The air was thick with tension. The unnatural glow in the pigs' eyes pulsed like flickering embers, and the dark energy binding Dante crackled with an ominous hum. Alina's fingers tightened around the hilt of her sword.
Solus stood unmoving, his hooded figure towering over them like a nightmare given form. "Decide quickly, Alina," he said, his voice disturbingly calm. "Power… or despair?"
Alina's breath was ragged, but her eyes burned with resolve. "I choose neither," she declared, shifting her stance. "I make my own path."
She lunged forward, swinging her broadsword with every ounce of force she had left. The steel hummed as it cut through the air, aimed straight at Solus's chest.
But just as her blade was about to strike, Solus vanished into a swirling mass of shadows.
Alina's sword met empty space. The sudden disappearance left her off-balance, and she stumbled forward.
Dante, freed from the dark bindings, dropped to his knees, gasping. His daggers clattered to the ground as he coughed. "Damn… that was unpleasant."
Alina spun around, scanning the area. The shadowy figure was gone. "Coward!" she shouted, her voice echoing into the night.
A chuckle, eerie and distant, drifted through the air. "You amuse me, Alina. But our game is not over."
Then, silence.
The unnatural glow in the pigs' eyes dimmed, flickering once before vanishing entirely. A collective shudder passed through the animals, and suddenly, their aggression vanished. The once-enraged creatures blinked, confused, as if waking from a trance. Some grunted and turned away, while others sniffed the air warily before retreating into the darkness of the forest.
Just like that, the battle was over.
---
Dante groaned as he pushed himself to his feet. "Next time, let's take a quest that involves something normal. Like… I don't know, delivering letters?"
Alina sheathed her sword, exhaling deeply. "You're assuming we get a next time."
Dante smirked, though his legs were still shaking. "You saw that guy, right? He fled. We won."
Alina wasn't so sure. Solus had let them go. That wasn't the same as winning.
The villagers, who had been watching from a distance, finally rushed forward. The man who had warned them earlier practically threw himself at their feet. "You—you saved us!"
Dante cracked a grin. "Yes, we did. And as much as I'd love to enjoy the admiration, I think I need a drink first."
An older woman stepped forward, wiping her hands on her apron. "We owe you both our deepest gratitude. We thought those pigs were normal at first, but then they started attacking anyone who got close to the fields. It was as if they weren't even animals anymore, just… creatures of rage."
Alina nodded, her mind still racing. "Whatever was controlling them, it's gone now. For the time being."
The village leader, a grizzled man with a thick beard, approached them next. "You two have done us a great service. And… I believe you deserve a reward."
He pulled out a small leather pouch and handed it to Alina. She opened it and found a handful of silver coins, far more than she had expected for such a low-ranked quest.
"Are you sure?" Alina asked, her brows furrowed.
The leader chuckled. "This is more than just a simple hunt. You two protected our home. Consider this a bonus."
Dante pocketed a few coins before Alina could protest. "Well, if you insist, who are we to say no?"
Alina sighed, shaking her head.
---
By the time they left the village, the sun was starting to rise. The pink and orange hues of dawn stretched across the sky, painting the world in soft light. The cool morning air was refreshing after the chaos of the previous night.
Dante stretched his arms behind his head. "So, what do you think that guy wanted? Solus, or whatever he called himself?"
Alina frowned, her mind still fixated on the encounter. "He knew who I was. Or at least, he knew something about me."
"Yeah, that was weird." Dante nodded. "And he tried to get you to join him. What's up with that?"
Alina didn't have an answer. There was something deeply unsettling about Solus. He hadn't fought them seriously. He had tested them. As if he was waiting for something.
"He'll be back," she said finally. "I can feel it."
Dante groaned. "Oh, great. Another creepy villain fixated on you. You sure you don't have some kind of magic that attracts trouble?"
Alina smirked. "If I did, I'd use it to make you disappear."
"Cold," Dante said, placing a hand over his heart in mock pain.
They walked in comfortable silence for a while, the sounds of the early morning surrounding them. Birds chirped, and a gentle breeze rustled the leaves in the trees.
For the first time in days, Alina allowed herself to relax.
She had completed her first Rank E quest. It wasn't the grand victory she had hoped for, but it was a step forward.
And that was enough.
For now.
---
By the time they reached the Adventurer's Guild, the place was already lively with adventurers coming and going. The scent of freshly baked bread and strong ale drifted from the kitchen, mingling with the distinct smell of sweat and steel.
Alina strode up to the counter where the guild receptionist, a sharp-eyed woman named Felicia, greeted them with a raised brow.
"Back already? I expected you to take at least a week."
Dante smirked. "We work fast."
Felicia eyed them both, then glanced at the quest notice they handed in. "Wild pigs causing trouble, huh? Should have been easy."
Alina hesitated before saying, "There was… something else. A man named Solus. He was controlling the pigs."
Felicia's normally calm expression shifted slightly. "Solus?"
"You've heard of him?" Alina asked.
Felicia tapped her fingers on the desk, her gaze unreadable. "There are rumors. Whispers about a dark summoner gathering power in the shadows. But no one has seen him… until now."
Alina felt a chill run down her spine.
Felicia sighed. "I'll report this to the guildmaster. In the meantime, here's your reward."
She slid a small pouch of additional coins across the counter.
Dante grabbed it before Alina could protest. "Nice doing business with you!"
Alina rolled her eyes.
---
With their reward in hand, they settled into one of the guild's dining tables, ordering a warm meal to celebrate their first victory.
Dante raised his mug. "To our first successful quest as a team!"
Alina hesitated, then clinked her cup against his. "To many more."
As they ate, Alina's thoughts drifted back to Solus.
He had retreated this time.
But something told her this was only the beginning.
For now, though, she allowed herself a moment to breathe, knowing full well that the peace wouldn't last long.