Max, Boorg, and Piggy left the inn and stepped out into the busy night streets of Kingsport. The night air was cool and relaxing, people floated on broomsticks and lanterns flickered lighting their path. Slowly, the three of them made their way to the outskirts of the town.

“Maybe better tomorrow we go do quest?” Boorg said yawning.

“The sooner we do it, the better,” Max re-read the quest scroll.

“But night only for sleep,” Boorg looked sad and disappointed.

“Just keep your eyes peeled for anything unusual,” Max said.

“Oink!” Piggy jumped into the conversation, hanging from her favorite place, Boorg’s back.

Boorg nodded, but he had trouble keeping his eyes open. The forest was close to the city, and after a nice walk, they stood in front of the forest. The deeper they went the trees became more dense and they could feel the magical energy with each step. The forest was alive with the sounds of unknown creatures moving in the night.

After a while, they came across a small clearing. In the center, covered in the soft glow of moonlight, were the Valerian roots. Their petals shimmered like tiny stars, committing a soft light around them.

“There they are,” Max whispered. “Let’s gather them quickly and carefully.”

Max approached the herbs when he heard a rustling sound from the edge of the clearing. “Boorg,” Max whispered, “Boorg! There is someone here.”

After Boorg didn’t respond, Max turned around to see Boorg and Piggy sleeping under a tree.

From the shadows emerged a fox, its fur a dark, otherworldly shade of silver that seemed to absorb the moonlight. Its eyes, glowing in a weird shade of blue, fixed on Max reading his next move. As it stepped closer, the air around it grew colder, and the sounds of the forest seemed to fade into silence.

“You are not like the others,” the fox said, its voice echoing in Max’s mind rather than his ears. “You have a role to play in this world, a destiny intertwined with the threads of fate itself.”

Max couldn’t look away from the fox. “Who are you?” he managed to ask, his voice barely a whisper.

The fox’s eyes seemed to darken. “I am a guardian of paths yet to be taken, a witness to the cycles of life and death. Your choices will shape the fate of many. But power comes at a cost, and the path you walk requires a sacrifice.”

Max swallowed hard. “What do you mean?”

“The world is at a crossroads,” the fox continued, its voice growing softer, almost whispering. “Light and darkness, life and death, order and chaos. You must choose a side. An offering must be made, a token of your commitment. Only then will you have the strength to face what is to come.”

Max couldn’t understand anything the fox said. “What kind of offering?”

“Think about it,” it said. “When you are ready, I will come for your answer. But know this: your choice will be remembered in history, it will echo through the ages, and the lives of many will be shaped by your decision. Think wisely.”

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With that, the fox turned and vanished into the shadows, leaving Max alone in the clearing. The sounds of the forest slowly returned, but the air remained thick with a sense of someone stealing the air from him, choking him.

Max looked down at Boorg and Piggy, still fast asleep. He sighed and started gathering the roots quickly. He didn’t know what decision he had to make, but he knew that it was soon.

----------------------------------------

Max gently shook Boorg awake, and Piggy, sensing movement, oinked softly and woke up. “Time to go,” Max said quietly, not wanting to disturb the peace of the forest.

Boorg yawned and stretched, rubbing his eyes. “Did Max find roots?”

“Yeah, I got them,” Max replied, putting the roots into his inventory. “Let’s head back.”

The walk back was silent. Max couldn’t stop thinking about the mysterious fox and the choice he would have to make. Boorg, still sleepy from his short nap, followed without saying much either, and Piggy snuggled comfortably against Boorg’s back.

When they reached the busy town, it was as if they had stepped into a different world. They made their way to the adventurer’s guild, and inside the guild, they approached a sign that read “Quests and Rewards.”

A big person stood behind the counter, organizing the scrolls. Max’s eyes widened as he realized the girl working at the guild was an orc.

The orc girl had green skin, covered with many tribal tattoos that swirled up her arms and neck. Her eyes were purple, sharp. Tusks jutted from her lower jaw, making her look a little bit scary. Her long, dark hair was tied back in a series of braids, and she wore leather armor. She noticed them approaching and gave them a big grin.

Max froze for a moment, he had never seen an orc before. Boorg, however, seemed unfazed and approached the counter.

“Good evening!” Boorg said cheerfully.

Max forced himself to step forward, holding the pouch of Valerian roots tightly. “We’ve got the Valerian roots,” he said, trying to keep his calm.

The orc girl looked up, her purple eyes meeting Max’s. She nodded. “You found them already? That was quick.” Her voice was surprisingly smooth and soft. She took the pouch from Max and examined the roots. “These are perfect. You’ve earned your reward.”

She handed Max his reward. “Here’s your payment. Our alchemist gave a nice reward, these roots are very difficult to find.”

Boorg’s eyes widened at the sight of the gold. “Five gold! That a lot of money!”

The orc girl smiled again, her tusks gleaming. “And I’ll add in one silver if you deliver these roots to the alchemist.”

Max nodded, accepting the additional task. “Sure, we can do that. Where is the alchemist’s shop? Is it open now? It is pretty late.”

“The alchemist’s shop is always open. It is just down the street, two buildings to the left,” the orc girl replied. “You can’t miss it.”

Max thanked her and turned to leave. He imagined the alchemist to be an old, stinky man with a filled-to-the-brim, small and narrow shop filled with strange shit and mysterious plants.

They made their way to the alchemist's shop, a small building with a big sign that read “Elixirs & Potions.” The windows glowed softly with warm purple light, and a faint, pleasant, sweet scent spread through the air.

Max opened the door, and they stepped inside. The shop’s interior was nice looking, and very comfy, the shelves lined with bottles and jars of all shapes and sizes. The pleasant scent of herbs and spices filled the air. It was nothing Max imagined it to be.

To Max’s surprise, everything he thought of was completely the opposite. The alchemist was not an old man but a beautiful woman. She had long hair the color of midnight and piercing blue eyes that seemed to stab him straight into his heart. Her movements were dazzling as she mixed potions.

“Good evening,” she said with a warm smile. “What brings you here?”

Max took a moment to calm himself before speaking. “We were sent by the guild to deliver these Valerian roots,” he said, handing over the pouch.

Her eyes lit up as she examined the roots. “These are perfect! Thank you so much! These will be very helpful in my work.” She looked at Max and Boorg. “You’ve helped me a lot tonight, I can start immediately on my potion.”

Max nodded, still a bit stunned by her beauty. “It was our pleasure. If you need anything else, just let me know. I can help! And my name is Max.”

“Thank you, Max,” she said.

Max stood there for a moment, the two of them looked at each other, not saying a word.

“Max we go, Piggy hungry!” Boorg broke the silence.

“Y-yeah. Well, see you around alchemist.”

“Maya,” she said. “The name is Maya.”

As they left the shop, Max couldn’t help but look back at Maya. The night had been full of surprises, the fox completely forgotten by the beauty of his new favorite shop owner.