Elowen lay in a forest, a dark and surreal forest filled with nothing but leaves as far as the eye could see. The sun had long since set, and the darkness swallowed her whole, leaving only the stars that glittered against the night sky as an occasional source of light and sound to guide her. The trees were alive; they whispered softly to one another in the wind that rustled their leaves. She heard them singing to her in the voice of a woman who knew the words. With that music, she heard her breathing, her own heartbeat... it sounded unnaturally loud, too loud for a place this quiet. Yet there was nothing that disturbed such peacefulness within sight, not even herself. There was something so calm about this quietness.
Her nine tails flowed in the air like water from all directions. They were so long that they dragged behind her and sometimes caught on other bushes and roots that seemed just a little bit out of place in a small clearing in the middle of the forest. Her eyes closed, and she drifted through this peaceful dream, almost unaware that she was dreaming. A sense of peace flowed down her spine as if the gentle breeze carrying these feelings had a soothing effect on those who dwelled within its depths. Suddenly, she opened her eyes as if she jolted awake at some thought or feeling. The dream ended abruptly, and her senses returned. She found herself sitting upright on the ground and looking around.
"What... what the hell is this..." she wanted to scream as she looked at her nine tails. Their indigo color resembled a black ocean under the moonlight now that she thought about it... "Oh god," she breathed and started running wildly through the forest. Her nine tails followed her as if by instinct. In fact, she felt when the tips brushed against the leaves of nearby plants to move faster, as if their own tails wanted to reach her, to keep up. Her fear reflected as her nine tails followed her and fluttered gently, almost lovingly. Her feet pounded against the Earth, her fur swirled around her neck, her teeth clattered. Her mind felt like it spun as images of people being slaughtered by the woods flashed before her eyes.
"Where did these tails come from?" She thought as she rubbed her back against the tree furiously, thinking she could get rid of them and then everything would go back to normal. Her heart pounded as she thought of herself becoming a nine-tailed fox. But then she stopped and sighed as reality came back into focus and the pain of reality began to sink in. She couldn't think of this now, not while her life was literally hanging in the balance. No, she had to find help, and that meant getting out of this forest somehow. But before that, she had to turn normal, like a human, because she was in the human realm. For that, she started searching for her leaf-shaped arm cuff which she used to wear in Kaelith to hide her real identity.
After a few minutes, she finally found what she was looking for and put it on. Her indigo hair was replaced with human skin and her tails vanished, leaving scratching marks on her back, where she tried to cut her tails off while rubbing herself against the tree. It hurt her but not much, so she managed. She breathed a sigh of relief as she looked exactly like she did in Kaelith. "But why did my wings turn into tails as soon as I came to Earth?" She thought. "I was a moon spirit there, and on Earth, I turned into a nine-tailed fox. How?"
She closed her eyes and shook her head to clear away all the confusing thoughts. It wasn't time yet to think about such things. She needed to focus first. What should she do now? Her only option was to get out of this forest as soon as possible. Her deep indigo moon thread, flecked with silver specks, wrapped around her finger like a ring and followed her out when a soft, melodic hum filled the air, echoing like the distant ringing of a chime and drawing her attention. This soothing sound harmonized with the whispers of the forest, creating an enchanting atmosphere. Elowen often sensed its presence before she saw it. She noticed a sudden shift in the light around her. The forest sparkled, and the shadows deepened, hinting at the butterfly's arrival. Just when she thought to look around, the Moonveil Butterfly appeared in a graceful swirl, its wings unfurling with a soft rustle.
It was a stunning creature, its wings shimmering with iridescent colors that shifted between deep yellow and soft silvers, reminiscent of a starry night sky. Each wing was adorned with delicate patterns that resembled celestial constellations, glimmering like tiny stars in the dark. The edges of its wings were laced with a faint glow, giving it an ethereal presence that felt almost otherworldly. With a flick of its wings, the butterfly danced in front of Elowen, its glow illuminating her surroundings. Its wings shimmered in the dim light of the forest. The melodic hum filled the air, creating a tranquil ambiance. With a gentle swirl, the butterfly gilded closer, its glow intensifying as it prepared to deliver its message. With each word, the butterfly's wings pulsed with light, illuminating the surroundings and creating a mesmerizing display of shimmering patterns.
"Elowen, seeker of paths unknown,
A journey awaited where the wild winds blew.
Follow the trail of the moonlit glade,
And seek the lost spirits in twilight's shade.
Gather their whispers, let their stories unfold,
For within their tales, your purpose will be told.
But beware the shadows where the Arachnid lay,
A creature of darkness beneath starlit skies.
With fangs sharp and venom that chilled to the bone,
Prepare for the battle, for you were not alone.
Draw strength from the whispers, the spirits you found,
For their ancient wisdom sharpened your mind."
As it spoke, the butterfly circled Elowen, casting gentle light on her and the ground around her, making the moment feel magical. Each line resonated with Elowen, wrapping her in a sense of adventure and purpose.
Once the message was completed, the Moonveil Butterfly fluttered back slightly, allowing the words to sink in, its presence still shimmering with the promise of the journey ahead. With a final, graceful flap, it gestured toward the direction of the first quest, inviting Elowen to begin her adventure.
She let out a weary sigh, her voice laced with frustration. "Oh, Seraphiel, not now! I just wanted some rest....."
Her heart was heavy with the weight of her recent punishment, she felt the exhaustion settle in her bones. She had run nonstop ever since she arrived in this strange land called Earth with no idea how to return to Kaelith. For the past few days, she wandered around, trying to stay hidden and avoid detection. Yet every day, something new happened around her. Before she could gather her thoughts, the air around her shimmered with energy, and the quest system activated. A soft, glowing screen appeared, suspended in front of her, displaying four quests she had to complete before she could receive the main quest to leave the forest.
[System notification]
[Beast Quests...]
[To get out of this forest, you must play the game...]
[The game started...]
[Loading...]
[Initializing...]
[First, complete the tutorial phase...]
[Your choices mattered.]
[Did you wish to proceed...?]
[System activated...]
[Loading active quests...]
Elowen had to find nine keys that would unlock her path forward. Each key represented a different challenge, and she had to pass 1067/1100 quests to earn the right to depart.
1. Finding the Firefly Lantern
Objective: Locate the magical lantern hidden in the forest.
Time Limit: 3 minutes
If Elowen failed...
Severe Punishment: Loss of 20 Experience Points, and the fireflies of Nightbloom Hollow dimmed, making future quests more challenging.
2. Gathering Moon Petals
Objective: Collect Moon Petals for the healer.
Time Limit: 4 minutes
If Elowen failed...
Severe Punishment: Loss of 15 Experience Points, and the healer no longer assisted her in future quests.
3. Listening to the Trees
Objective: Discover what the ancient trees needed.
Time Limit: 5 minutes
If Elowen failed...
Severe Punishment: Loss of 25 Experience Points, and the trees withered, making it harder to navigate the forest.
4. The Friendly Fox
Objective: Help the lost fox find its way home.
Time Limit: 2 minutes
If Elowen failed...
Severe Punishment: Loss of 10 Experience Points, and the fox became wary, hindering future interactions.
The screen glowed brightly, illuminating Elowen's frustrated expression. The quests seemed to mock her desire for rest, reminding her that duty called louder than her wishes.
With a resigned sigh, she glanced at the Moonveil Butterfly, which fluttered nearby, its gentle glow still inviting and reassuring. Elowen knew she had to gather her strength and push forward, even if her heart longed for a moment of peace. The forest still held mysteries to uncover, and perhaps, within these quests, she might find a sliver of solace amid her obligations. With a small nod, she turned her gaze back toward the system, reading the list of four quests in an effort to determine where to start. It took her a minute to read over each quest again.
"Alright, let's get this tutorial phase over with," she said quietly.