Kyren and Lydel entered the village they called home just as the sun dipped below the horizon. A familiar ding echoed in Kyren's head, followed by the robotic voice of his system.
New Mission: Cult Crusher.
He ignored it for now—he'd check it later.
As they walked through the streets, the scent of home brought a small smirk to Kyren's face. "Hope Grandma Windy feels like making dinner."
Lydel chuckled. "You know she will. She always does."
When they reached the orphanage, Kyren didn't bother jumping the gate like usual. Instead, he gave it a hearty push and walked straight through the yard. At the back door, he didn't knock—just stepped inside.
"We made it back, Grandma!" he called out.
The scuttling of small feet was his only warning before the younger kids rushed in, hugging both him and Lydel. Laughter filled the room as tiny arms latched onto them.
Grandma Windy appeared in the doorway, a warm smile on her face. "As you can see, even in the short time you were gone, they started missing you."
She pulled Kyren into a hug, then did the same for Lydel before shooing the kids off to get ready for bed. Turning back to the boys, she raised a brow. "Y'all hungry?"
"Yes," they said in unison.
They hadn't eaten a proper meal in nearly four days, and the hunger gnawed at them. Grandma Windy got to work, soon placing plates of chicken and rice in front of them, along with glasses of water.
The second the food hit the table, Kyren and Lydel dug in. Within seconds, their plates were spotless.
Grandma Windy chuckled, watching them with a mix of pride and concern. "Either I got better at cooking, or you boys were starving." Then her voice softened. "How did your little journey go?"
Kyren swallowed the last bite and met her gaze. "You were right, Grandma. The drug runners were a cult."
Grandma Windy's expression darkened. "What were they preaching?"
Lydel spoke up. "They called themselves the Church of Conversion."
Kyren nodded. "Their preacher kept saying they were doing this for the All-Father."
The smile on Grandma Windy's face slipped. Her body stiffened, and her fingers curled into her apron. "Not this again," she murmured, shaking her head. "Why won't this man and his ideals just die?"
Without another word, she turned and motioned for them to follow. They trailed behind as she moved to the living room, shifting the couch aside to reveal a hidden cellar door beneath a rug. She bent down, gripping the handle, and with a creak, the hatch swung open.
"Come with me," she said before swiftly descending the ladder.
Kyren and Lydel exchanged glances before following.
The walls of the cellar were lined with shelves, each one packed with journals. A wooden desk sat in the middle of the room, a lantern hanging above it. With a flick of her wrist, Grandma Windy lit the lantern, casting a dim glow over the countless books. Each journal had a year written on its spine, stretching back farther than Kyren could fathom.
"These are all mine," Grandma Windy said, a small grin creeping back onto her face. "They go back almost 125 years."
Kyren blinked. "There's no way you're 125."
Grandma Windy chuckled. "But I am, my child. My power lets me stop my aging. Not the best for combat, but I never liked fighting much. Instead, I wrote down what I saw. I age when I choose."
Kyren and Lydel stood there, jaws practically on the floor.
"I've seen these men before," Grandma Windy continued. "The Cult of Conversion was a major force in Epsilon when I was young. But they eventually left—to build their own city out east."
Lydel frowned. "Then why do they keep coming back?"
"They return every twenty years or so, claiming that this time, they'll finally fulfill the All-Father's plan." Her gaze turned distant. "I haven't heard of them in sixty years… but they're cockroaches. I never expected them to fully disappear."
She reached for a journal labeled 2251 and pulled it from the shelf. "This is from the last time I heard about the Cult of Conversion. There may be something in here that can help you understand why they're spreading again."
She handed the journal to Kyren, her voice heavy with warning. "This cult has always preyed on the weak, using them to achieve their goals. And they'll do it again. Their promises are hollow."
With that, she turned and climbed back up the ladder. Kyren and Lydel followed, their minds reeling from the flood of information.
Once they reached the top, Lydel let out a deep sigh. "Bro… I think I need a nap after that."
Kyren smirked. "I'll walk you to the door."
After seeing his friend off, Kyren headed upstairs, gripping the journal tightly. He had a gut feeling that Grandma Windy knew more than she was letting on.
But before he even considered opening it, he remembered his system notification.
Mission Menu Opened.
Mission: Cult Crusher
Objective: Destroy the cults festering in the inner villages and liberate the outskirts from their extorters.
Target Locations:
Zybana
Longfoot
Everwood
Timberfield
Thanto Outpost
Zafeer Outpost
Rewards:
500 Stat Points
1 Trait
1 Item
Kyren nearly fell out of bed.
500 stat points.
That was enough to boost multiple stats to A-rank—or even push one past A to see what was beyond it. The journey ahead would be brutal, but the power he'd gain made it worth it.
Still, the thought of the cult gnawed at him. They weren't just criminals—they were manipulators, taking advantage of the people in villages like his own.
He tried to sleep, but his mind wouldn't rest.
And then came the dream.
A battlefield stretched before him. Two armies stood at the ready, their numbers stretching into the horizon.
A man in flowing robes, flanked by ten followers, faced another figure—one who radiated power. Kyren stood behind him, unable to turn his head, but he could feel the heat of an army behind him.
The robed man sneered. "Leon, you've been warned. Even if you destroy me today, my will lives on. I have uplifted the weak. Through my power, I built a city that will rival your own."
Leon's voice thundered across the battlefield. "You have threatened Epsilon for the last time. Even if your cult still lingers, I will cripple its wings forever."
The robed man laughed. "You don't understand. The seed of my revolution is already planted. Even if Carthia falls, my message will spread. My legacy will outlive us all."
Leon's eyes hardened. "No more talk. I will not allow your unnatural strength to consume everything." He raised his arm. "Everyone, charge!"
The armies roared.
Steel clashed.
Then—
Kyren jolted awake, his body tense, drenched in sweat.
His head pounded.
Why do I keep dreaming of the past?
He couldn't ignore it anymore. He had to start piecing things together.
It was time to read the journal.