The golden and orange dawn radiated over Eldrith town as Rufus stood at the edge of the town with the crisp morning air filled into him with a rejuvenating freshness against which the landscape could be so easily seen-including vast fields that stretched to infinity, kissed by sun rays to horizon. However, his heart remained heavy in knowing the darkness looming on the periphery of Elysara.
Ready for today? Lyra's voice cut through his thoughts, and he turned to see her coming for him with a face set both resolute and worried at the same time.
More than ready, Rufus replied, feeling the urgency that was just now starting to grip his resolve in a nearly strangling embrace now. "We have to get intel and make our defenses ready; it's closer than we'd like to think-the darkness.".
They went into the tavern, since all their new friendship had gathered there the night before. But the air was full of merriment and conversation, though he sensed an undertone of nervousness emanating from his peers. He entered and saw that chubby man of the night before excitedly explaining plans to the others.
"Good morning, everybody!" Rufus called out, the cheerfulness of his voice seeming to belie the weight on his shoulders.
"Morning, Rufus!" one of the adventurers replied, with the man's face lighting up as he sighted their leader. "Ready for some action?"
"Of course," Rufus said, and his heart hammered at the mere thought of taking the battle to Hades. "We should split ourselves into teams. Some will scout the surrounding environs while others can look for more supplies and rally additional warriors."
Garrick, the stout man now, stepped forward. "I'll lead the scouting party. We'll head into the north toward the forest. There have been some off-told tales of darker things going on there.".
She nodded. "I'll come with you. We should keep our best fighters close to each other."
Rufus felt a little worried. "Be careful. We don't know what we might meet."
"We will," said Garrick with a grin, eyes twinkling. "And you're to round up more fighters while we're gone."
As teams began to be assigned and preparations started for all of their respective missions, Rufus couldn't help himself, feeling all the weighty expectations that rested upon him. Every decision he makes paved the way not only for himself but also for every Elysaran.
"Hey, Rufus," a voice called out behind him. It was Mira, the wiry man who had shown such enthusiasm the night before. "I'll be in charge of gathering supplies. Got a list of what we need?"
Food, weapons, healing potions and everything that might help them defend this town. Anything could happen.
With the plans in hand, they began to break off and move. Rufus could hardly avoid having his nerves mixed with excitement. This was the start of launching the advance preparation for the pending encounter of the dark mage and the lashing storm.
When the scouting party left, Rufus addressed the team that remained. "Alright, let's get down to brass tacks. Let's strengthen the town's defenses and clear everyone of any danger that might be coming in.".
And with a chorus of affirmations, they worked. Rufus was guided by the sense of purpose as he organised patrols and tasks meant to bring about a betterment in the position. He wandered around the town, speaking to each of the villagers, calling them to the cause. More and more people came out to come and fight against the gathering darkness.
As he readied himself, one face he saw was familiar-that of the old friend from days long since. Elara stood on the edge of the crowd, bow slung over her shoulder: a fierce archer with a sharp spirit.
"Rufus!" she hollered over the din. "Is this really you?"
He ran across in a flash, his face creasing with a wide grin. "Elara! I did not think to find you here. What brings you to Eldrith?",
I heard rumors of an adventure party. When I heard you were in the place, I came. I'm ready to fight, she said, her eyes sparkling alive with excitement.
"Well, you're in the right place then," Rufus said as he clapped her on the shoulder. "We can use every skilled archer we can get. There's a dark mage threatening Elysara, and we're getting ready to face it."
She looked serious. "A dark mage? That sounds pretty dangerous."
"It is," Rufus admitted. "But we are rallying forces to stand against it. I could use your skills on our side."
Count me in," she said without a second thought. "I trained hard for those years. I won't let you down."
With that, the group came together once more. Where each person had their side, Rufus felt a swell of hope. With every ally who joined their cause, they grew stronger. As a group, they could now fight against darkness.
And yet the hours slipped, lost to the endless work: all around, walls built and food brought in, brought in in readiness for what was to be. The town pulsed with that new purpose, and the air electric with it, Rufus saw in this moment alone. The sun hid itself below the horizon, casting the cobblestone streets into long shadows, with sunset nigh.
"Rufus!" Mira said, leading a group of villagers into the room. "We gathered food and some weapons. It's not much, but it's a start."
"Every bit helps," he said as he accepted the bundles gratefully. "Thank you all for your efforts. We're one step closer to being ready."
Just then a messenger burst into the gathering, breathless and panicked. "Rufus! The scouting party-they've run into trouble in the forest!"
Rufus's heart jumped out with the words and he turned to the others. "What kind of trouble?"
Dark mage's minions," said the messenger, squinting through his fear in his eyes. "We see them near the old ruins. We don't have much time to lose!"
"Gather everyone!" shouted Rufus, pounding his heart with adrenaline. Let's go to the forest and save friends!
Urged on, the expedition prepared themselves, gathering together for whatever adventure awaited them. He felt the weight of responsibility but was determined not to give in to fear.
As Rufus walked off into the woods, visions of the scouting party clanged through his head and body. Was everything okay with them? Could they hold their position against the dark mage's forces? He pushed such a thought away by reminding himself of what he had to do first.
They continued into the forest where dense trees loomed across their front and cast sinister silhouettes against the dimly lit sky. Tension filled the air as they pressed ahead.
"Keep your wits," Rufus said to him. "We don't know what we are walking into."
END.
As they disappeared into the woods, all sounds of nature subsided and were swallowed up in this oppressive silence. Rufus felt the weight of darkness that pressed around them, as though the forest held its breath.
And then, suddenly, he heard it-a chill howl echoing through the trees. He and Garrick shivered. "That don't sound good," Garrick said, his hand tightening on his weapon.
Keep going he said, pounding his chest. We must reach the ruins before it's too late.
The path narrowed down and shadows darker as he made his way toward the old stone ruins. It was heavy with an unsettling energy; Rufus's instincts screamed at him to retreat, but they pinned themselves forward in a bid to locate their comrades.
As he entered the clearing, the heart of Rufus sank. Ruins sat broken, and stones rotted with vines. Yet it was worse, somehow, than what lay before them: figures draped in dark robes, all around the ruins, moving as if with intent, sinister.
"There they are!" Lyra screamed, pointing toward the figures. "We have to help!"
Rufus took off running, his adrenaline pumping through him. "We're not going to let them fall. On my go, we charge in."
As he prepared to defend, energy swirled through him, and he reached out to grab the power of the Celestial Convergence within himself, ready to unleash it all to defend his friends. But those dark figures hadn't noticed them yet. They had a minute to themselves.
"Now!" Rufus shouted, sending him and his allies running forward.
Clang steel. Sounds of battles heard in the clearing as the dark mages fight him. Rufus felt the rush of combat, filled with adrenalin that caused him to elevate his senses. He fought his best; he cut the air as if a plan is in place to cut someone and have his comrades protected.
Lyra fought alongside him, fluid motion and lithe, flowing movement, sending enemies flying with deadly accuracy. Garrick and Elara covered for him, their skills instinctive familiarity with Rufus'.
"Rufus!" she yelled into the noise. "The others are pinned down! We have to break through!"
Nodding, with every determined step, he moved forward. He could see that the scouting party was surrounded and fighting an onslaught. And with this in his mind, fueled his will to let them not fall.
Rufus tapped into the Celestial Convergence, and he could feel himself bursting out full of energy; strength and speed were amplified as he plunged forward into the charge toward dark mages, releasing a wave of energy that sent shockwaves through the clearing.
The dark figures lost their concentration and stumbled forward, and Rufus took the opening. He charged through the enemy ranks with a fierce determination to cut down foe after foe, finally reaching the scouting party, with which he fought every ounce of strength he possessed in order to open a pathway to safety.
"Get up! We're here to help!" Rufus shouted to urge the weary fighters up.
Together, they rallied and formed a defense line against the onslaught. The tide of battle began shifting; combined was the might of dark mages faltering under Rufus's team.
"Focus! We cannot let them regroup!" he commanded, pushing forward.
With every clang of steel, with each and every spell, they fought everything they had for them not to let the darkness win. Rufus felt the energy of the Celestial Convergence infuse him from within as he dug deep into his determination.
Heaved breaths of adventurers filled the air as they stood and had conquered; however, the heaviness of the battle within the air.
"Everyone okay?" Rufus asked to the scouting party.
One of the scouts nodded battered but alive. "Thanks to you, we are alright. We thought we were done for," the scout said.
"We cannot let our guard down, we have to be careful," Garrick said, looking about the place for any other dangers that might be lurking "There could be more hiding in the shadows."
Rufus had boasted how these people were brave inside his heart. They stood front and center against the darkness and succeeded where so many others had failed. But this fight was only just getting started, and they need to be alert.
"Let's head back to Eldrith," Rufus said, his voice steady. "We must regroup and strengthen our positions. This is but the beginning of what's to come."
Taking back a new sense of purpose, they headed back through the forest where shadows whispered behind them. He knew the road ahead was perilous, but together, they'd stand against the darkness that sought to consume Elysara.
He had already worked up a fine glimmer of hope by the time it settled below the horizon that was painted in hues. They were not alone in this fight; in fact, they had already bonded to forge that would take them to this storm.