Eragon sat on a moss-covered rock, staring at the glowing mark on his chest. The sigil pulsed faintly, a constant reminder of the impossible encounter he'd just survived. His knife lay discarded at his feet, rendered useless by the surreal turn of events.
Across from him, Lunara leaned casually against a tree, her sapphire hair gleaming under the moonlight. Though her human form was far less imposing than the beast Eragon had encountered earlier, there was no mistaking the power that radiated from her.
"You look like you're about to pass out," she remarked, her voice tinged with amusement. "Should I explain, or would you rather sit there gawking a little longer?"
Eragon scowled, the sharp edge of embarrassment creeping into his cheeks. "Start talking. What just happened to me?"
Lunara folded her arms, her golden eyes narrowing as if sizing him up. "Fine. But listen carefully. I don't like repeating myself."
"A thousand years ago," Lunara began, "the world as you know it was torn apart by the Genesis Cataclysm. Etherion, the energy that now flows through all things, came from the heavens, shattering the old world and birthing this one."
Eragon nodded slowly. He'd heard vague stories of the Cataclysm, but the details had always been shrouded in myth and superstition.
"Etherion isn't just energy," Lunara continued. "It's life, power, and chaos. Everything—beasts, humans, even the land itself—was reshaped by it. Some creatures, like myself, became Etherion beasts, gaining strength and intelligence beyond anything that existed before. Others..." She trailed off, her expression darkening. "Others didn't survive the transformation."
"And humans?" Eragon asked.
"You were lucky. The few who lived through the Cataclysm learned to manipulate Etherion, bonding with beasts to survive. That's how Beastbinding began. But make no mistake—Etherion isn't something to be tamed easily. It's divided into Nine Realms, each representing a different aspect of its power."
Lunara raised a hand, and shimmering images appeared in the air:
Fledgling Realm
Adept Realm
Arcane Realm
Master Realm
Exalted Realm
Ascendant Realm
Celestial Realm
Mythic Realm
Transcendent Realm
"Beasts and humans alike draw their power from these realms," Lunara explained. "The stronger the connection to a realm, the greater the power. But it's not as simple as mastering one realm. Etherion is a balance, and those who disrupt it—"
"Die?" Eragon guessed.
"Worse," Lunara said grimly.
Before Eragon could press her further, the glowing sigil on his chest flared to life, and a translucent interface materialized before his eyes. Words scrolled across the screen, written in a language he couldn't read yet somehow understood:
[Etherion Contract Protocol - Initializing Core Functions]
Welcome, Host: Eragon Arctis
Quests
Shop
Beast
Contracts
Status
Eragon blinked, instinctively reaching out to touch the floating words. His finger passed through them, but the menu responded, opening the Status tab:
[Status - Eragon Arctis]
Etherial Core: Active (Unique)
Current Realm Affinity: Undefined
Physical Level: Tier 0 (Fledgling)
Mental Affinity: Tier 1 (Awakened)
Contracts: 1 (Lunara - Ascended Tier, Sovereign Sublevel)
System Points (SP): 0
"What... what is this?" Eragon stammered.
Lunara leaned over his shoulder, peering at the interface with mild interest. "Looks like the Protocol is finally waking up. Took long enough."
"What does it mean?"
"The system," she said, gesturing at the glowing screen, "is your connection to Etherion. Think of it as a guide—a way to manage your power, your bonds, and your... tasks."
"Tasks?"
"Quests," Lunara clarified. "If you want to grow stronger, you'll need to complete them. They'll push you to explore your limits, fight stronger beasts, and unlock the deeper aspects of Etherion."
Eragon hesitated, then tapped the Quests tab. A single quest appeared:
[Main Quest: The Path to Strength]
Objective: Prove your worth by surviving in the Wildscourge for 48 hours.
Rewards: 50 SP, Basic Etherion Core Enhancement.
"Survive for 48 hours?" Eragon muttered. "That doesn't sound so bad."
Lunara snorted. "In the Wildscourge? Good luck."
Eragon tapped the Shop tab next, and a list of items appeared:
Etherion Healing Salve: 10 SP
Basic Weapon Enhancement: 20 SP
Realm Affinity Booster: 50 SP
Beast Contract Slot Expansion: 100 SP
"You'll earn SP—System Points—by completing quests or defeating beasts," Lunara explained. "Spend them wisely. The shop can be your greatest ally or your downfall, depending on how you use it."
Eragon frowned. "And the Beast Contracts?"
"That's where I come in," Lunara said, her tone softening. "You've already bound me as your first contract, which is... unusual, considering you have no training. But the Protocol is clear—you can only bond with female beasts. Why, I don't know. Perhaps it's a quirk of your Etherial Core. Or perhaps..." She trailed off, her golden eyes narrowing in thought.
"Perhaps what?" Eragon pressed.
"Nothing," she said, shaking her head. "Forget it for now."
The glowing interface faded as Eragon stood, his chest still warm from the mark. "So, I just survive for two days, earn these points, and... what? That's it?"
Lunara laughed—a sound equal parts amusement and pity. "If only it were that simple. Surviving out here isn't about finding shelter or food. It's about understanding the Wildscourge. Every beast, every plant, every gust of wind—it's all connected to Etherion. And if you don't learn how to read those signs, you'll die before the first night is over."
Eragon swallowed hard, the gravity of her words sinking in. He glanced at Lunara, her sapphire hair glowing faintly in the moonlight.
"Why are you helping me?" he asked.
"Because whether I like it or not, we're bound now," she said with a shrug. "Your survival is my survival. And besides..." She smirked, her golden eyes glinting. "I'm curious to see if you'll make it."
Eragon took a deep breath, his hand brushing against the mark on his chest. Whatever this Protocol was, whatever it wanted from him, he had no choice but to move forward.
"Alright," he said, his voice steady despite the fear gnawing at his gut. "Let's survive."