He turned towards the cabin, and found Maya watching him, her brow furrowed with concern. "Will they be alright?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
William forced a reassuring smile. "Of course they will. Your father is one of the strongest warriors I know, and the adventurers are skilled as well. They'll handle it."
Maya nodded slowly, but the worry in her eyes didn't completely disappear. "It's just... it's scary, you know? This corruption... it feels like it's closing in on us."
William understood her fear. He felt it too. But he also knew that giving in to fear wouldn't help anyone. "We can't let fear control us, Maya," he said, his voice firm. "We have to be strong, for your parents, for the village."
Maya's expression shifted, a spark of determination replacing the fear. "You're right," she said, her voice gaining strength. "We won't let it win." She paused, then a curious glint entered her eyes. "So, tell me about Alderanth. What was it like?"
William's spirits lifted. He was glad for the change in subject, for the chance to focus on something other than the looming threat of the corruption. "Alderanth is... incredible," he began, his eyes lighting up as he recalled the bustling city. "It's huge, with towering buildings and streets filled with people from all over the kingdom. There are shops selling all sorts of things you can't even imagine, and the Mages' Guild..." He trailed off, remembering his experience at the guild.
"What about the Mages' Guild?" Maya prompted, her curiosity piqued.
William hesitated for a moment, unsure how much to reveal about his magical training. He didn't want to worry Maya, but he also didn't want to keep secrets from her. "It was amazing," he finally said. "I even took an aptitude test, and it turns out I have a talent for body enhancing magic."
Maya's eyes widened. "Really? That's incredible! So you're learning magic now?"
William nodded, a shy grin spreading across his face. "I am. It's not easy, but I'm determined to master it." He pulled out the scroll containing the Swiftfoot technique. "I'm practicing this skill now. It's supposed to make me faster and more agile."
Maya leaned closer, examining the scroll with interest. "Wow, that sounds amazing! Can you show me?"
William hesitated. He wasn't very good at the skill yet, and he didn't want to embarrass himself in front of Maya. But seeing the genuine excitement in her eyes, he couldn't refuse.
"Alright," he said, taking a deep breath. "But don't laugh if I mess it up."
He closed his eyes, focusing on his breathing and mana control. Then, with a concentrated effort, he attempted to draw the runes in the air. The runes flickered into existence, faint and unstable, but they held for a moment longer than before.
Maya gasped. "That's incredible, William! You're amazing!"
William blushed, pleased by her enthusiastic response. "It's not much yet," he admitted. "But I'll get better. I promise."
The night settled over Willow Creek, casting long shadows across the village. A sense of apprehension lingered in the air, the villagers huddled in their homes, fear keeping them company.
Inside the cabin, William sat beside Elara and Maya, the flickering candlelight casting a warm glow on their faces. They spoke in hushed tones, sharing stories and memories, trying to keep the fear at bay.
Suddenly, the sound of approaching footsteps broke the silence. The cabin door swung open, revealing Gorn and the adventurers, their faces etched with exhaustion and grim determination.
"We found them," Gorn announced, his voice weary but firm. "Three corrupted beasts, lurking near the old oak grove. We dealt with them."
A wave of relief washed over William, Elara, and Maya. At least for now, the immediate threat was gone.
Aella, her usually vibrant face pale with fatigue, sank into a chair. "Those creatures... they were stronger than we anticipated. The corruption seems to be growing more potent."
Borin grunted in agreement, rubbing a sore shoulder. "Aye, they were fierce. But we'll keep hunting them down, one by one, until this village is safe."
Kael, ever restless, paced the small cabin. "But we still haven't found the source of this corruption. Until we do, this is just a temporary fix."
Gorn nodded grimly. "We'll continue the search tomorrow. For tonight, we rest."
With no room to spare in the small cabin, the adventurers set up camp outside, their bedrolls spread beneath the star-dusted sky. William, exhausted from the day's events and his own magical practice, fell into a deep sleep.
Dawn broke, painting the sky with hues of orange and pink. William woke with a start, a strange sensation tingling through his body. A notification blinked before his eyes, its words sending a jolt of excitement through him:
[Chrono Shift (SSS Rank) has finished cooling down. You can now travel through time once again.]
William's heart leaped as he read the notification. Chrono Shift was ready! He couldn't wait to use it again. He quickly finished his breakfast, a surge of energy propelling him out of the cabin.
"I'm going to train!" he called to Elara and Maya, already halfway out the door.
He made his way to his favorite spot – a secluded hill overlooking Willow Creek. The morning air was crisp, and a light mist clung to the ground, painting the landscape with an ethereal beauty.
William reached the top of the hill, his breath misting in the cool air, and took a moment to appreciate the view. From here, he could see the entire village spread out before him, peaceful and quiet in the morning light.
He turned his attention to the task at hand. Chrono Shift. He closed his eyes, focusing on the swirling energy within him, the power to manipulate time. He pictured his destination – the era of the Primal Mages, a time when magic was wild and untamed.
With a surge of will, he activated his skill. The air around him shimmered and distorted, forming a swirling vortex of colors. A portal opened, a gateway to the past. He took a deep breath, a mix of excitement and trepidation swirling within him, and stepped through.