The bustling streets of the city buzzed with the usual energy of Eidolon, players and NPCs mingling in a seamless blend of fantasy and reality. Luna walked beside Kyle, her gaze drifting idly over the crowd—until it landed on a female player ahead of them. Something about her presence was magnetic, compelling Luna to stop in her tracks. She couldn’t look away.
The woman must have sensed the stare because she turned sharply, her piercing eyes locking onto Luna. For a moment, the crowd around them seemed to fade into the background. Luna felt a strange pull, an unspoken recognition that sent a ripple through her thoughts.
Seraphine, too, felt the pull—a strange sensation that made her steps falter. Her eyes flicked toward Luna and then shifted to Kyle. When her gaze landed on him, she froze. The air around Kyle seemed charged, as though the Rift itself swirled protectively around him. Shadows flickered unnaturally at his edges, bending and twisting in a way that shouldn’t be possible. It was almost as if the Rift recognized him, claimed him as its own.
Alarmed but curious, Seraphine adjusted her course and strode toward them, her steps deliberate. As she closed the distance, Luna acted first, raising her hand and pulling up her quest menu. Without warning, she shared the screen with Seraphine.
Caught off guard, Seraphine blinked as the translucent menu appeared before her, displaying the details of Luna’s quest. The words jumped out at her, compelling her to read:
Quest: Gather the ChosenDescription: Bring together the five marked by the Rift. Each is bound to the fate of Eidolon.
Reward: Ascension as one of the Chosen.
Chosen Found: 1
Seraphine’s gaze flicked back to Luna, her lips pressing into a thin line. Then, slowly, she raised her hand and pointed at Kyle. The shadows around him seemed to thrum in response.
Luna nodded, her expression calm but laced with urgency. “My name is Luna,” she said, her tone steady. “This is Kyle, the guild leader for the Gamers Guild.”
Seraphine inclined her head slightly, her suspicion tempered by intrigue. She opened her mouth to respond, but Kyle cut her off. “Let’s continue this conversation somewhere else,” he said, his voice low but firm. His eyes flicked toward the crowded streets, where too many curious players and NPCs wandered within earshot.
Without further discussion, the three of them turned and headed toward the nearest inn, the weight of their meeting settling like a storm cloud overhead.
The inn’s dimly lit common room glowed softly, the low hum of conversations blending with the occasional clink of mugs and the faint crackle of the hearth. Upstairs, Kyle, Luna, and Seraphine sat in a private room, the worn wooden door closed tightly.
The space was simple: a sturdy oak table, mismatched chairs, and thick curtains drawn over the single window, shutting out the world. Faint murmurs from below seeped through the floorboards, but their voices remained unheard beyond the room. An unspoken tension hung between them, as if the Rift itself lingered, silently observing.
Kyle leaned forward, elbows on the table and brow furrowed in concentration. Luna sat beside him, her gaze flitting between the others, fingers absently tracing the edge of her sleeve. Seraphine, though composed, leaned back with arms crossed, her sharp eyes scanning her companions. Even she couldn’t hide the flicker of unease when the distant murmurs of the inn briefly swelled, a stark reminder of the world outside their fragile bubble of secrecy.
The crackling fire downstairs punctuated the silence, each pop and hiss amplifying the tension. They all understood this wasn’t a meeting of coincidence; the Rift didn’t allow for chance. For a moment, none of them spoke, the weight of their shared mission hanging heavy in the room.
Kyle broke the silence with a sigh. “I’m assuming Luna showed you her quest?” His eyes shifted toward Luna. “Did your quest count update?”
Luna’s brows furrowed for a moment as she checked her menu. Suddenly, her face lit up. “It did!” she exclaimed, clapping her hands together. “You’re a Chosen as well!”
Seraphine couldn’t help but smile at Luna’s innocent excitement. “I am,” she confirmed with a slight nod, her calm demeanor contrasting Luna’s enthusiasm.
Kyle leaned back in his chair, his fingers drumming against the table. “What have you found out thus far?” he asked, his tone measured but tinged with curiosity.
Seraphine tilted her head slightly, her eyes sharp. “I could ask you the same thing. What have you learned?”
Kyle let out a groan of exasperation. “Fine. I’m on a quest called The Rift Unseen. The last objective I completed showed me… visions.” His voice dropped, and his gaze darkened. “Our world—completely decimated after the Merge. The only way to stop it, or at least mitigate the damage, is for the six Chosen to work together. At least, that’s my interpretation. After that, I received a new objective: Learn the Purpose of the Rift.”
Seraphine leaned forward, her expression thoughtful. “That aligns with what I’ve been told,” she said. “I think I can help you with that. Have you ever heard of an NPC named Lazryn, the Chaosforged?”
Kyle and Luna exchanged puzzled glances before shaking their heads. “No,” Kyle admitted. “Who is he?”
Seraphine’s eyes glinted with something between respect and caution. “Lazryn found me the moment I entered Eidolon. I didn’t even get a chance to complete the Wayfinder’s Guild quest. He approached me directly, introduced himself, and offered to mentor me. My class—Veil Breaker—seemed to be what drew him in.”
“Veil Breaker?” Luna repeated, intrigued.
“It’s a class that’s inherently tied to the Rift,” Seraphine explained. “Lazryn taught me how to read the Rift’s movements, interpret its patterns, and understand its… will. He also told me about the Merge.”
Kyle’s hands tensed on the table. “What did he say?”
Seraphine’s tone became grim. “That it’s unstoppable. The Merge isn’t something we can prevent—it’s already in motion. But Lazryn believes the Chosen have the ability to guide its outcome, to influence how much of our world remains intact once it’s complete.”
If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it's taken without the author's consent. Report it.
Luna glanced between Kyle and Seraphine, her voice soft but steady. “So, the Chosen aren’t here to stop the Merge. We’re here to survive it?”
“More than that,” Seraphine said. “We’re here to ensure Eidolon’s survival too. This isn’t just a game anymore—it’s a tether. To what, I don’t fully understand yet, but Lazryn always said, ‘The Rift watches, and it chooses wisely.’”
Kyle leaned forward, his jaw tight. “Then we better make sure it chose the right people.”
The three of them sat in silence for a moment, the weight of their shared mission settling over them. The quiet of the inn seemed to amplify the gravity of the situation, the faint hum of distant voices and the crackle of the hearth offering little comfort.
----------------------------------------
KyleKyle leaned back slightly, his fingers absently tracing the edge of his blade’s hilt. He glanced at Luna, her expression still brimming with an optimism that somehow managed to weather the storm of uncertainty. Then at Seraphine, calm but intense, her gaze fixed on the flames as though she could see answers within them.
We’re nothing alike, he thought. A guild leader, a lone scholar, and someone trained by an NPC to read the Rift itself. This is the team that’s supposed to stop the Merge? His stomach churned with doubt. He wasn’t sure if he was cut out for this—being a leader, being a Chosen. He wasn’t even sure what being a Chosen really meant yet. But he couldn’t shake Kaelith’s warning: The Rift doesn’t choose lightly.
He straightened in his seat, his resolve hardening. If Nash could keep pushing forward, grinding his way through quests without leaning on anyone, then Kyle could do this too—for his friend, and for the world they might be pulled into saving.
----------------------------------------
LunaLuna clasped her hands in her lap, her eyes darting between the other two. Kyle looked like he was carrying the weight of a thousand expectations, while Seraphine radiated the kind of calm confidence Luna wasn’t sure she’d ever possess. She felt like the odd one out—an alchemist surrounded by warriors and tacticians.
Why me? she wondered, her gaze drifting to the shimmering plants growing just outside the inn’s window. She loved the quiet of her celestial garden, the satisfaction of mixing potions and discovering the secrets of Eidolon’s flora. That’s what she wanted from this game: to explore, to grow, to learn. Not to be thrust into some apocalyptic prophecy.
But as the thought settled, a small voice in the back of her mind pushed back. You’re here because you’ve earned it. Your role might not be the same as theirs, but it’s just as important. The Rift chose you for a reason.
Her lips quirked into a faint smile. Besides, someone has to keep these two from getting themselves killed.
----------------------------------------
SeraphineSeraphine remained still, her expression unreadable as she stared into the fire. Her mind churned with thoughts of Lazryn’s teachings, his cryptic warnings about the Merge and its unstoppable nature. She’d believed she was prepared for anything Eidolon could throw at her. But sitting here, with two others who’d been marked by the Rift, she felt something she hadn’t expected: vulnerability.
Kyle was straightforward, his intentions clear. Luna was kind, with a curiosity that shone even in the dim light of the room. They were good people, but were they ready for what was coming? She wasn’t sure if she was either.
The Rift doesn’t pick at random, she reminded herself, Lazryn’s voice echoing in her mind. They wouldn’t be here if they weren’t capable.
Her gaze flicked to Kyle, then to Luna, and she felt the faintest pull of trust forming. For all their differences, for all their uncertainties, they had one thing in common: they had been chosen. And if she was going to navigate the coming storm, she needed to learn to lean on them. Just as they would need to lean on her.
----------------------------------------
For a moment, none of them spoke, each lost in their own thoughts. Different paths had led them here, but the Rift had brought them together for a reason. Whatever lay ahead, they were in this together now.
----------------------------------------
Transition: The Rift Moves
As Kyle, Luna, and Seraphine discussed their next steps in the quiet of the inn, far above the wildlands, Jasper was lost in his thoughts. The wind whipped past his face as his gryphon, Shea, soared effortlessly through the sky. Below, the expanse of Eidolon unfolded in a tapestry of dense forests and rolling hills.
Jasper’s jaw tightened as his conflicting emotions churned within him. He muttered under his breath, “Why do I even need to meet the others? I’ve handled plenty on my own.” His hand rested on Shea’s neck, the gryphon’s golden feathers warm beneath his fingers. “But this isn’t about you, Jasper,” he added in a tone that was half-scolding, half-resigned. “Suck it up.”
He sighed heavily, resolving himself to seek the other Chosen. Ahead, the gleaming spires of Iridiel, the Ancient City, came into view. Its crystalline towers shimmered like a beacon against the horizon—a destination that promised answers he wasn’t sure he wanted.
Beneath him, in the wilderness, Kyle, Luna, and Seraphine moved with purpose. They were making their way toward the wildlands, intent on tracking down the beastmaster Kaelith had pointed them to.
Seraphine’s steps slowed as her brows furrowed. The air around her felt strange—dense and electric, like the moment before a storm. She stopped, her eyes scanning the treetops, and then she saw it. High above, a gryphon streaked through the sky, its form graceful but increasingly erratic.
Seraphine’s stomach clenched as the gryphon jerked violently, twisting in a desperate attempt to steady itself. Its rider, sharp and commanding even in chaos, leaned forward, wrestling for control. Jasper’s focus remained on the reins, unaware of the faint shimmer pulsing in the air around them—a distortion Seraphine recognized instantly. The Rift was moving, its subtle presence bending the air like a heat mirage. She whispered, barely audible, “It’s moving.”
Jasper didn’t notice, but the gryphon did. It let out a shrill cry, its feathers quivering as it thrashed against an invisible force. Seraphine saw the realization ripple through the creature—a shudder as it seemed to understand the source of their peril. Jasper barked commands, but the gryphon tossed its head, its cry almost a warning: It’s the Rift.
The shimmer flared briefly before vanishing, leaving dread in its wake. With a final, desperate lurch, the gryphon’s wings folded, and the pair plummeted toward the forest canopy below.
“Kyle!” she shouted, breaking into a sprint toward the direction of the gryphon’s erratic flight. “This way! The Rift’s involved.”
Kyle and Luna exchanged a sharp glance, alarm sparking between them, before racing after Seraphine. Her gaze was fixed on the gryphon, its once-graceful flight now a chaotic spiral of flailing wings and desperate cries. The air seemed charged, heavy with tension as the creature twisted midair, fighting against an unseen force.
Out of nowhere, Jasper’s panicked shout pierced the wind. “What the hell is going on?” His voice cracked with a mix of fear and frustration as he yanked at the reins, his knuckles white. The gryphon’s movements grew frantic, its wings thrashing violently as though fighting an invisible force. Jasper’s chest tightened with panic, every attempt to steady the creature met with resistance.
“Come on, Shea! Hold steady!” he yelled, his voice rising in desperation. The gryphon shrieked in response, its cries high and panicked, the golden feathers trembling as it fought against the unnatural pull.
Then came the heart-stopping lurch. Jasper felt his stomach drop as Shea’s wings faltered, folding against the inevitable. The air rushed around them in a deafening roar as they plummeted. His grip on the reins tightened instinctively, but it was useless—gravity had seized them.
Branches snapped like gunfire, leaves scattered in a whirlwind, and the forest erupted with the cacophony of crashing limbs and shrill, startled wildlife. Jasper barely managed to shield his face as the ground rose to meet them. The impact hit like a hammer, reverberating through the earth with a shuddering force that sent shockwaves rippling through the air.
Seraphine didn’t hesitate. “This way!” she called, her voice cutting through the stunned silence as she sprinted toward the crash site. The abruptness of the incident left Kyle and Luna momentarily frozen, the gravity of what they’d just witnessed sinking in before they charged after her into the shadowed woods.
Seraphine’s heart pounded as she reached the crash site first, her sharp eyes scanning for any sign of movement. The Rift’s presence lingered, its oppressive weight pressing against her senses. “He’s here,” she said quietly, more to herself than to the others. Behind her, Kyle and Luna caught up, their expressions tense.
The Rift had made its move, and in its wake, the fates of the Chosen began to intertwine, bound by threads of shadow and purpose.