The moon hung high in the sky as Leo traveled through the dark forest, his footsteps crunching against fallen leaves. The world around him was alive with the sounds of night—howls of distant beasts, rustling leaves, and the occasional snapping of branches. Yet Leo pressed on, his heart steady and his mind sharp. He didn't know where to start looking for the thief, but he trusted his instincts.
The forest was perilous. At one point, glowing eyes peered at him from the shadows, and the growl of a creature echoed nearby. Leo kept moving, gripping the small knife at his waist, though he hoped he wouldn't need to use it.
He found a spot to camp near a sturdy tree, climbing up to rest on one of its thick branches. With nothing but wild fruits to eat, his stomach protested, but he ignored it. As he drifted off to sleep, his dreams were haunted by visions of the Abyss World—a swirling vortex of darkness and mystery. He awoke suddenly, slipping from the branch and landing hard on the ground.
"Ugh… Great start," he muttered to himself as he packed his belongings at dawn.
By midday, Leo reached a bustling town called Springvale, nestled in a valley with cobblestone streets and vibrant markets. The town was beautiful, with flowers adorning every corner and cheerful chatter filling the air. But as Leo walked through its streets, a sense of unease prickled at him. There was something off about this place, something dark lurking beneath its lively surface.
His first stop was the town's guild—a grand building where adventurers gathered. Inside, the atmosphere was lively yet chaotic. Adventurers of all types filled the hall, discussing missions, showing off trophies, and making deals.
Leo approached the counter and applied to become an adventurer. After a brief registration process, he began his real task: finding capable allies to help him track the thief.
Hours passed as Leo approached person after person, asking if they were interested in joining him. Most laughed at his youthful appearance, while others dismissed his lack of reputation.
"You? Catch the thief? Don't waste my time, kid," one adventurer scoffed.
Frustrated but undeterred, Leo left the guild and entered a nearby restaurant to regroup. He sat at a small table, spreading out a map of the capital and surrounding areas, scribbling notes and marking possible leads. His focus drew stares from the patrons, who whispered among themselves.
A waitress approached, her tray balanced on one hand. She had short auburn hair and sharp green eyes. "Excuse me, are you ordering anything, or are you just here to take up space?" she asked, sounding more annoyed than curious.
Leo glanced up briefly. "Just a glass of water, please."
The waitress sighed, visibly annoyed. As she poured the water, her eyes fell on the map spread across Leo's table. "Wait a second," she said, her tone shifting. "You're looking for the thief, aren't you?"
Leo looked up, his lips curling into a faint smile. "What gave it away?"
The waitress frowned. "You're wasting your time. The thief's probably long gone by now, maybe even out of the kingdom."
Leo chuckled softly. "You think so? Take a look at this." He pointed to his notes and began explaining his deductions. His reasoning was sharp and precise, outlining why the thief couldn't have left the kingdom yet and identifying potential hiding spots nearby.
The waitress stared at him, her annoyance replaced by fascination. "You're smarter than you look, kid. You might actually have a shot at finding this guy."
She placed a steaming dish in front of him. "Here. On the house. You're going to need your strength."
Leo blinked in surprise. "Thank you…?"
"Amber," she said with a smirk. "I'm an adventurer too, part-time. If you're serious about this, meet me at the guild tomorrow morning. We'll talk."
Leo nodded, his spirits lifted.
The next morning, Amber arrived at the guild, dressed in light armor and carrying a sword. She sat across from Leo, her expression serious. "Alright, Leo. I'm in. But this isn't going to be easy. That thief's dangerous."
"I know," Leo said. "But so am I."
Amber raised an eyebrow but smiled. "Fair enough. Let's get started."
After gathering as much information as they could, the two left Springvale, heading toward a place called Darkveil. The journey took them through dense forests shrouded in mist, the air thick with mystery.
As they walked, Leo broke the silence. "Amber, have you ever heard of the Abyss World?"
Amber shrugged. "Yeah, it's an old legend, right? Some island no one can find, filled with secrets and danger. Why?"
Leo hesitated. "Because it's real. And one day, I'll find it."
Amber laughed. "Good luck with that, kid. But I admire your determination."
Before they knew it, they were deep in the Darkveil forest. The trees here were massive, their twisted branches blocking out most of the light.
Suddenly, a giant monster wielding a sword leaped from the shadows, roaring as it charged toward them. Amber reacted instantly, drawing her sword and blocking its attack. The force pushed her back, but she held her ground.
"Leo, stay back!" she shouted as she slashed at the creature, but her blade barely scratched it.
The monster roared again, swinging its massive weapon. Amber, now exhausted, struggled to keep up.
Leo shouted, "Over here, you big brute!" and ran into the forest, luring the monster away.
"What are you doing? Run!" Amber yelled, but Leo had a plan.
He climbed a tall tree and used its vines to swing from branch to branch, taunting the monster as it chased him. Carefully, he led it into a trap he'd improvised, using vines to tangle its legs. With a final leap, he pulled the vines tight, causing the creature to crash to the ground with a thunderous roar.
Amber ran to Leo, her face a mix of shock and admiration. "How did you—"
"No time," Leo interrupted. "It's only fainted. We need to move. I saw more monsters to the north. We head east."
Amber nodded, and they ran through the forest, finally reaching a clearing filled with normal-sized trees. They sighed in relief, but their peace was short-lived.
From the shadows, a group of hooded figures emerged, their bows aimed directly at Leo and Amber.
"Well, well," one of them said. "Looks like we've got company."