“If it’s not attacking,” Van Dijk said, his voice low and measured, each word carrying the weight of caution, “then we probably should just leave it be. There’s no sense in provoking something we don’t understand.”
Ludwig was about to nod in agreement, his mind already aligning with his master’s reasoning. The creature they had stumbled upon was unlike anything he had ever seen. It was a shadow-given form, a writhing mass of darkness that seemed to pulse and breathe, its edges flickering like smoke caught in a breeze. It didn’t move, didn’t attack, but its presence was oppressive as if the very air around it was heavier, denser. Ludwig couldn’t shake the feeling that it was watching them, even though it had no visible eyes.
They didn’t know what the ‘monster’ was capable of, nor what kind of threat it posed. For all they knew, it could be a guardian, a trap, or something far worse. Ludwig’s instincts screamed at him to retreat, to leave this place and never return. But before he could voice his agreement, a sharp, intrusive chime echoed in his mind, followed by a flash of blue text that burned itself into his vision.
[Sudden Quest!]
The notification made Ludwig grit his teeth, his jaw tightening as a familiar sense of dread settled in his chest. He didn’t even need to read the details to know what it would entail. The System had a way of thrusting him into situations he had no business being in, and this was no exception.
[Obtain the mysterious book guarded by the Shadow Beast of the Grand Archives.]
[Difficulty level: F]
[Reward: Revealed once the item is obtained.]
[Failure to obtain the item will permanently decrease your Wisdom gain by 100%.]
…
Ludwig’s frown deepened as he read the quest details. A Difficulty level of F? That was laughable. The System was either mocking him or severely underestimating the situation. The creature before them didn’t look like an F-level threat. Its very presence was enough to make Ludwig’s skin crawl although he had no real skin, and the fact that it was guarding something only made it more suspicious. He tried to use his Inspect skill on the creature, hoping to glean some information, but the System responded with a cold, dismissive message.
[Failed to Inspect.]
He cursed under his breath, his frustration mounting. If he couldn’t inspect the creature then he’d know what they were facing at least.
His gaze shifted to the object of the quest: the book. It lay on a stone dais in the center of the room, its cover obscured by the shifting shadows of the creature. Ludwig tried to inspect it as well, but the System delivered the same infuriating response.
[Failed to Inspect.]
“What’s wrong?” Van Dijk asked, his voice cutting through the tension like a knife. His sharp eyes were fixed on Ludwig, studying him with a mix of curiosity and concern.
Ludwig hesitated, unsure of how to explain the sudden quest or the gnawing sense of urgency that had taken hold of him. “I don’t know how to explain it,” he began, his voice tight, “but there’s something about that book… It’s like if we leave this place without it, something terrible will happen. I can’t shake the feeling.”
Van Dijk’s expression darkened as he considered Ludwig’s words. He was a man who valued logic and reason above all else, and Ludwig’s vague intuition was far from convincing.
“The risks are too great,” he said after a long pause. “We don’t know what that creature is, nor do we know the true value of the book. It could be a trap or worse.”
Ludwig opened his mouth to argue, but Van Dijk raised a hand to silence him. “However,” the teacher continued, his tone softening slightly, “if my disciple feels so strongly about this, then I cannot simply ignore their plea. Give me the mask.”
Ludwig’s eyes widened in surprise. “Are you sure, Master?” he asked, his voice tinged with both hope and guilt. The mask was a powerful artifact, one that allowed its wearer to see through illusions and perceive the true nature of things. But it came at a cost—a cost that Van Dijk had borne before and it was not pretty.
Van Dijk nodded, though the pain in his eyes was unmistakable. “My disciple wants me to obtain a book for them,” he said with a faint, almost rueful smile. “Who am I to refuse?”
Ludwig handed over the mask, his hands trembling slightly as he did so. Van Dijk took it without hesitation and placed it over his face. The moment the mask settled into place, his demeanor changed. His posture straightened, his movements became more deliberate, and his eyes—now visible through the mask’s slits—glowed with an otherworldly light. He turned his gaze toward the creature, and for the first time, Ludwig saw a flicker of recognition in his master’s expression.
“Ah,” Van Dijk said, his voice tinged with relief. “You had me worried for a moment. It’s an Umbral Hound.”
Ludwig blinked, caught off guard by the sudden shift in tone. “An Umbral Hound?” he repeated, his curiosity piqued.
Van Dijk nodded, his gaze still fixed on the creature. “They’re guardians or protectors. When a beloved pet dies, their spirit can sometimes linger, bound to the world by their loyalty to their owner. This one… looks like it’s trapped here, guarding that book. Perhaps it belonged to its former owner.”
Ludwig’s eyes widened as he processed the information. “So… it’s not hostile?”
“Not inherently,” Van Dijk replied. “But it will defend the book if it feels threatened. Let me see if I can retrieve it.”
With that, Van Dijk stepped forward, moving through the shelves as if they were nothing more than an illusion. To Ludwig, it looked as though his master had simply vanished, passing through solid wood and stone as though they were made of mist. “Master, are you okay?” he called out, his voice tinged with unease.
“Yes, yes,” Van Dijk’s voice echoed back, faint but reassuring. “You can’t see me because of the illusion. Step through.”