As Sylas returned to the woodland, the morning mist hung low to the ground. Birds chirped in the distance as the sun's gentle beams seeped through the leaves and illuminated his way. He wasn't here to cut wood today, but the axe was resting on his shoulder.
He had made up his mind last night.
The crypt had waited long enough.
Selene's warning still echoed in his head. Don't trust everything you hear about the crypt. There was fear in her voice when she said it. Not superstition—real fear. And that made it harder to ignore.
Sylas stopped at the edge of the forest clearing and checked his satchel. Dried meat, a flask of water, rope, flint, and a torch. It wasn't much, but it would have to do.
> [Active Quest Log] - Shadow Under Haresh (Goal: Examine the Crypt) - Undiscovered Secrets of Haresh (New Goal: Find Hints)
Deeper into the forest he followed the deer's tiny route. The limbs of the thickening trees clawed up like fingers. It was darker here, cooler too. Each step felt like moving further away from the world above.
After nearly an hour of walking, the trees began to thin, and the land dipped into a shallow basin. At the center, almost swallowed by moss and vines, was a stone structure. Half-buried. Forgotten.
The crypt.
Sylas crouched beside it, brushing away loose earth and weeds. The stone was old, the carvings faded. No name marked the entrance. Just a symbol—something like a spiral inside a circle.
He pressed against the heavy stone door. It didn't budge.
> [System Message]
Strength Check Failed. Required: 10 / Current: 8
"Tch. Figures."
He looked around. A fallen tree nearby had thick roots growing toward the structure. He looped the rope around one of the crypt's rusted iron handles and tied the other end around the tree trunk.The door squeaked open just enough to let someone in with a gentle pull and the creak of ancient stone.
He was met with a cold, moist breeze. His nostrils caught the smell of dust and mold. After lighting his torch, Sylas entered.
The hallway was narrow, the air heavy. Carvings lined the walls—simple lines at first, then scenes. People kneeling. A black sun. A figure with many arms.
The silence here wasn't like the forest. This was deeper. Still.
Sylas walked carefully, his footsteps muffled by thick dust. The torchlight flickered over bones in the corners—small ones. Animal, he hoped.
At the end of the hall, the path opened into a chamber. A stone altar stood at the center, cracked and covered in ivy. Strange marks covered the floor around it—circles and symbols burned into the stone.
> [System Notification]
You have discovered: Forgotten Ritual Chamber
+50 XP
New Lore Unlocked: Cult of the Veiled One
He stepped closer to the altar. Something glinted faintly in the crack. He reached in, careful not to cut himself, and pulled out a small amulet. Cold to the touch, shaped like the spiral symbol from the entrance.
> [Item Acquired: Amulet of the Veiled One]
– Type: Key Item
– Description: An artifact tied to the ancient cult once hidden beneath Haresh. Opens hidden paths.
A sound behind him made him freeze.
A soft scrape.
He turned, torch raised high.
Nothing.
The shadows stretched long across the walls. Sylas's grip on the torch tightened. He scanned the room again, this time noticing a thin crack in the far wall—almost a door, but sealed.
He walked over and held the amulet up.
Nothing happened.
Then, a faint pulse. A soft warmth in the amulet. The stone creaked.
The wall shifted.
Dust poured down as a narrow passage opened.
> [Quest Log Update]
– Hidden Secrets of Haresh (New Objective: Enter the Hidden Path)
Sylas hesitated only for a second, then stepped into the passage.
The air here was different—older, stiller. It sloped down. Deeper underground. His footsteps echoed louder now. He couldn't tell how far he'd gone when he saw a faint blue glow ahead.
He stepped into a new chamber—round, with smooth stone walls. At the center stood a massive crystal, pulsing faintly with light. Around it, old wooden stands, broken scrolls, and decayed robes. It looked like a hidden sanctuary.
He walked to the crystal.
It felt… alive.
Then the system spoke.
> [System Message – Hidden Function Unlocked]
Do you wish to awaken latent class potential?
[Y/N]
Sylas stared.
A class?
He hadn't seen that since he first arrived in this world. Until now, he'd been living like a commoner. No fancy powers. No chosen one story.
But now… this.
He hesitated.
Then pressed Y.
The crystal flared.
> [Class Awakening Initiated…]
[Analyzing Path…]
[Class Gained: Warden of the Hollow]
– A hidden class tied to balance, memory, and secrets buried deep.
– Trait Gained: "Veil Sense" – Detect hidden passages and cursed places.
– Skill Gained: "Bind of Stone" – Temporarily immobilize enemies with earthen chains.
– Passive Gained: "Rooted Will" – Increased resistance to fear and mental effects.
Sylas stumbled back as the light faded.
He felt different. Lighter and heavier at the same time. Something deep inside had shifted.
> [Quest Log Updated]
– Shadow Beneath Haresh (Objective Updated: Confront the Veiled One's Echo)
– New Quest Unlocked: Legacy of the Warden
He stood in the silence, breathing slow.
Whatever this place was, it had changed him.
He wasn't just a stranger building fields anymore.
He was part of something old.
Something buried.
Sylas stared at the glowing message hovering in front of him. Creation skills. The words buzzed in his mind, full of quiet promise. For the first time in a while, the path forward didn't feel so foggy. He had the tools now. It was time to build.
But first—he looked toward the crooked roof of his home—he'd start small.