Astralyth Online

Chapter 11 – Quest Run

Madelyn walked through the village streets, heading toward her next objective—the leatherworker. The village wasn’t that huge, so everything was within a short walk, but the busy crowds filled the streets with a constant buzz of activity.

As she wove her way through the people, she found herself unconsciously turning it into a game. She slipped between groups of NPCs and players like she was some sort of assassin or rogue, avoiding collisions with ease, her smaller, nimble body making the task quite fun. The way her body moved felt natural, smooth even, and each successful dodge and quick step made her feel more confident.

Maybe this body isn’t so bad after all, she mused. Her heightened dexterity made her feel light on her feet, and it gave her a sense of control she hadn’t felt before. She wasn’t used to this level of agility, but it was definitely useful in navigating the crowded village.

Just as Madelyn was nearing the leatherworker, it happened. She had been dodging people, turning the crowded streets into her own personal challenge, when a massive figure slammed into her from out of nowhere. The impact sent her stumbling backward, her body hitting the ground with a thud.

She looked up, her heart pounding, to see the person who had run her over. A gigantic man stood towering over her, his face twisted into a scowl. His angry gaze bore down on her, and despite her attempts to stay calm, her body betrayed her. Her tail curled protectively around her, shivering as she hugged it unconsciously, anxiety washing over her.

"Watch where you’re going, kid," the man growled, his voice full of irritation. He turned away, muttering to himself, "Dumb kids playing this game."

Madelyn’s body was still trembling as she sat there on the ground, feeling small and shaken by the encounter.

Madelyn slowly pushed herself back up to her feet, her hands trembling as she tried to shake off the encounter. She could feel the tears threatening to spill, but she swallowed them back, not wanting to break down in the middle of the village. The game of dodging people had lost its appeal completely. Now, every step she took felt more cautious, and she moved much slower as she made her way through the town.

By the time she reached the leatherworker’s shop, her heart was still racing, but she tried to focus on her next task. She stepped inside, the faint smell of treated leather filling the air.

Her eyes widened in awe. The shop was filled with an incredible variety of clothes and armor. Leather of all shades, from dark browns, whites to sleek blacks, hung from racks and mannequins. There were sturdy travel cloaks, fitted armor pieces, and lighter, flexible outfits designed for speed and agility.

Wow, she thought, momentarily distracted by the sheer number of options. The sight helped ease some of the tension in her chest, and for a moment, she let herself forget about the run-in outside.

As Madelyn stood in the leatherworker's shop, admiring the array of clothing and armor, a middle-aged woman with a warm smile approached her. The woman had kind eyes, her hands marked with years of working with leather.

"What can I help you with, dear?" the woman asked kindly, her voice soft and welcoming.

Madelyn, still feeling a bit off-balance from her earlier encounter, stumbled over her words. "Oh, uh... my quest sent me here. I'm supposed to... um, get some armor, I think."

The woman’s smile widened in understanding. "Ah, a new adventurer, I see. Welcome, welcome!" She gestured toward the various racks of gear. "You’ve come to the right place, then. Let’s get you fitted with something light and sturdy, shall we? Something that'll keep you safe while you're out there exploring."

Madelyn nodded, feeling a little more at ease as the woman led her deeper into the shop, toward the racks of light armor.

After a while, Madelyn eventually settled on some simple light armor—a pair of fitted leather pants with a convenient opening for her tail, and a lightweight chestpiece that strapped over a plain shirt. It wasn’t anything fancy, but it felt comfortable, and the flexibility suited her.

She had tried on a few pairs of shoes, but something about them felt wrong. Every time she slipped her feet inside, it felt constricting and uncomfortable. Frustrated, she gave up on the shoes entirely. For some reason, she just couldn’t stand the idea of having her feet trapped inside them now. Weird, she thought, but decided to leave her feet bare. It felt more natural anyway.

The shopkeeper, noticing her decision, approached with a gentle smile. "All done with the fitting?"

Madelyn glanced at the shoes one last time and shook her head. "Yes, I’ll skip the shoes, thank you. They just don’t feel right for some reason."

The woman chuckled, nodding understandingly. "No problem at all, dear. Sometimes, it's best to go with what feels natural. Lots of beastkin have the same dislike."

Madelyn nodded and admired the rest of her new armor, she suddenly noticed her old dress still draped over her arm. "Oh, uh... do you know what I can do with this? I don’t really want to throw it away." she asked, holding it up awkwardly.

The shopkeeper’s eyes twinkled. "Ah, that’s simple! You can use your Inventory skill to store it away. Haven’t you tried it yet?"

Madelyn furrowed her brow. "Inventory skill?"

"Yes," the woman said warmly, "just like your quest or map menus. You can open your inventory and store items you don’t need right away. Go ahead and give it a try."

Madelyn nodded, focusing on the dress. She pictured her inventory, much like opening the map earlier, and sure enough, a grid appeared in front of her with twenty empty slots. With a thought, she slipped the dress into one of the squares. It vanished from her hands, safely stored away.

"Wow... that’s really convenient!" Madelyn said, her eyes widening.

The shopkeeper smiled. "Very handy, indeed. You’ll find it useful for all sorts of items as you go on your adventures. You outlanders are lucky to get it for free."

Madelyn smiled gratefully. "Thank you so much!"

"You're welcome, dear," the shopkeeper replied kindly.

As Madelyn finished adjusting her new armor, preparing to leave the shop, a notification popped up in her field of vision. Third Objective Complete: Visit the Leatherworker.

She paused, realizing the quest hadn't been completed when she simply walked into the shop. It seemed that the system required her to fully engage and meet some unwritten requirements before it triggered. The same had happened at the blacksmith. So, it’s not just about showing up...

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The realization made the game world feel even more alive. There were layers to it—more than just ticking off boxes. She wondered how the next objectives would play out and if they'd follow the same hidden logic. But how did I finish the first objective then? I didn’t ask for info or spoke to the innkeeper, weird… she shrugged and stored the thought for later.

Madelyn opened her quest menu and saw her next destination: the apothecary. She stepped back out into the busy village streets, feeling the weight of her new armor. The leather was light yet snug, and she found herself appreciating how well it moved with her. But did it actually change anything? she wondered.

Curious, she opened her stats menu to check for any changes:

Profile:
Name: Madelyn Fae
Level: 1
Race: Foxkin
Class: [GL!TC#D_ER!@R] (Unreadable, glitching text)
Age: 16
Sex: Female

Vitality:
Health: 130/130 (+30)
Mana: 60/60 (+10)

Stats:
Strength: 12 (+2)
Constitution: 12 (+1)
Dexterity: 18
Intelligence: 12
Wisdom: 13
Charisma: 14

The numbers had definitely gone up. Her health and mana had increased, as had her strength and constitution. Looks like the armor does more than just look good, she thought, feeling a little more confident with the stat boosts, even if she didn't really know what they meant. With her updated gear and stats, she was ready to continue her quest.

Next stop: the apothecary, she thought, setting off toward her next objective.

Her first quest had been pretty straightforward so far, and Madelyn realized she was already halfway through it. It’s the first quest, so it’s bound to be easy, she thought, though the simplicity made her wonder how the game mechanics worked. Every shopkeeper she had visited had been more than happy to outfit her, yet she hadn’t paid a single coin. Everything had been free.

Do the shopkeepers get paid somehow? she mused. It didn’t make much sense for her to just collect items and gear without some form of exchange. The thought nagged at her. Maybe this was just part of the introductory quest, a kind of welcome gift for new adventurers, but still—it didn’t sit right with her. I should ask the next shopkeeper.

With that decision in mind, she headed toward the apothecary, ready to get some answers along with her next set of supplies. This time with a bit more caution to prevent another collision.

Madelyn stepped into the apothecary, and the change in atmosphere hit her immediately. Unlike the lively, bustling energy of the inn, blacksmith, and leatherworker, this place had a quiet, almost clinical feel. The walls were lined with shelves full of vials, jars, and herbs, the air heavy with the scent of strange concoctions. It reminded her of visiting a pharmacy back in the real world—clean, orderly, and focused.

It made sense, though. She was essentially picking up medicine, after all. Health potions and other useful items that would keep her alive out in the field. The quiet hum of the apothecary’s work was a sharp contrast to the noise outside, giving the space a calming effect, almost like a sanctuary from the village's hustle.

She walked over to the counter, where a middle-aged man was carefully mixing ingredients, not noticing her at first. Madelyn cleared her throat softly. The apothecary glanced up, meeting her eyes with a calm but distant expression, waiting for her to speak.

“Ehm, hi,” Madelyn said, a little uncertain. “I got a quest to get supplies here.”

The man behind the counter, without a word, set down a few small bottles in front of her—health potions, she assumed. He didn’t speak, didn’t even make eye contact, just silently went about his task. Madelyn blinked in confusion. Is he... not going to say anything? she wondered.

Awkwardly, she reached out and carefully took the vials, placing them into her inventory with a soft sigh. Just as expected, a message flashed before her: Fourth Objective Complete: Visit the Apothecary.

Madelyn stood there for a moment, unsure if she should say something else. "Uh, thanks," she mumbled awkwardly, turning to leave. The man didn’t respond, didn’t even acknowledge her as she walked out of the shop.

As the door closed behind her, she shook her head. Weird... she thought, still puzzled by the apothecary’s silence. It was such a stark contrast to the other shopkeepers she had encountered, and she couldn’t shake the strange vibe the place had given her.

Madelyn slapped her forehead in frustration as she walked away from the apothecary. I forgot to ask about the quest system! The strange atmosphere and the apothecary's silence had thrown her off completely. Omg, I can’t believe I let that slip, she thought, shaking her head.

Determined not to let it happen again, she muttered to herself, "Okay, next stop, I’m definitely going to ask!" With a deep breath, she opened the map, her next objective clearly marked: the general store.

She started making her way there, weaving through the busy streets of the village, her mind already forming the questions she needed to ask. The general store would be the perfect place to finally get some answers.

The general store was exactly what Madelyn expected: a catch-all shop for adventurers. Shelves lined the walls, filled with an assortment of items, each with a small handwritten tag marking its price or description. There were camping kits complete with tents, bedrolls, and fire-starting tools, cooking supplies like cast iron pans and bundles of dried herbs, and rows of ration packs for long journeys.

A section of the store featured fishing gear, with poles and nets neatly arranged, while another shelf displayed basic survival tools—flint and steel, rope, waterskins, and even small hatchets for chopping wood. There were torches for navigating dark dungeons, lockpicks for those taking on a rogue's path, and various kits for potion crafting, ranging from simple herb grinders to more complex alchemical sets.

At the back, Madelyn noticed a variety of maps and compasses for navigating the vast game world, alongside some scrolls and basic enchantment stones that seemed useful for enhancing weapons and armor.

The store had everything a fresh adventurer could possibly need for a journey, and as she walked through the aisles, Madelyn felt a bit more confident. This place was full of possibilities for whatever lay ahead.

Madelyn made her way to the counter, where a friendly-looking woman stood behind the desk. Without needing to ask, the woman handed her a basic camping kit and a small bundle of cooking supplies. Madelyn smiled and thanked her, slipping the items into her inventory with a practiced motion. She dismissed the now familiar pop up for completing the quest objective: Fifth Objective Complete: Visit the General Store.

But this time, she didn’t forget to ask the question that had been bugging her since the start of the quest. "So, uh, I really don’t have to pay for any of this?"

The woman chuckled warmly. "No, dear, you don’t. I just mark your quest as complete, and the system sends me payment. All you outlander adventurers get the same basic quests when you first arrive, and it’s a nice, steady income for us shopkeepers."

Madelyn hesitated for a moment, the same unfamiliar word from before catching her attention. "Outlander?"

The shopkeeper nodded with a knowing smile. "Yes, the people like you who started appearing all over the world not too long ago. You’re not from here, right? The term's become quite common for adventurers like yourself."

Madelyn blinked, absorbing the information. "Okay, and the game system just handles all the payments for you?"

"Exactly," the woman replied with a smile. "It’s an efficient system. Helps you get what you need, and we get paid without any hassle."

Madelyn nodded, relieved to finally have an answer. "That’s... actually really convenient. Thanks for explaining!"

"Anytime, dear," the woman said, waving her off as Madelyn left the store, feeling a little more informed and ready for whatever came next.

Madelyn was almost done with her first-ever quest in Astralyth Online, and the thought filled her with a sense of accomplishment. The only objective left was the Adventurers Guild. As she weaved her way through the village again, she found herself smiling. It was actually fun again—walking through these streets, feeling like she was really in another world, completing quests, and soaking in the experience of being part of this fantasy adventure. As long as she didn’t bump into someone, of course.

The Adventurers Guild building stood at the heart of the village, large and imposing, with tall wooden doors and intricate carvings around its entrance. It looked like the center of all adventuring business, a place where players and NPCs alike would gather. Madelyn stepped inside, feeling a surge of excitement as she crossed the threshold.

The interior was just as grand as the outside, with a large open hall, people milling about, and a counter at the far end where guild-related business was clearly handled. The air buzzed with activity, and she felt more like a true adventurer than ever before.