Online: Eiodolon Realms – Child of Ruin

Rai stepped forward, the sound of gravel crunching under his boots as he made his way through Elorin's Rest toward the village elder's manor. The town was waking up—NPCs were opening shops, and a few early players were already forming groups, excited chatter filling the air.

The elder's home stood at the northern edge of the village—a large, weathered structure with carved wooden pillars and a tiled stone roof. Ivy curled around the railing of the porch, and a small sign bearing the village crest hung near the door.

As Rai approached, he couldn't help but smile.

"Still standing, huh, old man?"

In his previous life, the village elder had been one of the few NPCs Rai truly respected. Not just because of his dialogue or quest design, but because the man had layers—a past filled with heroism and sacrifice.

Elder Haran was once a decorated knight who had saved the valley from a monstrous raid decades ago. His leadership and courage earned him the respect of every villager, and thus he became their guide, their protector.

Rai stepped through the doorway. Inside, the manor was cozy—lined with ancient books, relics, and a large map of the kingdom of Valoria pinned to one wall.

Behind a massive desk sat Elder Haran. His silver hair was tied back into a short ponytail, and though his beard was long, his eyes were sharp as ever.

"Ah, another one has come," Haran said, looking up. "Come closer, young man. You're new to this land, aren't you?"

Rai bowed his head slightly. "In a way, yes. My name is Rai."

Haran gestured for him to sit. "I can sense something... peculiar about you. Like you've walked through fire and come out breathing cold."

Rai smirked. "Maybe I've just had a rough morning."

The elder chuckled, then reached into a drawer and pulled out a leather-bound book. "Many have come seeking work. As this land awakens with new challengers, so too must its heroes rise. I offer quests to test your worth. Choose wisely."

A system window materialized in front of Rai.

[AVAILABLE QUESTS - ELORIN'S REST VILLAGE]

1. Boar Hunt in East Wood Difficulty: Medium

Type: Combat

Objective: Eliminate 5 Wild Boars threatening local farms.

Reward: 50 XP, 3 Silver, Basic Leather Gloves

2. Root Out the Crawler Nest Difficulty: High

Type: Combat

Objective: Locate and destroy a Crawler Nest deep in the forest cave.

Reward: 100 XP, 7 Silver, Minor Health Potion x2

3. Shrine of Spirits - Cleaning Duty Difficulty: Easy

Type: Support

Objective: Clean the abandoned shrine west of the village.

Reward: 10 XP, 1 Silver

Rai's eyes lingered on the third option. Most players would see it and scoff. Cleaning? For barely any XP?

But Rai wasn't most players.

"That shrine… that's the one near the Whispering Tree. I remember this quest. It is quite easy to complete and it won't even take much time. If my timing is correct then I will most probably be the first to complete the quest in the whole game or at least in this region, and then I will be able to gain special first clearance rewards."

He clicked 'Accept' on the third quest.

The elder looked a bit surprised. He looked at Rai and asked "Not many choose that specific quest, young man. Most prefer to slay beasts and return with bloodied blades. May I ask why you chose the Shrine even though the reward is not that great?"

Rai smiled, leaning forward slightly. "Because the land remembers kindness, not just violence."

The old man furrowed his brows for a second but then chuckled again, deeper this time. "Well spoken, lad. There's more wisdom in your brain than your age suggests."

As Rai stepped back out into the open, several other players were waiting outside the manor. A few of them had just finished speaking to the elder just before Rai and they glanced at Rai with mocking expressions that suggested that they had heard the discussion between Rai and the Elder.

"You have picked that cleaning quest?" one player sneered, a swordsman with a bright red headband. "What, are you gonna mop the shrine with a broom while we get the real loot by fighting with our weapons and completing the real quests?"

Another laughed and joked, "Maybe he's hoping to unlock the legendary Janitor class."

Rai gave a small wave and walked past them with a smirk.

"Mock all you want," he thought. "But I'll be the one having the last laugh."

As he passed the village square, his gaze landed on a younger player—scruffy hair, mismatched gear, and a sword that looked like it came from a starter kit. The guy was struggling to get his attacks right on a training dummy, awkwardly swinging with poor timing. Seeing his poor skills, the nearby players all laughed.

Rai narrowed his eyes.

"Eron..."

In his previous life, this guy had been considered a complete joke. From the very beginning, he was awful at combat, he constantly died in party raids, and barely able to survive even with assistance from his party members. But after the players gained access to cities at level 15, everything changed for him.

Eron, by chance, gained the opportunity to achieve the Blacksmith Path—a special, difficult-to-attain class. While it wasn't as unique as a legacy class as more than one palayer can get it, unlike legacy classes which only a single player can get, but still it quite demanded a deep questline and a unique crafting talent both in real life and in game. While others hunted dragons, Eron forged weapons that changed the tide of wars. 

He became one of the most sought-after player blacksmiths in the entire game.

Rai smirked.

"No one saw his value until it was too late. But not this time."

Rai gave what can only be described as a creepy smile. This was the same smile that the managers of various firms or companies gave when they planned to take advantage of their subordinates. "From what i remember, this guy is pretty thankful and never forgets someone who has helped him. Time to get into his good books. I will do that once i complete this quest."

He glanced at his own sword. Durability: 97/100.

In Eidolon Realms, every item had a durability stat. With enough use, weapons and armor would degrade and they could even vanish or turn into dust if their durability reached zero. High-grade items lost effectiveness quickly if not maintained, and restoring them required blacksmiths. Hiring an NPC blacksmith was costly as they took a fee every time. Compared to this most guilds, preferred having a player blacksmith who they could pay a fixed salary depending on their contracts.

That's why player blacksmiths were crucial. Every serious guild had at least one.

"And the earlier I get Eron on my side, the more leverage I'll have once he starts crafting special-tier gear."

He approached the outskirts of town, heading toward the west.

In his mind, Rai could already see the shrine—covered in moss and dust, forgotten by most but not by him. With each step, he felt the familiar rhythm of progression settling in.

Not through brute strength. Not through flashy battles. But by playing smarter.

And this time, he wasn't just playing for power.

He was playing to win it all.

Rai arrived at the shrine by late afternoon. It stood beneath the boughs of an ancient tree, its limbs stretching wide like the arms of an old guardian. The shrine itself was small and weathered—carved stone pillars wrapped in moss, steps cracked and broken, and a forgotten statue of a lesser spirit deity looming at the center.

He stepped forward, looking around.

"Still the same as I remember. Dusty. Quiet. Forgotten."

The quest pinged in his System.

[Clean the Shrine - Progress 0%]

He had a brought a broom and bucket full of water with him, which had been given to him by the workers of the elder's office. He thought about the bucket and broom, and they instantly materialized in front of him. This was one of the many perks of being a player, a in-system spatial bag.

He picked them up and got to work.

With each sweep of the broom, clouds of dust scattered. He scrubbed away mold with water, cleared fallen branches, and polished the statue as best he could.

By the time he was done, the sun had started to set—and the shrine looked... almost serene.

The system chimed:

[Quest Completed: Shrine of Spirits - Cleaning Duty]

Rewards: 10 XP, 1 Silver

BONUS: First Ever In-Game Quest Completion Detected

Special Reward Granted: Blessing of the Forgotten Spirits

+250 Kingdom Reputation: Valoria

Rai blinked.

"...Kingdom reputation. For cleaning?"

He laughed to himself.

In Eidolon Realms, reputation wasn't just cosmetic. It had weight. It influenced how NPCs treated you, the quests you could access, and even what buildings and lands you could purchase. To form an official guild or apply for nobility, you needed substantial reputation—typically gained through high-level quests, faction wars, or massive world events.

"And they called me a janitor."

But the real prize?

He inspected the blessing—an ethereal blessing that boosted mana regeneration by 200 percent and allowed communication with spirits depending upon the users talent.

[The Blessing of the Forgotten Spirits.]

Effect: Substantial increase in mana regeneration. Allows communication with magic spirits, depending on the user's affinity and location. (Note: Spirit communication currently unavailable. Spirits reside in Aelyrien, the Elven continent.)

⸺SYSTEM NOTIFICATION⸺

Congratulations! You have become the first player to complete a quest in Eidolon Realms.

A World Announcement will now be broadcast across all servers.

Would you like to display your real name (RAI) or use an alias?

Rai blinked. "Already? Damn, I didn't expect it to trigger this fast."

He smirked, eyes narrowing as he pondered.

"My real name's not ready for the spotlight just yet. Let's keep them guessing."

He paused, fingers hovering in midair as a virtual keyboard flickered before him.

"Something that reflects who I am now… A sword no longer bound. A shadow of ruin walking again."

And then he typed—

Alias Chosen: The Fallen Shade

Alias Accepted. Preparing Broadcast…

The skies across Eidolon Realms darkened slightly, as if a subtle dusk swept over the continents. Players across forests, fields, and cities froze as a glowing message filled the skies.

 [WORLD ANNOUNCEMENT]

Player [The Fallen Shade] has become the first to complete a quest in Eidolon Realms!

Their actions have been etched into the Legends of Eidolon.

Reputation with the Kingdom of Valoria increased.