DING, DING, DING, The shrill sound of a bell pierced the stillness of the night, reverberating through the dense forest. “EVERYONE, GET UP! WE'RE UNDER ATTACK!” The urgent cry jolted Daniel out of his slumber.

Daniel sprang out of his tent, the adrenaline coursing through his veins, banishing the remnants of sleep from his mind. The urgency in the air was palpable as he scanned his surroundings, the darkness of the night cloaking the campsite in an eerie haze, save for the glowing embers of the campfire and the dim light of torches.

Suddenly, the piercing howls of wolves echoed through the woods, sending shivers down Daniel's spine. The flickering glow of torches illuminated the chaos in the camp. Daniel spotted Tristan in the distance, standing next to the corpse of a massive wolf whose fur was black with blue stripes, while his sword was still dripping with blood.

“You two grab the horses and move them to the carriage! Daniel, come here and stand behind us!” Tristan's voice rang out above the clamour as he began instructing the guards to fortify their defences.

As he made his way to the carriage, he encountered two other guards with whom he hadn't previously interacted. They instructed him to stand behind them and refrain from acting recklessly. However, before they could reach the others, four wolves cut off their path. The creatures' fur was a mix of silver and light blue stripes, and their eyes gleaming in the darkness.

Daniel's muscles tensed as he assessed the situation. The wolves stood before the trio, emitting low growls that reverberated in the night. He glanced down at his family’s ring on his right hand and summoned his black dagger.

As the wolves closed in the guards stepped forward and Daniel braced himself, his senses heightened and his mind focused on survival he began casting [Fire Bolt] in a whisper. One of the guards instructed Daniel “When we’re engaged, you must circle around and run towards the carriage, we will hold them back”

With each step the wolves took, Daniel's heart thundered louder in his ears. He completed the casting of the spell, holding it at the ready in his trembling left hand.

Suddenly, the largest wolf lunged forward, prompting the larger guard to engage with it. “Not now, boy. Wait until all of them are engaged with us” instructed the other guard.

The other guard swiftly moved to assist his comrade, driving his weapon into the wolf's chest killing it instantly. The other wolves enraged at the sight of the fallen packmate, surged forward, their growls echoing through the night.

“Now, quickly get moving”, Wile slashing at the incoming beasts, one of the guards instructed.

With a deep breath, Daniel began moving around the engagement, his movements tentative and unsure. He noticed one of the guards becoming overwhelmed by two of the three remaining wolves. Seeing this, he took a short moment to find this resolve and fired his spell at one of the wolves, the spell landed on the side of the wolf.

The impact stunned the wolf momentarily, giving the guard a brief window of opportunity. Seizing the moment, the guard slashed at the stunned wolf, wounding its paw. Meanwhile, Daniel, still feeling the rush of adrenaline, began casting another bolt, his hands still shaking slightly from the intensity of the encounter. He launched the spell at the injured beast, his aim unsteady yet the fire bolt still found its mark. This time, the spell penetrated the wolf's skull, delivering a fatal blow.

As the wolf fell to the ground, the remaining wolves began attacking the guards more fiercely. Daniel felt a surge of fear coursing through him, but he pushed it aside, focusing on the task at hand. He cast another fire bolt, this time aiming for the largest of the remaining wolves. The spell struck true, engulfing the wolf in flames as it let out a pained howl before a sword from one of the guards penetrated its chest.

With only one wolf left standing, the guards closed in, their swords aimed at the lone beast. In a coordinated effort, they lunged forward, driving their blades into the body of the last remaining beast, ending its life swiftly.

Breathing heavily, Daniel surveyed the aftermath of the battle, his chest rising and falling with each breath. The once chaotic scene now lay silent, save for the noises of combat in the background. The adrenaline that had surged through him during the fight began to die down, leaving him feeling drained and spent. He couldn't shake the surreal feeling of having taken a life, even in self-defence.

One of the guards stepped forward, his voice bearing a tinge of fatigue. “Let's make way to the carriage, before more show up,” he said, gesturing towards the direction of the carriage. “I'm Vincent,” he introduced himself, nodding towards the taller guard beside him. “And this is Roland.”

Daniel nodded gratefully, his gaze lingering on the lifeless body of the wolf he had just slain. The weight of the moment settled heavily upon him, the realization sinking in that he had taken a life.

Vincent continued, in a sincere tone “Thank you, Daniel. You did well out there. But let's get moving we can't let the friend of the young miss die, can we?” He gave Daniel a reassuring pat on the shoulder before leading the way back to the carriage.

….

As they neared the carriage, Daniel could see it was surrounded by a horde of wolves. His gaze locked onto Tristan and the other guards who formed a protective circle around the horses and carriage, engaging in a standoff with the wolves. Tristan's voice cut through the night, sharp and commanding, directing the guards amidst the tense confrontation. In the distance behind the horde of silver wolves, Daniel noticed five black wolves, noticeably larger than the silver ones he had just faced. He estimated that if one of those stood next to him, it would easily tower over him.

“Shh, don’t let them know we’re here,” Vincent whispered, his voice barely above a breathy hush, as he pressed a finger to his lips. “Wait until there are fewer wolves near Sergeant Garrick. Then, launch a fire bolt at one of them so we can join the rest. We need to time this just right.”

With a surge of adrenaline coursing through his veins, Daniel nodded and began chanting in a whisper, his eyes darting between the wolves. The tension in the air was palpable as they waited for the opportune moment to strike.

Suddenly, a hush fell over the group as they watched the wolves' movements with bathed breath. Vincent's hand tensed on his sword ready to rush to the others at a moment's notice.

Finally, as the wolves shifted position, leaving an opening near Garrick, “Now!” Vincent urged. Daniel seized the moment. With a more steady hand than before, he unleashed a fire bolt from his palm, forcing one of the wolves to recoil in surprise and creating a brief gap in their defences.

Garrick seized the opportunity with lightning speed and precision, his sword slashing through the air in an arc. His sword emitted a blade of red aura, cutting through two wolves with swift precision. With a fierce cry, he urged the trio to hurry towards him, their path now momentarily clear.

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The trio hurried to join the rest of the guards, their hearts pounding in rhythm with the urgency of the situation.

“You guys finally made it; I was about to become worried that I should come and get you guys,” Garrick said, still keeping his eyes on the wolves in the distance.

“We were ambushed by a few wolves, sarge. Thankfully, Daniel helped us defeat them,” Roland spoke up. “How is the situation here? Is anyone wounded?”

“No one is wounded yet; we were stalling the engagement until you guys arrived,” Garrick replied, after slaying two more wolves with another aura blade. “Daniel, it sounds like you did a great job. You can be proud of yourself; not many of your age would have had the courage to face off with a pair of Azure Moon Wolves. Now you two go join the rest, and Daniel, stand near the carriage. We can't risk you being near the engagement. While you’re there keep an eye on the young miss.”

“Thank you, sir, and I'll be by the carriage and keep an eye on Lucia” Daniel nodded, acknowledging Reynar's words before turning around and moving toward the carriage. Meanwhile, the guards had finally engaged fiercely with the wolves, their swords flashing in the dim moonlight.

As Daniel neared the carriage, a window opened, revealing his blonde friend. “Daniel! You’re unharmed, thank the gods,” she said, her voice quivering, her complexion pale with fear. “I don’t know why we’re being attacked. Azure Moon Wolves normally don't target humans unless they’re starving or provoked, but these don't seem to be starving, and this isn't their territory.”

Daniel nodded. “Luckily Vincent and Roland helped me,” he replied, his voice tense with lingering adrenaline as he recalled the events before he was interrupted.

“STEP BACK!” Tristan's commanding voice cut through the battlefield. Daniel turned around and noticed that four of the five black wolves, who had stood at the back, were finally stepping forward. “Let me deal with the tier two beasts.”

The air was thick with tension as Tristan stepped forward, his sword ablaze with a green aura. With a powerful slash, he felled four wolves in one swift motion. The defeated beasts fell to the ground, their bodies limp as the energy dissipated into the night air. The remaining tier two wolf hesitated for a moment, then howled, signalling its retreat and the rest of the pack followed him disappearing into the darkness.

“Nice one, Captain,” Reynard said with a nod of appreciation.

Tristan merely nodded in response, his expression grim as he surveyed the battle's aftermath. Despite their victory, there was no time for celebration. They needed to ensure the safety of the camp and tend to any wounded.

“We should gather everyone and assess the damage,” Tristan said, his voice firm with determination. “And keep an eye out for any more surprises.”

As the last of the wolves faded into the shadows, Daniel allowed himself a moment to steady his breathing. The rush of adrenaline still pulsed through his veins, leaving his palms slick with sweat. Casting his gaze across the campsite, he took in the chaos left in the wake of the attack. Tents lay in tatters, belongings strewn about haphazardly.

….

Daniel sat next to Lucia near the campfire, the warmth from the flames providing some comfort in the aftermath of the attack. They were both wrapped in blankets, seeking solace in each other's presence.

Reynard approached them, offering a cup of water. Despite his trembling hands, Daniel attempted to take a sip, but his shaking was so severe that the cup lost half its water before reaching his lips.

“Some scary stuff, huh? Was it your first time dealing with anything like this?” Reynard asked.

Daniel nodded, his voice shaky. “Y-y-yeah, in the moment, it didn't seem... scary. But now… I don't even know how I managed to kill a wolf.”

“Adrenaline will do that to you,” Reynard remarked. “Either you freeze up or you start acting on autopilot. But you did well. Even Tristan gave you some compliments to the other guards.”

Lucia shifted uneasily under the blanket, her voice soft yet filled with emotion as she spoke up. “I... I didn't expect... I mean, I knew there were dangers out here, but... seeing it... facing it... it's different,” she admitted, her gaze flickering to Daniel and then back to Reynard. “Thank you... for keeping us safe,” she added. “And you too, Daniel. You were amazing out there.”

Daniel's cheeks flushed slightly at Lucia's unexpected praise. " I was just doing what I could,” he stammered, a mixture of humility and pride in his voice.

“Miss Lucia. It's our duty, but it's always reassuring to know we can count on each other out here. Luckily besides a few scratches and damaged tents, there is no serious damage,” Reynard followed up.

As Reynard spoke, a guard approached with two bowls of steaming soup, the comforting aroma wafting through the chilly night air. “Here you go, Miss Lucia, Daniel,” he said kindly, offering them each a bowl. “Some warm soup to help settle your nerves.”

"Thank you," Lucia murmured gratefully, accepting the bowl with a faint smile. Daniel followed suit, nodding his thanks as he took the bowl from the guard's outstretched hand.

As they sipped the soothing broth, Tristan approached with a wolf pelt draped over his arm. His expression was solemn yet determined as he addressed them. “We managed to fend off the wolves, but they won't be deterred for long. We'll need to remain vigilant. For the time being, we will resume our travel when the sun starts to rise.”

Tristan's gaze lingered on the pelt in his hands, his eyes reflecting both solemnity and reverence. “In my village,” he began, his voice carrying the weight of tradition, “it's customary to have a robe made out of the pelt of the first beast you've slain as a mark of valour and courage.” He paused, allowing the significance of his words to sink in before continuing. “I've skinned the wolf you've killed, Daniel. Consider this pelt a token of your bravery. Take it, and may it serve as a reminder of the strength and resilience you have shown today.”

With a nod, Tristan handed over the pelt to Daniel, who accepted it with a mixture of gratitude and awe. As Tristan walked away to continue inspecting the camp, Daniel's gaze lingered on the pelt in his hands, feeling the texture of the fur beneath his fingertips.

“Uhm... thank you, sir!” Daniel exclaimed, his voice filled with genuine appreciation as he watched Tristan's retreating figure.

“I'll get a craftsman from my family to make a proper robe out of this when we finally arrive,” Lucia remarked, her fingers gently tracing the soft fur of the pelt.

Throughout the remainder of the night, guards maintained their vigilant patrol around the perimeter of the camp, their watchful eyes scanning the darkness for any signs of danger. As the hours passed, the tension in the air gradually eased.

With the first light of dawn casting a golden glow upon the horizon, a collective sigh of relief echoed through the camp. The worst was over, at least for now. And they could continue their journey.

….

“Look, we have finally arrived,” Lucia exclaimed, her voice filled with excitement as she pointed out the window and nudged Daniel's side with her elbow.

“Ouch, Lucia, watch out!” Daniel winced, pulling back slightly and examining the thin red line on his thumb. He had been carving an incense holder out of a piece of mistwood he found near the camp before leaving, and Lucia's poke had caused him to accidentally cut himself with his knife.

As Daniel gazed out at Ravenholm's impressive black stone walls, he couldn't help but feel a sense of awe. They seemed to stretch endlessly upward, almost touching the sky. In the distance, the towering spire of a cathedral pierced the horizon, casting a solemn shadow over the city.

Lucia apologized, her voice tinged with concern as she watched Daniel tend to his minor injury. Despite the pain, Daniel couldn't tear his eyes away from the sight before him. Ravenholm was a city of legend, its walls a testament to centuries of history and culture.

But Reynard's words broke the spell of wonder. “Don’t be so excited yet,” he said, pointing towards the gate, where a sea of people awaited their inspection before they could enter the city.

“I'm joking, we don't have to wait in that line. You should’ve seen your face, Daniel,” Reynard chuckled. “We can pass faster than regular folk. We'll go through the merchant gate.” He gestured towards a different gate in the distance with a noticeably shorter queue. However, even with this advantage, it would still take quite a while before they could enter the bustling city of Ravenholm.