Evan and Runa departed Kubu Fort on foot, their destination lying in the north east of Kubu Fort beyond the reach of the main merchant roads. Traveling by carriage wasn't an option in the untamed wilderness, making their journey a two-day trek. As they walked, Evan broke the silence with a question.
"Have you ever encountered a Corrupted monster before?"
Runa shook her head. "I've read about them before only a few times, but never seen one in person."
Evan nodded and began explaining.
"Corrupted monsters, or as the guild calls them, chaos monsters, are creatures formed from chaos energy. Residual chaos energy can taint an area lacking sufficient divine energy, corrupting nearby wildlife into monstrous form. These creatures mimic the shapes of local fauna but are far more dangerous as they can influence other wildlife. The Akram Holy Nation explained this after studying the bodies we sent them."
"Divine energy?" Runa asked, intrigued.
"Yes, divine energy—or divinity—is something only the Akram Holy Nation fully understands. Saints in Akram city can channel it, but most humans can't use it. We're limited to the six primary elements of magic."
The conversation carried on, Runa listened intently, asking questions about chaos energy and its effects. Evan's answers were succinct but insightful, gradually easing the initial awkwardness between them. Despite his stoic exterior, Runa began to see glimpses of the thoughtful mentor beneath. "You're not as cold as you seem," she remarked with a faint smile.
Evan raised an eyebrow. "And you're more curious than I expected," he replied.
After two days of travel, they arrived at the location marked on the quest. Evan immediately sensed something unusual. Closing his eyes, he focused on his heightened senses, detecting the conflicting smells of burning water and extinguished fire.
"Stay on guard," he warned. "There's a creature nearby with fire or water elemental energy."
Following the scent, they discovered two birds locked in combat. One emitted fiery chaos energy, its attacks erratic and powerful. The other bird, imbued with water energy, skillfully dodged and countered, struggling to suppress its opponent.
"That fire-element bird is corrupted," Evan noted. "Runa, can you subdue it?"
"I'll try," she replied, focusing on her mana. With a series of incantations, she unleashed her strongest ice-binding spell. A frosty aura enveloped the fiery bird, trapping it in crystalline chains. With the threat neutralized, the water-element bird settled nearby, observing them.
Evan examined the subdued creature and confirmed its chaos energy. "This is a Corrupted monster, but it's not the source. Are you ready to continue?"
Runa hesitated but ultimately nodded. "Yes. Let's find the source."
Hours of cautious searching led them to a cave at the base of a mountain. As they approached, Runa felt an oppressive flow of energy in the air, filling her with unease.
"That's chaos energy," Evan confirmed. "It's the strongest here. Be ready."
They entered the cavern, its towering ceiling hinting at ancient origins. A lake dominated the center, with the ruins of a pillar rising from its depths.
Chaos energy pulsed from beneath the water, and soon, a monstrous form emerged—an amphibian-like creature, eight meters tall, its body a chaotic fusion of darkness and malice.
Evan took a defensive stance. "This is your fight, Runa. To eliminate chaos energy, you need to either wear it down or overpower it with contrasting elements. Normal attacks won't work; they'll only cause it to reform."
Runa steadied her breathing and began the battle. She unleashed waves of ice magic, her spells colliding with the chaotic energy. Evan stayed vigilant, ready to intervene if necessary, but left the fight to Runa.
The battle stretched on for nearly an hour, with Runa methodically depleting the creature's energy. Finally, she summoned her most powerful ice spell, freezing the chaos monster entirely and shattering its form.
As the creature dissolved into harmless mist, Evan lowered his guard. "That thing was as strong as ten senior guild members. You've proven you're more than capable of joining the main team."
Exhausted, they set up camp outside the cave. Runa collapsed onto her bedroll, her mana drained from the prolonged fight.
"Thank you," she said softly. "I couldn't have done it without your guidance."
Evan gave her a rare smile.
"You earned this victory. Congratulations on becoming part of the Golden Sun's main team."
As the fire crackled between them, Runa felt a sense of accomplishment she hadn't experienced before.
Though her journey with the Golden Sun Guild was just beginning, she knew she had taken her first steps toward something greater.
Meanwhile at Kubu Fort The atmosphere in the main hall of the Golden Sun Guild was tense. Dyvea stood tall before the core members of the team, her authoritative presence commanding their attention. She glanced at the royal seal on the parchment one last time before speaking.
"I've just received news from the royal courier. The Second Prince, Mettan, will be visiting Kubu Fort soon," she began, her voice calm but laced with an undertone of concern.
The room fell silent, save for the rustle of armor as some shifted uneasily.
"Our role is to safeguard this fort and our kingdom's borders, not to entertain royalty," she continued. "Yet, here we are. His reasons remain unknown, but I don't need to remind you that we must handle this with utmost care. Prepare yourselves, and remember: vigilance is key."
Dyvea's sharp gaze swept the room, ensuring her words left an impression.
"Do not question or speculate openly. Until we know more, maintain discipline and focus on your duties. That is all."
As the core members began to disperse, Gerrard lingered.
"What do you think, Dyeva?" he asked, his deep voice steady.
Dyvea sighed. "I think the royal family doesn't make unplanned moves. Especially not Mettan. Keep the trainees in check, Gerrard. The last thing we need is chaos when royalty arrives."
He nodded. "I'll make sure the trials stay strict. If anything unusual happens, you'll know."
Out on the rugged training grounds, Gerrard observed the latest batch of trainees as they navigated an obstacle course designed to push them to their limits. Senior guild members flitted between groups, reporting results and incidents back to him.
"Sixty-five percent made it through the first trial," one of them reported. "The rest failed either physically or mentally."
Gerrard grunted in approval. "Good. We're not here to coddle them. Make the second trial harder. If they can't handle a simulated mission, they're useless in the field."
Gerrard's expression remained unreadable. "Anything else?"
"Some of the new recruits are showing decent combat instincts, but they're rough around the edges."
"Noted. Stay vigilant," Gerrard said, turning back to watch the trials.
On the third floor of the guild hall, Ourra, Ourri, and Yvette were seated at their usual corner table, their plates piled high with roasted meats, bread, and stew.
"So, the Second Prince is coming here, huh?" Ourra said, his sharp eyes glinting with amusement. "What's he going to do? Evaluate our battle techniques with his 'courtroom wisdom'?"
Ourri, ever the optimistic idealist,. "Maybe he's here to honor us. The Golden Sun is the pride of the kingdom, after all."
Yvette, smiling while toying with her spoon,"Or he's here to spy on us. Maybe the royals think Dyeva's planning a coup."
Ourra snorted. "A coup? Please. Dyeva wouldn't waste time with politics. She's too busy saving the kingdom from its own incompetence."
"Still," Yvette said, her voice low and teasing.
"wouldn't it be fun to pull a little prank while he's here? Nothing dangerous, of course. Just enough to make things interesting." with a sly smile expression on Ourra face.
Ourri gasped, his voice filled with mock scandal. "Ourra, you wouldn't dare!"
"Oh, but I would," Ourra replied, his grin widening. "Imagine if his highness 'accidentally' found himself in the middle of a trainee trial. We could call it a lesson in humility."
Yvette laughed, shaking her head. "As much as I'd love to see that, Dyeva would have our heads if we got caught."
"True," Ourra admitted, his expression softening. "But it's nice to dream, isn't it?"
The three continued their banter, the tension of the impending royal visit momentarily forgotten in their shared jokes.