December 24, 2022. 16:17 – Rodglan, Floor 4

  Silver, Miwa, and Ryuho had stayed in Rodglan for a few more days, completing various quests. For such a small settlement, it offered more activities than one might expect. Most were simple tasks, but for Miwa and Ryuho—who had been fighting alongside the vanguard—the change of pace was a welcomed relief.

  Escorting merchants, gathering ingredients, or eliminating nuisance creatures were easy assignments for the three of them, almost like well-paid walks.

  Now they were at an inn, laughing and chatting after trying some of the floor 4's typical seafood dishes. It was in that relaxed atmosphere that Silver received a message that froze him on the spot.

  Yuiha: Are you on the first floor? I need your help, please. It's urgent.

  Silver shot to his feet, nearly toppling the table. His companions looked at him, confused.

  —What's wrong? —asked Ryuho.

  Silver didn't answer. With trembling hands, he opened the message console and typed in a rush, clumsy with nervous mistakes:

  Silver: Whats happening? Are you ok? Where r u?

  Yuiha: One of the orphans left and took Sasha's weapon. I'm afraid he went out hunting monsters. We searched outside the walls and he's not there.

  Silver: I'm on my way. Wait for me at the gate.

  When he closed the menu, his eyes met Miwa's and Ryuho's.

  —I need to return to the Town of Beginnings —he said, pulling out a teleport crystal.

  —Why? What's going on? —Miwa immediately stood.

  —A child is missing from the village.

  —A child? Is this a quest? —Ryuho arched a brow.

  —No. A real child. On the first floor, there's a player who turned the cathedral into an orphanage. She's been taking care of the kids trapped here.

  —We'll go with you —Miwa answered at once, grabbing her own crystal.

  —Wait, don't be reckless —Ryuho stopped her, holding her wrist—. Let's return to Rovia, we can use the teleport gate there and ask Veget and Goose for help.

  Miwa looked at him, surprised at his tone, but he remained firm.

  —Ryuho's right —Silver added calmly, though urgency weighed in his voice—. It's not worth wasting a crystal, they're too expensive. Besides, others must be looking too. Don't worry.

  He gave her a gentle smile, trying to ease her, and then vanished in the blue glow of the crystal.

  Miwa and Ryuho were left alone in the inn. She glared at him until her anger burst.

  —What the hell is your problem?

  —I'd like to ask you the same. How far are you willing to go just to impress him?

  Miwa let out a dry laugh of disbelief.

  —Seriously? You're getting jealous now?

  —This isn't jealousy, Akane.

  —Don't use my name here. And don't change the subject. Can't you see a child's life is at stake?

  —Everyone's in danger in this world. We can't save them all. My only priority is your safety, and you know it.

  Her eyes burned with a fire she rarely showed.

  —I'll run back to Rovia, and then I'll head to the first floor with Goose and Veget. And don't talk to me the whole way.

  She tossed a few coins on the table, stormed out, and started sprinting toward the capital on the most direct route. Ryuho sighed, ran a hand through his hair, and followed in silence.

  December 24, 2022. 16:24 – Town of Beginnings, Floor 1

  Silver appeared in the town square in a flash of blue light. He took only a second to orient himself, then sprinted to the gate. There he found Yuiha waiting, anguish carved on her face. When she saw him, she walked up and pressed her forehead against his chest.

  —It's my fault —she whispered, trembling.

  —Don't say that.

  —Last night I was telling them stories, and I mentioned a rumor... that a special monster would appear today, one that would drop a unique item. I never thought Kain would actually go looking for it...

  —Did you tell them where?

  —No. Just rumors. We don't even know where he could've gone. If something happened to him...

  This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author's consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.

  Her voice broke into sobs. Silver stroked her hair gently, trying to offer her shelter.

  —We'll find him. I promise.

  She lifted her gaze. Her eyes, dim and blurred with tears, searched his with a mix of doubt and desperate need for hope.

  —I don't think he would've run off outside the safe zone without thinking —Silver said firmly—. Let's check if he asked around in town.

  Yuiha nodded, wiping her eyes with the back of her hand. They split up to question other players. After what felt like an eternity, Silver found Forkaf, the last information broker still on the first floor. Tall and slender, with sky-blue hair and black eyes sharp enough to cut through souls, she looked at him without surprise as he approached.

  —Did a kid come asking you about a Christmas event?

  —You know I don't give out information for free, mon amour.

  Silver scowled, but pulled out a handful of col and handed it over. There was no time to argue with someone who saw the world as nothing but transactions.

  —About forty minutes ago, a boy came. Wanted to know about the supposed Christmas event. I told him what the rumors say.

  —Did you give him a specific location?

  —According to the gossip, it would be in the Misty Forest.

  Silver said nothing. He turned on his heel and rushed back to the plaza, where Yuiha waited, tense.

  —He must have gone to the forest.

  —The forest? Why?

  —He got information from a broker.

  —And who would tell something like that to a child? —Yuiha's voice broke between shock and indignation.

  —We'll deal with that later. Right now, we need to find him. Let's go.

  Silver had just taken a step when someone shouted his name. Turning, he saw Miwa and HappyGoose emerge from the teleport altar.

  —Did you find him? —Miwa asked urgently.

  —Not yet. But we think he went to the forest.

  —Then let's go.

  Silver glanced at Yuiha, who watched the scene without fully understanding.

  —They're my companions. They'll help us search.

  —"Companions"? That's cold, tough guy. Would it kill you to call us "friends"? —Miwa raised a brow, feigning indignation.

  —I mean... they're my friends —Silver corrected, scratching his neck.

  Yuiha let out a small laugh. The first since Kain had disappeared.

  —Thank you.

  —Let's hurry. Goose knows every corner of the map; his memory's incredible.

  —Count me in —the boy said proudly, puffing out his chest.

  December 24, 2022. 17:17 – Misty Forest, Floor 1

  The four of them sprinted down the paths, guided by HappyGoose. The forest felt more hostile than usual: few mobs, scattered players hunting for the event monster, but no sign of the boy. Many didn't even bother answering.

  —KAIN! —Yuiha's voice rang through the trees as she ran. They had split up to cover more ground.

  Silver pushed through the undergrowth when a piercing scream made him turn. He sprinted toward the sound and, in the distance, saw a small figure sitting on the ground... and in front of him, a monstrous reindeer.

  Its fur was scorched in patches, smoke rising from it as if it had escaped an eternal fire. Rusted chains hung from its neck, each link clanging against the ice with a chilling metallic echo. Its antlers, blackened and twisted, glowed at the tips like red-hot iron, lighting the clearing with macabre torches.

  [Blitzen, The Fallen. Lv 30]

  —A boss? Damn it! —Silver cursed, biting his lip. He activated the party channel—. I found the kid, but he's in danger. The event monster is a boss!

  The reindeer lowered its head, preparing to charge straight at Kain. Silver knew he wouldn't reach him in time.

  He gripped his sword... and let it fall. Raising his shield, he roared with all the strength he had left:

  —LINKED SKILL! SHIELD ASSAULT!

  He had never wanted to use that chained skill. It let him close up to 30 meters in a blink, chaining Shield Charge and Shield Bash. Even bosses were forced back, and common mobs left stunned. But the cost was brutal: it drained all SP, could only be triggered above 50%, had a twelve-hour cooldown... and worst of all, disabled healing items for ten minutes.

  It was a curse disguised as a weapon.

  Even so, in that moment, he didn't hesitate. Nothing mattered more than saving the child.

  His figure blurred and reappeared right in front of the boss. The crash of antlers against the Aegis boomed like an explosion. Silver lost nearly 20% of his HP from the impact, but didn't budge an inch thanks to the skill's momentum. Planting his feet, he twisted his left arm and, channeling all his strength, slammed a brutal hook with his shield straight into Blitzen's muzzle.

  The monster staggered back with a roar of pain and rage. Its first HP bar dropped by 10%.

  Silver turned to the boy. He tried to smile to reassure him, but the result was a stiff grimace, too tense to inspire confidence.

  —Hey... you okay? Can you stand?

  —Y-yeah, thank you... —Kain stammered, rising on shaky legs.

  —Go back to town. It's too dangerous here.

  —I don't have any crystals...

  Silver clenched his jaw. He couldn't even give him his own: both hands were locked holding back the boss's relentless charges. Then, a voice cut through the clash:

  —Switch!

  Instinctively, Silver twisted his body right as another charge slammed into his shield. A heartbeat later, a spear whistled past his head and struck the boss, forcing the reindeer back.

  —Thanks, Goose. But next time, try not to aim at my head...

  —Trained move, "companion." I knew you'd dodge the right way.

  At that moment, Miwa and Yuiha arrived. Miwa rushed to Silver's side, while Yuiha darted straight to Kain. She wrapped him in her arms, checking every inch of his small body with frantic care, as if he were her own child. Only once she confirmed he was unharmed did she finally breathe.

  —It's all right now... —she whispered, stroking his hair.

  —Yuiha, get him back to town —Silver ordered, never lowering his shield.

  She pulled out a teleport crystal, placed it in Kain's hands, and covered them with her own.

  —Go straight to the cathedral. Sasha's worried sick. Teleport! Town of Beginnings!

  Kain's body began to glow. He tried to say something, but the light swallowed him before the words could leave his mouth.

  Yuiha rose, drawing her sword with fierce determination.

  At the same time, Miwa reached Silver and handed him the sword he had dropped earlier. He gripped it again, raising his guard with grim resolve.

  The battle was only just beginning.