The shop felt different the second time I stepped inside.

It wasn’t the air, which was still cool and heavy with the faint metallic tang of ancient artifacts. It wasn’t the shelves, which still bowed under the weight of strange objects I couldn’t name.

It was the feeling that something—or someone—was waiting for me.

The shopkeeper glanced up from his workbench as I entered, his sharp eyes narrowing slightly. “Back already?”

I hesitated at the threshold, my hand resting on the doorframe. “I saw a notice,” I said finally. “Something about… those who have seen the light?”

The shopkeeper’s expression didn’t change, but I caught the faintest flicker of interest in his gaze.

“Ah,” he said, setting down the strange metal contraption he’d been working on. “I wondered who might show up for that.”

He motioned for me to follow, leading me past the cluttered shelves and into a small, dimly lit back room. The walls were lined with more artifacts, some glowing faintly, others ominously dark.

In the center of the room sat a circular table made of black stone, its surface etched with runes that pulsed faintly as we approached.

The shopkeeper gestured to a chair. “Sit.”

I hesitated, my pulse quickening. The last time I’d felt this kind of unease was in the dungeon, right before the sentinels came to life.

“Relax,” the shopkeeper said, his voice almost amused. “This isn’t a trap. Yet.”

His attempt at humor didn’t help, but I sat anyway, my hand resting on the edge of the table in case I needed to bolt.

The shopkeeper sat across from me, his hands steepled. “You said you saw the light. What did you mean by that?”

I blinked, caught off guard by the question. “I… don’t know,” I admitted. “I saw the notice on the board, and it felt like—”

“Like it was meant for you,” he finished.

I nodded, the knot in my chest tightening.

The shopkeeper leaned back, his sharp gaze never leaving mine. “And what makes you think that?”

I hesitated, debating whether to tell him about the system anomalies, the way the world seemed to ripple around me whenever I used my powers. But something about the weight of his stare made me cautious.

“It’s just a feeling,” I said finally.

The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.

“Hmph,” the shopkeeper grunted, clearly unimpressed. “Feelings won’t get you far in Aetherion.”

He stood, pacing around the room as he spoke. “Those who see the light… they’re not like the others. They’re marked. The system watches them more closely, reacts to them differently.”

“Why?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

“That’s the question, isn’t it?” He stopped, turning to face me. “Some say it’s a gift. Others call it a curse. Either way, it’s dangerous.”

The room felt colder, the faint hum of the runes on the table growing louder.

“And you think I’m one of them?” I asked, my throat dry.

The shopkeeper studied me for a long moment before speaking. “I don’t know what you are yet. But the fact that you’re here means you’re worth watching.”

He reached into his coat and pulled out a small, glowing crystal, placing it on the table between us. The light inside it swirled like liquid fire.

“This is a beacon,” he said. “It’ll let you find others like you—or let them find you. Use it wisely.”

I stared at the crystal, the weight of his words pressing down on me.

“What happens if I use it?” I asked.

“That depends,” the shopkeeper said, a faint smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth. “Sometimes, it’s better not to know.”

I left the shop with the crystal tucked safely into my pouch.

The idea that there were others like me—people the system treated differently—was equal parts terrifying and intriguing. If I wasn’t alone, then maybe someone out there had answers.

But the shopkeeper’s warning lingered, casting a shadow over my thoughts. What kind of people would I find if I used the beacon? And what would they want from me?

The marketplace felt different now, its chaos muted by the weight of what I’d learned. I wandered aimlessly, the crystal’s faint warmth pressing against my side as I debated my next move.

A system notification blinked into view, startling me:

[Optional Quest: Activate the Beacon.]

[Reward: ???]

[Warning: Quest Progress May Trigger Unforeseen Consequences.]

I stared at the notification, my hand brushing the edge of the pouch. The choice felt heavier than any I’d made before, like the entire world was holding its breath, waiting for my decision.

“Hey, you!”

The shout snapped me out of my thoughts. I turned to see a group of adventurers heading my way, their armor battered but well-maintained. The leader, a tall woman with a spear strapped to her back, pointed directly at me.

“You’re new here, right?” she said, her tone somewhere between friendly and threatening.

“Uh, yeah,” I said cautiously.

She stopped in front of me, crossing her arms. “Good. You’ll want to stick with people who know the ropes. Come on, we’ve got a job lined up.”

I blinked, caught off guard by her bluntness. “I’m not looking for a group,” I said, taking a step back.

Her expression hardened. “That wasn’t a request.”

Before I could respond, the system chimed again:

[New Quest: Join the Party for an Escort Mission.]

[Reward: 25 Silver and Party Reputation Increase.]

I clenched my fists, my mind racing. The quest was tempting—I needed the money, and the reputation boost could open doors. But something about the woman’s tone set off alarm bells in my head.

*Don’t trust anyone too easily.*

Kiera’s voice echoed in my mind, and I took another step back. “I’ll pass,” I said firmly.

The woman frowned, but after a tense moment, she shrugged. “Suit yourself. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.”

As the group disappeared into the crowd, I exhaled slowly, the tension in my chest easing.

The marketplace was still buzzing, but I couldn’t shake the feeling that I was being watched.

My hand brushed against the crystal in my pouch, and I made my decision.

I needed answers.

[Quest Accepted: Activate the Beacon.]

The crystal flared to life in my hand, its light cutting through the shadows like a beacon. For a moment, the world seemed to hold its breath.

And then, somewhere in the distance, a second light answered.