1 Chapter 01 – System Day Gone Wrong

Elaine eyed her reflection in the mirror, hair tamed into something resembling order (a losing battle, always). Motes danced in the pale morning light filtering through the cracks in the wooden shutters, illuminating the threadbare fabric of her Sunday best—a mismatched patchwork of practicality. It wasn't much, but today was System Day, and for that, Elaine straightened her spine.

System Day. An annual event where the House of Nobles threw open the Delves to any eighteen-year-old who dared to enter. They got to step inside, learn some cool skills, and more importantly, earn some dough. Elaine, finally of age, wouldn't miss it for the world.

A muffled thump from downstairs drew her attention. With a grin, she reached under her bed and pulled out a dagger. It was crude, made from a kitchen knife and a strip of leather. But it was hers. She tucked it in a homemade thigh rig hidden under her dress. A perfect (and very legal) System Day accessory.

Downstairs, her little brother, Jude, clattered around the kitchen, humming a tune of a lullaby their mother used to sing to them. He was ten, all gangly limbs and frightened nerves, barely containing his excitement (and terror) for what the day entailed—for him, and for her.

Elaine slipped down the rickety stairs into the kitchen and slammed the battered grimoire sat atop the table shut as she drew closer to him, eliciting a startled yelp. He almost jumped, a pot nearly clattering to the floor, his eyes glancing between her face and the latest grimoire she'd gotten. "My goodness, Elaine! Careful! Are you trying to summon a banshee?"

She chuckled, slinging an arm around his shoulders as he put the pot back on the table. "Careful you, Mr. Pot-Fell. And no, shutting a grimoire doesn't summon banshees. Stop listening to rumors."

His cheeks flushed, and he looked away.

"You're late."

"Fashionably late," she corrected. "Can't rush perfection, kiddo."

Jude rolled his eyes. "Yeah, yeah, System Day. I get it. You've been waiting for today since I can remember. It's a great honor." His voice lacked the usual Jude in it. Elaine knew why. This year, she was one of the five chosen ones. A grand honor, everyone kept saying. Pride of Oakhaven, they'd pat her on the back, shining star.

"Honor my foot," Elaine grumbled. "More like a glorified rat in the race to figure out the Delves. Not that I don't like that. It would do good without politics though."

Jude frowned. "It's not that bad. You get to delve. Plus, free ale and food at Yeslen's. Could literally feed us… even without delving."

"Yeslen?" She scoffed. "That blind woman can't make shit. I've always wondered why people like her food so much. Will get to taste it soon, I guess."

"Come on, Elaine. You don't have to delve, you know? Can't you get stationed as a Hound? Oakhaven's relatively safe—safer than the Delves at least—and I bet you can snag a good position."

"First, breakfast," she said. "Cheer up, no need to think about anything else."

Sighing, Jude pulled out a chipped pot simmering with their usual porridge—if it could even be called porridge. He ladled some into two bowls and set them on the table. "Here you go, sis."

"Thanks, Jude. You're the best." She took a spoonful of the bland porridge and tried not to grimace. She knew Jude did his best to make it edible, but there was only so much he could do with the limited ingredients they had. As they ate, a comfortable silence settled, broken only by the crackling fire burning in the hearth beside them. They finished their meager breakfast and Elaine pushed back her chair, the scrape echoing in the stillness.

She hefted a sack onto her shoulder, the weight familiar and comforting. System Day or not, she had work to do. Gathering herbs in the Whispering Woods wasn't glamorous, but it kept her busy, and kept some money flowing.

Jude jumped up, a glint in his eyes. "I'm coming with you today. You promised." he declared.

Elaine raised an eyebrow. "Yeah, I did. But, you sure? It isn't exactly a stroll through the meadow."

He puffed out his chest, trying to look taller. "I can handle it. Besides, someone needs to watch your back."

Elaine chuckled, ruffling his messy hair. "Alright, keep up then." It wouldn't hurt, there shouldn't be anything dangerous in the area she'd be going to today anyway. Hopefully she could find that flower she'd been looking for—today was, after all, going to be a full moon.

***

They left the familiar comfort behind and ventured into the Whispering Woods lying east of Oakhaven. Elaine walked through the gnarled trees and damp foliage, her eyes scanning the undergrowth with laser focus. Sunlight seeped through the leaves, dappling the moss-carpeted path ahead, but her gaze flicked from side to side searching for the Nightshade Iris. She heard occasional rustle of leaves and the gentle creak of branches straining against the wind carrying a hint of blue hue—

Blue hue? She smiled, following the wind. It was mana—more specifically, lunar mana. After coming for the flower every month, she'd somehow slowly gotten a hang of seeing it. And this particular type of mana would only go toward one particular thing in the forest. Nightshade Iris.

"Elaine," Jude whispered, and she glanced at him. "Are you sure we're not lost? Is this the right way? We're almost at the border." He asked, clutching his basket of flowers, looking around. 

"Of course I am," Elaine said, stopping. "I've been here before. Every full moon, actually." She said, stopping. "It always grows here somewhere for whatever reason." She pointed out herbs for Jude to collect, and he did so, while she looked for one particular flower.

Just then, a glint of light caught Elaine's eye. There, nestled amongst the roots of a gnarled oak, bloomed a single Nightshade Iris. Finally, she'd found it.

But before she could reach for it, the wind shifted, leaves rustled and the forest quietened. Elaine's brow furrowed, her fingers instinctively wrapping the weathered hilt of her dagger. A low guttural rumble vibrated through the earth and Jude's breath hitched. "What was that?"

The rumble grew louder, closer, and the ground trembled beneath their feet.

Not good, she thought, and grabbed his arm, pulling with a hand over his mouth. Jude stiffened by her sudden movement as a hulking troll, moss-covered and wielding a gnarled club, lumbered out from behind a giant oak. Jude's face lost color.

"Shh. Nothing serious," she said. He looked at her with frightened eyes.

They flattened themselves against a moss-covered boulder, the troll lumbering closer. Its beady eyes scanned the area, but the shadows cloaked them. With bated breath, she watched in horror as the Troll shifted. Its club, swung with careless disregard, swiped straight towards the fragile Nightshade Iris. Elaine bit her lip. Fuck. It got crushed, didn't it? She sighed. I'm gonna have to earn extra now... The flower was money, after all. No need to mull over it, I guess, she thought, and they waited in tense silence.

Then, with a guttural grunt, it moved on. She didn't move a muscle until the last thumps of the troll's feet faded. Jude let out a shaky breath.

"That was close," he whispered, lips appearing parched and face white as ash.

Elaine nodded, smiling as she puffed out her chest. "Pretty sure I heard you mutter I can handle it back home."

His face flushed. "I hate you."

"I'm kidding. Love you too," she chuckled, her hand darting out to ruffle his neatly combed hair. He scowled, swatting her hand away like an annoying fly.

"Stop it!"

"Okay, okay, oh—look, the troll's back!"

"W-what? Where!?" Jude's eyes shook as his head whipped in her hand's direction. Elaine leaned down, her lips puckering up as she planted a smooch on his cheek.

He let out an annoyed yelp and pushed her away, glaring. "I really hate you! Don't do that!" He wiped it off with a grimace.

Elaine laughed. Cute.

"Anyways. It was nothing to worry about. It's tamed; we're near the edge of the barrier and it's a guard. Just don't move. Stay in the shadows. Trolls are blind. Sort of. Don't make any extra noise and they'll ignore you as nature's sounds. They're dumb, so better avoid them as they can—and will—hurt you."

"And you thought it'd be a good idea to come here?" He asked, horrified.

She shrugged. "I wouldn't let a Troll hurt you, dude. Trust."

"I doubt you could do anything," he mumbled. "That thing was huge."

Shaking her head, she beckoned him toward the flower. It wasn't there. Wait a minute… Elaine stopped short, brows furrowed. Something wasn't right. She'd sworn the Nightshade Iris had been right where she saw it nestled amongst the roots. Yet, now the entire area seemed empty. Had the troll crushed it after all? But there should be remnants, then.

Suddenly, she caught a flicker of light from the corner of her eye. What? How?

There it was, the Nightshade Iris, safe and sound… but at a slightly different place than she'd seen it. Relief pulled through her confusion and suspicion. Had she been so scared by the troll that she'd completely misjudged its position? Perhaps.

"Found you," she smirked. "That's what we're looking for."

Jude squinted, then widened his eyes. "Wow, they're beautiful," he said, admiring the four velvety black petals that unfurled from a stem the color of moonlight, each edged with a mesmerizing crimson glow. Moonlight pooled at the flower's heart, seemingly captured within. This 'captured light' was a bioluminescent nectar, shimmering and sweet, but laced with a potent neurotoxin. Every full moon, mana from the moon swept down, sometimes forming into a flower.

As Jude reached out to touch one, Elaine swatted his hand away. "Uh-uh. Nightshade Iris. Poisonous. Never touch anything in the forest unless I say so," she warned.

Jude jerked back like a startled cat, his face pale. "What? Are you serious?" he asked, horrified.

Elaine chuckled, amused. "Don't worry, I won't let you die," she said, teasing him. "Here, lemme show you how to handle them."

She took out a pair of gloves and a small knife from her sack, then carefully cut off the petals, making sure not to spill any of the nectar. She placed it in a separate container, sealing it tightly.

"What are you going to do with that?" Jude asked.

Elaine shrugged. "Sell it, I guess. It's worth a lot of money, you know. Some people use it for medicine, some for… other things."

A single (unprocessed) drop could induce euphoria, followed by vivid hallucinations that bled into reality, ultimately twisting the mind into madness. One drop, and you're spilling your deepest secrets to a fucking bench.

Despite its deadly nature, the Nightshade Iris was not without its uses. When properly processed, the neurotoxin in the nectar could be neutralized, and the remaining substance could be used in the creation of powerful medicines that could potentially treat a range of neurological conditions. Well, nothing she should be concerned with. Her job was to gather, not make.

***

Elaine's heart pounded in her chest as she darted through the tall grass, the sun casting long shadows around her. Her sack, heavy with the day's collection of herbs, swung wildly at her side. "A road would be nice," she said to herself.

"You're the one who took the shortcut, you don't get to complain," Jude whined.

"Come on, where we were, this would reach Oakhaven faster than the official path."

She usually hunted for herbs till midday, but they'd wandered off to the edge of the barrier surrounding their town and the forest, and it took way longer than expected to gather herbs and make their way back.

"Jude, we need to pick up the pace," she called out. She could feel the weight of the day's work settling in her bones. "Mrs. Hazelwood won't wait forever. And I'd rather not deal with Old Man Bartholomew if we miss her."

"Mrs. Hazelwood?" Jude asked, trudging beside her, sweating.

"She's the one who buys Nightshade Iris every month. But with the festival preparations, she'll likely be returning to her village. Ugh, I don't want to deal with Old Man Bartholomew. Mrs. Hazelwood is far sweeter."

As Oakhaven came into view, the town's picturesque blend of old and new greeted her eyes. Thatched cottages with smoke curling from their chimneys stood alongside newer brick buildings, their red tiles gleaming in the setting sun. She weaved into the cobblestone streets bustling with townsfolk preparing for the upcoming festival. Banners of every color fluttered in the breeze, and the mouthwatering scent of baking bread and roasting meat wafted through the air.

"Almost there," she whispered to herself as she plunged into the market. "Just a little farther."

Elaine noticed a commotion near the market square. A crowd gathered around a fallen horse, its rider injured and moaning. She cursed, stopping. "Jude," she said. "Give me that, return home."

He nodded, handing over the basket as he stared at the crowd. "I wonder what happened."

"I'm not sure," she replied. "Anyhow, hurry back home. I'll be there in a bit."

"Sure."

With that out of the way, Elaine took a deep breath, and pushed through the crowd. The fallen horse whined in distress, its rider groaning in pain. She winced but weaved through. Finally, she broke free from the crowd and hurried towards the apothecary's shop. Her heart sank as she arrived at Mrs. Hazelwood's shop. It was closed. She looked around. But oh yes, there was no fucking sign of her.

"Goddammit." She muttered under her breath, her shoulders sagging. Sighing, she turned away and made her way towards Old Man Bartholomew's shop. She could already hear his gruff voice berating someone. 

"Here goes nothing," she said to herself, stepping up to the shop, stopping in front of the door. She pushed it open and walked inside. The bell above the door jingled, announcing her arrival. Bartholomew, a grizzled man with a permanent scowl, looked up from his ledger. His eyes narrowed when he saw Elaine.

"Elaine," he said, "What brings you here? Run out of places to sell your weeds?"

"Good evening, Mr. Bartholomew. I have some herbs for sale, and a pleasant surprise—Nightshade Iris."

Bartholomew's eyebrows shot up at the mention of Nightshade Iris. He grunted, "Mrs. Hazelwood usually buys those. Why aren't you selling to her? Ah, System Day. That woman and her festivals."

Elaine shrugged, "Her daughter's of age, she definitely doesn't wanna miss her first Delve."

"Let me see what you've got."

Elaine handed over the sack of herbs. Bartholomew inspected them, his scowl deepening with each passing second. Finally, he grunted, "These are good quality. I'll give you half of what Hazelwood pays."

The audacity of this stingy old coot. Her eyes twitched. How could he be so damn shameless?

"These herbs are of the same quality that Mrs. Hazelwood buys. I should be paid the same amount."

"Take it or leave it," Bartholomew scoffed.

"I know other apothecaries in neighboring towns who would pay a fair price. If you won't, I'll take my business elsewhere. Surely, even if the quality dwindles down due to delay, they'd pay a far more fair price."

It took some back and forth to get him to agree, but she managed to sell the herbs and Nightshade Iris for a good sum—still not as good as Mrs. Hazelwood, but Elaine knew she wouldn't be getting anything better from Bartholomew.

Elaine forced smiled, "Thank you, Mr. Bartholomew."

With that, she returned home.

***

By the time the first stars appeared in the sky, the day's chores were done. The simple meal was consumed with an appreciation for the effort that had gone into it, and soon enough, Elaine and Jude were ready to wander out into the town. The ceremony was upon them.

Elaine grabbed Jude's hand and headed for the door. She could already see people on the road. Stepping outside, she took a deep breath. Elaine's nose twitched, the sweetly baked bread wafting from Mrs. Peabody's bakery, mixing with the sweet perfume of roses climbing trellises along the cobblestone streets.

System Day in Oakhaven was always a spectacle to behold. The town was alive—children running around with painted faces in laughter, women chatting away, and men completely wasted, laughing with their glasses clinking. Many salivated from the aroma of food from Yeslen's and Mrs. Peabody's. The town square was the heart of the festivities every year. System Day, a blessing for some, a curse for others. A time when a new world of skills, stats, and levels opened to aspiring Delvers—but for many, it was a curse. More died this day than anyone wanted to admit, but regardless of everything, this was a day of merriment.

"Oh, if it isn't the Witch," a voice sneered. A group of men stood in the path leading to the town square, their faces twisted into mocking grins. Elaine rolled her eyes, crossing her arms over her chest. Not again.

"What do you want?" she asked, her voice dripping with disdain. 

The leader of the group, a man with a smug grin, stepped forward. "Just wanted to wish you a happy System Day. Also, the boss wishes you to honor him when you return," he said.

Elaine's eyes narrowed, Jude's hand tightening around her. He tugged silently.

Just as she was about to explode and stab one of them—surely, it wouldn't be an issue considering the small crowd around them and given she was a chosen one this year—a new voice rang out. "That's enough!" The crowd parted, revealing the town mayor's son, his face stern and his eyes flashing with anger. "Leave her alone. Tell your boss that if he has a problem, he can come and talk to me himself. Elaine owes him nothing," he commanded, stepping forward to stand beside Elaine.

"Elaine," he said, turning to her with a softer expression. "I apologize for their behavior. They have no right to treat you this way—"

She ignored Bennett, the mayor's son. He was a coward that would let anyone get raped if it meant he could please the Master of the Trolls near the barrier's edge. She stepped forward, her boots crunching on the cobblestones. The thugs still stood away from her, and the grins on their faces started to chip away as she approached.

She stopped just inches away from the leader of this small group, staring icily. "Listen here, you little shit," she began, drawing gasps from the ladies hearing in on them. "I don't have time for your petty games. So why don't you and your little gang run along before I lose my temper? You're paid a damn hefty sum to keep your dumb Trolls in check, so let's just keep it at that, eh?" Her face contorted. "I shouldn't see any girl disappearing when I'm back, you hear me? Keep your dicks in check, or I'm gonna chop them off."

The men sputtered in indignation, their faces reddening. "You can't talk to us like that!" One of them protested. But she merely raised an eyebrow, and they fell silent.

"Oh, I can talk however I want; one more thing. Tell your boss to fuck himself."

With that, she grabbed Jude's hand, making her way towards the town square where the ceremony was to take place. "You okay, kiddo?" she asked, ruffling his hair. Jude nodded. The town square had little groups of people standing, drinking and chatting, some laughing and some arguing. All in all, it was a noisy scene under the slowly rising moonlight. She settled near the year's chosen: Tess, Lena, and Silas. A total of five including Bennett and herself.

"Hello there," she greeted them.

One of the women, Tess, snorted. She was a tall fair skinned woman with blonde hair pulled back and woven into a bun. The other woman, Lena, smiled wide, dimples forming. "Hey Elaine," Lena said, giving Elaine a fistbump—a gesture Elaine had taught her when they were children.

Silas was a man with brown skin—indeed, something not common here in the west where Oakhaven was located. Elaine had never really stuck her nose into it but she'd assumed he was one of the survivors from the east—the lands that had been ravaged by dragons a decade prior.

Bennett jogged up to them, seemingly done talking to the group of men. "Come on, why so cold?" he said, chuckling nervously. "You know we need the Trolls—"

"Bennett," she cut him off with a smile, her voice neutral, and he shut his trap. "Excited for the delve?"

Coughing, Bennett's face lit up. "Absolutely! It's going to be an adventure; I'm vying for the [Hero] Class," he said, his eyes sparkling.

Elaine snorted, "The ladies are gonna have an orgasm just seeing you if that happens." Aside from herself, that is. She didn't give a fuck. "Right, Lena?"

Lena laughed, "Oh, absolutely. I can hardly contain myself," she said, her tone dripping with sarcasm.

"Lena, you wound the poor boy. He might just melt from your brutal honesty."

Tess clicked her tongue, "Honestly, Elaine, must you always be so crass?"

Elaine shrugged.

"Let's not waste precious energy on squabbles, shall we? And you, Ben, never thought you were the hero type, to be honest," Silas said.

Elaine snorted. He couldn't be, not this bastard.

Bennett sputtered, words slipping from his tongue. "You're all strange, you know that."

Tess glared at Bennett, muttering something under her breath. Lena heard her and smirked. "Jealous?" she asked, raising an eyebrow.

Tess blushed, stammering out a denial. "N-No, I'm not!"

"Oh, please. You practically trip over your own feet every time Bennett bats his eyelashes in your direction." Elaine snorted.

Bennett blinked, "I don't know what you're talking about. Tess and I are just friends."

Elaine snorted again. "Friends, huh? Right. And I'm the Queen of England."

"England? What country is that?" Lena asked.

"Oh…" Elaine looked down. "Right. Nevermind. It's just an imaginary country." Elaine smiled, turning to Silas. "What about you, Silas? Looking forward to the delve?"

"It'll certainly be interesting, that's for sure," Silas said.

Bennett, unable to contain his excitement, or maybe to distract the glaring Tess, jumped up. "Let's make this System Day the best one yet. Want something to eat, guys? My treat."

Tess's hand shot up before anyone else could even blink. "Me!" she chirped.

"Whatever." Lena shrugged. "Don't cry later. I'm a heavy drinker."

Silas and Elaine denied, and the trio went away to eat at Yeslen's or Mrs. Peabody's.

"I don't like him," Jude muttered, eyes digging holes into Bennett's retreating back. "Mean man. Pretends otherwise."

Elaine shrugged. "Won't need to interact for long. Chill. I've only tolerated him 'cause he's the mayor's son."

Silas chuckled. "Aren't you cruel?"

"Come on, Sil, don't be naive. We all know the fucker spread rumors about me being a [Witch]. For what?"

He shrugged, leaning back. "To be a knight in shining armor, obviously. Like just now."

"Exactly. I'm not spreading my legs to a snake."

"Should you really be talking in front of your brother like that?"

Elaine shrugged. "Kids his age are more aware—and smarter—than you give them credit for. No need to pretend otherwise."

"Whatever."

"So, anyway, any idea what Class you're aiming for?"

Silas shrugged, "I'll take what I get. Not much for planning."

"That's one way to live life."

Just then, Lena returned, a mug of ale in her hand. "Miss me?" she asked, grinning at Elaine.

"Weren't you gonna drink like crazy?" Elaine raised an eyebrow.

Lena shook her head, "Tess got on my nerves plus I don't think I should be getting wasted knowing where we'll be going."

"Wow. Smart." Elaine deadpanned.

"Fuck you." Lena clicked her tongue.

Elaine rolled her eyes.

"You two never change, do you?" Silas said.

Elaine shrugged, "Why fix what isn't broken?"

Tess returned shortly after, her face flushed. "Bennett is such a show-off," she grumbled, taking a seat next to Silas.

Elaine raised an eyebrow, "Oh? And why is that?"

Tess huffed, "He just… he's always trying to be the center of attention. It's annoying. Cute though."

Lena chuckled, "Well, Tess, maybe you should show him up next time."

Tess looked taken aback, then smirked, "Maybe I will."

Suddenly, the chatter around them died down. All eyes turned to the platform where Oakhaven's [Mayor], Thorne Oakheart, stood in the middle of the square. From the grimoires she'd read, only a [Mayor]—or a Class that held control over a "Place"—could initiate the System Ceremony.

"People of Oakhaven," Mr. Thorne said. "Today marks a glorious day! The day we send forth our bravest to the Delve, yet again, to face its challenges and bring forth its blessings!" The Elder raised a gnarled hand, silencing the crowd going crazy. "Before we send them on their journey, let us honor the ritual."

Two attendants stepped forward, each holding a flaming torch, blazing a bright blue. A third attendant proffered a knife to Mr. Thorne. The Elder took the knife, making a cut on both his hands. Then, he took the torches and plunged them into the ground, sparks erupting like miniature stars going supernova. A collective gasp rippled through the crowd. No matter how many times she'd witnessed this sight, it was breathtaking.

"Pretty…" Jude murmured.

"As always?" She smiled.

"Yeah, it never gets old."

Only this time, there was a difference.

For Elaine.

A screen appeared in front of her like a thunderbolt, striking through the air with a crackle of light. It's as if a piece of the night sky had been ripped apart, revealing a window to another world. The words flashed bright, shimmering like stars against the inky black backdrop. 

It was translucent, like a ghost hovering in the air, yet its presence was undeniably real. She could see the outline of the ground through the letters, distorted and wavering as if seen through a heat haze. It was both mesmerizing and terrifying.

It really is like an RPG, Elaine thought. She'd heard of it, she'd dreamed of it—ever since her parents died in this new reality she'd found herself in as a child. She'd dreamed of it since she was seven, when the House of Nobles took everything she held dear.

And now that it was right in front of her, she reached out tentatively, her fingers brushing against the screen. It felt cool and smooth, like touching a cloud of fluffy cotton candy—but before she could get a proper feel, her hand passed straight through it.

"What's happening?" Jude's voice brought her out of her mind, and she blinked, looking down at her chest. A bright blue glow rhythmically thumped inside her chest.

"It's… mana. Lunar mana?" She said, her attention swept away by the screen once more as a string of messages flashed.

Alert!

The [Mayor] — Thorne Oakheart of Oakhaven has initiated a System Ceremony.

System unlocked.

Blink three times, or think of pulling on Zenith to view the panel.

Please brace for impact!

"Behold!" Mr. Thorne said and a rumbling sound filled the air. From above, five dark shapes materialized against the moonlit sky. They descended slowly, carried by unseen ropes, until they landed with a soft thud in the center of the square.

Elaine recognized them instantly—coffins, each one bound by heavy chains. But these were no ordinary coffins. Glowing runes pulsed faintly on their surfaces, each one unique. They were not meant for the dead, but for the living. As she drew closer to one in particular, Elaine's heart skipped a beat. The rune on her designated coffin shimmered, forming the letters of her name. Unrecognizable, yet easily decipherable to the one bound by them. 

Coffins. Heavy chains. Her intestines twisted inside her stomach and she clenched her fists. 

Mother would have been proud of her. Elaine could still see that gentle smile she always had whenever they talked. She wished she could see her one last time, hug her. But the only image that came to her mind was her mother's broken body, bloodied, bound to a pile and whipped broken until she breathed no more. She bit her lip, forcing the memory away, eyes stinging despite herself.

I'm doing this for you, mom, dad, she thought, eyes wandering to Jude. For both of us, too. I'll get so strong that those damn nobles can't lay a hand on us ever again. And then when I'm strong enough, I'll break this world free from all sorts of tyranny, just like you tried to do. I swear it.

Her fingers trembled.

This was it.

She blinked thrice.

⊱⋅───⊱◈◈◈⊰───⋅⊰

Elaine Yolen

[Race: Human]

[Citizenship: Oakhaven]

[Age: 18]

[Class: Lunar Witch]

[Rank: None]

[Level: 00]

[Titles: Beyonder, Aspirant]

-

[Skills]: None

[Abilities]: None

-

Stats:

[Health]: 10

[Strength]: 10

[Stamina]: 10

[Agility]: 10

[Soul]: 15

[Mana Regeneration]: 0

[Available Stat Points]: 0

⊱⋅───⊱◈◈◈⊰───⋅⊰

The moment the system screen appeared in front of her and she got a look, she took a deep shuddering breath, her emotions withering under her focus, her mind somewhere between Finally and Why the fuck do I have mom's Class?

"Step forward, Aspirants." Mr. Thorne said. "Step into your coffins. You have been taught all you need since childhood; the only thing I might add, would be to get to Level 01 as soon as you can. Your skills and abilities wouldn't be showing up otherwise, after all."

Elaine knelt before Jude, coming eye to eye level with him. "Don't worry," she whispered, pulling him into a tight hug. "I'll be back. I promise."

Jude clung to her, and Elaine squeezed him one last time, then straightened, turning towards her coffin.

A coffin. How fitting.

Delvers either returned alive or dead, a coffin was fitting given that more returned dead than alive. She got inside, taking a deep breath. The lid slammed shut, plunging her into darkness. She felt a cold metal against her skin, and a faint humming from the runes. She tried to move, but the chains were too tight, binding her limbs and torso. She could barely breathe.

Lena's heavy breathing and curses prompted a chuckle out of her. The girl was just beside in the other coffin—and she had claustrophobia.

If even Elaine felt like she was being crushed by the weight of the coffin and the chains, she wondered how Lena felt.

A moment later, she heard the chains tighten, and with a jolt, they began their ascent, whipped upwards by unseen forces. Her stomach dropped, and her head spun. She heard the wind rush past the coffin—or was it the coffin piercing through the wind? The sound was almost deafening. She was alone in her coffin, with only her thoughts and fears. She closed her eyes, trying to calm herself. She thought of Jude, of her parents, of her dreams. She thought of the moon, and the power it held. She thought of the Delves, and the mysteries they hid. She thought of anything but the coffin and the chains.

Calm down, girl. You're about to finally enter a Delve, you gotta be on your best—

Something crashed into her coffin. She heard a loud thud, and a scream. Lena. Their coffins collided mid-air. But how? More importantly, why? This was thing never seen or heard before. 

Elaine felt another impact, this time from the other side. It was one of the boys, she couldn't tell who—she hadn't paid much attention when they'd got in. He groaned, and cursed. She heard him bang on the coffin, 

Her coffin flipped, and she almost vomited her stomach out.

What's happening?!

Alert! Collision with an Extradimensional Entity detected! Coffin flying off course!

Entering a Delve!

Nightmare City — Tier V Beginner Delve

Objective: Eliminate the Nightlord

Reward: ???

Due to the unforeseen circumstances and intervention of an unknown Extradimensional Entity—which will be investigated by Zenith—an Assist Package is being delivered as a balancing act!

A Quest has been generated! 

「Slay the Nightkin」

Help slay the Nightkin, the shadows wreaking havoc in the Nightmare City!

Reward(s): Depends On Contribution.

Terror pulled through her confusion when her eyes fell on one particular detail, her attention swept by it alone so much that she ignored everything else. They were supposed to enter a Tier I Beginner Delve, not a Tier V! What's happening—

Suddenly, it felt as if her brain was on fire, as if a jagged knife was being scraped on it, a saw cutting through, making her scream in agony. Then, there were flashes of images, too fast and chaotic to comprehend—but she caught something, her life back on Earth, then a few glimpses of her life here. She felt a pull, a yank, a force that dragged her deep into darkness.

***

Sunrise approaches. Find a safe zone immediately.

In the pitch-black darkness, Elaine awoke to the sound of a clock ticking away in the back of her mind—a sound she immediately connected with the words before her.

There was no timer, only tick… tock… tick… tock.

She was trapped in a coffin, and there was nothing but darkness around her. She slammed on the coffin lid, the thud in the confined space. Fuck. Holy fuck. She groaned in pain, her head swimming in a thousand directions—her brain a hazy and jumbled mess of memories and exploding pain, a lot of pain. Where was she? What was happening?

Strange noises from outside cut through her head, and she winced. Were they monsters? She could also hear her companions talking.

I need to get out, she thought, her hands growing increasingly slick and her heart pounding louder and faster every time the clock ticked in her head. For all she knew, this could be a counter to her doom—only, she had no fucking clue how much time exactly she had.

Elaine punched the lid. She groaned, smashing it a few more times, and with a final, desperate push, she smashed the lid open and sucked in a lungful of air. She stumbled out of the coffin, falling headfirst into the ground.

"Her coffin finally opened!" A shout broke her out of her reverie, and even though she felt as though she'd drank a thousand bottles and was having the worst hangover of her life, Elaine ground her teeth and forced her brain into focus. Coffin. System Day. Yes, she remembered. She pried open her eyes with her will alone and saw Lena.

She became more aware of her surroundings: the shouting, the groaning, the blood. The other chosen were spread out around her covered in wounds and worry.

Lena gave her a pained and strained smile, cradling her arm. Elaine saw blood and a bone covered in a bloody clothe ripped from Lena's suit prepared for the Delve specifically—

"What happened to your arm?!" Elaine shot up, her gears swirling into overdrive as she looked around and pieced things together.

"Well, these Nightkin are damn crazy for blood," Lena deadpanned. "So, uh, I'm afraid my arm's in a stomach."

They stood within the ruin of a home, though the roof had been torn off. The paint on the walls were chipped with age and the floor beneath their feet was covered in unusual rubbish. The ruin had a single steel door. The sky above a fiery red hue and the door rattled despite its impressive shine. Bennett and Silas had their shoulders against the door, growls and shrieks coming from the other side as the things she assumed to be monsters slammed into it, trying to come inside.

"Morning, sleepyhead. You took your damn time in there." Tess said from the side, eyes glaring into Elaine.

Elaine, though, was in shock. Fuck-fuck-fuck-FUCK! She slapped herself out of it and grabbed the dagger off her back, drawing it out as memories made their way back into her mind.

Something had happened. Something bad. When they were arriving, something had rattled their coffins, throwing them off course. They weren't in the Delve they were supposed to come to, they were in some far dangerous place. Post-collision, she'd lost consciousness, Lena and others must have fought… whatever that was outside—and then dragged her coffin in here. And somewhere in there, Lena lost her arm.

Elaine moved to the rustic door and peeked into one of the narrow cracks quickly eroding into a bigger one—she saw nothing but swirling darkness. She squinted. Inky blackness stared back, but a prickling on her skin warned her it wasn't empty. Then, a glint—two eyes, red and burning, reflected the approaching sunrise'. Her breath hitched. The creature wasn't alone. More eyes, dozens, flickered in the dark, followed by the rasping scrape of claws against stone. The door shuddered, her heart hammered against her ribs.

The clock ticking gnawed at the back of her mind but she pushed it down.

Through the creatures, she saw the ruins. Rusted steel and shattered glass. Twisted metal dangled like macabre ornaments, and the ground was littered with debris—cars crushed into cubes, billboards ripped to shreds, concrete chunks the size of coffins. A modern city? She ignored the thought, a movement catching her attention. An alleyway, choked with rubble and shadow, snaked off to the side. It felt safer than the exposed street, and a green light hovered in the distance, if she wasn't assuming wrong, maybe that was—

"Wait, Sunrise?" Elaine asked, blinking. "Guys… I might sound crazy but do you hear a clock ticking at the back of your mind? Has Sunrise happened before? Do we know why it's so significant that the system is giving an unknown timer? Fill me in, damnit!"

"You're being quite demanding for being so useless," Tess said.

Lena sighed and explained, "We don't know. It hasn't happened yet—it is some sort of sunrise but we're not sure what exactly. We were swarmed by… creatures of sorts the moment we arrived. I lost an arm, Bennett has a bloody gash on his stomach, and Silas and Tess are fine. The monsters are outside. And yes, we hear a clock."

"How many monsters?"

"I don't know. Maybe they could fit into this room?"

"Okay. Focus." Elaine took a deep breath, closing her eyes. Sunrise. Timer. Creatures. Darkness. What. What could it be? She looked up at the bright red sky. Wait. Sunrise? "It's night?"

"...uh, yeah?" Silas said. "I suppose it is."

"We need to get out and find a safe zone." She said, "I think I saw one just on the other side of an alley." She bit her lip. "We need a distraction."

Think, think, think, Elaine, get your damn mug spinning—

"Blood!" Her eyes lit up.

"Blood?" Silas said.

"Yes, blood," Elaine said, and looked at Lena, more specifically, her arm. "I'm sorry, Lena, but I'm gonna need that bloody cloth."

Lena's mouth thinned into a line.

The constant ticking at the back of her mind made Elaine rather snappy. "Come on, we don't have time!"

"This is gonna hurt like a bitch," Lena said, whimpering and wincing as she unwrapped her arm and gave the cloth to Elaine. "Really, fuck you, Elaine."

Elaine, too, winced when she saw her arm's state and the way it kept bleeding, but they had no time. The clock was ticking.

She grabbed the cloth.

"Quick. Hug the walls beside the door." She said and threw the cloth at the far end of the room a dozen steps away. "Let them come in; we sneak out when they're all inside and shut the door."

"What? Are you crazy!" Tess said. "And who said you can order us around?"

"Shut up, we don't have time, god-fucking-damnit! Look, I don't know what's gonna happen. But it's gonna be bad. We need to go!" Elaine pushed Tess away and grabbed Bennett, yanking him off the door—he'd already lost his strength mostly. She gave Silas a stare and the man looked at her with a frown.

"Gods, Elaine." Silas said.

The door rattled.

"I hope you know what you're doing."

"I hope so too." She said, her heart thundering inside her chest as they all flattened themselves against the walls.

The door stopped rattling.

All was still for just a moment; then the door burst open.

The things flooded into the room like water from a broken dam. Angry, squirming over the floor, reaching for the bloody cloth. Their ashen forms shimmering with a red from within.

"Run," Elaine said the moment the things stopped storming inside. "Everyone, RUN!"

They ran, looking as frantic as Elaine felt. She dashed for the alley just ahead, nearly tripping at the hard turn, slamming into the wall and kicking off it to balance herself. Her shoulder hurt, oh fuck did it hurt, but she pushed the pain down. The screeches sounded behind her, and—despite her mind screaming at her—she glanced behind her as she ran, and saw the horrified eyes of everyone, the increasingly pale face of Lena, and at one of the things, at the mouth of the alley. It reached in with two enormous hands, one against each wall, cleaving through the stone. Then it fell to all fours and began charging.

Bennett fell, sweat glistening on his forehead and his chest heaving. Tess screamed. Elaine's blood chilled and her stomach churned. The creature prowled onto him, and its hand—that sharp, horrifying claw—dug into Bennett. 

Then, it began. 

Bennett's skin started to peel away, layer by layer, as if an invisible force was meticulously stripping him down. His gurgled screams disappeared in but a moment, the sinewy tissues of his muscles dissolving into nothingness, revealing the stark white of his bones that eroded away in the next moment.

The clock ticked.

Elaine could only watch in frozen horror, the image of Bennett's dissolution forever etched into her memory. The creature lurched forth, and Elaine whipped her head back around—in the instant she did, she caught a glimpse of Tess's contorted face, her tears, to Lena's bloodied arm.

What was happening? Why was this happening? Despite herself, Elaine felt like crying. This wasn't fair. First Delves never had creatures this strong. Stumbling out into the open, Elaine's head snapped around in looks of anything with a green light. She found one, a building—a white cube of a building with a green light and "Safe Zone" written in bold. Questions filled her mind, questions she had no answers to, but she forced them down at the back of her head.

She tilted toward that direction, kicking off with everything she had. The others behind her. Running. Heaving. Fuck. How did things go this wrong?

She ran for what felt like hours—that thought, however, was dispelled by the timer in the back of her mind.

The clock ticked.

She gagged for breath, her lungs burning, seething, her muscles protesting, her weight more than it ever had. The gravity. She felt like crying. The gravity was increasing. She looked back to warn.

The creature closed in. Her face pale as a ghost, Lena lagged behind. The creature lunged, its gnarled hand reaching out for Lena. Without thinking, Elaine whipped out her dagger and threw it with all her might. The dagger whistled through the air, embedding itself in the creature's eye. It screeched in pain, its voice like hundreds of teeth grinding, reeling back, giving Lena just enough time to escape its clutches.

Lena stumbled forward, her face even paler now, if that was possible. Elaine, Silas, and Tess burst into the room just as the clock ticked one last time. The gravity intensified, pressing them down, making it hard to breathe. The sun outside grew brighter, so bright that it was blinding. Elaine turned just in time to see the creature's claws digging into Lena's legs.

"No!" Elaine reached out for Lena, Tess screamed. But it was too late. The creature had clamped its jaws around Lena's leg, pulling her into the hot, scorching sun. The sun's merciless rays seared through the monster along with Lena, setting them both on fire. Lena's mouth parted in a silent scream as she disappeared into the flames, a loud sizzle sounding in the otherwise silent surroundings.

"Lena!" Elaine stumbled forward. Silas grabbed her, holding her back. Elaine struggled, trying to break free. She had to save Lena. She had to. She couldn't lose her only friend. Not like this. No… Elaine thought, gulping for air frantically. No-no-no-NO! It can't be. It can't be! She looked outside through the open door, where only ashes and smoke remained. Lena was gone. Gone forever. Elaine went limp, and she collapsed on her knees, mouth open, heart pounding in her chest, a cry tearing out of her throat.

******

Author Note: Hello there. If you like the premise of this story, give it some likes and comments and I will write chapter 2 as fast as I can. I would love to hear thoughts, too, if you have any, that is. No need to feel the need to do so, it's just, this is the first chapter and I'm very hungry for feedback : D

Feedback helps me write with... confidence. Haha.

The novel has a female main character but the novel itself is for males - women can enjoy it too, obviously. It shouldn't stop you from enjoying the novel, though, as I've made sure the writing and plot are of excellent quality.