Riku’s hands were still slightly trembling as he held the contract in front of him. The inked words were simple, but the weight of them felt immense. He had come here to find answers, to seek his path, but now that he was faced with an actual task, the uncertainty that had faded before seemed to creep back into his mind.
The contract was straightforward enough: deliver a rare herb to a distant village on the outskirts of the region. But as he read through the details, Riku realized that it wasn’t going to be an easy journey. The village was known for its proximity to the Wildlands, a dangerous stretch of untamed territory filled with dangerous creatures and unpredictable weather.
It was far from a simple delivery.
He glanced back at the counter, where the silver-haired woman had returned to her work. She didn’t offer him any advice, nor did she give him an approving nod. Her words from earlier echoed in his mind: The only way to find out is by trying.
He had made a choice, and now he had to follow through.
Riku packed his bag with the necessary supplies, the herbs securely wrapped and tucked inside. He didn’t have much experience with missions like this, but he had faced challenges before. He had fought battles, trekked across unfamiliar lands, and survived hardships. Still, something about this mission felt different. It wasn’t just the danger that lay ahead—it was the sense that he was walking into the unknown, not just physically but mentally.
He took a deep breath and stepped out of the guild, the doors creaking behind him as he left the bustling warmth of the Adventurer’s Guild and into the cool, open air of Vastor’s streets. The city was alive with movement, the chatter of merchants and adventurers, the clattering of horse-drawn carts, and the occasional shout of a street performer. But Riku felt none of that excitement. His mind was focused on the road ahead, on the choices he had made and the consequences that would follow.
The Wildlands were not a place to be taken lightly. The stories of travelers who ventured too deep and never returned were common, whispered in hushed tones at taverns and inns. Creatures with claws sharp as blades and predators with speed that outpaced the finest horses haunted the region. But Riku wasn’t the type to shy away from danger. He had always believed that facing challenges head-on was the only way to grow.
Yet, as his boots crunched against the gravel path leading out of the city, a part of him couldn’t shake the feeling that he was walking into something far more complicated than he realized.
Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author's consent. Report any sightings.
The journey through the countryside was uneventful at first. The fields rolled by, peaceful and quiet, the occasional bird flitting through the air. But as Riku ventured further from the safety of the city walls, the world began to change. The green fields gave way to rocky terrain, and the trees grew taller and more twisted, their branches reaching out like dark fingers. The air was thick with the scent of damp earth, and the sky above had begun to cloud over, casting a gray pall over the landscape.
As the first signs of the Wildlands began to appear on the horizon, Riku felt a shift within himself. His mind, which had been so clear when he made the decision to accept the mission, now began to swirl with doubt. What if something went wrong? What if he wasn’t ready for this? What if the stories were true?
The weight of the contract in his bag felt heavier with each step, as though the task he had chosen was beginning to take on a life of its own. He had decided to move forward, but now that he was in the midst of it, the fear and uncertainty that had once driven him to seek strength were creeping back in.
But then, Riku remembered something. He remembered the words of the silver-haired woman: Strength is about your choices. This journey wasn’t about physical power or the ability to defeat whatever monsters lay ahead. It was about how he chose to face the unknown, how he chose to confront the fear that threatened to overwhelm him.
With that thought in mind, Riku pushed forward, the gnawing doubt at the back of his mind slowly fading into the background. He had chosen this path, and he would see it through, no matter how difficult it became.
As he crossed into the Wildlands, the atmosphere shifted. The trees became denser, the underbrush thicker. Every step felt like it was taking him further into a place where the rules of the world no longer applied, where the air itself seemed to hum with the presence of something ancient and untamed.
Riku’s senses were on high alert as he moved deeper into the Wildlands. Every rustling leaf, every snap of a twig beneath his boots, made his heart race. He had heard the stories of what roamed these lands, and his mind kept drifting back to those cautionary tales. But with each step, he also felt a strange sense of calm settling in his chest. This was where his choice would take him. He wasn’t going to turn back now.
Hours passed, and the sun dipped lower in the sky. Riku had barely seen any sign of life, aside from the occasional bird or small creature skittering through the underbrush. It was almost too quiet, as though the land itself was holding its breath.
Then, out of the corner of his eye, he caught movement.
It was quick, too quick for him to fully register at first. Something large, something fast, darted between the trees, a blur of shadow and motion. Riku froze, his hand instinctively going to the hilt of his blade.
The air around him seemed to grow heavy, the silence pressing in on him as the moment stretched on. He could feel the tension, the primal instinct to either fight or flee. But Riku didn’t move. He stood still, waiting, watching.
And then, it emerged from the trees.
A creature, taller than a man, with thick fur and glowing yellow eyes. Its teeth were sharp, its claws gleaming in the dim light, and its body rippled with muscle. It was unlike anything Riku had ever seen before, a predator that seemed to have stepped out of the stories he had heard.