Hidden

The inside of the house was calm — a quiet kind of lived-in. White walls caught the remaining light from the windows, touched here and there with pale lavender trim. Everything about it felt intentional without trying too hard. Soft wood furniture, cushions just a little too worn to be new, and shelves filled with a mix of old teacups, books, and little things that clearly meant something. On the kitchen table sat a single blue flower in a narrow glass vase. Bright, delicate, petals gently curved like they were listening.

She didn’t wait for a response before motioning Mari toward the table. There was something in her step that had picked up since hearing the word imprisoned — a weight to her movements, like she was still working through what to do with that revelation. Mari sat. Hidden didn’t. She moved toward the counter and started to prepare the tea. Familiar motions. Hands on autopilot. She listened while Mari talked, it was clear she was taking in every word. When Mari mentioned being hunted, Hidden's grip on the tin she was holding tightened a little. She didn’t flinch, didn’t speak, but it stirred something in her chest.

She knew that story. Too well. There’d been a time not long ago when everyone had felt like an enemy. The white knights, the vigilantes, the self-righteous. And the monsters, of course — the ones who didn’t pretend to be anything else. Back then, there hadn’t been sides. Just everyone else.

Then Mari said his name.

The tin slipped out of Hidden’s hand, hitting the counter with a dull clatter. She muttered something under her breath as she picked it back up. “Book Boi always has to stick his nose in everything,” she said flatly, brushing the stray leaves back into the tin. “I swear he’s allergic to minding his own business.”

She poured the water once it was ready, letting the leaves steep before carrying the two cups over to the table. One set in front of Mari, the other kept close. “Cinnamon plum,” she said simply, then took her seat across from her. For a moment, neither of them spoke. The tap of Mari’s ring against the wood was the only sound that filled the space. Then came the question.

"Are you...doing okay?"

Hidden blinked. The question caught her more off guard than she expected. She smiled — tired, but real. “I think so,” she said. “Things have been... quiet. Almost too quiet, really. No quests. No stress. Just this place, and a couple of visitors who don't cause me too much issue.” She looked down at her tea, swirling it once before taking a sip. “It’s been nice,” she added. “Almost like the game’s giving me a breather before it tries something stupid again.”

Hidden’s eyes met Mari’s over the cup. For a moment, her expression softened.

“It hasn’t all been easy,” she said, voice quieter now. “But our mutual friend saw to it that the world forgot my name.” She let that sit for a second before the mood shifted — her brow drew into a frown as she leaned back slightly and squinted up at her own hair. “I asked him for white hair dye,” she said dryly. “And instead, he gives me something that removes the color. Like, gone. Not even a hint left.” She tugged lightly at a loose strand, still staring at it. “I’m not even sure if this is permanent. It better not be. I wasn’t aiming for ghost chic.”

Hidden led her across the bridge, her hand still wrapped around Mari’s like she was afraid letting go might undo the whole moment — as if the two of them might snap back to their separate corners of the world if the connection broke. The house came into view as the two crested a bend in the path. It stood with quiet dignity at the edge of the cliff, a two-story home that didn’t quite match the sleepy, forgotten feel of the surrounding woods. Where everything else looked worn and weathered by time, the house had clearly been built with intention and affection.

Sloping eaves framed arched windows trimmed in polished darkwood. Delicate ironwork curled around a small balcony on the upper floor, and the front door stood beneath a hand-carved awning, painted a soft wine red. Vines had started to creep up the sides, not wild or unkempt, but as if even the plants respected the shape of the place. It was ornate without being gaudy. The kind of house someone meant to give, not just build. Hidden caught sight of it and didn’t slow. If anything, she walked a little faster, tugging Mari along behind her.

"Two years...probably..." Mari said, her voice even. But Hidden felt her hesitate before the next part. “At least, that's how long I was imprisoned for.”

That brought Hidden to a halt. She turned sharply, wide violet eyes snapping to Mari’s face. “Imprisoned?” The word hit her like a slap. Mari looked away, but Hidden didn’t let it slide. She stepped in close again, her voice suddenly sharper. “By who?” she asked, her tone climbing, more breath than sound. "And for what?" 

Mari had been gone. Not absent, not traveling. Taken.

Hidden felt the spike of anger crawl up her spine, but she swallowed it down, letting it simmer into something sharper—annoyance. Another self-proclaimed Justice Warrior, she thought bitterly. Always so sure their version of right gets to be the law of the land. Like the world was just waiting for their moral fanfiction to become canon.

“Regardless,” Hidden said, brushing a hand through her hair with a sigh, “come inside. We can catch up properly and I’ll get you something warm to drink before the chill really sets in.”

There was something in the woman’s tone — flat, resigned, like she’d already made peace with being unwelcome. Like she'd done this dance before and knew how it ended. Hidden caught it immediately, and it hit a little harder than it should have. Was that how people felt, talking to her? Like they were already halfway out the door before the conversation began? She offered her name mostly out of habit. Maybe boredom. The day had been quiet in that too-still way, and she'd figured a little small talk wouldn’t hurt. Maybe this stranger would at least be an interesting footnote in an otherwise uneventful evening.

She didn’t expect arms to wrap around her.

Hidden tensed, instinct screaming pull back, duck out, move—but the hold didn’t tighten like a threat. There was no force, no tension. Just warmth. Steady. Familiar. The woman pressed Hidden into her chest like they’d done this a hundred times before. Fingers threaded through her hair, gentle and slow, and Hidden froze in it, eyes wide as the world flipped sideways. What the hell was happening? She was about to speak, maybe protest, maybe just breathe out what the fuck is this, when the voice spoke again—soft, close, unmistakable.

"It's Mari"

The name hit like a spark to dry tinder. Hidden’s breath hitched.

Memories flashed — fast, but vivid. A house on the fourth floor. Cold hands wrapped around a mug of tea. Laughter that didn’t come from her, but somehow made the silence easier. Someone who didn’t ask her to explain the mess she was in, just made space for her to land. Mari. The woman who’d taken her in when the world had turned its back. A puzzle piece that slid into a gap Hidden hadn’t known was missing until it was filled.

Her arms moved before her thoughts did. A small, tentative hug — brief, but real. Then she pulled back just enough to look at her, to actually see her. The freckles were still there. They always had framed Mari’s face so well — the kind of soft detail that balanced out the sharp clarity of those eyes. And those eyes hadn’t changed. They still were as startling as she remembered. “I… I can’t believe you’re here,” Hidden said, voice quieter than expected. “I thought you’d… I don’t know. stowed yourself away. Or worse.” She tried to laugh, but it came out uneven. “I don’t exactly check the board on the first floor. Too much I'd rather not see.”

Her eyes didn’t leave Mari’s. “How long’s it been! Where have you been staying? What have you—” Her voice trailed, and something flickered in her expression.

“I missed you, y’know.”

Hidden takes Mari's hand and begins to gently pull her towards the bridge she had just crossed, in the direction of that house she had just left. It seemed that Mari was no longer just passing through.

Hidden didn’t move as the mirror of her dagger hit the grass, its glint of steel flashing once before vanishing into the tangle of green. Her eyes tracked it, but only for a moment. Then they found the girl again, already leaning against the tree like all of this was routine. When the words landed — “pleading and praying for purpose” — Hidden let out a short breath, not quite a laugh. “That’s a bit dramatic,” she said dryly, though there wasn’t much heat behind it. Her gaze dropped to the grass, fingers flexing absently at her sides. “I didn’t beg for anything. I made a choice.” She paused, then added, quieter, “I asked for peace. No more chaos. No more... weight.” A shrug, slight. “And I got it. Day in, day out. Nothing.” Her voice stayed steady, but something in it tugged. “Turns out that kind of peace starts to feel a lot like the days before. Just quieter. Just cleaner.” She glanced back up, her eyes catching a bit of the golden light. “Maybe I thought the quiet was what I wanted. But it’s just been... waiting.”

She barely registered the second apple dropping until it came flying — fast, with no real warning. Instinct moved faster than thought. Hidden raised a hand to catch it, but just before it touched her skin, something else caught it instead. A hand, black and spectral, rose from the ground like smoke solidifying, fingers curling around the fruit with uncanny care. It presented the apple to her like an offering. Hidden stared for half a second, then exhaled through her nose. “Of course you’ve got all my tricks too,” she started, her tone dry but not entirely unfriendly—

“How’s Hokori?”

The words cut clean through. Whatever else she was going to say dropped away. Her mouth stayed slightly open, but nothing followed. The air thickened. The quiet felt sharper. Hidden’s gaze dropped to the red apple, still waiting in that outstretched hand. Her fingers didn’t reach for it. 

Hidden didn’t follow right away. She watched the girl start to rake through the overgrowth like it was just another chore, like this was all routine — some garden that had always been waiting for her return. Like she was just one more bloom being checked up on. “You make it sound so neat,” Hidden muttered, finally stepping forward, her boots crunching against the soft earth. “Like I ever knew what I was doing.” Her eyes didn’t leave the girl, not even as she passed the glowing flowers at the roots. “I’ve never had some grand vision pulling me forward. No divine calling. No golden thread. Just broken pieces and guesswork and hoping I could fake my way through the next step.” Her voice sharpened, not angry, just raw. “You talk about light like it was given. I had to take it. Clawed my way toward it through blood, sweat, and bone-deep fear — half the time just hoping there was light on the other side.”

She stopped a few paces away, arms folded now, voice low but steady. “So don’t thank me for fruit. Don’t act like this was all part of some perfect little arc.” Her brow furrowed, tight with something unresolved. “You talk like I did well and now get to rest. Like a pawn that finally crossed the board and got swept into a drawer.” Hidden’s fingers curled against her arm. “Was any of this even mine?” A pause, bitter at the edges. “Is free will still free if you’ve already seen every move I’m gonna make?”

Hidden blinked, half-expecting some pushback, or at least a question — but instead, the woman just let out a sigh and started reeling in her line, all the grace of someone giving up their last bit of peace for the day. No argument. No snark. Just a quiet sort of resignation, like she’d been through this routine before and already knew how it ended.

Hidden watched, a little stunned, as the stranger packed up her things with the air of someone being evicted rather than confronted. No fire, no challenge — just a muttered promise to leave, like her presence had been a burden from the start. It wasn’t what she’d meant. Not at all. She stepped off the bridge and into the grass, the hush of her footsteps barely parting the stillness. Up close, the woman looked… familiar. Not in the obvious way — not the kind of face you’d spot in a crowd and call out to. No, this was something quieter. A flicker. A thread tugging at the back of Hidden’s mind. The memory wasn’t fresh, but it was there, like a word she’d once known how to spell.

'Ma... Ma...' Her mind spun, trying to catch it.
Well, she certainly wasn’t her mother. That ship had sunk somewhere in a storm two decades back and hadn’t resurfaced since. Hidden shook the thought off with a faint scoff, brushing it aside like dust. Whatever it was, it’d come to her. Or it wouldn’t. Something else caught her attention, bringing her out of her own head and back into reality. A spinning orange crystal hovered above the woman's head. 

Her smile thinned. “Huh. Matching cursors. That’s either fate or a warning label.”

She looked past Mari, toward the water. The sun had dipped further now, dyeing the stream gold. “The meadow’s better than a cave. Less mold, more view. And if this is the first peace you’ve had all day…” Hidden shrugged. “You’d be a fool to give it up just because I wandered over here with something to say.” 

A beat passed. She tilted her head slightly.

“I’m Hidden,” she offered, as if that might settle the odd weight between them. “That's a name, not a condition — before you ask. And you are?”

Hidden | HP: 880/880 | EN: 126/126 | DMG: 24 | MIT:20 | ACC:3 | PHASE | EVA:4 | BH:48 | VAMP-O: 97 | REC: 8 | HLY: 16 | LD:1      

The air had grown cooler as the sun began to set over the horizon, the trees shifting as they did with each day as the sun began to set. You could only reach the house at sunset. The path didn’t appear so much as it allowed you through — winding past overgrown trees and quiet hills, down into a meadow the world seemed to have forgotten.

It was beautiful in a way that felt untouched: wildflowers blooming in every direction, tall grass swaying in the breeze, and a narrow stream that split the land like a blue ribbon. A few old wooden bridges crossed it, leading up to the house — a modest place, timeworn but standing. Vines curled around the beams. No one came here. Not really. It was too far, too hidden, too strange to find unless you already knew where to look. And Hidden… she knew. She’d been coming here for a long time. Long enough to call it home. Even if it wasn’t meant to be. Even if it once belonged to someone else.

The windows caught the last of the sunlight, and the moment came and went. The brief period in which to arrive passed, just like it did every day. Except, today was different. By Fate or happenstance, a pair of boots had trudged into the meadow, worn thin by a road that hadn't ended in years. 

---

So far, for Hidden it was another standard day. The day's candle had burned and the comfort of the night hung on the wind. The house stood quietly at the meadow’s heart, weathered by time but not abandoned. Wisteria crawled up the beams now, and the wildflowers had long since claimed the garden, but it still breathed the same way it used to. This evening, she wandered as she always did, barefoot in the grass, sleeves rolled past her elbows, letting the soft gold light soak into her skin. The air had just begun to cool, that perfect cusp between warmth and night. A breeze carried the smell of water, of violets and damp earth.

She wasn’t thinking of much. Maybe dinner. Probably spaghetti. It was the one thing that she had learned to make from him and it was one of her favorite foods. One that Simmone's rear had learned to fear. Perhaps nothing was on her mind. The quiet meadow and given her a place that asked for nothing from her but her presence. She moved with quiet ease through the grass, silver hair tied back loosely with a ribbon that had begun to fray. Her clothes were simple — a soft shirt, worn slacks, and a shawl that hung just enough to catch the breeze. Nothing elegant, nothing eye-catching.

But as she crossed one of the outer bridges, a familiar hush pressed at her ears. Not silence, not danger. Just something new. Her gaze drifted toward the far side of the stream, beyond the tree clusters, past the bend few ever bothered with. There, at the water’s edge, nearly hidden in brush and light:

A figure.

The figure caught her a bit off guard. It had been so long since she even entertained the idea that someone would just walk in. Yet there she was, seated at the edge of the stream, rod in hand, calmly fishing. The light caught the woman's hair, a bright marigold orange. Hidden's breath caught for a moment before she spoke up. 

"You're a long way from anywhere. Were the city fish too noisy for you?" 

The meadow shimmered as she stepped further in, wind curling through the tall grass like it was painting the air around her. Hidden’s eyes found the woman at the center — pale hair flowing like snowfall, skin untouched by sun, bare shoulders exposed beneath the slow burn of sunset. Still, but heavy with presence. She looked like she belonged here in a way that didn’t feel possible.

Then the wind shifted.

Not just the grass or the breeze, but something deeper — like the floor itself had exhaled after holding its breath for far too long. The wind rolled across the field with new weight behind it, and Hidden felt the shift before she understood it. A hum, low and distant. A tension in the air, threading itself through every stem and petal like static. Then came the grinding. Metal on metal. A heavy click. She turned her head slightly, just enough to glimpse the rusted clock face at the tower’s edge begin to move.

BING. BONG.

“Hilda.”

ID: 244784 LD: 15+3=18 History Check Successful

Her real name struck like a stone in still water. She tensed, just slightly. Then came more strange words — Yggdrasil, Avalon — unfamiliar, but spoken like they mattered. And somehow, so did the speaker. The memory came in pieces. Fireworks. Stars. A lake. Tanabata. She blinked. “You were at the lake that night,” she said slowly. “I remember you.”

The silver light came fast, blinding her for a moment. When it faded, the woman had shifted into a smaller form — younger, shorter, and red. Still familiar. Still watching.

ID:244785 LD: 18+5=23 Arcana Check Successful

As her vision cleared, Hidden squinted, piecing it together. That light — the sudden shift — it had to be some advanced use of the Disguise Skill, twisted into something almost divine.

She heard the voice clearly this time — softer, younger, but still edged with something sharp. The words cut through the quiet like they belonged here, slipping past the wind and settling deep.  "Yet, you're lonely. Peace wasn't everything you'd hoped it be huh?”. It wasn’t an accusation. Just truth, spoken plainly. Hidden’s gaze lingered. “Peace was kind to me,” she said at last. “But time dulls even kindness. I don’t regret the quiet… but it wasn’t enough.” She looked out at the flowers, the field beginning to shift as if stirred by more than wind. Petals twirled unnaturally, light catching on their edges like something just below the surface had turned over. The Gardens of Avalon, she thought. Listening.

She stepped closer, her voice steady. “Was I really following something?” Her eyes didn’t waver. “Or was I being led? And if I was…” She narrowed them, just slightly. “Why?”

440 Words

The path faded slowly beneath her feet, grass overtaking dirt until there was nothing but wild undergrowth and the sound of her own steps. The petals had stopped appearing some time ago, but she didn’t need them now. The pull in her chest was stronger than any trail. The forest broke open all at once.

Hidden stepped into the clearing and felt her breath still. The meadow stretched wide beneath the orange sky, glowing in the late light. Flowers bloomed in every color — tall white lilies, violet clover, bursts of red and soft amber — all swaying together like the field itself was alive. The wind stirred the tall grass in long, curling waves. Sunset hung low, casting the whole scene in a warm, breathing gold. She took a few steps forward, then stopped. It didn’t feel like a place you charged into. It felt like somewhere sacred — a secret being kept by the floor itself.

Then her eyes caught movement. Not from the wind. From her. A woman stood alone in the middle of the meadow, back turned slightly, half-caught in the falling light. Her hair was long and pale — almost the same shade as Hidden’s — and it drifted gently with the breeze. She didn’t move. Didn’t call out. But something in the way she stood felt expectant. Hidden didn’t speak. She just stood at the edge of the flowers, watching, wondering—

Had she followed this trail?

Or had she been led?

247 Words

Leaving Taft always felt strange. Not dangerous — the floor had long since been cleared of anything that could harm her — but quiet in a way that was hard to put into words. The city behind her was still buzzing: bells ringing, stalls opening, players coming and going. But once she passed the gate, it all fell behind her like a closing door. The petals didn’t stop. They caught on low shrubs. Drifted between the trees. Danced across the path like they knew where she needed to be. She followed without forcing it, hands tucked into the folds of her cloak, steps light but unhurried. This wasn’t a quest. There was no objective marker. No map to mark. Just her, the forest, and the feeling that something was waiting ahead.

The path wound gently through the Reverent Forest, never steep, never rough. The trees here were old and tall, branches laced with golden light where the sun pushed through. Every now and then she’d hear a rustle — a squirrel, maybe. Wind. Leaves shifting. Nothing more. She didn’t rush. It took hours, but she didn’t check the time. There was no need. She could feel it. The way the air got warmer, softer, touched by the edges of evening. The shadows stretched longer. The light turned more amber than gold.

That was when she saw it — half-hidden behind a bend in the path.

A stone structure, worn and bent with age. It was barely taller than the surrounding trees now, its top half crumbled in places. Ivy wrapped around the base like it had been left alone for years. A clock tower. She stepped closer, cautiously at first, but nothing stirred. No traps. No signs. Just the same wind and the same quiet. The clock face was rusted through, hands frozen.

The time: sunset.

Beneath the clock, scratched into the old stone with something sharp, were words. Not carved, just scraped — barely deep enough to last more than a season.

Come when the sun reaches the trees.

Hidden stood there for a moment longer, eyes lifting to the forest canopy. The sun wasn’t quite there yet. But it was close. She looked down at her feet. Another petal rested by her boot — orange this time. Soft and still. She stepped past the tower. The forest welcomed her without sound and the sky began to burn with color.

401 Words

It had been about fifteen minutes since the bell tolling twice echoed across Taft.

Long enough for the light to shift again — not by much, but just enough to change the way shadows fell across rooftops. The golden tone of late afternoon had started to settle in, softening the edges of the buildings and turning window glass to pools of orange. The streets, once sharp and cool in morning stone, now glowed like they’d been warmed from the inside out.

The petals were still there.

They didn’t always fall where she expected, but they were always waiting. One tucked into a shop awning. Another resting on the edge of a café table. A third drifting down a narrow alley that looped her closer to the southern edge of the city. She hadn’t seen anyone leave them. And by now, she had stopped asking herself how they were appearing. They were just… there. Soft color guiding quiet steps. As she neared the southern gate, the city began to stir a little more. The traffic of carts and conversation thickened, mixed with the smell of fresh produce and leather harness. Familiar noise. Familiar rhythm. She passed the stables, the crates, the guards chatting like it was any other day.

And then — just a glance:

A boy with black hair leaned down beside a cart, lifting a crate of apples with both hands. The merchant nearby scolded him lightly for being late, though not cruelly. The boy said nothing, only carried the crate to the nearby produce stall and helped stack it on the rack. His smile — quiet, almost too calm — passed unnoticed by most.

So did he.

And so did she.

Hidden gave the scene only a passing glance before her eyes were drawn elsewhere — to the next petal caught on the stones near the open gate, fluttering like it had waited just for her. She stepped beyond the threshold of Taft without hesitation. The trees were close now. The forest just ahead. And as the stone roads gave way to dirt paths and grass, she noticed the breeze again — warm and light, carrying a hint of something sweet. The next petal danced ahead of her.

She followed.

372 Words

The rest of the city didn’t seem to notice. The bells had rung. The light had shifted. People kept moving. Shops opened. Merchants called out. Birds hopped across rooftops. Everything went on, as it always did. But Hidden felt… a step behind it all. Like she was moving through glass. The edges of the world felt thinner than they had this morning. She walked without direction, letting her shoes find the familiar turns. Narrow streets. Back alleys. Overhanging balconies with flower baskets swinging gently in the wind. She didn’t want to go home, not yet. She wasn’t sure what she was waiting for — only that she didn’t want to miss it.

At some point, she ended up near the square. A little off to the side, where the stones warmed faster than the rest. She caught the scent before she saw it: burnt sugar, butter, spice. A scent she hadn’t let herself stop for in a long time. The candy apple stand was still there. Same old faded paint. Same stall keeper — a man who never asked her name, never expected her to linger. She bought one anyway. It was heavier than she remembered. She sat on the edge of a low wall nearby, apple in hand, and stared out at the crowd.

She didn’t eat it. She thought of him — the way he used to tease her for how much she liked these things. Said it didn’t match her “quiet killer” vibe. He used to buy two, pretend one was for him, and then hand her both when he thought no one was looking. She smiled, just barely, then looked down.

That’s when she saw it. A single red flower petal. Just sitting there, next to her foot. No wind. No breeze. No flowers anywhere near. She looked up, and another one drifted down — this one pale lavender. It landed gently on the surface of the fountain, spinning in circles. Then a third. White. Caught in a crack in the stone.

They were leading somewhere. Hidden stood up, candy apple still in hand, and took a step after them. Not fast. Not eager. But not turning away, either.

363 Words

The name was gone.

The stone beneath her feet looked the same as it always did — plain, worn down by time and rain, cracks filled with tiny bits of moss. The violet light that had circled her just moments ago had already moved on, carried away by the slow turn of the sun. But the feeling stuck with her. Hidden stood there for a while longer, surrounded by the fading color, eyes half-closed, listening. The bells were quiet now. The streets had gone still again. But something in the way the light had landed — right there, right on her — felt too precise.

Like it had meant something.

“Just a trick of the light,” she muttered under her breath. "Or, I need a nap."

Still, she didn’t sound like she believed herself. She started walking again, slowly. There was no rush, no threat. But something in the air felt different now — like the whole city had paused for a moment to look at her. Sunlight kept slipping through the stained-glass windows of the Grand Cathedral, falling across the stone buildings in streaks of soft green and fading red. As the sun climbed, the colors shifted. They always did. But now, for the first time in a long time, she really noticed them. She had walked these streets for months, maybe more. Always keeping to the edges. Always just outside the light. It had become second nature — moving through the floor like she wasn’t even there.

But now, it felt like the light was starting to notice her, too. She turned a corner and caught a glimpse of herself in a window. Pale hair touched by sunlight. Her cloak catching a bit of red where the light passed over her shoulder. The glass was fogged from earlier rain, but her reflection was still clear enough to hold her gaze.

“There was a time I would’ve vanished the second I saw myself.”

And she nearly had. Back then, she thought peace meant disappearing. Staying hidden. Letting the world forget her. The name she had chosen — Hidden — had felt right. Like armor. Like safety. But maybe now… it felt a little more like a box. She hadn’t noticed how small it had gotten. Maybe she was tired of only being seen when she chose it. Of acting like she didn’t leave a shape behind. She walked a little slower now. Let the light fall on her without stepping away from it. The colors still danced along the walls, changing with each passing hour — but this time, they didn’t move past her. They followed. And she couldn’t shake the feeling that the floor had been waiting for her to stop hiding, too.

She looked back toward the cathedral. Its stone walls glowed faintly in the sun, warm and soft instead of blinding. Inside, the windows would already be casting new colors. In a few hours, they’d shift again.

491 Words

The bells rang again.

That slow, familiar chime echoed across the rooftops, drifting through the narrow streets like it always did — soft and heavy all at once. Taft’s rhythm. Every four hours, without fail. The sound rolled past like a breath through stone, and sunlight followed behind it, slipping through the Grand Cathedral’s stained-glass windows and scattering color across the city. Reds, violets, golds — the usual glow. Gentle, quiet. Moving like water over everything it touched.

Hidden stood still, watching it happen. She’d seen this before. More times than she could count. This was just how the city moved — always shifting, always changing. Every few hours, it put on a different face, and she moved with it. Not noticed. Not needed. Just part of the pattern. She used to like it that way.

But today felt different.

The bell came early. Or maybe she heard it late. And when the light changed, it didn’t just slide past her like it always had. It stopped. Right in front of her. And there, in the middle of the cobblestone: her name.
Hilda.
Clear as anything. Written in shadow, like it didn’t belong to the world around it. No system tag. No player nearby. No reason it should be there. She crouched down and ran her fingers across the stone, even though the name had already faded. Just smooth rock now. Like nothing had happened.

But something had.

She stayed there for a while, in the light, letting it touch her.

251 Words

Howdy! I'm currently dipping my toes back into the site to see if its a hobby i'd like to lightly pursue again; however, there has been quite a bit of progress made on the site and my character is a bit dusty as well as my knowledge of every last rule/mechanic on site. During my time gone, stealth got a complete rework and Vanish actually became my Custom Skill as Hidden's Custom Skill, "Lady Midnight", does the following:

The user may use the <<Vanish>> mod as a free-action. 

If I could, I'd like to change my Custom Skill to the below mentioned skills. I don't have a real handle on mechanics at the moment so the balancing may be off. Here soon I also plan to post a weapon-skill refund so I can use the "new" throwing weapons.

OLD CUSTOM SKILL

► Lady Midnight
Cost: 10 SP
Active
Requirement: Rank 5 Hiding | Vanish
Effect: The user may use the <<Vanish>> mod as a free-action. 
Description: Legend has said there are three that preside over the shadows. The Master of Shadows, The Lord of Darkness, and Lady Midnight. Lady Midnight directly ties the user to the shadows, and allows for the user to gather and manipulate shadows at will, however; this more affects the ethereal realm than that of the physical. 

NEW CUSTOM SKILL

Ticket # 0055

► Lady Midnight
Cost: 10 SP
Active
Requirement: Rank 5 Hiding | Vanish | Assassinate | Undetectable
Effect: The user gains an additional use of <<Vanish>>, acting on its own separate cooldown. The Vanish Energy Cost is reduced by 1 for each slot of the <<Sneaky>> enhancement you possess at the time of casting Vanish. 
Description: A signature art of darkness, this skill allows its wielder to command shadow as if it were silk. With a thought, Lady Midnight conjures spectral hands woven from pure shadow, reaching and coiling at her whim. Just as deftly, she draws the gloom around herself, cloaking her presence in a veil of living darkness that shrouds her every move.

The interesting purpose of this new design of the custom skill is to design my character as a Low-Accuracy character that relies more on the Auto-Hits than a standard character would but also just kind of specializing in that rogue/sneak attack playstyle. The reduction in energy cost based on Sneaky is attributed to the fact that for each attack I will be expending 5EN(Vanish)+8EN(Assassinate)=13 Energy before add the cost of the sword art pretty consistently. But, you can't have things just for free which is why I added the Sneaky requirement as I will be limiting myself from the better Unique Enchancements just to stack some Sneaky for the energy reduction. If you have any questions or concerns, feel free to hit me with a message on discord: Morg. Thanks a bunch!

The ambiance of the room was warm and quiet, contrasting the weight of each and every word that passed over the wooden table between the two participants. The mingling scents of pasta, cider, and tea wove together into a tantalizing aroma, infusing the air with a calming allure that enhanced the cozy ambiance. The wooden table between them held the weight of unspoken words and past conflicts, now littered with a peculiar collection: a black feather, a cup of cider, and the latest additions—a vial of clear liquid and a single white tablet.

The woman was a bit pleased to hear that he felt she could take care of herself except when facing the impossible. She felt that this was a stark contrast to an earlier conversation between them. A time when she had believed the Wanderer had thought her inept and had sent various individuals to trail her to protect her. Like Setsuna, like Shiina. The pleasant smile faded a bit as he began to explain the 'erasing' of her existence with a vial of a clearish liquid.  "I find it flattering that you went that far for me, but it's surprising that you would go all of that way and even get Setsuna to assist. I was managing perfectly fine on my own..." 

For some reason, the thought of forcibly changing someone's mind didn't sit right with her, even if it was for her own benefit. Her eyes turned to the items laid out in front of her, the soft glow of the lantern-light casting flickering shadows across their surfaces. Her fingers traced the rim of her cider cup absentmindedly, her mind processing the heavy information that was casually being tossed her way. The Wanderer brought her attention to the tablet, his words, while said with a calming tone, carried a piece of chilling information. The ability to, albeit temporarily, to completely change her appearance. The disguise skill was no small ability and having access to a longer-version would allow for someone to become someone else entirely. 'Hell, it could make you someone specific for some time. This is no small item, it could be dangerous in just anyone's hands.'

Her hands gripped her cup a bit more at the mention of his name. At least she had some comfort in knowing he was safe; however, it was tempting to ask for his location. If he could live a peaceful life like this though she wouldn't be the one to potentially sabotage it. The man had treated her well, better than most, and she was thankful. "Certainly a risky bet but I guess it worked out well. It is a bit sad how many times I have been manipulated into doing things." Her voice drops a bit, adopting a somber tone. How many times had it happened? Domarus, Adrian, Raidou, and even Risque to an extent. 

Her eyes snapped to attention as Raidou moved to to pick up the tablet, placing it closer to her. Looking past the condensation on his glasses, she could see the seriousness in his eyes. What he was offering her was no small decision. Despite the weight of it, there wasn't really any reason to deliberate on the matter. The woman would pick up the tablet and examine it for a moment. How difficult would it be to make something like this? 'I doubt I could ever make something like this.' she would think before holding it out to drop it back in the Wanderer's palm. 

"You really always think of everything. It almost seems like you are the one pulling on all of the strings, pulling things together to end up how you hope. You even opened a path for someone like me to completely be able to start off from scratch." A violet gaze looked to the tablet in his hand. "I appreciate the offer, truly. But I've spent a long time hiding... running... trying to be someone I'm not..." She let the last few words roll off her tongue slowly, emphasizing every one. Flicking her porcelain cup, a *tink tink* could be heard. She cast her eyes downward, seeing her own rippling reflection in the cup's contents. "I think I'd rather just be myself and enjoy the rest of the time I have here. I will always help you whenever you ask, but it would be a waste to wish the game to be over." 

She take a sip of her cider, nearly finishing it off. The one thing would continue to remain. Why would she want to leave? Everything she had was here. The control over her own life that she had just finally manage to claim was here. Raidou... Simmone... Shiina... and the rest of Firm Anima was here and things would just go back to the way things were as soon as she left. 'At least when we go back, I will have some fond memories to go back on. I should also be old enough to move out on my own if I can get the chance.' Her gaze would rise, violet meeting red. Her face curled into a smile as her next breath summarized the progress of her entire journey thus far. 

"The long story short is... I don't want to be hidden anymore."

The cup of cider would make a satisfying *chink* sound as she set it down on the table, adjacent to the black feather. Violet eyes would hold the feather for a moment as she attempted to understand the meaning of it, including the information the Wanderer was providing. "I guess the next step is discovering in what kind of bird it comes from. I'd love to help; however, birds aren't exactly my area of expertise. Now, if you need someone to make suspiciously average spaghetti let me know." Crossing her legs and leaning back in her chair, she would think for a moment to herself. 

|History Check: 2+2=4. Failed Check| 'What kind of birds are black? Penguins? There are better people to dwell on this than me.' 

A sigh would escape the woman's lips as Raidou would begin to remark on how exactly difficult she was to find. As he pulled a thermos of liquid that brought an herbal scent to the air, she would begin to speak, "Well, it would be pretty unbecoming of an individual that has the username 'Hidden' to be easily found. Truth is this place is more to serve nostalgia than safety. It is rather serene though and I can take pleasure in not being near everyone at all times." Steam began to fog up the Wanderer's glasses, forcing an uninvited smile to her face. Grasping a metallic object in the pocket of her jacket, she would pull a flower-shaped object from within and begin to fiddle with it. The petals themselves seemed to be independently moving from one another. "Yeah yeah, I can pay her a visit. Such a worrywart, someday she'll understand that I'm not some child that can't take care of herself. Guess I'll be making a trip into town tomorrow after all." She watched as Raidou wiped the film from the steam from his glasses and added it to the collection of miscellaneous items that littered the table. For this rare moment, Hilda's eyes looked directly into Raidou's, their gaze unfettered by the usual glass pane. 

"Hello Hilda, I don't believe we've met. The former Faceless Lord of Laughing Coffin. The guild that has been making your, Sey's and Adrian's life difficult for the last few years."

The woman's lips would part, held open with her own appall. A wave of different thoughts begin to push into her mind. A moment of disbelief: 'Is this some kind of joke?' A few seconds later and she was certain from the look in his eyes that he was not attempting to trick her nor telling a joke. He was being absolutely serious. 

"Even Hanma turned herself in to Black Iron Dungeon. You outlasted them, Finally you've won."

Reaching for the cup of cider, she would gingerly begin to take a few sips. Her eyes would close as she enjoyed the taste for a moment. "Well this is certainly pleasant news. I'm not certain how much it is going to change my current lifestyle.... There is opportunity for me to do something else, meet new people and completely turn a new leaf." Staring over the cup at Raidou, a small smile would grow on her face to match the one he was giving her. "However, I think I've found happiness in the few people that accepted who I was from the very beginning." 

Setting the cup back onto the table, she would almost scoff to herself for a moment. "As for you being the Faceless Lord, I guess it doesn't come to a complete surprise. This sounds like the kind of ridiculous scheme you'd get yourself caught up. I guess you can consider yourself lucky that I never reached the finish line, could've been messy." Her entire face seemed to smile as she left out a decently hearty laugh. Wouldn't this mean that Raidou had been more of a Wanted Criminal than her all of this time? 

A finger would run across the rim of that white cup playfully. "I think you've just revealed your hand to me. Our meeting in the cold was certainly no coincidence, was it?"

ID: 218267 
CD: 8 - Recovery Activate
+12 EN
+53 HP

As the battle raged on, one couldn't help but notice that the large dragon was growing slowly. His attacks seemed more sluggish and it finally seemed to be noticing the various amounts of weapons that were striking it. The end was nearing. Brandishing her dagger, she would prepare to make a strike but found a large tail crushing down on her. A couple of acrobatically enhanced dodges would steer her clear of the brunt of force but serve her with the impact of the blow and the rubble that ensued from it. 

Picking herself up after regaining balance, the violet-eyed woman would find her team breaking through the barrier and taking advantage of the moment of weakness that Wushen was displaying. It seemed that the team wasn't completely hopeless after all. 

"I think this should do it." She whispered to herself. The frontlines were a thing of her past after this moment, for now at least. The rush and thrill it used to provide had dulled. It was time for some much-needed rest. Even if rest meant being terrorized by Shiina and her pet hamster. 

The flash of purple light would indicate a strike, the slash piercing through Wushen's hide. 

ID: 218266
BD: 3+5=8 Hit
CD: 12- ST-B Unlocked
DMG: 30*18=540-15=525 DMG to Wushen

(8) Hidden | HP: 769/966 | EN: 26/102 | DMG: 30 | EVA: 6 | ACC: 5 | BH: 53 | REC: 8 | PHASE | HLY: 16 | V.O.: 106 | V.D.: 53 | LD: 1.

Wushen, Elemental Warlord | HP: ????/???? | DMG: 200 | MITI: 15 | ACC: 4 | EVA: 0 (433 damage accumulated)

ID: 218143
CD: 4 No Recovery
+53 HP
+4 EN

The sound of shattering ice was barely met with any action. A confused glance would pass over the individuals. Was she not being loud enough? Were they frozen in fear? It didn't matter much as the moment of opportunity passed. A chilled wind would assault her as the ice began to reform between them a Wushen. Biting her tongue, the Lily would instead opt for a sigh. It seemed as if she would have to do this herself. 

Flipping that dagger in her hand, a white gleam would brighten the area around her. Shadows would dance on the ground around her before the woman suddenly vanishes... just to appear moments later above the dragon's head. A single stroke sends a black slash through the air, striking the head down. A thud would be heard and the ground would shudder as it bounced from the ground. Landing cleanly, violet eyes scanned her teammates to see if they would take advantage of the dazed creature.

ID: 218142
BD: 10 - Holy (+16 DMG) | Phase | Vamp. Off (+106 HP) | 
CD: 4 - No ST-B
DMG: 15*48=720-(55/2=28)=692 DMG to Overgrowth

(10) Hidden | HP: 966/966 | EN: 31/102 | DMG: 30 | EVA: 6 | ACC: 5 | BH: 53 | REC: 8 | PHASE | HLY: 16 | V.O.: 106 | V.D.: 53 | LD: 1

ID: 217979
CD: 5 No Recovery or Vamp Def
+4 EN
+53 HP

Heat would eat away at her stamina and flame would attempt to nip at her cloak as the creature recovered from the status that bound it. Raising a hand to bring forth a blow that would smite the creature back down, the woman faltered as she watched with anticipation as two others took the lead. Crozeph and Koga working in tandem, striking down the energy-born creature until it had fallen to the ground and faded to nothing. 

"Good work you two." she would mutter under her breath as her violet eyes flicked to the next objective—the wall.

Bringing her hand back up, shadow hands would coil and weave themselves together before spinning violently. Suddenly, the shadow would send itself forward, drilling through the barrier. Cracks would slowly form around the puncture as Hidden strained herself. Larger cracks began to form before the sound of shattering ice would fill the air. 

"It's up to you guys now." she would call out, looking to the individuals to her left.

ID: 217978
LD:16 - WALL BROKEN

(8) Hidden | HP: 966/966 | EN: 41/102 | DMG: 30 | EVA: 6 | ACC: 5 | BH: 53 | REC: 8 | PHASE | HLY: 16 | V.O.: 106 | V.D.: 53 | LD: 1

ID: 217747
CD: 3 - no Recovery
+53 HP
+4 EN

It would seem that they at least got their enemy's attention. On the downside, life was much more preferable when he had chosen to ignore them. As the ice wall repaired itself, Hidden found herself pushed back as she did her best not to get caught up in its wake. With the ice wall, a new elemental head grew to replace the old. This one was red and simply being near it seemed to increase the temperature of the boss room. 

"Can't get enough of this shit, now can we?"

A dagger would flash as a gash would appear in the head's side. Like a blur, the white-haired woman would dash out from under... foot? Head? Oh well. Out of harms way the best she could be, violet eyes began to scan the woman's surroundings. It seemed the others... were not doing great. Poor NIGHT had gotten caught up in the fissure created by the ice wall. Everyone other than Zandra seemed to be deliberating on the next best course of action at the moment. 

ID: 217746
BD: 7 - Hit
EN: 15+2=17 EN Used
CD: 3 - No ST-B
DMG: 18*30=540-35=505 DMG to the Red Head

(8) Hidden | HP: 966/966 | EN: 37/102 | DMG: 30 | EVA: 6 | ACC: 5 | BH: 53 | REC: 8 | PHASE | HLY: 16 | V.O.: 106 | V.D.: 53 | LD: 1

ID: 217378 
CD: 8 - 12(8+4) EN Recovered.

Things would not begin to calm down after she felled the head. In fact, it almost seemed as if they were put on a clock. Kill the big thing before heads start to grow back. Luckily, NIGHT seemed to be on the same page as she immediately began to break through the wall. As the ice shattered, a spray of fog and mist would sweep through the area, and when the dust cleared... all that was left was their target. 

The party charged through the broken barricade, beginning to hack and slash at the exposed dragon. Did she think they would be able to slay it? Not yet. This battle seemed to be more of a battle of attrition. Which would fall first? The enemy before them? Or would it be their energy reserves and inevitably them? For now, it wouldn't matter as her dagger slashed at what was simply a single scale. 

ID: 217379
BD: 6 - Hit
DMG: 30*15=450-75=375 DMG to Wushen | 14 EN Expended

(9) Hidden | HP: 966/966 | EN: 48/102 | DMG: 30 | EVA: 6 | ACC: 5 | BH: 53 | REC: 8 | PHASE | HLY: 16 | V.O.: 106 | V.D.: 53 | LD: 1

STK 2 activated, 80 DMG sustained

ID: 217245
CD: 9 - Vamp. Def and Recovery Activated. 106 HP Regained. 8 energy Regained.
80 STK damage received.  
 

Bad would only shift to become dire. Within mere moments, the entire situation had changed. The White Lily's eyes would widen slightly as several glowing heads spiral from Wushen's body. "What the hell?" the girl would mutter as she slowly backed away. A purple head would approach them, glaring menacing at her party. Hidden's eyes would begin to search the other parties' reactions to heads but she couldn't find them. The groups had become trapped in a cage of ice. 

It didn't seem like there was much escape for the parties. Weighing some options, the girl decided there was only one way to push in this scenario: forward. Keeping at range, Hidden would begin concentrating the energy for her attack within her weapon. The others were already beginning to batter the creature. Darting at high speed, the girl would duck through each party member's shadow for a short moment before suddenly she was in the air, behind the head.

Those same spectral hands that had protected Alkor would reach out and grab the head, restraining it. With it still, the white-haired woman's dagger would fall upon its neck, severing the creature's head from the body. Falling to the ground, the woman would land with the fallen head. Despite having lost its head, the neck was still moving and flailing. 'Is it a hydra? Did I simply make matters worse?' 

ID: 217243
BD: 8
SA: Grim Eclipse (x23) - 22 EN
DMG: 30*23=690-55=635 DMG. Head defeated!

(8) Hidden | HP: 886/966 | EN: 50/102 | DMG: 30 | EVA: 6 | ACC: 5 | BH: 53 | REC: 8 | PHASE | HLY: 16 | V.O.: 106 | V.D.: 53 | LD: 1 | STK 2 [80/0] | DSCH [2/0] FADED!

Caustic | HP: 0/2000 (617-635) | DMG: 250 | MITI: 55 (-20)| ACC: 4 | EVA: 0 | Envenom 2 [64/4] | TXC VNM 6 [64/3] | Neurotoxin 5 [5/3] | Shatter [1/3]

ID: 216258
CD:3 - No Regen
-80HP, Static | +53 BH

As if her thoughts willed it into being, the storm would only rage harder. Wushen, snapping to attention, would quite literally rain destruction itself. As waves of energy crashed onto the players, the White Lily did her best to dart away from the attacks. Unfortunately, there was no escape to be had. A stinging pain shot through her body as a searing electric surge forced its way through her. Her once straight hair was now quite frizzy from the sudden surge. 

Looking to her team and its health bars, Hidden would devise her own plan. With her repetitive attacks, she seemed to gain the boss's attention. She needed to sit back and let the tanks deal with that. Violet eyes shift to @Alkor before she calls to him, "Hey blondie, I'm gonna make an opening for you to get in there. Don't squander it." As she readied to <SWITCH> with Alkor, shadow hands began to slink over from her to cover the blonde, acting as a sort of umbrella. 

"NOW!"

As the command was called, the shadows would dart forward, acting as both a shield and spear. These shadows would collide with Wushen, tearing at the scales that would protect it, hopefully making an opening for the man. As her attack finished, Hidden would retreat her hands to prevent further energy drain. The rest was up to the boy now. 

ID: 216257
BD:9 | +17 DMG, Phase, +106 HP
CD:9 - ST-B Unlocked
DMG: 47*15=705 DMG
Activating <SWITCH> with @Alkor

(7) Hidden | HP: 705/966 | EN: 54/102 | DMG: 30 | EVA: 6 | ACC: 5 | BH: 53 | REC: 8 | PHASE | HLY: 16 | V.O.: 106 | V.D.: 53 | LD: 1 | STK 2 [80/1] | DSCH [1/2]

Wushen, Elemental Warlord | HP: ????/???? [705 DMG ACCUMALATED] | DMG: 200 | MITI: 0 75 | ACC: 4 | EVA: 0 | [Shatter 3 {2/3}] | TXC. [32/1] | BLGT [32/1] | STK [40/1]

ID: 215837
CD: 12 -Recovery and Vamp. Def procced
Rec: 8+4=12 EN Recovered
104 HP Recovered

A blonde man stepped forward, taking the 'attention' of the boss. What was his name again? Alfred? Perhaps she should take the time to learn that at some point. Another brief moment appeared in which the health bars appeared. This was the first boss she had seen that was hiding them for brief moments. In fact, this was also the first boss that seemed disinterested in the players. Something it was doing was off. 

"You think it is waiting for something specific to happen?"

The words were lost to the thundering sounds as a divine stomach ache shook the battlefield. Another hand would be raised, sending a pair of hands forward to spear themselves into a scale on Wushen's side. Hesitant to continue without more information, Hidden would step back, passing a NIGHT that seemed to be having a bit of difficulty. A flick of her eyes would catch Crozeph as the woman would see what antics he was up to at this moment. 

ID: 215835
BD: 5+5=10. Hit ST-II used.
DMG: 30*18=540-20=520 Dmg Dealt
EN: 17 EN Used

(5) Hidden | HP: 966/966 | EN: 64/102 | DMG: 30 | EVA: 6 | ACC: 5 | BH: 53 | REC: 8 | PHASE | HLY: 16 | V.O.: 106 | V.D.: 53 | LD: 1

ID: 215636 CD:11 -> Recovery + V.D Procced!
12 EN Recovered
106 HP Recovered

-Charge is now off cooldown-

The deafening sound of another tail strike aimed towards NIGHT shook the ground beneath her feet. 'How bothersome.' Lily would think. Stepping forward from her backseat position in the party, she would take front and center. "Many have found that ignoring me is a rather big mistake." Those same shadow-spectral arms began to sprout from her backside, pushing off the ground to assist with her leap upwards. A myriad of soon-fading white flowers were left in her wake as suddenly she was body-to-face with the boss. 

A white gleam would shine like a tiny star above the battlefield as she brought her dagger right down onto its snout. The blade cut through its scales like putty, leaving a gash where it had torn through. A smirk played itself on her face as she fell back, hurtling toward the ground. The dark cloak that covered the woman seemed to billow like dark smoke as her fall seemed to slow. Landing gracefully on the ground, she would look up at the beast, awaiting its retaliation. Normally this would be the moment when she would retreat back to the backlines. Instead, this time she would face her foe head-on. 

ID: 215635
BD: 9 -> CRIT! Holy Activated! Phase Activated! Vampiric Off. Activated! 47*15=705 DMG to Wushen
14 EN Expended

(4) Hidden | HP: 966/966 | EN: 69/102 | DMG: 30 | EVA: 6 | ACC: 5 | BH: 53 | REC: 8 | PHASE | HLY: 16 | V.O.: 106 | V.D.: 53 | LD: 1

Wushen, Elemental Warlord | ACCUMULATED DMG: 2003 | DMG: 200 | MITI: 0 75 | ACC: 4(+3) | EVA: 0 | [Shatter 3 {2/3}] | BLGT [32/1] | BRN [56/1] | FRB: [40/1] | TXC. [72/2] | STK [40/1] | [Rend 28/1]