Aria woke up the next morning feeling refreshed, confident, and… immediately regretful.
Because the moment she opened her eyes—
DING!
A glowing blue screen appeared above her face like an annoying alarm clock.
[DAILY QUEST: MORNING WARM-UP]
Task:Run 2 km while carrying…5 POTATOES(Why potatoes? System finds it funny.)
Time limit: Before breakfast.Reward: +1 AGIPenalty: -10 DIGNITY (public embarrassment event)
Aria screamed into her pillow.
"WHY POTATOES?!"
From outside her window, a soft voice answered,"I don't know, but are you okay?"
It was Rowan.
He had come early, carrying a wooden practice sword, hair still messy from sleep.
Aria peeked outside the window."You heard that?"
"You screamed like a dying goat. Hard to miss."
Aria: "…"
Rowan tilted his head. "Why do you have potatoes in your hands?"
Aria clutched them tighter."It's… exercise."
Rowan slowly nodded."I see. Of course. Totally normal."
He clearly did not think it was normal.
🍠 THE POTATO RUN
"Aria, you seriously don't have to—"
"I HAVE TO. The system— I mean, my training— requires it."
So Aria ran.
Down the village path.Around the well.Past the bakery.Still carrying five potatoes like precious treasure.
Villagers stared.
"Is that the Lumenford girl?""Why is she jogging with vegetables?""A new diet trend?""Maybe it's a ritual."
Aria died inside.
Rowan jogged behind her, sighing."If you drop one, I'll pick it up, okay?"
"No! I'll fail!" Aria yelled.
"Fail what?"
"NOTHING."
🐔 THE ANGRY CHICKEN BEAST
Halfway through her run, the system suddenly dinged again.
New Quest Triggered!SUB-QUEST: Avoid the Angry Chicken Beast.
Aria froze."…the what?"
A huge shadow loomed from behind a fence.
Rowan turned, eyes widening. "Oh no."
A giant chicken — taller than both of them — stormed out with fiery eyes.
This was no normal chicken.
This was a Feathered Terror, famous for chasing anything holding potatoes.
Aria screamed. "WHY DOES IT WANT POTATOES?!"
Rowan pulled her wrist. "BECAUSE IT THINKS THEY'RE EGGS, RUN!!!"
They ran.The chicken chased them.Aria held onto her potatoes like her life depended on it.
"ROWAN WHY IS IT FAST?!""IT'S A MONSTER!""WHY DOES A CHICKEN COUNT AS A MONSTER?!""WELCOME TO OUR WORLD, ARIA!"
🥔 THE CLIMACTIC ENDING
They sprinted all the way to the village entrance.
The chicken leaped.
Aria tripped.
Potatoes flew into the air in slow motion.
"NOOOO—MY QUEST—"
Rowan caught her before she hit the ground.
The potatoes landed safely back in her arms.
The chicken crashed into a haystack and got stuck, clucking angrily.
Aria panted, trembling."Did… I do it?"
DING!
Daily Quest Completed.Reward: +1 AGIBonus Reward: +1 CHARM
Note: System praises you for not dying.
Aria collapsed on the ground."I hate this system."
Rowan sat beside her, breathless."I don't know what's going on with you lately… but it's dangerous."
Aria looked away."It's not dangerous."
"Aria." Rowan's voice softened. "You could've gotten hurt."
Her heart skipped.
The system dinged again.
Affection +2Target: Rowan Hale
Aria: "NOT THIS AGAIN—"