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Daniel followed her gaze. Beyond the bend in the river, through the swirling snow, he could just make out the jagged silhouette of the ruined temple even though it's still far—and the massive rift that hung above it, pulsing like a diseased heart.
Daniel hesitated for a moment as they trudged through the path, the pressure of their unspoken introductions hanging between them. It felt absurd - he knew exactly who she was, had spent countless hours with her character in the game, but here in this terrifyingly real world, they'd never actually exchanged names.
"My name is Cassandra," she said suddenly, as if reading his thoughts. "Cassandra Pentaghast."
The way she said it carried weight - the Pentaghast name clearly meaning something important in this world. Daniel opened his mouth to respond, his lips already forming the name "Daniel Carter" from muscle memory, when something stopped him.
A flash of memory - his character creation screen. The elven surname Lavellan. The realization hit him like a physical blow - if this world was treating him as an elf, then he couldn't very well have a human surname.
"Daniel," he said, then added with only the slightest hesitation, "Daniel Lavellan. Of the Lavellan clan."
Cassandra nodded, seeming to file this information away. The moment was interrupted when Daniel spotted a small leather pouch half-buried in the snow near a fallen templar. He crouched to pick it up, the jingle of coins unmistakable. Golden text flickered before his eyes:
[Acquired: 58 Gold Coins]
They moved on, checking each body they passed for signs of life but finding none. Near the massive boulder that had blocked their original path, another coin pouch glinted in the eerie green light. Daniel scooped it up, the interface informing him he'd gained another 63 coins.
His scavenging was interrupted by a cluster of delicate blue-green leaves poking through the snow. The shape was unmistakable - elfroot. As his fingers brushed the plant, the system notification appeared:
[Acquired: Elfroot (Tier 1 Common Herb)]
"Keep moving," Cassandra urged, her eyes scanning the treacherous path ahead.
The frozen river curved sharply to the left where a narrow walkway led up the hillside. But their path forward wasn't clear - two demonic figures blocked the way. One was the same shade-like creature they'd fought before, its shadowy form rippling unnaturally. The other...
Daniel's breath caught. Floating several feet above the ground was a spectral figure wreathed in eerie green flames, its elongated limbs ending in vicious claws. It moved with unnatural grace, like smoke given sentience.
"Wraith," Cassandra hissed, her grip tightening on her sword. "That one can attack from range - those green bolts will tear through armor like parchment. Watch yourself."
Daniel swallowed hard, his fingers flexing around the staff. The wraith had already noticed them, its hollow eyes fixing on them with malevolent intelligence. A sickly green glow began building between its clawed hands.
"Stay behind cover when it attacks," Cassandra instructed, her voice low and urgent. "The projectiles are slow but they track their target. When it's recovering between shots, that's our chance to strike."
The wraith let out an unearthly shriek as it unleashed its first attack - a pulsating orb of green energy that arced toward them with terrifying precision. Daniel barely managed to duck behind a chunk of broken masonry as the projectile impacted, sending shards of stone flying in all directions.
"Now!" Cassandra roared, already charging forward.
Daniel didn't need telling twice. He surged from cover, staff raised, feeling the familiar tingle of magic building in his veins.
Daniel focused his will, feeling the cold energy coalesce around his staff. A small, shimmering orb of ice formed beside the weapon's tip, hovering for a split second before streaking toward the wraith with deadly precision. The frozen projectile struck the demon square in its spectral chest, frost spiderwebbing across its incorporeal form. The creature shrieked—a sound like glass shattering—its attention now fully on Daniel.
Good. Keep it focused on me.
Cassandra didn't waste the opening. She lunged at the shade demon with a battle cry, her sword flashing in the eerie green light of the Breach. Steel met shadowy flesh, and the creature howled, black ichor spraying across the snow.
Daniel circled wide, putting distance between himself and the wraith. His fingers tingled as he summoned another spell—this time, electricity crackled along his staff. With a thrust, he unleashed the Chain Lightning at the shade fighting Cassandra. The bolt arced through the air, striking the demon with a sound like tearing parchment before jumping to the wraith in a brilliant flash. Both creatures convulsed violently, their forms flickering like candle flames in a gale.
The wraith recovered first, its hollow eyes locking onto Daniel with renewed malice. It raised its clawed hands, another sickly green projectile forming between them.
Daniel didn't wait. He focused on Flashfire, feeling heat surge through him like liquid fire. The staff grew almost too hot to hold as flames erupted from its tip, engulfing the wraith in a conflagration so intense the snow around it turned to steam in an instant. The demon's shrieks reached a fever pitch as it flailed, its spectral form bubbling and blackening under the magical onslaught.
Meanwhile, Cassandra delivered the final blow to the shade, her sword cleaving through its neck in a spray of black ichor. The creature dissolved into smoke just as the wraith gave one last, shuddering wail and collapsed into a pile of smoldering ash.
Silence fell, broken only by their ragged breathing.
Then—
Golden text flared across Daniel's vision:
[Level System Unlocked!]
[Retroactive EXP Calculated]
[Current Level: 1 (60/1000 EXP)]
[Congratulations on Slaying 6 Demons!]
Daniel blinked. So the system tracks everything. He'd wondered if his earlier kills had counted toward progression. Apparently, they had.
Cassandra wiped her sword clean on the snow, eyeing him. "You're getting better with that staff."
Daniel let out a shaky laugh. "Trial by fire. Literally."
She nodded toward the hillside path. "Let's check the bodies first. There may be survivors... or supplies we can use."
They moved among the fallen templars, their boots crunching on frost-covered armor. Daniel's stomach turned at the sight—these weren't pixelated NPCs anymore. These were real people, their faces frozen in final expressions of pain and terror.
Near one corpse half-buried in snow, a coin pouch glinted. Daniel picked it up, the interface flashing:
[Acquired: 48 Gold Coins]
[Acquired: Elfroot x1]
He pocketed both, trying not to think about the dead man's lifeless fingers just inches from where the herbs had grown.
Cassandra finished her own search and shook her head. "No one left alive. We should move."
The journey continued, each step bringing them closer to the Breach's pulsing heart. No sooner had they caught their breath than another green meteor streaked across the sky, crashing ahead with a thunderous impact. From the smoking crater emerged two wraiths and a shade, their forms coalescing from the Fade's corruption.
"Again!" Cassandra growled, already raising her shield.
The battle was swift but brutal. Daniel focused his Chain Lightning on the shade while keeping the wraiths at bay with well-timed ice blasts. Cassandra moved like a force of nature, her sword cleaving through demonic flesh with practiced efficiency. When the last wraith dissolved into smoke, golden text flickered before Daniel's eyes:
[+20 EXP Gained]
Panting, they pressed onward, descending back to the frozen river as the hillside path looped around. The landscape grew more treacherous here, with jagged ice formations jutting from the ground like broken teeth. Ahead, a crumbling stone staircase led up another hill—their path forward. But standing guard were three demons: two wraiths floating ominously above a hulking shade.
Cassandra didn't hesitate. "Flank left," she ordered. "I'll take the shade."
The fight tested Daniel's limits. Mana depletion made his spells weaker, his movements sluggish. One wraith's energy bolt grazed his shoulder, sending searing pain through his arm. Yet through sheer determination—and Cassandra intercepting a killing blow meant for him—they prevailed.
[+30 EXP Gained]
As Daniel caught his breath, his system pinged again:
[Perception Skill Unlocked!]
[Allows detection of loot/crafting materials within 10m radius]
Curious, he activated the ability. His vision momentarily sharpened, highlighting objects with a faint glow. An elfroot patch shimmered near a boulder—[Elfroot x1 Acquired]. Further ahead, a metallic glint caught his eye—[Iron Ore (Tier 1 Common Metal) Acquired]. Then he got a bag of coins near a templar dead body—[65 Coins Acquired].
"Useful," he muttered, pocketing the materials.
The stairs upward were slick with ice and blood. As they climbed, the distant clang of steel and shouted orders grew clearer. Cassandra tensed. "We're close to the rift. You hear the fighting?"
"Who's fighting?" Daniel asked, though he already knew.
"You'll see soon. We must help them."
At the hill's summit, chaos unfolded. A contingent of soldiers fought desperately against a swarm of shades near the ruins of the temple's outer buildings. Among them, two figures stood out: a lithe elf with a staff and a stocky dwarf wielding an elaborate crossbow. Above it all, the rift pulsed violently, disgorging more demons.
No time for hesitation. Daniel and Cassandra charged into the fray.
The elf—Solas—flung barriers over wounded soldiers while launching precise ice spears. The dwarf—Varric—fired Bianca with deadly accuracy, each bolt finding its mark. Daniel focused his magic on thinning the demon ranks, his Chain Lightning arcing between targets. When the last shade fell, the interface confirmed:
[+30 EXP Gained]
Before Daniel could react, Solas was at his side, gripping his marked hand. "Quickly, before more come through!"
He thrust Daniel's palm toward the rift. The Anchor flared, a beam of green energy lancing out to connect with the tear in reality. The rift shuddered, its edges writhing, before snapping shut with a thunderous crack.
Daniel flexed his stinging hand. "What did you do?"
Solas released him. "I did nothing. The credit is yours." He gestured to the mark. "Whatever magic opened the Breach also placed this upon you. I theorized it could close the rifts. Seems I was correct."
Cassandra's eyes lit with hope. "Meaning it could close the Breach itself?"
"Possibly." Solas met Daniel's gaze. "You may hold the key to our salvation."
Varric sauntered over, Bianca resting on his shoulder. "Good to know! And here I thought we'd be ass-deep in demons forever." He grinned, extending a hand. "Varric Tethras: rogue, storyteller, and occasionally unwelcome tagalong." He winked at Cassandra, who twitched visibly.
Daniel shook his hand. "You're with the Chantry or...?"
Solas chuckled. "Is that a serious question?"
"Technically a prisoner," Varric said cheerfully. "Just like you."
Cassandra crossed her arms. "I brought you here to tell your story to the Divine. Clearly, that is no longer necessary."
"Yet here I am." Varric patted Bianca. "Lucky for you, considering current events."
Daniel eyed the crossbow. "That's... a nice weapon you've got there."
Varric's grin widened. "Isn't she? Bianca and I have been through a lot together."
"You named your crossbow Bianca?"
"Of course. And she'll be great company in the valley."
Cassandra looked ready to explode. "Absolutely not! Your help is appreciated, Varric, but—"
"Have you been in the valley lately, Seeker?" Varric interrupted. "Your soldiers aren't in control anymore. You need me."
With a disgusted noise, Cassandra stalked away. Solas stepped forward. "My name is Solas, if we're to make introductions. I'm pleased to see you still live."
Varric snorted. "He means, 'I kept that mark from killing you while you slept.'"
Daniel studied Solas. "You seem to know a great deal about all this."
Cassandra rejoined them. "Solas is an apostate, like you. He's well-versed in such matters."
"Technically, all mages are now apostates, Cassandra," Solas corrected mildly. "My travels have allowed me to study the Fade more deeply than any Circle mage. I came to offer whatever aid I can." His expression darkened. "If the Breach isn't closed, we will all perish—mage, templar, and innocent alike."
"That's commendable," Daniel said.
Solas inclined his head. "Merely sensible." He turned to Cassandra. "The magic used here is unlike anything I've encountered. Your prisoner may be a mage, but no single mortal could wield such power."
Cassandra nodded tightly. "Understood. We should move for the forward camp immediately."
As she and Solas strode ahead, Varric fell into step beside Daniel. "Bianca's excited," he confided, patting his crossbow. "Adventures always make for the best stories."
Daniel couldn't help but smile as they followed the others toward the forward camp. Even though it was a real world now and not some game, he feel's that he can save the world if he can gather his companion just like in the game.
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Name : Daniel Carter
Race: Elf
Level 1 : 110/1000 EXP
Professions: Mage
Gold Coins: 234 Coins
Weapon: Acolyte Ice Staff
Armor: Mercenary Coat and Templar Scribe Scowl
Accessories: None
Inventory: 2 Elfroot and 1 Iron
Potions: Lesser Health Potions x8
Skills: Chain Lighting and Flashfire