“Eirik?! Are you serious?!”

The camp erupted into chatter, curiosity piqued across the group.

“It’s been ages since anyone’s heard from Eirik!”

“Yeah, I almost forgot about that guy,” one of them admitted, laughing nervously.

It had been quite some time, and they’d all found their rhythm under Miss Fennec’s guidance. Life had settled into a comfortable routine. During the day, they worked side by side, and by night, they gathered around the campfire to share songs and stories.

It wasn’t as grand as the Dawnstar Dynasty, but this was the wilderness, and they’d made it their home. Without magic to rely on, they were just ordinary people now, so they learned to take pleasure in the simple things. Days were filled with weaving straw mats, foraging for wild berries, and sharing laughter with comrades—hardships endured, bonds strengthened.

There was a strange joy in this kind of life. It wasn’t glamorous, but it was real. They were poor, sure, but damn if they didn’t feel alive. That was the magic Miss Fennec had brought: women standing tall, strong and independent.

And Eirik?

He was nothing more than a distant memory. Better left forgotten.

But now?

Out of nowhere, someone claimed to have seen him.

“Are you sure it’s him? What’s he even doing in the valley?” Selene asked, skepticism in her voice, though her eyes betrayed a flicker of obsession. She’d once risked her life trying to find Eirik, nearly drowning in the process.

“Well... I didn’t get a good look, but the silhouette matches. Wait—let me sneak closer and grab a shot!” the scout replied eagerly.

The in-game photo-sharing feature was always a source of amusement, giving the group small bursts of joy.

“Eh, who cares if it’s him?” one person scoffed.

“You think he’s living better than us?” another chimed in, mocking.

“Hah! We’ve got the Elemental Springs. Magic is boosting us all the time. We’re getting stronger by the day. Soon, this entire island will be ours. What does Eirik have that compares?”

A girl by the fire burst into laughter. “Let’s see how pathetic he’s become. Back at the Academy, I even tried giving him gifts. That bastard didn’t just refuse—he wouldn’t even look me in the eye! Can you believe that? Still pisses me off.” She sniffled dramatically, drawing sympathetic chuckles from the group.

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Their hands continued to work as they bantered, weaving straw mats in the flickering firelight. Every completed mat boosted their survival score, helping them move past their crude cave life.

But then, the first photo arrived, and the camp went eerily silent. One by one, the girls stared at the screen, the air heavy with disbelief.

The image before them was almost otherworldly.

A quaint wooden cottage sat nestled in a sunlit valley, beside a sparkling stream. Winding stone paths led through vibrant flowerbeds, bursting with color. A small vegetable garden flourished nearby, its green sprouts basking in the warm light.

In the center of it all—a swing, gently swaying between blooming flowers. Beneath a shaded pergola, a small table sat with half-finished tea and an open book.

It was a scene straight from a dream—a life of peace, beauty, and tranquility.

“...Wait. This can’t be real. Is this place really on our island?”

“No way!” someone exclaimed. “Whoever took this photo is messing with us. Good prank, though.”

The disbelief was palpable. There was no way this could be true.

They had the Elemental Springs, magic fruits, and power boosts—but even they were stuck living like savages. How could anyone on this cursed island be enjoying such paradise?

Then, just to shatter their doubts, a second photo came through.

This one was even clearer.

A young man stood tall in the frame, his posture relaxed and confident, his casual clothes stylish yet simple—none other than Eirik himself.

And beside him? A girl, her hair messy, dirt smudged across her face, her expression shy yet radiant. Even with the grime, her beauty was undeniable—it was Liora.

Selene’s breath hitched in her chest.

Liora… her apprentice.

They had once been inseparable—until that disastrous search for Eirik. They had been swept away by a flood, and though Selene barely survived, Liora had escaped unscathed.

Selene had no choice but to give up and join Miss Fennec’s group.

Liora, though? She had pressed on, determined to find Eirik.

And now, here she was.

She’d found him.

Their paths had diverged, leading them to entirely different futures.

“Shit… How the hell did he pull this off?” one of the girls muttered, her voice full of disbelief.

Eirik—of all people—had found paradise?

“This has gotta be some kind of cheat, right?” another suggested, frustration creeping into her tone.

“Or maybe... maybe that cottage isn’t even his. Could be the locals’ place!” someone else offered, grasping at straws.

There were rumors of native inhabitants on the island—wild people, glimpsed in the distance. But this? This didn’t look like the work of savages.

“Yeah, that’s it! Eirik must’ve stumbled across one of the locals’ homes and fixed it up. Lucky bastard.”

“Even if it’s luck, he’s still got a roof over his head. That’s more than we’ve got…”

The optimism in the group began to waver. They had thought they were doing well—until now. Compared to Eirik’s idyllic life, their cave and campfires suddenly felt unbearably crude.

“Come on, don’t lose heart!” one girl urged. “Tomorrow, we’ll go exploring with Miss Fennec. Maybe we’ll find one of those native houses too! Just needs a little fixing up, right?”

Her words offered a small flicker of hope, and the mood lightened, if only slightly.

Miss Fennec was their trump card, after all. With her by their side, better days were surely ahead.

But just as they started to regain some optimism, another message appeared.

“Liora just sent another picture,” someone whispered, disbelief heavy in her voice.

Everyone crowded around, holding their breath.

This time, the photo was far more intimate:

Eirik and Liora, walking hand-in-hand, heading toward the cottage.