Evan stood silently in front of the subdued elf squad, his sharp gaze sweeping over the group. Their weapons and gear now lay in a pile near the Golden Sun team, leaving the elves disarmed and visibly shaken.
The elf leader, still pinned by Evan's intimidating presence, tried to maintain composure, but the weight of their loss was written all over his face. Evan finally broke the silence.
"Now, tell me—what's got you so worked up that you thought attacking us was a good idea? You'll explain everything. And let me be clear—I'll take full responsibility for what happens next, so don't think you're getting out of this easily."
The leader hesitated, his expression flickering with frustration and fear. Then, in a sharp voice, he called out to one of his squad members. "Liza! Come here!"
From the group, a young elf woman hesitantly stepped forward. Her frame was slender, her posture timid.
She looked barely out of adolescence by human standards, her wide green eyes darting nervously between Evan and the rest of his team.
"Liza," the leader barked, "apologize to them!"
Liza lowered her head, her voice trembling. "I… I'm sorry. I didn't mean to—"
"Sorry?!" Yvette cut her off, her tone sharp with anger. She stepped forward, gripping her shield tightly. "You almost shot my head off, and now you think a simple sorry is enough to brush it off?! Are you serious right now?"
Ourra crossed his arms, his expression equally annoyed. "Yeah, 'oops' doesn't cut it when you're hurling arrows at people unprovoked. What were you even thinking?"
Liza flinched, her gaze dropping to the ground. "I-I panicked... I thought—"
"Enough," Evan interrupted, his voice low but commanding. He didn't need to raise his voice to silence everyone.
His cold stare shifted from Liza to the elf leader, who seemed even more uneasy under Evan's piercing glare. "We'll deal with the details later. For now, I want answers."
The elf leader clenched his fists, his eyes darting between his squad and the Golden Sun team. His hesitation was evident, but it was clear he valued the safety of his squad above all else. Finally, he sighed and spoke. "Fine. We'll tell you."
The leader straightened, though the tension in his voice betrayed his inner conflict.
"We're here tracking a fugitive—an elf who escaped from one of our kingdom's high-security prisons. This person is dangerous, and it's our job to bring that fugitive back at all costs."
Evan tilted his head slightly, his expression unreadable. "That's a vague explanation. Why not just say that from the start instead of attacking us?"
The leader grimaced. "I can't give you every detail. If we spill too much about our mission to outsiders, it could have severe consequences for us. And... we're running out of time. We've been searching for weeks without any solid leads."
Evan's expression hardened. "You're asking me to take your word for it? That's not enough. Prove it."
The elf leader hesitated, then reluctantly pulled out a scroll from his satchel. He unfurled it and handed it to Evan. "This is the official order for our mission. It includes the face of the fugitive we're after. That's all I can give you."
Evan took the scroll and examined it. The parchment was marked with intricate runes and a seal from the Clares Kingdom, lending credibility to the leader's claim.
The fugitive's image was sketched in detail: an elf with a faint, unsettling smile. Something about the expression sent a chill down Evan's spine.
"An illusionist?" Evan asked, looking up.
The leader nodded. "Yes. That's why we've been so on edge. He could be anywhere, blending into any crowd, hiding in plain sight. Every person we encounter is a potential threat. We've been chasing shadows across the wilderness, and the frustration... well, it got the better of us."
Evan handed the scroll back, his expression unreadable. He turned to his team and spoke quietly.
"We're still on a mission, so we won't linger here. But there's no way we're letting them walk away fully armed after this stunt."
He faced the elf leader again, his voice firm. "We'll leave you here. We won't take your supplies, but your weapons stay with us. You'll have to retrieve them later—once we've left the area."
The elf leader's face tightened, but he nodded. "Fine. As long as my squad is unharmed."
Evan gave a curt nod, signaling for his team to prepare to move out. As the group began to depart, Evan called over his shoulder,
"And one more thing—think twice before you attack anyone again. You're not the only ones who value their lives."
The Golden Sun team marched into the forest, leaving the disarmed elf squad behind.
As they rode toward Kubu Fort, the team discussed the strange encounter.
"So," Yvette began, her voice laced with suspicion, "anyone else think it's a little too convenient that they're chasing an illusionist? What if this guy is tied to Silas somehow?"
Ourra nodded thoughtfully. "Could be. That fugitive sounded like bad news, though. Did you see that creepy smile in the sketch? Gives me the chills."
Evan, riding ahead, added, "What bothers me more is how their leader reacted to the mention of the golem. He clearly knows something about it but wasn't willing to share."
"That's what I was thinking," Yvette agreed. "You think the elf kingdom has something to do with the golems?"
"Maybe," Evan replied, his tone cautious. "But for now, let's focus on getting back to the fort. Dyeva and Gerrard need to hear about this."
The team fell into a contemplative silence, each member lost in their thoughts as they continued their journey.
The wilderness stretched out before them, but the weight of unanswered questions lingered in the air.
After several days of arduous travel, Evan and the team finally reached the gates of Kubu Fort. The towering stone walls, lined with defensive spikes, stood as a testament to its strategic importance.
"Finally! I'm here!" Ourra shouted, raising his arms in exaggerated triumph.
Yvette rolled her eyes but smirked. "You sound like you've been walking barefoot this whole time."
Ourri added with a laugh, "Don't act like you didn't complain about your saddle the entire trip, brother."
"Quiet, you two," Evan called out, but there was a faint smile tugging at his lips. "We're heading straight to the guild hall. We need everyone assembled for a meeting."
The group nodded, their lighthearted banter fading as the weight of their mission and discoveries returned to their minds.
"Finally, I'm here!" Ourra cheered, spreading his arms wide at the gates. "Thought I was going to lose my mind out there!"
Ourri, always the quieter of the two, glanced at his brother, muttering, "Don't act like you didn't enjoy it. It's just the last stretch that's the worst."
Yvette, tired but still sharp, gave a small smirk. "Yeah, but after that golem battle, I'm just glad to be back."
Evan's gaze, however, remained serious. "Let's keep focused. We've got work to do." He motioned toward the guild hall. "Head inside. We need to report."