Luminaris Kingdom. Six hours prior.
A loud thud coming from the door broke the silence in the library. An elf clad in sparkling Luminstrite armor entered and walked hastily, looking for someone in mind.
“Where is he?” The elf said.
While he looked through each side of the bookshelves, a familiar face peeked in front of him by the edge of the bookshelf. It was the librarian caught in the act of tidying books, her brunette hair tied in a loose bun and spectacles perched on the bridge of her nose.
“Ranich,” The librarian sighed, exasperation evident in her tone. “Must you disrupt the library’s peace?”
“Sorry—but I’m in a hurry. He’s here, right?”
“If this ‘he’ you seek is who I think it is, then yes. He’s in the back—and the only patron here at the moment.”
“I see. Thanks, Cinna.”
Ranich strode to the far end of the library, where he found his target: a blonde-haired elf in casual clothes, fast asleep at a table. The blonde elf's face was pressed against an open book, using it as a makeshift pillow. “Really…?” Ranich sighed.
He went toward the sleepy elf and slammed the table.
The once soundly sleeping elf jolted awake. “Wha-wha-wha—whuh?” the blonde elf mumbled, his eyes still heavy with sleep as a thin line of drool trailed from his mouth.
“Rise and shine,” Ranich said dryly.
“Ra… Ranich?” The blonde elf rubbed his eyes. “That you?”
“Kraye,” Ranich said. “You got a job to do.”
“What… what job?” Kraye yawned, stretching.
“Something came up.”
“What do you mean? Isn’t today my day off?”
“Just come with me. You’re all we got right now.”
“Aw—man… just when I got the time for inner peace…” Kraye whined. “I need to go home first to grab my equipment.”
“Don’t worry about that. We’ll stop by the armory en route.”
“Fine… what’s this about anyway?”
“You’ll have the details once we arrive at the Sylvanus Hall.”
“Sylvanus Hall?” Kraye asked, eyes widened.
“Yes. The Chancellor himself is the one who requested to summon you.”
“Whoa… is it that serious?” Kraye said, slumped his face again against the book.
“I don't know!” Ranich snapped. “Just come on! Do you know how long I’ve been searching for you? Come here, you!”
Ranich grabbed Kraye's green shirt and hauled him away.
When they were about to exit, they passed Cinna between the bookshelves.
“Thanks, Cinna,” Ranich said.
“I’ll come again soon, Cinna,” Kraye added.
“Thanks for stopping by. Come again soon,” Cinna replied. “And Ranich, please close the door gently!”
“Will do!”
Ranich and Kraye made their way through the bustling streets of the elven capital. The city was alive with activity, vendors calling out their wares and children laughing as they played.
As they walked, they found themselves at the center of attention. Children stopped their games to wave excitedly, their eyes wide with admiration. Some of the bolder ones ran up to the pair, asking for high-fives or simply staring in awe.
The vendors, too, seemed to recognize them. As Ranich and Kraye passed by the market stalls, some of the merchants bowed their heads respectfully, waved, or offered warm smiles. Some even called out greetings by name, their voices tinged with reverence.
Good day to you, Sir Ranich!
Good day, Sir Kraye!
The two replied to them with smiles and greeted them back.
They made a quick stop at the armory, and they were met by a quartermaster who handed Kraye a set of finely crafted Ranger gear. Strapping in his gear, Kraye felt renewed.
“All set?” Ranich asked, eyeing the newly equipped Kraye.
“This is much better than what I had,” Kraye awed, feeling brand new. “Is this the perk of being in the higher rank?”
“I don’t know what took you so long to be a Ranger that even the Council of Elders came up to you and personally appointed you.”
“I actually turned them down at first,” Kraye said casually while tidying up his equipment.
“You—uhh… turned down the Council of Elders?” Ranich stammered, unconvinced.
Kraye shrugged. “I mean—yeah, they said it themselves that I don’t have to accept. But then my mentor sent a message – I could practically hear her yelling through it. Said she might need me someday, and I had to be in a higher position. Couldn’t refuse after that.”
“Sounds like quite the mentor.”
“Yeah... I kinda disappointed her enough. She’s strict. Had a whole path planned out for me, and I kind of betrayed that wish. This is my way of making amends, I guess,” Kraye offered a half-hearted smile, then added, “Anyway… Shall we?”
Kraye patted Ranich's shoulder as they headed out, continuing their way to Sylvanus Hall.
A short while later, they found themselves standing before the imposing front gate of Sylvanus Hall.
As they walked through the gate, two stern-faced guards stood at attention, their eyes scanning the approaching pair. They quickly recognized Ranich’s figure since he was a fellow colleague, and then they pushed the door open, revealing the awe-inspiring interior of the hall.
There before them stood Sylvanus Hall, its vast atrium stretching far and its vaulted ceiling rising high up. Huge, many-arched pillars of white, polished stone, etched with intricate elven designs, held up more graceful arches that crisscrossed overhead. Enchanted crystals were set into the walls to give off a soft golden light, casting warmth across the expanse.
At the far end of the hall, stood an elf dressed in sophisticated dark blue robes adorned with glittering jewels. Ornate eagle-shaped pauldrons graced its shoulders, unmistakably signifying a position of high authority.
Ranich and Kraye approached, their footsteps echoing in the hushed hall. As they reached the center, The elf turned to face them, his green eyes filled with a mixture of concern and determination.
“Ah…” The elf said, recognizing the two. “You’ve found him.”
“Chancellor Thalor,” Ranich said, bowing slightly. “I have brought Kraye, as requested.”
Kraye nodded, following after Ranich.
“Thank you, Ranich. You’re free to go.”
Ranich nodded and left, leaving only Kraye and the Chancellor in the hall.
“Now, Kraye,” Chancellor Thalor began. He realized a difference in Kraye’s entire setup. “You’ve started dressing like a Ranger, I see?”
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“Oh—this?” Kraye said, glancing at his own set of gears. “Ranich suggested I stop by the armory to save time instead of grabbing my gear from home.”
“I see… I assume you’re wondering why you’ve been summoned?”
“Uhh… Did I do something wrong, Chancellor Thalor?” Kraye asked, flustered by the chancellor’s tone.
“Oh, no-no-no-no. It’s not about your usual behavior. I have a task for you, and we could use someone of your skill.”
“Isn’t there anyone else besides me that possibly could do this instead of me?”
Chancellor Thalor shook his head and sighed. “Kraye, ever since you became a Ranger, you have never taken any chance to take on an upper-rank mission. And to answer your silly question, all Rangers are currently occupied, so you’re all we’ve got.”
“Ah…” Kraye chuckled nervously. “Okay then. So, what would be my mission?”
“Just an hour ago, we received a disturbing report from one of our scouts. There's been a strange occurrence in the south of Tuskan Forest.”
“Tuskan Forest? Isn’t that forest a lower zone?”
“Indeed, it is. But the scout found the area almost completely deserted – no signs of the usual wildlife or low-level monsters. They discovered a spot reeking of death. Rotting animal carcasses, blood splatters on the ground and trees. It appears they were brutally killed and devoured by something much stronger.”
“That’s... unusual,” Kraye said, his interest piqued. “Any specific signs that the scout found?”
“Based on the evidence – fallen trees, scratch marks on trunks, and certain footprints – we believe a high-level threat monster might be lurking.”
Kraye's eyebrows furrowed. “Footprints?”
“Yes. Which is why I need you to take on this task. Find out what is going on and be in haste. Those leads might not last long.”
“Understood, I shall take my leave,” Kraye said, turning to leave reaching the hall’s door.
“And Kraye—” the Chancellor called.
Kraye paused, looking back. “Yes?”
“This will be your first upper-rank mission. Take this seriously, would you?”
“Of course, Chancellor,” Kraye replied with a lazy half-smile, though a glimmer of understanding flickered in his eyes. He gave a casual salute, his posture relaxed but attentive.
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Kraye departed from the south gate, and he immediately cast a spell on himself.
“Enhancement Magic: Festinare.”
The magic lightened his feet and boosted his speed three times. He did this because he thought he wanted to get this mission over with.
He traversed through the landscape of Argen Plains, a vast expanse of rolling hills covered in tall, silvery grass that seemed to sing in the breeze. The rustling grass created a blur of shimmering silver around him as Kraye's enhanced speed carried him swiftly across the plains.
In the distance, the dark line of Tuskan Forest began to take shape on the horizon. Separating Kraye from his destination lay the Serpent's Stream: a winding river of weirdly clear, emerald waters that meandered lazily between civilized lands and the wilder territories beyond.
He crossed the river and finally arrived at the outskirts of Tuskan Forest after hours of traveling. As he stepped his foot into the ground of the forest, he felt something was different. Clearly, an abnormality had occurred in the so-called lower zone, and his instinct clicked.
Kraye had become more vigilant and thorough. He traversed through the forest as silently as he could.
As he advanced, a foul odor assaulted his nostrils, growing stronger the deeper he ventured. Meeting his eyes, rotting carcasses of various animals lay strewn about, their decomposing forms attracting clouds of buzzing flies. Dried bloodstains splattered the ground, their dark hues a stark contrast against the forest floor. Then, he was reminded of the Chancellor’s words, and it seemed to match the report.
“Ugh… disgusting,” Kraye expressed, his face twisted in disgust as he surveyed the scene. Steeling himself, he cast another enhancement spell. “Enhancement Magic: Clairvoyance.” Instantly, his vision sharpened, allowing him to perceive details that would normally escape notice.
With his enhanced eyesight, Kraye began to spot crucial evidence. Massive footprints, resembling those of a wolf’s paw but far larger, dotted the forest floor. These weren't isolated tracks; multiple sets crisscrossed the area, suggesting not just one creature, but many. Deep scratch marks scored the trunks of nearby trees, some reaching heights that no ordinary wolf could achieve.
As Kraye pieced together the evidence, a chilling realization dawned on him. He thought it was right for the scout who was patrolling the area to leave the forest and leave this to someone like him as this wasn’t an ordinary case. The size of the prints, the height of the scratches, the sheer brutality of the kills – it all pointed to a far more dangerous predator.
“Sergals,” Kraye muttered under his breath, a mix of awe and apprehension in his voice.
Sergals – giant wolves with the ability to render themselves invisible – are upper-level creatures that only exist within the bordering land of Silverfall Highlands. Their presence here in what was supposed to be a lower zone was baffling.
“They’re not supposed to be here… What is going on?”
He followed the tracks of the giant wolves and found two traces to follow. The first one led to the Silverfall Highlands where the giant wolves might come from, and the second one had a mix of various animal footprints in the opposite direction.
Curious about why the Sergals were in Tuskan Forest, he decided to follow the first track, hoping it would provide a clue about how the giant wolves had broken loose from the barrier that separates between zones.
Kraye arrived before the omnipresent fog that marked the boundary between the two regions.
Silverfall Highlands is a land named for its breathtaking cascades of silver-tinged waterfalls, which fed into the Serpent's Stream that he had crossed earlier. These falls, combined with the ever-present mist they created, formed a natural barrier between Tuskan Forest and the more treacherous terrains beyond.
As he went deeper into the fog, he found the magic barrier that protected the land and to his surprise, the barrier seemed to be in a perfect condition.
No cracks or minor damage could be seen. He began to wonder what had caused the monster to get through. He double-checked if any marks were left in the area, strolling through the barrier, but no traces were left except the wolves.
“Nothing…” Kraye sighed.
Afterward, he went back to where he came from and approached the barrier.
“Wait. This is…”
Surprisingly, there was a slight difference in magic particles inside the form of the barrier after he touched the barrier. He took a step back and checked the barrier with his Clairvoyance magic and he could detect the littlest details of the mana structures.
“These fractions of mana. It does not belong in here.”
Kraye realized someone had tampered with the barrier and found that the barrier was reconstructed almost perfectly. To be able to alter the barrier that was made by the best and strongest sorcerers, one must have a magic skill comparable to that of the sorcerers who created the barrier. As much as reconstructing the barrier flawlessly wasn’t anyone’s cup of tea whatsoever. That said, his thoughts also stray to scenarios in which the barrier could only be altered by the sorcerers who built it themselves. Could it be or could it be not? He couldn’t possibly tell since there was a lack of evidence.
Thereafter, he returned to Tuskan Forest where the dead animals were to find more hints by following the second path. The sun sinks slowly below the horizon, and the sky ablaze with golden hues. The day was getting darker, and Kraye was getting irritated by the mission. Vague clues and gray areas fill his mind. But as soon as he followed the tracks, he found a destroyed camp and a bunch of giant wolves snacking on something.
“That must be the Sergals. What are they eating?” Kraye said, his eyes squinted.
He took a closer look and saw those Sergals were eating what seemed to be the bodies of dead orcs.
“Orcs? I did remember there was an orc village around the forest. They must be hunting for food. Never mind that I need to get rid of those Sergals.”
He moved silently in the shadows of the trees and then leaped at high speed to execute the wolves with swift steps and flashing swordplay, beheading them before they even noticed.
The Sergals fell, and Kraye, his sword dripping with blood, wiped it clean on the crease of his elbow. “Sorry you had to meet your end like this,” he said, standing over the dead orc bodies as he sheathed his sword.
After he killed the wolves, he noticed a blood trail that seemed to be fresh. Suspecting it was recent, he reactivated his Clairvoyance magic to investigate. Curiously, he discovered small footprints that seemed out of place for an orc. The other footprints were likely to belong to a Sergal that might be chasing its prey. The stride length was noticeably short, suggesting the tracks belonged to a different creature entirely.
“A human footprint?” Kraye thought out loud.
He continued to follow the blood trail to see if he could find someone that might still be alive for him to save, and also possibly more clues about what he discovered during his investigation on the border of Silverfall Highlands.
The sun has set, and the forest is pitch black, but it doesn’t stop Kraye from losing his senses and eyesight since he enhanced himself with Clairvoyance. He soon got closer to the endpoint of the footprints.
From a distance, Kraye spotted a Sergal cloaked in mana, rendering itself nearly invisible. Nearby, he noticed a figure slumped against a tree, wounded and motionless, seemingly resigned to its fate.
Kraye couldn’t discern exactly what the figure was, but one thing was certain—it wasn’t human. The skin was a vibrant green, like a fresh apple, suggesting it was either an orc or a goblin.
As the Sergal revealed itself, shedding its invisibility, Kraye saw a faint movement from the wounded figure. Without hesitation, he lunged at the giant wolf, moving with lightning speed. His sword sliced through the wolf’s neck, and he turned to find the figure had passed out.
Approaching for a closer look, Kraye muttered in surprise, “A goblin?”
Small light green skin with lupine ears and large tusks passing outside its mouth. He recognized the survivor’s appearance as it resembled an orc, and he wondered how an orc could be this small. But instead of thinking of random thoughts and conjectures, he decided to cast a healing spell on the injured small orc.
“Light Magic: Calidum Tactus.”
The healing spell surged through the injured orc, healing him from bruises and closing all its wounds, but unfortunately, the orc was still unconscious regardless of his healing spell.
Kraye heaved a weary sigh and said, “If only I study more healing spells.”
Deciding to kill some time, he set up a campfire nearby, set a magic barrier to cover the area, and started to find some food around as he was starving. He found a nearby river and went fishing there.
He caught some fish, went back to the camp, and started grilling to relieve his grumbling stomach. He sat before the goblin-sized orc while gobbling his grilled fish and stared at him.
“Strange,” he mumbled, his mouth full of food. “Is he an interspecies of an orc and goblin? I thought that wasn’t possible. Gotta ask him when he’s awake.”
A moment later, Kraye heard a grunt coming from the unconscious orc and saw some little movement from him. The orc slowly opened his eyes and recovered from his state of near death.
“Hmm?” He reacted to the fainted orc. “Oh, rise and shine. You’re finally awake.”