle was relentless. The sentinels moved with surprising speed, their crushing blows forcing Nash to phase into the Veil to avoid certain death. Each dodge became an opportunity; slipping between dimensions, he reappeared behind his enemies to strike their vulnerabilities. The final golem crumbled, its core flickering out as Nash staggered back, breathing heavily.

  “You’re learning,” Eliath said, his smirk faint. “Precision over power. Let the Veil guide your hand.”

  The final trial came at the entrance of a cavern thick with webs, their silken strands glinting ominously in the dim light. The shadowfang spiders were fast and venomous, their spindly legs moving with eerie coordination. Nash tightened his grip on his weapons, steeling himself for the battle ahead.

  The first spider lunged. Nash dodged, twisting to strike as another scuttled from the side. He barely deflected its fangs before another wave descended, their unnatural synchronicity making them far deadlier than any lone predator. He fought to keep pace, his movements a blur of instinct and learned skill, but the spiders adapted, their attacks precise, relentless. He was slipping.

  “Stop running from them,” Eliath’s voice cut through the chaos, his tone sharp. “A Veil Seeker doesn’t evade the dark. He bends it to his will.”

  Nash gritted his teeth, narrowly avoiding a lashing web. Easier said than done. He activated Shadowmeld, vanishing into the gloom, but the spiders anticipated it. Their strikes aimed not at where he was, but where he would be—as if sensing his presence before he fully reappeared.

  Eliath stepped forward, his eyes reflecting the dim light. “Your class is unique, Vargan. A Veil Seeker thrives on unpredictability. The battlefield isn’t just where you fight—it’s where you control.”

  Control.

  Nash’s breathing steadied as he let the shadows pool around him. Instead of fleeing their reach, he willed them outward, twisting the battlefield itself. The darkness thickened, stretching into a dome of pure blackness. A suffocating void. The spiders hesitated. Their movements slowed. Their perfect coordination frayed as their senses faltered.

  Now the fight was his.

  He moved like a whisper, his strikes lethal, each step precise. Eliath joined him, cutting down the disoriented creatures with calculated efficiency. The battle ended in moments, the cavern settling into eerie silence.

  A final screech shattered the stillness. The broodmother.

  Nash turned just as the massive creature surged forward, its form a writhing mix of flesh and shadow. His blade carved through the Veil itself, slicing through both reality and the beast’s unnatural mass. The cavern trembled, the echoes of the fight reverberating into the darkness.

  But something was wrong.

  The shadows around him didn’t settle like they should. Instead, they resisted.

  For a split second, the darkness wavered, rippling outward, as if something unseen was pushing against him.

  The broodmother twitched—its body shrouded in writhing shadows, as if the Veil itself refused to release her. Then, with an unnatural jolt, she moved.

  Nash acted on instinct, activating Veil Slip to phase, but—nothing. The Veil didn’t pull him in.

  It rejected him.

  His heart pounded. Not now. Not when I’m this close.

  The broodmother reared up, a monstrosity of tangled limbs and flickering void. It struck, sending deep cracks through the cavern floor. If he didn’t end this now, he wouldn’t get another chance.

  Gritting his teeth, he forced himself to stop fighting the Veil—to stop pulling against it. Instead, he let go. Let it move with him, rather than resist him.

  Nash tightened his grip, but the air around him felt different now. He had always known the Rift was watching—but this? This was something else. A weight settled over him, heavy and expectant, like unseen eyes waiting to judge his next move.No more hesitating. No more resisting.

  Nash let the Veil take him.

  The world around him blurred, shadows bending at the edges of his vision. The weight he had carried—the fear of losing control, the hesitation—vanished in an instant. For the first time, the Veil did not resist.

  The darkness curled around him, answering his intent. It was no longer an obstacle. It was his weapon.

  Time stretched as his perception sharpened, his mind clear. He was the Veil. He commanded it.

  His blade sang through the void, striking true.

  And this time, it obeyed.

  The darkness curled around him, answering his intent. It was no longer an obstacle. It was his weapon.

  Time stretched as his perception sharpened, his mind clear. He was the Veil. He commanded it.

  His blade sang through the void, striking true.

  The broodmother let out a strangled cry. Its massive body convulsed, then unraveled into tendrils of shadow, fading into the cavern walls. The tension snapped. The darkness settled once more, as if satisfied.

  Then—

  Silence.

  Nash exhaled, stepping back as the last wisps of the broodmother dissolved into the Veil. The cavern fell into eerie silence, the distant hum of the shadows the only sound left.

  Ding!

  A glowing notification hovered in his vision:

  Level Up! Level 10 Achieved.

  But this time, the surge of power felt… different.

  The darkness shifted. It wasn’t just reacting to his presence anymore—it was acknowledging him. The cavern flickered—not just with shadows, but with something deeper.

  Then—

  A whisper.

  Not a sound, not text, but something in between. A presence curling at the edge of his awareness.

  Nash’s quest log blinked open on its own. His eyes snapped to the Fragment of Shadows entry.

  [UPDATED.]

  Just one word.

  “Soon.”

  His pulse thudded against his skull, an echo of something he couldn’t quite place. For a moment, the shadows at his fingertips clung to him longer than they should have—like they weren’t ready to let go.

  His fingers clenched around his blade. A cold prickle ran down his spine—not fear, but something worse. Recognition.

  The Rift was watching.

  He flexed his fingers, his breath steadying as the new passive skill unlocked before his eyes.

  New Ability Unlocked: Ethereal Wounds"Cuts from the Veil never truly heal; they fester in the soul."

  Nash let out a slow breath. Whatever was happening, he wasn’t just getting stronger.

  Something else was waking up inside him.

  Eliath stepped forward, a rare glimmer of pride in his eyes. “You’ve taken your first real step as a Veil Seeker. The darkness isn’t your refuge—it’s your ally.”

  “Congratulations, Vargan,” Eliath said, his tone lighter but still commanding. “You’re beginning to understand the Veil. But this is only the beginning.”

  By the time they emerged from the cavern, Nash had reached level 10. Exhausted but exhilarated, he felt the weight of his progress and the untapped potential that lay ahead.

  Life Professions and New Quests

  Back in the open air, Nash turned to Eliath. “What’s next?”

  Eliath smirked. “Level 10 opens up life professions—skills that allow players to interact with the world beyond combat. My profession is Temporal Scholar, focusing on uncovering the forgotten secrets of time itself. For you, it’s worth considering a path that complements your abilities. We’ll visit the profession guild next.”

  “And the Rift?” Nash asked, his thoughts lingering on the Fragment of Shadows.

  “The Rift will wait,” Eliath replied cryptically. “But you’ve just taken your first step toward understanding it.”

  With that, they set their sights on the city, Nash’s thoughts buzzing with new possibilities as he prepared for the challenges ahead.