At dawn the next morning, Torya stood before the cavern that his people called home. A chill mist hung low, curling around the jagged stones like ghostly hands. Before him gathered the young able-bodied of the tribe—only twelve souls, half of them barely adults at fifteen summers.
Their eyes lingered on him, the new chieftain, weighing his worth. He returned their gaze, noting each detail—long, flame-colored hair tangled and wild, skin stretched over ribs, bodies on the edge of starvation yet refusing to bow. In their hunger still burned a stubborn fire.
He raised his voice, steady and commanding despite the hollowness in his own belly.
"Today, we hunt."
The words rippled through the group, tightening their jaws, straightening their spines.
Then Nova's voice stirred inside him.
"Quest triggered. Objective: Hunt twenty game."
Torya blinked, the words etching themselves across his vision. His lips parted.
"A reward?" he asked silently.
"You will know," Nova replied, calm and cryptic, "when it is done."
The young chieftain clenched his fists. A spark of iron threaded through his resolve. Twenty game. Enough to feed them, enough to prove himself.
He lifted his eyes once more to his tribe, his people, and then drew open his system.
[ EMBER SYSTEM: USER STATUS ]
Name: Torya
Age: 18
Race: Emberkin (Mortal)
Bloodline:Smoldering Ember
A fragile flame, yet unyielding. Though weak its glow never fades. Grants resilience and the ability to recover more swiftly from fatigue and wounds. The ember endures where greater fires turn to ash.
Talent:Bond of the Flame
The fire in your heart stirs those around you. Allies who fight or work by your side will find their spirits strengthened, their wills steadied, and their courage burning brighter. You are not a lone flame—you are the spark that unites many.
Racial Trait:Shared Warmth
Among Emberkin, the fire of life is never borne alone. When together, your kind can withstand cold nights, harsh storms, and the weight of hunger. Bonds grow stronger in hardship, and unity is your hidden strength.
[ QUEST: Hunt for Survival ]
Objective: Hunt 20 game to feed the tribe.
Progress: 0 / 20
Reward: ???
Their first catches were small — horned rabbits darting nervously between roots and ferns, and brightly plumed birds perched high in the canopy — but each success brought precious food to the Emberkin. More importantly, with every hunt led by Torya, the tribe's faith in him deepened. His steady commands, patient gestures, and quiet confidence gave them assurance they had long lacked. Even the youngest, barely fifteen summers, felt braver at his side.
From behind a thicket of broad leaves, the hunters spotted their greatest challenge yet: a massive forest hog, its hide thick, its tusks curved like blades of stone. The younger ones shifted uneasily, but Torya's eyes — sharp, calm, unyielding — steadied them. He led them forward with deliberate steps. Under his guidance they struck first at its legs, hampering its movement, then circled and harried it, careful to keep their distance, wearing down its strength.
At last, when the beast's breath came ragged, its tusks suddenly flared with a reddish glow. In a burst of unnatural speed, it lunged toward one of the young hunters. Panic flashed in the youth's eyes; there was no time to flee. But Torya moved first. With unerring aim, he hurled his stone spear. It struck the hog's flank with a dull crack, jolting the beast's charge just enough for the youth to leap aside at the last instant.
The hog slammed into a tree, bark splintering under the impact. It staggered, the crimson light in its tusks dimming, then collapsed to the roots. Its body shuddered once, drained by the strange force it had unleashed, and it died with a sound more like defiance than surrender.
Then, in Torya's mind, Nova's voice rang clear, resonating like chimes in a sacred cavern.
"Quest complete — 20/20. Due to the last prey, your rewards have been slightly upgraded."
Torya paused mid-step, his breath catching as shimmering symbols flickered across his vision.
Reward: Basic Botany Book – a compendium of plants, herbs, and trees. Reward: Steel-tipped Spear – forged with a hardwood shaft and a razor point.
The moment the announcement ended, knowledge poured into his mind. He gasped, clutching his head as countless images of leaves, roots, and seeds arranged themselves neatly in his thoughts. He realized the book wasn't physical—it had been etched directly into him, making him see informations of plants, herbs, and trees.
A second wave of light flickered before him. A new tab unfolded on his translucent panel—an Inventory. Inside it, he saw the glimmer of the steel spear, resting as though it had always belonged to him. Another entry appeared just below:
New Skill Acquired: Spear Throw (Initial Stage).
Torya blinked, stunned. Skills… I can learn skills! And the the system simplified his acquiring of kwowledge! Delight bloomed in his chest, his heart hammering with hope. If this was possible, then the path to strength—true strength—was no longer a distant dream.
The carcass of the slain hog was bled quickly, its scent thick in the cooling air. With night fast approaching and the forest's shadows stretching long, Torya urged his people forward.
By the time the sun dipped behind the horizon and the first stars peeked through the canopy, the Emberkin had left the ancient forest behind. The mouth of their cavern awaited them—dark, vast, and sheltering—as though it had been waiting since the dawn of time.
When they arrived, a wave of relief and joy swept through the camp. Fires were quickly lit, their flames dancing against the cavern walls, and the rich scent of roasting meat soon filled the air. Clan members gathered eagerly around the returning hunters, voices bubbling with excitement and curiosity.
"Torya led us true today," a young hunter said breathlessly, clapping his shoulder with unrestrained admiration. "He knew when to wait, when to strike. Without him, we'd have come back with nothing."
An elder woman stepped forward, her weathered face illuminated by the firelight. Her eyes softened as they lingered on Torya. "Our young chieftain grows stronger with each step. The Emberkin owe much to his guidance."
Torya felt the weight of their words settle on his chest. Praise warmed the air around him, yet his gaze lingered on the faintly glowing panel before his eyes. His name, age, race, racial trait, skill and the quiet markings of his bloodline and talent shimmered at the top. At the bottom, a single line—Quest: None—waited, empty but expectant.
The tribe laughed and shared food, voices rising in celebration. But Torya's thoughts remained steady and heavy. The mantle of leadership no longer felt like something placed upon him—it was a part of him now, pressing him to look beyond the fires, beyond tonight. The future of the Emberkin rested on his shoulders, and he could no longer afford to think of himself as anything less than their chieftain.