The throne room was silent.
Dain stood before King Aldric Velanor, his fingers unconsciously tightening into a fist.
The Knights of the Silver Dawn, the noble courtiers, and the royal guards all waited, their eyes locked onto him.
A system notification hovered in his vision.
[Critical Decision: Accept or Decline the King's Request]
Dain took a slow breath.
The offer was tempting.
Becoming the Advisor to the Crown meant access to resources, soldiers, and influence. It meant he wouldn't have to fight alone anymore.
But it also meant politics.
Being trapped in a kingdom's war games.
And Dain wasn't sure if he belonged in a throne room.
He belonged on the battlefield.
He glanced at the Knight Commander of the Silver Dawn.
She watched him carefully, as if she already knew what he was about to say.
Dain turned back to the King.
And he spoke.
"Your Majesty, I appreciate the offer."
"But I can't accept it."
The murmurs in the court grew louder—shocked whispers, exchanged glances.
Even the King's expression flickered, just slightly.
"You refuse?" he asked, his tone calm but measured.
Dain nodded.
"I didn't fight the Hollow so I could trade one battlefield for another. Politics, power struggles, royal games—that's not me."
"I fight because someone has to. I fight so people don't have to live in fear of things like the Hollow."
"And I will keep fighting, but I won't do it from a throne room."
A system notification appeared.
[Decision Made: You Have Declined the King's Request]
• You remain independent.
• Your reputation with Velanor shifts to 'Respected, but Distant.'
The King's gaze remained unreadable for a long moment.
Then—he sighed.
"I expected this answer."
"You are not a man to be bound by walls, Warden. That much is clear."
The Knight Commander smirked slightly.
"He's too stubborn for that, Your Majesty."
The King chuckled, shaking his head.
"So it seems."
Then—his expression grew serious again.
"Very well, Warden. If you will not serve Velanor as an advisor, then tell me—"
"What will you do next?"
Dain paused.
For the first time in weeks—he had no immediate battle ahead.
The Hollow Rift was sealed.
The war had been won.
So what came next?
A system notification flashed.
[New Quest Unlocked: The Warden's Path]
• Forge your own destiny in a world still recovering.
• Seek out new Hollow threats before they rise again.
• Decide what kind of warrior you will become.
Dain exhaled slowly.
"I don't know yet," he admitted.
"But I do know this—wherever the Hollow tries to rise again, I'll be there to stop it."
The King nodded slowly.
"Then I will not stand in your way. But know this, Warden—Velanor is not your enemy. If ever you need allies, you will find them here."
A system notification appeared.
[Faction Status Updated: Kingdom of Velanor]
• Relationship: Neutral → Trusted Ally
• The kingdom will provide aid if called upon.
Dain gave a small nod.
"I'll remember that."
With that—the King dismissed the court.
And Dain walked away from the throne room, free once more.
That night, Dain stood on the balcony of the royal outpost, staring out at the stars above.
For the first time in years, he had no mission dictating his next step.
No quest forcing his path.
He was free.
But somehow—that was more terrifying than any Hollow Lord he had faced.
The Knight Commander joined him, leaning on the stone railing.
"You made the right choice," she said.
Dain raised an eyebrow. "You think so?"
She smirked.
"I've seen what happens to warriors who let themselves become tools of kings. They don't last long."
Dain chuckled softly.
"Then what happens now?"
The Knight Commander exhaled.
"That's up to you, Warden. The Hollow is sealed, but we both know that won't last forever."
"Until then—you have time to figure out what kind of life you want to live."
Dain stared up at the stars.
For so long, his path had been set in stone.
Now, it was his to decide.
And for the first time in a long time—he was ready.
A system notification flashed.
[Final Questline: The Hollow's End – Completed]
• You have survived the Hollow's return.
• The world is changed forever.
[New Questline Unlocked: The Warden's Journey]
• Your story is now yours to write.
• Explore, grow, and prepare for what comes next.
Dain smirked.
"Guess I'm not done yet."
And with that—he turned from the city, from the palace, from the safety of the kingdom—
And stepped into the unknown future.
Dain walked through the outer gates of Velanor, leaving behind the towering walls and the weight of politics that had nearly trapped him.
The Knights of the Silver Dawn had already departed at first light, their commander offering him a final nod of respect.
Now, it was just him.
And the open road.
A system notification flashed.
[New Questline: The Warden's Journey]
• Your path is now your own to choose.
• New regions, forgotten ruins, and hidden enemies await.
• The Hollow is not truly gone—only sleeping.
Dain exhaled slowly.
"So where do I go next?"
The answer came sooner than expected.
A new system prompt appeared.
[World Event Discovered: The Shattered Isles]
• A distant archipelago has begun showing signs of Hollow corruption.
• The Kingdoms have ignored it. But something old is waking there.
Dain narrowed his eyes.
"So the Hollow isn't done after all."
He tightened his grip on Silverlight.
"Guess I have my next destination."
The Shattered Isles lay far beyond the mainland, deep in the unclaimed waters of the Dead Sea.
Few sailed there.
Fewer returned.
A system notification appeared.
[Warning: Travel to the Shattered Isles is Dangerous]
• No formal ports exist.
• Uncharted dangers await.
• A Hollow presence has been detected.
Dain smirked.
"Sounds like my kind of place."
But first—he needed a ship.
And there was only one place to find that.
Days later, Dain arrived at Blackwater Cove—a lawless seaside city built on rotting docks and rusted anchors.
The smell of salt and cheap rum filled the air, and the streets were lined with sailors, thieves, and mercenaries.
A system notification appeared.
[Location Discovered: Blackwater Cove]
• A den of outlaws and lost souls.
• Gold speaks louder than law here.
Dain stepped through the wooden streets, scanning the docks for a ship.
But before he could get far—
A voice called out.
"You're either lost, desperate, or both."
Dain turned.
A woman stood at the dockside, leaning against a wooden post, her arms crossed.
Her leather coat was worn from years at sea, and a cutlass rested at her hip.
But it was her eyes that stood out—sharp, unreadable, and filled with a hint of amusement.
A system notification flashed.
[New Character Encountered: Captain Sylva Ren]
• Captain of the Stormchaser.
• Smuggler, explorer, and occasional pirate.
• She's not cheap—but she gets the job done.
Dain raised an eyebrow.
"And which one do you think I am?"
Sylva smirked.
"If you're looking for a ship, that means you're desperate."
Dain chuckled.
"Then I guess you're my only option?"
Sylva pushed off the post, gesturing toward a sleek, weathered brigantine docked at the end of the pier.
"Depends. Can you pay?"
Dain exhaled. "Depends. How much?"
She smiled.
"More than you can afford. But I have a feeling you're not just looking for a ride."
"You're looking for trouble."
A system notification flashed.
[New Quest Unlocked: Voyage to the Shattered Isles]
• Hire Captain Sylva Ren and her crew.
• Set sail for the uncharted waters.
• Face whatever awaits in the Hollow's forgotten stronghold.
Dain grinned.
"Then I guess we have a deal."
Sylva chuckled.
"Welcome aboard, Warden."