QUEST: SURVIVE THE NIGHT.
REWARD: 10EXP,1 AetherShard.
Before he could even process it, a distant, guttural roar echoed through the forest, shaking the silver leaves from their branches. It was a sound that belonged to no animal he had ever heard, a primal sound of hunger and power. He wasn't in Kansas anymore. And his first task was to make it through the night. Taking a deep breath, he started walking toward the nearest luminous fungi, the only source of light in this beautiful, terrifying new world.
The roar faded into the distance, but the sound was seared into Leo's mind. He crouched behind a gnarled, silver-barked tree, his heart a frantic drum against his ribs. He stayed there for what felt like an eternity, his body trembling, listening to the unfamiliar sounds of the forest. The gentle rustle of leaves, the soft hum of the glowing fungi, and the occasional high-pitched chirps from unseen creatures were the only sounds now. He finally pushed himself to his feet, his mind set on finding shelter.
The "luminous fungi," as he'd mentally named them, seemed to form a path, their soft light guiding him through the dense undergrowth. As he followed the winding trail of light, the trees thinned, revealing a small, rocky clearing. A fire crackled in the center, and a young woman sat beside it, calmly sharpening a wicked-looking knife on a whetstone. She had hair the color of spun gold and wore practical leather armor that was scuffed and worn. She looked up, her blue eyes meeting his, and offered a small, knowing smile.
"Lost, are we?" she asked, her voice surprisingly melodic.
Leo's mouth was dry. He could only nod.
"My name's Elara," she said, gesturing to the fire. "You're an Aetherbound, aren't you? Came in on the last ripple."
His eyes widened in shock. "How—"
She chuckled, a light, airy sound. "The screen floating over your shoulder is a dead giveaway, sweetie. It's a bit flashy, to be honest. But it's new, so I'll forgive you." She noticed his confused expression and sighed. "You've been given a System. It's what links you to the world's Aether. Think of Aether as the lifeblood, the mana, the very essence of everything here. You can't see it yet, but it's everywhere. The glowing trees, the floating islands, the magic in my knife, all of it is fueled by Aether. Your 'Aether Affinity' is your natural connection to it. One percent is a start, but don't expect to be casting fireballs anytime soon."
She gestured with her chin toward the screen that only he could see. "The system will guide you. It'll give you quests to help you understand this world. The roar you heard? That was a Gloom-Fang. They're common around here, just a level 5 beast, but they'll tear you apart if you're not careful. You need to level up. That's how you get stronger, faster. How you get skills."
Leo looked at his stat screen, then at Elara, whose own screen, if she had one, was hidden. "So I have to fight?"
"It's either that or become Gloom-Fang food," she said matter-of-factly. "Survival of the fittest."
The ground began to tremble, and the firelight danced erratically. A deep, resonant growl echoed through the clearing, not from a distance this time, but from the treeline just beyond them. Elara's smile vanished, replaced by a grim scowl.
"Speak of the devil," she muttered, her hand moving to grip the hilt of her knife. From the darkness, two glowing red eyes appeared, followed by a hulking shadow. The Gloom-Fang was a quadrupedal beast, its body a grotesque mix of sharp angles and shadow, with razor-sharp claws and a maw filled with jagged teeth. It was huge, at least three times the size of a grown man, and it was looking directly at them.
Leo's quest from the system flashed in his mind again, the words mocking him.
QUEST: SURVIVE THE NIGHT.
This was the night. And now he knew why it was so dangerous.