Chapter 2: The First Stage
Rain tapped gently on the rooftop like fading echoes of pain. The city below pulsed with a quiet rhythm—cars flashing by, neon signs flickering like half-hearted dreams.
Kian stood beneath the rusted shelter atop the orphanage, the same rooftop where he'd escaped countless nights just to breathe. But tonight, something was different.
The screen hovered silently before him. Glowing. Waiting.
> Welcome, Kian Elric.
You have taken the first step.
Your journey to become a legend begins now.
He didn't know whether to laugh or cry.
Was it real? Some strange dream? A side effect of trauma?
He reached forward, his fingers trembling—and touched the floating interface. It rippled, responding like water touched by light.
> [Talent Path Unlocked: Performing Arts]
[Available Disciplines: Singing, Acting, Dance, Instrumental]
⚠ No current skills.
Newbie Rating: 0.0
First Challenge: Perform in front of a live audience.
📌 Reward: Beginner Singing Skill + Confidence Boost
Deadline: 48 Hours
Kian stepped back.
"Live audience?"
His heart sank. That... was impossible.
He'd never performed in public. Not once. Not even in school when the drama club asked for extras.
He had stage fright so bad he couldn't even give a class introduction without stammering.
But something strange was rising inside him—a feeling he hadn't known in years.
Possibility.
A chance.
He closed his eyes, fists clenching. "Fine," he whispered. "If this is some kind of test... bring it on."
---
The Next Morning
Kian awoke with a single thought:
Where do I even find an audience?
The orphanage was quiet as always. A few younger kids passed him in the hallway with wide eyes, whispering behind his back. Sister Marla, the caretaker, barely acknowledged him beyond the chore list pinned to the dining wall.
No one here would listen to him sing. Let alone cheer.
He left early, heading into the city.
As he walked past the high-rise buildings and café windows, the differences hit hard. Teenagers with phones more expensive than the orphanage's annual budget, adults in clean suits brushing past like he didn't exist, music streaming from storefronts.
Fame lived here.
He didn't.
But something told him it wouldn't matter for long.
---
The Marketplace
After wandering aimlessly for hours, Kian arrived at an open-air plaza near the city's shopping district. Performers occasionally sang here—guitarists, dancers, poets—drawing small crowds.
Today, the stage was open.
He froze behind a pillar, staring at the cracked tiles that formed the makeshift performance square.
His chest tightened.
Could he do it? Could he even stand up there without vomiting?
> Quest Reminder: Live performance required. Audience size: Minimum 5.
Time Remaining: 32 Hours.
He bit his lip.
Then took a breath.
Then another.
He stepped into the plaza, heading straight for the center.
---
People noticed him almost instantly—but not in the way he wanted.
A boy in worn-out shoes. Torn backpack. No instrument. No speakers. No mic. No aura of talent.
He was invisible… yet painfully visible.
A few passersby gave pitying looks. Some sneered. One old man chuckled and whispered to his wife, "Kids these days think anyone can be famous."
Kian's throat went dry.
He stood frozen, staring at nothing.
You can't do it.
You'll make a fool of yourself.
They'll laugh again.
His hands shook. His lips opened—and no sound came out.
> ⚠ Performance Failed.
Suggested Action: Breathe. Visualize. Restart.
Tip: Greatness begins where fear ends.
Then something clicked.
A faint hum.
A vibration through his body—subtle, but steady. Like... like music.
Suddenly, lyrics floated across the screen, notes and scales aligning, filling his head.
Not a full song. Just a verse. Just enough.
His voice escaped him, soft at first. Hesitant.
> 🎶 "They said I'd never shine..."
"That I was born to fade..."
"But I am the silence..."
"Before the world's parade..." 🎶
The words came from somewhere deeper than memory.
His voice cracked on the last line. People stared. Some in confusion. Some in intrigue.
A little girl tugged her mother's sleeve. "He's singing."
The mother paused.
Kian blinked—and kept going.
His voice warmed. His body eased. Something inside him opened like sunlight breaking through fog.
> 🎶 "I am the fire in the cold…"
"The echo in the dark…"
"The dream they never told…"
"The start of something… spark." 🎶
A silence fell.
Then—claps.
Not many. Maybe seven people.
But enough.
> ✅ Quest Complete.
Reward Unlocked: Beginner Singing Skill Acquired.
Confidence Stat: +10
Fame: +2
Hidden Achievement Unlocked: "First Flame"
New Skill: 🎵 Vocal Resonance (Lv.1) – Enhances vocal clarity and emotional delivery.
Kian nearly collapsed.
But instead... he smiled.
---
Later That Day
He sat alone on the bus back home, the city lights trailing past like a slow parade of ghosts. His body was exhausted, his nerves still fried—but his heart?
Alive.
More alive than ever.
The quest was real. The reward, real. He could feel it—the subtle ease in his breathing, the strength in his voice. His soul had taken its first step forward.
He pulled up the screen again, quietly, like opening a secret.
> [Status – Kian Elric]
⭐ Performance Rank: F+
Skills:
– Vocal Resonance (Lv. 1)
Fame: 2
Confidence: 10
Quests Available:
✔ First Stage (Complete)
➤ New Quest: "Impress Someone with Your Voice"
Reward: Intermediate Singing Skill (Lv. 2) + Chance at First Supporter
He raised an eyebrow. "Impress someone?" he whispered.
Who?
---
The Unexpected Encounter
The next evening, Kian returned to the plaza—not to perform, but to observe.
A new girl was performing.
And she was... breathtaking.
Long silver hair tied in a flowing ribbon, her voice carried like velvet soaked in stardust. Her dance? Flawless. The crowd around her wasn't just watching — they were enchanted.
People shouted her name. "Aria! Aria Lune!!"
Kian froze.
Aria Lune?
Even he had heard that name.
One of the youngest rising stars in the industry. A prodigy. An icon. A dream wrapped in human skin.
She finished her performance and bowed. The crowd roared. Roses flew toward the stage.
Then, strangely—her gaze flicked toward him.
Just for a second.
She walked off-stage with her manager, but her eyes lingered, lips curling in a slight smirk.
Kian's heart thudded.
Did she... notice him?
He turned to leave, embarrassed—but a message flashed.
> Hidden Quest Triggered:
"Crossed Paths with a Star"
Condition: Capture her attention.
Reward: Unknown.
Danger Level: Moderate.
Would you like to accept?
He hesitated for just a moment.
Then smiled.
"Yeah," he whispered.
"Let's see how far this legend goes."
---
End of Chapter 2