Notification:
Helping the Nightshade Family
Description:
Helped the twin Nightshade children from being caught by an angry vendor and successfully cured the gloomrot disease of the mother of the Nightshade family.
Rewards:
> Domina Nightshade's trust and loyalty
> Companion +1
> Gris, Luna and Martha Nightshade trust
> Stat points +1
>Reputation +50
> Aethel Coins +500
> Title: Cat's Pawprint
-50% Damage from Sharp Melee Attacks
+10 Charisma to Beast Type Species
Description:
A cat chose you as their new owner. Now you should be ready to endure the scratches or bites from it's teeth and claws.
Effects:
When equipped, you have 50% damage reduction to sharp melee attacks like blades or claws. Gain 10 Charisma when talking to animal type humanoid species.
Kilian's eyes, still scanning the list of rewards, fixated on the first line.
"Wait," he murmured, his brow furrowing slightly, "I get the 'helping the family' part but the rewards... Companion +1?"
He tapped the ethereal screen with a finger that passed right through it.
"Did it consider Domina as my companion already or does it know that she will come to my side sooner than I expected?"
A thoughtful hum escaped him.
"Wait, or maybe... I will be able to get her now because this system said so?"
He paused, a flicker of genuine intrigue in his expression as he considered the implications of the System's foresight.
"Hmm..."
Then, his gaze drifted further down the rewards, searching for something specific.
Then, Kilian's gaze dropped to the next reward, a title.
"Cat's Pawprint?" he read aloud, his voice tinged with surprise and a hint of confusion.
Kilian's surprise quickly morphed into bewilderment as he read the description for the "Cat's Pawprint" title.
"Description, a cat chose you as owner, now you can endure scratches and bites."
"Wait," Kilian exclaimed, his eyes widening.
"Did it give me a title of a cat owner because of Domina?"
"Did the system assumed I domesticated a feline woman?!"
His jaw dropped slightly, a horrified realization dawning on him.
"That doesn't sound right!"
Kilian's gaze then darted to the effects listed below the description, and his eyes widened in genuine surprise.
Effects: 50 percent damage reduction to sharp melee attacks?!
"That's overpowered!" he exclaimed, his voice laced with disbelief. His eyes quickly moved to the second line of effects, and his expression shifted to one of indignation.
"Effects, plus 10 charisma on... animal type humanoid species?!"
"Wait! Hey, I'm not trying to collect cat girls or any girls with animal ears, okay?!"
He practically shouted at the translucent screen, his finger jabbing uselessly at the glowing text.
"Why are you adding my charisma with no reason?"
"I need the other stats, system, what the hell is this?!"
He opened his mouth to continue his rant, trying to confront the system directly, pointing vehemently at the title.
"Hey, system!", but before he could utter another word, the notification shimmered.
The "Cat's Pawprint" details dissolved, replaced instantly by the next achievement pop-up.
Notification:
Elara Dale's Trauma, Feelings and Loyalty
Description:
Successfully clearing Elara's traumas from the past Kilian's actions and making Elara fall in love with you.
Rewards:
>Complete trust and loyalty of Elara Dale
>Companion +1
>Stat Points +1
>Reputation +20
>Aethel Coins +500
Kilian's smile widened as he finished reading this notification.
"It's confirmed now," he thought, a sense of quiet triumph swelling in his chest.
"Elara is completely on my side."
"I already believed she was, but having this as proof is better.
Just as swiftly, another popped into its place, drawing his attention to its title, cutting off any further questions.
The screen shimmered, replacing the last notification with a new one that immediately caught Kilian's eye.
Notification:
Hidden Achievement:
Meet one of the smartest person of the future (1).
Description:
Encounter Mina Willow in one of her few favorite spots and make good impression as the prince of Noxhaven.
Rewards:
Reputation +10
Aethel Coins +200
Kilian's eyes widened.
"Woah," he murmured, "even meeting Mina was an achievement? A hidden one at that?"
He paused, a thoughtful expression on his face.
"Well, Mina isn't the only character who likes to go to the library, but meeting her on my first day was indeed unexpected."
"I'm glad I did."
A wry smile touched his lips as he remembered his abysmal luck stat.
"Hmm, and with a Luck stat of 2, I guess the system gave me a reward because its as surprised as me to see a character like her this early."
His gaze then shifted, anticipating the next display.
Finally, the screen flickered, and he read the fifth and last notification among his unclaimed rewards.
Its text appeared, crisp and clear:
Notification:
Reconciliation with the Noxhaven's King and Queen
Description:
Successfully talked, asked forgiveness and promised to be better to the prince's parents
Rewards:
>Unlocked the memories of the original Kilian Onyx Noxhaven
>Reputation +30
>Aethel coins +500
Kilian's eyes, wide with a new intensity, meticulously scanned the rewards for his reconciliation with the King and Queen.
"Unlocked memories of the original Kilian Onyx Noxhaven," he read aloud, his voice low and thoughtful, a slight frown creasing his brow.
He pressed a hand to his temple, as if to physically prod his thoughts.
"Unexpected. Potentially useful... or extremely disturbing."
A sudden, sharp gasp tore from his throat.
His entire body stiffened, a cold shiver tracing a path down his spine, despite the warmth of the bedchamber.
His eyes, fixed on the shimmering words, seemed to see beyond them, into the depths of his recent nightmare.
"The dream," he breathed, a horrifying clarity dawning on him.
His voice was barely a whisper, filled with a raw realization.
"The vivid, suffocating nightmare... the despair, the fragments... that was it."
"Those were his memories, flooding my mind, forcing me to relive every bitter moment of the prince's wasted life."
He dragged a hand through his messy hair, his jaw tightening.
"The System doesn't just give information, it forces experience."
His gaze then hardened, his eyes narrowing as a more personal, chilling question surfaced.
He pointed an accusing finger at the invisible System.
"But if his nightmare was a reward, then why did I also dream of my own past as Ethan?"
His voice rose, tinged with a raw edge of frustration and anger.
"The mentor who betrayed me, who let that guy go, leading to my own family's death. Why did I have to relive that nightmare, too?"
"Was that some twisted part of the transfer, or is this System mocking me, forcing me to confront both his burdens and my own?"
His chest heaved with the intensity of his questions.
He was still grappling with the flood of new memories and the unsettling resurfacing of his own deepest traumas, but he decided to keep them deep behind the back of his for now.
"Not now, there are more things are important."
He dragged his gaze back to the notification, trying to regain his composure.
"Hwoo..."
"Reputation +30... Aethel coins +500," he mumbled, a faint, almost imperceptible nod of approval.
His efforts were clearly recognized, even if the progress felt painfully slow against the crushing weight of his starting reputation.
It was a tangible sign that his actions here had consequences, quantifiable within this new, brutal reality.
After having a moment to recollect his thoughts, letting the implications of the unlocked memories and unexpected achievements settle, Kilian decided he needed a broader overview.
"System," he called out, his voice clear and resolute, "show me the menu list again."
The vibrant purple screen instantly materialized before him, displaying the complete array of functions the System offered:
System Menu List
>Player Status
>Missions
•Main Story Quests
•Side Story Quests
>Inventory
•Weapons
•Armor
°Onyx Bracelet
•Consumables
•Materials
•Valuables
•Miscellaneous
>Aethelstore (2700 Aethel Coins)
>Stats Management (3)
>Skills Tree Management (0)
>Spells Tree Management (0)
>Achievements
•Finished Missions (5)
•Titles (3)
°Prince of Noxhaven Kingdom (Default)
°Background Character
°Cat's Pawprint
>Unclaimed Rewards (0)
>Codex Database
•Maps
•Magic & Skills
•History & Lore
•Races & Factions
•Creatures and Monsters
>Companion Management (2)
•Elara Dale
•Domina Nightshade
>Reputation (-850)
•Categories
°Divine Good: (1201 to Infinite)
°Virtuous Good: (1001 to 1200)
°Lawful Good: (801 to 1000)
°Neutral Good: (601 to 800)
°Chaotic Good: (401 to 600)
°Lawful Neutral: (201 to 400)
°True Neutral: (-200 to 200)
°Chaotic Neutral: (-400 to -201)
°Lawful Evil: (-600 to -401)
°Neutral Evil: (-800 to -601)
°Chaotic Evil: (-1000 to -801)
°Diabolical Evil: (-1200 to -1001)
°Abyssal Evil: (-Infinite to -1201)
Kilian's gaze swept over the fully expanded System Menu List, his eyes widening in mild alarm.
The concise overview had been one thing, but with all the nested categories for inventory, companion management, and reputation, the sheer volume of information suddenly felt overwhelming.
"Woah," he murmured, a slight shake of his head.
"Now that all of it, even the options inside them, makes this thing a lot to take in."
"Hwoo..." He took a slow breath, grounding himself.
There was a time for exploring every nook and cranny, but now, he needed to focus on the essentials, on what truly mattered to him in this new, bewildering existence.
"Show Player Status," he commanded, his voice firm and clear.
***
/I hope you enjoyed this chapter! If its alright, please drop a comment or a powerstone to help me keep making this world bigger!