I took a deep breath and, concentrating again, continued my conversation with the Fairy Queen.
—I need to get some rest... Before you start your workout.
The Queen's doppelganger, floating in the air as if made of light and pollen, nodded with a slight smile.
— Of course. You can come back at any time. I will always be waiting for you here, and the skill lessons will open when you wish it.
She was already turning around, but suddenly she flew softly closer. Her movements were light, almost soundless, as if her wings weren't touching the air, but time itself.
The Queen raised her hand, kissed the tip of her slender index finger, and without saying a word, lightly touched my forehead.
For a moment, my skin flashed with a cold glow and a tattoo in the shape of outstretched fairy wings appeared on my forehead.
The delicate pattern seemed to have a life of its own, pulsing with barely noticeable light, and then slowly dissolved, becoming invisible.
I involuntarily touched this place, but I felt nothing but a slight warmth. Immediately, a scarlet system notification popped up in front of my eyes:
[Soul Collector mechanic activated]
The words seemed to hit my mind, echoing with a buzzing in my ears. The system didn't reveal any details, just a dry line that hinted at something more than a regular buff or quest.
—A soul collector?..
I whispered, feeling a strange expectation arise somewhere deep inside, as if there was a force behind this invisible tattoo that it was better not to disturb without preparation.
The Fairy Queen stepped back smoothly, her transparent wings fluttering, leaving a trail of pollen in the air like a starry path. She spoke softly, her voice sounding both warm and commanding, as if nature itself was responding to every word.
—It's my mark, it's not just an ornament. To truly master the skills of our race, you will have to become stronger. Power is not born from the void, it must be forged.
I frowned, feeling something stir inside me, as if invisible threads were reaching for my heart.
— This mark will collect the souls of defeated enemies. Every creature you hit will leave a trail, and that trail will become your fuel. All your victories will be more valuable: the experience you gain will be doubled.
A system message flashed in front of my eyes for a second:
[ Passive Effect: Experience ×2 ]
She couldn't help but smile, but the smile immediately faded because the Queen hadn't finished.
— But that's not all. Collected souls can be recycled. They will turn into energy, a special power that no ordinary player possesses. And it is this energy that will allow you to take the first step towards the secret art. With her help, you will be able to learn the first level of the [Aura Separation] skill and touch the skill that only true fairies possess.
The Queen's words echoed in my head. It seemed to me that there was something more behind every word: an obligation, a burden, or even a curse. But at the same time, a feeling of delight burned in his chest.
—So... collecting souls?"
—Yes! Soul Collector is not just a title, it's a path. Now this training is up to you.
When I finally took off my helmet and returned to reality, the first thing I did was open my email. The screen blinked, and unread emails flashed in front of my eyes. I took a deep breath, the world of the game wouldn't let go even here.
First, I replied to Zikei's letter. His words still rang in his head, as if he had written them with an accusing grin:
"Did you seriously beat up Leroy45 in the Misty Garden?"
I quickly typed in the answer, my fingers tapping on the keys themselves:
"It's an accident. Just rumors and misunderstandings. There was nothing like that."
I clicked "Send" and felt a slight sense of relief, as if I had relieved myself of the burden of unnecessary conversations.
Then it was the turn of the letter from Akaha. It looked more carefree, but also more disturbing: "Hi, I bought Log Apofis: Horizon's, where can we meet?"
I stared at the blinking cursor for a long time. It was not easy for me to say yes, because the game was too dangerous and unpredictable. In the end, I replied with restraint,
"You have to level up first. When you get stronger, maybe we'll try to play together."
Guilt prickled inside: It's like I've pushed someone away. But at the same time, I understood that this game does not forgive weakness.
At that moment, I received another notification, a message from Katzu. Dry and businesslike, as always: he dropped a link to the game's forum
I opened it, and the screen lit up with dozens of comments. The players discussed the latest finds and shared creepy stories.
Main topic [ Declassified story bosses], this was a small percentage of what the players managed to find, the creatures are no longer hiding in the code, but really wandering around the world of Log Apofis.
Three names stood out in front of my eyes:
[ The Ninth Apostille – the Iron Lizard Barnadat]
A monster covered with metallic plates, like a walking fortress. Rumor has it that it destroys entire units and feels no pain.
[ Combat Mechanics: Unknown ]
[Plot: Unknown]
[How to trigger a fight: Unknown]
[TheFourth Apostille – Nemorrino Boar ]
A giant creature spewing mist and mud, leaving swamps where there used to be dry land. His growl can be heard for miles.
[Combat Mechanics: Unknown]
[Plot: Unknown]
[How to trigger a fight: Unknown]
[ The second Apostille – Maiden by Send Gwynderaal]
The mysterious boss is a woman who appears amidst desert storms. She is called the "prisoner of the sands" but in fact she turns anyone into her victim, burying them in quicksand.
[Combat Mechanics: Unknown]
[Plot: Unknown]
[How to trigger a fight: Unknown]
The forum was full of speculation: players were arguing over who was stronger, and discussing how the developers had allowed such bosses to roam freely around the game world in the first place.
I felt a chill on my skin. Now things were getting even more serious. Every step I took in Log Apofis could lead to an encounter with one of these monsters, and I don't know which was scarier, the fact that nothing is known about them at the moment, or the fact that they have a numbering and it is not yet known how many there are, nine? Or more than nine? Since there is a "ninth apostille"
I sat thoughtfully in front of the screen, rereading more and more messages from the players about the bosses.
My heart wasn't pounding from fear, but rather from the strange excitement that always rose in me when it came to serious opponents.
But I knew perfectly well that right now I was not in the mood to fully immerse myself in mentoring the Fairy Queen.
Yes, it all looked incredible. Mor Adelina herself offered me a path to a unique magic, a rare mastery of aura, a mark that could make me stronger than any ordinary player.
And yet... I felt that this was just a side route, a separate branch, interesting, but not the main one.
"If I get too carried away with the fairy line, I'll fall behind the general progression..."
It was clear inside: my main goal now is to complete the main tasks of Log Apofis. Where there were real challenges, real leveling, and real rewards.
These bosses like Barnadath, Nemorrino, Guinderaal are not just names on the list. These are milestones in the history of the game. This is the bar that needs to be fought for.
And if I want to one day stand face to face with them, on equal terms, and not run from their shadows, I will have to gain much more strength than I do now.
Mentoring the Fairy Queen was tempting, even intriguing. But I'm determined: I'll come back to that later.
First, the main road, the main quests. And only when my level is high enough will I be able to afford the luxury of delving into rare secrets.