Amanda ran as fast as she could, her feet barely touching the ground as she sped through the forest. In a matter of seconds, she was already trailing through the dense foliage. Upon getting closer to her destination, she began to hear the distant sound of murmuring voices. Most of them belonged to people from the farm who had decided to investigate the explosion. She breezed past them, her focus unwavering as she approached the area.
To her relief and surprise, the ominous aura that had been so threatening the past years was nowhere to be found. The entrance of the cave was intact but the rare area where the lord's chamber had been housed was now burst open.
The sight of the cave entrance—the place that had haunted her for years—brought a flood of memories. Amanda closed her eyes, and in the silence of the forest, she was no longer standing at the site of the Orc Dominion's end. She was back in the past, in a world where Claire and Samuel still lived.
They had been so young back then, just starting out on their adventuring careers, much like herself. Amanda’s clan of elves was the oldest and most reclusive in the world, shrouded in ancient traditions and powerful magic. But she had always felt different, a restless spirit yearning for something more than the life of isolation her kin had embraced for millennia. The ancient trees and whispering winds of her homeland, though beloved, could not quell the burning desire for adventure that coursed through her veins.
At the age of 100—still young by elven standards but already a proven warrior among her people—Amanda made the decision that would change her life forever. She would leave the safety of her clan’s borders, stepping into the vast unknown. Despite the elders’ stern warnings and her family’s pleas, she ventured out, traveling through dense forests and unfamiliar lands until she reached the edge of another kingdom.
By evening, she found herself in a forest just behind the kingdom's city. The peace of the forest, with its soft rustling leaves and distant calls of nocturnal creatures, seemed to welcome her. The lively noises of the city beyond the trees felt like a promise of the adventure she had always craved. As the first stars began to twinkle in the sky, Amanda felt a surge of accomplishment. She had made it. The world was finally within her grasp.
But her triumph was short-lived.
Unbeknownst to her, a group of bandits had been trailing her since she crossed into their territory. Amanda, confident in her strength, prepared to fight back when they surrounded her. She called upon her ancient rune, the powerful magic passed down through her lineage, but… nothing happened. Panic set in as she tried again and again, only to find that her magic had been rendered useless outside her homeland.
For the first time in her life, Amanda felt true fear. The bandits, sensing her vulnerability, closed in with malicious grins. Overwhelmed by their numbers, they captured her with ease. As they dragged her to their camp, her mind raced, trying to make sense of what was happening. Why wasn’t her magic working? What had she done wrong? The terror of her situation began to sink in, suffocating her thoughts.
At the camp, the bandits leered at her, their intentions clear. They mocked her, saying it would be a waste to sell her without "tasting" her first. Powerless and terrified, Amanda’s resolve crumbled. She cried out, her voice breaking as they tore at her clothing, each rip a shattering blow to her spirit. She had always believed herself to be strong, but in that moment, she felt utterly helpless, her confidence shattered by the harsh reality of the world beyond her clan’s protection.
Just when Amanda thought all hope was lost, salvation came in the form of a lone warrior. The sudden clash of steel rang out, startling her captors. A man, clad in worn but sturdy armor, charged into the camp, wielding only a shield. He moved with the confidence and precision of a seasoned fighter, his every strike a testament to his skill. The bandits, taken by surprise, fell back as the man cut through their ranks, using his shield both as a weapon and a barrier between Amanda and her attackers.
It was Samuel. Even with just a shield, he fought like a man possessed, his strength and determination driving the bandits to scatter in fear. Amanda, still paralyzed by the shock of her ordeal, watched in awe as balls of fire rained down upon the remaining bandits, their camp engulfed in flames. The source of the fireballs—a woman with dark, flowing hair and eyes that seemed to burn with the intensity of the magic she wielded—joined the fray, her presence as fierce as the flames she commanded.
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Amanda was stunned, unable to move as the chaos unfolded around her. Samuel turned, his face soft with reassurance, but Amanda flinched. Fear surged, raw and close, gripping her tighter than the bandits ever had. Sensing her fear, stopped in his tracks. His expression remained gentle as he took a step back, respecting her need for space. He called out softly, and the woman—Claire—hurried to his side.
Claire’s touch was as gentle as her magic was fierce. She knelt beside Amanda, offering her a shirt to cover her exposed body. Her voice, soothing and kind, broke through the fog of Amanda’s fear. Slowly, Amanda’s trembling eased as Claire helped her to her feet, wrapping her in warmth and safety. Samuel stood a respectful distance away, his back turned as he waited for Claire to finish.
As Amanda pulled the shirt around herself, the absurdity of the situation—this sudden rescue, the fire and destruction around them—struck her all at once. She couldn’t help it; a laugh bubbled up from deep within her, escaping before she could stop it. The sound was so unexpected that it startled both Samuel and Claire, breaking the tension that had gripped them all. For the first time since she left her village, Amanda felt a flicker of hope.
Samuel removed his own shirt and handed it to Claire while covering his eyes. The two began to argue playfully, Samuel insisting Claire take his shirt while Claire refused, both trying to maintain some form of modesty.
Their bickering stopped abruptly when they heard Amanda laugh for the first time. That laughter broke the tension and solidified the beginning of their unexpected friendship.
Amanda became the third member of their party.
They taught her the ways of the outside world and the life of an adventurer. Under their guidance, Amanda found her strength, choosing to be a priest and mastering skills that would allow her to protect those she loved. The trauma of her capture lingered, though, leaving her unable to wield the swords she had once longed to master. Claire and Samuel sensed something was amiss but chose to support her path, knowing she needed to become strong in her own way.
Years passed, and their party grew stronger. Neto, a silent but powerful swordsman, joined them, becoming an integral part of their team. Their party became one of the kingdom's most formidable, regularly participating in extermination quests. When Claire gave birth to Leo, she and Samuel decided to take on fewer dangerous quests. Amanda supported their decision, and Neto chose to stay with the party until they retired.
Neto, about 20 years old at the time, had a promising future. He was the strongest in terms of raw power, and his loyalty to the party was unwavering. However, their idyllic life was shattered on a tragic day, when they faced the Orc Dominion.
Back in the present, Amanda stood before the remnants of the Lord's chamber. Amanda whispered a prayer, her voice trembling like the leaves in the wind. Tears flowed freely down her cheeks, each drop carrying years of grief and guilt. The weight of her memories pressed down on her, suffocating her as they always had—until now.
"It's over," she whispered, her chest heaving as she struggled to breathe.
"Finally... it’s over."
The weight that had hung over her for so long lifted, but in its place, an ache remained—an emptiness that no victory could fill. She spoke to Claire and Samuel in her mind, telling them their son, Leo, had grown strong like them. A tear rolled down her cheek as she wished she could one day meet the person who defeated the Orc Lord and offer her gratitude.
An adventurer approached Amanda, breaking her reverie. "You saved a lot of gold coins, you know. An unknown adventurer took care of your extermination request," he said, his tone casual.
Amanda looked at him, surprised. Extermination quests were worth anywhere between 10,000 to 50,000 gold coins, requiring at least ten parties to tackle. She didn't have that kind of money and had offered herself to anyone who would take the quest. Many adventurers had tried to take advantage of her situation, but Amanda had grown stronger. Though she couldn't defeat the Orc Lord, she could protect herself. Despite numerous encounters, she continued to seek help at the guild center, but no one ever did.
Still, Amanda never gave up. Even as the years wore on, and her grief turned to a cold determination, she stood at the entrance of the Orc Dominion, vowing that one day, she would see it fall. She was stronger now—not just in magic, but in will. No longer the frightened girl who had once lost everything. She had fought for this moment. And though the world had forgotten her friends, she never had—and never would.
As soldiers began to flock around Amanda, Kurea appeared, her presence commanding immediate respect. She scolded the soldiers, her voice sharp and disdainful. "Cease this despicable behavior at once, ye knaves!" she snapped. "Hast thou no honor?"
The soldiers, chastised and embarrassed, shuffled away, their heads bowed.
Turning to Amanda, Kurea softened her tone. "Forgive these fools, dear one. Hast thou wondered why strong adventurers are not available despite the Orc Dominion problem? They are oft engaged in these urgent system quests!"
Kurea continued to explain that System quests were directed to system users and had a time limit for acceptance. So most system users accepted them without a thought, for the rewards could range from coins to legendary equipment.
Amanda thanked Kurea, bowing slightly to her and her owl. "If thou seekest the adventurer who did this, there's naught to see here," Kurea said. "But I too desire to meet this soul. Given the magnitude of destruction, it might be another system user unknown to me."