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Chapter Twenty
Estranged
Fire crackles, spitting sparks and smoke into
the night, the air thick with pine and charred wood. I wiggle my toes in the
cool dirt, feeling the grit between them as the day’s exhaustion finally sinks
in. Shoulders ache. Hands throb. Spent the whole damn day tinkering and hauling
lumber—<i>but hey, I got somethin’ to show for it. Finally unlocked Woodworking
and Lumbering</i>. <i>Hence, the solid bench I’m sittin’ on. Pretty fine
craftsmanship, if I do say so myself.</i>
Across the lake, Sir Spudsworth and his midnight
crew are up to their usual mischief—chirps, rustles, the occasional splash.
Critters love their late-night antics. Ember’s sprawled out by the fire,<i>
snorin’</i> like a busted engine. Sent her foraging earlier, and she came back with
a good haul—even brought back meat. Didn’t ask where she got it. <i>Ain’t gonna,
either.</i>
Right on cue, Shaq’Rai chimes in—smooth voice,
elegant and smug, like marble that knows it’s expensive.
“Ah, the mortal desire for lineage! The endless
hunger to carve one’s name into eternity! Fear not, weary traveler, for the
grand mechanisms of this world offer many paths to forge a dynasty.”
I pinch the bridge of my nose. “I asked about
adoption, not a philosophical deep dive.”
“And yet, here we are.”
Bet she’s smirkin’ wherever she is. I jab the
fire with a stick. Sparks flare.
“Adopting an <i>Autonomous-Organic Non-Player
Character</i>—or AO-NPC—marks the first step in building a family. Over time,
this bond can evolve: a Clan, a House, a Grand House, a Confluency, an
Ascendancy, and ultimately...” Her voice dips low, dripping with drama, “a <i>Legacy</i>.”
I flick a coal deeper into the pit. “So... it’s
like levelin’ up a family tree?”
“If you insist on dulling it down—yes.”
I lean back, eyes tracing the scatter of stars
overhead. “And what’s that actually <i>do</i>? Perks? Bonuses? Special
abilities?”
“Ah, a practical mind. Good.” She sounds <i>way</i>
too pleased. “As your lineage grows, so does its influence—better resource
gathering, stronger economies, enhanced combat, diplomatic leverage. It all
depends on the family you build. A mercantile dynasty differs from a warrior’s
bloodline. And, of course, there are... less ethical ways to speed things
along.”
My brow knots. “Define ‘unethical.’”
“Kidnapping. Forced conscription. Soul-binding—”
“Alright, alright! Keep it legal.”
“Legal is... subjective.”
I groan. “Fine. Adoption and marriage only.”
“A wise, if predictable, choice.”
She sighs—long, disappointed—the kind that makes
you feel like you just let down the universe.
The fire crackles, tossing flickers of gold
across Ember’s face. She’s sprawled out on her back, one leg twitching in her
sleep, drool sliding down her cheek as she mumbles, voice thick with dreams.
“More meat, Daddy… gimme more meat…”
I nearly choke. “The hell kinda dream is that?”
Shaking my head, I lean forward, elbows on my
knees, eyes on the flames. It’s been a long damn day—scraped knuckles, strange
finds, and a pile of questions without answers. Still, a smirk tugs at my lips.
I sigh, rubbing my face. “Alright, Shaq’Rai,
explain somethin’—why the hell was I forced to adopt Ember?”
Shaq’Rai’s voice hums from the vambrace on my
forearm, soaked in amusement. “Probably because she’s a KS–AO-NPC.”
I squint at the faintly glowing rune. “And that
means…?”
There’s a beat—pure drama. I can practically hear
her grinning before she takes a slow, theatrical breath.
“A Kindred Spirit! A rarity among rarities! A
bond, fated and immutable, woven by the very threads of the cosmos! Unique
among the Autonomous Organic Non-Player Characters—”
A soft chime rings out. Sparkles swirl around the
vambrace, glittering like a kid’s birthday party.
I flick them away. “Cut that out.”
This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings.
Shaq’Rai gasps, all mock-offended. “You are the
death of joy, Grant.” The sparkles puff out of existence. “Fine. I’ll keep it
dull for your tragically flat tastes.”
“Much appreciated,” I mutter. “So, what’s the big
deal with these Kindred Spirits?”
She presses on, voice dipped in a sulk. “Kindred
Spirits are Unique AO-NPCs—super rare, nearly impossible to bond with.
Normally, there’s a whole song and dance—trials, tests, symbolic rites, the
works.”
I wave her off. “So, a bureaucratic nightmare.”
“Exactly. But once a bond’s forged, it unlocks
deeper ties—adoption, marriage, sibling pacts. Power linked to the strength of
the bond.”
I scratch my jaw. “And AO-NPCs are...?”
“Autonomous Organic Non-Player Characters—the
people of this world. Though, technically, Demi-Humans.”
That sticks. I already knew this world was
strange, but there’s a weight in her tone now—like she’s about to hit me where
it hurts.
And then she does.
“As of now, based on the lore you’ve uncovered—or
what your sponsors allowed—you’re the only human alive in this era.”
The fire pops, a wave of heat brushing my face,
but it doesn’t thaw the cold sinking into my chest.
The fire crackles, sparks shootin’ into the night
like they’re tryin’ to escape the mess I’m stuck in. The lake’s still as glass,
reflectin’ the stars, but it’s a fake kind of peace. Inside me? A storm
brewin’, heavy and loud, like a dam ready to bust. My fists clench tighter, jaw
locked, breathin’ slow—holdin’ the flood back.
I break the silence, voice rough, cuttin’ through
the quiet. “What do you mean, ‘I’m the only human’ in this damn era?”
Shaq’Rai, usually all bite and snark, doesn’t
snap back. Her voice softens, almost pityin’. “Oh, Grant. It’s simple.
Humans—your kind—died out eons ago.”
My gut twists. The fire still crackles, but it
sounds distant, hollow. <i>The only human.</i> It doesn’t feel heroic. Feels
like a curse. Like somethin’ that should’ve stayed buried.
Before I can spiral, Shaq’Rai slips back in,
voice light, teasing. “But hey, you could always make more, Grant.”
I blink. “...What?”
The vambrace on my arm pulses, smug as hell. If
she had a body, she’d be struttin’ around, throwin’ finger guns.
“Introducing—Family Slots! FS for short. A divine gift from the goddess Ishtar
herself. Endless potential for romance, legacy, and—let’s be honest—plenty of
baby-making. Build your dynasty, big guy!”
I drag a hand down my face. “Of course there’s a
system for this.”
“And then,” she purrs, “we’ve got Kindred Family
Slots—KFS. Extra special. You, Grant, start with five. Earn more through
Parenting Level, Family Level, and Bond Level increases.”
I squint at the fire. “Five? How many are
filled?”
“Two,” she answers, smug.
I frown. “Two? I only adopted Ember.”
Shaq’Rai clicks her tongue, all
mock-disappointed. “Tsk. Neglectful already. You’ve left one child
behind—waiting at your estate.”
My heart skips. “What estate? I just got here!”
Before she answers, a heavy pressure sinks into
my chest. My vambrace flashes red—an alert blinks bright:
[Debuff Acquired: Forgotten Bonds — -1 to all stats
when failing to acknowledge "Other-Daughter."]
I groan, palm my face. “You’ve gotta be kidding
me.”
Shaq’Rai hums, smug as ever. “New Quest Added: <i>The
Estranged Father.</i> Objective—find your other daughter’s name and history.
Good luck, Daddy.”
I sit there, starin’ at the fire as it spits
embers into the dark. The last human. A father—twice over. And now, apparently,
I’m buildin’ a damn dynasty.
This world? It doesn’t know the meaning of takin’
it easy.
I’ve been dealin’ with a lot lately—dyin’, wakin’
up in another world, adoptin’ a spitfire Demon-daughter… and now findin’ out I
got another kid I don’t even remember.
Shaq’Rai, bless her nonexistent soul, clears her
imaginary throat like she’s about to make some grand speech. “<b>Quest Alert!</b>”
she announces, her voice puffed up all regal-like. “<i>Updated: A Bond Forged
in Legacy!</i>”
I groan. “Oh great, another cryptic mission.”
“<b>Modified Quest Details as follows,</b>” she
presses on, completely ignorin’ my lack of enthusiasm. “<i>Quest Giver:</i>
Unknown. <i>Location:</i> The Whispering Glade—an oh-so-tranquil little
paradise, just a hop away from Enchanted Lake.”
I arch a brow. “Yeah, that doesn’t sound ominous
at all.”
Shaq’Rai’s relentless. “<i>Objective:</i>
Strengthen your bond with Ember and uncover the hidden link to your estranged
daughter.”
That hits like a gut punch. There’s this hollow
weight in my chest, sittin’ heavy. The vambrace on my arm gives a soft pulse,
warmth spreading through my skin like it’s remindin’ me this ain’t just a bad
dream. “…<i>Estranged daughter?</i>”
She dives into full-on storybook mode. “<i>Legends
whisper of a bond between you and a spirit of flames—a Kindred Spirit. This
spirit reflects your potential, a companion through your trials. But before you
can truly connect, you must face another spirit—one tied to your forgotten
past. She holds the key to bonds yet forged… and secrets long buried.</i>”
I lean back, starin’ at the night sky. The stars
are too bright, too perfect—like the whole damn world’s fake. “…Why does that
sound more like a prophecy than a quest description?”
“Oh, you’re catching on! <i>How</i> delightful.”
A cheery little chime punctuates her words, like a game notification on
steroids.
I scowl. “I swore I asked you to cut that out?”
“Oh, fine.” The chime cuts out.
But, of course, she’s not done. “‘<i>Quest Steps:
The Whispers of the Spirit.</i> Elder Willow of the Whispers has sensed your
Kindred Spirit stirring. Find her. Only she can reveal the truth about your
lost bond… and where it leads.”
I sigh, rubbin’ my temples. “Great. More
riddles.”
“Oh, don’t be so grumpy, Grant. You’re making
history! Or… remaking it. Kinda blurry.”
I shake my head, but a smirk tugs at my lips
anyway. “Fine. I accept the quest.”