The fire crackled beneath the ancient trees, casting flickering shadows across the faces of Orin and his companions. The night was cool, the air tinged with the faint, electric scent of rift energy. Orin sat with his knees drawn up, staring into the flames as the events of the day replayed in his mind. The arrival of Seren and Brother Cael had changed everything. For the first time, their small group felt like the beginnings of something greater—a party with a purpose, united by the rift's mystery and the promise of answers.
Seren sat a little apart from the others, her bow across her lap, eyes scanning the darkness. She was lean and sharp-eyed, her hair cropped short, and her movements were as quiet as a fox's. Orin watched her for a moment, then turned his attention to Brother Cael, who was carefully unrolling a bundle of parchment beside the fire.
Cael's robes were faded, the hem stained with travel and time. He looked older than Orin had first thought, but his eyes were bright and alert, reflecting the firelight as he traced symbols on the parchment with a steady finger.
Joren, ever the optimist, was already trying to lighten the mood. "So, Seren, you're an archer. Ever shoot an apple off someone's head?"
Seren's lips twitched. "Only if they deserved it."
Joren grinned, nudging Lysa, who was tending a small pot of herbs over the fire. "Remind me not to get on her bad side."
Lysa smiled, but her eyes were distant. She'd been quiet since they left Greenglade, her mind clearly working through the implications of the rift's changes. Tomas, meanwhile, was perched on a low branch above them, keeping watch. His senses had grown sharper with each passing day, and Orin trusted him to spot trouble before it arrived.
Mira sat beside Orin, her hand resting lightly on his. She squeezed his fingers, grounding him. "You did well today," she whispered.
He nodded, grateful for her presence. "I just hope we're ready for what's coming."
Brother Cael cleared his throat, drawing the group's attention. "I've been studying the rifts for years," he began, his voice low and measured. "They are not new to this world, though this is the first time one has appeared in our lifetime. The texts speak of cycles—periods of calm, followed by upheaval. Each time, the rift chooses a champion. Someone who can interact with it, shape its outcome."
Orin felt the weight of Cael's gaze. "You think that's me?"
Cael nodded. "The Origin Protocol is not a gift. It's a responsibility. The rift tests, but it also teaches. If you can master it, you may be able to close the rift—or at least control its influence."
Seren spoke up, her voice tight. "My village didn't have a champion. The rift destroyed everything. I barely escaped."
Mira's eyes softened. "You're safe with us now."
Seren looked away, but her shoulders relaxed a fraction.
Joren poked at the fire. "So, what's the plan? We keep moving east?"
Orin nodded. "The system's Rift Sense picked up anomalies in that direction. If there are other survivors, or other rift-touched, we need to find them."
Cael rolled up his parchment. "We should rest tonight. Tomorrow, we travel at first light."
The group settled in for the night, taking turns on watch. Orin lay awake, listening to the soft sounds of the forest and the distant hum of the rift. He activated Rift Sense, feeling the pulse of energy radiating from the east. It was stronger than before, almost as if something—or someone—was calling to him.
He drifted into uneasy sleep, his dreams filled with shifting landscapes and shadowy figures. The guardian's voice echoed in his mind: The rift is not your enemy. It is your test.
---
Dawn broke with a chorus of birdsong. The group packed up camp quickly, sharing a simple breakfast of bread and dried fruit. Seren scouted ahead, her bow ready, while Tomas ranged to the flanks, his eyes sharp for any sign of danger.
The land changed as they moved east. The grass grew taller, the trees more twisted. Patches of ground glowed faintly with rift energy, and strange flowers bloomed in impossible colors. Orin felt the system's presence more keenly here, as if the world itself was watching.
They passed the ruins of a farmhouse, its walls blackened and half-collapsed. Lysa paused to examine a patch of blue flowers growing in the shadow of the stones.
"These weren't here before," she murmured. "They're… beautiful, but wrong."
Cael knelt beside her, studying the flowers. "Rift flora. They appear wherever the energy is strongest. Some are harmless, others… not."
Joren reached out to touch a petal, but Lysa caught his hand. "Don't. We don't know what it might do."
He grinned sheepishly. "Right. No touching the glowing flowers."
They moved on, the mood growing more somber as the signs of the rift's influence multiplied. Animals watched from the shadows—deer with silver eyes, birds with feathers that shimmered in the light. Orin felt a pang of guilt. The rift was changing everything, not just people.
By midday, they reached a narrow stream. Seren signaled for them to stop, her eyes fixed on the far bank.
"There's someone there," she whispered.
Orin peered through the trees. A figure crouched by the water, filling a flask. He was tall and broad-shouldered, with a battered sword strapped to his back and a wary look in his eyes.
Tomas slipped away, circling to approach from behind. Orin, Mira, and Seren moved forward, keeping their hands visible.
The man spotted them and rose, sword in hand. "Who are you?"
Orin raised his hands. "We're travelers. We mean no harm. My name is Orin Voss. What's your name?"
The man studied them for a moment, then lowered his sword. "Name's Rusk"
Orin smiled and said, "Hey Rusk! You don't seem like you're from around here"
Rusk nooded, then he added, "I used to be a mercenary. Now, I'm just trying to survive."
Mira stepped forward. "We're looking for allies. People who've been changed by the rift."
Rusk's eyes narrowed. "You're like me, then. I've felt… different since the rift appeared. Stronger. Faster. But it's not just that. Sometimes I hear things. Voices, like whispers in the dark."
Cael nodded. "The rift touches us all in different ways. You're not alone."
Rusk hesitated, then sheathed his sword. "If you're heading east, I'll join you. Safer in numbers."
Orin smiled, feeling the system's approval.
[Quest Update: Allies Found. New party member: Rusk.]
They crossed the stream together, Rusk falling in beside Joren and Tomas. The group moved with new confidence, their numbers and skills growing.
As the afternoon wore on, the land grew wilder. The path twisted through dense woods, the air thick with the scent of rift-changed flowers. Orin's Rift Sense pulsed, warning of a nearby anomaly.
They emerged into a clearing, where a circle of stones glowed with violet light. In the center, a small pool shimmered, its surface perfectly still.
Cael approached cautiously. "This is a rift spring. The water is infused with energy. It can heal, but it can also change."
Lysa knelt by the pool, slit her forefinger a bit, then dipped it into the water. She gasped as a wave of warmth rushed through her, her wounds closing instantly.
"It's safe," she said, wonder in her voice.
The others drank, feeling their fatigue melt away. Orin felt the system's power surge, his senses sharpening.
[Temporary Buff: Rift Spring – Enhanced healing and stamina for 24 hours.]
They rested by the pool, sharing stories and plans. Rusk told tales of his mercenary days, of battles fought and lost. Seren spoke of her village, of the night the rift came and everything changed. Cael recited fragments of prophecy, his voice low and solemn.
As dusk fell, the group made camp in the clearing. Orin sat by the fire, watching the flames dance. Mira joined him, her eyes reflecting the light.
"Do you trust them?" she asked softly.
He nodded. "I have to. We can't do this alone."
She leaned against him, her warmth a comfort. "We'll get through this. Together."
The night was quiet, the only sound the crackle of the fire and the distant hum of the rift. Orin lay awake, the system's new abilities humming at the edge of his senses. He activated Rift Sense, feeling the pulse of energy radiating from the east. It was stronger than before, almost as if something—or someone—was calling to him.
It was getting closer now.
He drifted into uneasy sleep, his dreams filled with shifting landscapes and shadowy figures, just like last night. The guardian's voice echoed in his mind once more: The rift is not your enemy. It is your test.
---
Dawn came with a chill in the air. The group broke camp quickly, moving east through the woods. The land was stranger here—trees twisted into impossible shapes, stones that hummed with energy, streams that ran uphill.
They encountered their first real danger just before midday. A pack of rift-touched wolves emerged from the undergrowth, their eyes glowing with unnatural light. Orin drew his sword, the system feeding him information.
[Skill Activated: Power Slash (Active). Cooldown: 30 seconds.]
He struck, the blade glowing with energy. The wolves scattered, but one lunged at Lysa. Rusk intercepted it, his sword flashing. Seren loosed an arrow, striking another wolf through the eye. Tomas, their teams scout was at the back of the other as he had no fighting skills yet, alongside Joren and Cael. Mira battled the wolves that came after the three of them, before Orin and Rusk came to her aid.
The fight was brief but fierce. When it was over, the group stood panting, the wolves' bodies dissolving into mist.
Joren wiped sweat from his brow. "That was too close."
Cael examined the ground. "The rift's creatures are getting bolder. We'll need to be careful."
They pressed on, the mood more somber. Orin felt the weight of responsibility settle on his shoulders. The rift was changing the world, and only they stood between it and disaster.
As evening approached, they reached the edge of a wide valley. In the distance, a new rift glowed, its light pulsing in time with Orin's heartbeat.
He turned to his companions, determination in his eyes. "That's our next destination. Whatever's waiting for us there, we face it together."
The group nodded, their resolve clear.
As the sun set, Orin looked up at the sky, the rift's glow a constant reminder of the challenges ahead. But for the first time, he felt truly hopeful.
Tomorrow, they would continue their journey—seeking answers, gathering allies, and preparing for the final trial that would decide the fate of their world.