Deckard crouched by the shore, plunging his hands into the cool water. His fingers brushed something rough and rigid—a starfish.

  Bat Starfish (Common)

  Description: A small, colorful sea star with webbed arms resembling bat wings known for its vibrant hues and varied diet.

  He was still getting used to the mechanics of the game. Every time he interacted with an NPC or picked up an item, a small window briefly described what he’d found. It was informative and overwhelming.

  This wasn’t the starfish he was looking for. He let it slip back into the water and fished around some more, eventually finding a smaller one, pale and speckled with faint gray spots. Dozens stuck to the rocks as if clinging to the shore for safety.

  Common Starfish (Common)

  Description: A five-armed, slow-moving marine creature with a rough, spiny texture and a central disc, often found in coastal waters.

  At last, he picked up the right one. The common starfish was delicate, its surface covered in tiny, almost transparent polyps that pulsed rhythmically. Up close, it was like watching a thousand miniature snails creeping along in unison to form the star-shaped creature. Deckard marveled at the tiny, stubby limbs moving in slow, synchronized motions. He couldn't help but feel a bit of unease at its alien nature, but he dropped it carefully into the bucket filled with seawater.

  The walk back to Ronan’s shop was a juggling act. Between the sloshing bucket and climbing a rickety ladder near the pier, Deckard struggled not to spill water everywhere. After a brief struggle, he made it back. Ronan, the NPC with the ever-discarded seagull sketches, barely looked up from his latest attempt as Deckard entered.

  "Hello, Ronan," Deckard called out, raising the bucket with the starfish. Ronan’s head snapped up, eyes wide with sudden interest.

  "Good, good, good! Give it to me," Ronan said, snatching the bucket from Deckard’s hands.

  Without another word, the NPC disappeared into a side room Deckard hadn’t noticed before. The room was dimly lit, a faint neon glow coming from the machines and screens on one of the walls. A glass tank in the corner was filled with water, smooth rocks, corals, and swaying aquatic plants. Deckard watched as Ronan carefully poured in the starfish, the creature landing softly on the sandy bottom. Its agonizingly slow movements seemed to fascinate the NPC, who was now framing the starfish between his fingers, studying it from different angles.

  Deckard waited, unsure what to do as no rewards were popping up yet. Ronan grabbed his notepad and started scribbling furiously. When he finished, he held up the drawing: an incredibly lifelike portrayal of the starfish, down to the smallest detail. The drawing had captured the glistening surface, the rhythmic movements of the polyps, and the eerie, creeping nature of the creature.

  "Good. This is good," Ronan muttered.

  A notification appeared in Deckard’s vision.

  [Ronan's Drawing] completed

  Completion rate: B

  Rewards: 100XP

  Bonus rewards: 50XP

  Level up!

  Completion rate? Is that what dictates the bonus rewards?

  Ronan thrust the empty bucket back into Deckard’s hands, his eyes still fixed on the tank. “Well done. Now, go get me a [Chocolate Chip Starfish].”

  Deckard blinked, confused. “A what?”

  “A Chocolate Chip Starfish. It looks like a cookie with little brown spots all over it. Hurry before I lose my inspiration!”

  Chain quest activated.

  You’ve unlocked a new quest: [Ronan’s Drawings II].

  Ronan’s Drawings II (Common)

  Description: Ronan is struggling to capture the essence of a seagull. He feels the need to return to simpler subjects to improve his craft. After drawing a simple starfish, he asks you to capture a different species.

  Objectives: Catch a [Chocolate-Chip Starfish].

  Deckard vaguely remembered that chain quests involved a series of tasks, often becoming progressively harder but more rewarding. With his curiosity piqued, he set off to find this oddly named starfish.

  The search took longer than expected. After a few minutes of searching the shoreline, Deckard still hadn’t found anything resembling chocolate chips. He waded a little deeper into the water, scanning the seabed for any sign of the creature. Just as he was about to give up, his hand brushed against something firm and ridged. He pulled it up—it was pale yellow with distinctive brown spots dotted across its surface, just like the chocolate chips on a cookie.

  Chocolate Chip Starfish (Common)

  Description: A distinctive sea creature with thick, beige arms covered in dark, pointed nodules resembling chocolate chips, giving it a striking, cookie-like appearance.

  With a triumphant grin, Deckard tossed the new starfish into the bucket and made his way back to the village. Ronan stood waiting as if he had sensed Deckard’s approach. Two players were perusing the items for sale, but Ronan ignored them and again led him to the back room. The players craned their necks, curious to see what was beyond the door, but Ronan slammed it behind him.

  Something seemed off. Deckard realized that the starfish from earlier had disappeared from the tank.

  He frowned. “Where did the other starfish go?”

  Ronan, his gaze glued to the new starfish, didn’t bother looking up. “Gone,” he said curtly.

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  “Gone? What do you mean, gone?” Deckard asked.

  Ronan shot him a glare. “Hush! I don’t have time for idle chatter.”

  Deckard bit his tongue. He watched as Ronan began his ritual again, framing the starfish, observing its every move, and sketching at lightning speed. Ronan’s drawing was as lifelike as before, capturing even the smallest details of the creature.

  [Ronan's Drawing II] completed.

  Completion rate: B+

  Rewards: 200XP

  Bonus rewards: 120XP

  Level up!

  Ronan tossed the bucket back at him. “This time, get me a Royal Starfish,” he commanded, eyes never leaving his sketches.

  You’ve unlocked a new quest: [Ronan’s Drawings III].

  Ronan kicked Deckard out of the shop, leaving him wondering outside. Where had the starfish gone? He left for the beach again, wondering whether starfish were edible or if the NPC was doing something else with them.

  The Royal Starfish was the most beautiful he’d found yet—vibrant purple with long, slender arms and an orange frame that seemed to undulate gracefully in the water. When he brought it back to Ronan, he repeated the same ritual. Deckard resolved not to leave right away. He stood his ground, determined to figure out what was happening to the starfish.

  As soon as Ronan finished his third sketch, Deckard received his next assignment.

  [Ronan's Drawing III] completed.

  Completion rate: B

  Rewards: 300XP

  Bonus rewards: 150XP

  You’ve unlocked a new quest: [Ronan’s Drawings IV].

  It was the first time that Deckard hadn’t leveled up with each quest. Deckard moved to the corner of the room, trying to look as small as possible, hoping to go unnoticed by Ronan. The tall, pale man glanced at him, clearly irritated. “What are you standing there for?”

  Deckard folded his arms. “I just want to know what’s happening to the starfish. Are you eating them or something?”

  Ronan scoffed, his face twisting in disgust. “Eating them? Bah! What a ridiculous notion. Now go before I throw you out!”

  Seeing the NPC’s rising anger, Deckard sighed and left. He decided to snoop a bit, walking around the back of the building. The only window he could find had its blinds drawn, offering no view inside. Given Ronan’s avoidance of sunlight and odd behavior, Deckard couldn’t help but feel something strange was happening.

  Maybe the starfish were simply being discarded after they were drawn, but Deckard couldn’t shake the feeling that there was more to Ronan’s obsession than met the eye.

  With a resigned sigh, he set off searching for the next starfish.

  *

  Deckard marched toward Ronan’s shop for what felt like the hundredth time. The afternoon had come and gone while he scoured the coastline for starfish, and now the sky was painted orange and pink as the sun dipped toward the horizon. Fishermen were returning to the village, their nets heavy with the day’s catch, while Deckard’s hands were full of... well, starfish.

  He wasn’t complaining. Despite the tediousness, he’d hit level 4 and received two pieces of equipment from this quest—modest but useful.

  Salvaged Shoes (Common)

  Item description: The shoes are falling apart, burned, and cracked from exposure, but they are still better than walking barefoot.

  Item Effects:

  +1 dexterity;

  +2% running speed when outside of combat.

  Discarded Gloves (Common)

  Item description: Disposable gloves, torn and discarded, covering most—but not all—of your fingers.

  Item Effects:

  +1 strength;

  +1% attack speed.

  It wasn’t much, but every bit helped. After his disastrous defeat hours earlier, he still hadn’t tried to challenge the seagulls. He’d need every advantage he could get when he tried again. Each time he leveled up, he earned five free stat points, but he left them unassigned for now.

  The starfish in the bucket was the tenth that Deckard was bringing Ronan. He had no idea what would happen once this chain quest ended. He’d been avoiding the temptation to check guides online, wanting to figure things out for himself. It gave him a small sense of accomplishment—a personal win.

  What puzzled him was Ronan’s aquarium. After gathering and inspecting countless types of starfish, Deckard still had no idea what Ronan did with them once they were dropped off. He pushed through the shop door, the familiar creak signaling his arrival. This time, he needed both arms to lift the bucket to Ronan—the latest starfish was much heavier than the others.

  "Here you have it," Deckard said, groaning with effort as he handed the bucket over. Ronan accepted it and carefully tipped the sea sunstar into the aquarium. The creature had eight arms, and though it moved as slowly as the others, its appearance was distinctly predatory, as if it were more dangerous than its kin.

  Deckard waited, expecting Ronan to start sketching immediately. But the NPC just stared at the starfish for a long while, studying every detail in silence. Only after a few minutes did Ronan pick up his pencil and begin drawing, his brow furrowed in concentration.

  “Phew. I feel much more confident now," Ronan finally said, breaking the silence. He set down his pencil, glancing at Deckard with a faint, unexpected smile—the first smile since they’d met. "I think I’m ready to take another shot at the seagulls. Thank you for your help."

  [Ronan's Drawing X] completed.

  Completion rate: A

  Rewards: 2000XP; +5 reputation with Ronan.

  Bonus rewards: 2000XP; +5 reputation with Ronan.

  You’ve reached level 5.

  Reputation? What does it do? Deckard wondered as he saw the rewards for the last quest in the series. Maybe it will make him friendlier. It looked like Ronan wasn’t done with handing out rewards, though.

  Ronan rummaged through his things, then handed Deckard a notepad and a pen. "Here. I have little left to give you, so take this."

  A notification popped up in Deckard’s vision.

  You’ve been offered the artist profession. Would you like to accept? [Y/N]

  Deckard hesitated, staring at the prompt. Profession... that has to do with gathering and crafting, right? After a moment of consideration, he shook his head. “No.”

  Ronan’s hand froze mid-air, his face falling back into its usual blankness. “You don’t want to learn how to draw?”

  “I’m sorry, Ronan,” Deckard replied, feeling a little guilty. “While I admire your talent, I’m only here for cards and nothing else. I don’t want to get distracted, and as far as I can tell, drawing has nothing to do with them.”

  Ronan scratched his head, clearly disappointed. “Cards? Oh well... So be it.”

  “Thanks again for your time,” Deckard added, trying to soften the rejection. “I hope you nail that seagull next time.”

  Ronan didn’t respond. He stood silently, his gaze fixed on Deckard’s retreating figure as the door closed. No one else was at the shop, so he returned to the side room.

  He approached the tank where the starfish floated lazily, its arms drifting in the water. From his pocket, Ronan drew a pristine white card. Turning it over, he studied its blank surface before pulling back his sleeve, revealing the metallic contraption affixed to his arm. With a quiet click, he slid the card into a slot in the device.

  The machine hummed softly. Ronan positioned the starfish in front of the scanner, watching as the loading bar filled inch by inch. When it was done, the white card reemerged—but now intricate circuitry patterns pulsed across its surface, glowing faintly.

  His breath caught. He operated different controls in the machinery on the wall and in the console on his arm. He carefully fished the starfish from the tank, its slimy skin cold against his fingers. “Rendering sequence in three, two, one.”

  A brilliant flash of light illuminated the room. The card absorbed the starfish, trapping it within its frame. The creature twitched, its movement slowing before it became completely still. Slowly, words and numbers materialized on the card’s surface.

  Ronan stared at it for a long moment, his expression unreadable. He reached into his jacket, pulling out a deck of nine similarly crafted cards, each illustrated with a different starfish. Their detailed designs reflected the LED lights and screens. He slid the new card into place with the others with a practiced hand.

  He turned toward the window, watching the darkened sky. The moon hung low, casting its silver reflection over the water. “Only cards, uh? He’s the first one to answer like that. He might regret it if he meant it.”

  After a moment, Ronan sighed softly, gathering his things. He activated a hologram so that no one could tell he was gone. As far as patrons knew, he was drawing away in the corner. He headed out onto the pier, the gentle lapping of the waves the only sound in the stillness of the night.

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