The evening campfire sent sparks spiraling into the darkening sky above the foothills of the Shattered Peaks. Their first day of travel from Riverfold had been uneventful, the carriage making good time along increasingly rugged roads before Professor Voss decided they'd found a suitable spot to camp for the night.
Marcus sat apart from the others, his back against a large boulder while he observed the camp preparations. Coltan was demonstrating proper fire-building techniques to an unusually attentive Lysander, while Lia chatted animatedly with Professor Voss about the potential enhancement applications of boundary phenomena at the trial grounds. Knight-Commander Serala and her two Order members had established a perimeter patrol, their silver armor occasionally catching the firelight as they moved among the shadows.
The events in Riverfold had left Marcus with a strange sense of anticipation. Between the prosthetic arm possibility and the impending trial grounds, it felt like pieces were falling into place on a journey that had seemed chaotic and reactive since losing his arm to the Void-Drake.
For the first time in hours, Marcus allowed himself to check his status interface, curious about any changes resulting from the Riverfold incident.
[Status Update] [Name: Marcus Phoenix] [Age: 15 years, 3 months, 16 days] [Level: 84 → 85] [EXP: 0/15,000] [HP: 540/540] [MP: 900/900] [Class Placement: Advanced Class, A-Rank] [Right Arm: Missing] [Guardian Awareness: 26] [S-Rank Evaluation Progress: 74% Complete] [Estimated Time to S-Rank Eligibility: 2 months, 2 weeks]
Marcus paused, surprised by the level increase. Taking on Landford's men must have provided just enough experience to push him to 85. As he studied the interface, a new notification appeared:
[Level Up Rewards] [+10 HP] [+15 MP] [+5 Stat Points] [+1 Skill Point] [Skill Shop Access Renewed]
The last line caught Marcus by surprise. He'd almost forgotten about the skill shop - a strange interface that had appeared periodically throughout his development, offering specialized abilities that couldn't be acquired through normal training. He hadn't accessed it since before the tournament, focusing instead on developing his existing techniques.
With a thought, Marcus opened the skill shop interface:
[GUARDIAN SKILL SHOP] [Available Points: 3]
[COMBAT]
Dimension Strike (3 points): Infuse attacks with guardian energy that damages dimensional entities more severelyForce Amplification (2 points): Increase physical strength by 25% for 5 minutesWeapon Summoning (2 points): Instantly recall weapons to hand from up to 20 meters away
[DEFENSE]
Phase Shift (3 points): Briefly become intangible to avoid physical attacksDimensional Barrier (2 points): Create a shield that blocks both physical and dimensional attacksReactive Armor (1 point): Automatically harden body against incoming attacks
[UTILITY]
Crimson Perception (1 point): See lingering traces of dimensional energyVoid Sensing (2 points): Detect nearby dimensional anomaliesEnhanced Recovery (1 point): Increase healing rate by 30%
The options were different from the last time he'd accessed the shop, seeming to align more specifically with his guardian role rather than general combat capabilities. Some of the higher-cost abilities looked particularly useful for what lay ahead at the trial grounds.
As Marcus considered his options, another interface window appeared, this one labeled "QUESTS":
[MAIN QUEST] Complete the First Guardian Trial
Travel to the Temple of Veiled Sight in the Shattered PeaksPass the Trial of PerceptionGain control over guardian memory episodes Rewards: 10,000 EXP, Guardian Ability: ??? (Locked until completion)
[SIDE QUESTS]
Hunt the ShadehoundsEliminate the pack of dimensional-touched predators stalking the campsite (0/5)Recover their void-crystals as proof (0/5) Rewards: 2,000 EXP, Enhanced perception of movement in darknessGather ShimmerleafCollect the rare herb that grows near dimensional thin spots (0/7)Plants are visible only in moonlight Rewards: 1,500 EXP, Minor ingredient for magical prostheticsInvestigate Strange EchoesLocate the source of mysterious sounds reported by travelersDetermine if dimensional in nature Rewards: 1,800 EXP, Knowledge of local dimensional weak pointsTest Your BladeDefeat a worthy opponent in single combat near the trial groundsMust be a natural battle, not arranged Rewards: 2,500 EXP, Improved weapon control
Marcus stared at the side quest list with growing interest. He hadn't seen quest opportunities laid out this clearly before. Usually, his system interface provided general objectives or status updates, not specific missions with defined rewards.
The Shadehound quest particularly caught his attention. If dimensional-touched predators were stalking their campsite, that represented both a threat to the expedition and an opportunity to gain experience before reaching the first trial ground. The shimmerleaf gathering also seemed valuable - especially with the note about it being a prosthetic ingredient.
As he contemplated these opportunities, Marcus became aware of approaching footsteps. Lia dropped down beside him, her enhancement crystals glowing softly in the gathering darkness.
"You've got that look again," she observed. "The one where you're thinking about something the rest of us don't know about."
Marcus smiled slightly. "Just processing what happened in Riverfold."
"You mean after you destroyed fifty men by yourself while barely trying?" Lia asked with a raised eyebrow. "Still can't believe I missed seeing that."
"Nothing you haven't seen before," Marcus shrugged. "But it was... educational."
"Educational how?" Lia's eyes brightened with interest.
Marcus hesitated, then decided to share part of what he'd learned. "My guardian awareness is changing. I can sense things I couldn't before." He glanced toward the ridge. "Like the fact that there are dimensional-touched predators near our camp."
"Shadehounds," Coltan's deep voice joined the conversation as the Valkarien warrior approached. "Sensed them when gathering firewood. Bad sign before trial grounds."
"You could sense them?" Marcus asked, interested in how Coltan's tribal abilities compared to his system information.
Coltan tapped one of his tribal markings. "This symbol warns of void-touch creatures. Started burning when I went north of camp." He gestured toward a rocky ridge about half a kilometer away. "Pack hides there. Hunting at night."
"How dangerous are they?" Lia asked, her enhancement crystals pulsing slightly brighter.
"Not for us," Coltan replied with simple confidence. "Dangerous for normal travelers. Hunt in shadows, avoid light. Have crystals in skull that store dimensional energy."
That matched the side quest description perfectly, Marcus noted. The void-crystals were apparently well-known to Coltan's people.
"We should hunt them," Marcus decided. "Better to eliminate the threat than risk them attacking while we're occupied with other matters."
"Agreed," Coltan nodded. "Good training before trial ground too."
"Now?" Lia asked, glancing at the darkening sky.
"Best time," Coltan confirmed. "They hunt at night. We hunt them at night."
Marcus stood, checking his equipment. "We should inform Professor Voss and the Knight-Commander."
"Inform us of what?" Serala's voice came from behind them as she completed another perimeter check.
"Shadehounds in the area," Marcus explained. "We're going to eliminate them before they become a problem."
Serala's expression showed recognition of the threat. "Dimensional-touched predators this close to the trial ground isn't surprising. The boundary weaknesses attract such creatures." She considered for a moment. "Take one of my Order members with you. Shadehounds can be unpredictable when cornered."
"I'll go as well," said Lysander, joining their growing group. "I've studied counter-measures for dimensional-touched creatures as part of my family's research."
With the group assembled and Professor Voss informed of their plans, they set out toward the rocky ridge Coltan had indicated. The Valkarien warrior led the way, his tribal markings glowing faintly as they responded to the nearby dimensional energy. Behind him, Marcus and Lysander walked side by side, followed by Lia and the Royal Order knight, a woman named Tanis who specialized in dimensional boundary enforcement.
As they moved away from the campfire's light, Marcus felt a familiar sensation—not the disorienting pull of a memory episode, but the more controlled awareness of his interface activating. A notification appeared in his vision:
[Side Quest: Hunt the Shadehounds - Activated] [Objective: Eliminate the pack of dimensional-touched predators stalking the campsite (0/5)] [Tracking beacon activated]
A faint crimson marker appeared in Marcus's vision, pointing toward the ridge ahead. The system was actually helping guide him to the quest objective, something it hadn't done before.
"There," Coltan whispered, stopping at the base of the ridge. He pointed toward a dark opening between two large boulders. "Den entrance. Five creatures inside, based on tracks."
"How do we want to approach this?" Lysander asked, his aristocratic manner giving way to practical focus. "Drive them out or go in after them?"
"Neither," Marcus said, an idea forming. "We'll draw them to us, on our terms."
He turned to Lia. "How many enhancement layers can you maintain right now?"
"Fifteen stable, seventeen for short bursts," she replied immediately.
"Perfect. You'll be the bait."
Lia's eyes widened. "Excuse me?"
"Not actual bait," Marcus clarified. "But Shadehounds are drawn to unusual energy patterns. Your enhancement layers should create a signature that intrigues them without seeming threatening."
"Like dimensional catnip," Lia said, understanding dawning. "I stand out here glowing pretty, they come to investigate, and then..."
"We take them down," Coltan finished, nodding approval at the plan.
They quickly arranged themselves in a rough semicircle, with Lia standing in plain view at the center. The others positioned themselves among rocks and shadows, ready to strike once the creatures emerged. Lysander prepared subtle elemental traps around Lia's position—not enough to scare off the predators, but sufficient to slow them down at the critical moment.
"Ready?" Marcus asked, receiving nods from everyone. "Lia, whenever you're set."
Lia took a deep breath, then activated her enhancement. Green energy flowed around her in visible layers, each one adding to her magical signature. She pushed to fifteen layers, creating a beacon of power that stood out against the night.
For several long moments, nothing happened. Then came a low growl from the den entrance—a sound that seemed to vibrate the air itself rather than just passing through it. A shadowy form emerged, larger than a wolf but moving with similar predatory grace. Its outline seemed to blur and shift, as though it wasn't fully committed to a single shape.
"Void-touched for at least three generations," Knight Tanis whispered. "See how its form isn't stable? Pure-dimensional creatures can't maintain physical form at all, but these have enough physical ancestry to exist here."
A second Shadehound emerged, then a third, their black forms absorbing rather than reflecting the moonlight. Their eyes glowed with an unsettling violet light, and crystalline formations protruded from their foreheads—the void-crystals Coltan had mentioned.
The creatures approached Lia cautiously, circling and studying her unusual energy pattern. When the fourth and fifth hounds emerged, Marcus gave the signal.
What followed was a coordinated assault that demonstrated why each of them had earned their reputations. Lysander's elemental traps activated simultaneously, pinning two of the creatures in place. Coltan erupted from hiding with tribal war techniques that seemed to draw power directly from the earth beneath him. Knight Tanis wielded a specialized silver weapon that disrupted the creatures' dimensional aspects, forcing them into fully physical form.
Marcus engaged the largest Shadehound directly, employing his integrated combat approach without restraint. The creature was faster than expected, its form shifting to avoid conventional attacks. It lunged at Marcus's right side, perhaps sensing vulnerability where his arm was missing.
Instead of finding weakness, it encountered precisely controlled counter. Marcus had long since transformed his apparent vulnerability into specialized advantage. His left-handed strike caught the creature at a precise point where its dimensional energy concentrated, causing it to howl with a sound that seemed to come from multiple throats simultaneously.
The battle lasted less than two minutes. Five Shadehounds lay dead, their unstable forms already beginning to dissolve back into base dimensional energy. Only the crystalline formations in their foreheads remained solid, glowing with captured void energy.
"Everyone alright?" Marcus asked, checking his companions.
"That was actually fun," Lia admitted, her enhancement layers still glowing as she caught her breath. "They moved weird, though. Like they were partially somewhere else while attacking."
"Good observation," Knight Tanis said. "Dimensional-touched creatures exist partially in the Void Between. Makes them unpredictable but also vulnerable to the right counter-techniques."
Coltan was already harvesting the void-crystals from the creatures' remains. "Valuable," he explained. "Tribe uses for protection talismans. Also works for detecting dimensional weak spots."
As the others collected the remaining crystals, Marcus checked his interface:
[Side Quest: Hunt the Shadehounds - Completed] [Objective: Eliminate the pack of dimensional-touched predators stalking the campsite (5/5)] [Objective: Recover their void-crystals as proof (5/5)] [Reward: 2,000 EXP] [Reward: Enhanced perception of movement in darkness]
The experience points added to his total, not enough for another level but a good start. More interesting was the secondary reward—his vision suddenly adjusted, the darkness becoming less absolute. Shadows still existed, but movement within them became clear where before it would have been hidden.
"We should return to camp," Lysander suggested, studying one of the void-crystals with scholarly interest. "Professor Voss will want to know the threat has been eliminated."
As they made their way back, Marcus found himself walking beside Knight Tanis, the Order member who had fought alongside them.
"You handled that well," she commented. "Most people facing Shadehounds for the first time make mistakes. You didn't."
"Not my first encounter with dimensional-touched creatures," Marcus replied, thinking of the Void-Drake that had taken his arm.
"No, I suppose not." Tanis studied him with professional assessment. "The Commander has high expectations for you at the trial ground. Says you're different from previous candidates."
"Previous guardians, you mean," Marcus corrected quietly.
Tanis didn't seem surprised by his knowledge. "Yes. The Order has monitored the guardian cycle for centuries. But you already know that."
"I'm learning more every day," Marcus said, watching as Lia and Coltan walked ahead, examining the void-crystals with animated conversation.
"That's what the trials are for," Tanis replied. "Each guardian must master the capabilities individually. No shortcuts, even with the memory bleed-through you're experiencing."
Marcus glanced at her sharply. "How do you know about that?"
"The Order keeps records," she said simply. "Memory episodes have happened before, though rarely this early in the cycle. Usually they start about a year before convergence, not six years ahead."
That was new information. "Any theories why it's happening sooner this time?"
"Commander has some ideas. She'll likely discuss them with you after the first trial." Tanis adjusted her silver armor as they walked. "For what it's worth, your fighting style is... unusual for a guardian. Most relied primarily on their crimson arsenal. Your integrated approach is innovative."
Back at camp, they reported the successful elimination of the Shadehound threat. Professor Voss examined the void-crystals with academic interest, while Knight-Commander Serala debriefed Tanis privately.
Later, as the others prepared for sleep, Marcus sat alone by the dying embers of the campfire. He accessed his status interface once more, reviewing the skill shop options with renewed focus. After consideration, he made his selection:
[Skill Points Spent: 1] [Skill Acquired: Crimson Perception - Ability to see lingering traces of dimensional energy]
Almost immediately, his vision changed again. Faint crimson traces became visible around the void-crystals Coltan had placed near his bedroll. More interestingly, similar traces appeared around the path leading toward the Shattered Peaks—specifically in the direction of the first trial ground.
The world suddenly contained a new layer of information, visible only to him. Dimensional energy left traces, patterns that most people couldn't perceive. This ability would prove useful at the trial ground, Marcus was certain. Combined with his newly enhanced perception of movement in darkness from the Shadehound quest, his awareness had expanded in ways that aligned perfectly with the trial of "perception beyond reality."
As he prepared for sleep, Marcus checked the side quest list again. The Shadehound quest was marked complete, but the others remained available. Tomorrow they would continue toward the trial ground, but perhaps there would be time to gather the shimmerleaf mentioned in the second quest—especially since it was apparently useful for magical prosthetics.
For the first time in months, Marcus felt like he was moving forward with purpose rather than simply reacting to circumstances. The trial ground would test him, certainly, but he was better prepared than he had been even a day ago. Between the potential prosthetic arm, his new skills, and the growing understanding of his guardian role, the path ahead seemed clearer despite the challenges it would bring.
[Status Update] [Name: Marcus Phoenix] [Age: 15 years, 3 months, 16 days] [Level: 85] [EXP: 2,000/15,000] [HP: 550/550] [MP: 915/915] [Class Placement: Advanced Class, A-Rank] [Right Arm: Missing] [Guardian Awareness: 26] [S-Rank Evaluation Progress: 74% Complete] [Estimated Time to S-Rank Eligibility: 2 months, 2 weeks] [Available Skill Points: 2] [Available Stat Points: 5] [Active Quests: 3]
As sleep claimed him, Marcus's dreams were not of past guardians or chaotic memory fragments, but of the challenges directly ahead—five crystalline markers on the path to understanding the legacy he had inherited across dimensions.