I followed the road as it split into two directions, heading left—where Mortan had taken me before. The sky was slipping into twilight now, and the air had that quiet stillness that only came just before night. I kept close to the road, not wanting to wander too far. Farmhouses sat like sleepy sentries along the path, the glow of candles flickering behind their curtains. I caught the faint silhouettes of people moving inside, and further ahead, the presence of guards had noticeably increased. A few patrols moved along the road, their armor clinking softly in the evening breeze.
Just as my thoughts started drifting back to the class selection screen, the translucent box blinked into existence again, hovering in front of me like it had a mind of its own.
╔═════════════╗
- CLASS SELECTION
╚═════════════╝
- Choose your class:
===================
[1] Warrior: Strength & Defense
[2] Mage: Master of Magic
[3] Rogue: Stealth & Agility
[4] Healer: Restore & Protect
===================
- Options: [Inv | Skills | Quests]
╚════════════════════╝
I stared at it, arms folded. Still no clue what I wanted. My eyes lingered on Mage for a moment—but then I remembered the ridiculous "-1 Mana" sitting on my screen earlier.
"Tch. Better take this slow for now…" I muttered, swiping the screen away again.
A second box appeared, this time giving me a readout of where I was and what was happening nearby.
╔═══════════════╗
- Kinowa: Outskirts (North)
╚═══════════════╝
- Memory Fragments: [□□□]
- Side Activities: [□□□□□]
===================
- Hunt 3 animals
- Track Down Lost Items
- Complete 5 side quests
- Discover all '?' in the area
╚════════════════════╝
I skimmed it quickly. One memory fragment was nearby, apparently, but I didn't want to risk wasting the last sliver of sunlight chasing something I didn't understand.
However, one of the '?' locations was directly along my path—and that, I could check out.
"Hmm… let's see what that is," I murmured, tapping the corner of the map screen.
I adjusted my pace, the translucent map still hovering in my vision as I walked. Up ahead, a crumbling structure came into view. A small hut, burned black by old fire, stood in ruins. Its door was long gone, and one of the walls had collapsed inward. Ash and soot still clung to the frame like scars. There was also an old doghouse in the front yard, scorched just like everything else.
The screen blinked again.
╔══════════╗
- NOTIFICATION
╚══════════╝
- Location Discovered: Witch's Hut
- Map Updated!
===================
+ XP Gained: 5
===================
- Current XP: 45 / 100
===================
- Progress: [██████░░░░░░░]
╚════════════════════╝
I stopped a few paces away, frowning as I eyed the remains of the house. Something about it unsettled me. It felt… off. Still, I didn't want to waste daylight. I walked past the hut, continuing down the road—but then the map blinked again. A yellow circle had appeared on the screen, pulsing softly and covering a radius that included the hut and the surrounding area.
╔══════════╗
- NOTIFICATION
╚══════════╝
- Lost Item Nearby!
╚══════════╝
I stopped dead in my tracks and glanced back.
"A lost item?" I said aloud, my voice low. My eyes narrowed at the hut. "Has to be there…"
Turning around, I approached it cautiously this time. The place smelled like old smoke and wet earth. I stepped through the doorway slowly, half-expecting something to lunge at me from the shadows. But it was silent.
Inside, the place was small—probably only one room. A scorched table sat at the center, half-collapsed. Bits of ash drifted up as I walked across the floor. A few dead rats lay near the edges of the walls, their bodies curled and brittle. Along one side of the hut, a line of cabinets remained, some of them half-open, others still shut tight.
I opened the map again. The yellow circle had shrunk, now only highlighting the hut itself.
"Okay… that confirms it." I scanned the room. "What am I even looking for, though?"
I took a slow breath and stepped forward, the wooden floor creaking beneath my boots. Dust floated up in the dim light as I crouched and peeked into the first open cabinet. Dead rats. A couple of cracked glass cups. Nothing useful.
I stood up and grabbed the handle of the next cabinet that was on the wall, giving it a tug—but it snapped right off in my hand and clattered to the floor.
"Oh, come on—" I started, but before I could finish, the entire cabinet tipped forward with a loud thunk. A wooden plank shot into the air like a spring trap. I flinched back and turned just in time, shielding my face with my arms. A spray of splinters bounced harmlessly off my back.
"Hmph." I nudged the debris aside with my foot. "Still nothing."
Moving to the next cabinet, I opened it slowly. Empty again. I let out a small sigh through my nose. According to the map, the lost item had to be in here, but all I'd found so far was junk.
I opened another—this time, something caught my eye. Inside was a glass jar, and inside that... a small ruby. But it wasn't resting in the jar—it was floating, suspended in the middle as if gravity didn't apply to it for some reason.
My eyebrows lifted. "Okay… that's new."
As soon as I looked at it, the yellow circle on the map vanished and was replaced by a single, glowing dot—marking this exact spot.
I picked the jar up and turned it in my hands. No strings. No hidden platform. The gem just hung there like it was weightless. I scratched the back of my head and placed it on the half-burnt table, arms crossed. Then, I realised something was written under the jar.
"Hil, Goddess of Beauty and Lust." I read aloud. "Protect me from these horrible men… huh. Wonder what this is?"
╔══════════╗
- NOTIFICATION
╚══════════╝
- Lost Item Found!
===================
+ XP Gained: 10
===================
- Current XP: 55 / 100
===================
- Progress: [███████░░░░░░]
╚════════════════════╝
I opened my inventory and tried to drag the jar into an empty slot—but nothing happened. It wouldn't go in.
"Okay... what's your deal?"
Looking closer, I noticed something: the slot with my silver had a subtle glow. The rest of the slots were dimmer. Curious, I placed my finger on one of the darker slots and held it there. A circle began forming under my finger, filling slowly like a loading bar.
When it completed, another screen appeared.
╔═════════╗
- NOTIFICATION
╚═════════╝
- Buy Inventory Slot for 10 Silver
===================
- Current Silver: 50
===================
- Silver After Purchase: 40
===================
[ Confirm ] [ Decline ]
╚═════════════╝
I pressed Confirm, and the slot lit up, ready for use. I grabbed the jar again, and as I did, a new prompt appeared just above my hand.
╔═════════╗
- NOTIFICATION
╚═════════╝
- Put this item into your inventory?
===================
[ Confirm ] [ Decline ]
╚═════════════╝
I tapped Confirm with my other hand. The jar shimmered gold, pulsing once—and then vanished from my grasp, now safely tucked inside the newly unlocked inventory slot.
"Good," I murmured. "Last thing I need is to wander around holding a weird floaty ruby in a jar."
With that done, I stepped outside. The air had cooled, and night had fully settled in. I hadn't realized how much time I'd spent inside. Torches were being lit along the road by guards and passing villagers. The sky was ink-black now, dotted with stars.
"Damn," I muttered, quickening my pace. "I need to be fast."