Soleil hurried back to her chambers, the grand doors closed behind her with a muffled thud, shutting out the opulence of the palace hallways. For a moment, she leaned her back against the heavy wood, her chest rising and falling with quick, uneven breaths. She crossed the polished floor, brushing her hand against the tall bedpost for stability, and dropped into a chair by the writing desk. The glow of the System's interface filled the air around her as she leaned forward.
"Alright, magical helper," she murmured aloud, the words a little unsteady but tinged with determination. "You heard the man. If I don't come up with something impressive by his deadline, I'm banished to the border. Tell me what I can do."
The System's voice responded immediately, soft and melodic yet brimming with efficiency.
[For accepting your first mission, you have unlocked the Beginner's Gift Bag. Would you like to open it?]
The words shimmered before her, a welcome distraction from the anxiety bubbling in her chest. The gacha lover in her couldn't help but feel some anticipation. "Beginner's… gift bag? Sure, open it."
Golden light flickered to life in front of her, coalescing into the shape of a small box etched with swirling patterns. Soleil blinked at it in mild astonishment. As it hovered closer, she hesitated before flipping the lid open. Warm light poured out, along with notifications that appeared in her peripheral vision.
[Congratulations! You have received: 500 Story Points, Memory Recall Spell, Quality Enhancement Charm. All items added to inventory.]
"Story Points? Spells? Can I please get a description?" she asked, her voice laced with curiosity.
[Story Points: The System uses Story Points as currency. Points are earned by completing creative milestones and unlocking achievements. You can use them to purchase skills, tools, and resources tailored to your needs.
Memory Recall Spell (Uncommon): A consumable that allows the user to immediately learn Memory Recall; a spell that helps the user recall targeted memories. Efficacy of the spell is dependent on user's proficiency and the clarity of the memory.
Quality Enhancement Charm (Elementary): A charm that an be imbued to an object that edits and increases the quality of what it outputs. Has a minor chance of eliciting emotion from users.]
Soleil blinked at the onslaught of new information. On the verge of exasperated tears, she questioned the system. "Can you please explain the brackets beside the items? As a matter of fact, can you explain the magic and systems in this world as a whole?"
[Processing request…]
This was the first time the system hadn't had an immediate answer for her. Sol stared at with wide eyes as it buffered, until suddenly the transparent screen gained a golden tint.
[Sensing divine intervention…
System override authorized by the Goddess Lyris.
Commencing remote communication…]
A swirl of warm golden light appeared before Soleil, coalescing into the form of an adorable chibi figure. It had oversized, expressive eyes, rosy cheeks, and glowing rainbow-coloured hair that bounced as it moved. Despite her tiny stature, her aura radiated an unmistakable sense of divinity.
"Hello there, little one!" the figure chirped in a cheerful, singsong voice. "I am the great Goddess Lyris—or rather, a fragment of her will designed to assist you! I modelled this adorable form after something from your memories. Isn't it cute?"
Soleil blinked with bewildered curiosity. "…You're the goddess? The one who brought me here?"
The chibi Lyris nodded enthusiastically, clasping tiny hands together. "In the flesh! Well, kind of. This form is merely an automated extension of me. The real me doesn't have enough divine energy to interact directly. Sad, right?" She tilted her head, looking entirely too pleased despite the confession.
"Wait, automated? So… you're not actually here to talk to me?"
The chibi's tiny shoulders drooped dramatically. "Not exactly. I wish I could! But the faith mortals have in us gods and goddesses has diminished so much over the centuries that it limits how often I can intervene. Most of the others moved on to higher planes a long time ago. But I stayed! I love Bestia, and I love its people. I want to see them thrive."
Her tiny form straightened proudly, placing both hands on her hips. "So this system I've gifted you is a manifestation of that love. Think of it as me cheering you on!"
Soleil tilted her head. "Did you model this after games I used to play?"
"Yes!" Lyris chirped proudly, practically glowing with delight. "Your memories were so vibrant and interesting that I thought, 'Why not let her help this world with a similar system?' It tracks your achievements, assigns quests, and lets you create the stories you wish to tell. Isn't it wonderful?"
Soleil sighed. "It's… something, alright." Then, her mind shifted back to what really mattered. "You mentioned magic and systems? Can you explain how everything works?"
Lyris clapped her tiny hands, and golden sparkles floated in the air as she began to explain. "Magic in Bestia is tied to the inherent power of the soul and often manifests itself as natural elements like fire, wind, water, earth, light and darkness. However, there are other miscellaneous spells that don't fit under those categories, like the Memory Recall spell you received earlier. When it comes to magic, the sky is the limit!
"Everyone is capable of using magic to varying degrees, and people choose the path of either warriors or mages. People can use their magic to enhance their physical abilities, control elements, or cast spells. Magic ranks are divided into Elementary, Intermediate, Advanced, Legendary, and Mythic."
She twirled once, conjuring a tiny sword to demonstrate. "The same goes for magical items: Common, Uncommon, Rare, Epic, Legendary, and Mythic. You can identify an item's rank by its effectiveness and rarity. The tools in the store adhere to these classifications as well."
Soleil processed the explanation, rubbing her temples. "Wonderful. How exactly is the system you gave me going to help me handle all this?"
The goddess beamed at the question, her chibi form bouncing slightly. "Ah, I knew you'd ask! First, there's the Store, where you can use Story Points to buy tools, enhancements, and knowledge. Then there's the Inventory to store your purchases. It's like your own Spatial Bag! There's also a Quest System, where challenges are tailored to encourage your growth, creativity, and connection with Bestia."
The goddess's radiant tone softened. "But remember, Soleil, this isn't just about achieving goals. This is your second chance. Have fun. Explore Bestia. Connect with its people, and make this world your home. Don't just exist—live. That's my only true wish for you."
As the message ended, Lyris's form flickered, its light dimming until it vanished entirely. The system's interface returned to its usual serene transparency, and Soleil found herself alone once more. For a moment, she stared at the space where the goddess had been.
"…Thank you," she whispered, her voice soft but sincere. It was a bit of an information dump, and her mind was still spinning as she tried to process everything, but it was much needed. Now, she had a better idea of what to do moving forward.
She bit the inside of her cheek, frowning as she sat upright. "Okay. Show me the store."
A glowing, translucent screen expanded before her, shimmering with categories: Tools, Consumables, Knowledge, Enhancements, and Miscellaneous. Each section pulsed faintly, enticing her to explore.
"Let's see what you've got," she murmured, leaning forward and tapping on the first category, Tools.
A dazzling array of items appeared, each framed with a glowing border denoting its rarity. She skimmed the list:
[Enchanted Quill (Common): Writes legibly, no matter the user's skill. (50 SP)
Elemental Scrolls (Uncommon): Learn basic control over fire, water, wind, or earth. (200 SP)
Rare Shadow-Woven Cloak: Perfect for hiding… and a dash of drama. (2,500 SP)]
Soleil chuckled lightly at the descriptions, but her amusement was short-lived.
Tapping out of curiosity on the Miscellaneous category, her eyes landed on something so familiar that her breath hitched.
[Modern Laptop (Epic): A computer from your world capable of running most modern software. Includes a built-in magical power source for unlimited battery life. (150,000 SP)]
Her jaw dropped. "What?! 150,000 Story Points for a laptop? Is it plated in gold?!"
She scrolled further, spotting even more absurdities:
[Mobile Phone with Infinite Data Plan (Legendary): Stay connected to… nothing, but it has some mobile games and shows downloaded. (300,000 SP)
Luxury Gaming PC Setup with All Accessories (Mythic): For those who want to weep about their budget constraints in another world. (1,000,000 SP)]
Soleil stared at the screen, slack-jawed. "Are you serious? Who's got a million Story Points lying around? Do people just casually buy these things, or is this a prank?"
[Notice: These items are considered luxury goods. Recommended for advanced users who have earned significant Story Points.]
"Advanced users? You're kidding me, right? You have to be kidding me." She rubbed her temples, muttering under her breath. "Forget it. No gaming rigs today."
As ridiculous as it was, it gave her a new goal: earn as many Story Points as possible. And maybe, just maybe, one day… she'd buy herself that mythical gaming rig. She navigated back to Tools and searched for writing aids. It didn't take long before her gaze settled on what she needed:
[Writer's Rune Tablet (Uncommon): Converts thoughts and gestures into written text seamlessly. Excellent for authors, researchers, and lovers of convenience. (500 SP)]
"Finally, something reasonably priced," she sighed in relief. She had just enough, but it suited her needs perfectly. After confirming the purchase, a glowing tablet materialized midair, floating for a moment before settling gently on the desk. Soleil's fingers brushed its cool surface as it hummed faintly to life. She placed her hands on either side and concentrated. Words blossomed across the tablet's surface with startling ease. For the first time, the corners of her lips twitched, a faint trace of a smile tugging at them.
She had solved the problem of how she was going to write the story, but she still needed to figure out what the story was going to be about. She wasn't above using the story of the Lion King as it was, but she knew in order to truly impress her beastly king of a father and capture the hearts of the beastmen in Aslan, she'd have to go above and beyond.
But, she didn't know enough about this world or its people to craft something compelling. She tapped her fingers on the desk before pushing herself out of the chair.
The palace library was her only option.