The next day dawned slowly, the clouds heavy with unspoken tension. Kai sat atop the school's clocktower, legs dangling as he watched the students shuffle in below. His HUD flickered softly in his vision, displaying recent system notifications.
> [Current Rank: D]
[Active Skills: Quickstep (Lv.2), Observe (Lv.2), Piercing Strike (Lv.1), Void Blink (Lv.1)]
[Passive: Insight (Lv.1)]
[Available Points: 4 (Unspent)]
He still hadn't decided how to spend them. More agility? Strength? Intelligence? It wasn't just a stats game anymore—every move he made could mean life or death.
The duel with Lucien had proved that.
"You're becoming a piece on a board you can't see yet," Lena had said earlier that morning. "And someone's moving the pieces faster than you realize."
Now, her words lingered.
Because the System had issued something new:
> [Main Quest Update: New Tier Challenger Detected]
Title: Whisper of the Queen
Target: Ayla Virell – Tier D+, Class: Enchantress | Faction: Crownless Court]
Objective: Survive the encounter. Optional: Recruit or Defeat.]
---
Scene: Homeroom Chaos
Kai slid into his usual seat just as the first bell rang. Students buzzed about midterms, field trips, and upcoming sports events. Normal life. Surface noise.
Lena, sitting two rows ahead, didn't look up from her notebook. She had layered enchantments scribbled across every inch of it, like defensive homework for a coming storm.
Then it happened.
The classroom door creaked open.
A girl stepped in—tall, graceful, and dressed in immaculate uniform with a black rose pinned over her heart. Her silver-blonde hair shimmered like mist, and her eyes—violet like midnight thunderclouds—scanned the room with icy indifference.
Everything stopped.
> [Observe Activated]
> Name: Ayla Virell
Class: Enchantress (Tier D+)
Faction: Crownless Court
Status: Active Challenger
Threat: High
Skills Detected: Unknown | Caution Advised
Personality Trait: Regal, Calculating, Curious
Kai blinked. "That's her."
Ayla's gaze snapped toward him.
Like she'd heard him think it.
She gave the faintest smile, then walked across the room… and took the empty seat beside him.
"Hello," she said softly, voice melodic. "Kai Evernight, yes?"
His pulse spiked. "How do you know my name?"
"Why wouldn't I?" she replied sweetly. "I make it a point to know all pieces worth moving."
---
Scene: Tension and Tea
Lunch came, and Kai found himself sitting across from Ayla in the tea garden behind the music building—somehow she had dismissed everyone else with nothing but a few smiles and subtle gestures.
The two of them alone now. Duelists. Players.
"You've drawn attention," she said, pouring tea with uncanny grace. "Defeated Lucien. Impressive. That boy was Shadow-born. Tough to kill. You didn't kill him, did you?"
"No," Kai said flatly. "I'm not a murderer."
"Good," she said. "Not yet."
Kai frowned. "Why are you here?"
"To test the waters," Ayla said, sipping her tea. "The Crownless Court has heard whispers of you. A System bearer who wasn't chosen by the Thrones. That makes you a wild card. Dangerous… interesting."
He stood. "If you're here to fight me, let's get it over with."
Ayla didn't flinch. "I'm not here to fight, Kai. I'm here to offer you a seat."
He blinked. "What?"
"Join me," she said, violet eyes glowing faintly. "Serve the Court. Walk beside me, not against me. You'd gain power, resources, knowledge... and me, as an ally."
> [System Choice Detected]
Option 1: Accept Ayla's Offer – Join Crownless Court
Option 2: Reject Her – Remain Free]
Reward or Conflict to follow based on choice.
Kai stared at the options.
He could feel something behind them. A ripple in the System, a tug in his soul. Accepting might open doors—but close others forever.
He exhaled.
"I'll pass."
Ayla's smile didn't fade. But something in her aura grew colder.
"So be it," she said.
Then everything twisted.
---
Scene: Illusion Trap
> [Ayla Virell has activated: Enchantress Domain – "Queen's Mirage"]
The tea garden melted into fog and gold light. Kai stood in a palace of mirrors now, his reflection scattered infinite times over. His HUD flickered violently.
> WARNING: Domain Field Detected
Visibility Disrupted | Skill Cooldowns Extended by +5s
Ayla's voice echoed around him, dripping with calm malice.
"This is the world of my will, Kai. Let's see if your resolve is real."
> [Quest Update: Survive Ayla's Domain – Time Limit: 10 Minutes]
Kai gritted his teeth.
> Void Blink – On cooldown.
Observe – Disrupted.
Insight – Flickering.
"No way out but through," he muttered.
Ayla's illusions moved through the mirrors—dozens of her, all humming arcane runes and glyphs. Spells flashed—blinding lights, deafening whispers, knives of wind.
Kai dodged, rolled, barely escaping each barrage. A mirror shattered—he dived through and caught a glimpse of the real Ayla before she vanished again.
> New Status Effect: Arcane Fatigue (Lv.1)
Movement Speed -10%, Focus -15%
His breath heaved.
He couldn't keep up like this.
Then he remembered.
> [Insight: Triggered]
Mirror cracks angle 17.3 degrees clockwise.
He spun, stabbed into that mirror—shattering the illusion.
The real Ayla flinched as her arm bled. "Clever boy."
He blinked behind her using Void Blink.
And caught her wrist before her next spell cast.
> [Skill Clash: Enchantress Glyph vs Piercing Strike – Success! Kai Wins!]
Ayla stumbled back. Her Domain cracked.
> [Queen's Mirage – Shattered]
The illusion melted. They were back in the garden. Real sunlight. Real ground. Students in the distance again.
Ayla looked down at her bleeding arm, then up at him, smiling.
"You win… this time."
> [Main Quest Cleared: Survived Ayla's Trial]
Rewards: Enchantress's Favor x1, Unique Skill Fragment x1, Reputation: +5 with Crownless Court]
She turned and walked away.
But not before whispering over her shoulder—
"You'll need me, Kai. When the Thrones come for you… you'll wish you'd chosen the Queen."