The festival's music faded into a distant hum, drowned out by the thundering of Mina's heartbeat. Adrian's question hung in the air, taut and unyielding.
"What do you want?"
Mina's mind raced, torn between the truth and the expectations thrust upon her by the System. She knew the answer the System wanted her to give: Adrian must return to Clara to stabilize the narrative. But every fiber of her being screamed against it.
The festival's cheerful lights seemed to dim, leaving Mina standing in the harsh spotlight of Adrian's scrutiny. She swallowed hard, her words stuck in her throat.
Before she could respond, Clara stepped between them, her hands trembling but her voice steady. "Adrian," she began softly, her eyes shining with a mix of determination and desperation, "I know things haven't been the same between us, but... we've been through so much together. Don't you think we owe it to ourselves to try again?"
Mina's heart clenched. This wasn't just a plea—it was Clara's last hope.
Adrian's gaze shifted to Clara, and for a moment, Mina thought he might agree. He opened his mouth, his lips forming a word, but then he closed it again, his expression conflicted. The tension stretched unbearably, each second dragging like an eternity.
"No," Adrian said finally, his voice soft but resolute. "I can't, Clara. I can't go back to what we were. It doesn't feel right anymore."
Clara's face crumbled. Her lips parted in a silent protest, but she didn't speak. The devastation in her eyes was almost too much for Mina to bear.
"Warning: Stability Meter -5%."
The System's cold, detached voice pierced Mina's thoughts, a grim reminder of the stakes. Her stomach churned as the meter in her vision ticked dangerously close to the critical threshold.
"You have to reconsider," Mina said urgently, stepping forward. "This isn't just about you, Adrian. If you—if we don't fix this, the consequences could be catastrophic."
Adrian turned sharply to face her, his frustration bubbling to the surface. "Catastrophic? You keep talking about consequences and systems, but what about what I want? What about what you want?"
Mina froze, the weight of his words pressing down on her like a physical force.
"Critical choice detected: Override narrative or preserve original storyline."
The System's prompt flashed in her vision, accompanied by a timer ticking down with ruthless precision. She had less than a minute to decide.
"Adrian," she said, her voice trembling, "what if what you want could destroy everything?"
He stepped closer, his voice low and urgent. "Then maybe everything wasn't worth saving to begin with."
Her breath hitched. The timer in her vision ticked down: 30 seconds... 29... 28...
---
Before Mina could respond, a commotion erupted at the edge of the festival square. Shouts of alarm rippled through the crowd, followed by the unmistakable clash of steel. The air grew tense, the festive atmosphere replaced by fear.
"What's happening?" Clara asked, clutching Adrian's arm.
"I don't know," Adrian said, his protective instincts kicking in. "Stay close."
Mina's System interface glitched for a moment before stabilizing. A new notification blinked into view:
"System update: External interference detected. Threat level: Moderate."
"External interference?" Mina muttered under her breath, her eyes scanning the crowd for answers.
Before she could make sense of it, a group of masked figures burst into the square, brandishing weapons. Panic spread like wildfire as festival-goers scrambled for safety.
"Adrian!" Clara cried, clinging to him.
Adrian moved instinctively, positioning himself between Clara and the attackers. Mina's heart pounded as she watched him draw his sword, the blade catching the glow of the festival lanterns.
"Mina!" Adrian called over his shoulder. "Stay with Clara!"
But Mina was already moving. She couldn't stand idly by while chaos erupted around her.
---
The square descended into chaos as the masked attackers advanced. Mina wove through the panicked crowd, her eyes fixed on Adrian as he engaged two of the assailants. His movements were precise, his strikes swift and calculated, but he was outnumbered.
"Mina, get back!" Adrian shouted, his voice cutting through the clamor.
She ignored him, her gaze locking onto a discarded dagger lying a few feet away.
"Combat proximity detected. Unlocking skill tree: Basic self-defense."
Mina blinked as a new interface materialized in her vision, displaying a list of combat-related stats and skills. A rush of warmth spread through her as the System unlocked her first skill.
"New skill acquired: Precision Strike. Use: Single-target incapacitation."
Before she fully understood what she was doing, Mina activated the skill. Her body moved on instinct, her grip tightening around the dagger as she lunged at one of the attackers. The blade struck true, disarming the masked figure with a single calculated motion.
Adrian's eyes widened as he glanced over his shoulder. "Mina, what the hell—"
"Later!" she interrupted, her voice firm despite the adrenaline surging through her veins.
---
The battle was brief but intense. By the time the attackers retreated, the square was littered with overturned stalls and discarded belongings. Adrian and Mina stood side by side, their breaths coming in heavy gasps. Clara emerged from her hiding spot, her face pale and drawn.
"Are you both okay?" Clara asked, her voice trembling.
"We're fine," Adrian replied, sheathing his sword. He turned to Mina, his amber eyes filled with questions. "But I think it's time you told me the truth. All of it."
Mina's chest tightened. The weight of his gaze, combined with Clara's silent curiosity, was almost too much to bear.
"I..." she began, her voice faltering.
"Stability Meter: +3%. Critical event resolved. Narrative deviation: High."
The System's notifications were a stark reminder of how far they had strayed from the original storyline. Mina's stomach churned. How much longer could she keep this world from unraveling?
Adrian stepped closer, his tone firm but not unkind. "Mina, no more half-truths. No more cryptic warnings. I need to know what's going on. Who are you, really? And what is this... system you keep mentioning?"
Mina hesitated, glancing at Clara, whose eyes were wide with confusion. There was no escaping it now. Adrian deserved answers.
"Okay," Mina said finally, her voice steady despite the storm raging in her chest. "I'll tell you everything. But you might not like what you hear."