Nina hesitates, unsure where to begin. The events of the last few days - the missing adventurers, the encounter with Xalzar, the cryptic guidance of the Keeper - feel surreal, a disjointed tapestry of fear, wonder, and a growing sense of dread. Ronan shifts restlessly beside her, his low growl a subtle warning. Rex whines softly, nudging Nina's hand with his wet nose.
"It began with the missing adventurers," Nina starts, her voice trembling slightly. "I was requested to take on an investigation quest to look into the adventurers that had gone missing in the Woods. My investigation led me into the deeper part of the woods where Rex found traces of something off. After following him he and I discovered a hollow underneath an old oak tree, which led to a giant underground tomb. Inside I had encountered Xalzar, who told me that the missing that I was seeking were deeper inside the tomb. Their remains scattered throughout. "The Emerald Order woman listens intently, her violet eyes never leaving Nina's face. She makes no comment, only nodding slowly, urging Nina to continue.
Going further I encountered Ronan who decided to travel with me. After walking through for a while we encountered a being who called himself a Keeper, who revealed that those I was seeking were abducted by the forest itself."
"And guessing by the fact we are having this conversation; you chose not to confront the source of the problem?" The woman's voice soft, almost gentle, yet the question carries a weight that belies its calm delivery.
Nina swallows hard, the words catching in her throat. "The Keeper warned that the darkness we faced would find its way to the edges of the world. It will pursue us, regardless of whether we face it now. And in the end, my task was to investigate the disappearances and retrieve the remains, not solve the problem." The simple statement feels inadequate in the face of the vast, terrifying truth that now weighs on her soul. The silence that follows is thick with unspoken understanding, a silent acknowledgment of the overwhelming burden she now carries. The woman's gaze softens slightly, a glimmer of empathy in her violet eyes. The setting sun casts long shadows, painting the meadow in hues of orange and purple, and a chill wind whispers through the nearby trees.