News spread like a plague, and with it, came a plague of bounties against the murderer's head. Only one guild dared take it up for this task in question: Phoenix Wing. Their proud guild hall, situated at the heart of the capital city, its vibrant banners fluttering in the breeze; an enormous chandelier hanging from a high, vaulted ceiling. Leaning in a corner, their guild leader spoke as if the air itself was filled with a jaunty tune, full of bravado and companionship. He addressed the six young adventurers.

"Is this your first grand quest, Scorpions?" He asked, eyes aglow, his forehead furrowed in excitement and worry. More than a few nodded, adventurers, clinking in their gear as one huddled closer.

Among them, the man who had his brown hair in a ponytail nodded to say, "We are ready, leader." The guild leader's face stretched into a grin as he gathered them all into a tight huddle. The next moment, he sprang onto the bar counter; the glasses and ale crashed to the floor.

Suddenly, the music stopped and the guild leader cleared his throat. "Tomorrow, the Scorpions go on their first true mission," he boomed over cheering. "But tonight, we feast and celebrate!"

As the night advanced, the other revelers gradually departed till there were only the six Scorpions left in their cubicles. They had gone over their plan so many times but Cai just could not help himself and had to take one final look over his bruised journal. A young woman interrupted his thoughts.

"Oh come on, Cai, for chrissakes we have been through this already," she said, her irritability mounting. The others stirred restlessly, nodding their agreement, eyes weighted down from lack of sleep. Cai blew out a sigh and closed the journal. "Fine, let's go over just the basics again."

It was Elias the dark elf who sat on the bed, listening carefully, as the others looked indifferent. At long last, to a relief that had been overdue, Cai finally reached the end of his explanation. The girls retreated to their room, the failing lantern casting eerie shadows on the wall. Elias had opened the window and started his prayers to the moon. At the foot of his bed, Cai sat sharpening his longsword with a whetstone.

The other young man, Talon, was staring into his reflection in the room. Without facing them, he said, "Sorry for not listening much."

"Oh, well," Cai shrugged and strode behind him, placing a hand on his shoulder. "Why are you staring at the mirror again?"

Talon turned to the open window; his voice was no more than a whisper. "I was hoping to see myself again. I have been having those visions again."

Cai clapped his back. "It will be all right, Talon. We are in this together." Yet he couldn't help it—he felt that this mission was not going to be quite as smooth as they had decided upon seeing a glint of himself in the blade of the sword.

Indoors, the girls retired to their bedroom; the lantern was casting ghastly glows on their faces. The guttering light in the lantern threatened every time to go out as they had huddled in bed for the night.

This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

"Sable, should we have listened to Cai?" she asked as she leaned her staff against her bed. "He is just being cautious."

Sable didn't stop brushing her coal-black hair, looking at her reflection in the mirror. "We've been through this dozens of times, Isabelle; we'll be just fine."

Isabelle nodded as she crossed to the lantern, intending to replace the candle. She glanced back at Sable, but her gaze remained transfixed upon the mirror.

"Yes, he's got every right to be cautious," Momo replied, shutting her book and removing the glasses. "We can be more careful."

Sable and Isabelle stared at her in silence that grew thicker by the second. Laying her brush down, Sable sat beside Momo; then Isabelle did the same on the other side. This seemed to be enough because a longer spell of silence ensued, disrupted only by turning pages.

"Momo, we won't end up like them," Sable reassured her, placing a reassuring hand on her shoulder.

With a hint of fear in her eyes, she sought the eye of each one of her companions. She moved closer to the lantern and opened it, saying only, "We need to hear Cai tomorrow or this is goodnight forever."

She blew out the candle, and the room went dark except for a sliver of moonlight that managed its way in. The girls went to sleep, feeling the weight of their mission pressing down on them like a heavy shroud.

The following morning, the adventurers congregated in the tavern space of the guild hall, amid people and trappings of celebration. Music could still be heard from the previous night, and the Phoenix Wing guild is infamous for celebrating its members' success. While last night was contained within the guild, today's celebration was with the whole town. People were dancing, eating, and rejoicing inside and outside of the hall. As the Scorpions entered the tavern, congratulations came pouring towards them from the other adventurers.

The rest were beginning to relax when a cart pulled up to the guild, its leader standing tall in the back. He leaped out of the moving cart in front of the Scorpions with several onlookers catching his eye. "Today is the day!" he cried, slapping the side of the cart. "This beauty is yours for the journey."

He was a slight man with a bushy beard who waved a little and introduced himself as their coachman for the voyage. When they were all introduced to one another, the guild members bade them farewell and the Scorpions climbed onto the cart, waving at the city as it went. The whole city roared out in one final farewell: "Don't die!"

When well out of the reach of the noisy city, Cai went over the plan once again with them, impressing upon them just how grave this was. The group listened intently, aware of just how important this was to Cai.