Part 1
They accepted me into their party, even though I was a stranger. Relief washed over me as I watched them break camp.
Zane, ever the optimist, whistled a cheerful tune while polishing his oversized sword.
Lirien, her brow furrowed in concentration, checked the intricate runes etched onto her staff.
Even Durgin, who seemed to have slept off his earlier inebriation, hefted his massive axe with practiced ease.
A silent language passed between them—a shared understanding of the dangers that lurked within the forest.
They trusted me.
After all, the bonds of trust are stronger than any chains of steel.
Part 2
The midday sun cast dappled shadows on the forest floor as we finally set off.
The carefree banter of the morning had vanished, replaced by a tense silence broken only by the rustle of leaves beneath our feet and the occasional snap of a twig.
Zane's cheerful whistling was gone, replaced by a furrowed brow and a gaze that darted nervously between the trees.
Lirien and Aria moved with a practiced grace, their eyes scanning the undergrowth for any sign of movement.
Even Durgin, his earlier inebriation a distant memory, seemed a different man. His massive axe, slung over his shoulder, was a constant reminder of the dangers that lurked unseen.
Lost in thought, I almost missed Lirien's question. "Are you a swordsman?"She asked, her voice a low murmur that cut through the silence. A flicker of surprise, tinged with something akin to suspicion, crossed her features as her gaze landed on the sword at my hip."Yes, I am," I replied, instinctively reaching for the familiar hilt."And magic?" she pressed, her brow furrowing slightly. "Can you use magic as well?"The unexpected question sent a jolt through me. Was there something in my past, something, that gave me away? "Yes," I finally managed, my voice hoarse. "Is something wrong?"Lirien hesitated for a moment, her crimson eyes locking with mine. A hint of a smirk played on her lips, but it did little to hide the concern that flickered beneath the surface. "No, nothing wrong," she said finally, a touch too quickly. "It's just... uncommon. Especially for someone so young.""Why's that?" I couldn't help but ask, a sliver of curiosity sparking within me.She let out a humorless chuckle. "Look at me," she said, gesturing to herself with a flourish. "Years of dedication have honed my magical abilities. I can use advanced spells with ease, and my mana pool is no joke." A note of pride crept into her voice, laced with a subtle challenge."That's impressive," I admitted, genuinely awestruck by her talent. "Being able to cast advanced magic at your age... that's a gift."Lirien tilted her head, her gaze lingering on me for a beat too long. "A gift," she echoed, the word taking on a new meaning in the tense atmosphere. "Perhaps. But I have spent years training since childhood." It seemed I touched a sensitive spot there. To diffuse the tension I spoke again."Did you learn magic on your own?""No! I learned it in the magic academy in the royal capital Ririth."Royal capital, my two brothers were also studying in the same academy. It was a place where only wealthy people had a chance to go."Are you from a rich family?" I asked with curiosity.""Why do you ask?""I have heard of the place only the wealthy have a chance to enroll in the academy.""You are not wrong. My father is a baron. He has a small domain. It was not difficult for him to put me in the academy.""You are a noble. So why did you choose to become an adventurer? You could have lived your life with ease.""You are also noble, why do you decide to come with us?" She asked defensively."Tell us about yourself, Senjar. What is your rank in sword and magic."Zane decided to intervene to lighten the mood."I am still a novice in magic but in the sword, I am at intermediate in knightly style." "Impressive, for your age to be intermediate in knightly style. It is really impressive.""What rank are you, Zane?""Though, I can't use magic as I have no mana. But, I am advanced in knightly style in swordsmanship."My father was also at advanced rank in this style despite being 35 years of age. Zane was only 21 and he was already at the same level as my father.Both Aria and Durgin were listening to the whole conversation but decided to remain silent.Part 3A deafening screech ripped through the air, shattering the tense silence. We froze, caught in a primal fear. Lirien's eyes widened in horror, her staff clutched white-knuckled in her grasp. Zane's hand instinctively flew to his sword hilt, knuckles bone-white.A colossal shadow blotted out the sun as the wyvern emerged from the trees. Its enormous wings beat with a force that sent gusts of wind whipping through our hair, blurring the world into a dizzying frenzy. The creature was a monstrous parody of a bird, its leathery wings outstretched like tattered sails. Razor-sharp talons glinted like obsidian daggers, and its long, serpentine neck ended in a head that gnashed with cruel, yellowed teeth.The beast was unlike any wyvern I'd ever heard of. Its scales, usually a dull green, shimmered with an unnatural, almost iridescent sheen. The wyvern's massive claws gripped something large and unmoving, a dark shape that sent a shiver down my spine. Durgin's face contorted in a mask of fury, a deep growl escaping his throat. Before anyone could react, he was already sprinting towards the direction the wyvern had vanished. "Hurry!" he bellowed over his shoulder, his voice laced with urgency. "Follow it before it disappears again!"I hesitated for a split second, the image of the wyvern's chilling form flashing through my mind. But seeing the determined glint in Durgin's eyes, I knew we had no choice. With a surge of adrenaline, I pushed myself forward, my legs pumping against the uneven forest floor.Lirien, her brow furrowed in concentration, cast a worried glance at the sky. "That wasn't a normal wyvern," she muttered, more to herself than anyone else. "Did you see the unnatural glow on its scales?"Zane, his usual carefree demeanor replaced by a steely resolve, unsheathed his massive sword with a practiced flick of his wrist. "Whatever it is," he said, his voice grim, "we're about to find out."Aria, ever the silent observer, remained at the back of the group, her hand hovering on her bow.We plunged deeper into the forest, the dense foliage filtering the sunlight into an eerie green twilight. The frantic chase was on, fueled by a mix of fear, urgency, and a thirst for answers.