The train to the northern frontier left at midnight.

Aria sat by the window of the private cabin, staring into the darkness, the stolen system map fragment pulsing faintly in her sleeve.

Prince Kael sat across from her, one leg crossed, reading a book he clearly wasn’t paying attention to.

“You’re quiet,” he said at last.

“I’m planning how to survive the next forty-eight hours.”

“I thought that’s what I was here for.”

“You’re here,” she replied, “because your name opens borders, and your face distracts assassins.”

Kael smirked. “Flattering.”

New Quest: Journey to the Hollow – Stage I

Objective: Reach the Frostedge Region and retrieve Map Fragment 2

Warning: High chance of interception

Bonus: Don’t kill Kael. Yet.

The train cut through pine forests and frost-covered mountains.

Inside, everything was still—until it wasn’t.

An hour before dawn, Aria’s system flared.

ALERT: System Interference Detected

Source: External Host – Class Unknown

Threat Level: Moderate-to-High

Target: You.

Aria stood.

“Something’s wrong.”

The lights flickered.

And then the door exploded inward.

Three figures stepped into the cabin, wearing sleek black gear and blank silver masks.

System thieves.

“Lady Aria,” the one in front said smoothly. “We’ve been watching you. Kindly hand over the map fragment.”

She tilted her head. “Kindly go die.”

The thieves moved.

Kael was up in a flash, blade drawn, but Aria raised a hand.

“They’re mine.”

Combat Mode: Engaged

Skills Unlocked:

— Queen’s Presence III

— Shadow Trap Thread

— [New] Echo Loop: Copy enemy system function for 15 seconds

Aria moved like a storm in velvet. She kicked off the floor, twisted midair, and snapped her fingers.

Threads of invisible force lashed out, wrapping around the thieves’ legs.

One fell. Two stumbled.

Aria lunged toward the leader, slamming her palm into his chest.

Skill Activated: Echo Loop

Target System: Blink-step (Short Range Teleport)

Access Time: 15s

She vanished—

—and reappeared behind him.

“Thanks for the gift,” she whispered, and knocked him unconscious with the hilt of her blade.

Kael blinked. “You’re copying systems now?”

Aria shrugged. “Seemed rude not to.”

System Assimilation Progress: 38%

Temporary Skill Learned: Blink-step (2 Uses Remaining)

Hidden Title Acquired: “System Thief of Thieves”

They dumped the unconscious bodies at the next outpost, wrapped in spell-binding chains.

“Someone sent them,” Kael said quietly as the train moved again.

“Yes,” Aria replied. “But it wasn’t Yvonne.”

He raised an eyebrow. “You’re sure?”

She looked out the window.

“If it were Yvonne... we’d both be dead already.”

Later, while Kael slept (with one hand still on his blade), Aria studied the map again.

The second fragment would be hidden in the Riftspire Monastery—a ruin lost in snow and silence.

But her system pulsed again.

A new message appeared. A whisper, embedded in the stolen thief’s core.

Incoming Message: Unknown Host

“You’re collecting pieces. How quaint.

But you’re too slow, Aria.

She already has the third fragment.

And soon—she’ll have him too.”*

The message vanished.

Aria’s blood turned to ice.

She turned and looked at the sleeping prince.

No. Yvonne couldn’t have him.

Not for power. Not for leverage. Not for anything.

If Aria had to burn the entire system world to stop her, so be it.

New Side Quest: Protect Kael (Optional — Highly Emotional)

Risk: Attachment

Reward: Unknown

Consequence of Failure: Catastrophic

Aria leaned back against the window.

“Yvonne,” she whispered, “You’ve taken enough from me.”

“I dare you to try again.”

 Chapter 14: The Monastery, the Mirror Battle, and the Monster in Her Mind