The enclosed combat hall that Fritte had brought me to was nothing like the usual training places.
Its walls were carved directly from crystalline rock, which shimmered with a soft green light, as if it had a life of its own. The ceiling was high, reaching into the dimness, and from there sometimes fell drops of shining moisture, dissolving into the air with sparks.
In the center of the hall, fairies and warriors were practicing the most unusual techniques. Some weaved fragile but deadly threads of light out of thin air, wielding them like whips.
Others were weaving fiery circles, creating illusions of beasts within them, which then came to life and attacked their masters, forcing them to defend themselves. There were sounds of strikes, the rumble of magical energy, and the ringing cries of spells.
Fritte flapped his wings merrily, leading me deeper into the hall.
—See? This is where everyone learns to connect magic and spirit. This is where even the weakest gain strength.
I looked around in wonder. It felt like the place was breathing and whispering. For a moment, I felt a strange heaviness, as if my body was responding to an invisible force that was testing everyone who entered.
At the far end of the hall, on a raised platform, a tall figure awaited, a spiritual counterpart to Mor Adelina.
She was like the Queen herself, but more ethereal, as if crafted from wind and light. Her eyes sparkled with a soft golden glow, but there was a sense of testing within their depths.
—Welcome, Disava. Here, I will watch over your first steps. Fear not, for everything you see will become a part of your journey.
Fritte, proud of his new appointment, straightened his shoulders and added quietly:
—Try to show yourself, Disava. This is your chance.
The hall came alive with the sounds of magic again, but now they merged into a single rhythm, as if the space itself was waiting for me to take the first step.
—Are you really willing to accept me as a mentor?
The voice was soft, but there was a power in it that could crush one's will with a single word. And at that moment, the translucent window of the system flashed next to me.
Above him, lines in bright runes hung in the air, as if the game itself had decided to intervene:
[Unique Suggestion: "Mentorship from the Fairy Queen"
[ Accept: Yes / No ]
My heart raced, and I felt that this was more than just a formality; this decision could change the course of my entire game.
For a moment, I even noticed the gazes of the warriors and fairies training nearby, as if they, too, could sense the tension of this choice.
—This is your first step.
Fritte whispered as he hovered beside me, his eyes shining with excitement. Without hesitation, I touched the word "Yes."
At the same moment, a soft emerald light enveloped my body. My aura shone with an airy, almost transparent green flame that shimmered like morning mist illuminated by the sun. A delicate tinkling sound echoed in the air, as if someone had plucked invisible strings.
The game, or the code of this world itself, responded. The matrix of her character, the hidden inner mechanics, seemed to merge with the essence of the Fairy race.
I felt something changing within me: a lightness in my body, a sense of wings behind my back, and at the same time, a new depth in my perception of the world, even though I didn't have wings. The Queen's spiritual counterpart smiled.
—You are now connected to me, Disava. You will learn, you will fall and rise... but from now on, you are a part of the Kingdom.
Fritte shrieked with joy and flapped his wings so hard that he created a small whirlwind.
Mor Adelina waved her finger slightly, and an unusual scene came to life before her eyes. Several young fairy warriors were standing in a circle on a training ground.
Their faces were tense and focused, but they were not moving. On the ground next to them were weapons—elegant spears, thin blades, and even small crossbows.
It seemed as if the fighters were simply waiting, but upon closer inspection, their hands were faintly illuminated by a soft, misty glow.
—They're not lazy; they're learning to separate their own aura from their bodies, channel it into their weapons, and return it.
The Queen explained with a slight smile, catching my curious gaze. She made a slight gesture, and one of the spears on the ground trembled, lifting slightly, as if its invisible hand was lifted by its master.
At the same moment, a thin thread of green light connected the fairy's palm and the weapon.
—This allows you to call your weapon to you, even from a distance. If an enemy knocks the blade from your hand or you lose it in battle, your aura acts as a bridge, and the weapon returns to you. However, achieving this is not an easy task. Not everyone can accomplish it.
I felt a sense of anticipation building inside me. The ability to control weapons with my aura seemed like something out of a legend or a movie, but now it was a reality, part of my future journey in the game.
The Queen lowered her gaze slightly, and her long hair fell to the ground with a rustle.
—This skill is only available to fairies... or those who have accepted my tutelage. It is called [Aura Separation]. It is difficult to master, requiring not only strength but also discipline and inner harmony.
—That is why I will be the one to teach you. I want to see if you are capable of mastering this skill.
Fritte happily clapped his chest, as if it were his own achievement.
—You see, Disava! My mother rarely takes on students. You're special, because she decided to personally teach you!
The hall, filled with training sounds, seemed to fall silent at that moment. I felt dozens of fairy warrior gazes upon me. These gazes were filled not only with curiosity, but also with respect, mixed with a hint of envy.
Suddenly, my conversation with the Fairy Queen came to an abrupt end. A familiar system notification appeared before my eyes, momentarily obscuring the glowing forest and the Queen's face. An envelope with a golden seal was flashing in the right corner of the screen.
She clicked on the icon, and a holographic email panel appeared in the air. The first email on the list was from my editor, Akaha.
The subject line was eye-catching:
Subject: I bought the game!
"Hi, I bought Log Apofis: Horizon's. Where can we meet?"
The corners of my lips twitched into a slight smile. Akaha was always unexpected, but her presence in the game meant that I would have to explain a lot soon.
I wanted to close the email, but then my eyes caught another message. The envelope was strangely faded, as if it was hiding from attention. It had arrived yesterday, but for some reason, the notification had not appeared.
The sender was Zikei, the same green samurai I had exchanged contact information with. The subject line was provocative:
Subject: Did you really beat Leroy45 in the Misty Garden?
—Hm...
I remembered the fog that covered everything, and Leroy's screams as he lost his bearings and was devoured by Barnadat. Yes, it was a fierce battle. And the rumors seemed to have spread.
For a moment, I wanted to open the answer and write a few lines, but I clenched my fist. Everything was happening too fast inside the game. The Fairy Queen was waiting for my decision, and the world around me was filled with mysteries.
"Later... I'll respond when I leave the game."