In the late afternoon, as dusk began to settle, Towan, Elliot, and their master were walking back through the village when they unexpectedly ran into Rhys and Kade, the fighters they had faced in a friendly match. Both of them wore serious expressions, seemingly troubled by something.
"Hey, Rhys! Kade! How have you been?" Towan asked excitedly upon seeing the fighters again.
"Hello, Towan. We’re in a complicated situation right now... Apparently, there are humanoid figures of some strange essence," Rhys replied.
"Rhys! We shouldn’t be saying that—it could alarm the villagers," Kade warned.
"Don’t worry, Kade, they’re good kids!" Rhys said calmly while scrutinizing the master. (I can’t sense much essence in his body... Is he really their master?) he thought, trying to discern something that still eluded him.
"Can we join you?" Elliot asked, surprising Towan. "We’ve faced those things once before; maybe we can help," he suggested, eager to learn how Rhys and Kade fought in a real scenario.
After discussing it briefly with Kade, Rhys nodded and added, "If your master allows it, you’re welcome to join us."
"Is Eryndar going with you?" the master asked, his tone unusually serious, as if he knew Rhys had tried to gauge his essence.
"Don’t worry, he’s waiting for us and will be accompanying us," Kade replied, noticing the growing tension between the martial artists. (Does he know Master Eryndar?) he thought, surprised, as he had never seen them together.
"Very well. Towan, Elliot, be careful," the master said before heading back to the apartment.
Towan and Elliot, excited but slightly tense, followed Rhys and Kade through the village streets. The sun was beginning to set, painting the sky with shades of orange and violet. Rhys and Kade walked ahead, their serious expressions contrasting with the enthusiasm of the two youths.
"Where exactly are we headed?" Towan asked, breaking the silence.
"To the outskirts of the village," Rhys replied without turning. "We’ve detected strange activity near some ancient ruins. We want to make sure it doesn’t pose a threat to the villagers."
"How dangerous are these figures?" Elliot asked, more analytical.
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"That depends on their concentration of essence," Kade explained. "The ones we’ve encountered before weren’t very strong but could still be dangerous if they got too close to the villages."
"Corrupted essence..." Elliot murmured, recalling the information their master had shared.
When they reached the outskirts, a man of elegant bearing and a firm gaze was waiting for them beside a massive tree. He wore training clothes that looked old but impeccably maintained. His presence commanded respect, and although his energy was subtle, there was something about him that exuded authority.
"Master Eryndar," Rhys greeted, bowing slightly. Kade did the same.
Eryndar nodded, his eyes quickly evaluating Towan and Elliot. "So, these are the boys you mentioned. I see potential in you."
Towan and Elliot exchanged glances, unsure how to respond.
"Where was the activity detected?" Eryndar asked, paying them no further attention.
"About ten minutes north," Rhys replied.
"Good. Move cautiously. These things tend to be unpredictable," Eryndar ordered as they began to walk.
The ruins were shrouded in a dense mist that seemed to rise from the ground itself. Rows of barren trees stood like shadows in the dim light, and the air felt heavier.
"Not the most welcoming place..." Towan muttered, eyeing the ancient moss-covered stones.
"You’ll have to get used to it," Kade responded, unsheathing a short weapon from his belt.
"Stay alert. They could attack at any moment," Rhys warned, his stance showing he was ready for combat.
Eryndar, however, walked calmly, his hands clasped behind his back as if on a casual stroll.
"Watch out!" Elliot shouted suddenly. From the shadows, three humanoid figures emerged, their bodies formed of dark essence writhing like flames.
Despite their nerves, the boys remembered their master’s lessons. Towan charged directly at one of the figures with a powerful punch, but his fist passed through it without causing immediate damage. However, as it shifted its focus to Elliot, Towan noticed that the figures’ movements were slower than expected, as if they were incomplete.
Meanwhile, the two more experienced fighters demonstrated their skills. Rhys used precise attacks, targeting the areas where the essence seemed denser, quickly dispersing it. Kade combined physical strikes with agile movements, always keeping the figures off balance.
Eryndar observed from a distance, his eyes narrowed as he analyzed both the enemies and the young fighters.
"Use your essence to reinforce your strike, Towan!" Elliot shouted, holding off another figure with evasive maneuvers.
Towan took the advice, channeling his essence into his fist. This time, his punch forced the figure back, breaking it into dark fragments that dissipated into the air.
The figures vanished as quickly as they had appeared, leaving the air feeling heavy and stale.
"That was... exhausting," Towan said, panting as he leaned against a rock.
"But we did it," Elliot added, though it was clear the effort had taken its toll on them.
Rhys and Kade approached, barely winded. "Not bad for beginners," Rhys said, giving Towan a pat on the back.
"This was just the beginning," Eryndar interrupted, breaking the moment of calm. "These figures shouldn’t exist in this place. Something else is behind this."
"What does that mean?" Elliot asked, curious but still catching his breath.
"We’ll find out," Eryndar replied, his eyes fixed on the ruins. Without another word, he began walking further in, making it clear the investigation was far from over.