Chapter 8: The City Beneath the Pale Moon
The cursed forest was behind him.
But its echoes lingered in Shen Nightfall's steps.
Nightreach loomed ahead — jagged rooftops piercing the silver fog, lanterns flickering like dying stars. The city wasn't asleep. It was holding its breath.
[New Region Detected – City of Nightreach]
Status: Phase-Cursed | Surveillance Active | System Interference: Moderate
Faction Influence: ??? (Undisclosed)
As Shen walked the cracked cobblestone path toward the outer gates, he felt it.
Eyes watching. Not just from towers — from shadows, reflections, forgotten corners of reality.
And yet… no one stopped him.
A pair of robed scouts spotted him from afar, whispered something into a crystal relay, and vanished into the mist.
Within the outer ward, the air was thicker.
People moved like ghosts — hooded, hunched, afraid to speak above a whisper.
Vendors sold dried herbs under black cloth. Children wore glyph-etched charms around their necks. A priest muttered a blessing that stuttered mid-prayer, like the gods had abandoned reception.
Then he saw her.
A pale-haired girl kneeling beside a dying animal — pressing glowing herbs to its ribs.
Her eyes met Shen's: one violet, one gray. Strange. Familiar.
She stood slowly, brushing dirt from her dress. "You came from the forest."
Shen didn't respond.
She stepped forward anyway, unafraid. "You're the one who ended the Howler's wail, aren't you?"
He stayed silent — but the wind answered for him. The forest behind had gone quiet. Peaceful, even.
She tilted her head. "I thought so. The curse twitched when you struck it."
A system ping echoed faintly in Shen's ears.
[Hidden Quest Triggered: "Echoes of the Hollow Moon"]
➤ Objective: Discover the source of the curse infecting Nightreach
➤ Time Remaining: Unknown
➤ Reward: ??? | System Upgrade | Faction Key (Moonbound or Voidlit)
He blinked. The girl didn't.
"You smell like shadow," she said simply. "Like something not meant to stay."
Before Shen could answer, a scream tore through the alley nearby.
Shen moved first.
[Voidshadow Step]
He vanished into flickering shadow — reappearing behind the attacker. A cloaked figure, skin warped by corruption, lunged at a child.
Too slow.
Shen's blade was already drawn.
SLASH. One clean strike.
The figure dissolved into black ash.
The girl from before was already beside the child, checking his breath.
Shen turned, eyes cold. "Who are you?"
She stood. "A healer. A watcher. And maybe the last one who still believes this place can be saved."
Then, without waiting, she walked into the fog.
The system chimed again.
[New Companion Profile: ??? Girl – 'Status Locked']
Potential Affinity: Unknown | Risk Level: Variable
Shen stood alone at the crossroads, watching the lanterns sway.
He didn't trust her.
But he'd follow.
Because she knew something he didn't — about the city, the curse, and maybe even… the Void inside him.