Ryn woke before dawn, his mind filled with thoughts of his next steps. The Moonvine Herb he'd gathered was a small victory, but the path to evolving the Nightshade Hare was still long and treacherous. He knew that staying within Windmere's safe confines wouldn't bring him closer to his goals.
After preparing his gear and feeding the hare, Ryn headed for the Guild. This time, he needed more than a simple herb-collecting mission—he needed something that would push him further and give him access to rarer resources.
...
The Mission Hall was already bustling when Ryn arrived. Tamers crowded around the mission boards, discussing strategies and sharing rumors of rare beasts spotted in the wild.
Ryn scanned the board for something challenging yet achievable. His eyes settled on a mission in the Crimson Valley.
Mission: Investigate Missing Tamers
Location: Crimson Valley
Reward: 15 Silver Coins
Note: Beware of aggressive beasts and unknown dangers.
The Crimson Valley was notorious for its harsh environment and hostile creatures. Many novice tamers avoided it, but Ryn felt a pull. If there were rare beasts in the valley, there might also be rare resources.
"Crimson Valley, huh? You sure about that?"
Ryn turned to see Lyra leaning against a nearby pillar, her owl-like beast perched on her shoulder.
"It's dangerous, but I'll manage," Ryn replied.
Lyra smirked. "You're either brave or foolish. Probably both. Don't get yourself killed."
...
The path to the Crimson Valley was a long, winding trail that led away from the safety of Windmere. As Ryn traveled, the lush greenery of the Verdant Woods gave way to dry, cracked earth and jagged red cliffs. The air grew hotter, and the cries of unfamiliar beasts echoed in the distance.
The Nightshade Hare seemed uneasy, its ears twitching at every sound. Ryn knelt beside it, offering reassurance. "Stay close. We'll get through this together."
The valley's entrance was marked by a pair of towering rock formations. Beyond them lay a labyrinth of narrow canyons and shadowy alcoves.
...
Ryn hadn't been in the valley long when he heard a low, guttural growl. He turned to see a group of Rockfang Beasts—wolf-like creatures with stone-like hides—emerging from the shadows.
There were three of them, their glowing eyes locked onto Ryn and his hare.
"Great," Ryn muttered, gripping his dagger. He activated his ability, studying the beasts.
Beast: Rockfang
Attributes: Toughness, pack tactics.
Weakness: Vulnerable to precision attacks on unarmored areas.
The hare crouched low, ready to fight. Ryn assessed the terrain, noting the loose rocks and narrow paths that might give him an advantage.
"Shadowstep!" he commanded.
The hare vanished into the shadows, reappearing behind one of the Rockfangs and slashing at its hind leg. The beast howled in pain, but the others quickly retaliated, snapping at the hare with powerful jaws.
"Keep moving!" Ryn shouted.
The hare darted between the beasts, using its agility to avoid their attacks. Ryn threw a rock to distract one of the Rockfangs, giving the hare an opening to strike again.
After a tense battle, the last Rockfang collapsed. Ryn knelt to catch his breath, his hands trembling.
"We're getting stronger," he said to the hare, which nuzzled against his leg.
...
Deeper into the valley, Ryn found signs of a struggle—shredded fabric, broken weapons, and claw marks gouged into the rock. It was clear that tamers had been attacked here, but by what?
As he explored further, he stumbled upon a small cavern hidden behind a rockfall. Inside, the air was cool and damp, and faintly glowing mushrooms lined the walls. In the center of the cavern lay a pool of water, its surface shimmering with an otherworldly light.
Ryn activated his ability, and his vision filled with information.
Resource: Lunar Pool
Description: A rare, natural phenomenon that enhances the potential of shadow-based beasts.
Effect: Temporary increase in agility and stealth abilities.
He approached the pool cautiously, kneeling to let the Nightshade Hare drink from its waters. The hare's fur shimmered briefly, and its movements became even faster and more fluid.
"This might be just what we need," Ryn said, studying the hare's new abilities.
...
As Ryn prepared to leave the cavern, he heard a deep, echoing roar from outside. The ground trembled slightly, and loose stones fell from the cavern walls.
"Something big is out there," Ryn muttered, gripping his dagger tightly.
He and the hare moved cautiously back toward the valley entrance, sticking to the shadows. The roar grew louder, and soon Ryn saw the source—a massive Ironhide Drake lumbering through the canyon, its scales glinting like metal.
Ryn's ability activated, flooding his mind with information.
Beast: Ironhide Drake
Attributes: High defense, devastating physical attacks.
Weakness: Vulnerable to piercing attacks in the joints.
Ryn's heart raced. The drake was far beyond his current capabilities. He needed to avoid it at all costs.
"Stay low and quiet," he whispered to the hare.
The two of them moved silently through the shadows, slipping past the drake as it searched the valley. Ryn knew he couldn't take on a beast like that—not yet.
...
By the time Ryn returned to Windmere, the sun was setting. He reported his findings to the Guild, earning both the reward and cautious praise from Marta.
"You're lucky to be alive," she said. "The Crimson Valley isn't a place for novices."
"I'm not just a novice," Ryn replied, his voice steady.
As he left the Guild, he couldn't shake the image of the Ironhide Drake. One day, he'd be strong enough to face such a beast. For now, he'd focus on strengthening his bond with the Nightshade Hare and preparing for the challenges ahead.
...
That night, as Ryn studied his notes on evolution paths, he felt a growing sense of purpose. The Lunar Pool had given the hare a temporary boost, but the Dark Lotus Petals and Moonstone Shard remained elusive.
Beyond that, the mysteries of his ability and the increasingly dangerous wildlands hinted at a larger world filled with untapped potential and hidden threats.
Ryn glanced at the hare, which was already dozing in the corner of the room. "We've come this far. Let's see how far we can go."