After returning to the adventurer's guild, Adrian, Galtier and Kael, made their way to the reception desk, where a familiar green-haired elf greeted them. She looked up from her ledger, her expression brightening as she recognized them. “Back so soon? Or did you all decide to take a scenic detour?”

Adrian managed a tired smile. “Something like that.”

Kael leaned heavily on the counter, dropping his pack with a dramatic sigh. “If by ‘scenic,’ you mean fighting a monstrous plant hydra, then sure. Very scenic.”

The receptionist’s eyebrows shot up, and her ears twitched slightly. “A Grove Hydra? That’s no small feat. How did you all do?”

"We managed, and we got what we needed.” Adrian reached into his pack and pulled out a bundle of dawnshade, the leaves shimmering faintly even in the dim light of the guildhall.

The elf’s eyes widened. “That’s more than enough for the quest, well done."

“And our reward?" Galtier asked.

The elf chuckled softly. “Wait here,” she said, disappearing through a doorway behind the desk. Moments later, she returned with a small leather pouch, which jingled as she placed it before them. “A hundred gold coins, as per the quest’s reward.”

Kael’s eyes lit up, the fatigue momentarily forgotten. “That’ll buy a lot of stew."

Adrian exchanged a glance with him before addressing the group. “We should split it. Fifty-fifty, between Kael and me,” he said, casting a sidelong look at Galtier. “Considering… well, your incident.”

Galtier nodded slowly. “That's fair enough. But will I still receive my share of the herbs?”

Adrian patted his backpack with a reassuring gesture. “You’ll get what’s owed, Galtier.”

Kael pocketed his share of coins, offering a cheerful “Thanks!” to the receptionist before tossing the pouch to Adrian.

The leather pouch spun through the air before Adrian finally caught it. Not bad at all.

Kael’s eyes sparkled with boyish enthusiasm as he adjusted the coins clinking in his pocket. “How about we get some food and a table?”

Adrian’s lips curved into a faint smile as he secured the pouch at his belt. “Yeah, let’s do it, we can sort the herbs while we eat.”

Galtier gave a brief, silent inclination of his head. The three found a table near the edge of the room, far enough to afford some quiet but close enough to keep an eye on the entrances.

Adrian settled into the sturdy wooden chair with a soft sigh, feeling a small measure of tension leave his shoulders. This chair has no right feeling this comfortable.

Kael, already restless, flagged down a serving girl. “Three plates of whatever’s hot, and the biggest mugs of cider you’ve got,” he said, flashing a lopsided grin. She nodded, smiling back before disappearing into the kitchen.

"Are we… allowed to drink cider?" Adrian asked.

"Eh, no one's telling us off, so it's probably fine." Kael shrugged.

"If you say so."

Adrian drew the bundle of dawnshade from his pack and spread it carefully across the table. “Let’s get this sorted,” he said, dividing the herbs into neat portions.

Galtier remained silent. When Adrian finished dividing the herbs, he handed Galtier’s share over. “Here. Like I said, your fair share.”

The black-armored knight accepted the bundle with a nod, placing it carefully inside a compartment built into his armor. “You have my thanks."

Their food arrived moments later, steaming and fragrant. Kael wasted no time, diving into the meal with unrestrained hunger. “So good."

Galtier adjusted the straps of his battered armor. Then, he looked at Adrian and Kael. “Thank you for your help, but I need to return to my sister. She's… waiting.”

Adrian nodded, understanding the weight behind those words. “Take care, Galtier. I hope this helps.”

The knight inclined his head, a brief but genuine acknowledgment. “Until we meet again."

When Galtier left, the serving girl returned, setting down three steaming plates of hearty stew alongside two large mugs of frothy cider. Adrian glanced at the extra plate and then at the empty chair where Galtier had been moments earlier. “Right… only the two of us are eating."

Kael, already tucking in, paused just long enough to give Adrian a cheeky grin. “Don’t worry about it. I’ll make sure there are no leftovers."

Adrian chuckled softly and lifted his own spoon, savoring the rich stew before taking a bite. They ate in companionable silence for a few moments, the sounds of the guild hall providing a muted backdrop.

After a while, Adrian glanced at Kael, who was already working his way through the second plate. “What are you going to do after this?”

“Probably head back home to Gramp's place. He looks all tough, but you should see his face when I come home after being out for more than a day."

“Sounds like he cares a lot.”

“Too much, sometimes. But yeah. He's all I’ve got, really. Not that I mind. It’s a good kind of worrying. Makes it worth coming back.” Kael took another swig of cider, the foam leaving a faint mustache on his upper lip that he wiped away with the back of his hand.

Adrian leaned back in his chair, staring into the amber depths of his own mug. “Honestly, I should probably head home soon too."

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***

Adrian approached the door to Marcus and Anisa’s home. He paused, feeling the weight of the day’s events pressing against him. I made it back. Finally.

He lifted his hand and knocked, the sound echoing slightly in the quiet evening. “Anyone home?”

He had barely finished the words when the door swung open with a rush of movement. “Adrian!”

Before he could even step inside, Anisa had already embraced him. After a few seconds, she pulled back just enough to cup his face. “Are you hurt? Did you eat? How bad was it this time? You’re not hiding any injuries, are you? Tell me everything.”

Adrian blinked, momentarily overwhelmed by the torrent of questions. He opened his mouth to answer, but she was already inspecting his arms, brushing dirt from his sleeve with an almost frantic energy. She never changes.

“I’m fine, Anisa,” he managed, though his voice cracked slightly from fatigue. “Really. Just… tired.”

She exhaled sharply, fingers lingering on his sleeve. “Come inside. You need food, rest, everything.”

Adrian stepped inside and dropped his backpack by the door, feeling the exhaustion in every muscle, and allowed himself to relax. The rich aroma of roasted herbs and woodsmoke filled the air, and as he stepped further into the room, he saw Marcus standing by the hearth.

The man’s rugged features were flushed from exertion, as he was in the process of cleaning his hunting knife. He glanced up as Adrian entered, a smile breaking across his face that instantly softened his rugged demeanor.

“Welcome back, kid. You made it back in one piece.”

Adrian nodded. “Barely, the job was… eventful.”

“Eventful, huh?” Marcus wiped the blade clean with a cloth and sheathed it with practiced ease.

He stepped forward, clasping a hand on Adrian’s shoulder. “From the look on your face, I’d say ‘eventful’ is an understatement. I hope you at least made it worthwhile.”

“We did, got what we needed. More than enough, actually.” Adrian said.

“That’s my boy.”

Marcus gave Adrian’s shoulder a reassuring squeeze before stepping back. “Good timing too. Just got back myself. Bagged a nice, fat boar out in the woods.”

Anisa rolled her eyes. “He’s been talking about that boar since he stepped foot inside. I think he’s just relieved he didn’t have to wrestle it.”

“Oh, don’t listen to her,” Marcus said, grinning as he moved toward a large wooden table in the center of the room. “That beast put up a fight, I’ll have you know. Almost got the better of me.”

Anisa arched a brow but was unable to suppress her smile. “Uh-huh, and I suppose it’s already roasting itself for dinner, is it?”

“Not yet, but it will be soon enough.”

Marcus gestured for Adrian to join him at the table. "I know you just got back, but I could use another hand with the preparations. Think you’re up for it?”

Adrian dropped into a chair with a weary but contented sigh. “Sure, just… give me a few minutes."

The three of them moved through the motions of preparing the meal together. Marcus trimmed the boar, Anisa mixed herbs, while Adrian helped wherever else he could.

Once everything was ready, Marcus heaved the roasted boar onto a platter in the center of the table, his face glowing with pride. “Now that is a proper meal.”

Anisa chuckled as she poured water into their cups. “Marcus, you’d think you’d hunted down a dragon with the way you talk.”

Marcus laughed, serving slices of the juicy, tender meat. “A dragon? Not yet. But it might be next on my list.”

Adrian grinned, cutting into his portion and savoring the first bite. Nothing beats fresh boar.

“So,” Anisa said after a few bites. “Tell us about the quest.”

Adrian glanced down at his plate, organizing his thoughts. “We were sent to find dawnshade, a rare herb thats's supposed to help with ailments. Thought it would be simple."

“Oh, if only things were ever that simple,” Marcus interjected with a wry smile, lifting his cup in a mock toast. “But that doesn’t sound like enough trouble for you.”

Adrian huffed a laugh. “Turns out, the dawnshade was guarded by a Grove Hydra.”

Both Anisa and Marcus stopped mid-bite, eyes wide with alarm and disbelief. Anisa’s hand flew to her mouth, her expression a mix of worry and surprise. “A Grove Hydra? And you went up against it?”

Adrian nodded as he recalled the massive creature. “It was… more than I expected. Me and my comrades Kael and Galtier had to work together just to keep it distracted. Galtier held it off as best he could, and Kael kept it busy… but even then, it was nearly impossible. That thing regenerated faster than we could hurt it."

Anisa leaned forward. “But you managed?”

Adrian gave a slow nod, the weight of the memory settling on him. “We did. Just barely. Its tail, somehow, was its core. We only figured it out by accident, but once we focused on it, the hydra eventually went down.”

Marcus let out a low whistle. “To take down a Grove Hydra… not an easy feat, I’m proud of you, kid. That’s no small accomplishment.”

“But did you find enough dawnshade for what you needed?” Anisa asked.

“We found more than enough. Galtier and Kael took their share, but we still have plenty for the quest and even a little extra. Hopefully, that means fewer Grove Hydras for us in the future.” Adrian said with a light smile.

Anisa reached across the table, resting her hand on his. “Just… make sure to always come home, no matter what you face out there.”

Adrian squeezed her hand. “I will. I always do.”

They fell into a comfortable silence, eating and sharing glances that held the unspoken bond of family. By the time their plates were empty and their mugs drained, exhaustion had fully settled on Adrian’s shoulders.

Anisa noticed, of course, and stood, gathering their plates with a gentle shake of her head. “You should go to bed early tonight, Adrian. Get some proper rest.”

Adrian opened his mouth to protest, but the words faded under her kind but insistent gaze. She’s right.

He pushed his chair back, his body feeling heavier with every step. “Thank you. For all of this,”

Marcus clapped him on the shoulder with a reassuring smile. “You’re welcome. Now get some sleep before we have to drag you to bed.”

Adrian chuckled softly, already feeling the pull of sleep. Tomorrow will bring new challenges. But tonight, I rest.

Adrian lay on his bed, the softness of the mattress beneath him a welcome change from the hard ground he’d been accustomed to during his journeys. Exhaustion pressed down on him, urging him to close his eyes and drift into sleep.

Yet, just as he began to surrender to it, an unsettling sensation crawled over his skin, a prickling awareness that gnawed at the edges of his consciousness. It’s probably just fatigue, he tried to tell himself, turning over and burying his face into the pillow.

But the feeling didn’t go away; if anything, it grew stronger, slithering into his thoughts and tightening its grip around his chest. He opened his eyes, the shadows in the room suddenly feeling heavier, darker. No. This isn’t just me.

Adrian sat up, swinging his legs over the edge of the bed. He closed his eyes and drew a deep breath, centering himself. His hands rested on his knees as he sat cross-legged.

He used his magic and projected it outward to sense the environment. The world around him faded as he stretched out with his awareness, feeling for any ripple or disturbance in the flow of mana.

At first, he sensed only the familiar warmth of Marcus and Anisa’s mana cores. Marcus’s felt strong and steady, while Anisa’s glowed with a fluid, gentle energy. But Adrian pushed further, letting his senses expand beyond the safety of the home.

That was when he felt it: a twisted, pulsing mana core lurking on the edge of his perception. Its energy was dark, malevolent, and cold. It glowed an ominous red, like blood pooling under moonlight. A malevolent mana core. And it's not too far away from here.