Xenon kept his pace steady as they moved through the Elementals' headquarters, the hum of activity around them serving as a backdrop to their conversation. "So, we're heading out on a galactic-level mission?" he asked, his voice as calm and cold as ever.
Phoenix glanced over, his typical smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth. "Not exactly," he replied, his tone light despite the weight of their situation. "We're just searching for a girl from a team that was sent on a galactic-level mission. Could be an easy search and rescue... or we might face something strong enough to beat the shit out of us." He shrugged as if the latter was a simple, routine outcome.
Hydra furrowed his brow, unease creeping into his voice. "And what are the chances we come back alive from this?" he asked.
Phoenix chuckled, placing a hand on Hydra's shoulder. "Don't worry about the details, kid. The mission's simple. We're either rescuing or recovering. We don't have all the intel, but that's part of the job. Focus on that, and leave the surviving part to us."
Xenon's eyes narrowed, his voice retaining its usual icy edge. "Where's our first stop?"
Without missing a beat, Phoenix waved a hand through the air, tracing a ring of ancient symbols that shimmered into existence. "Earth 2284, Planet Serord. That's where our missing mage was last seen. Serord, here we come." The portal cracked open before them, revealing a shimmering gateway into the unknown.
They stepped through and immediately found themselves standing on the outskirts of a dense, sprawling forest. Towering trees, their leaves a dark green, stretched high above them, their thick canopies casting long shadows on the mossy ground. The air smelled of damp earth and vegetation, rich with the scent of nature undisturbed by civilization.
Hydra looked around, concern evident in his young face. "This entire planet? We have to find her somewhere on this entire planet? She could be anywhere," he said, his voice tinged with doubt.
Phoenix, ever the confident one, placed his hand on Hydra's shoulder again, this time in reassurance. "You worry too much, Hydra. This forest was her last known location, so we start here. Trust me, we'll find her. Besides, you're royalty now -you can't afford to get lazy on your very first mission." Phoenix winked as they started moving deeper into the forest.
For a while, it was just the sound of their footsteps on the forest floor and the occasional rustle of wildlife in the underbrush. Then, Hydra suddenly stopped, his sharp senses catching something. He sniffed the air, his face turning serious. "Blood," he said in a low voice, motioning for Phoenix and Xenon to follow him.
The group moved quietly but quickly, following Hydra's keen sense of smell. After a few minutes, they came upon a grim scene. Lying face-down in a small clearing was the body of a woman. She was stripped of her clothing, and her body bore the brutal signs of torture. Most horrifying were her eyes-or the lack thereof. They had been gouged out with what looked like sharp instrument leaving hollow,bloodied socket.
Xenon's jaw clenched as a surge of anger coursed through him. "Bastards," he muttered, his voice a dangerous growl. His hands gripped his sword tighter as though preparing for a fight that had yet to come. "How could someone do this?"
Hydra stood beside him, staring at the body, his own sadness quickly turning to rage. "I'll kill whoever did this," he said through gritted teeth, his young face hardening with fury. "How could anyone be so cruel?"
Phoenix knelt by the body, examining her. "She was a mage," he noted, tracing the arcane symbols tattooed on her arm. "But not the one we're here to find. Whoever did this... they deserve to suffer." His eyes darkened with fury as he stood up.
Xenon, still simmering with anger, pulled out a small parchment and quickly scribbled ancient runes across it. With a flick of his wrist, he pressed the paper against the woman's body. The symbols glowed briefly before the corpse vanished, teleported back to the Elementals' headquarters for further examination. "At least she won't be left to rot here," he said quietly.
Hydra's fists clenched as he spoke, his voice cold and determined. "I swear... I'll find them. And when I do, I'll kill them myself."
"Hold onto that rage," Phoenix said, eyes narrowing as he surveyed their surroundings. "We'll need it if we run into whatever did this."
The trio continued deeper into the forest, the tension between them palpable. Hydra's heart was still heavy with the gruesome sight they'd left behind, and Xenon's cold rage simmered beneath his calm exterior. Phoenix, for once, kept his jokes to himself.
After a time, they broke through the tree line and found themselves standing at the edge of a town. It was small but bustling with activity. In the center, a towering palace loomed over the surrounding buildings, casting long shadows across the streets.
Phoenix pointed toward the palace. "We can get some help from the locals here. Let's see what they know." His tone was serious, but there was a flicker of confidence behind it.
Hydra looked up at the massive structure with awe. "And you think they'll just... help us?"
Phoenix grinned. "I wouldn't be surprised if they're expecting us. People always need favors from the Elementals. Just try not to start any fights, alright?"
With that, they began their descent into the town, ready for the next step in their mission-one that could lead them closer to their missing ally or straight into the heart of danger.
As they reached the edge of the town, Phoenix stopped, eyeing the bustling streets ahead. "We should split apart," he suggested, his voice firm and confident. "It'll be faster if we target more people at once. We don't have time to waste."
Hydra and Xenon exchanged glances before nodding in agreement. Phoenix quickly divided the areas, keeping his mind sharp on the task ahead.
"Xenon," Phoenix gestured towards the palace in the distance, its spires gleaming in the afternoon sun. "You take the area near the palace. There's bound to be people with more... *influence* lingering around there. Someone who might know more than they should."
Xenon nodded wordlessly, his cold eyes narrowing as he turned and strode off toward the grand building, his figure disappearing into the throng of townsfolk.
"Hydra," Phoenix continued, turning to the younger man. "You handle the marketplace. It's crowded—lots of people, lots of ears. Someone might've seen something, even if they don't realize it."
Hydra nodded, adjusting the cloak around his shoulders. "Got it."
"And I'll take the settlement areas," Phoenix added, his usual grin appearing briefly as he turned on his heel. "You know me—charming as ever. Shouldn't take long to get people talking."
With their assignments clear, the three went their separate ways, each disappearing into different parts of the town.
Hydra made his way toward the marketplace, slipping through the winding streets lined with wooden stalls and busy vendors. The air was thick with the scent of exotic spices, fresh fruits, and the sound of haggling voices. Everywhere he looked, townsfolk bartered for goods—traders yelling out their best deals, while customers haggled for better prices. The scene was chaotic, yet full of life.
As Hydra moved through the crowd, something odd caught his attention. Among the merchants and townsfolk, he began to notice something peculiar about a few of the people. A group of them, scattered throughout the marketplace, had... *scales*. The faint shimmer of reptilian scales gleamed under the sunlight on their forearms, necks, or faces. They were subtle—almost easy to miss—but unmistakable to someone with a sharp eye like Hydra's.
He paused for a moment, watching closely. It wasn't just a few—there were several people with these draconic features, blending seamlessly with the human populace. Hydra frowned, his mind racing.
*Is this the world of semi-dragons?* he thought to himself, his curiosity piqued. He had read about such worlds before, where dragon-blooded beings coexisted with humans. It was rare to come across them, but this planet—Serord—might be one of those places.