Yevhen wandered through the streets of Mistvale with no destination in mind.
Unlike the other newcomers, he wasn't searching for quests, equipment, or hidden treasures.
He simply walked.
One step.
Then another.
The soft grass bent beneath his feet, and the cool breeze carried the scent of wildflowers through the village. Children chased butterflies across open fields while merchants laughed with passing adventurers. Somewhere nearby, a blacksmith's hammer rang rhythmically against hot steel.
It was peaceful.
Wonderfully peaceful.
Yevhen closed his eyes for a moment.
Then he ran.
Only a few steps.
Five...
Ten...
Twenty...
His legs never trembled.
His chest never tightened.
His lungs drew deep, effortless breaths.
He stopped only because he wanted to—not because his body demanded it.
A laugh escaped his lips.
It began quietly before growing louder.
He laughed until tears blurred his vision.
"If only..."
He looked toward the clear blue sky.
"If only my sister could see me now."
No needles.
No hospital bed.
No pain.
For the first time in his life...
He understood what freedom felt like.
Hours drifted by as Yevhen explored every corner of Mistvale.
He greeted smiling villagers, watched novice adventurers gather around the training grounds, and admired the endless fields that stretched toward the surrounding forests.
Along the way, he noticed something unusual.
Although players sparred with wooden swords and practiced simple spells, none of them were able to harm one another. Every strike passed harmlessly, accompanied by faint flashes of light.
A nearby guard noticed Yevhen's curious expression.
"First day?"
Yevhen nodded.
The guard chuckled.
"Don't worry. Mistvale is a protected settlement."
"No player-versus-player combat. No killing. No stealing."
He tapped the badge on his armor.
"As long as you're inside the village boundaries, Combat Mode remains disabled."
Yevhen glanced around once more.
That explained the carefree atmosphere.
Even complete strangers laughed together without fear.
It was a sanctuary for beginners.
A place where everyone could take their first steps.
As the afternoon sun began its slow descent, Yevhen wandered beyond the busy streets until he found a large oak tree standing alone on a quiet hill overlooking the village.
He leaned against its sturdy trunk and sat beneath its shade.
The gentle breeze rustled the leaves overhead.
"This feels nice..."
After a moment of silence, he whispered,
"Status."
A translucent blue window appeared before him.
**Player:** Yevhen
**Race:** Human
**Level:** 1
**Class:** Novice
**Health:** 100/100
**Mana:** 50/50
**Strength:** 5
**Agility:** 5
**Vitality:** 5
**Intelligence:** 5
**Spirit:** 5
**Unassigned Attribute Points:** 0
"Completely average."
He smiled to himself.
"No hidden talents."
"No legendary class."
"No special bonuses."
Exactly what the system had told him during character creation.
Yet...
Another icon rested quietly in the corner of the interface.
Unlike the polished design of the game's menus, this one resembled an ancient black book engraved with shifting silver runes.
The moment Yevhen focused on it, the air around him seemed to grow heavier.
He reached out and touched it.
The ordinary status window dissolved.
In its place appeared a page of aged parchment, its edges burned as if it had survived countless ages.
Ancient letters slowly engraved themselves across the page.
**PRIMAL CODEX**
**Bearer:** Confirmed
**Authority:** Dormant
**Current Chapter:** Sealed
**Records Collected:** 0
**Functions Available:** Unknown
**Requirement to Proceed: Discover the First Truth.**
No explanations.
No tutorial.
No helpful descriptions.
Only silence.
"...First Truth?"
Yevhen frowned.
"What does that even mean?"
As if responding to his question, the runes etched into the page shimmered for a brief moment before settling once again.
The Codex revealed nothing more.
Yevhen let out a quiet sigh.
"Looks like finding answers won't be easy."
He closed the mysterious book, and the familiar status panel returned.
Above him, the leaves swayed gently in the afternoon breeze.
Below, the peaceful streets of Mistvale bustled with the laughter of new adventurers beginning their own journeys.
Yevhen looked at the village one last time before rising to his feet.
His path was still unclear.
But for the first time in his life...
He was free to choose where it would lead.