It was a novel idea, of course—the Loremaster node held the key to my goals. Unlike the usual paths players took, where speed and efficiency reigned supreme, the Loremaster path offered something unique: quests that led to the heart of the world’s history and mysteries, hidden from those who merely skimmed the surface. Standing in the bustling town square, I brought up the Atlas of Power, eyes skimming over the vast web of nodes. At first glance, it looked like leveling was solely quest-based, but the intricacies were deeper. Each node seemed to influence not just power but my understanding of the game itself.

The forums were already buzzing with theories and strategies, most of which focused on weapon mastery levels and dungeon grinding. Efficient leveling paths, optimized builds—just the usual min-maxer fare. But the Loremaster path was still an enigma, discussed only in hushed speculation. Most players breezed past it, dismissing it as "fluff." But if this game was as immersive as it claimed, fluff was exactly what I needed.

Selecting the Loremaster node caused a notification to flash in my HUD. The first Loremaster quest appeared before me in glowing text: "The Ancient Tombs: Find Scholar Valari in Twilight City." Twilight City was the regional hub, a sprawling metropolis known for its intricate architecture and player-driven economy. It seemed like everyone would have to pass through there eventually. I took a deep breath, anticipating the journey ahead, and began my trek.

For the next two hours, I scoured the area around Haven, searching for hidden lore or clues I might otherwise miss. I delved into forgotten shrines, examined ancient-looking statues, even eavesdropped on NPC conversations. Yet, all I uncovered were faint echoes—whispers of a world that had once thrived, fractured by something dark and consuming. Despite finding little in concrete lore, the time wasn’t wasted. Every interaction, every ambient sound, made the game feel more alive. But now, the path to Twilight City awaited.

As I neared the main road, a group of players stood off to the side. They looked seasoned—gear shimmering, weapons ornate. One of them turned to me with a smirk.

"Hey, newbie," he called, his tone a bit too smug.

I took in his armor, which was almost excessively decorated for a level 60 Knight. PvP wasn’t enabled at low levels here, so I didn’t see the harm in at least hearing him out.

“Help you?” I asked, keeping my voice as neutral as possible.

"You need a party to help you level? We’re all high-level,” he said, gesturing to his team. "We even have a guild."

I shook my head. “No thanks,” I replied evenly. “I prefer going solo.”

The man’s expression shifted, a frown creasing his face. “PvP is enabled at level 20,” he warned, voice tinged with a hint of malice. “You might want to be careful when you leave the safety of Twilight City.”

It was a threat, plain as day. But I was unfazed. By the time I hit level 20, my build would be well on its way to perfection. Still, I kept my response curt. “PvP? Not interested. Thanks.”

As I walked away, his attempts to call after me faded into the background, lost in the wind that swept through the open grasslands. The game’s attention to detail continued to impress me—the sway of tall grass, the rustling leaves, even the crunch of dirt underfoot. Tiny rocks lay scattered along the path, and with a flick, I picked one up, tossing it casually into the distance. Small things, but they hinted at the depth and care that went into this world.

Finally, the city loomed on the horizon. Twilight City was a marvel, a sprawling, gothic metropolis that somehow felt both grand and oppressive. Towers reached toward the sky, connected by arching bridges, while bustling crowds moved along its cobbled streets. Entering the Grand Square, I took in the lively scene: players hawking their wares, guilds recruiting newcomers, and merchants selling rare weapons. But none of that interested me, not now. I had a mission.

As I moved deeper into the city, a familiar figure in the crowd caught my eye. It was a face—no, an avatar—I thought I recognized from Royale Online. A memory stirred, but I pushed it aside. There were more pressing matters to attend to.

After some wandering, I finally located the temple nestled near the edge of town, its massive doors adorned with symbols and runes. Inside, a robed NPC stood, her serene expression framed by flowing, silver hair. This had to be Scholar Valari. As I approached, her gaze met mine, and her voice was smooth, almost reverent.

“Greetings, Loreseeker,” she said. “The fable of the Tomb of the Ancients is one you must hear.”

She paused, as though gathering the weight of her words. “In the age of the Ancients, a great war ravaged the realms. Heroes rose above all, binding themselves in an eternal struggle to stave off the Eternal Convergence—a cataclysmic force that merges worlds, devouring them into oblivion. When the battle was over, these heroes were laid to rest, interred in grand tombs built by their followers. Yet, a dark spell tore through the realms, scattering these tombs, hiding them from all but those who truly seek knowledge.”

The author's content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

As her tale ended, a notification blinked across my screen: Quest Complete! I gained a level, and a set of odd stones appeared in my inventory. Each one had a unique, weathered look, etched with symbols that hinted at powers untold. The descriptions indicated that these stones fit into specific slots within the Ancient Tombs.

Excitement sparked in me. These stones were more than just collectibles; they were keys. The Loremaster path was beginning to reveal its secrets, and each step brought me closer to unraveling the core mysteries of the game.

I opened my character menu, glancing at my stats. The level-up had granted me several attribute points, which I quickly distributed with the precision of a min-maxer. But there was no rush to optimize every point just yet; I’d refine my build as I progressed, ensuring I had an edge when PvP eventually became an option.

For now, my path was clear: the tombs awaited, hidden across the world, shrouded in mystery and danger. And as I left the temple, I felt a thrill—a sense of purpose. This game wasn’t just about leveling or loot; it was about discovery, secrets that only a few would ever uncover. And I was determined to be among them. As I gathered my thoughts on my next move, I noticed someone approaching—another player, this time a cleric wielding a hammer and shield. She looked well-prepared, her gear signaling a clear focus on undead combat. Something about her seemed familiar, but it wasn't until she spoke that I realized who it was.

"Thought you'd be playing this, Avicious—or should I say Astraeus, as you're known now." Her voice carried that same sharp edge, though tempered with a level of professionalism I remembered well.

"Mira... or should I say, Aethera?" I replied, matching her tone with a smirk. "What happened to Royale Online? Did it turn to dust once I got chased out?"

She sighed, nodding as if to confirm my suspicions. "It did. Blazer's ego went through the roof after you left. He claimed to be the best player, whether it was PvP or PvE, but he completely shattered the guild. Everyone else quit eventually. Some moved on to Gun Bringers Online, but most of them ended up here, in Age of Eternity."

I couldn't help but feel a pang of satisfaction, though I masked it with a casual shrug. "Figures. And here I thought I was done with all that."

Aethera chuckled, brushing off the memory with a smile. "Well, you don’t seem to have changed much. Still running a fighter-mage hybrid, I see?"

"Yeah, figured I'd stick to my strengths," I replied. "But I'm aiming to spec as a Warlock this time. The game doesn’t rely on wisdom or charisma stats, so building around Int and Str made sense. Plus, I get to min-max my favorite way. And that Atlas of Power? It’s impressive."

Aethera's face lit up in recognition. "You must have spent hours charting out your path already, right? Find anything interesting?"

"Loremaster node," I said, watching her face as she opened her own Atlas. To my surprise, she scanned her tree and found… nothing. That whole section of her Atlas was missing, with branches that led nowhere. She even sent me a screenshot to prove it. I tried to send her my view, but all she received was a black screen.

"That’s… strange," she murmured, tilting her head. "Could just be a bug, though. Some parts of this game have been known to glitch, even with all the QA testing. Maybe it’s server-side?"

"Yeah, probably nothing," I agreed, though I made a mental note of it. There was something unnerving about being the only one with access to such a pivotal questline.

"So, anyone from the old guild here I should know about?" I asked. "Is Blazer lurking around in Age of Eternity?"

Aethera sighed. "Yeah, unfortunately. Blazer’s here, along with ShogunBeater, Toshishun, and LionGangChampion. They even formed a guild, same as before. They call themselves The Sun Bringers. But don’t worry, I won’t tell them you’re around. Blazer’s ego’s fragile enough as it is."

The news felt like a stone in my gut. These were the very players who had turned my last gaming experience into a nightmare, driving me to quit. I took a long break after that, nearly two years, and now they’d found their way here, too. But I had moved on, and the thought of them ruining another experience lit a fire within me. This time, I would handle things differently.

"Idiots follow their leader, I guess. Good to see you’re not with them," I said with a nod toward her lack of a guild emblem.

Aethera shrugged. "No interest in guild drama. But if you’re planning to go it solo, maybe we could still team up here and there? It’s always useful to have an undead-killer on hand."

I considered it, but I’d already made up my mind. "I’m going solo for now. There are unique bonuses in this game for solo players, and you can still run dungeons without a full party. They even have specialized NPCs for that. Maybe later, if I need the best materials for endgame gear, I'll join a raid. But for now, I’m sticking to the plan."

"Still focused on the endgame, as always," she replied with a knowing smile. A notification popped up in my HUD: Aethera has requested friendship. I accepted, and her avatar smiled.

"Knowing you, you’ll be diving deep into the lore, right?" she asked, her voice softening.

"Naturally. I’m a lore hound, after all," I said, rubbing my hands together. "No way am I passing up the rewards hidden in the lore. I’m taking my time with every quest."

She grinned. "Well, if you’re in it for the lore, let me give you a heads-up. Every major city in the game has a Sepulcher. At some point, you’ll get a quest to retrieve an hourglass for the Guardian Dragon. But be warned—there are loot robbers waiting around that area. They’ll exploit the boss fight mechanics to stun players and steal drops, except for the hourglass."

"Good to know," I said, making a mental note. "Thanks for the heads-up, Aethera. I’ll keep an eye out."

"Anytime. And if you ever need a solid cleric, you know where to find me." She gave me a casual salute and turned to leave, disappearing into the crowd.

I was left alone again in the bustling square, my mind brimming with plans. The Sun Bringers might be here, but this wasn’t Royale Online. I had an advantage they didn’t—a fresh start, a hidden questline, and my own path forward.