Part 2: The Not-So-Monsters and an Unexpected Guest
We sprinted toward the village gate—well, I sprinted, Gloop jogged, the slimes bounced, the Wolf Puppy zoomed in zigzags, and the Forest Horror just kind of glided creepily like a haunted Roomba.
Villagers huddled behind fences, clutching pitchforks, pots, pans, and one guy with a frying pan that still had eggs in it.
At the front, two guards pointed shakily beyond the wooden gate.
"There! Monsters!"
I readied myself for another disaster boss.
But when I looked…
I blinked.
"…Those aren't monsters."
Gloop tilted his head. "They look like monsters."
"No."
"They SOUND like monsters."
"No."
One of the guards squeaked, "Then what are they?"
I sighed and pointed.
The 'terrifying monsters' were…
A line of small, nervous creatures slowly making their way toward the village. All different species:
a tiny mushroom person holding a white flag a bat-winged fennec fox wearing a leaf as a cloak two kobolds pushing a wagon a floating eyeball with a little bowtie for some reason a rock golem about my height, carrying a basket of fruit
They were… adorable.
The mushroom person stepped forward and squeaked,"Um… h-hello. We come in peace?"
The guards looked at me.
Gloop looked at me.
Everyone looked at me.
Apparently I was the designated grown-up here.
I stepped forward cautiously."Uh… hi. Why are you coming to the village? And why does the eyeball have a bowtie?"
The floating eyeball bobbed happily."It's formalwear!"
I nodded. "Great answer."
The mushroom person wrung its tiny hands."We saw the purple explosion earlier and thought… um… someone very dangerous might've been defeated. And if so… maybe the territory is finally safe for trade?"
One of the kobolds cleared his throat."We brought fruit and trinkets! We want to do business!"
My brain tried to reboot.
"Wait. Wait-wait-wait. You're not attacking?"
All of them shook their heads.
"NO!"
"We just want customers!"
"Please let us sell things!"
Even the rock golem nodded slowly, holding up its fruit basket like a proud parent.
Behind me, Guide whispered,"Player… this is very rare. Creatures from the outskirts usually avoid human settlements unless they believe someone powerful enough to keep the peace is here."
I froze.
"…Do they mean me?"
Gloop grinned. "Yup. You're basically their new boss."
"Oh NO. I can't even boss around my own hair!"
The mushroom merchant stepped closer."Please, honorable human… may we enter peacefully?"
The villagers peeked around me.
The chief approached, weary but thoughtful.
"Are they truly peaceful?" she asked.
Everyone waited for my judgment.
Why.Why is everyone trusting me of all people?
I swallowed.
Looked at the merchants.
Looked back at the chief.
And said,"They just want to trade. No threats. No fighting."
The chief studied the scared little creatures, then nodded.
"Very well. You may enter. But no trouble."
The mushroom squeaked,"YES MA'AM!"
And just like that—
The gates opened.
A Market Is Born (And I Accidentally Become Security)
Within minutes, the village square turned into a pop-up marketplace.
The fennec-fox creature sold potions that smelled like mint and confusion. The kobolds unloaded shiny trinkets and beginner adventuring gear. The eyeball floated around offering reading glasses (don't ask). The rock golem very gently handed out fruit to curious kids. The mushroom person set up a booth labeled: "Mushroom Guy's Non-Exploding Goods."(Important distinction.)
Villagers wandered in slowly, tentatively…
Then excitedly.
Kids started petting the fennec fox.
A grandma haggled aggressively with the eyeball.
Someone traded a loaf of bread for a tiny glowing stone.
It was wholesome.
Peaceful.
Nice.
Which meant, obviously, something was about to go wrong.
The Uninvited Guest Arrives
A sudden gust of wind swept across the square.
Guide's glow flickered.
"Player… something strong is approaching."
Great.
Because today has been FAR too easy.
The wind stirred again—soft at first, then building into a spiraling swirl of leaves.
The merchants backed up nervously.
Villagers hid behind stalls.
The slimes hid behind me.
A figure stepped out of the swirl.
A tall, cloaked traveler with a staff strapped to their back and a hood shadowing their face.
I tensed.
Everyone tensed.
The figure stopped in front of me.
Silence.
Then a soft, calm voice:
"You. You're the one who defeated the Corrupted Skeleton King."
I held up my hands. "Okay, so—funny story, I didn't really—"
The figure lifted their hood.
A young woman with piercing silver eyes stared me down.
Not angry.
Not scared.
Just… studying me like I was a puzzle she was curious about.
"I've been searching for someone like you," she said.
Gloop whispered, "Uh-oh."
Guide whispered, "Oh no."
Wolf Puppy whined, sensing dramatic tension.
The woman smiled.
"I'd like to offer you a deal."
Part 3: The Mysterious Traveler and the Offer I Probably Shouldn't Accept
The mysterious traveler stood in front of me like she owned the wind itself. Her silver eyes didn't just look at you — they scanned you like a magical airport security device that could see guilt, lies, and cookies you weren't supposed to bring through the checkpoint.
The villagers whispered nervously.
Gloop leaned close."Play it cool. She looks strong."
I whispered back, "I'm never cool. My default setting is panic."
Guide floated to my shoulder."Player, caution is advised. Her mana levels are… significant."
Great. Another person who could squash me like a grape.
The Offer
The traveler folded her arms."I've been tracking signs of unstable magic across the region. The explosion last night was one of them."
I scratched my head. "Oh yeah. That. Totally… intentional."
She didn't buy that for a second but continued anyway.
"I'm searching for someone with unique magical resonance. Someone whose abilities don't follow normal rules."
Gloop snorted. "Oh yeah, that's him. He's basically a walking accident."
"HEY!"
The traveler looked amused."Strange magic follows you. I can sense it. And more importantly—"She paused."You survived a Corrupted Skeleton King."
I held up my hands. "Okay, okay. Let's be clear: I also 'survived' falling down a ravine and getting chased by angry slimes. Survival is not skill. It's luck. Mostly bad."
She stepped closer.
"And yet… you live."
…Okay, weirdly flattering but also concerning?
"I'm offering you a place at the Arcane Academy," she said. "A partnership. Training. Protection. Guidance."
My jaw dropped.Gloop whispered, "Bro you're getting scouted. Like… magically drafted."
Guide buzzed nervously."Player… this is highly unusual. The Arcane Academy rarely recruits unknowns."
Wolf Puppy growled softly, not trusting her. Cute, but also mildly scary.
I swallowed."So why me? Why not literally anyone else with actual skills?"
Her eyes narrowed slightly."Because your magic shouldn't be possible. And I intend to find out why."
That was possibly the most threatening compliment I'd ever received.
The Tension Grows
The villagers watched from behind their stalls, whispering.
The rock golem paused mid-fruit-handout.
The mushroom merchant ducked behind a crate.
Even the eyeball stopped trying to sell reading glasses.
Everyone waited for my response.
And I… panicked.
"Uh… can I get back to you on the whole life-changing-academy-offer thing?"
The traveler blinked."…You want time to think?"
"Yes?" I squeaked.
Nobody had ever offered me something like this before.What if I messed up?What if it was a trap?What if they expected me to know math? That would end me.
She studied me for a long moment… then nodded.
"Very well. I will remain in the village for a short while. When you've decided—find me."
She turned, cloak swirling dramatically, and walked away like she'd practiced that exact exit in a mirror.
Which she probably had.
The Crowd Reacts
As soon as she vanished behind a building—
The villagers swarmed me.
"THE ACADEMY wants you?!"
"Our hero is becoming a wizard!"
"Please don't explode the village!"
Gloop slapped my back."Dude! You're gonna be famous!"
The slimes bounced in celebration.
Wolf Puppy rolled in the dirt.
Guide floated beside me, sounding both proud and extremely worried."Player… whatever you choose will impact your path greatly."
I took a deep breath.
"Yeah… no pressure or anything."
But Then— More Trouble Appears
Just when things began to quiet down, a kobold merchant tugged on my sleeve.
"Um… sir hero?" he said nervously.
"Yes?"
"…We have a small problem."
I closed my eyes. "Of course we do."
He pointed toward the forest.
A dark shadow moved between the trees.
Low growling echoed.
Guide's glow flickered sharply."Player… something large is approaching."
I groaned."Can someone else handle one crisis?!"
But no.
Everyone was already staring at me.
I cracked my knuckles (by accident; it hurt)."Alright team. Let's go meet whatever nightmare wants a turn."
And with Gloop, the slimes, Wolf Puppy, Forest Horror, and Guide behind me—
We marched toward the trees.
Part 4: "The Beast in the Forest"
The deeper we walked into the woods, the quieter everything became.
No more chirping birds.No rustling leaves.Even the squirrels-with-swords had vanished, which was honestly the biggest red flag of all.
Gloop whispered, "Whatever scared them off is probably bad."
Wolf Puppy pressed close to my leg, ears low.The slimes huddled together like colorful, worried jellybeans.
Guide floated ahead, her glow dimming."Player… the mana signature is unstable. Something is awakening."
"Awakening?" I gulped. "Like… from a nap? A cute nap?"
"No. Like a sealed-threat-level entity."
"…Ah. The opposite of cute."
The Fog Thickens
Mist coiled around our feet as the path opened into a clearing.
In the center stood a large stone obelisk — cracked, glowing faintly, and pulsing like a heartbeat.
Gloop's eyes widened."That thing wasn't here yesterday."
Guide's glow flared sharply."Player… I detect a disturbance. Something inside the seal is trying to force its way out."
Fantastic.Because my life wasn't chaotic enough already.
A deep, guttural growl rumbled from within the obelisk.
The ground trembled.
Wolf Puppy barked.Forest Horror stepped protectively in front of me.The slimes formed a defensive slime-wall (which was adorable more than effective).
I swallowed hard."Okay… what horrifying monster is waking up? A dragon? A demon? A twelve-headed snake?"
Gloop gulped."Worse… I think it's—"
The obelisk cracked.
A bright flash burst outward, forcing us to shield our eyes.
The Beast Emerges
The silhouette that stepped forward was tall. Massive. Towering.
Dark armor covered its body, runes glowing faintly across its surface.Eyes like burning coals stared at us from beneath a heavy helmet.
It wasn't a dragon.
It wasn't a demon.
It was…
"…a knight?" I whispered.
Guide's voice shook."Player… this is no ordinary knight. This is a Fallen Guardian. A corrupted relic from ancient times."
The knight took a step forward.
The earth shook.
Another step.
Gloop squeaked.Wolf Puppy whimpered.Forest Horror hissed.
The knight raised a massive greatsword — taller than me and probably heavier than my self-esteem.
Dark energy crackled around it.
And then—
It spoke.
Not in a roar.Not in a monster voice.Just a low, resonant growl:
"YOU."
I blinked. "Me? What did I do?!"
The knight took another step.
"YOU… ARE THE ONE."
Gloop grabbed my sleeve."Uh. Buddy? Why is it looking at you like that?"
"No idea!" I hissed. "Maybe it wants my snacks?!"
The knight raised its sword, pointing it directly at my face.
"YOU… carry the mark of chaos."
I froze.
The slimes froze.
Even Forest Horror froze.
Guide suddenly zipped around me in alarm."Player! Your Chaotic Luck trait is resonating with its corruption!"
"I DIDN'T EVEN TOUCH ANYTHING THIS TIME!"
The knight's eyes burned brighter.
"YOU… MUST BE ELIMINATED."
I lifted my hands.
"WAIT—CAN WE TALK ABOUT THIS—"
The knight swung the sword downward.
Straight at me.