The silver battle qi on the arrow meant one thing—a Silver Rank warrior. Yet the shot veered, lodging in a tree five meters away: a signal of parley, not attack.
"By the Light!" Lucio tensed. "A unknown Silver Rank warrior."
Not Olga—his mercenaries were camping deeper in the forest. This was a new threat… or ally.
Sean nodded, granting permission to parley. Lucio loosed an arrow similarly, signaling openness. The group waited, weapons ready.The Wounded ArriveA minute later, two figures staggered from the shadows, supporting each other: Cain, captain of the Silver Sand Mercenaries, and Lilith, leader of the Dark Rose Mercenaries. Sean relaxed—he'd met them briefly when welcoming Riverside's refugees, especially noting Lilith's all-female crew.
Lucio, more familiar, slung his bow and rushed over. "Cain! What happened to you?!"
Cain's armor was gone, his left arm severed at the shoulder, right hand clutching his sword. Lilith, though intact, bled through bandages, each step leaving a crimson trail.
"Talk later," Cain gasped. "Wolves behind us—Silver Moon pack. They're waiting, but not for long."
Lucio glanced back—rustling and distant howls confirmed it. "Silver Moon Wolfpack? The outer ring's apex predators."
"Exactly," Lilith hissed. "Their alpha's Bronze Upper Rank. We're wounded, but they fear our remaining strength… for now."The Retreat"Retreat to Riverside," Sean ordered. "Kyle, monitor the rear. Windsor, guard our flanks."
The group moved quickly, supporting Cain and Lilith. Behind them, the wolfpack hesitated—the scent of fresh blood tempting, but the arrival of a new group made the hunt too risky. When the alpha arrived, sensing the increased numbers, it howled in frustration, leading the pack back into the shadows.The Price of PursuitSafe at last, Sean turned to his guests. "How did this happen? Where are your mercenaries?"
Cain bowed, wincing as his wound reopened. "Gone, My Lord. We chased the undead wizard to Starfall Lake… a trap. His magic raised a horde of skeletal wolves. Only Lilith and I escaped."
"Starfall Lake?" Sean remembered Lucio mentioning it earlier. "The inner forest's forbidden zone?"
Lilith nodded, collapsing onto a rock. "A cursed place, filled with ancient magic. The wizard was summoning undead from its depths. Our crew… they didn't stand a chance."The Weight of LossSean signaled Kyle to assist with healing magic, though her fire spells couldn't mend Cain's stump. "Riverside has a cleric," he said. "Anduin can heal your wounds properly."
Cain gripped Sean's hand, bloodied but firm. "We heard rumors of your'divine'status, My Lord. Glad to find you safe. The wizard—he's after something in Starfall Lake, something ancient and dangerous."
Lucio frowned. "First the Count's ambush, now an undead wizard. The forest is turning into a nest of vipers."
Sean didn't reply, mind racing. The Count's attack, the wolfpack, the wizard—all signs the peace he'd built was fraying. And Cain's warning about Starfall Lake…
"Lilith, Cain," he said, "Riverside offers sanctuary. Rest, heal, then we'll discuss next steps. The wizard won't go unpunished, nor will the Count's scheming."
Lilith smiled weakly, impressed by the young lord's composure. Divine or not, he led like a true ruler.The Gathering StormAs they marched toward town, the sun dipped below the treetops, casting long shadows over the Elven Forest. Cain and Lilith's arrival had brought news of danger, but also opportunity—two Silver Rank warriors, indebted to Sean, could be crucial in the coming storm.
First the wolves, then the Count, now an undead wizard, Sean thought, hand resting on the dragon egg in his pouch. Darkness gathers, but so does my power. Let them come—I'll meet their schemes with fire… and a few divine tricks of my own.
The grind for Bronze Rank had become more than a quest for experience; it was a race to secure Riverside's survival. In a world where even "allies" arrived bloodied and broken, Sean knew one truth: no shelter was safe, and no enemy too powerful to outwit.
The forest's shadows held many secrets, but Sean carried a few of his own—secrets that might just light the way through the coming dark.