It was a moonlit night, and the group had set up camp outdoors. As they prepared to rest, the decision was made to take turns keeping watch. Dyllan, the priest, and Lady L, the beast lady, showed their professionalism by silently organizing their duties.
Throughout their journey, Elvina couldn't gather much information about the two mercenaries. They maintained an air of mystery, exchanging only essential words when necessary. While they were on the road toward Raven City, Ian decided to invest his remaining money in purchasing horses for the group.
As the night settled in, Elvina found herself perched on a sturdy branch, observing the camp from above. Ian had grown accustomed to her preference for sleeping outdoors, but Dyllan and Lady L exchanged curious glances, wondering about the peculiar habit of their companion.
She pull out her journal and starts writing.
As she writes on her journal, she can’t help but remember yesterday conversation.
-
“Do you have enemies we have to be aware of?” Ask the beast lady
Ian shake his head
“Not that I’m aware of-”
“We need to know who your enemies are so we can evaluate if taking your commission is worth the gold, we don’t want to involve ourselves in your political conflict.”
They look at him, waiting for him to speak.
“If there is, is just want you to save my family, my mom and my dad.”
“That’s it? We don’t need to kill anyone?”
Ian shakes his head.
The beast lady exchanged a glance with Dyllan, the priest, seeking his opinion.
“Seems doable” the priest finally mutter
Dyllan pondered for a moment, his quill poised above the parchment, and then he began to write down the terms of their agreement. The priest's meticulous words outlined the scope of the mission, emphasizing the need for clarity and minimal involvement in political matters.
Once the document was complete, Dyllan handed the parchment and a quill to Ian.
“Read it and sign it”
Ian glance at the parchment, without a word he grab the quill and sign it.
The priest nodded approvingly, acknowledging that the pact had been sealed, setting the stage for their journey to Raven City.
-
Elvina's keen senses picked up on the subtle rustling of the bushes, a sign that their peaceful night had been disrupted by unwelcome guests.
With a swift movement, Elvina closed her eyes, letting the wind envelop the camp. She became attuned to the surrounding noises, and her instincts kicked in. The unmistakable stench of death wafted through the air, sending a shiver down her spine. The camp was under siege. The horses suddenly was disturb and became panic as they felt danger approaching them.
“Multiple assailants” she said in grave tone
“Already awake” sounded with a lazy voice.
Lady L, awakened by the disturbance, stretched lazily before acknowledging the imminent threat. Dyllan appeared beside her, glasses held with a grave demeanor. Ian, abruptly roused from his slumber, stood up, sword in hand, ready to face whatever emerged from the shadows.
Lady L sniff in the air and became tense
“This stench…” “We have a lich nearby” Dyllan said in grim manner
“Looks like I need to warm up” Lady L stretch her arms revealing her voluptuous figure.
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The assailants revealed themselves – skeletons wielding various weapons, their hollow eyes fixed on the party. Without hesitation, the skeletons charged, weapons raised.
Lady L moved with the grace of a cat, her punches and kicks shattering the skeletal adversaries like porcelain. Dyllan began chanting hymns, orbs of light encircling him, serving as an impenetrable shield against the approaching undead. Ian, understanding the priest's vulnerability, guarded him fiercely, parrying blows and striking down the skeletal foes.
The priest didn’t say another word as he continue his chant.
Elvina, ever the agile archer, focused her attention on the skeleton archers. With a silent incantation, the wind lifted her into the treetops. She moved swiftly from branch to branch, disappearing into the shadows before reappearing to loose arrows upon the skeletal marksmen.
Lady L, watch in fascination as she watch the young girl jump from branches to branches until she disappeared in the shadows.
“Heh, that elf girl seems strong” she mutter, then her bloodlust increase as if she found a rival in carnage.
-
Hours passed, and exhaustion painted Ian's features as he collapsed onto the ground. The scattered remains of the undead skeletons lay around them, a testament to the battle they had fought.
Dyllan, the priest, appeared unfazed, and Lady L looked somewhat bored by the ordeal. As the tension eased, the young girl emerged silently from the shadows,
“Looks like we won’t be sleeping tonight.”
“Lets wrap up, the battle seems have alert the other undead”
-
The four of them swiftly packed up their belongings and left the camp in haste. Despite their strength, they were not immortal, and facing an endless horde of skeletons would only deplete their stamina, leaving them vulnerable to possible harm once exhaustion set in.
Elvina took charge, leading their team through the treacherous terrain, deftly avoiding large groups of skeletons. When confrontation became inevitable, she strategically chose routes with fewer enemies and always had an escape plan in mind. The journey through the eerie landscape continued, the air still carrying the remnants of their recent battle, as they pressed on to their destination.
-
The road stretched ahead, infested with undead creatures—ghouls and zombies moving slowly, their presence sending shivers down one's spine. While they were relatively easy to dispatch for the skilled group, the eerie atmosphere and the grotesque nature of these beings painted a picture of horror that would instill fear in any ordinary human.
Ian's face contorted with a mix of disgust and imagination, envisioning countless unsettling scenarios. The group pressed on, determined to navigate through the macabre landscape. However, they came to a sudden halt when they encountered a dark mist veiling their path, obscuring what lay beyond.
"This is bad," Dyllan said with a grim face, his usual composed demeanor replaced by concern.
"Grand magic," Lady L remarked, her usual boredom replaced by a serious expression.
Elvina didn't say much, but her gaze was fixed on the dark mist with trepidation.
Dyllan broke the heavy silence, "This is not an ordinary lich; this is a trace of sacrificial magic."
Ian's face suddenly went pale at the revelation. "W-what do you mean?!" he stammered.
Dyllan looked at him with pity in his eyes and shook his head. Ian, overcome by a surge of emotions, grabbed Dyllan's collar and shook him, desperation in his eyes. "Tell me what you mean?!"
"They are possibly gone," Lady L stated matter-of-factly.
Ian released Dyllan's collar and stumbled back, his laughter escaping like a bitter echo. "You're joking, right?" He looked at each of them with a desperate plea in his eyes. When Ian's gaze fell on Elvina, she couldn't help but avoid his eyes.
No one answered him, and the truth hung heavily in the air. Ian's desperation turned to anger. "Fine! If you don't want to save my family, then I don't need your help!" Ian abruptly turned and rushed toward the dark mist.
“Wai-“Elvina began, but Ian had already disappeared into the dark mist.
“Tsk, he's going to get himself killed,” Lady L said in displeasure.
Dyllan didn’t comment but observed the dark mist before them.
Elvina sighed in frustration. “Why am I always getting involved in something like this?” she muttered, scratching her head in annoyance.
“Hey, elf.”
“Huh?” Elvina turned to look at Lady L.
“Do you really intend to save that boy?”
Elvina didn’t answer. In reality, Ian was just a stranger to her. There was no obligation for her to sacrifice her life for someone she had barely known for a few days.
“I don’t know,” she muttered in the elven language. Despite that, the boy had really grown on her. However, sacrificing her life for someone she barely knew...
“Fine,” she sighed in resignation as she came to terms with something. Then her eyes became sharp as she suddenly rushed into the dark mist.
“Huh, would you look at that.” Lady L was surprised to see the elf choose to save the young man. “Looks like not all of them have their nose in the sky. Fufu,” she chuckled, then turned back to Dyllan.
“So, what’s your plan?” She put a hand on her waist, waiting for his decision.-
-
After entering the mist, Elvina suddenly stopped in her tracks. Voices of different people were echoing around her, seeking her help.
“This must be the effect of the miasma, trapping souls unable to cross to their suffering and hate.”
Closing her eyes, she felt the wind. “Please, wind spirit, lend me your strength.” Suddenly, she was surrounded by mana.
The dark mist was soon pushed by an invincible force, unable to even touch a tip of her cloth. Opening her eyes, she nodded in satisfaction, realizing that the dark mist could no longer approach her.
“Now, for that boy…” She looked around, realizing that searching for a boy in this dark mist was like looking into a dark forest full of trees.
“Wind, please guide me to my goal.”
The wind danced around her, attempting to lead her in a certain direction.
“East, huh?” She then continued rushing to save the reckless man.