Eryon darted ahead, his wooden sword slung over his shoulder as he led Kael through the grove and toward a narrow path winding into the trees. The boy moved with confidence, his steps light and quick, as though he'd walked this route a hundred times before. Kael followed at a steady pace, his gaze scanning their surroundings for anything unusual.
"So," Kael began, breaking the silence, "what exactly is this mission of ours?"
Eryon glanced back, his grin mischievous. "You'll see. It's not far, I promise. Just… keep an eye out. There's a lot of weird stuff out here."
"Weird how?" Kael asked, his tone casual but laced with curiosity.
Eryon shrugged, his grin unwavering. "You know, strange sounds, creepy shadows, that kind of thing. I think it's just the forest messing with us, but… who knows?"
Kael raised an eyebrow, his steps slowing slightly. Great. Creepy shadows. Just what I needed.
The path narrowed as they moved deeper into the forest, the trees growing taller and denser. The light from the setting sun barely penetrated the thick canopy above, casting long, shifting shadows across the ground. The air grew cooler, and Kael found himself instinctively tightening his cloak around his shoulders.
After a few more minutes of walking, Eryon stopped abruptly, holding up a hand to signal Kael to do the same. He crouched low, peering through a cluster of bushes ahead.
"There," he whispered, pointing toward a small clearing just beyond the foliage. "That's where we're going."
Kael crouched beside him, following the boy's gaze. The clearing was empty at first glance, but as his eyes adjusted to the dim light, he noticed a faint glimmer near its center—a cluster of strange, glowing stones arranged in a rough circle.
"What are those?" Kael asked, his voice low.
"Dunno," Eryon admitted, his excitement barely contained. "That's why we're here. I found this place a while ago, but I didn't want to mess with it alone. It felt… important."
Kael studied the stones, his instincts tingling with unease. There was something almost magnetic about them, the faint glow pulsing in a rhythm that felt unnatural. This doesn't seem like something you just stumble across by accident.
"Alright," Kael said, his tone cautious. "What's the plan?"
Eryon grinned, his enthusiasm undeterred. "We go in, take a closer look, and figure out what this place is. Easy, right?"
Kael glanced at the boy, his expression skeptical. "Sure. Easy."
Before he could say more, Eryon was already moving, his small frame darting through the bushes and into the clearing. Kael sighed, muttering under his breath as he followed. This kid's gonna get me killed.
As they stepped into the clearing, the air grew noticeably heavier, almost charged with an unseen energy. The stones' glow intensified slightly, casting eerie shadows that danced across the ground. Eryon crouched near the nearest stone, his fingers brushing its surface as he inspected it closely.
"They're warm," he said, glancing up at Kael. "Weird, huh?"
Kael nodded, his gaze shifting between the stones and the surrounding forest. He couldn't shake the feeling that they were being watched, though he saw no sign of anyone—or anything—nearby.
"Eryon," he said quietly, "let's not touch anything we don't understand, alright?"
The boy looked up, his grin faltering slightly. "Yeah, okay. Just looking."
Kael's hand rested on the hilt of his belt knife as he scanned the clearing again, his instincts on high alert. Whatever these stones were, they weren't natural—and he had a sinking feeling that their presence here wasn't random.
Eryon continued his inspection of the glowing stones, his excitement bubbling just under the surface. Kael, however, remained tense, his gaze shifting between the clearing and the surrounding forest. The air felt heavier the closer he stood to the stones, as though the very ground pulsed faintly beneath his feet.
"Do you think these stones mean something?" Eryon asked, breaking the silence.
Kael crossed his arms, his expression thoughtful. "Could be. Stuff like this doesn't just show up for no reason."
Eryon tilted his head, his gray eyes narrowing slightly as he traced one of the faint patterns etched into the stone. "I thought they might be leftovers from some kind of old magic," he said, his voice quieter now. "You know, like ruins or something."
Kael crouched beside him, inspecting the stone more closely. The patterns were intricate, almost too perfect to be natural. The faint glow reminded him of something, though the memory danced just out of reach. "Maybe," he murmured. "But why here? Why now?"
Eryon shrugged, sitting back on his heels. "Beats me. But it's cool, right?"
Kael chuckled softly, though the unease in his chest didn't fade. "Yeah. It's cool."
As they continued to examine the stones, Kael's attention was drawn to a faint shimmer at the center of the circle. It wasn't part of the stones—it hovered just above the ground, flickering in and out of sight like a mirage. He squinted, leaning slightly closer.
"You see that?" he asked, nodding toward the shimmer.
Eryon followed his gaze, his eyes widening. "Whoa. What is that?"
"I don't know," Kael admitted, rising to his feet. He approached cautiously, the sensation of the heavy air intensifying with each step. The shimmer grew slightly more defined as he neared, taking on a faint crimson hue that sent a jolt through his chest.
The color was unmistakable. It was the same deep red that haunted his dreams, the same hue as—
"Kael?" Eryon's voice snapped him back to the present. The boy stood a few paces behind, his expression a mix of curiosity and concern. "What's wrong?"
Kael shook his head, forcing himself to focus. "Nothing. It just… reminded me of something."
Eryon frowned but didn't press further. Instead, he crouched again, his attention shifting back to the stones. "Weird stuff, huh? Think it's dangerous?"
Kael hesitated, glancing back at the shimmer one last time before stepping away. "Could be. Let's not stick around too long, just in case."
Eryon nodded, though his disappointment was clear. "Yeah, okay. I guess we've seen enough for now."
As they made their way out of the clearing, Kael couldn't shake the image of the crimson shimmer from his mind. It was faint, almost insignificant, but it felt like a thread pulling him toward something he couldn't ignore.
The Crimson Dagger.
He glanced back over his shoulder as they reentered the forest, the clearing fading from view. The stones remained a mystery, but the shimmer's presence had reignited a question he thought he'd buried.
Kael and Eryon walked back through the forest in relative silence, the weight of what they'd seen in the clearing lingering between them. The vibrant sounds of birds and rustling leaves seemed muted now, replaced by the faint echo of something unspoken.
Eryon glanced up at Kael, his curiosity winning out over his unease. "So… that shimmer thing. Do you think it's, like, magic or something?"
Kael hesitated, his mind replaying the faint crimson glow. "It could be," he said carefully. "Stuff like that doesn't just happen by accident."
Eryon nodded, his brow furrowing in thought. "It was kinda cool, though. I've never seen anything like it."
"Me neither," Kael admitted. His hand brushed against the hilt of his belt knife, the familiar weight grounding him as he tried to make sense of the sensation that shimmer had stirred in him. It felt… alive. Almost like it was calling.
"Do you think we should go back sometime?" Eryon asked, his voice tentative. "You know, to figure out more about it?"
Kael glanced at the boy, his expression softening. "Maybe. But not today. Whatever it is, it's better if we don't push our luck."
Eryon sighed but nodded in agreement. "Yeah, you're probably right."
They continued walking, the forest gradually thinning as they neared the guild's outer walls. The familiar sight of the small grove brought a sense of relief, though Kael's thoughts were still tangled with questions about the clearing.
Eryon stopped suddenly, turning to face Kael with a determined look. "Hey, thanks for coming with me today," he said, his voice earnest. "I know it probably wasn't that exciting, but it meant a lot."
Kael smirked, ruffling the boy's silver hair. "Don't mention it. Besides, it's not every day I get to go on a 'mission between friends.'"
Eryon grinned, his earlier excitement returning. "You're a pretty good partner, Kael. Maybe we can do more missions together sometime."
Kael nodded, his smirk softening into a genuine smile. "I'd like that."
As they reached the grove, the faint hum of activity from the guild drifted through the air. Eryon darted ahead, his energy seemingly endless, while Kael lingered near the edge of the trees, his gaze drifting back toward the forest.
The image of the shimmer lingered in his mind, its crimson hue a stark reminder of the past he thought he'd left behind. If it's connected to the dagger… what does that mean for me?
Shaking off the thought, Kael turned and followed Eryon back toward the guild. Whatever the shimmer was, he knew it wouldn't stay hidden forever—and when the time came, he'd be ready.
Kael followed Eryon back toward the guild, though his thoughts remained firmly anchored in the clearing and the strange shimmer. The boy's chatter filled the air, a constant stream of excitement and plans for the next mission. Kael nodded along, offering the occasional "Sounds good" or "We'll see," though his mind wandered.
When they reached the grove, Eryon dropped his wooden sword by the small hut and turned back to Kael. "Do you think the shimmer is important?" he asked, his tone more serious now. "Like, important-important?"
Kael paused, considering his words carefully. "It might be," he admitted. "But sometimes, it's better not to rush into things. We don't know enough about what it is or why it's there."
Eryon frowned, his earlier excitement dimming slightly. "Yeah, I guess you're right. It's just… stuff like that doesn't happen every day, you know?"
Kael placed a hand on the boy's shoulder, his grip firm but reassuring. "You did the right thing by bringing me out there. And we'll figure it out. Together."
Eryon's face brightened, and he nodded. "Thanks, Kael. You're… well, you're different. Not like the others here."
Kael smirked, crossing his arms. "I'll take that as a compliment."
"It is!" Eryon said quickly, his grin returning. "You actually care. Most people just brush me off."
Kael felt a pang of guilt at the boy's words, though he didn't let it show. "Well, someone has to, right?"
Eryon beamed, clearly satisfied with the response. "Right! Oh, I almost forgot—there's something else I wanted to show you." He darted toward the hut, rummaging through the small chest he'd shown Kael earlier.
Kael leaned against the doorframe, his gaze drifting toward the forest again. The clearing felt closer now, like it was calling to him even from a distance. Whatever that shimmer is, it's not going to leave me alone.
"Got it!" Eryon's voice pulled him back to the present. The boy held up a small, round stone that glowed faintly in his hand. Its light was softer than the stones in the clearing but carried a similar energy.
Kael raised an eyebrow, stepping closer. "Where'd you find that?"
"Same place as the dagger," Eryon said, holding it out for Kael to see. "Figured it might be useful. It feels… I don't know, special."
Kael took the stone, its warmth surprising against his skin. The faint glow pulsed in a steady rhythm, almost like a heartbeat. Special, huh? That's one way to put it.
"You've got a knack for finding interesting things," Kael said, handing the stone back to Eryon. "Just be careful with this stuff. Sometimes 'special' can mean dangerous."
Eryon nodded solemnly, tucking the stone back into the chest. "I will. But if you ever need it, just let me know."
Kael gave him a small smile, appreciating the boy's sincerity. "Thanks. I'll keep that in mind."
The sun dipped lower on the horizon, casting long shadows across the grove. Eryon stretched, his energy finally seeming to wane. "I should probably get back to the guild before they start wondering where I am."
Kael chuckled, ruffling the boy's hair. "Good idea. I'll see you around."
Eryon nodded, grabbing his wooden sword and heading toward the guild walls. He paused at the edge of the grove, turning back with a wide grin. "Don't forget! Next time, it's your turn to pick the mission."
Kael laughed, waving him off. "We'll see about that."
As the boy disappeared through the gate, Kael leaned against the hut, his gaze drifting back toward the forest. The shimmer, the stones, the dagger—it all felt connected, though the threads were too tangled to make sense of just yet.
One thing's for sure, though. Whatever this is, it's not over.