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"Clink.""Clank."
Yuna wandered through the hideout, her footsteps echoing in the silence. The place felt like a dungeon, bookshelves covering nearly every wall, towering over her with their endless rows of dusty tomes. Despite the eerie atmosphere, there was a strange warmth to the room—like home. She sat in front of the blazing fireplace, the crackling flames casting flickering shadows across the stone walls. Nearby, Lisa, the elf she'd met only hours ago, lay fast asleep.
Rite, the hunter Yuna had traveled with for the past few days, sat quietly, his thoughts racing as he pieced together everything that had happened. The events of the past few days, each strange and unsettling, seemed to grow clearer in hindsight, but his unease remained.
As Yuna crept through the halls, her senses sharpened. It was as if her instincts had taken over, guiding her deeper into the hideout. Her eyes scanned the darkened corridors, glowing cat-like in the firelight, her vision able to pierce through the gloom. She was hunting—though the target, she wasn't sure of.
The deeper she ventured, the more she felt a strange sense of safety. It was as if the darkness itself welcomed her. The air was thick, filled with the scent of rusting equipment and abandoned campsites, signs of hurried escapes and battles long past. She passed by old, toppled tents and broken weapons—evidence of a life long forgotten.
Her steps grew quieter as she moved deeper into the cavernous space, the light from the fire growing distant. Her sight began to blur, but her curiosity kept her moving forward. She could still see, but the further she went, the more oppressive the darkness felt. The stone beneath her feet was cold and damp, each step a reminder of the cave's uninviting nature. She stopped for a moment, staring down into a puddle that reflected her face.
She had expected to look like a monster—a lizard, perhaps. But no. Her cheeks were soft and round, her snout cute, with two little ears perched on top of her head, almost like a cat's. A streak of light gray fur ran through her soft scales.
More time passed as she wandered through the maze of shelves, the weight of the silence pressing in around her. The flickering blue light ahead caught her attention. Without thinking, she approached it, her instincts pulling her closer.
There, on a shelf, was a book—old, its leather cover cracked and worn, with the name "Goddrick" etched into the spine. A strange, earthy smell emanated from it, like rotting wood. The other books around it were newer, their condition pristine compared to this one, which seemed out of place in this otherwise well-kept library.
Yuna tried to reach the book, but the shelf was too high for her small form. With a grunt of frustration, she stacked some books beneath her and used them to climb. The task was much harder than she expected, but her determination was stronger.
"Climb, Yuna. You can do this," she muttered to herself.
Finally, she managed to pull herself up to the shelf, the book now within reach. It was heavier than she anticipated, and with a grunt, she dropped it onto the stone floor with a loud thunk. The book seemed to pulse with a faint glow.
She leaped down to the pile of books, catching herself mid-fall and landing gracefully. Yuna eyed the book curiously. The leather was worn, and an illustration on the cover depicted a humanoid figure with horns, something demonic. The thought sent a chill down her spine, but her curiosity overpowered her fear.
With trembling claws, she opened the book. Inside were strange symbols—demonic writing that seemed to crawl across the pages. She could feel the magic emanating from the book, chilling her to the bone.
Suddenly, a surge of energy pulsed through her, and she felt her body change.
Ding. LEVEL: 1 → 4
New abilities flooded her senses:
Dark Sense – A heightened awareness of void creatures.
Shadow Dash – A burst of speed that created an aura of fear.
Void Wound – A passive effect that inflicted bleeding and poison upon contact.
Her stats soared, and for a moment, Yuna just sat there, stunned. Her strength, stamina, and resistance had doubled. She was no longer just a hatchling—she was something more.
"Magic...?" she whispered, her voice trembling with excitement. She checked her status:
LEVEL: 4 / 40
Health: 240/240
Mana: 10/10
Strength: 22
Agility: 8 + 2
Physical Resistance: 5
Elemental Resistance: 12
Magical Resistance: 22
Active Abilities:
Inspect (Level 1)
Dark Sense (Level 1)
Shadow Dash (Level 1)
Void Wound (Level 1)
The book slowly faded away, leaving behind a trail of glowing blue dust.
"Is this... like an experience potion?" she muttered, still in disbelief at the change she felt inside.
Meanwhile, in the distance, Lisa awoke with a start. She scanned the room, panic rising in her chest as she realized Yuna was missing.
"Rite, wake up!" she shouted, shaking the hunter awake. "What? What's wrong?" Rite groggily asked.
"Where did she go?" Lisa's voice trembled with fear as she looked around.
Rite frowned, standing up. "You said this place was safe. What's in there?"
Lisa hesitated. "Goblins, slimes... I thought it would be fine. I put a magic ward near the door..."
"Then why didn't you clear it out?" Rite's voice was sharp.
Lisa's expression soured. "The monsters... They were stronger than I thought."
"She's just a kid, Lisa," Rite snapped, his patience thinning. "Let's go find her before it's too late."
Lisa looked back into the darkness, worry filling her. "She must have gone in there..."