Kellan and Lyra grew up in neighboring villages, but their paths to becoming guards were different. Kellan, having grown up in a lumberjack family, inherited a strong, powerful body, as well as impressive mastery of the axe. From an early age, he learned to navigate deftly among the majestic trees of the forest, developing his fighting skills and knowledge of nature.
Lyra, on the other hand, comes from a renowned family of thieves. However, from an early age, she was fascinated by tales of brave knights and heroic adventures. Inspired by these tales, Lyra decided to forge her own destiny and become a proud and loyal guard. She devoted years to training, honing her skills in combat, agility and strategy, forging a reputation as a formidable adventurer.
Over time, Kellan and Lyra developed a similar goal, while sharing a common passion: training. Their paths have crossed many times, and they've come to realize that their strengths and skills complement each other.
Decades have passed since they became guards, and they have grown in stature as highly talented guards.
Today, during their training, a messenger came to bring them a letter from Lord Thaddeus. He invited them to his manor to discuss a special mission. Curious and intrigued, Kellan and Lyra hurried to the top of the hill where Lord Thaddeus' mansion majestically stands, overlooking the lands they had sworn to protect.
On arrival, the guards are greeted by the lord's butler, a middle-aged man with a kindly gaze. He guides them through the manor's sumptuous gardens, where intoxicating floral fragrances fill the air and create a magical atmosphere.
Finally, they enter the council chamber, where Lord Thaddeus awaits them in imposing armor that reflects his grandeur. Kellan and Lyra, dazzled by his presence, can't help but express their respect and loyalty to their noble lord.
Kellan and Lyra kneel, bowing their heads in salute to their beloved lord.
Kellan: "Lord Thaddeus, we greet you."
"I have a mission to entrust to you, a new dungeon was reported a short while ago and until the exploration team is formed it will take some months. In the meantime, your mission is to watch over the Tree Keep. It has a black surface on its trunk. My butler will give you a map with the precise location of the Keep".
Lyra: "We are honored to serve you, Lord Thaddeus. The Keep of the Tree will be protected with dedication and vigilance."
Kellan: "Yes, Lord. We will prevent any approach to the Keep and kill any monsters that come out."
Lord Thaddeus: "I trust you completely to make the decisions necessary to ensure the safety of the Keep. Use your judgment and avoid taking ill-considered risks. The protection of the lands is our priority."
Lyra: "We won't disappoint you, Lord Thaddeus. We will meet this challenge with bravery and report all our findings to you."
Lord Thaddeus: "I have no doubt, my brave guards. Your dedication is exemplary. May good fortune accompany you on this mission. Return to the Keep of the Tree and take the necessary measures to ensure the safety of the lands."
"Yes my Lord."
---
Having received this important mission from Lord Thaddeus, Kellan and Lyra packed their belongings and mounted their horses in the direction of the Keep, aware of the dangers it harbors.
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It took Kellan and Lyra two weeks to reach their destination. On their way, beasts that seemed ferocious a few years ago were quickly killed. And thanks to the map they'd been given, they found the dungeon without a hitch.
---
They've been guarding the new dungeon for a few days now. They have valiantly prevented some of the scouts from escaping, deploying all their vigilance and ingenuity. But that's not all, as the hostile environment is full of surprises.
From time to time, the oppressive silence is broken by ferocious attacks from wild animals. Brown wolves prowl the darkness, their eyes gleaming sinisterly. The great deer, majestic and imposing, are not easily intimidated. And occasionally, other monstrous, mutant creatures emerge from the depths of the dungeon, offering our guardians a macabre feast.
In this monotonous routine where the days blur into each other, they have had to find ways to stave off boredom and keep their minds alert. They resolved to make rounds around the dungeon, scanning the surroundings with growing suspicion. Every shadowy corner, every suspicious movement keeps them on their toes, ready to act at the slightest alarm.
The first light of day finds them already on their feet, feasting on the previous day's meagre leftovers to regain their strength. They then head for the river, immersing themselves in its cool waters to awaken their senses numbed by the night. Then, armed and ready, they venture out again, where the scent of the wilderness and the whisper of the wind remind them that they are alone in the face of the unknown.
Each round is an epic in itself, where every rustle of leaves, every crack of branch, feeds their imagination and sustains that glimmer of hope that keeps them alive. And when they finally return, exhausted but satisfied, they share a simple meal, swapping stories and jokes to brighten their tired spirits before surrendering to the comforting arms of sleep.
On one of their rounds, Kellan and Lyra notice that the monsters in the Dungeons are coming out more and more slowly, but the strength of those that do is increasing slightly. This leads them to believe that something inside the Dungeon is sending out weak monsters to "test the waters" in order to gauge the strength of the outside world, in this case Lyra and Kellan.
As they continued their daily rounds, most of the animals had learned that this area was dangerous even for them, which is why they avoided the area around the Keep. But this only applies to the weakest animals. For animals with sufficient strength, the dungeon is an opportunity, for it emanates a force that can help them grow and become stronger.
As they approach the dungeon, these monsters fight and injure each other before being killed by the two guards. These powerful monsters allow them to obtain enough ingredients, such as skins, claws and even quality meat, that they constitute a kind of wealth and entertainment for the two guards.
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Today is the 5th show, as we now call them. What we call a show is a fight between monsters. We take the opportunity to hide our presence with Kellan by my side in the treetops and watch the monsters fight, then when they're sufficiently wounded or when there's a winner we jump on the strongest and kill it before moving on to the weakest.
This time, facing us are the two creatures, snarling at each other, trying to intimidate each other.
By analyzing the rank of the monsters and their agility, we can determine who will be the winner. For example, if two monsters of the same rank are pitted against each other, you need to take the monster's race into account. For example, a ferret will be very agile and difficult to catch if it faces a monster based on strength.
On the other hand, there's a Brown wild boar, between 1 and 2 meters tall. It has a brown coat and long, sharp tusks.
On the other is a Grey Monkey, a man-sized monkey standing in the trees, its silver fur glistening in the sunlight.
"The Boar's magic strength is practically stable, he just broke through to E Rank recently. I'm rating it E- Rank."
"The monkey has a stable mana flow that shows unstable signs. I rate it E- Rank."
By analyzing the power of these monsters according to the ranks established by the guild throughout the Hopet forest, most monsters are around rank E, and if you venture deeper, there's a good chance you'll come across rank D monsters.
The Hopet forest is divided into three parts: the outer (lower) forest, where most monsters are F-ranked; the middle forest, where monsters are E-ranked; and the upper forest, where monsters are D-ranked.
The Tree Keep lies between the inner forest and the middle forest.
The two monsters stop snarling before pouncing on each other. The boar ruminates and charges at the monkey, which dodges with great agility.