Part 1: The Stillborn Rescue
Kael's sword arm drips onto the floorboards, each drop forming tiny ink puppets that reenact his greatest battles.
"I can fix this," he repeats, stepping toward Lyria—
Nirah's dagger blocks his path.
"Your fixing is what got us here."
Behind them, the frozen tavern patrons begin rotating their heads, their smiles stretching wider than jaws should allow.
Aiden's System spasms:
[WARNING: STAGE DIRECTIONS OVERRIDDEN]
[YOUR ROLE: TRAGIC LEAD (ALTERNATE CASTING AVAILABLE)]
Part 2: The Audience's Toybox
The tavern transforms:
Tables fold into stage props
Ale mugs become laugh tracks
Elara's axe melts into a comedy mask
Lyria tries to scream—but her new voice only produces:
"Cue dramatic irony in 3...2..."
Nirah grabs Aiden: "They're not just watching. They're rewriting."
The First Edit:
Kael's sword arm liquefies, reforming as a bouquet of roses. He offers them to Elara.
"My love," he says, in someone else's voice.
Part 3: Exit, Pursued By Plot
Aiden bites through his own tongue.
Blood sprays the nearest "patron"—their face erases like pencil marks.
"Cheat code," he garbles through the pain.
The System glitches:
[UNREGISTERED INPUT DETECTED]
[LOADING...]
[NEW TOOL UNLOCKED: METAPHORIC BLOOD]
Cliffhanger:
The tavern door bursts open—revealing Ignisia's charred wings blocking the exit.
She speaks in Lyria's stolen voice:
"Final act already? But we just met."
Chapter 19 Teaser:
Ignisia's Return (But Wrong)
The System's True Purpose Revealed
Elara's Choice: Save Kael or Kill Him