First Contact

"Milady! Milady!" 

Luminova shouted with her arms extending out from between the metal railings of the cage where she was being held. Her master was being dragged by two men into a tent where the leader of the mercenary groups seemed to be waiting. 

Her heart pounded in her chest as the screams and pleas of the other women filled the air around her. It was chaos—a brutal, nightmarish kind that she thought only existed in the darkest tales told by the village elders to warn the young ones of the evil in the world.

Suddenly, her eyes snapped open, wide with the terror of her dream. She gasped for breath, her body soaked in a cold sweat. As her senses slowly returned, she realized she was no longer in the filthy grounds where they had been kept. 

The cool air that brushed against her skin came not from the natural chill of a night wind but from a square contraption mounted on the wall that seemed to be humming. The bed she lay in was soft, the pillows plump and comforting, and the quilt luxurious—akin to those used by nobility.

Sunlight streamed through the window, casting warm rays across the room. It was already morning. Luminova tried to piece together her memories, to understand how she ended up in this unfamiliar place, but her mind was a fog of fragmented images and sounds.

Confusion swirled within her as she sat up, her eyes scanning the room for any sign of where she might be or who might have brought her here. The room was neatly arranged, with a few pieces of simple but elegant furniture. There was no sign of her captors, no indication that this place was anything other than what it appeared: a safe haven.

Her thoughts were interrupted by the sound of movement from another part of what seemed to be a small house. She crept towards the door and opened it ajar.

She took a peek and the scent of a newly cooked scrambled egg wafted towards her, momentarily pushing aside her worries with its comforting and familiar aroma. Curious and driven by the growing warmth of the smell, she followed it.

Luminova stepped quietly into the kitchen, where she saw a man in his late twenties cooking. He was tall, with a well-built athletic body. His blonde hair was tousled, as if he'd run his hands through it several times, and his face, handsome and focused on the task at hand, showed a gentle concentration.

Luminova watched him for a moment, taking in the scene before her. It was hard to connect this peaceful moment with the brutal memories of her recent past. He seemed to sense her presence because he turned around, his blue eyes meeting hers. A brief look of surprise flashed across his face before it settled into a warm, welcoming smile.

"Oh…you are finally awake. Good morning. I was planning on waking you up after I finish cooking this but I guess it's not necessary anymore." 

Luminova cautiously stepped a step back, her eyes never leaving his face as she tried to connect the disjointed pieces of her memory.

"Who are you?"

Vincent gave a gentle smile, sensing her unease. "Do you remember anything from last night?" he probed gently.

Luminova furrowed her brows, searching her muddled thoughts. "I... I'm not sure," she admitted, her gaze faltering as she tried to gather the snippets of memories that felt like they were slipping through her fingers.

Vincent nodded understandingly, then took a moment before he spoke again. "Last night, you were running from ten bandits. They were chasing you through the forest. You were screaming for help." He paused, giving her time to absorb the words.

At the mention of bandits, a sharp memory pierced through the haze in Luminova's mind. Images of men with cruel faces and weapons, her frantic running, the oppressive darkness of the forest, all flashed before her eyes. She remembered the fear, the desperation, and then a figure emerging from the shadows.

"You...you were that man from the forest…" " Luminova finally connected the dots.

"Yes, that was me," Vincent confirmed with a nod, his expression softening. "I heard your cries for help and I couldn't just stand by. I managed to drive them away and brought you here to keep you safe."

"Is that so? Th—Thank you…sir?" 

"Ahh…you are asking for my name? Well the name is Vincent Strider," he introduced himself. "How about you?"

"Lumi—" Luminova paused as if hesitating, then gathered the courage to speak. "Luminova." 

"Luminova…" Vincent repeated. "Okay Luminova, please take a seat over there while I prepare a cup of coffee for you. Breakfast will be ready in just a moment."

Luminova nodded and walked over to the small dining table, her steps cautious and her movements still slightly hesitant. She took a seat, watching Vincent move around the kitchen with ease, his actions smooth and confident as he finished preparing the meal.

Vincent placed a plate of scrambled eggs and some toast in front of her before pouring a cup of freshly brewed coffee. 

"Here you go, Luminova. I hope you like coffee," Vincent said, giving her a reassuring smile.

Luminova looked at the food and then up at Vincent, her expression softening. "It smells wonderful. Thank you, Sir Vincent Strider."

"Vincent is fine, you don't have to say my full name," Vincent chuckled lightly as he took a seat opposite her.

Luminova nodded, a slight smile touching her lips as she began to eat. The warmth of the coffee and the wholesome taste of the food comforted her. For a moment, the horrors of her recent ordeal seemed distant, like a bad dream fading upon waking. 

"This is delicious…" Luminova commented.

"Thank you," Vincent said, smiling. "Now, Luminova, is it okay for me to ask you some questions regarding last night? I know it's going to be uncomfortable for you but I need to ask."

Luminova nodded slowly, setting her fork down and bracing herself. "Yes, go ahead."

Vincent leaned forward. "First, can you tell me where you live? I mean, where did you come from before this happened?"

Luminova took a deep breath. "I live in the Kingdom of Eldoria, and I work as the personal maid of Lady Elinalise Claes. She's the daughter of the Duke and Duchess of Eldoria."

Vincent raised his eyebrows, clearly surprised by this revelation. "That's quite a position. It must have been a very secure and respected role. How did you end up being chased by bandits?"

"We were on our way back to Eldoria but along the way, we were ambushed by bandits. Our guards fought courageously but they were defeated. All of the women were taken hostage including me. I managed to escape at night."

Vincent's expression darkened as he listened. "I see…what a pitiful scenario."

"Which is why I have to get back to the Kingdom of Eldoria and inform the Duke of the situation. The moment he knew about it, he would not hesitate to organize a rescue party," Luminova said with a determined voice. 

After hearing that, Vincent's system prompted.

[New Mission: Helping the Stranger] 

[Rewards: 50,000 System Points] 

[Offer help to Luminova and should she accept, you are to rescue Lady Elinalise Clorance from the hands of the mercenaries]