The sky stretched wide and cloudless above the Elmwald plains, a sea of green and gold swaying gently beneath the early morning sun.
The breeze carried the scent of damp grass and distant apple trees.
Arwen walked steadily across the soft hills, Skele trotting loyally beside him, bone paws clicking lightly against the earth.
"This is definitely Elmwald territory," he muttered, squinting toward a distant spire just visible past a gentle rise.
In his mind, he began constructing a mental map of the estate grounds and nearby landmarks—just as he remembered from the game.
The Elmwald estate lay at the heart of one of the four founding noble domains, surrounded by old-growth orchards, forested patches, and scattered ruins to the south.
If I'm right, the family manor should be just beyond that ridge…
As they crested the rise, Arwen paused, scanning the familiar terrain.
That's when he heard it—a voice carried faintly on the wind.
"Arwen…!"
He froze. The voice was distant but urgent.
Then louder—
"Young Master!! Where Have You Been?!"
An old man in formal black attire sprinted toward him from the next slope with surprising speed. His long coat flared behind him, and a vertical scar cut across his left eye.
Alban.
Recognition clicked as the man stopped a few paces away, panting.
"Young Master," Alban said, tone shifting from panic to reprimand. "You've been gone since dawn. The entire estate was on alert."
Arwen blinked. "Sorry. I was just—uh—mapping the area. Clearing my head."
Alban's frown deepened. "There's been a mist, young master. It came out of nowhere and blanketed the territory—even the plains. Our scouts couldn't see past a few meters. We feared the worst."
A mist event? That wasn't supposed to happen here…
Arwen's thoughts raced, but he masked it with a smile. "I'm fine. Skele was with me the whole time."
Alban finally looked to Skele, who wagged his tail with a friendly clatter of bones. The butler's eyes narrowed.
"…And what exactly is that creature?"
"A familiar," Arwen replied smoothly. "I awakened yesterday. Skele came with it."
Alban held his gaze a moment longer, then gave a short nod. "Understood, young master."
Alban… Right. He wasn't just a loyal servant in the game.
Arwen glanced at the butler, recalling a side quest buried deep in the lore.
During the Monster Horse invasion arc, when players visited the four noble houses, Alban had always been the best support choice. A retired adventurer. Top-tier NPC. The only character who could bypass the boss's absurd resistances with pure technique.
Most assumed he was just a butler—until he pulled out a halberd and cleaved a magic beast in half.
This world keeps getting deeper…
"Besides, he looks way too deadly to be a butler…"
"What was that, young master?" Alban raised an eyebrow.
Arwen winced. "I mean—you're very reliable."
Alban sighed and motioned for him to follow. "Come. Let's return to the manor. Your parents will want to see you safe."
* * *
As they crossed the orchard fields, the morning sun rose higher, casting golden rays over the land. Dew shimmered on the rows of apple trees, and birdsong filled the air.
Arwen relaxed slightly as they neared the inner grounds of the Elmwald estate.
So this really is my home now.
He glanced toward the marble-pillared mansion rising ahead, the Elmwald spire cutting a proud silhouette across the hills.
He strolled along a cobblestone path winding through the orchard, hands behind his head. Skele padded beside him, tail twitching in short, stiff wags.
He didn't remember much about the nobility system in the game. Playable characters always started in cities or outskirts—not in manors with private butlers.
And yet, the memories of this version of Arwen—the original Arwen—had begun blending with his own.
He knew which rooms had squeaky floorboards.
He remembered the names of every servant.
And most of all, he remembered his history with them.
As they neared the manor, a sudden chill swept through the orchard.
Arwen stopped.
A thick mist was creeping over the land.
"What the…" He narrowed his eyes.
This wasn't normal.
He'd played through the forest region dozens of times in Runebound Online. Mist like this only showed up during rare events—monster spawns, cursed item triggers, or debuff zones.
Alban's voice grew tense. "Young master, stay close."
The fog thickened fast. Visibility dropped to just a few meters.
Skele growled, low and primal, ears flat. He darted forward, sniffed the air, then circled back—tense and alert.
"Something's off," Arwen muttered.
Suddenly, the mist swirled tighter. A gust of cold wind howled, forcing Arwen to shield his face.
Alban grabbed his arm. "Don't move."
"Skele, stay with me!" Arwen shouted. The fog closed in.
The world tilted.
The mist curled like fingers around his limbs—
—and swallowed them whole.
* * *
They wandered for a while through the shifting haze. The mist muffled sound and warped distance. Trees became shadows. The ground turned to mud beneath their feet.
Skele circled Arwen, nudging his leg like a guide. He growled at unseen threats in the fog.
Yeah. I don't like this either.
There was never a mist event near Elmwald…
Could this be one of the world's new deviations?
Alban said nothing. He stayed close, posture guarded—watchful.
Eventually, after what felt like an hour, the fog began to lift. Trees sharpened. Sunlight filtered through the canopy once more.
Arwen exhaled.
"This phenomenon's been happening lately," Alban said quietly. "Without warning. We're still investigating."
But something had changed.
Skele's bones now glowed faintly with blue runes. His eye sockets burned brighter. His stance had shifted—more upright, more alert.
A glowing message appeared before Arwen's eyes:
[Companion Evolution Complete]
[Name: Skele (Void Hound)]
[New Passive Skill: • Ethereal Sense – Detects hidden threats in low-visibility environments.]
[New Shared Skill: • Mist Sense – Establishes a partial sensory link with the Tamer. While within Skele's mist, the Tamer gains a faint awareness of movement through the fog.]
[New Active Skill: • Mist – Unleashes a creeping mist touched by the Void. Obscures vision, dulls sound, and distorts perception within the affected area.]
[Affinity – 11/20]
Arwen blinked. Surprised with the notification, while Skele wag its tail proudly.
Maybe this was fate.
Arwen said nothing more as they finally reached the white stone columns of the Elmwald manor's orchard gate.
* * *
Back inside the manor, after a warm bath and a change of clothes, Arwen sat in his room, flipping through the system menu.
His level hadn't changed—but Skele had evolved, unlocking new abilities. As he reviewed the details, Arwen noticed something unusual. A faint glow linked some of Skele's skills to his own interface.
Wait… Shared Skill?
That's when it clicked—his class's hidden quirk.
As a Monster Tamer, he could share certain skills with his bonded creatures.
By the fireplace, Skele lay curled beside the flames, his bone tail twitching like a sleepy watchdog.
Arwen smiled.
In the game, monsters had just been numbers. EXP sources. Loot bags.
But here?
They were alive. They had feelings. They responded to more than code.
Skele wasn't just a pet.
He was a partner.
* * *
Later that afternoon, Velward Elmwald summoned Arwen to his study.
The room was quiet, filled with the scent of old books and polished wood. Velward stood by the window, gazing out across the orchard as sunlight poured through the glass. Broad-shouldered and gray-eyed, he carried the air of quiet command—but there was a softness in his expression as he turned to face his son.
"You've grown bolder," he said after a pause, a faint smile touching his lips. "Just like your grandfather. He would have liked you."
Arwen blinked, surprised by the note of warmth.
Velward stepped closer and placed a firm hand on his shoulder.
"There's a family dinner tonight. I want you cleaned up and presentable—not just for us, but for yourself. You've earned it."
He glanced toward Alban. "Prepare something fitting for him."
"Yes, my lord," Alban said with a small bow and a knowing smile.
Velward looked back at Arwen, his gaze steady but gentle.
"After dinner… I'll be making an announcement. Something I think you're ready to hear."
* * *
That night, during dinner, Arwen told his parents everything. Well—almost everything.
"I… don't really know how to explain it," he said, scratching his head. "But yesterday something changed. I woke up, and there he was—bone, shadow, glowing blue eyes."
He shrugged with a crooked grin. "Looks like I've got a skeleton dog now."
"A hidden class? How marvelous!" Eleanor said, eyes lighting up.
Graceful and composed, Arwen's mother radiated quiet pride. Born of House Lysienne—famous for its merchant guilds and silver fleets—Eleanor had brought both her title and sharp instincts into the Elmwald household.
In Arwen's blended memories, she had always been the one teaching him how the world worked—not with swords, but with subtlety. She once explained how a bundle of herbs could buy silence, and how favors traded well were more valuable than gold.
From noble etiquette to bartering, Eleanor taught him that power came not just from strength—but from knowing what to offer, and when.
She reached over and touched his hand.
"You may wander, Arwen—but never forget you're the heir of Elmwald," she said gently. "Wherever you go, always plan three steps ahead. That's how we survive."
Velward stroked his beard, watching Arwen with quiet thoughtfulness.
"You've grown bolder," he repeated. "Just like your grandfather."
Then, slowly, he stood and raised his glass.
"It seems the world is calling you now. So go. Explore it to your heart's content."
Arwen had rehearsed how to bring up his plans to leave—how to convince them.
But his father had beaten him to it.
He felt warmth rise in his chest and let out a small chuckle.
"I'll follow your wish, my lord," he joked.
Velward laughed. Eleanor smiled.
Moments later, she returned with a small velvet box. Inside was a navy-blue pendant shaped like a shield, engraved with the Elmwald crest.
She placed it in his hand and closed his fingers around it. "Have a safe journey."
* * *
That night, Arwen slipped away from the manor and climbed a familiar slope just past the garden wall.
Above the orchard hills, the trees gave way to open sky.
There, beneath the stars, he stood in silence.
This world—this life—was no longer just lines of code or scripted quests.
It was real.
And it was his.
He exhaled slowly and tightened his grip on the pack.
A new journey was beginning.