Chapter 7: The Girl in the Peach Grove
Kael wandered through the forest, the system's notifications buzzing at the edge of his senses. Tall, mist-draped trees whispered secrets with every breeze. The tranquility felt wrong—like a lullaby before the storm.
> [Simulation #2 Objective: Become Sect Disciple]
Time Remaining: 72 Hours
Talent Rating: Common
Initial Resources: None
He scoffed. Common talent? After all I've seen?
The tablet still pulsed faintly in his pocket. The system didn't register it, but Kael could feel its presence—like a second heartbeat.
As he pushed deeper into the forest, he spotted a grove of peach trees, unseasonal and untouched by decay. The soft fragrance stirred something in him… warmth? Nostalgia?
He stepped into the grove—and froze.
A girl was sitting under the largest tree, painting. Her brush danced across the scroll like it remembered the strokes on its own.
Long black hair, a robe of faded blue, and eyes… Kael couldn't breathe.
He knew those eyes.
But how?
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She looked up. Blinked once.
Then smiled.
"You found me again," she whispered, as if they had spoken just yesterday.
Kael opened his mouth, but no words came. His mind screamed questions—Who was she? Why did she feel so familiar?
Before he could ask, she set the brush down.
"You always forget," she said gently. "But I remember every time. Even when they erase you. Even when you die."
He took a step forward. "Who are you?"
She smiled sadly.
"I'm the one who chose to stay behind in the first simulation… to wait for you."
> [Memory Resonance Detected]
Unlocking Suppressed Emotion: Longing]
+5 Willpower
Hidden Trait Acquired: "Bound by Echoes"
Kael's system buzzed in protest. A red warning blinked.
> Unauthorized emotional trigger.
Recommendation: Retreat.
But Kael ignored it.
"What's your name?" he asked.
She stood, walking closer until they were a breath apart. She gently touched his chest.
"You used to call me Lira. Your wife. In another life."
His heart dropped. His hands trembled. And when he looked into her eyes again… he remembered a kiss beneath cherry blossoms. A promise whispered in fire. A goodbye he never gave.
Before he could react—Lira stepped back, and the grove shattered like glass.
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Kael fell to his knees in the middle of a muddy path, breath shallow, hands clutching dirt.
She was gone.
But in his system log, one last line blinked:
> Side Quest Unlocked: "Find Lira Across All Simulations"
Reward: Unknown
Penalty: Emotional Collapse Risk 73%
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