Chapter 3:
[Lyra]: Vaelric, you will now be teleported out of Crownfall Keep.
Of course, I thought.
[SYSTEM MESSAGE]
Teleporting outside
In a matter of seconds, I went from Vaelric, Lord of Ash, to Vaelric, Lord of Always Being Half-Naked. One blink, and I was standing barefoot outside Crownfall Keep, stripped of my armor.
The massive stone fortress loomed before me like a mountain carved into the shape of a monster, its blackened walls bathed in a faint purplish hue. A floating message—much like the translucent HUD I was used to—shimmered into view above the keep:
[SYSTEM MESSAGE]
Crownfall Keep
Unlocked at Level 50
Interesting. So the game now recognizes the castle as an unlockable location for me.
A cart sat just off the road, parked beside the fortress. A rough brown blanket covered whatever goods it carried. I didn't hesitate—I pulled it free and wrapped it around myself like a makeshift cloak.
I remembered a village not far by foot. My only real worry was someone recognizing me, but maybe the NPCs wouldn't think twice about Vaelric walking through their streets. The Dark Sovereign was supposed to be locked in his throne room, after all—only adventurers ever saw him. Maybe the NPCs didn't know what he looked like.
Still, this was too new. I had to figure out how this world actually worked. Was it the same Crownfall I'd played, or something entirely different?
I followed the gravel road, barefoot, for hours. The cool stones pressed into my feet as the sun dipped lower. With time to kill, I focused on my HUD.
"Lyra, can you open my skill tree, please?"
[Lyra]: Yes. Also, you can open your skill tree by simply thinking about it, Vaelric.
"Yeah, yeah," I muttered. "Well, I've got no one else to talk to."
[Lyra]: Would you like me to explain the skill tree?
"Yes, please."
[Skill Tree — Vaelric, Level 5]
Specializations available at Level 10
◈ Tank Class — Aegis of the Void
Level 10 – Crown's Bulwark (Active): Summon a massive spectral shield of obsidian etched with red runes.
• Absorbs all incoming damage in a 90° cone for 6s
• Crown emblem flares visibly to all players when active
Level 15 – Anchor the Throne (Active): Slam weapon into the ground, creating a gravity field.
• Slows enemies by 40%
• Pulls them toward center for 5s
Level 17 – Shadow Guard (Passive): Blocking an attack releases a burst of void energy.
• Deals AoE shadow damage in 5m radius
Level 20 – Unyielding Dominion (Active): Create an unbreakable arena for 12s.
• Enemies inside cannot leave
• Allies gain +100% defense
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◈ Damage Class — Runeblade Sentinel
Level 10 – Rune Strike (Active): Imbue weapon with an elemental rune (Fire/Frost/Lightning).
• Applies to next 3 weapon strikes
Level 15 – Runic Guard (Active): Channel defensive runes into armor.
• Reduces all incoming damage by 25% for 8s
Level 17 – Rune Dash (Active): Short-range teleport in movement direction.
• Leaves rune trap at starting location
• Trap explodes after 2s, dealing AoE damage
Level 20 – Seal Breaker (Active): Overload and destroy an enemy's defensive buff or barrier
Interesting. When I'd played Crownfall as a warrior, these specs didn't exist. Not even close. Maybe they were offshoots of Vaelric's powers.
One thing was clear—this wasn't the game I remembered. The world here felt alive, constantly changing and evolving.
I was only Level 5, so my skill tree wasn't an immediate worry. Right now, I needed clothes and some kind of weapon. I didn't like my odds of punching a wild boar to death, no matter how big this body was—especially with my stats nerfed.
"Lyra," I asked, "is there a map feature?"
[Lyra]: Yes! Would you like me to pull it up?
"That would be great."
The map showed Crownfall Keep, with the small trail I'd been walking, slowly revealing itself the further I went. So this meant I had to physically discover my map just as I would've if I played the game on a computer. Luckily, I remembered a good portion of the map from when I played.
This experience definitely isn't going to be easy, I thought.
Suddenly, a faint pulse flickered at the corner of my vision—a red, translucent blip that moved across the map before vanishing. My stomach tightened. That was definitely a player marker. It couldn't have been anything else.
"Lyra, what was that on the map?"
[Lyra]: I am… unsure. No pings or markers like that exist in my parameters.
"Do I have a player marker?"
[Lyra]: I'm still not sure what a player marker is, but it's safe to assume you don't have one visible to others, Vaelric.
That made sense. I was technically a raid boss far outside my normal parameters. The system probably didn't know how to classify me.
"So you're telling me I saw something you can't?"
[Lyra]: It might just be interference.
Her voice wavered—well, as much as an AI's could—but I didn't sense any deceit. I genuinely believed she didn't understand what I'd seen.
I finally reached the village not far from Crownfall Keep, and the moment I stepped past its worn stone marker, a notification appeared:
[SYSTEM MESSAGE]
Congratulations! You've found Stonebrook!
Reward: +100 EXP
Nice. I'd completely forgotten about exploration EXP. My bar now read 100/1000—one small step closer to Level 6.
The village was just as I remembered it, only far more vivid. A narrow stream ran through the center, and the homes—brick and timber—looked warm and lived-in. The central square bustled with pop-up stalls selling food, tools, and adventuring gear, like a medieval farmer's market.
As I walked through, I caught people staring at my makeshift blanket-cape. And they weren't just standing around like NPCs in idle loops. Children darted between stalls. An ork haggled with an elf over steel prices. Humans and dwarves sat drinking together. The Kingdom of Asterion was a melting pot, a living place—maybe even more human than the real world I'd left behind.
In the square, I found a vendor selling clothes.
Unfortunately… I was broke.