My footsteps echoed on the cold stone floor of the ancient library, where the faint light barely illuminated the dust-covered shelves. The silence was unnerving, only interrupted by the faint whistling of wind through the cracks in the windows. The four stone walls seemed to close in on me, squeezing my soul, filling me with loneliness and confusion. I searched aimlessly, my eyes drifting over the titles. The books lay there as if waiting to be opened, but none truly captured my attention.
The candle on the table slowly burned out, and in my exhaustion, I drifted into sleep. That night, a strange dream appeared. Before me was an endless meadow under a gloomy sky devoid of light. From afar, a voice called out, but I couldn't recognize who it belonged to. Darkness gradually enveloped everything, and a large gate appeared before me. Inside the gate, I saw an image of myself—weak and powerless. But at the end of that path, a radiant glow from a legendary sword sparkled, a sword that could free me from this burden.
The dream vanished as quickly as it had begun. I awoke, drenched in sweat. There was something in that dream, like an omen, a prophecy about the path I must take. I couldn't ignore it. Perhaps the curse that haunts the Vermillion family wasn't just a problem of the past, but it also tied to my future fate.
With that thought, I continued my search. And just as I had a feeling, my eyes stopped on an old book titled "The Mysteries of the Vermillion Family." I reached for it and opened the first page, where ancient characters revealed long-forgotten secrets.
Character Status Board
• Name: Lancelot Vermillion
• Age: 18
• Stats:
• Strength: 5/100 (reduced by 90% due to the curse)
• Stamina: 3/100 (reduced by 90% due to the curse)
• Agility: 4/100
• Intelligence: 25/100
• Magic: 0/100
• Luck: 10/100
• Status: Cursed (Effect: Reduces strength and stamina by 90%)
• Main Quest: Uncover the secret of the Vermillion family curse
• Current Achievements:
• Completed Chapter 1: Rediscovered Myself
• Discovered the Vermillion Family's Secret Library
Item Shop:
• Small Health Potion: 50 gold – Restores 10% stamina.
• Basic Wooden Sword: 100 gold – Increases strength by 5 when equipped.
• Old Cloth Armor: 150 gold – Increases stamina by 10 and reduces light physical damage.
• Rare Magic Talisman: 500 gold – Increases magic by 20 when equipped.
• Resurrection Gem (Legendary): 1000 gold – Increases the chance of resurrection by 50% after death, only obtainable by completing a legendary quest.
• Vermillion Legendary Sword (Epic): Locked – A weapon only obtainable after breaking the curse. Increases strength by 50 and has the ability to break other curses.
• Current Gold: 0
Looking at my status board, I realized my weaknesses more clearly than ever. My stats were truly abysmal. I couldn't believe I had become this weak, and the curse had robbed me of most of my strength. How could I possibly face the enemies ahead?
Stepping out of the library, I took a deep breath, the air outside felt distinctly different. The sun had begun to set, its last rays casting a golden-orange light on the stone pavements. Before me stood the main gate of the castle, a powerful symbol of authority and history, but also a place filled with the shadows I had to confront.
Passing by the servants, I overheard whispers behind my back. "What's that useless one doing in the library?" one said. "Lancelot is nothing but a burden," another mocked. These words, though I had heard them many times before, still stung.
In that moment, I noticed Aric and Cedric, my two brothers, standing in the distance. Their eyes were filled with disdain and disgust as they looked at me, as if I didn't deserve to exist under this roof. No words were needed, just their gaze alone conveyed the contempt they held for me. My heart sank, but I didn't turn away. Their eyes were like blades, cutting deep into the pride I had left. But I wouldn't let them break me any further.
I stared back at them, silent, but a new resolve burned within me. "I will prove them wrong," I thought to myself, then left the castle.
Those images continued to haunt me. Perhaps it was a prophecy of the path I was destined to follow.
Night fell, and the entire castle was drowned in silence. I stood alone by the window, the pale moonlight draped over the room. A sharp pain in my chest made it difficult to breathe. The veins in my body bulged, as if something within me was sealed away, yearning to be released. Suddenly, the system board appeared before my eyes again:
Main Quest: Seek out the Witch Gin
• Requirements:
• Go to the slums, rumored to be the residence of Gin.
• Face her challenges to obtain the Emerald Necklace.
• Complete a side quest to collect 100 gold.
• Rewards:
• Emerald Necklace: Eases the pain and enhances strength status.
• 100 gold: Usable to purchase items in the shop.
• Current Achievements:
• Discovered the Vermillion Family's Secret Library.
"The slums? Not an easy task," I muttered to myself, filled with doubt. "But, what could be worse than this loneliness? Could I really continue living in my own shadow?"
The moonlight illuminated the path, and the darkness surrounded me like waves washing away my faith. I closed my eyes for a second, to feel the cold, the silent embrace of the night.
Then, I opened my eyes, staring straight down the road ahead. I could wait no longer. I would face any challenge, find Gin, and reclaim the power that was stolen from me. This wasn't just a quest; it was a battle to reclaim myself.
With a mind full of tumultuous thoughts, I walked through the quiet night, my heart ringing like a bell in the darkness. Each step brought me closer to the unknown, as if I were venturing into a secret buried deep in the past. Though part of me longed for the light, I knew the road ahead was fraught with traps and sorrow. Doubt rose within me, like dark clouds obscuring the sky of my soul. Would I have the strength to face what awaited me? Or was I merely a lost traveler, swept away by the storm of life?