The Box: Fate
Chapter 22 — The Lost Child and the Hunter Guild
The morning atmosphere in the inn was heavy with the weight of Kataki new condition The blue-and-silver blindfold sat firmly over his eyes the runes glowing faintly as he navigated the room with eerie precision He stood by the darkened window his Void Sight piercing through the wooden shutters to see the world in shimmering ripples of energy
Remember what the Game Master said Kataki voice was calm but it commanded everyone's attention After defeating a Boss—or in our case surviving its shadow—a story unlocks This city isn't just a resting point it's a puzzle We won't find the next step by sitting here
He turned his head the blindfold facing the group Split up Divide into small teams and scour every corner of this city Look for anything unusual—strange symbols hidden paths or people who don't fit the pattern We need a trigger to start the next chapter of this game
The seventeen players nodded They divided into groups of two and three heading out into the bustling streets of the village which felt more like a small fortified city now that they saw its true scale
Sharky Bee and Murasaki walked together toward the northern district where the stone buildings were older and taller This was the area housing the local Hunter Guild a massive hall where the elite warriors of this world gathered to trade information and take on contracts
As they stepped out of the heavy oak doors of the Guild after a fruitless search for clues Sharky Bee stopped suddenly His Silent Tracker skill flared picking up a sound that didn't belong in the busy market street
Do you hear that? he whispered glancing toward a dark alleyway between the Guild and a weapon shop
Murasaki followed his gaze her purple energy shimmering slightly at her fingertips Someone is crying
They moved into the shadows of the alley and found a small girl no older than seven huddled behind a stack of wooden crates Her clothes were torn and she was clutching a small rusted locket in her trembling hands
Murasaki knelt down her usual cold demeanor softening as she looked at the child Hey... what's wrong? Why are you hiding here?
The girl looked up her eyes wide with terror When she saw Murasaki kind expression and Sharky Bee protective stance she let out a fresh sob The shadows... they took them My mama and papa They went to the cellar to hide the grain but the floor opened up... and the black smoke swallowed them!
Sharky Bee exchanged a look with Murasaki This wasn't a normal kidnapping Where did this happen kiddo?
In the old mill near the river the girl whimpered Please... nobody believes me They say I'm just dreaming but I saw the red eyes in the dark!
We believe you Sharky Bee said firmly standing up He looked at Murasaki This is it The story trigger
Murasaki nodded picking the girl up gently We can't leave her here Let's take her back to the inn Kataki needs to see this If there's black smoke and red eyes involved it's connected to the Architect
They hurried back through the city the small girl clinging to Murasaki's neck When they arrived at the inn the other players were already returning from their own scouts looking tired and empty-handed
We found something Sharky Bee announced as they entered the common room
Kataki who was sitting at a corner table stood up immediately Even through the blindfold the girl flinched feeling the cold aura surrounding him
A child? Kataki asked his head tilting And a story about disappearing parents?
It's more than that Murasaki explained setting the girl down on a chair She saw the same energy we faced last night Shadows that swallow people whole Her parents are trapped in the old mill
Kataki walked toward the girl his hand glowing with a dim dark light as he scanned her with his Void Sight He could see faint traces of the Master corruption clinging to her clothes
The Architect didn't just leave Kataki said his voice dropping an octave He left roots in this city He's taking the people to feed the next shadow
The girl looked at the seventeen powerful warriors surrounding her hope finally flickering in her tear-stained eyes The seventeen players stood tall their weapons ready The first quest of the unlocked story had finally revealed itself
Rest for one hour Kataki commanded Then we head to the mill We aren't just surviving anymore We're hunting