The sun dipped below the horizon, painting the sky in hues of orange and purple as Kael Draven stepped onto the Northwood Grass Field. His new steel sword gleamed in the dim light, and his black leather armor fit snugly, offering both protection and agility. He swung the blade, performing a series of precise sword arts, testing its balance and sharpness.
"This feels... perfect," he muttered to himself, executing a spinning slash. His armor shifted effortlessly with his movements, and he felt a surge of confidence.
As darkness fell, Kael sheathed his sword and made his way home. His house stood quiet, nestled beside Lyriel Faelith's. Inside her room, Lyriel peered out her window, noticing Kael unlocking his door.
"He's back," she murmured, a smile forming on her lips. She went to meet him.
Kael was in his room when Lyriel let herself into the house.
"Hi!" she called out, stepping inside.
Kael turned to see her standing in the doorway, her expression cheerful. "Hey, Lyriel. What brings you here?"
She shrugged. "Just thought I'd stop by."
He let her in. Lyriel gets into his house.
Kael smirked knowingly. "How's the royal romance blossoming?"
Lyriel's eyes lit up. "It's been amazing! He's so kind, and he gave me this beautiful catalyst as a gift." She held up the ornate item, its crystalline core glowing faintly.
Kael chuckled, crossing his arms. "Sounds like the prince is already down for you."
Lyriel blushed but paused, her expression shifting. "I'm sorry, Kael. I completely forgot to check on you after the test."
Kael was silent for a moment, then shook his head. "Don't worry about it. It's not every day you get to spend time with your crush. I didn't want to ruin it for you."
Relief washed over Lyriel's face. "Thank you, Kael. You're a great friend."
Kael nodded. "So, what do you think of my new armor and sword?"
Lyriel examined him, a grin spreading across her face. "You look good. The armor suits you."
Kael smirked. "Thanks for the compliment."
Lyriel clapped her hands together. "Come over for dinner."
"Oh okay, I'll be there after a quick bath," Kael replied.
At Lyriel's home, the dining table was set with an array of delicious dishes. Lyriel's parents, Elyndor Faelith and Maera Faelith, greeted Kael warmly. Her little brother, Lioran, looked up to Kael with admiration.
"Kael, it's good to see you," Elyndor said, his voice deep and welcoming.
"It's been a while since you visited," Maera added, her tone kind.
Lioran tugged at Kael's sleeve. "Is it true you've been training to fight monsters?"
Kael laughed, ruffling the boy's hair. "I have. Maybe I'll tell you some stories after dinner."
They enjoyed a hearty meal, laughter and stories filling the room. Lyriel couldn't help but feel grateful for Kael's friendship as she watched him interact with her family.
The next morning, Kael and Lyriel met at the Adventurer's Guild to pick a quest. They decided on a task to collect Verridian Bloom, a rare medicinal herb, from the Silverpeak Valley.
The valley, nestled at the base of the Silverpeak Mountains, was breathtaking. Towering trees framed the lush, green expanse, and a crystal-clear stream wound through the landscape.
"This place is beautiful," Lyriel said, taking in the scenery.
Kael nodded, scanning the area. "Let's find those herbs before we get too distracted."
After some time, they located patches of Verridian Bloom near the stream.
"Found them!" Lyriel exclaimed, crouching to pick the vibrant green plants.
Kael smiled but froze as he heard rustling nearby. "We're not alone."
From the shadows emerged a pack of wolves, their eyes gleaming with malice. Kael recognized the largest among them—it was the wounded wolf from their earlier encounter, now accompanied by a pack of nine others.
"They're back," Kael muttered, drawing his sword.
The wolves charged, splitting into two groups.
Kael faced five of them head-on. As one lunged, he sidestepped and drove his sword into its heart. Another wolf leaped at him, and he swung with precision, severing its head.
A third wolf tried to pounce, but Kael raised his shield, smashing it mid-air. Pain shot through his leg as one wolf bit down, while another clamped onto his shoulder.
"Not today!" he growled, stabbing the wolf on his leg. He grabbed the one on his shoulder and threw it to the ground, smashing it with his shield. The final two wolves launched simultaneously, but Kael swung his sword in a powerful arc, cutting them both down.
Meanwhile, Lyriel activated her magic, forming a cube-shaped heat shield around herself. The wolves battered against it, their claws unable to penetrate. The shield's intense heat scorched their legs, forcing them back.
Lyriel retaliated with a barrage of fireballs, striking two wolves. The remaining three circled her, snarling.
"Let's finish this," she muttered, reconstructing her heat shield. She expanded it into a heat field, trapping the wolves inside. They howled as the intense heat consumed them.
After the battle, Lyriel hurried to Kael's side and healed his wounds with her magic.
"Thanks," Kael said, flexing his shoulder.
They skinned the wolves, collecting their fur as a valuable resource. Once they gathered enough herbs, they returned to the guild, selling the fur along the way for a tidy profit.
At the designated address, Kael was surprised to see the demander was Seren Alaric, his mother's assistant.
"Kael, Lyriel! What a pleasant surprise," Seren greeted them, inspecting the herbs. "Perfect quality. As expected of you two."
"Is my mother here?" Kael asked.
"She's in the lab," Seren replied with a smile.
Kael and Lyriel entered Elara Draven's research lab. Elara beamed when she saw them.
"Kael, my dear! And Lyriel, lovely to see you."
She ushered them into her office, where they shared tea.
"How's adventuring?" Elara asked.
Kael grinned. "Tough, but we're doing well. Though Dad's training was... intense."
Elara laughed. "I'm not surprised. He's always been a slave driver."
Lyriel giggled. "It wasn't so bad. I got to babysit your son."
Kael rolled his eyes. "Very funny."
Before they left, Elara handed them vials of her potions. "Here—healing, strength, and magic. Consider them a gift."
Back at the guild, Kael and Lyriel browsed the job board for another quest when a dark elf approached them.
"I'm here about the recruitment notice," he said. His sharp features and confident aura commanded attention.
A moment of silence.
Lyriel "Recruitment notice?"
Kael: "Oh, I forgot to tell you. I put up a recruitment notice yesterday, but I didn't expect someone to apply so soon."
Lyriel "Oh, I see."
"Soo, What's your name?" Kael asked.
"Oh, How impolite of me? I am Draeven Mal'karis," the elf replied. "I'm a sharpshooter with lightning magic."
Lyriel: "That's a bit too much of a name. Would you mind if I called you Draven?"
Draven "Oh, that's okay with me?"
Kael and Lyriel exchanged excited looks. "That's good. Then, welcome to the team, Draven" Lyriel said.
Draven "Wait, that's all."
Kael " Come on Draven, it's not like we can reject you."
As they finalized the recruitment, Brunhild Ironsong said, " I hope you three have a great time together. By the way, do you guys have time for a mission today?"
"Always, and more importantly we can see Draven in action too." Kael replied.
"Great, Then follow me," Brunhild said with a smile, leading them to their next adventure.