The sky was growing dark as they finally saw the silhouette of a town in the distance. Small buildings and lanterns began to light up, signaling the life of Libentium. Nina sighed in relief and pointed toward the town. "That's Libentium. We've arrived."
Catherine rolled her eyes, though her legs felt exhausted. "Finally. I've had enough of listening to the rustling wind and our endless footsteps."
Thomas nodded slightly. "This town seems quite calm, considering the kingdom's tensions. Either that's a good sign, or we're walking into a trap."
Virginia remained silent, her gaze fixed on the approaching town gates.
As they entered the town, Nina quickly suggested, "We should find an inn to rest right away. I'll cover all your expenses as a token of gratitude."
Catherine raised an eyebrow, her tone skeptical. "At least you know how to show gratitude to those who saved your life. Fine, I agree."
Upon reaching a modest but cozy inn, Nina approached the receptionist and booked two rooms. Catherine interrupted, though. "Are you planning to stay with us? If so, book another room for me."
Nina appeared surprised for a moment but quickly nodded in understanding. "Of course, Lady Catherine. I'll book three rooms."
They gathered in the inn's lobby for dinner afterward. Nina ordered simple but filling meals, and as they waited, they discussed their situation.
"So, what can you tell us about this Lord Barthold?" Catherine began, stirring her warm drink casually, her eyes sharp and attentive.
Nina exhaled softly before responding. "Lord Barthold is one of Prince Claudius' loyal supporters. His influence is significant due to his status as a Marquess and his independent military command. However, his loyalty to Claudius isn't just about allegiance. He opposes Prince Calius' policies, especially his plan to restructure Esverita's entire governance."
Thomas fixed his sharp gaze on Nina. "What do you mean by 'restructure governance'? Explain."
"Prince Calius intends to replace all current officials with his own appointees. He seeks absolute power. He even imprisoned Prince Claudius because he felt the faction supporting him was gaining momentum," Nina answered, her tone filled with worry.
Thomas tapped the table with his fingers, his expression serious. "Consolidating power like that is common. But dismantling the entire structure will only lead to long-term chaos. Controlling a government isn't as simple as replacing its people."
Virginia, sitting quietly at the corner of the table, shook her head slightly. "It's not just chaos—it's oppression. Imprisoning Claudius without justification shows that Calius isn't just seeking power; he wants to crush all opposition. That's not governance; that's tyranny."
Catherine listened with a neutral expression before finally speaking. "You're all correct, but you're missing one crucial point. Power is never achieved without sacrifice. Calius isn't foolish. He knows that by instilling fear, he can control the people and ensure their submission. The real question is, does Claudius have the courage to face that?"
Nina hesitated for a moment but eventually said, "Prince Claudius is a good leader. He cares about his people."
Catherine smirked slightly. "Caring isn't enough, Nina. A leader must have strength, strategy, and determination to face their adversaries. I hope Claudius possesses all that. Otherwise, you're leading us to failure."
The conversation paused as their food arrived. As they ate, the atmosphere grew more relaxed, though the tension surrounding their situation lingered.
After dinner, they remained seated at the table, each reflecting their personality through their expressions. Catherine reclined gracefully, turning her cup idly in her hands, while Thomas studied a small map spread on the table. Virginia sat upright, relaxed yet alert, and Nina busied herself ensuring everyone was comfortable.
The navigator's voice suddenly echoed in their minds. "You should all rest tonight. Tomorrow, we'll meet Lord Barthold with Nina. Any decisions regarding politics must be made with a clear mind."
Catherine nodded slightly at the suggestion. She set her cup down and looked at Nina. "We'll rest for tonight. Tomorrow morning, you'll take us to Lord Barthold's residence. That aligns with your plan, correct?"
Nina smiled with relief. "Yes, Lady Catherine. His residence isn't far from here. We can leave early to have more time to speak with him."
Thomas nodded slowly, his expression still serious. "Good. We must ensure he can truly be trusted. If he's loyal to Claudius, there must be strong reasons beyond personal sentiment."
Virginia looked at Nina, her gaze soft but firm. "Make sure you're not hiding anything from us, Nina. The more we know, the better we can prepare for the worst."
Swallowing nervously, Nina nodded with determination. "I understand. I'll tell you everything I know. I just want all of us to make it through this safely."
Catherine offered a faint smile, her tone cold. "Of course. We all want to survive, Nina. But loyalty is tested through actions, not just words."
The conversation ended as Catherine stood elegantly. "Well then, I'm going to bed. Make sure my room is ready."
Nina immediately got up and escorted Catherine to the room she had booked. Catherine ascended the stairs without a word, her rigid elegance unwavering.
Thomas let out a small sigh and nodded toward Virginia. "I'll go as well. Tomorrow might be a long day." He rose and walked to another room, exuding his usual calm and thoughtful demeanor.
Virginia and Nina were the last to leave the table. Nina hesitated before speaking. "I hope I won't trouble you by sharing a room tonight. It's all for the sake of saving resources."
Virginia smiled faintly. "It's fine. I'm used to sharing space." She stood, giving a small nod to let Nina follow.
Once in their room, Virginia ensured the door was securely locked before speaking. "Nina, get some rest. Tomorrow, you'll lead us to Lord Barthold. Don't let small worries cloud your mind."
Nina offered a faint smile. "Thank you, Miss Virginia. I truly appreciate all of your help."
Virginia returned the smile with a slight nod, then lay on her bed. Though she appeared calm, her mind was busy analyzing all the information they had gathered.
That night, each of them sank into their own thoughts and temporary peace, preparing themselves for the challenges the next day would bring.
***
I slowly opened my eyes, greeted by the familiar sight of my floating castle's interior. The system screen glowed softly above the main control table, displaying the status of Catherine, Thomas, and Virginia. Their names lined up with numbers showing their levels, HP, and skill points. The figures rose steadily, reflecting their recovery during rest.
This feels like a game, I thought, leaning back in my chair. The screen's faint blue light bathed the room in a cold, sterile atmosphere. For so long, I had treated everything like a game—a routine task to execute with maximum efficiency. But... Virginia's voice echoed in my head once again.
"We are humans, not machines. We fight with our lives, not with numbers in a system."
I let out a long sigh, throwing my head back. "Humans, huh," I muttered softly. Of course, they're human. That much is obvious. But… are they really human?
I closed my eyes again, not to rest, but to delve into my memories—back to my old account. My old floating castle, filled with combat units that never protested or hesitated. They called themselves battle maniacs. They never questioned orders, nor considered consequences beyond the mission. I led them with unyielding efficiency, replacing the weak, conserving power for the long term, and prioritizing victory above all else.
For five consecutive seasons, I topped the leaderboard since the game's release. Back then, I didn't care. Nothing mattered to me except numbers, stats, and end results. I didn't even think of them as anything more than combat units.
But now…
I looked at the system screen monitoring Catherine, Thomas, and Virginia. They never gave up, even when I restrained them to conserve skill points. They were angry, tired, and sometimes frustrated. Yet they kept fighting—not for numbers or victory, but for their own beliefs.
"Have I truly treated them as humans? Or am I just repeating old patterns?" I muttered again, even quieter this time.
My musings were interrupted by a soft yet firm voice beside me. "Navigator, are you awake?" It was Luna, the system assistant who had always stayed by my side.
"Yes," I replied tersely, swiveling my chair toward her. "What's going on? Is there any activity out there?"
"Yes. I received a message from another player around two hours ago," Luna said, her expression as neutral as ever.
I froze, staring at Luna with wide eyes. "Another player?" I asked, my voice higher than I intended.
"Yes," she nodded. "The message is simple, but this is the first time there's been direct communication with another player since you activated this castle."
My thoughts raced. Another player? So it's true—they're here too. The encounter I had always anticipated had finally come.
"What does the message say?" I asked quickly, trying to mask my nervousness.
Luna raised her hand, projecting a holographic display with the short text:
"I know you're an Astral Point player. Please help me. If you're reading this, contact me back. I beg you!"
I clenched my fist, trying to steady my erratic heartbeat.
Help me? Are they in PvP mode? What's happening to this player?
The sender's name was clearly displayed on the system screen: Bambin4Channel. I frowned. "Who the hell is that?" I muttered, not realizing I had spoken aloud. The name had never appeared on the PvP leaderboard or season rankings before. No records, no reputation. As if they were an unknown among the elite players.
But the message—asking for help? On what grounds are they seeking aid? I thought, recalling the simple yet puzzling words they had sent. More importantly, why me?
Taking a deep breath, I tried to calm the storm in my mind. How many other players were out there? Was I merely one of many to receive this message, or was I deliberately chosen?
"Luna," I called out.
"Yes, Navigator?" she replied, her tone steady but always attentive.
"Secure the castle. Activate all automatic defense systems and monitor any movement nearby. Also, check the map. Locate this Bambin4Channel."
Luna nodded, her eyes glowing a bright blue as if directly interfacing with the castle's systems. Just a few seconds later, she reported, "I've identified another flying castle above an abandoned village north of Esverita Kingdom. The castle has intentionally disabled its stealth feature and is broadcasting its location."
I was stunned. "Disabled stealth? Are they deliberately drawing attention?" I asked, though I knew Luna wouldn't have a definitive answer.
"The stealth feature on our castle remains active," Luna continued. "There's no indication that anyone has detected us."
I nodded slowly, processing the situation. "So they chose to reveal themselves, sending a broadcast message to all nearby players, and I happened to receive it."
I reached out to the system screen, pulling up Bambin4Channel's profile. Instantly, the basic information appeared:
---
Name: Bambin4Channel
Level: 7
Flying Castle of Dreams "Somnaria"
"A place where reality and dreams collide. Contains illusions capable of trapping someone forever."
Base Level: 2
Server: EARTH086
---
I narrowed my eyes, scrutinizing the details. "Level 7? And their base is already at level 2? More than that, their floating castle even has a unique trait and title," I muttered.
Something didn't add up. A player with this kind of status shouldn't struggle to survive, let alone send out a plea for help. Were they under attack by a higher-level player? Or stuck in PvP?
Or... My thoughts turned darker. Is this a trap?
I rubbed my face, trying to sort through the possibilities. If it's a trap, then I'm the target. But if not, what reason do they have to call on another player?
I glanced at Luna. "Investigate their castle further. Keep monitoring its movements. Ensure there are no security breaches here."
"Understood, Navigator," Luna replied briskly.
As I waited, my eyes remained fixed on Bambin4Channel's profile. Somnaria, their castle, had a description that was more than suspicious. Illusions and traps. If I make the wrong move, I might never escape this game.
After much deliberation, I made a decision. I would respond to the message. But first, I locked my profile, ensuring no personal information could be tracked.
"Luna, activate all automatic defense systems. I'm going to reply to Bambin4Channel."
Luna looked at me with her usual neutral expression, but I could sense tension beneath it. "The message will be sent anonymously, Navigator."
I typed out a brief response:
"I received your message. Explain your situation. Why are you asking for help?"
As the message was sent, I leaned back in my chair, waiting for a reply. For the first time in a long while, I felt like I wasn't fully in control.
***