I stood before the main map in the control room, my eyes fixed on the city of Arcadia displayed on the large screen. Nestled at the foot of towering mountains, the city seemed naturally fortified, as if protected by those natural walls. Luna stood beside me, her usual awkwardness evident, but her gaze was just as focused on the map.
"Arcadia," I murmured, more to myself than anyone else. "A city at the foot of the mountains. Its natural defenses are decent, but it's neither an easy place to attack nor to defend without direct access to resources."
Luna nodded slightly. "Its location is remote, but I've heard Arcadia is a trade hub for the surrounding regions. They've got metal and gemstone mines in the mountains."
I pulled up the quest screen, summoning the main mission menu. A single directive was displayed: Travel to the city of Arcadia. No additional details, just a simple instruction. It left me wondering.
"Why are we being sent to Arcadia?" I mused aloud, though Luna could clearly hear me. "This city is far from Esverita, where we started. The journey here alone took us four full days. Does that mean Esverita was just the prologue, and Arcadia is where the real story begins?"
Luna didn't answer immediately. I knew she was considering her words carefully, as she often did. "Maybe," she said at last. "But why haven't any NPCs shown up to give us clearer directions?"
It was a question that had been bothering me too. Typically, in games like this, NPCs serve as guides to the next chapter of the story. So far, we hadn't encountered anyone, except for the faceless system giving me cold, text-based instructions. Tapping the screen, I pulled up the log of previous missions, but nothing seemed relevant.
"This lack of NPCs is suspicious," I said aloud. "Usually, they're the key to providing story context. Without them, it feels like we're wandering blind, following sterile text prompts. Is this by design, or is something wrong?"
Luna remained silent, though I could tell she agreed but had no answers either.
Turning back to the system screen, I scanned for any overlooked details. Nothing new appeared—just the same directive to proceed to Arcadia. I rubbed my temples slowly. "If Arcadia is the first real chapter, then Esverita truly was just the warm-up. The question now is, what awaits us there?"
Finally, Luna spoke again, her voice soft but firm. "Navigator, maybe we should prepare for anything. Arcadia might look peaceful, but usually, something big is hidden beneath tranquility."
I turned to her. "You're right. It doesn't hurt to be prepared. After all, this isn't a casual journey. We're here to complete a mission."
She nodded slightly, and I returned my gaze to the map. The mountains surrounding Arcadia looked majestic but also potentially treacherous. If anything were lurking there, it could very well be our first major test as a team.
But without NPCs, without further directions, and with only vague clues, the journey to Arcadia felt like stepping into completely uncharted territory.
"Alright," I said at last, my voice firm. "We won't get any answers just standing here. We're heading to Arcadia to see for ourselves what's there. But we'll need to be ready for anything."
Luna gave a faint smile. "As always, Navigator. You lead the way."
I nodded briefly, my eyes lingering on the map one last time. After reviewing the situation, I decided all combat units should prepare.
"Luna," I called out without turning, my eyes still locked on the map.
"Yes, Navigator?" she responded, her tone polite yet slightly nervous, as usual.
"Gather all combat units in front of the main headquarters. We're descending into Arcadia," I ordered, swiping through the system screens.
She nodded quickly. "Understood, I'll inform them right away," she said before hurrying out.
I refocused on the system screen, this time opening the inventory menu, hoping to find something useful. The list of weapons displayed made me sigh. Most of what I'd gotten from earlier gacha rolls were low-tier items—dull swords, bows missing usable strings, and a variety of other near-useless gear for combat.
Scrolling through the inventory with growing frustration, I suddenly remembered something. I hadn't equipped Elizabeth with a weapon since she joined. How could I have forgotten? She was a mage, and without a suitable weapon, her power couldn't reach its potential.
"Alright," I muttered to myself as I delved deeper into the inventory. I needed to find something suitable for her.
Eventually, I paused on an icon I'd previously overlooked. A dark purple lantern surrounded by an ominous aura. Its name appeared on the screen: Lantern of Forgotten Souls (SR). I tapped it to examine the details.
---
Lantern of Forgotten Souls (SR)
Type: Magic Lantern
Element: Spirit (Neutral)
Required Level: 10
Description
A small lantern with a blue flame, surrounded by the whispers of unseen creatures in the darkness.
Stats
Magic Power: +50
Spirit Affinity: +25%
Mana Regen: +20%
Max HP Increase: +90
Skill
Soul Harvest (Passive)
Effect: For each defeated enemy, increases attack power by 2% (up to a maximum of 20%).
---
I allowed myself a small smile. "Looks like this will suit her well," I thought. The lantern's effects seemed perfect for a mage like Elizabeth. Given that she was a damage-dealer reliant on massive attacks, this might even help boost her morale after recent events.
As I closed the screen, Luna re-entered the room. "Navigator, all units have gathered in front," she said politely.
I nodded. "Alright, I'll be there shortly."
I took a moment to reflect. A weapon like this was rare at the start of the game. How could I have overlooked it? My mind spun, recalling that there might be other items I hadn't examined thoroughly.
With this lantern in my inventory, I felt a bit more confident. At least I now had something to give Elizabeth, so she wouldn't feel completely neglected. I knew my approach earlier might have been harsh, but there was a reason behind every action I took. Elizabeth just needed an opportunity to prove her worth.
As I stepped outside, I saw my combat unit assembled in front of the headquarters. Catherine, Thomas, Virginia, Pierre, and, of course, Elizabeth, who stood in the back with an expression that was hard to read. I recognized that look—a mix of embarrassment, resentment, and perhaps a hint of curiosity.
"We'll be departing soon," I announced, drawing all eyes to me. I opened the system screen in front of them, selected the lantern icon, and displayed it. "Elizabeth, this is for you."
Her eyes widened in surprise as she stepped forward hesitantly to take it. "This... is for me?" she asked softly, her voice tinged with uncertainty.
I nodded. "Yes. You're a mage. This weapon will help you perform better in battle. I hope you can make the most of it."
Elizabeth lowered her head slightly, her expression difficult to decipher. But I caught a glimmer of gratitude behind her reserved demeanor.
"Thank you," she said quietly, almost a whisper.
I nodded again, then turned to face the others. "Alright, prepare yourselves. We'll be heading to Arcadia shortly. This won't be an easy journey, but I believe in all of you."
A small cheer came from Pierre and Thomas, while Catherine and Virginia nodded calmly. I looked at each of them, feeling a bit more optimistic about this team. With them by my side, I was confident that Arcadia would mark a significant step toward something greater.
Standing before them, I exuded determination. In moments like these, leadership wasn't just about giving orders but also about inspiring trust.
"Listen carefully," I began, my voice cutting through the minor commotion. "Arcadia is new territory, and this marks the beginning of the main chapter in our mission. Your first priority is to complete the primary quest, whatever it may be. Pay attention to any NPCs who seem suspicious or out of the ordinary. Remember, they might hold key information to progress the story."
I paused, ensuring every face before me was attentive. "Your second priority is the dungeons. If you find any near the city, clear them to gather resources. These will be crucial for developing our castle and upgrading our weaponry."
Catherine crossed her arms, raising an eyebrow slightly. "And what if we encounter sudden missions like before? Like what happened in Esverita?"
"Good point, Catherine," I replied, appreciating her question. "That's the third priority: emergency missions. If one arises, you must act quickly. But remember, the situation here is far more complex than Esverita."
"More complex?" Virginia echoed, her tone calm but curious.
I nodded. "Yes. Assume there are other players in Arcadia and their combat units. We don't know whether they'll be enemies or allies. So, prepare for potential PvP scenarios. I'll monitor their movements from here, if any arise."
Thomas regarded me thoughtfully. "You sound pretty sure about that. Do we have evidence of other players?"
"Not yet," I admitted. "But this isn't about evidence. It's about anticipation. It's better to be ready for the worst than to be caught off guard."
After my long speech, I waved a hand to signal that they should start moving. But before they could disperse, a notification popped up on my system screen.
[Do you want to dispatch the units "Catherine de Medici," "Thomas Hobbes," "Marianna de Leyva," "Pierre d'Arc," and "Elizabeth Bathory" to explore Arcadia City?]
I carefully read the notification before pressing [accept]. In an instant, a bright light enveloped all my combat units. One by one, they disappeared, vanishing in a near-magical manner.
Leaning back in my chair, I watched the system screen as it returned to the map of Arcadia. Luna stood nearby, her usual nervousness evident.
"Navigator, are you sure this is the right decision?" she asked softly, almost a whisper.
I turned to her and shrugged. "As a navigator, I have no choice but to be sure. But that doesn't mean I don't question everything."
Luna lowered her head, offering no reply. I returned my focus to the screen, this time opening the inventory menu. Honestly, I was still bothered by the state of our limited resources. The Storybook of Heroes was nearly depleted, and the base gold left was only 20,698. More concerning was the shortage of materials like wood and building stones for construction. Even building a laboratory to generate research points felt like a distant dream.
"Everything feels so slow," I muttered, mostly to myself.
"What?" Luna asked, glancing up slightly.
I shook my head. "Nothing. I was just thinking that the progress of this castle is much slower than I expected."
Luna didn't say anything else, but her expression showed she understood my burden. I let out a long sigh, my gaze fixed on the map of Arcadia.
"Let's hope they find something valuable there," I said, mostly to myself, before refocusing on the system screen, which continued monitoring the floating castle's movements.
***