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Ancient Ruins - Ashmir Countryside - Present

The somber tone of the ruins could be felt around each path and corner Stella and Gobly took, a chilling coldness that reached its claws into even the bravest of souls.

The pair continued for a while before a small wooden door came into view on the right side of the hallway, partially obstructed by fallen debris. "I don't remember seeing this on my way in...can't hurt to check it out" Stella thought as she signaled her companion before she crept up beside the door and listened intently for a moment before shifting the fallen wooden planks aside. She drew her sword and took a shallow breath before cautiously grasping the large iron handle and swinging it open.

She ducked inside the small room and began scanning through its contents. Its mostly empty interior featured the same grim decor as was common throughout the ruins, broken and rotting ruble, spider webs, and a whole lot of dust.

"Well this definitely wasn't on the map," She thought to herself as she eyed a small wooden chest laying suspiciously in the center of the room.

"Treasure! It's all mine, Gobly saw it first!" The small creature sang as his eyes lit up at the sight of the small wooden chest.

"In your dreams." She scoffed as she sheathed her sword and crossed her arms.

"That's ok, Gobly is a master of stealth," Gobly whispered to himself as he slowly crept towards the chest as if in slow-motion...and as if he wasn't in full view of a thoroughly unimpressed half demon silver ranked adventurer.

"Go ahead, I'm curious what kind of curse is on it," She chuckled.

"C-curse?" Gobly choked out as he froze in mid creep.

"Yeah, I know someone at the guild that wields a cursed sword. Now whenever the poor bastard opens a treasure chest, there's only ever cabbage inside. There are always pebbles in his boots, crows attack him on sight, he can never light candles on the first try, his letters always get lost, his teeth are cold, his bones are loose, and people never remember his birthday." She takes a deep breath as if to continue before watching Gobly freeze in horror before slowly moving back to her side.

"That's what I thought, now watch this," Stella smirked as she approached the chest and withdrew a small vial of liquid from a pouch on her belt. She wetted her fingertips with the liquid before flicking them at the chest. The liquid sizzled on contact with the wooden surface and immediately evaporated in a small puff of steam.

"Now that's a strong curse. Wonder what's in it?" She muttered to herself as she pondered dumping the entire vial on the chest. "That would be a rookie mistake, can't risk needing this later and not having it. Especially in this place...learned that lesson in the festering hollows."

"Woah, what is that?" Gobly asked as he watched her pocket the vial.

"Blessed water, courtesy of the Abbey of the Outsider. The merchant said it was blessed by Sylvain herself, but I have my doubts," She admitted before turning around and preparing to leave. "Unless greenskin here pulls a cleric out of his bag we'll be hard pressed to crack that chest open. Guess I'll come back for it," She thought to herself as she quickly carved a symbol onto her map.

"Don't those horns mean you're a demon? Isn't blessed water like...super bad for you?" Gobly asked as he hobbled to her side as the pair approached the room's only door.

"Half-demon, but blessed water wouldn't hurt an average member of the demon race anyway, even purebloods. The only ones you need to watch out for are royalty, and lesser demons." Stella stated as she pushed the heavy door open and drew her sword.

"Lesser demons?" Gobly asked as they entered the hallway and began traveling down the dark corridor.

"The monstrous creatures that lurk in the dark." Stella breathed, a flash of anger passing across her sharp features. "But those abominations aren't the reason why greater demons like me and my people are only welcome in one nation, Ashmir. That blame falls squarely on one person's shoulders..if only the nations could end their childish squabbling, we could have wiped him off of the face of Devos a long time ago..."

Gobly dawned a frown as he shuffled along behind her, figuring it better not to pry.

"Welcome...If I'm being honest we're barely tolerated, but anything is better than living under a demon lord's rule."

The pair suddenly froze as the soft yet distinct chime of a bell seemed to ring through the entire catacomb.

"That sound...I've heard it once before...a lifetime ago," Stella pondered as she noticed a mysterious glowing light emanating from above her.

"Woah!" Gobly shined as he stared up at her in awe.

"Ummmmm Gobly?" She asked hesitantly.

"Yeah" He nodded excitedly.

"There wouldn't happen to be a glowing crown above my head would there?" She asked hesitantly.

"There sure is! How'd you know?" He asked as a smile spread across his face.

"It chose me....me...of all people...but why?" she pondered as she reached up to caress the golden halo of light floating above her head. It felt warm to the touch, and it seemed to thrum with an unknown power.

"That chime we heard earlier...every single person across all of Devos heard it. It's a legendary artifact crafted by Ashmirs second emperor, Altcray The Wise, called the Serpent's Bell." Stella mumbled as she paced back and forth, attempting to process the reality of the implications.

"What does it all mean?" Gobly pressed.

"It means that Emperor Taldair is dead...and without a worthy successor, a special selection process has just begun...and I'm one of the candidates..." She trailed off as the weight of the golden crown finally slammed into her as the words left her tongue.

"Woooaaahhh! Waaait, what's an e-emperor?" Gobly asked, tilting his head slightly.

"Oh, right...they're like a chieftain I guess, except for the entire nation." She explained as she ran her hand along the glowing crown's smooth surface. "Come on. We need to get out of here. I can feel the power radiating from this thing, and If I can sense it, then so can they."

Stella's purple eyes flashed as she scanned the darkness in front of them. They only made it a few hundred meters before the telltale sound of bone clattering on stone rattled through the hallway before them.

"Prepare yourself!" Stella yelled back before five skeletons charged blindly into view. All of them wielded rusty iron swords and tattered rags. Stella raised her blade and unleashed a powerful whirlwind strike shattering the first two before stretching out her left hand and discharging a shallow pulse of dark energy to obliterate the other three in a blast of swirling purple light that shook the hallway.

She quickly pivoted back into a defensive stance before glancing down at her silver sword only to notice several minor dents now marring the once pristine blade. "Fucking skeletons, these repair cost are going to be brutal...wonder how much talking goblins go for..." She idly mused as she effortlessly ripped through another handful of the ragged corpses. Her silver blade whirling through the hall in a dance of precision and destruction.

She barely had time to take a breath before she heard a horrific roar fill the large corridor in front of her, followed by an eerie cacophony of clattering bones and shuffling appendages.

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Her pulse quickened as adrenalin began to flood her senses and she quickly glanced behind her to see her goblin companion shaking. "Backtracking is a death sentence. These things never tire. They'll never stop coming...not until we join their legion."

"They know exactly where we are, we'll have to smash right through them!" Stella called to her partner as she drew a dagger from her waist and spun it on her palm before handing it to her green-skinned accomplice, her eyes never leaving the ominous darkness ahead of them. "Take this, you're going to need it. If things go sideways I need you to run. They'll focus on the crown...on me."

Gobbly grabbed the dagger before clutching it tightly, as if it was the last drop of water in an endless desert. He took a deep breath as a determined look spread across his face. "Gobly finally made a friend...can't let them down now!"

The symphony of bones clattered across the cold stone ground rattled through the corridor as the horde drew closer.

Stella unhinged her traveling lantern and rolled it across the floor in front of her, the metal caged glass ball extending her visible range as she relied on the shining crown to light her immediate surroundings. She took a deep breath and tightened the grip on her sword as she steeled herself. "Focus, speed, precision, power...will."

A pair of arrows whistled from darkness, and her silver sword swiftly answered. The razor-sharp blade flashed through the air and eviscerated them the moment they entered her each. Moments later a dozen skeletons shambled through the dark corridor and into view as a massive shadow loomed behind them. Their shuffling frames were adorned in rusted grey armor, and they were armed with an assortment of clubs, swords, and axes.

Stella lunged forward and decapitated the first one that came within reach before dashing between the next four, slashing and dodging in flawless concert. She swatted away another pair of arrows before sucking in a breath and parrying a blow from a skeletons club before countering with a vicious kick, sending it flying backward. The skeleton's bony form slid across the ground and came to a stop just before the edge of the light's reach. Before it could raise its body, a massive clawed foot came into view and crashed down upon it, shattering its upper body into hundreds of bony splinters.

"A fallen one, the ancient foot soldiers of the demon king," Stella lamented as she backflipped to avoid the swing of a rusty iron longsword and gain some space to maneuver.

The hulking, bloated creature towered above the skeletons, its grotesque form the physical embodiment of pure unbridled evil. Its wrinkled skin consisted of a thick yellow hide, and it wielded a massive blood-soaked cleaver. Its twisted face contorted in a wicked grin as it marched towards the adventurer and her glowing crown. Its large, curved horns scraping the ceiling of the large corridor with an ear-splitting screech as it advanced.

Stella thrust her blade into an advancing skeleton's skull before extending her left hand and sending a dark wave of power through the air, obliterating the remaining skeletons that attempted to strike in unison.

She knelt to the ground and rested her left hand against her body as she winced in pain. Her breath only coming in ragged gasps as the massive demon shook the ground on its approach. "I only have one cast left in me, any more and I'll black out from the trauma."

As the monstrous creature closed the distance, she quickly withdrew the vial of blessed water from her belt and smashed it over her sword before running a gloved hand along the blade, spreading the liquid across its shimmering surface.

"Looks like Gobly escaped while he could...I wouldn't bet on me either" She concluded after throwing a quick glance back. She took a sharp breath before dashing forward and preparing to unleash a powerful overhead slash to break the guard of the cursed behemoth. Before she could follow through with her strike two more arrows flew from either side of the creature.

"The archers!" She panicked as she shifted her weight mid-sprint to slash one of them from the air and dodge the other. She barely had time to turn her sword flat and brace herself before the demon collided with her.

The hulking abomination roared wildly as its massive cleaver slashed through the air and connected with Stella's sword, sending her soaring backward through the air before crashing to the ground in a heap.

"My sword...where's my sword!" She panicked as she spat out a mouthful of blood before raising herself to her knees, searching frantically for her blade as she heard the ancient demons thunderous footsteps closing in. She could hear the sword rattling on the ground behind her as the stone shook with every step the monster took.

As she stretched a desperate hand towards the silver blade, it seemed to suddenly slide into her hand as she quickly spun around to face the beast and extended her left hand, a black glow radiating from the glowing appendage.

The demon drew its giant cleaver back before having its left leg blown apart by a dark bolt of swirling energy, the gory explosion spraying the creature's black blood across the hallway. As it fell to its remaining knee, Stella cried out in pain as she drove her sword through the demon's neck. The beast cried in agony, thrashing wildly as the blessed blade pierced its neck before it drew its last breath in a hideous howl.

She barely registered two golden spears flying past her on either side and the sound of shattering bones before her body failed her and she collapsed backward onto the stone floor.

Her vision faded in and all she could sense was an immensely powerful entity approaching from behind her.

"Gobly?" She breathed with shocked surprise as she could barely make out a small green creature hobbling towards her with a thin green vial before she felt a soothing glowing liquid flowing down her throat.

"You did it!" The goblin cheered as he cradled her head and continued administering the elixir.

"A green healing potion, how in the three kingdoms did he get ahold of one of those?" She blinked a few times as it took immediate effect and began soothing her fractured wrists and beaten body.

She leaned upright just in time to see a pair of glowing grey eyes emerge from the darkness, followed by a gust of wind that gently blew through the dimly lit hallway. Three golden spears levitated around the young man, and a perpetual gust followed his every step, continually blowing around his loose white cloak.

"A half-demon and a talking goblin...certainly not the party composition I would have chosen, but to each their own I suppose." The figure chuckled as he ran a hand through his messy white locks.

The mysterious stranger wore long black pants and a white shawl adorned his tall but thin frame. White cloth arm wraps decorated his arms, and a loose silver necklace around his neck secured a small shimmering trinket.

Stella eyed the small diamond charm hanging around his neck as her eyes grew wide. "One of the diamonds, in a place like this..."W-white hair, you must be Near," She choked out as she clutched her abdomen in pain.

"Woah, slow down there slick, you look like you just took quite the thrashing," He remarked, a hint of concern in his voice.

"You should see the other guy," Stella coughed out as she forced a smile.

"Not bad for a silver ranker." He laughed while eyeing the carnage as he strolled over and crouched down beside her and Gobly, eying her thin black horns and golden crown.

"How did you find me so quickly?" She asked.

"I imagine the same way these poor bastards did," Near answered, eyeing the myriad of bones lining the floor. "Heard the serpent bell's chime and sensed the crown's power. Your little green friend found me before I found you though."

Stella briefly shifted her gaze to what appeared to be a very smug-looking Goblin who gave her a reassuring wink.

"As for why I'm here...let's just say that I have a....unique relationship with this place." Near continued solemnly as he seemed lost in thought for a moment, his gaze fixed somewhere down the hall. The three floating spears shifted behind him before he reached a hand down to her and flashed a smile.

"Thank you for everything, truly." Stella breathed as she stretched her aching arm out and they grabbed each other's forearms. She groaned as she was pulled gently to her feet and rested against him for a brief moment before taking a deep breath and stepping back, steadying herself.

"Allow me to guide you out of here, and if you decide to honor that crown's summons we'll be headed in the same direction." Near offered.

"Do I really have a choice?" She asked hesitantly, running her bruised fingers along the golden crown.

"I suppose you could choose to ignore it for a time if you wished, but the dice have been cast. That crown marks you as one of the four potential rulers of the strongest empire across all of Devos. Now, whether this turn of fate is a blessing or a curse though....guess we'll find out..." He trailed off.

He walked over to the slain demon and withdrew Stella's silver sword from its neck before carefully inspecting the blade. "You might just have what it takes to be an emperor after all. Of course if you keep trying to explore this ruin without an actual party we'll never get a chance to find out...er, no offence Mr. Goblin." He said wryly as he returned Stella's silver blade to her and she returned it to its sheath.

"None taken," Gobly answered smoothly as he tossed a small brown pouch up and down in his tiny green hand, each toss offering the satisfying jingle of gold.

"Ohhhhhhh shit," Stella thought to herself as she eyed the three razor sharp floating spears that slowly orbited the imposing diamond-ranked adventurer standing before.

"Hey, now wait just a moment, is that my coin purse?" Near asked as he patted the now empty spot on his waist before folding his arms and failing to contain an amused smirk. "You know what, any goblin that's cunning enough to swipe that from me and has the boldness to casually taunt me with it deserves to keep it." He smiled.

"Whooooo! Goblin king here I come!" Gobly cheered as he leaped into the air and spread his arms in a grand display as Stella exhaled a breath she'd been holding for a bit too long.

"What an interesting creature...surely no harm could come from this..." Near thought to himself as he made sure that his coin purse was all the crafty goblin had pinched.

"Sylvain will kill me if I'm late to the unity day ceremony," He chuckled as he took a few steps down the dark corridor before pausing to turn back. "So, what will it be...your highness?"

"I can't let this opportunity slip past me, I could change...everything...I think I'll take you up on your generous offer," She answered confidently. I just have one question that I can't get out of my head...my sword...I didn't see any wind around it, how did it get pushed to me?" She asked curiously.

"Well that depends...." He answered coyly.

"Do you believe in ghost stories?" He asked with a devilish smirk.