The chilling words of Miria, the Calm Witch, echoed in Ray's mind as they left the cursed forest behind. After their narrow escape, she had spared them, but her promise was clear: "Next time, I won't be so forgiving. You'll face me again, and you'll face the dark guild I serve."
The weight of that threat hung over Ray, Amy, and Rhyuji like a dark cloud. Miria's overwhelming power had shown them just how unprepared they were for what lay ahead. They knew that to survive their next encounter, they would need to become much stronger. There was no other choice.
"We need to train," Ray said, breaking the tense silence between the group as they made camp that night. His eyes were sharp, his mind racing. "Miria isn't the only enemy out there. There's a whole dark guild she belongs to, and we barely survived facing just her. If we don't improve, we're not going to make it."
Amy, always full of energy, was pacing around the campfire, twirling a knife in her hand. "I'm with you on that, Ray. Plus, she did say we'd be seeing her again. The way she said it gave me chills." She stopped and smiled mischievously, trying to lift the mood. "But hey, nothing like a little witchy challenge to keep things interesting, right?"
Rhyuji, gripping the hilt of his holy sword, nodded in agreement. "We were no match for her, and I know I can't rely on my holy sword alone. I need to master my abilities if I want to be of any use."
Ray stared into the fire, his mind set. "That's why we're going to Eryndor Village. It's known for producing the strongest warriors in the land. And besides…" He glanced at the others. "It's also where we might find the ancient relic."
Amy's eyes sparkled. "Oh, right! The relic! I almost forgot about that. No one's been able to find it for years, right? You really think we can?"
Amy's eyes sparkled. "Oh, right! The relic! I almost forgot about that. No one's been able to find it for years, right? You really think we can?"
Rhyuji looked hopeful. "If we're going to find it, we'll need to be stronger, both physically and mentally. Eryndor is the perfect place to do both."
With their decision set, they prepared to travel to the warrior village—Eryndor, a place of legends, known not only for its training grounds but also for the mysterious relic hidden somewhere within its borders, a relic that had eluded countless warriors for generations.
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When they arrived at Eryndor Village, the air was alive with the sounds of warriors training. The clang of metal, the shouts of combatants, and the heavy thuds of bodies hitting the ground filled the space. This was a place where strength was earned, not given.
Waiting for them at the entrance was Dylan, a tall man with a calm yet commanding presence. His eyes gleamed with experience, and his demeanor exuded confidence. He was the current disciple of Ramon, the Legendary Warrior and mentor of Alfred, the Divine Warrior. His reputation preceded him.
"Welcome to Eryndor," Dylan said, his tone friendly but direct. "You must be the group seeking strength. I'm Dylan, disciple of Ramon, and Alfred's junior."
Ray stepped forward, his resolve evident. "We need to grow stronger. We faced someone far beyond our abilities—someone connected to a dangerous dark guild. Miria, the Calm Witch, promised we'd meet again, and next time we might not be so lucky."
Dylan's eyes narrowed at the mention of Miria. "A dark guild... If they're involved, then you're wise to seek strength here. Eryndor is the perfect place for that. But know this: power doesn't come easily in this village. You'll have to earn it through hard work and pain."
Amy grinned, flipping her knife in the air and catching it. "Oh, we're ready. Trust me, I'm not here for an easy ride."
Rhyuji nodded, gripping his holy sword tighter. "We came to train, no matter the cost."
Dylan smiled, clearly impressed by their determination. "Good. Follow me, then. I'll show you the training grounds, and I'll introduce you to the best this village has to offer."
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For the next three days, Ray, Amy, and Rhyuji threw themselves into Eryndor's rigorous training. Dylan guided them through endless drills, each session testing their endurance and skill to the limit. They practiced day and night, pushing themselves harder than they ever had before.
Amy's fiery spirit never wavered, and she often teased Ray and Rhyuji to keep the mood light. "Come on, Ray! Keep up! You're not going to let a girl outpace you, are you?" she'd say with a laugh, her boundless energy seemingly never running out.
Ray, ever focused, would respond with a smirk. "You wish, Amy. Let's see you try that with a shield in your hand."
Rhyuji, quieter but no less determined, focused intensely on perfecting his swordsmanship, knowing that his holy sword would be key in future battles.
By the morning of the fourth day, their rapid improvement had caught the attention of the village elders, including Ramon, the Legendary Warrior himself. Dylan approached the group that morning, his expression serious.
"Ramon has noticed your progress," Dylan said. "He's interested in seeing how far you can go."