Capital of Anor.
Inside the headmistress office of the Magical Academy, Salami stood by the grand window, her gaze fixed on the bustling courtyard below. Students in bright academy uniforms laughed and chatted, their carefree energy a stark contrast to the storm brewing in Salami's mind.
Behind her, Hani, Captain of the Fourth Division of the Black Knights, sat at a polished oak desk, flipping through an ancient tome she had retrieved from the Grand Library.
"Captain," Hani began, her voice casual yet laced with concern. "How have you been?"
Salami didn't turn to face her. Instead, she smirked faintly, her tone playful yet distant. "Why do you still call me 'Captain,' Hani? I retired years ago."
"I do so hoping you'll come back," Hani replied with a grin, her eyes never leaving the book in her hands.
Salami chuckled softly but said nothing.
Breaking the momentary silence, Salami turned slightly, her sharp eyes meeting Hani's. "Why are you here, Hani? Wasn't your division deployed to Kartac Island to deal with that necromancer?"
Hani's expression darkened as she set the book down. "Haven't you heard, Captain?" she said. "Last night, Bagon City was attacked."
Salami's brow furrowed. "Attacked? By what?"
"A demon dryad," Hani replied, her tone grave.
Salami's expression hardened. "A demon dryad? Aren't creatures like that confined to Noir? Their existence in the human realm is impossible without..."
"An Abyss Gate," Hani finished. "Yes, it's likely one was opened in Bagon City."
Salami's eyes narrowed, her posture rigid. "An Abyss Gate... If that's the case, the dryad must be a five-star rank or higher."
Hani nodded. "Exactly. Monsters of that rank pose a catastrophic threat to the empire. If left unchecked, the entire north could fall."
Salami's gaze drifted back to the courtyard, her thoughts heavy. "What's being done about it?" she asked.
"The 6th Division, the Lion Division, is the closest to Bagon City," Hani replied. "They've been mobilized. We can only hope they can hold out until reinforcements arrive from the capital."
Salami exhaled slowly. "The Lion Division is the most resilient force in the empire. If anyone can buy us time, it's them. But against a five-star dryad..." Her voice trailed off, her concern evident.
"True," Hani said, leaning back in her chair. "But if it were you out there, Captain, that dryad would be nothing more than a warm-up."
Salami turned fully, her expression unreadable. "Would it?" she asked quietly, almost to herself. "Once, maybe. But times change, and so do we."
Hani raised an eyebrow. "What's that supposed to mean?"
Salami didn't answer immediately. Instead, she looked out at the blinding sun hanging high over the academy, its golden rays illuminating the bustling life below.
Her thoughts drifted to Asuma, her former mentor's grandson.
"I hope you're okay, kid," she murmured under her breath.
Hani tilted her head, noticing the rare flicker of vulnerability in Salami's voice. "Captain?"
Salami shook her head, her composure returning. "Nothing. Just an old woman's worries."
"You're hardly old," Hani quipped. "But you're right—times change. Still, I'd sleep easier if you were the one out there dealing with that dryad."
Nale City.
The sun hung low over Nale City, casting a warm glow as the trio sat in a bustling restaurant. It was Asuma's first outing since being discharged from the hospital, and Leon's enthusiasm was on full display as he browsed the menu.
"Can I have this? And this? Oh, and definitely this," Leon said, pointing eagerly at different items, his eyes gleaming with anticipation.
Amira raised an eyebrow, crossing her arms as she leaned back in her chair. "The way he's ordering, you'd think he was the one stuck in a hospital bed for a month."
Asuma smirked. "Let him be. Leon's always been like this. Honestly, I'm surprised he's not fat already."
Leon ignored the jab, too focused on the food he'd soon devour. Meanwhile, Amira shifted the conversation. "By the way, I got a message from Uncle Rona two days ago," she said. "He mentioned being in Bagon City."
Asuma looked up, intrigued. "Rona? What's he doing in Bagon? That's pretty far from his estate in the west."
"Uncle travels a lot," Amira replied, her tone casual but tinged with fondness.
"Too much, I'd say," Leon chimed in, still distracted by the menu.
Rona, Amira's uncle, was a familiar figure to all three of them. When they were younger, he would visit the capital to regale them with tales of his travels across Anorak. His stories painted vivid pictures of the Snake Empress and Fox Empress in the East, the Elven Empire in the North, the Great Republic of islands in the West, and the Black Empire teeming with beasts and demons in the South. Some of his stories were so fantastical they seemed almost exaggerated, but they had left a lasting impression.
"I miss Rona," Leon said, his tone wistful. "I wonder what new stories he has for us this time."
"How far is Bagon?" Asuma asked, leaning forward.
"It's about a day's ride," Amira replied. "We lost our horses in Vermis, but with the pay we got from that Greko contract, we should be able to buy replacements."
"Then we'll head to Bagon tomorrow morning," Asuma decided, his tone firm.
As they waited for their order, the peaceful ambiance of the restaurant was shattered by a man bursting through the doors. His face was pale with terror, his eyes wide and frantic. "Everyone! You need to see this!" he yelled, his voice trembling.
The patrons stared at him in confusion, but before anyone could question him, the sound of screaming erupted from outside.
"What's going on?" Asuma said, rising from his chair as the panic outside grew louder. Leon and Amira followed him as they rushed out of the restaurant.
The scene outside was chaos. A large group of injured people poured through the city gates, their bodies battered and bloodied. Some bore grotesque branches sprouting from their faces and limbs, the sight of which sent a wave of unease rippling through the gathered crowd. The onlookers murmured in horror, some stepping back while others rushed to offer aid.
"What... what's happening?" Amira whispered, her voice shaky as she watched the stream of injured refugees.
Asuma's stomach churned. Was a city attacked? he thought, his eyes darting between the wounded. And those branches... What kind of magic could cause this?
Spotting an injured man stumbling toward the hospital, Asuma stepped forward, placing a firm but gentle hand on his shoulder. "Sir," he said, his voice steady despite the rising tension. "What happened?"
The man turned to him, tears streaming down his dirt-streaked face. "Bagon..." he rasped. "Bagon was attacked by a demon army. The city... it's gone. My brother... my brother, he... he was devoured by nature." The man collapsed to his knees, his sobs wracking his body as despair overwhelmed him.
Asuma's heart sank. "Bagon?" he muttered, his mind racing as he turned to Amira.
Her face was pale, her expression strained. "My uncle," she said, her voice trembling. "He's in Bagon."
Asuma placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "We'll figure this out," he said firmly, though his own doubts clawed at him.
"A demon attacking a city..." Leon said, his voice heavy with disbelief. "That hasn't happened in fifteen years. What the hell is going on?"
Asuma clenched his fists, his mind already formulating a plan. "Let's head to the guild," he said, his tone sharp with urgency. "We need to find out what the hell is going on."
Amira nodded, her composure returning as determination replaced her fear. "Let's go."
Without another word, the trio pushed through the growing crowd, their path set toward the guildhall.
Upon arriving and entering the guildhall, Asuma, Amira, and Leon froze in their tracks. The usually bustling but orderly space was now packed to capacity. The air buzzed with tension and chatter as guild members crowded around, many still in their travel gear. It was clear from their expressions that something significant had brought them all here.
Leon frowned, scanning the room. "Why are there so many people here? They don't look like the regular folks pouring into the city."
Asuma's eyes narrowed as he observed the crowd. "Look over there," he said, pointing discreetly. "Some of them are wearing the uniforms of Duke Vauh's Banner."
"Duke Vauh?" Leon questioned, his voice tinged with curiosity. "Isn't that Vzar's father?"
"Yes," Asuma replied, his tone serious. "And if I'm not mistaken, Bagon City is the capital of the Taslis Dukedom, which Duke Vauh governs."
Leon let out a low whistle. "As much as that guy Vzar disgusted me back at the academy, his family being in the middle of this makes it worse. If the city's fallen, the entire Taslis Dukedom is in danger."
Amira stayed silent, her thoughts clearly focused on her uncle, Rona. Her worry was palpable.
A loud voice interrupted their conversation. "Everyone! Please be quiet!" The receptionist of the guild shouted, her voice carrying over the chaotic din. The room gradually hushed, all eyes turning to her as she stood on a raised platform at the back of the hall.
She continued, her tone steady and authoritative. "An official contract has been issued by the High Council themselves. They are offering 1000 gold coins per person to retake or hold Bagon City until the army arrives!"
For a moment, the room was silent, the weight of her words sinking in. Then a loud cheer erupted from the gathered men and women.
"A thousand gold coins!" Leon muttered, his eyes wide. "That's enough to buy a small house."
The guild members surged toward the receptionist's desk, jostling for position to get their contracts stamped. The lure of such a vast sum of money made them reckless, their excitement overriding any thoughts of the danger that awaited them in Bagon.
"They're rushing into it," Asuma said, his brow furrowed. "They don't even care about how difficult it's going to be."
"Most of them probably don't have a choice," Amira said softly. "Money like that can change lives."
Asuma turned to Amira. "Do you think Rona might have escaped Bagon and is making his way here?"
"He might have," she replied, though her voice betrayed her unease. "Uncle isn't weak. I doubt a few demons would take him down easily."
"Let's not leave it to chance," Asuma said decisively. "We should ask around. Rona always carried your family's handkerchief with the thunderbird crest, right?"
Amira nodded. "Yes. It's unmistakable."
"Then we'll ask if anyone's seen a middle-aged man wearing a handkerchief with the Balar crest," Asuma said. "Someone must have seen him either in Bagon or on the road to Nale."
Amira and Leon both nodded in agreement. "Let's get started," Leon said.
The trio split up, combing the guildhall and the busy streets of Nale, asking everyone they could find about a man matching Rona's description.
"Have you seen a man with a thunderbird crest handkerchief tied around his neck?" Asuma asked a group of merchants near the city gates.
One merchant shook his head apologetically. "Sorry, lad. Haven't seen anyone like that."
Leon approached a group of adventurers who had just returned from a contract. "We're looking for a middle-aged man, carrying a handkerchief with a thunderbird crest. He might've been coming from Bagon."
The adventurers exchanged glances before one of them replied, "No one like that came through our way. Sorry."
Amira asked a healer tending to one of the refugees. "Excuse me, but have you seen a man with a thunderbird crest handkerchief?"
The healer frowned in thought before shaking her head. "I haven't, miss. I'm sorry."
By the time they regrouped at the crowded guildhall, their faces reflected the same frustration. They had asked countless people, but every answer was the same—no one had seen Rona.
Amira slumped into a nearby chair, her hands clenched into fists. "It's like he vanished," she muttered, her voice barely above a whisper.
Leon placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "He's tough, Amira. If anyone could survive, it's him."
"Did Uncle really go to Bagon?" Amira questioned, her voice trembling with worry as she sat at their table in the bustling guildhall.
Asuma and Leon exchanged uncertain glances.
"That letter was two days ago," Leon said, trying to sound reassuring. "Maybe he left before the city was attacked."
Before they could discuss further, a knight wearing the Taslis Dukedom's armor approached their table. His expression was grim, and his armor bore fresh scuffs, likely from recent combat.
"You three," the knight said, his tone direct. "I heard you're searching for the Great Explorer Rona Balar."
Amira shot to her feet, her face lighting up with a mixture of hope and urgency. "Yes! My uncle—have you seen him?"
The knight gave a slight bow, recognizing her station. "You're a lady of House Balar. It's an honor to meet you, my lady."
At moments like this, Asuma was reminded of Amira's lineage. The Balar family wasn't just wealthy—they were connected to the crown and held immense influence throughout Anorak, their fortune bolstered by a vast network of trade and business ventures.
Amira waved away the formalities, her voice insistent. "Did you see my uncle?"
The knight straightened, his face clouding with regret. "Yes, my lady. Sir Rona Balar fought beside us during the invasion. Unfortunately, he was captured. We don't know if he's alive or... not."
Amira's heart sank, and her knees wavered. Asuma reached out instinctively to steady her.
"Do you know why they captured him?"
Asuma asked, his voice steady despite the rising tension.
The knight nodded gravely. "One of the mid-demons mentioned... experiments."
The word hung in the air like a curse. Experiments. Asuma's mind raced, piecing together what they had seen earlier—citizens of Bagon streaming into Nale with tree branches grotesquely sprouting from their faces and bodies. A chill ran down his spine.
"Amira," Asuma said, turning to her with urgency. "We need to go to Bagon. Now. If we don't make it in time, Uncle Rona might not be human anymore."
The knight stepped forward, his voice firm but hesitant. "Going to Bagon is impossible. The entire area is infested with demons. You wouldn't stand a chance."
"It doesn't matter," Leon interjected, his voice filled with conviction. "If we have to fight a hundred demons, then we will. Who's going to tell us all those fake, exaggerated stories if the Great Explorer is gone?"
The knight blinked, momentarily stunned. "That's... your priority?" he said, baffled.
Leon shrugged. "Well, it's part of it."
Amira, overwhelmed by her friends' determination, took a slow, deep breath. Their resolve steadied her. She closed her eyes briefly to compose herself before speaking. "If we leave now, we can reach Bagon by nightfall. The only issue is getting horses. The guild members probably bought them all up after getting their contract stamps."
The knight hesitated, glancing between them. Finally, he sighed heavily. "I'll lend you my horses," he said. "But in return, I beg of you—please search for Lord Vauh. We can't return to Bagon ourselves because we're tasked with protecting his family here. But if you find him... please bring him back."
They exchanged a glance, considering the knight's desperate request. It was clear that Duke Vauh, like Rona, had been captured. After a moment of silence, they nodded in agreement.
"We'll look for him," Amira promised, her voice steady. "If he's alive, we'll bring him back."
The knight's expression softened with gratitude. "Thank you," he said. "I'll have my men prepare horses and supplies for you."
Within the hour, the group was equipped with sturdy horses and a small supply of food provided by the knights. The atmosphere was heavy as the trio prepared for their journey into the unknown.
Amira turned to the knight before mounting her horse. "What's your name?" she asked.
"Garv," he replied simply.
"Thank you, Garv," Amira said, her warm smile a stark contrast to the tension in the air.
Garv bowed, his voice resolute. "May the gods guide you, my lady."
The trio mounted their horses, the weight of their mission pressing down on them. As the gates of Nale opened, they rode out into the fading daylight, their destination clear: the demon-infested city of Bagon.
The road ahead was fraught with danger, but they pressed forward, driven by a shared resolve to rescue Rona.