The following morning, they left the village behind, the weight of their recent encounter still fresh in their minds. The air was crisp and cold, and the sky hung heavy with clouds, threatening rain. Cedric led the way, his thoughts turning to the figure they had faced in the underground chamber. Whoever he was, he had known about Cedric's magic—and that couldn't be a coincidence.
"We should head south," Lira said as they walked. "Toward the borderlands. There's talk of unrest there. If more like him are operating in the area, that's where we'll find them."
Maeve, who had been humming a tune to herself, perked up. "The borderlands? Perfect! Lots of chaos, lots of opportunities. And maybe I can get my hands on some new ingredients. The alchemists in those parts have some pretty wild stuff."
Cedric nodded, his gaze fixed on the horizon. "We need answers. Whoever that sorcerer was, he knew about my magic. We can't just wait for him to strike again."
Lira's expression was grim, her hand resting on the hilt of her sword. "He was testing you. That much was clear."
Maeve twirled a small vial between her fingers. "Yeah, well, he wasn't ready for us, was he?"
Cedric's thoughts turned inward. Testing him—why? What did this dark sorcerer want with him? His magic, so far, had felt like a gift, a way to protect and create. But was there something darker behind it? Something he wasn't seeing?
They had walked in relative silence for some time when Maeve suddenly stopped, her eyes narrowing as she looked up the road ahead. "You hear that?"
Cedric paused, listening. At first, he heard nothing but the wind through the trees. But then, faintly, the sound of hooves on the road reached his ears.
A figure appeared on the horizon, galloping toward them on horseback. The rider was cloaked in a long, dark coat, their face obscured by a hood. As they approached, the horse slowed, and the rider pulled back the hood, revealing a man with sharp, calculating eyes and a roguish grin.
"Well, well," the man said, his voice smooth and amused. "What do we have here?"
Lira's hand was on her sword in an instant, her stance tense and ready for a fight.
Cedric stepped forward cautiously. "Who are you?"
The man slid off his horse with a graceful motion, tossing his reins over his shoulder. "Name's Kellen. Just a traveler passing through." His grin widened. "And maybe a little more than that."
Maeve raised an eyebrow. "A traveler, huh? What's a 'traveler' doing out here in the middle of nowhere?"
Kellen chuckled, his eyes gleaming with mischief. "Oh, I like you. Sharp and suspicious. Good qualities to have out here."
Lira's expression didn't waver. "State your business."
Kellen held up his hands in mock surrender. "Relax, warrior. I'm not here to cause trouble. I heard about a little commotion in a village up north. Some sorcerer causing trouble. Thought I'd come see for myself."
Cedric exchanged a glance with Lira. "And why would you care about that?"
Kellen's grin didn't falter. "Let's just say I have a knack for sniffing out opportunities. And I've heard rumors of a mage with… unique abilities." His eyes settled on Cedric, a knowing look in his gaze. "You wouldn't happen to know anything about that, would you?"
Lira's hand tightened on her sword, but Cedric held up a hand, signaling her to stand down. "I might."
Kellen's grin widened. "Thought so."
Maeve stepped forward, her hands on her hips. "So what? You want to join us or something?"
Kellen shrugged. "Could be fun. You seem like an interesting bunch. And besides, I figure sticking with someone like you"—he nodded toward Cedric—"might lead to some pretty exciting adventures."
Cedric studied him for a moment. Kellen's easy charm and roguish demeanor didn't hide the sharpness in his eyes. He wasn't telling them everything—not by a long shot—but something about him intrigued Cedric. He had the feeling that Kellen could be useful, if not a little unpredictable.
"What do you think?" Cedric asked, glancing at Lira and Maeve.
Lira's expression was as hard as ever. "He's hiding something."
Maeve grinned. "Aren't we all?"
Cedric nodded, then turned back to Kellen. "Alright. But you play by our rules. If you cause trouble, you're gone."
Kellen's grin was positively gleeful. "Fair enough, creator boy. Fair enough."
And just like that, their small group grew by one. Cedric couldn't shake the feeling that Kellen would bring as much trouble as he would help, but something told him that this rogue had a part to play in their journey. Whether for good or ill, only time would tell.
As they set off again, Kellen's voice carried over the wind. "So, where are we headed? Somewhere exciting, I hope."
Cedric smiled to himself, knowing that wherever they were going, it would be far from boring.