The Lexicon stirred the moment I stepped back into Elderfall.
It wasn't audible—not really—but I felt it. Like the scratch of a quill against parchment at the back of my mind. Alive. Watching. Waiting.
I passed through the outer gate just before nightfall. Most of the new players had already logged out, leaving the village quieter than it had been all day. The flicker of lanterns cast long shadows across cobbled paths, and the distant clang of the blacksmith's hammer was replaced by the soft strum of a bard's lute in the square.
Lyra walked beside me, silent, save for the occasional side glance. She hadn't asked any more questions since the caravan event. I could feel the suspicion simmering beneath her curiosity.
Let her wonder.
We split at the town fountain, her heading toward the healer's hall and me toward the archive tower nestled on the eastern bluff. Most players didn't even realize it was accessible. The door didn't open unless you already had a magic-based class or were holding an ancient script.
I had both.
The door creaked open as I approached, recognizing the Forgotten Lexicon like a key.
Dust filled the air. Stacks of scrolls and crumbling tomes littered the shelves. A single candle burned at the far end of the hall, illuminating a wizened old man hunched over a desk the size of a small boat.
NPC Identified: Archivist HalwardReputation: Neutral (0)Affiliation: Elderfall Archives (Tier D)
The old man didn't look up. "If you're here to study, you're late. If you're here to waste my time, you're in the wrong tower."
I held up the scroll from the caravan event—the Ancient Binding Script.
That got his attention.
His eyes lit up as he slowly rose and took it in trembling hands. "This shouldn't exist outside the vaults…"
"It was meant to find me," I said simply.
He snorted but didn't argue.
[Quest Unlocked: Echoes of Ink – Path of the Scribe]Objective: Translate the Binding Script using the Lexicon.Reward: Enhanced Rune Comprehension + Bonus EXP
The translation process took time. I opened the Lexicon on a cleared desk space and carefully aligned the scroll across its binding. A faint resonance shimmered between the two objects—pale gold threads dancing between runes.
[Lexicon Interface Updated]New Rune Detected: [Bind]New Function: Glyph Imbuement (Basic Tier)
The page beneath my hands shifted, reshaping to form new symbols.
Suddenly, everything clicked.
[Spell Created: Binding Seal – Rank F+]Effect: Immobilizes a target under level 10 for 4 seconds. Weakened effect against elites. Can be used on enchanted objects.Ink Cost: 2
A proper control spell. Not a trap. Not a copy.
A tool.
Outside, the night was falling fast. I tucked the Lexicon back into my inventory and stepped out into the evening air.
I didn't get more than a few steps before Lyra leaned out from the healer's porch. "So… care to explain where you got a rune no one else in the starter zone even knows exists?"
She wasn't smiling this time.
"Trade secret," I said, slowing to a stop. "Let's just say I read ahead."
She crossed her arms. "You're weird. Like, really weird. I should probably report you for exploiting."
I raised a brow. "But you won't."
"Not yet," she said, narrowing her eyes. "But I'm going to find out what your deal is."
She turned and disappeared into the hall.
Later that night, back in my dorm, I woke with a gasp. My body was stiff—VR dive fatigue—and my stomach growled like a beast. I dragged myself out of the pod and slumped into the desk chair.
Three hours of sleep. A class in four. Rent due at the end of the week.
And all I could think about… was runes.
[SYSTEM NOTICE: USER CONTINUES TO EXHIBIT NON-LINEAR PATTERN BEHAVIOR.][DATA DIVERGENCE 0.0027% – EXPANDING.][Observation Escalated – AI Sector: ECHO]
Somewhere in the code behind the game's beautiful facade, something took notice.
And it wasn't just watching anymore.