Lucas awoke with a start, with hands gripped tightly around his new weapon, the old short sword being discarded somewhere around the camp, it was replaced by the glistening white claymore.
Stretching as he stood Lucas fastened the sword to the belt around his waist, he would have to ask Adara to lend him some funds for a sheath to be crafted, speaking of, where was Adara, typically she would be awake by now, packing up the equipment.
Lucas moved towards the remains of the campfire, poking the embers with a stick. "Adara?" he called out, the name echoing through the tranquil forest. The only response was the rustling of leaves and the distant murmur of a stream.
Not knowing what to do, Lucas waited for the mage to return.
Time passed, and there was still no sign of Adara. Lucas pondered whether he should venture into the forest to search for her or remain by the campsite. As he contemplated his next move, a distant, unfamiliar sound reached his ears.
Eventually, the sleeping giant, Titania awoke.
Lucas turned towards the awakening Titania, his expression revealing a mix of concern and confusion. The giant merchant yawned and stretched, seemingly unaffected by the disappearance of Adara.
"Morning, Lucas! Where's our lovely elf friend?" Titania inquired, her eyes scanning the surroundings.
"I don't know. She's usually up by now, packing things up," Lucas replied, his unease evident in his voice. "I called for her, but there's no response."
Titania's eyes narrowed as she surveyed the campsite. "Strange. Let me take a look around; she might have wandered off for some reason."
Lucas nodded, grateful for Titania's willingness to help. As the giant woman ventured into the surrounding forest, Lucas couldn't shake off the growing sense of worry. The Mentor's Hand felt heavier at his side, as if echoing his concerns.
After a brief search, Titania returned, her expression puzzled. "No sign of her, Lucas. This is odd. Elves are usually quite attentive to their surroundings. Let's give her a bit more time, and if she doesn't show up, we might need to consider a more thorough search."
Lucas nodded in agreement, the forest seemingly holding its breath as they awaited Adara's return.
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"This is stupid, I'm going to look for her," said Lucas, standing up from the tree log he was sitting on. he expected Titania to tell him to be patient, after all, making Lucas fell stupid and immature was her specialty.
Instead she nodded and stood with him, clearly worrying for her new model. "we should start by going down the trail, we're not far from the next town, we can hire someone who knows the area better,"
Lucas wanted to rebuke, worried that leaving Adara lost for any longer could prove fatal, but he knew it was the smart thing to do. Adara wasn't stupid, if she was missing then its not because she got lost. Something had happened.
The uneasy tension lingered as Lucas and Titania began their journey down the forest trail. The shadows cast by the towering trees seemed to whisper secrets, and the crunch of leaves beneath their feet echoed through the silent woods.