Reves stood frozen in the dimly lit temple, the oppressive atmosphere pressing down on him like a heavy weight. Shadows danced on the cracked walls, illuminated only by faint, flickering lights that seemed to come from nowhere in particular.
Clutching the coin in his trembling hand, he felt a desperate urge to leave, the foreignness of the place gnawing at his courage.
As his thoughts raced, a sharp system notification materialized before his eyes, the glowing text cold and unfeeling.
[Exit Denied]
[Become the Reality Master's Walker or Complete the Fractured Reality to Leave]
Reves blinked at the words, dread creeping into his chest. The sterile tone of the message felt at odds with the ancient, almost sacred air of the temple.
His breath quickened as fear began to take root.
'No way... This can't be happening,' he thought, his voice barely above a whisper.
Panic threatened to overwhelm him, but he shook his head vigorously, gripping the coin even tighter as if it were a lifeline.
'No, no,' he murmured, trying to steady himself. 'You've been waiting for something like this... Haven't you?'
The attempt at reassurance sounded hollow in his own ears. Deep down, Reves knew he had no idea what he'd truly gotten himself into.
The warnings about Fractured Realities had always been vague, more rumor than fact. But now, standing alone in this strange and foreboding place, the dangers felt all too real.
He forced himself to take a step forward, his legs shaky but determined to explore his surroundings. The temple's air felt thick, each breath heavier than the last, but he knew standing still would accomplish nothing.
Just as he moved past a shattered stone pillar, a sound broke through the silence—a faint, high-pitched noise that made his skin prickle.
"Meow."
Reves froze, his heart skipping a beat. The sound, so ordinary yet so unexpected, echoed eerily in the vast emptiness of the temple.
Slowly, he turned his gaze toward the source of the noise. Near the altar at the far end of the room, something small and sleek caught his eye. It moved with a casual grace, stepping into a beam of faint light.
A brown cat.
Its fur gleamed in the soft glow, and its amber eyes locked onto his. The cat sat calmly by the altar, tail curling around its paws, as if it had been waiting for him.
Reves stared, unsure whether to feel relieved or more unnerved.
"A... cat?" he whispered, the word catching in his throat.
The cat tilted its head slightly, its gaze unwavering. Then it let out another soft meow, the sound echoing faintly.
"Where did you come from?" Reves asked aloud, his voice trembling.
The cat didn't answer, of course, but it stood gracefully and began walking toward him. Its steps were deliberate, silent against the stone floor.
Reves stepped back instinctively, clutching the coin against his chest. As the cat approached, a new system notification flashed before him, the glowing text drawing his attention.
[New Task Generated]
[Follow the Guide to Begin the Trial: The Cat of Fortune]
He read the words twice, confusion and unease swirling in his mind.
"The... guide?" he muttered, his eyes darting between the notification and the cat that now sat only a few feet away, watching him intently.
Reves cautiously stepped forward, each movement echoing softly against the ancient stone walls of the temple. The faint light barely illuminated the dark altar ahead, its surface adorned with faint carvings that seemed to shift and ripple under his gaze.
As he approached, his breath hitched; the altar emanated an air of solemn importance, commanding his focus.
At the center of the altar, a piece of ancient-looking paper lay pinned beneath a small weight, its edges frayed and yellowed with time. Reves hesitated, unsure what to make of it.
The brown cat, which had been trailing him silently, leaped gracefully onto the altar. It stretched its paw forward, almost purposefully, pointing at the paper with a deliberate gesture. Reves frowned, puzzled by the cat's oddly intelligent behavior.
He leaned closer, squinting at the faintly glowing words scrawled across the parchment. The text was simple, yet it carried an undeniable weight:
Make a wish.
Reves's heart skipped a beat as realization dawned. Was this some kind of test? A task? His mind raced, trying to piece together what this meant.
His gaze shifted to the cat, whose amber eyes stared at him expectantly. It let out a soft, almost encouraging meow, as if urging him to act.
Swallowing his hesitation, Reves took a deep breath and spoke, his voice shaky but sincere.
"I wish... I had the strength to avoid danger so my father won't worry anymore..."
The moment the words left his lips, the atmosphere in the room shifted. A low hum resonated through the temple, the carvings on the altar glowing faintly with a golden light. The cat leaped down from the altar and sat back, watching him with an air of approval.
A system notification appeared before Reves, floating in the air like translucent text.
[Task Triggered: Trial of Resilience]
[Objective: Prove your worth to the Reality Master]
Reves barely had time to process the notification when a figure emerged from the shadows near the edge of the room. The air grew colder, and the faint sound of footsteps echoed ominously.
A hooded figure stepped forward, their robe blending with the darkness. They moved with quiet confidence, the faint outline of their face obscured beneath the deep hood.
"That wish of yours," the figure said, their voice calm and measured, "is not granted lightly. Strength, Reves, must be earned."
Reves's pulse quickened as the figure approached. He instinctively gripped the coin in his hand tighter, his mind racing.
"Are you... the Reality Master?" he asked, his voice trembling.
The figure chuckled softly, the sound both soothing and unsettling. "I am. For now."
The hooded Reality Master paused a few steps from the altar, their presence commanding yet strangely unthreatening. Reves noticed a faint golden glimmer from the edge of their robe—a coin, spinning effortlessly in their fingers.
"You've triggered a trial, young one," the Reality Master continued. "If you truly desire strength, you must prove your resolve. Show me you're capable of avoiding danger... or confronting it when you cannot."
Reves's eyes widened. "What do I have to do?"
The Reality Master raised a hand, and with a flick of their wrist, the altar's light expanded, illuminating a circular area around them. Symbols etched into the ground glowed faintly, forming what appeared to be a ritualistic arena.
"You will face a test," the Reality Master said. "Succeed, and your wish may come closer to reality. Fail... and your time here will end."
The cryptic words sent a chill down Reves's spine. He looked back at the cat, which now sat at the edge of the glowing circle, watching intently.