The morning air still hung crisp as the trio left the temple, the faint smell of incense clinging to their clothes. The ancient stone walls of the town faded behind them as they made their way back toward the square. Steph walked slightly behind Seikan and Kalsei, her dark eyes scanning the surrounding buildings with disinterest, though there was a faint curiosity in her expression. It was her first morning with her new party, and though she’d never admit it out loud, something about the dynamic between the boys made her feel... oddly comfortable.

Kalsei, bouncing on his feet with his usual high-energy enthusiasm, spun to face Steph and Seikan, walking backward with ease. "So, now that we’ve finished our whole cursed relic thing and saved the town, what’s the plan? Should we start thinking about heading to the capital? That’s where the big action happens, right?" His eyes sparkled with a mischievous glint, clearly excited by the idea of exploring the wider world.

Seikan, still composed, adjusted the straps on his cloak and glanced at the notice board they had left earlier. His mind was still partially occupied with the relic, tucked away safely in his pouch, but he knew Kalsei was right. "We’ll need more information before heading straight to the capital. We don’t know the terrain, the dangers along the way, or even how far it is."

Steph, her voice soft but tinged with sarcasm, chimed in. "And what? You think they’ll just tell us the directions to a massive city? People love being vague."

Kalsei grinned, clearly unfazed by Steph’s dry remark. "Well, no harm in asking. Maybe if I act all innocent, someone will take pity on me."

Seikan sighed but nodded in agreement. "Fine. Let’s ask around."

They approached a vendor near the center of the square, a woman busy arranging fruits and vegetables at her stall. Kalsei stepped forward, his usual grin in place. "Hey there! Quick question. We’re looking to head toward the capital city. Any chance you could point us in the right direction?"

The vendor eyed him curiously before glancing at Seikan and Steph behind him. She wiped her hands on her apron before speaking. "You’re a long way from the capital. If you’re headed there, you’ll want to take the main road west. But it’s a far journey—at least a few days on foot, and the roads aren’t exactly safe."

Seikan raised an eyebrow. "What kind of dangers are we talking about?"

The woman shrugged, her eyes clouded with concern. "Bandits, wild creatures, and some say there’s been strange activity in the forests recently. More monsters than usual. If you’re determined, best to be prepared."

Steph sighed, already looking unimpressed. "Of course. Always monsters."

Kalsei grinned and gave the woman a quick nod. "Thanks for the info! We’ve handled worse than bandits and beasts." He turned back to his companions, the spark of adventure already burning in his eyes. "Looks like we’re heading west. Ready?"

Seikan glanced at Steph, who gave a resigned shrug. "Might as well," she muttered. "Not like I have anything better to do."

The vendor’s warning still hung in Seikan’s mind, but he nodded. "We’ll be fine. Just stay alert. Let’s head out."

They left Meliora behind, the dirt road stretching before them like a winding ribbon, disappearing into the distant horizon. The trees that lined the path swayed gently in the wind, their leaves rustling in the cool breeze. Kalsei walked ahead, his steps light and quick, occasionally turning to throw playful remarks at Steph or Seikan. Steph, with her usual air of disinterest, kept pace with Seikan, her dark eyes wandering across the landscape as they walked.

The day was quiet at first, the road peaceful and empty save for the distant chirping of birds. But as the sun climbed higher, the air began to change. It grew thick with a thick humidity, and the distant sounds of rolling thunder announced a storm on the horizon.

Kalsei tilted his head as they passed a dense patch of trees. "You guys feel that?" he asked, his golden eyes narrowing as he scanned the tree line. "Feels like we’re being watched."

Seikan’s gaze flicked to the shadows beneath the trees, his fingers instinctively twitching as though ready to trace runes in the air. "Indeed."

Steph rolled her eyes, but there was a faint hint of tension in her voice. "Well, great. I was really hoping for a quiet stroll."

Just as she spoke, the sound of rustling leaves grew louder, and from the shadows emerged several creatures—wolf-like, but twisted and malformed, their bodies bristling with jagged fur and glowing red eyes. Their snarls echoed through the trees as they stalked forward, their movements unnaturally jerky.

Enemy Encounter: Corrupted Dire Wolves Level: 5 Health: 600 each

Abilities:

Feral Charge (Lvl 2): Launches toward the enemy, dealing massive damage on impact.

Corrupting Bite (Lvl 3): Inflicts a corruption effect, slowly draining health over time.

Kalsei’s grin widened as he stepped forward, drawing the Shattering Blade with a quick flourish. "Wolves? We can handle wolves." His golden eyes flashed as he prepared for combat, the air around him rippling with distorted energy. "Come on, doggies. Let’s dance."

Seikan remained calm and traced a rune in the air. "Don’t get cocky, Kalsei. These aren’t normal wolves."

Steph, standing back, muttered under her breath. "Yeah, like everything else in this world."

The first Dire Wolf charged, its massive body hurtling toward Kalsei with terrifying speed. But Kalsei was faster. His agility kicked in, and he darted to the side, dodging the attack with ease before retaliating with a quick slash of his blade. The Shattering Blade connected with the wolf’s side, sending a shockwave through its body. The creature snarled in pain, but it wasn’t down yet.

Seikan moved swiftly, his fingers tracing more runes as he activated Adaptive Shackles. Dark chains erupted from the ground, snaking their way around one of the wolves, binding it in place. The creature thrashed, but the chains held firm, draining its energy with each movement.

Steph, standing at the back, raised her hand, summoning Revitalizing Aura. A soft, green light surrounded her and her companions, slowly healing any minor injuries they might have sustained.

Kalsei, still grinning, ducked under another wolf’s attack, his high agility allowing him to move like a blur. "Bad dog!" he taunted, spinning around and delivering another strike with the Shattering Blade. The wolf let out a pained howl as the blade cut deep, its movements becoming sluggish as its health drained.

Seikan, meanwhile, focused on the wolf he had shackled. With a flick of his wrist, he activated Rune of Decay, dark energy spreading across the ground beneath the wolf. The creature let out a pained yelp as its strength was slowly sapped, its fur beginning to wither and fall away.

The final wolf, seeing its packmates struggling, charged toward Steph, its glowing red eyes locked onto her. For a moment, Steph hesitated, her fingers twitching as if unsure of what to do. But then, with a resigned sigh, she raised her staff, casting Void Shield just as the wolf lunged. The barrier of dark energy shimmered in the air, trying to absorb the attack; but the barrier shattered.

"Great," she muttered, rolling her eyes as the wolf lunged at her, trying to grab her arm in its jaws. "I’m bait now."

Kalsei, moving with lightning speed, activated Blink Strike, teleporting behind the wolf in an instant. His blade came down hard, cleaving through the creature’s back with a satisfying thud. The wolf let out one final, pitiful whimper before collapsing to the ground, its body dissolving into dark mist.

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With the last of the wolves down, the system window appeared before them:

Corrupted Dire Wolves defeated. 1200 experience points earned.

Kalsei sheathed his blade, wiping the sweat from his brow with a grin. "Not bad, huh? These wolves don’t know who they’re messing with."

Steph, still standing with her staff raised, let out a small sigh. "Yeah, because they really had a choice."

Seikan dismissed his runes and turned toward the path ahead. "Let’s keep moving. There will be more of them."

Kalsei stretched his arms above his head, his golden eyes gleaming with excitement. "Right. Westward, toward the capital. Let’s see what else this road has in store for us."

The day wore on as they traveled, the landscape gradually shifting from dense forests to rolling hills. The sun hung high in the sky, and the sound of the distant thunder drew closer, as the trio made their way west. Though the path was relatively clear, the tension of the morning’s battle still lingered in the air.

Steph, her usual air of boredom firmly in place, walked a few paces behind Kalsei and Seikan, her gaze drifting lazily across the horizon. "So, how far exactly is this capital?" she asked, her voice soft but laced with sarcasm. "Are we talking ‘a few more days of walking,’ or ‘welcome to the rest of your life on this road’?"

Kalsei chuckled, glancing back at her with a mischievous grin. "Oh, come on, Steph. Where’s your sense of adventure? Think of all the monsters we’ll get to fight! Maybe we’ll even find some treasure, or, I don’t know, more cursed relics!"

Steph rolled her eyes, her pale fingers brushing her dark hair back from her face. "Yeah, because that went so well last time. I can hardly contain my excitement." She gave a mock shiver of anticipation, though her expression remained deadpan.

Seikan, his usual quiet demeanor in place, didn’t respond to the banter. His mind was still occupied with the relic stored in his pouch, the faint magical energy pulsing against his side as if calling out to him. He hadn’t told Kalsei or Steph yet, but the deeper they traveled into Velcyne, the stronger the relic’s pull became. It was as if something—or someone—was waiting for them at the capital, though what that was, Seikan couldn’t yet say.

After a few hours of travel, the road before them began to wind through a rocky canyon, the walls of stone towering high above them. The air was cooler here, with a soft breeze that rustled the leaves of the sparse trees clinging to the rock faces.

"This looks like a great spot for an ambush," Kalsei said cheerfully, his golden eyes scanning the cliffs above. "You know, if we were bandits or something."

Seikan’s eyes narrowed. "Let’s hope you’re wrong."

Of course, Kalsei wasn’t wrong. As they ventured deeper into the canyon, a sudden shout echoed from the cliffs, followed by the sound of tumbling rocks. A group of rough-looking men and women appeared from behind the boulders, their weapons drawn and their eyes gleaming with ill intent.

"Look what we have here," the leader, a burly man with a scar across his cheek, called out. "A few travelers with some valuable-looking gear. Hand it over, and maybe we’ll let you live."

Enemy Encounter: Canyon Bandits Level: 5 Health: 450 each

Abilities:

Quick Strike (Lvl 2): Delivers a fast, precise attack with a chance to disorient the target.

Smoke Bomb (Lvl 1): Creates a cloud of smoke to obscure vision and escape.

Bandit’s Resolve (Passive): Increases attack speed when health drops below 50%.

Kalsei’s grin widened as he stepped forward, already drawing the Shattering Blade from his back. "Oh, you’ve gotta be kidding me. Bandits? This’ll be fun!"

Steph sighed, her fingers twitching as she gripped her staff. "Always with the fighting," she muttered, though there was a hint of amusement in her tone.

Seikan glanced at the bandits with an unfathomable look, already calculating his next move. "Stay back, my prince," he said firmly, stepping forward and putting his arm out in front of Kalsei. "I will deal with these simple thugs."

"Prince?" Steph said with a hint of panic. "You didn't tell me you're a prince."

"Wait.. what," Kalsei asked, confused. "Hasn't this happened before?"

"Fear not, young prince," Seikan replied valiantly. "I won't let these dirty thieves harm a delicate hair on your head."

Kalsei was confused, and Steph looked from Seikan to him. Should she be calling him 'your highness'? Seikan was cold and calculating, and didn't have a reason to lie to her; but Kalsei was honest and cheerful—even if a little sarcastic, and also didn't have a reason to lie to her.

The bandits wasted no time, charging forward with reckless abandon. The leader lunged at Seikan, swinging a rusted sword with a wild grin. Seikan’s fingers moved swiftly, tracing runes in the air as dark energy coalesced around him. With a flick of his wrist, he activated Shadow Infusion, tendrils of darkness erupting from the ground and wrapping around the bandit’s legs, slowing his movement.

Kalsei, meanwhile, darted forward with his high agility, weaving between the bandits with ease. His golden eyes flashed as he activated Blink Strike, teleporting behind one of the bandits and delivering a swift slash with his blade. The Shattering Blade hummed with power as it connected, sending a shockwave that knocked the bandit off his feet.

"You'll have to do better than that, old man." Kalsei taunted, spinning on his heel to dodge another bandit’s attack.

Steph, standing at the back, raised her staff and summoned Healing Light, sending a soft glow of magic toward Seikan, who had taken a shallow cut from one of the bandit’s strikes. "Don’t get yourself killed, okay?" she called out dryly.

Seikan gave a curt nod, his focus entirely on the leader. With a swift gesture, he activated Adaptive Shackles, dark chains erupting from the ground and wrapping around the leader’s arms and legs, holding him in place.

The leader struggled, his muscles straining against the bindings, but Seikan’s magic held firm. "You’ll pay for this!" the bandit spat, his eyes wild with fury.

Kalsei saw his opportunity and grinned as he took down another bandit with a quick slash. "Nah, I think you’ve got that backward, buddy. You’re the one paying today."

With most of the bandits either down or incapacitated, Steph stepped forward, her eyes scanning the battlefield. "Are we done here yet? This is getting boring."

Seikan glanced at her, his expression unreadable. "Almost."

With one final gesture, Seikan activated Rune of Decay, dark energy spreading across the ground beneath the leader. The bandit let out a pained shout as his strength was sapped, his body withering under the effects of the curse.

Moments later, the system window appeared before them:

Canyon Bandits defeated. 1000 experience points earned.

Item Drop: Bandit’s Blade (Weapon - Sword)

Item Drop: Tattered Cloak (Armor - Light)

Kalsei wiped the sweat from his brow, sheathing his sword with a flourish. "Well, that was fun! What’d we get?"

Seikan bent down, picking up the Bandit’s Blade. He examined it briefly before tossing it to Kalsei. "Here. It’s better than some of the junk we’ve seen."

Kalsei caught the sword with a grin, giving it a quick spin. "Not bad. But I think I’ll stick with the Shattering Blade for now. This one’s more my style." He stored the Bandit’s Blade in his inventory before glancing at the Tattered Cloak. "And that... yeah, I’m not wearing that."

Steph glanced at the cloak, her expression bored. "I’ll pass too. Looks like something you’d find in a dumpster."

Seikan nodded, tucking the cloak into his inventory for now. "We’ll sell it later. Let’s keep moving."

"Steph turned to Kalsei, now that the adrenaline of the battle was easing. "Why didn't you tell me you are a prince?"

Kalsei opened his mouth to speak; but Seikan quickly interrupted. "We do not speak of it." Seikan said curtly, a serious frown on his face. "No one must know that the prince is walking amongst commoners."

"But I'm not a prince," Kalsei replied, shooting Seikan a confused soft smile.

"Naturally, my prince," Seikan said with a curt nod, and leaned in to whisper in Steph's ear. "We must not treat him like a prince, unless it is truly necessary," he warned. "He does not like to be seen as better than others simply due to his status." Seikan smiled inwardly. This was the perfect plan—a way to get back at Kalsei for all his sarcastic jokes.

"Oh, of course not," Steph said quietly to Kalsei, though she felt a little uneasy. She had never seen a prince before, let alone knew how to act around one.

The rest of the day passed uneventfully, the sun beginning its slow descent toward the horizon as they continued westward. Though the road was long, and the fights were exhausting, there was a sense of progress. They were making their way toward the capital, slowly but surely, and each step brought them closer to whatever fate awaited them in Velcyne.

Kalsei, walking at the front of the group, glanced over his shoulder with a grin. "So, how’re you holding up, Steph? Regretting joining the party yet?"

Steph, ever the picture of calm, shrugged. "It’s fine. Could be worse. At least I’m not stuck healing idiots who get themselves killed every ten minutes."

Kalsei laughed, clearly enjoying the banter. "Hey, give us time. We’re bound to do something reckless soon enough."

Seikan, his mind still partially on the relic, gave a small sigh. "Let’s just focus on getting to the next town without any more interruptions."