C19 Meadow and the Secret

It wasn't just a handful of individuals making a beeline for Gourault Manor; the news had somehow leaked that the estate was on the verge of uncovering an ancient civilization's treasure. The entire Mysterious Realm was abuzz with excitement. Both players and internal factions were scrambling to reach the manor.

A strikingly beautiful woman gestured forward, setting off toward Gourault Manor, flanked by a menacingly muscular man and a sly-looking fellow. They were Tina and her companions, who had been waiting for Matthew and the man of silence in the Imperial City. With the latest buzz about Gourault Manor, they decided not to wait any longer. They figured Matthew and the man of silence would guess their whereabouts, but what they didn't anticipate was that the duo had already arrived at the manor.

"Hey, did you hear? They say a treasure's about to be unearthed right here." The manor's residents were the last to know. As Matthew and his companions wearily made their way back, they overheard the gossip. Landry, ever curious and sociable, struck up a conversation with a passerby.

"Hey, what's this treasure everyone's talking about?"

"Oh, you haven't heard? Rumor has it a treasure will emerge here in a month. Many high-profile figures have already arrived—it's quite the event," he answered.

"Absolutely, if someone uncovers that treasure, they'll strike it rich!" another bystander agreed.

Matthew and the man of silence exchanged glances. They had stumbled upon a fortune! This was an unexpected twist.

It looked like they might need to extend their stay...

Matthew and his two companions ascended to the tower to exchange pleasantries with the lord of the manor. Lord Greenwald clasped their hands, effusively expressing his gratitude and presenting them with generous rewards—

Congratulations, you have completed the mission ‘Annihilate the Wild Dog Pack.'

"You have received 200 gold coins, 50 points, and gained Prestige."

"Prestige: Gourault Manor - Admiration of the Royal Family - Favorable First Impressions."

Matthew's coin purse swelled noticeably, and he was still riding a wave of excitement upon returning to his room. He then recalled the card the man of silence had used. Without it, they might not have triumphed over the bandits. After a brief silence, the man of silence explained, "Nana gave me that card for protection. I hadn't needed it in the previous three Mysterious Realms, but this time it proved invaluable." Indeed, the card's ability to stun all nearby enemies, albeit briefly, could turn the tide of any battle.

Matthew and the man of silence hadn't received their next assignment, but the buzz about the newly discovered treasure kept them from even considering departure.

Matthew had scoured every nook and cranny of the manor, trying to deduce the most likely hiding place for the treasure. Despite his efforts, he was left utterly baffled. Meanwhile, the man of silence kept making mysterious trips to the tower, his purpose unknown. Landry stayed in frequent touch, often over meals at the local taverns, and he didn't hide his eagerness for the treasure. Though the treasures of the Mysterious Realm couldn't be taken out, they could be exchanged for a substantial number of points, which was incredibly useful.

The idyllic days were short-lived. One day, Matthew caught sight of someone on the east side of the manor—the trench coat man had arrived, complicating matters further.

The following evening, Matthew, the man of silence, and Landry were all invited to a dinner hosted by the lord of the manor, who insisted on properly thanking them. He had also extended invitations to most of the recent arrivals at Gourault Manor. What might unfold at the event was anyone's guess.

The night was serene, but the tower was ablaze with light. This banquet was clearly about more than just showing gratitude.

Guests trickled in until the trench coat man and a man in a shirt arrived. The man in the shirt locked eyes with Matthew and the man of silence, staring unblinkingly. If looks could kill, the man of silence would have perished several times over. "Scram!" bellowed a familiar voice—it was the muscle-bound man, accompanied by a suave and sly tall man. Matthew felt an inexplicable surge of excitement upon seeing them, akin to the joy of encountering old friends in a foreign land. The man of silence seemed equally thrilled, likely not having expected such an early reunion.

The man in the shirt, feeling invisible to those around him, nearly lost control and lunged forward in a murderous rage, but the trench coat man swiftly held him back. "If you're going to die, leave me out of it," he cautioned, and the smiling tiger nodded in agreement.

Upon seeing Tina again, Matthew realized he had so much to tell her. For reasons unknown, he found himself recounting tales of the Wild Dog Pack and the bandits. "Oh, and this is Landry," Matthew quickly introduced, gesturing to his companion. "He's incredibly strong," the man of silence added, backing up the introduction.

Tina merely exchanged greetings before falling silent, and the man of silence seemed on the verge of speaking but held back.

As they conversed, time slipped away from them. Greenwald frequently interrupted, inviting Matthew and the man of silence to drink, but the gathering quickly came to an end.

Lying in bed, Matthew reflected on the camaraderie he had experienced. It was a pleasant feeling, and with a slight smile, he drifted off to sleep.

The following morning, Matthew was roused by the man of silence. Waking up to a surprise, he saw the man of silence gesturing towards the window. Peering outside, Matthew saw only darkness. He checked the time; it was already morning, yet it remained dark. And in the distance, a faint red glow lingered.

Uncertain of what had transpired, their only option was to rise and seek out Tina. They reached the hotel where Tina was staying just as Landry returned with information.

"This treasure is no simple matter. It appears to be a Mirror of Secrets, and those who've approached it have vanished," Landry informed Tina.

Without a word, Tina's resolute departure spoke volumes, prompting the four behind her to exchange glances and quickly follow.

Upon reaching the site, Matthew was stunned by the sight of a giant agate emitting a red glow, mysteriously suspended in midair.

Tina pressed on toward the agate without hesitation.

"Look, there goes another one. Could there really be a treasure inside?"

"Ah, forget about it. Even if there is, it's not meant for you," onlookers commented, their lack of ability and courage relegating them to mere spectators as others ventured forth.

"Welcome to Starfall Sanctuary."

Inside, Matthew and the others were greeted by nine enormous stars suspended overhead. The group was bewildered, save for Tina, who shared her knowledge: "I've been through a Mirror of Secrets before. Generally, there's no danger, but the greed of players can prematurely end your journey through the Mysterious Realm. Each star likely holds a treasure. I've heard of the Starfall Sanctuary; it's said to be a relic of the ancient Mu Yue Clan, used to pass down their heritage. Each star presents a challenge with varying rewards. It's a mystery why it has appeared here now."