Year 1, Fall, First Month, First Week.

“This way, Chief…” The aged oaks cast long shadows as Omero trudged through the dense wheat fields. His weathered face contorted with concern. “No… this… Call grandma Marlen!”

The urgent command sent a young boy sprinting, disappearing between the golden stalks. Omero lingered, his eyes surveying the ominous black stains that marred the once-vibrant wheat.

***

“We could start harvesting it earlier…” Bill's suggestion hung in the air. Marlen and Omero exchanged glances, their eyes mirroring a shared sorrow.

The looming threat of a plague cast a dark cloud over Caiset. A portion of the harvest tainted by the illness could condemn many to starvation. Winter being around the corner, made immediate replanting impossible, leaving the villagers with a narrow window to secure their sustenance.

They tried to contain it, but the relentless adversary defied any attempts to halt its spread. Two days later, Omero had ruthlessly ordered the cut down of infected plants and their neighboring kin, but the contagion still persisted.

The situation required urgency. Harvesting now risked losing another tenth of their crops. But while survival on those numbers remained possible, the harvested grains would be too green, effectively rendering about a third of their food unusable.

“Maybe we should talk with Karl! He might have a solution…” Omero’s suggestion revealed their desperation.

“Omero, you're putting too much on him. He’s just a boy…” A deep sigh accompanied Marlen’s words.

“I know, but what else can we do… I promise not to pressure him for a solution.” The Chief promised.

...

“Humm…” In the makeshift workshop, Karl, engrossed in fortifying tools and inventing new ones, remained oblivious to the village's plight. The news of the plague caught him off guard, shaking his optimism forged by the promise of magic tools.

Then, he did what he grew used to every time he got lost – consulted Master AI. The exchange consumed nearly five minutes, during which Karl's emotions fluctuated between hope and fear. He debated internally whether to share the revelation with Chief Omero, ultimately leaving the decision in the Chief's hands.

“Chief, there’s a way to destroy the plague. While the village would probably lose the crops that are too infected, we might save the rest. There’s only one problem... The materials I need to craft the tool are in a very dangerous place... To save the infected crops, I need a crystal from inside the Forest...”

Chief Omero's throat rasped with a cough, the situation that was already dire had suddenly escalated. The Forest was a dangerous place only braved by Adventurer parties and the Army. Glancing at his fellow elders, he found Bill lost in contemplation, while Marlen expressed her dissent with a firm shake of her head.

In Omero's mind, memories of the team's last hunt flashed by. Even the weakest first-rank LT beasts had been a challenge for the team. Those at the forest's edges held an even higher rank; survival in such territory seemed far-fetched. A rare vulnerability appeared on Chief Omero’s expression, prompting Karl to interject.

"In our current situation, it's impossible to go there. But, with improved weapons and strategic preparation, we might just be fortunate enough to retrieve what we need and run back."

Chief Omero drew a steadying breath, tasting the weight of the decision. His permission for the youth to risk their lives to hunt outside the barrier, even his granddaughter, stemmed from a conviction that one must seize opportunities. He had prepared for this moment over the years and he wouldn’t let it slip away. The reluctance in his eyes gave way to a glint of determination.

"What would you need?"

...

‘Can I use the Extract Properties Array to infuse elemental qualities into the weapons?‘

‘-- That is a valid notion. By forgoing the Direction Array, the extracted property would concentrate within the weapon. However, you need to carefully match the elements and weapons. --’

‘So... The earth crystal could fortify the shield, enhancing its defense. And the wind crystal... The wind crystal could empower the arrows, granting them swiftness. The water crystal... I can’t think of a weapon to use it on...’

Two weeks later, on the southeastern border of Caiset village, just a moment before dawn.

The entire village assembled, a sea of faces bidding farewell to the impending expedition. Karl embraced his parents tightly, reassuring them of his return. Similar scenes unfolded as each member received their final farewells. Diana locked eyes with Karl, nodding with determination.

Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

"It’s time, let’s go!"

The newly formed expedition took shape like concentric circles, Karl at its epicenter. On the outermost layer, four boys gripped shields, poised for defense. The second layer featured the twins, an additional attacker, and Diana leading from the front. In the subsequent layer, four archers stood ready, bows taut, prepared to strike at any sign of movement. At the formation's heart, alongside Karl and his spear, four teens bore the burden of two light carriers (LCs).

[https://i.imgur.com/ZLrfBPc.jpg]

The three battle layers unfolded with precision, meticulously arranged to allow fluid movements without hindering one another. Each member could move forward or retreat without getting in the way of others.

Over the past fortnight, rigorous training sessions had molded the team for different scenarios, emphasizing the delicate balance of defense and mobility. To minimize the risk of friendly fire, the short-range attackers nestled in the second layer had to advance to the forefront to attack, and then retreat to be shielded by the defense layer.

Archers found their place behind the direct combatants, easily maneuvering forward or backward. Each of the four sides of the formation was manned by a group of three, an archer, an attacker, and a defender, ensuring fluid coordinated motion.

Diverse gender distribution marked the team. Boys bore the weight of shields, while girls handled most of the short and long-range attacks. Carion, the exception in short-range, opted for a stone knife instead of the conventional shield, a choice that raised eyebrows but was begrudgingly accepted by the seasoned veterans who kept their usual roles.

The plan, though seemingly straightforward, remained need-to-know only. Following their familiar route to the water stream, the team would trace its course toward the ominous Forest. Their route would be guided by a mysterious ancient map revealed by Chief Omero to the old group of four under the promise of keeping it confidential. Karl and Tael, the most discerning among them, couldn't shake the suspicion that the chief harbored more than a simple villager's knowledge. Yet, they chose to let it rest for the moment.

The weathered map unveiled the Eastern Forest, rivers, and the large cities of the Serion Kingdom's eastern expanse. A red cross marked the village's position, indicating the starting point for their journey. Estimating the distance, they deduced the Forest lay 20 km downstream. The decision to trail the watercourse would extend their journey to approximately 28 km.

Estimating the expedition's duration, they allotted a day to traverse from the village to the Forest's edge, another for the crystal retrieval, summing up to a three-day endeavor. The fate of Caiset hung in the balance as the team embarked on the treacherous quest.

Their journey along the stream unfolded in relative peace, the absence of threatening beasts enabling a swift and unhindered advance. Rustling sounds emanated from nearby bushes, hinting at unseen creatures, but the feeble inhabitants chose caution over confronting the large group.

Driven by a pressing deadline, the team begrudgingly allowed these timid creatures to escape. Nevertheless, they engaged in brief detours, scavenging materials – especially energy crystals. While reaching the Forest remained their paramount goal, the extra crystals provided an edge in their impending mission.

...

Refreshed by a sip from the stream, the team pressed forward in the Forest's direction. Midway to their destination, a chance encounter disrupted their pace. A pack of grey wolves, five in number, partook in a streamside feast. Their sharp eyes locked onto the approaching team, fangs bared in a show of intimidation.

Aware of the wolves' cowardice and fondness for retreat when disadvantaged, Diana halted the team with a decisive hand signal. A subtle communication passed to Tael, signaling the archers to ready their arrows.

She was greedy and envisioned claiming a few wolf pelts. Tael, anticipating this impulse, swiftly coordinated the archers. Hand signals outlined their plan: the middle wolf for Tael's arrow, flanked by the right and left wolves targeted by the corresponding archers. The rearguard archer was tasked with maintaining vigilance against unforeseen threats. The synchronized attack would commence in five seconds.

Tael gauged the wind's direction, imbuing his arrow with energy from the crystal clasped in his left hand. With precision, the arrow hurtled towards the middle wolf's head, covering the distance in a few seconds. The orchestrated assault unfolded as planned, with one arrow finding its mark on the right front wolf's back.

Urged by instinct, the wolves hastily fled. Tael, already seasoned in the arts of combat, managed another shot in quick succession. The second arrow struck the wounded wolf in the back near its head, sending it crashing with a mournful cry.

In a moment, Diana closed the distance and ended the torment of the fallen wolf. Despite missing an arrow and allowing three wolves to slip away, the team's performance was commendable. The improvement from their previous battle was evident. Tael's arrows, once prone to erratic flight, now surged with enhanced speed and force thanks to Karl's modifications.

To augment the arrows, Karl integrated an additional Array into the arrowhead. Limited by space, the arrowhead could only accommodate the Sharpness Rune and one more Array. He opted for an Extract Properties Array, focusing on the wind element's physical attributes – agility and movement. This refinement granted the arrow extra speed and precision.

[https://i.imgur.com/6Xyd3CT.jpg]

Before releasing the arrow, Tael would nimbly position his hands. The crystal in his right hand, used to draw the arrow, would touch the Extraction Array on the straw fletching. The Array would harness the energy, channeling it through the shaft to power both the Sharpness effect and the arrowhead’s Array. Simultaneously, the wind crystal on his left hand, supporting the bow, would connect with the Extract Properties Array, referencing the wind element. Coordinating these complex movements during the shot demanded precision, a skill Tael honed through countless repetitions.

Regrettably, the other archers struggled to activate the Rune and Array in their debut combat. Given the intensity of their first real fight, their shortcomings were forgivable.

With the immediate threat subdued, the team shifted to securing the perimeter. Karl moved to gather the beasts' blood, using herbs to mask the scent. Abandoning the half-eaten prey of the wolves, the team chose to forgo the spoiled meal. Their efforts, however, yielded a fortunate discovery – a valuable LQ earth crystal concealed within the prey.

Loaded with the spoils, including the two wolf carcasses and assorted materials on the LC, the team resumed their journey toward the Forest. However, their progress was hindered as the wilderness unveiled more formidable challenges ahead.