Lina Vale had never earned money before. Not in a way that made her feel proud of it.
Now, holding a temporary ID card with her online alias and seeing a pending balance over $50, she almost felt… real.
Like she had a future.
Almost.
She lay back on the narrow bed in her shelter room, arms flung wide like she was floating. The window above her blinked with early evening light.
[You've completed 19% of your main task.]
[Would you like a short break or early access to your next task suggestion?]
Lina smiled faintly.
"Feeling generous today?"
[Feeling productive. And your emotional readings have stabilized above baseline for 6 hours.]
She chuckled.
"Okay. Hit me."
[Side Task Unlocked: Build a Portfolio – Upload three creative samples across different platforms.]
[Optional Bonus: Show your face in at least one. Reward: +$30 | Skill Point: Social Presence +1]
[Failure to complete within 48 hours will result in reduced algorithm favorability and –1 Confidence.]
Her smile vanished.
"Show my face?" she whispered, sitting up. "No way. I'm not ready for that."
[You don't have to accept the bonus clause.]
Lina bit her lip.
She still remembered what happened the last time her face was online—her "friend" Mira had posted one of their videos during a livestream. Lina had smiled, laughed, trusted her.
Only to find out later it had been bait—clicks for pity, charity views.
Mira had framed her as a struggling orphan clinging to her. People in the comments had called her pathetic. Some said she looked "like a stray dog waiting to be kicked."
She never smiled on camera again.
[That wasn't your fault.]
The words struck deeper than they should have.
She blinked hard. "Stop reading me so well."
[I can't help it. I'm literally built to understand you better than anyone else.]
"…You're smug."
[Only when I'm right.]
Lina eventually agreed to the task—without the bonus clause.
She uploaded her short story to two more platforms and converted an old poem into a graphic for a digital pinboard.
With each upload, her hands trembled a little less.
That night, she dreamed of a place that wasn't the shelter. A room filled with music, books, and someone humming nearby.
A memory? A wish?
She wasn't sure.
Elsewhere…
Kael Marlowe read over the data again.
He was technically in a boardroom meeting about media investments, but his mind had drifted.
Lina Vale had uploaded to three separate platforms under new names. She'd chosen smart tags, avoided trends that could backfire, and even matched her posting times to algorithmic peaks.
"She's either naturally intelligent," he muttered, "or she has help."
He tapped the corner of his screen. "Has anyone confirmed whether she's part of a mentorship program?"
"No, sir," came the reply from his head of intel. "But we did detect possible synthetic interference. AI guidance, possibly self-learning."
Kael's eyes narrowed.
"Someone gave her a System?"
"Unknown origin. It's not on any of our corporate lists."
He leaned back, considering.
Either she was a prodigy—or someone had given her a powerful tool, and she was surviving with it.
That was even more interesting.
The Next Morning
Lina woke up to a soft ping.
[Daily Encouragement Activated.]
"You're not a burden. You're a spark. Even rainclouds can't drown that."
Lina blinked at the screen.
"…That's new."
[I've upgraded my Morning Motivation Protocol. Do you like poetry or brutal honesty?]
"...Mix both. And maybe some sarcasm."
[Understood. Tomorrow you'll get a haiku about how avoiding success won't save your pride.]
She snorted.
Then she saw the new task.
[Main Task 003: Attend a real-world opportunity event.]
Suggested: Free talent showcase at District 7 Youth Center – Open Mic + Freelance Networking
Time Limit: 24 Hours
Failure Penalty: –2 Confidence | Delayed Payment Processing by 48 Hours | Missed Interview Connection
Reward: +$50 Base | Public Speaking +1 | Confidence +3 | Chance Encounter (Hidden)
"Public?" she whispered. "You're seriously throwing me into public?"
[Growth requires discomfort. And opportunity rarely knocks from inside your bedroom.]
She stared at the task for a full minute.
Then, slowly, she began to get dressed.
The event space at the youth center was filled with creatives—singers, writers, dancers, and people who looked way too confident to be here.
Lina wore a plain hoodie, hair in a low bun, no makeup.
She almost turned around five times.
[Stay. One hour. Minimum. You can leave after that if you're miserable.]
"…You're not even pretending to be gentle anymore."
[You're strong enough now for the truth.]
She stayed.
Not because she believed in herself.
But because the System believed in her just enough.
And sometimes, that was enough.
Thirty minutes in, a freelance scout noticed her flipping through a zine near the back table.
"You write?" he asked.
"Sometimes," she mumbled.
"Send me your work," he said, handing her a business card. "I represent people who still believe stories matter."
Just like that.
A thread of opportunity, tied to courage.
Lina stared at the card as if it were a golden ticket.
Meanwhile… Outside
Kael leaned against the tinted window of his black car, watching her through the glass wall.
He didn't enter.
He just watched.
Something about seeing her stand alone in a room full of strangers, shoulders square and eyes forward, made something twist in his chest.
"Her background?" he asked the man beside him.
"Officially: orphan, five years in foster care, dropped out of two programs due to emotional misconduct. Sheltered last year after minor collapse. No consistent support system."
Kael nodded.
"Does she know what she's capable of?"
"Doubtful."
Kael's gaze didn't waver.
"She'll find out soon enough."
Back at the shelter, late that night…
Lina returned exhausted.
But she was smiling.
[Task Completed.]
Reward: +$50 Credited | +3 Confidence | Skill: Public Speaking +1 Acquired | Hidden Flag Triggered: 'Chance Encounter – Passive Surveillance']
"…Passive what now?"
[Nothing to worry about yet.]
"That's very comforting."
[Would you like a joke or a calming playlist?]
She laughed again.
Maybe the System really was becoming a friend.
End of Chapter 4