I continued to explore the city of Caelivitas. Now that the crowd from Solcaeli’s grand arrival had dissipated, I was able to glimpse the true face of the city. It was depressing.

Square buildings made of plain stone and wood lined the streets. Years of sandstorms had eaten away at the corners, leaving them rounded and rough.

Most of the townspeople remained indoors, leaving the streets bare and the cityscape stripped of life. There was a sense of quiet resignation in the air and the few people I passed by looked like they had long learned to keep their heads down.

“Please, grant us succor…” a faint voice called from a corner. A few beggars lined the streets, their hands outstretched. Their bodies were scarred by the unmistakable signs of light poisoning. Their limbs were hardened, some partially turned to stone.

“Please God, forgive us for our sins” Another voice called out. The speaker, an old man with shaking hands. His fingers were beginning to show the early signs of petrification. Beside him stood a man whose left arm had been entirely encased in rock.

“Please save my son, he has done no wrong” This time it was a woman. She was clutching a child whose skin had begun to harden at the fingertips. It was a sad sight.

I shook off the unease that settled in my chest and remembered Solcaeli's invitation to visit the holy temple. Perhaps there I would be able to learn more about the mysteries of this world. The temple of light was located in the upper layer of the city, its spires visible even from here. And so, I set out towards it.

As I ascended into the upper city, the contrast was jarring. The buildings were no longer crude and simple. Instead, they were made of polished white stone that shone in desert’s sun.

Where the lower city was subdued and lifeless, the upper city was alive with luxury. The nobles here walked with a pompous gait, their silks clothes catching the sunlight They clustered in little circles, filling the air with tinkling laughter and idle gossip, seemingly blind to the suffering just steps below their streets. Their servants scurried behind them, carrying baggage and fans for their masters.

As I navigated the well-maintained streets, I felt a small tug on my sleeve. Looking down, I saw a young girl of around 12, with wide eyes and a neatly braided hairstyle. She looked like the daughter of some high-born noble with her pristine silk dress. However, her expression was one of worry.

“Have you seen my Daisy, sir?

“Sorry kid, I ain’t got the time for this” I shook my head and tried to move on but she held on tight to my sleeves.

"I took her for a walk yesterday," the girl said, wringing her hands. Her bottom lip trembled, and worry lines creased her otherwise perfect features, making her look younger and more vulnerable. "But she wandered off... She's always come home before. What if something happened to her? What if she's scared and alone?"

New Quest: Find Daisy Priority: Normal Description: A noblegirl's pet has gone missing in the city. Find and return Daisy to her owner. Objectives: - Locate Daisy - Return her to Arya Reward: ??? Warning: Time Sensitive

The notification caught my interest. It sounded like a distraction from my current goals but if there was a whole side quest for it, it might be worth the effort.

“Tell me more about Daisy” I asked.

“She has beautiful white hair,” the girl answered, her fingers unconsciously moving as if stroking something. “"And she's ever so obedient. Never complains when I brush it, or when I want to practice my braiding.” A smile crept onto her face, as though remembering fond memories.

"She enjoys exploring the city streets. Even though it's vast, she's never lost her way home before." The girl's voice wavered with what seemed like concern. "She must be so hungry by now... I was meant to give her dinner yesterday, but it slipped my mind."

You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

The girl’s distress tugged at me, though there was something odd about the way she said it. “Don’t worry, I’ll help you find her,” I promised, setting off to ask around.

Quest Updated: Information Added Notable Features: White hair, responds to the name "Daisy"

As I walked through the winding streets of the upper city, I asked the occasional passer-by. The responses were varied, but none helpful.

"Arya's pet?" The nobleman barely glanced up from his ledger. "That girl needs to learn the value of property. Her father can't keep replacing everything she breaks."

A noblewoman merely sniffed, adjusting her parasol. "That child should learn to properly train her... companions. The last one had atrocious table manners, wouldn't even sit properly at meals."

A merchant's daughter brightened when I mentioned Arya. "Oh, I'd love to have pets like hers! But father says I'm not ready for the responsibility yet. Says I need to learn... patience first." Her excitement dimmed slightly. "Though it's strange, I never see the same one twice at her tea parties."

After what felt like hours of fruitless inquiries, I finally caught a break.

“Ah Arya’s little pet?” A guard muttered, deep in thought. “I saw that filthy beast by the warehouse in the lower city, you’ll have to head back down.”

Quest Updated: Information Added Last Known Location: Lower City Warehouse District

Thanking him, I headed back down towards the lower city. As I did, the streets grew less pristine and the polished buildings gave way to a maze of dilapidated warehouses and storage areas.

Just as I rounded a corner, I heard it, a faint, distant bark, echoing through the narrow passageways. I quickened my pace, weaving through the alleys, trying to follow the sound.

Left, then right, deeper into the warehouse district. The buildings pressed in closer here, blocking out most of the harsh sunlight. The barking grew louder, sharper and more frantic. There was something desperate in that sound, something that made the hair on the back of my neck stand up.

Then I saw it. Out of the corner of my eyes, a dog. It stood still for a moment near a stack of old crates, staring at me with wary eyes. But something was wrong. It wasn’t the snowy white of the girl’s description. This one was brown, its coat matted with dirt. Its ribs showed through its skin, telling a story of hard times on these unforgiving streets.

“You’re not Daisy, are you, girl?” I asked, kneeling down to meet the animal’s eyes. The dog whined softly, then barked again. It trotted a few steps away, then looked back at me expectantly.

I'd played enough RPGs to recognize a guide when I saw one. "Alright, lead the way."

The dog led me deeper into the warehouse district, past buildings with windows boarded off. No workers here, no signs of life at all. Just row after row of abandoned buildings, their empty windows staring down like vacant eyes.

There, lying on the ground ahead of me, I saw what I thought was a young woman. Her figure was still, her posture peaceful, as if she had simply fallen asleep. One arm was stretched out, reaching toward something I couldn't see.

But as I drew closer, terror seeped into my veins. The woman was no longer flesh and blood. She was stone, a statue wearing a collar and leash on her neck.

"Daisy!" The sound of Arya's delighted voice made me jump. She darted past me to the statue, face glowing with childish relief. "I finally found you!"

She dropped to her knees beside the petrified figure, shaking it with the impatience of a child with a broken toy. "Why didn't you come when I called? Bad girl, making me look everywhere for you."

"Daisy, stop being difficult." Irritation crept into her voice as she tugged at the unyielding stone. "You can't sleep here. We're going home."

I was still trying to comprehend what was going on and could only mutter “She’s gone Arya. Light poisoning has claimed her.”

Her face darkened. "Tch. These things always break so easily." She lashed out with one silk-slippered foot, striking the statue. "Father promised this one would be different."

Her fingers traced the petrified strands of hair almost lovingly before yanking the leash with sudden violence. "You were the prettiest Daisy yet. None of the other Daisies had white hair as lovely as yours ... and now look what you've done."

She stood, brushing dust from her dress with practiced disdain. "Do you know how long it takes Father to find new ones? And even longer before the light makes their hair turn that perfect shade of white..."

I watched in stunned silence as Arya abused the stone figure. To her, Daisy was no friend or companion. Just another toy to break.

The brown dog whined softly beside me. It was still watching the statue, head tilted as if trying to understand. Funny how the starving stray seemed more human than the noble child before me.

Quest completed Gained Passive skill Heart of Stone Heart of Stone: Your constant exposure to tragedy has granted you a stone heart. Gain resistance to mental status effects

A stone heart? Yeah, that describes how I was feeling right now. I wanted to feel rage. Wanted to feel the kind of righteous anger that would drive a proper hero to action. But instead, I felt... nothing.