Third Point of View

  Lara had no choice but to follow the system's insistent demand to defeat the Demon Lord. The thought of leaving behind her beloved orphanage and restaurant weighed heavily on her, but she entrusted their care to her faithful friend, Isla, with a promise to return as soon as possible. She had to admit, though, that the system wasn't making it easy; her luck points had dwindled down to a pitiful nine, and it felt like every step of the journey was uphill.

  Determined to increase her chances, Lara set out to recruit allies

  Lara stood at the edge of the cliff, watching as the last rays of sunlight bled into the sky, painting it with deep purples and oranges. Below her, the kingdom stretched out in a sprawling tapestry of forests, rivers, and villages, each place brimming with life and stories yet untold. She took a deep breath, letting the cool evening air fill her lungs, then turned to look at her party gathered behind her.

  It was quite the motley crew. Bruni the dwarf was adjusting her axe belt, her burly arms bulging as she tested the weight of his weapon. She gave it a few playful swings, a grin spreading across her face as if imagining the next foe she'd cleave in two. Beside him, Zephyra the dyad looked completely at peace, his delicate green skin blending with the surrounding foliage as if he was more plant than person. He was humming softly, and small leaves seemed to dance around him with each note.

  Then there was Faye, flitting about in a cloud of sparkles and giggles, her wings catching the last of the sunlight as she buzzed over Kaida's head. The half-dragon scowled, swatting half-heartedly at the glitter that seemed to coat her scales with every pass Faye made. Kaida huffed, blowing a small plume of smoke from her nose in frustration.

  Morven the witch stood slightly apart from the rest, his dark robes billowing in the wind as he leaned on his gnarled staff. He looked as if he were posing for a particularly dramatic painting, his beard trailing down his chest as he surveyed the scene with narrowed, thoughtful eyes. Thailon the elf, on the other hand, was barely visible. He moved with such stealth that even now, leaning casually against a tree, he seemed to melt into the shadows, his piercing blue eyes the only clue to his presence. Lastly, Priest Caelum stood near Lara, a soft, reassuring smile on his face. He clutched his staff close to his chest, his white robes gleaming in the fading light as he offered a small prayer to bless their journey.

  Lara crossed her arms, her gaze sweeping over them with a mix of affection and skepticism. Can they really help me defeat the Demon Lord? she wondered, chewing on her bottom lip. They seemed so young, so raw, and a part of her worried she was dragging them into a battle they weren't ready for.

  "Well," she muttered to herself, "I did need a team. And these were the only people who weren't weirded out by my plans to fight a demon." She sighed, shaking her head as the absurdity of it all hit her. "Great, looks like I'm basically babysitting seven overgrown children with magical powers."

  "Oi, Lara," Bruni called, breaking her train of thought. She stomped over, her armor clinking with each step. "What's with that look? Are ye doubting us again?"

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  Lara smiled faintly. "Not exactly doubting, Bruni. Just... contemplating."

  Kaida rolled her eyes, crossing her arms. "Contemplating what? That we're all too inexperienced for this? You say that every time we fight, and yet we keep winning."

  Lara smirked, feeling a surge of pride despite herself. "Maybe. But you've got to admit, we still have a lot to learn. I mean, you did nearly torch the entire village back there child."

  Kaida grinned, unbothered. "Hey, they were asking for it. Besides, I wasn't the one who accidentally summoned a swarm of bees on us."

  "Oh, here we go," Faye piped up, her voice filled with mock exasperation. "Blame the fairy for a little bad luck! I did offer to fix it with a charm, didn't I?"

  "Yes, and then we ended up with a sudden hailstorm. Quite the charm, that was," Morven said, his eyes twinkling with a dry humor.

  Caelum stepped forward, raising his hands in a placating gesture. "Now, now, let's not argue. We're all here for the same purpose, after all. Besides, our real test lies ahead."

  Thailon chuckled softly from his spot in the shadows. "Spoken like a true healer, Caelum. Ever the peacekeeper."

  Lara chuckled, shaking her head. "You know, you all are the weirdest bunch I've ever had the misfortune to lead." Her tone was fond, though, and they knew it.

  "Weird or not, we're here, and we're ready," Zephyra said, her voice soft yet resolute. "I feel it in the earth and the wind. We are stronger than you think, Lara."

  Bruni slapped a hand on Lara's back, nearly knocking her off balance. "Aye! Ye keep sayin' we're novices, but look at us! We've been winnin' every battle so far, thanks to this crew!" she gestured to the rest of the group, each of them standing a little taller, pride gleaming in their eyes.

  Lara looked at them, a warmth spreading through her chest.

  She didn't want to admit it, but they'd all grown stronger—perhaps even more than she realized. Each of them had their own quirks and oddities, but that was part of what made them work so well together. Somehow, despite her constant worrying, they managed to scrape by every time.

  "Alright, alright," she said, holding up her hands in surrender. "I get it. You're not completely hopeless. I'll try to complain less, but no promises."

  Kaida snorted, Faye giggled, and even Morven cracked a small smile. Lara turned back toward the horizon, the vast kingdom stretching out before them. With her motley crew by her side, she felt a strange, quiet confidence bubbling within her.

  Maybe they're not as green as I thought, she mused, glancing over her shoulder at them once more. And with that, they set off, their laughter ringing out against the evening sky as they made their way toward whatever challenges lay ahead.

  But to be honest it's Lara fault Luck:-20

  One fateful day, during a particularly harrowing quest to explore an ancient temple, Lara's luck took a dark turn. While examining an ancient relic, she unwittingly triggered a curse—a spell woven with threads of darkness that bound her fate. The air thickened, a chill settling over her.

  "You have awakened the wrath of the ancients," echoed a haunting voice from the depths of the temple.

  "Your fate is sealed; twenty years of life remain, and then you shall perish."

  The Ancient Forbiden Curse Activated. Remove the Curse / Kill the one who owned the Cursed

  Curse Origin: Demon King

  Penalty: Death

  Time Remaining: 19 years and 364 days 23 hours and 58 minutes.

  The words struck her like a physical blow. "What? No! There has to be a way to break it!" she shouted, panic rising within her.

  But despite her frantic searching, the ancient texts spoke only of acceptance.

  With a heavy heart, Lara decided to keep the curse a secret. She would not burden her friends with the knowledge of her impending doom. Instead, she resolved to make the most of her remaining years, pouring herself into her adventures and cherishing every moment with her party.