The group traveled day and night, sticking to the main road. Occasionally, a merchant or traveler would pass by, offering a few coins or a ride to the next town in exchange for an escort or pest control along the way. But it was the rumor of a job to explore unknown ruins that finally made them stop in the remote village of Evergreen.

Evergreen was barely even a village, most would call it a hamlet. As they approached from a minor road, it was clear how isolated the place was. There were no guards, no gate—just a circular wooden wall that enclosed the village. The elves who walked the streets were primarily of the battle classes, seen hauling and butchering game animals with practiced efficiency.

Uncertain of where to gather details about the rumored ruins, the group checked into the local inn and started there. As they booked their stay, a grimy, hooded man at a corner table caught Elron’s attention.

"Psst, you there. Come sit," the man whispered.

Elron glanced around, but there was only the barkeep and the mysterious man to look at.

“Come here,” the man insisted, his whisper ever more urgent.

Elron tried to ignore him until the man added, “Aren’t you here to explore the temple?”

Elron exchanged glances with the others, hesitating before he walked over. He sat down at the man’s table, Kael and Sylra exchanging hesitant looks before joining him.

"So, I’m guessing you’ve heard of the place?" the man asked, his eyes flicking around the room. “Why else would outsiders be here?”

Kael raised a brow, leaning forward slightly. “Yes, that’s why we’re here. What do you know about it?”

Sylra shoved Kael lightly, her tone annoyed. “Let him talk, not you, doofus.”

The man snickered, enjoying the interaction. “They’ve known about those ruins for ages, but something changed. A recent party went in to clear out the usual slimes, but only one returned.”

Elron drummed his fingers on the table, growing impatient. “And what did he say?”

“Quite a bit,” the man continued, leaning in as if sharing a secret. “He came back raving about darkness, death, the end of the world.”

Sylra rolled her eyes. “Great, sounds totally sane.”

The man’s grin widened. “That’s not even the crazy part, lass. He mentioned there’s an undiscovered opening that leads deeper into the ruins.”

Kael crossed his arms, narrowing his eyes. “Why tell us? We don’t have money to pay you for this information.” His lie smooth and convincing.

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The man shrugged. “I want in. You could use a fourth, plus I know the way. That’s worth something, don’t you think?”

Elron looked at his two partners, his expression serious. “We need a couple of minutes to discuss this,” he said, and the three of them stepped outside.

Sylra was the first to speak as soon as they were out the doors. She turned around, her eyes flashing with anger. “I don’t like it. I don’t like humans, especially shady ones like him.”

Elron met her gaze with a deadpan expression. “I get where you’re coming from—”

“No, you fucking don’t, Elron,” she snapped, cutting him off.

Kael raised his hands in a calming gesture. “I don’t like them either, but if he can guide us, this might be a worthwhile venture.”

Sylra huffed and stormed back inside. “Fine. But if he so much as looks at me wrong, he’s dead.”

Elron opened his mouth to reply, but Kael stopped him with a nod. “Agreed.”

Back in the inn, Elron ignored the tension and gave the man a curt nod. “We’re in.”

Elron ignored the tension in the air and the obvious disgruntled look on Sylra’s face, focusing instead on the thrill in man’s eyes as they accepted his offer.

The man grinned, almost halfway to the door before turning back. “Oh, and the name’s Silvester,” he said, waving the party goodnight.

At dawn, the group assembled in the inn’s common room, where Silvester was already waiting, dressed in green like many elves and with a bow slung over his shoulder. He looked every bit the scout, ready to take up the rear should danger arise. A glance between them confirmed he was the type to handle himself in a fight—or at least it appeared he could.

“Oh, you guys got rid of your rags! You lot look like proper adventurers now,” Silvester remarked, his tone teasing but impressed.

Elron and Sylra had both invested in black leather armor, with Sylra opting to wear hers under her cloak, while Elron wore his openly. Kael, on the other hand, opted for traditional blue robes fitting of a spellcaster, complete with the pointy hat.

As they began to leave the village, Elron suddenly paused. “Apologies, but there’s one thing I almost forgot to do. I’ll need a few minutes.”

All three of them exchanged puzzled looks as Elron drew a circle in the dirt. He then began to carve symbols around the circle, symbols that had been granted to him by the world via his class. The prince knew nothing of their origins or how they worked, but he followed his instincts.

With deliberate precision, Elron unsheathed his new blade and laid it across his lap as he sat cross-legged within the circle. He made a small cut on his hand, letting the blood run down the blade, and began to mumble a chant. The ritual continued for about five minutes until the circle around him briefly flashed an icy blue, and his eyes snapped open.

“It’s finished. We can move on now,” Elron said, rising to his feet and destroying the ritual circle with a swipe of his boot.

Silvester’s eyes bulged with curiosity. “What was all that?”

Sylra, equally unsure, crossed her arms. “None of your damn business.”

“That was a ritual circle, likely to bind your weapon,” Kael surmized.

Elron smiled, pleased with the result. “Yes it was, and I feel as if this bond is stronger than the last one.”

“Does that make a difference?” Kael asked, intrigued.

Sylra rolled her eyes and stepped forward. “Okay, magic woo-woo talk can wait. We’ve got a ruin to loot.”

The group all nodded in agreement, the air of mystery lingering as they set off down the road, eager to uncover whatever lay ahead.