“Go ahead, grab it,” Hadic said with a full grin and wide eyes. “We can turn this into a slaying quest, right now.”

Ryder acted like he was rubbing his ankle, “It hurts,” he said with a cold stare toward him.

“Get up and keep walking,” Sindara commanded, her tattoos residing.

Ryder and Durge continued onward, this time at the front together. They were silent momentarily before Ryder silently scoffed and shook his head.

“I hope whatever is in these bags drops on their head,” Durge whispered.

“Would you rather be shoveling horse shit?” Ryder asked.

“Honestly? Probably. I joined this to stop doing back-breaking labor, not do it for four fucking days straight.”

“The pay is decent,” Ryder said.

“What was it? Seven gold each?"

Ryder nodded, "If they split it fairly.”

“They better.”

Shouts from Sindara demanded they head southeast, so they did. Through the forests and underbrush, they walked under the evening sun. After the sun drifted towards the horizon and they found a clearing, Hadic barked for them to stop and rest for the night.

With threats of what would happen if they didn’t set the bags down softly, they carefully placed them in the middle of the clearing and stepped away to deal with their own belongings.

Ryder gave the rucksack back to Durge. Durge let Ryder hold it while he dug through the pockets. Revealing a chunk of bread and the dried meat wrapped in cloth, “This is what I knocked you over for.”

Ryder set the bag down, “You could’ve just asked.”

“What could I say, I was testing myself to see if I could cut it as a thief.”

“You can’t,” said Ryder.

“And who says!? I stole plenty of fruit out of those manor bowls.”

“Those were free, oaf.”

“But did you notice me take them though?” Durge cocked an eyebrow.

“Yes! All the time!”

“Tsk,” Durge looked over at Sindara going through her bags. She pulled out camping bundles of canvas and support rods for a tent, as well as sleeping cots and blankets.

“Of course,” Ryder scoffed.

“Better find a nice soft spot of dirt to lay down on,” Durge said, leaning against a tree.

“I’m going to start a fire, we’ll be eaten alive if we don’t,” Ryder said.

“I’ll go get wood,” Durge groaned.

The night was warm and the bugs stayed afar. Durge was almost drifting asleep as he sat by the fire.

“I’m sorry, Ryder,” Durge said somberly. “I didn’t mean to be harsh earlier.”

“I know," Ryder sighed, "I wish I would wake up with Kincaid aiming another bolt at my head,” he smiled.

Durge yawned, “If I jolt awake again, I’m killing someone this time.”

“Don’t get your hopes up, did you see Sindara?”

“What is she? Ain’t a mage supposed to have books or something?”

“A sorceress. She doesn’t need any equipment or an amplifier to cast magic. Merrigold said that some mages will get their skin enchanted so they can cast without needing tools like a staff, wand, or books.”

“Sounds like a painful endeavor to not carry a stupid stick,” Durge said, nustling into his sleeping spot.

The fire crackled and spewed embers on the windless night, softly floating to the ground.

Ryder was figuring out a place to sleep, like a dog spinning in circles.

He dug a little trench with his foot and cleared sticks until he heard a scream across the campsite.

Durge’s eyes shot open, “What was that!?”

“I think that was Sindara!”

“Shit!” Durge propped himself up with his sword and unsheathed it.

Ryder gripped the dagger in his right hand as he rushed over to Sindara’s tent. The night was pitch black but they could see the tent was violently shaking.

They rushed to approach but hesitated when they heard the same scream again accompanied by male groaning and the sounds of flesh.

“Are you fucking kidding me!?” Durge yelled

“Ugh!” Ryder exclaimed, covering his ears, and hastily walking back to his fire.

Durge walked back to his spot, cursing and shaking his hands out in disgust.

Ryder sat down and repeatedly prayed, “Divine Family, please let these noises escape my ears, I beg of you.”

Durge tried nestling into his spot again, “Fucking—”

“AH! Don’t mention it!” Ryder said, praying louder

“—shit! I was just about to fall asleep!” Durge threw a fistful of dirt toward the tent.

Ryder kept on repeating his prayer until he tranced himself into a slumber.

“I’m never questing again,” Durge muttered, unable to rest. The moon rose higher and the sounds of pleasure lasted throughout the night.

Durge eventually fell asleep, but it seemed it was only momentarily as the sun pierced his eyes.

He decided to brave the day and awake first. Nature called and so did breakfast. He would’ve preferred eggs but fruits were the only thing that would suffice from his rucksack.

He looked over at Ryder and he was still asleep, his nose slightly whistling.

Durge couldn’t see the other two members of the “party”, so he assumed they were still cuddled together. Pouring water into his hands and stroking his face, he noticed his short beard becoming thicker and heavier. He never shaved before, but spending all day carrying belongings that weren’t his own, while also being in the scorching sun, tempted him to.

He unsheathed his sword and looked at his reflection. The summer sun was turning him darker as he messed with his patchy mustache and fixed his black hair. While moving his sword, the sun struck the blade and cast a glare on the figure behind him.

Two hands gripped his shoulders with fingernails digging into his skin.

“You must be tired, Durge. Let’s wander away from the others and rest together,” Sindara whispered.

Durge flinched, “I think your dog wouldn’t be pleased,” he grumbled.

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“You could slay him right now if you wanted,” she grabbed Durge’s hands, her cleavage pressed against the back of his neck. “I know you want to slay him and take his share… or perhaps you’d rather take me instead?” she giggled, caressing the sword in his hands. “I know you seek power, Durge, as do I. You wish all would remember your name, from Locria to the end of the map.”

“You know nothing of me, witch! Leave me be!” Durge stood up and pointed his sword, but she was gone.

The following day was exhausting for Durge, once everyone was ready and had breakfast, they donned their equipment with sore muscles and continued southeast. Durge’s eyes were bloodshot as he constantly looked over his shoulder at Sindara, she never reacted except for the usual winks and flirtations.

“You alright, Durge?” asked Ryder.

“Rough morning,” he said, eyeing the corners of his vision.

“We’ll be halfway there after today. Almost there,” Ryder said.

Ryder knew he could finish the quest, he just wished for fewer scoldings and fewer kissing sounds coming from Hadic and Sindara. He hoped that once he got to Rock Hollow, the journey would be worth it.

Ryder didn’t know where the ruins were, let alone heard anything about them. They could be a troll’s dwelling or a dragon’s nest, Ryder had no way of knowing except by asking his fellow adventurers.

“Do any of you know anything about Rock Hollow?” he asked.

“There was an evil mage named ‘Arkao’ there, that is all you will ever know,” Sindara said.

Durge shook his head and marched a few steps faster.

“Well it has to be safe, right? If this ‘F.C.’ guy can research there, then it’s probably safe.”

Durge paused, “Then why did he leave his journal and leave a 35 gold reward to collect it?”

Sindara giggled.

Hadic nudged her, “Do you know something we don’t, Sin?”

“Unyieldings always have something in their lair,” she said.

“What’s unyielding?” Durge asked.

“The Unyielding are mages from the Era of Panic that never learned to limit their power. Instead, they let it consume them from the inside out,” Sindara explained.

“I heard some still exist today,” Ryder said.

She nodded, “Some, yes. Ones that have never left their lair.”

“It’d be wise of them not to,” Hadic said, cracking his neck.

The hot summer day quickly went by, luckily for Durge’s sake. When the sun was set he didn’t wait for Hadic to command him to lower their bags, he dropped them and went far away to find a resting spot. Ryder followed, building another fire with his flint striker.

Durge fell asleep instantly after eating, and Ryder was resting by the fire, chewing on jerky. He was gazing upon the stars, letting his mind rest on the beauty of the sky.

Sindara appeared and laid next to him. There was silence between them for a moment, they stared into the fire and up into the stars, gazing at the vast cosmic rainbow that stretched across the heavens and the bright full moon above.

“Have you ever heard of an Unyielding called the Roadmaker?” Ryder calmly asked.

Sindara nodded, “A popular one.” A star flew past, leaving a twinkling tail. “Where did you find out so much about magic?”

“I had a mentor a long time ago who told me many stories,” Ryder said calmly.

“But you can’t cast, no?”

“No.”

Sindara’s tattoos began to twist and form again, this time they flowed out of her palm and leaked onto the ground. It became a shadow of its own that smothered the flames.

“It’s a shame you can’t. I know deep down you are like no man who has come before, one of great intellect and emotion,” she said, putting the hand up his chainmail shirt.

Ryder seemed more annoyed than flattered, “What are you doing this quest for? You have nothing to gain,”

“Oh, dear, I simply want to help lowly adventurers like yourself,” she caressed his chest with the shadow.

Ryder tried to brush the immaterial off but the shadow still loomed over him, he rolled over away from her and tried to sleep. But he could constantly feel her presence right in front of him anywhere he faced. He gave up trying to fight her so instead he thought of what she would least expect.

He scooted closer to her and held her hand, “How’d you meet the fighter, Hadic, you don’t seem the type to go steady.”

Sindara laughed, “He’s the one who got me into this questing mess in the first place, we’ve been through a lot together.”

“Since you were a Clay?” Ryder asked.

“Mmhm.”

The energy from her hand as Ryder grabbed it was warm and soft. He clutched it tightly and the shadow hand dispersed with the night, the once blazing fire next to them turned to a smolder.

As the night grew dark she rolled over on top of him and pinned him by his wrists.

She bent down and whispered, “I’m growing quite fond of you Ryder, would you like me to undo the rest this time?”

Ryder’s face grew extremely red and he seemed skittish, “What about your lover?”

“Lover? We can leave him if you want,” she started kissing Ryder’s neck.

Ryder perked up, “Leave him!? But he’s the only experienced fighter we have! Durge is a decent fighter and I’m not doubting your abilities or anything, but we need someone who can deal damage if something lurks in those ruins!”

Sindara bit his neck hard, stood up, and walked away, “Good night, Ryder.”

The third day was the harshest for travel. No clouds in the sky, and barely a breeze. The forests were thick and the undergrowth ensnared every footstep. The group rested for a moment, they’d continue when the sun began to lower.

Ryder was rubbing his neck, the bite mark still imprinted.

“She get you?” Durge asked.

“I think she was annoyed with me for some reason.”

“Good. She was annoying me the other day,” he said, rubbing the pommel of his sword.

Hadic was roaming about, surveying the land.

“What’s the plan for when we get there?” Durge exclaimed to Hadic.

“You stay out of the fucking way, Sindara gets the book, you don’t interfere with us.”

“What if there are creatures?” Ryder asked.

“So what? I’ll handle them,” Hadic said.

“And if there’s too many to handle?” Durge squinted.

Hadic glared, “Shut up, mule. Get ready to walk again.”

“What about spoils and loot? Should we disperse it and share it equally after or…” Ryder asked before Hadic turned away.

He looked offended, “We’re not dispersing shit, if we find anything, it’s mine. Remember who the higher rank is here.” Hadic pulled his dog tag over his armor and walked away, it was made of brass and had his name inscribed.

“I should’ve expected as much,” Durge muttered.

“I know we don’t have any information on what will be there, but to not plan for anything is outlandish. This is not the way we should be handling it,” Ryder said.

“What would you have done differently?”

Ryder pondered, stroking the blonde fuzz on his lip. “I wouldn’t have traveled here without more information, especially with all this junk, that’s for certain. A horse would make everything less grueling. Oh! And not having such asshole fucking party members would be pleasant!” he yelled.

After walking for five more strenuous hours, they finally stopped to rest. The moon was still bright and everyone was too tired to start a fire. The night was calm, spare for the sound of the nocturnal animals beginning their night.

Durge and Ryder expected Sindara to approach them again, but she never did. They didn’t hear any lustful noises in the woods either, so they rested peacefully on their third night.

They woke up early to fog and mosquitos at their necks. Everyone feared getting lost in the thickets, but Sindara confidently led the way.

The bags weighed on the duo’s shoulders, and with grimacing expressions, they would rest frequently and stare at the other two with contempt.

As the sun melted away the fog, mountains to the northeast plagued the horizon.

“We’re close,” Sindara said. “It’s near the Catefur River.”

Durge looked to Ryder, expecting an answer.

Ryder’s eyes moved to the left, but he shook his head and shrugged.

“How far?” Hadic asked.

“By evening, my dear.”

The party was led downhill. More hills and trees awaited them, as well as wildlife they would soon trample upon. Hadic stepped near a snake and it instantly lunged for his steel greaves.

Startled, he took out his longsword and pierced the snake. It quivered on the point of his sword as he raised it, wrapping and wriggling around the blade until falling limp. He threw it off his sword and continued.

Durge picked up the slain creature; it was small, dull green, and possessed small recurved teeth. He dropped the snake and moved on. There it lay still below the trunk of a tree, covered with small slices from the blade.

It was evening when they walked along the riverbank.

The party was on a well-worn path, looking at the cliff sides for anything carved.

Sindara eventually found a set of wooden doors that led inside the cliff. She smirked greatly and reached for the door until Hadic grabbed her hand.

“But we must!” she yelled.

“I’m in no condition to explore right now,” Hadic said, panting and tired.

Sindara huffed, “Fine. Let’s take a break and go in after.”

“A ‘break’!?” Durge exclaimed.

“We have two months to complete the quest, we’re in no urgency,” Ryder added.

Hadic took Sindara’s hand, “Let’s enter when the sun basks us in its glory,” he smiled.

Sindara looked at the ground but eventually followed him away from the entrance.

Ryder and Durge camped about 100 steps away from the entrance.

Although they were tired, they felt relieved to have made it to the end of their journey.

Durge took out most of the food and shared it with Ryder near the fire.

After receiving a belly full of bread, dried meat, and fruit, Durge lay down and looked upon the cloudless sky.

Ryder sat near the fire, roasting one of the fruits.

“What do you think, Durge?”

“Of the lenk that you’re burning? Very impressive.”

“No, oaf, the cave.”

“Oh. Well. I don’t know what to think. Maybe it’s full of hobgoblins and trolls. Maybe it’s full of nothing.”

Ryder sat silently, staring at the blackened lenk.

“Man, you’re scorching that—”

“I’m just glad they’re taking the lead. They’re experienced and know what to do,” Ryder interrupted.

“But you’re wasting the—”

Ryder’s eyes widened, “Wait we don’t even have torches! Do they have torches?”

Durge shrugged, “But I think that fire is rising up your skew—”

“I need to get materials to burn for my lantern before we go in tomorrow,” Ryder said, standing up and dropping the lenk in the fire.

Durge peered longingly at the charred fruit and sighed.

Ryder was away from his campsite, foraging for sticks and dried leaves that would fit inside his lantern. Upon collecting materials, he happened to walk near Sindara’s campsite. Thin trails of smoke lifted from their cinderous fire.

Three familiar bags lay in the dirt a few steps away.

Ryder was itching to look through them to see if they had torches. Consumed by the fear of the unknown and the shadows that lay, he snuck towards the canvas bags.

Two of them were fairly empty, he assumed it was the tent and camp supplies. The other bag was still full and heavy. He carefully loosened the drawstring and peeked inside.

Stones and metal trinkets were the only things he could see without digging around. After eyeing the tent and looking around the area for any companions, he carefully dug through the bag. He saw bundles of sticks and cloth and multiple wax candles.

He gleamed and pulled one out, it was a standard tall candle that would fit perfectly in his lantern. When emptying all of the loose foliage from his lantern, a shadowy figure loomed over him.