Alan jolted awake, coughing violently as foreign air filled his lungs.
The sky above him swirled with deep crimson and violet clouds. Towering ruins floated overhead — impossibly massive stone temples and bridges that defied gravity.
His body felt strange.
Stronger. Lighter.
And within his mind, a quiet hum — the presence of something... ancient.
Hovering before him was a grimoire — thick, bound in shimmering black leather, with golden glyphs slowly rearranging themselves across its cover.
Then, it spoke.
[Welcome, Soul Anchor: Alan Ardyn.]
[Binding Complete.]
A flood of information surged into his mind:
— Eldralis: a realm where magic reigned supreme.
— Soulforging: the art of crafting and evolving magic directly from one's soul.
— The laws: survival of the strongest.
And most importantly:
"Only those who forge their souls can claim true power."
Alan gritted his teeth, rising slowly to his feet.
Nearby, a narrow river wound through jagged stones. Beyond that, a thick mist crept between the trees of an eerie forest.
No signs of civilization. No signs of his siblings.
Just him... and the grimoire.
Status Panel:
Name: Alan Ardyn
Race: Human (Soulforger Initiate)
Class: None
Level: 1
Affinity: Mana (Neutral)
Titles: [None]
New Skill Acquired: [Basic Soulforge: Spark]
Description: Condense ambient mana into a raw projectile. Damage and stability depend on user's control.
Alan clenched his fist, feeling the pulse of mana swirl around him.
It wasn't much — a single step on a long road — but it was something.
"Survive first... figure everything else out later."
He opened the Grimoire again.
Inside, written in blood-red ink, was his first Quest:
[Quest: Baptism of the Lost]
Objective: Slay 3 Wildborn to stabilize soul resonance.
Reward: Class Awakening | Choose 1 Soul Path.
The forest called to him — and danger awaited.
Alan's lips curled into a determined smile.
Moments Later — In the Forest
The mist was thick, chilling to the bone.
Alan moved carefully, senses sharpened by instinct.
Suddenly, from the shadows, something lunged —
A creature of nightmares, resembling a twisted wolf with spindly limbs and three glowing eyes.
A Wildborn.
Alan didn't hesitate.
Mana surged through his veins, swirling at his palm.
He shaped it — rough, crude, but enough.
"Basic Soulforge: Spark!"
A burst of raw mana blasted from his hand, striking the Wildborn square in the chest. It staggered — snarled — and charged again.
Alan dodged clumsily, adrenaline flooding his body.
Another Spark — this one more focused — slammed into its skull.
The Wildborn collapsed, twitching.
One down.
Hours passed in the mist.
Fighting. Running. Learning.
Each Wildborn he defeated left a trace of energy behind, seeping into Alan's soul, mending the fractures bit by bit.
Finally, after the third kill, a golden notification flared before his eyes:
[Quest Complete: Baptism of the Lost]
[Soul Resonance Stabilized: 15%]
[Choose Your Initial Soul Path:]
Arcanist — Mastery over structured, refined spells.
Warden — Strengthen the body and soul into an indestructible fortress.
Animist — Bond with spirits and wield raw primal forces.
Alan hesitated, breathing heavily.
Each path called to a different future.
Each choice would shape him irrevocably.
"This is just the beginning..."
He reached out his hand, making his decision.
And the world around him — the world of Eldralis — began to change.
(End of Episode 2)