Thinking is one thing, but doing is another.
Since she was going to meet the protagonist of the game and kickstart the main storyline, Tao Yao didn't hesitate. She got up and prepared to leave.
[Wait!]
The little sprite, Xiao Xiao, suddenly blocked Tao Yao's path.
[Master, this is your first appearance in front of the players. Are you really going dressed like this?]
Tao Yao looked down at her outfit: a pristine white dress that reached her knees, revealing slender, fair legs and bare feet. Beyond that, she wore no other adornments.
"Why not? Is there a problem?" she asked, slightly puzzled.
Xiao Xiao hesitated, stammering as she spoke.
[I just thought... if you dressed up a bit, you might leave a stronger first impression on the players. First impressions matter, after all!]
Tao Yao shook her head in response.
"No, no. A character who looks too glamorous or untouchable might create distance. Someone simple like me is more likely to win the players' favor."
Though Xiao Xiao wasn't entirely convinced, she obediently relented.
[Alright, alright. You have a point, Master. But... at least put on some shoes before you go? You can't just walk out barefoot!]
Tao Yao glanced at her delicate, fair feet—her slender toes tinged with a soft pink, her nails neatly trimmed and smooth like polished jade. After a moment's thought, she didn't refuse Xiao Xiao's suggestion. She found a pair of comfortable shoes to cover her feet, then pushed open the door and stepped into the living room.
There, standing gracefully by the dining table, was a young woman dressed in a black-and-white maid outfit. Her features were so exquisite she resembled a finely crafted doll.
"Good morning, Shiro."
Drawing from the game's lore Xiao Xiao had provided, Tao Yao greeted the maid by name, offering a gentle smile.
Hearing her name, Shiro immediately bowed respectfully, her sweet voice as melodious as a nightingale's song.
"Good morning, Miss Tao Yao."
Shiro was one of the characters in *Fairy's Journey* and Tao Yao's trusted confidante in this world. As a key member of the antagonist faction, she served loyally by Tao Yao's side. Whether it was gathering intelligence in the shadows or managing affairs openly, Shiro handled everything with flawless efficiency, making Tao Yao's life much easier.
Tao Yao sat at the table to enjoy breakfast while Shiro stood nearby with poised elegance, delivering her routine report.
"Miss Tao Yao, as you instructed, we've located the 'Seed.' It's currently in the Land of Stars. We can move at any time."
Her crisp, pleasant voice carried a hint of excitement and anticipation.
"Good work, Shiro," Tao Yao replied warmly between bites, a faint smile on her lips.
As a leader, she understood the importance of treating her subordinates well.
"It's my honor to assist you, Miss Tao Yao."
Shiro lowered her head slightly, her eyes filled with sincerity and admiration.
Soon after, Tao Yao set down her utensils, dabbed her lips with a napkin, and stood up. "Let's go retrieve the 'Seed.'"
The so-called "Seed" was, of course, part of *Fairy's Journey*'s lore. As for its purpose? The game's NPCs would explain that when it launched. Tao Yao didn't need to worry about it.
...
Radiant City, located east of the Dawnlands, was a massive metropolis built by humans. After the Disaster Beasts descended, survivors from all over gathered here, working together to construct this fortress as a bulwark against the beasts.
Radiant City stood tall and proud, its towering walls embedded with energy crystals of varying sizes. Under the sunlight, they refracted dazzling, multicolored light, like brilliant stars guarding the city's inhabitants day and night.
Inside, the buildings were densely packed yet orderly, each engraved with intricate magic circles that formed a vast, precise defensive network.
But the streets were filled with weary, lifeless people. The city was in ruins, littered with signs of battle—collapsed structures, broken walls, and the acrid smell of smoke hanging in the air. The survivors wore expressions of fear and helplessness, wandering aimlessly like lost souls.
Amid the chaos, Tao Yao and Shiro strode confidently through the streets, slipping effortlessly into the city. Their steps were firm, their destination clear, unaffected by the devastation around them.
However, before they could reach the core district, a squad of guards intercepted them.
Leading them was a petite female guard with sleek black hair tied into two lively ponytails that swayed with her movements. She wore silver-white light armor that accentuated her graceful figure. Most striking was the delicate leg ring on her right thigh, adorned with a sapphire that made her skin glow even fairer.
"I'm sorry, but the core district is under strict lockdown. No one is allowed entry!" she declared in a crisp, resolute voice, blocking Tao Yao and Shiro.
Unfazed, Tao Yao smirked. "Pretty little sister, what if I insist?"
The guard's expression hardened as she realized their hostile intent. She raised her shield and sword, ready for battle.
"Then you'll have to get past me first!"
In an instant, Shiro moved.
Her speed was blinding. Before the guard could react, Shiro struck the back of her neck with a swift chop. The guard crumpled to the ground. The other guards lunged at Shiro, but she dispatched them just as quickly.
[Master! What are you doing?! We agreed you were just here to meet the protagonist!]
Xiao Xiao's frantic voice echoed in Tao Yao's mind, thick with anxiety.
[You just knocked out the four-star character 'Zhan Lan Guardian - Ke Xin'! She's an essential survival unit for early-game players! This is a disaster...]
[And everything you do is recorded as PV footage. If the players see this, they'll hate you for sure...]
Ignoring Xiao Xiao's protests, Tao Yao strode into the core district, Shiro following closely behind.
"Miss, the Seed is here," Shiro announced.
Sure enough, at the center of the district hovered a Seed emitting an eerie glow. Its surface was covered in twisted vine-like patterns, surrounded by a sinister red aura—as if brimming with boundless life, or perhaps unspeakable malice.
Tao Yao reached out, gently tracing the Seed's surface as though sensing something.
Shiro watched in shock, murmuring, "So this is the 'Fairy Seed' that attracts Disaster Beasts... It doesn't seem that—"
Before she could finish, the Seed convulsed violently. The vines on its surface writhed like living things. Suddenly, a deep crimson light burst from its tip, vivid as fresh blood.
"Wh-what's happening, Miss?" Shiro gasped, stunned.
Tao Yao, however, understood. A knowing smile curled her lips as she recalled the game's backstory.
"Just as I thought. Our timing is perfect. This Seed has already sprouted—the fairy harboring the power to end the world is about to be born..."
The Seed continued its frenzied growth. In moments, a massive blood-red bud erupted from the ground, its layered petals like raging flames. Soon, the flower bloomed.
And there, nestled within its heart, lay the protagonist of *Fairy's Journey*'s main storyline—peaceful as a beautiful spirit born from fire.