The four companions left the village and embarked on their journey. Their mission was to travel through the dense forest, eliminating minor monsters and ensuring safe passage for travelers.
As they carefully navigated the thick foliage, a horde of grotesque creatures suddenly blocked their path. Their twisted forms snarled and clawed at the air, their hungry eyes locked onto the group. Though weak individually, their sheer numbers made them a threat.
Lisa's grip on her sword tightened. "Damn, there are a lot of them. Stay sharp—these things aren't going down easy."
Merslin exhaled, feeling his pulse quicken. He stretched out his hands, channeling his magic. Golden runes shimmered around his arms as his body surged with raw energy.
"I'll push my limits a bit. Lisa, let's round them up!"
With his enhanced speed and power, Merslin dashed forward, weaving between the creatures with lightning-fast reflexes. Lisa flanked from the side, using precise strikes to drive them toward a single point.
"Keep them together!" Merslin shouted, maneuvering the enemies into a tight formation.
Elena raised her hands, her fingertips crackling with raw energy. A glowing magic circle expanded beneath her feet.
"Everyone, get back! I'm about to erase them!" she commanded.
The moment they retreated, a blinding surge of magical light engulfed the battlefield. The creatures shrieked in agony as they disintegrated into dust.
As the last echoes of the spell faded, the four of them let out a collective sigh of relief.
"That was insane," Merslin muttered, wiping sweat from his brow.
Lisa smirked, sheathing her sword. "Not bad, rookie. You actually made my job easier for once."
Elena dusted off her robe and smiled. "We're getting stronger as a team."
After the intense battle, the group continued their journey until they arrived at a small, quiet village nestled between the hills. The villagers greeted them with warmth, offering food and lodging.
An elderly man, his face lined with wisdom, approached them. "Travelers, welcome to our village. If you need anything, don't hesitate to ask."
"Thank you. This place feels… peaceful," Aria murmured, admiring the simple beauty of the town.
As they settled in, the villagers began sharing whispers of a strange phenomenon in a distant town.
"Lately, things have been… odd in Silvermoon," a merchant confided. "People have gone missing. And at night… you can hear something—something unnatural."
Merslin exchanged a glance with Elena. "That sounds serious. Where is this town?"
"It's north of here," the merchant replied. "Silvermoon is a large town—plenty of supplies, but lately… something isn't right."
The group listened carefully. The atmosphere turned heavy. A mystery awaited them.
After bidding farewell to the villagers, they set out toward Silvermoon. The city was vast, lively, and filled with merchants, travelers, and street performers.
"This place is huge. We should be able to find a lot of information here," Elena observed.
As they wandered through the marketplace, chaos suddenly erupted.
"Thief! Someone stop him!" a merchant's frantic voice rang out.
Merslin's head snapped toward the commotion. A hooded figure was darting through the crowd, clutching stolen goods.
"Lisa, let's go!"
With a flick of his hand, Merslin cast a speed-enhancing spell. His vision blurred as his boots hit the pavement, closing the gap between them.
Lisa, keeping pace beside him, smirked. "Let's see who's faster."
The thief ducked into a narrow alley, but Lisa vaulted over crates and barrels effortlessly, staying right on his tail.
"Merslin! Give me a boost!"
Without hesitation, Merslin cupped his hands. Lisa used his hands as a springboard and soared over the wall, landing directly in the thief's path.
The thief skidded to a stop, panic flashing in his eyes.
"End of the line," Lisa said coolly, her sword gleaming under the sun.
Merslin climbed over the wall and conjured a binding spell. Chains of light wrapped around the thief, locking him in place.
"Time to return what you stole," Merslin stated firmly.
The thief, realizing escape was impossible, dropped the stolen goods.
They handed him over to the city guards. The grateful merchant bowed deeply.
"You saved my livelihood! I don't know how to thank you!"
Lisa shrugged. "Just doing our job."
After their heroic act, the group decided to visit a renowned magic shop in the heart of the city. Inside, brilliantly glowing artifacts lined the walls, radiating an aura of power.
"This place is incredible," Elena whispered in awe.
Merslin approached the shopkeeper. "We're looking for magical equipment. Can you recommend anything?"
The shopkeeper nodded. "Of course. But be warned—quality comes with a price."
The moment they saw the price tags, their excitement turned to dread.
"These prices are insane!" Lisa groaned.
"This armor is amazing, but… I'd have to sell my soul to afford it," Elena muttered.
Aria's eyes sparkled as she stared at a weight-reducing magic tool. "This would help me so much in battle… but it's way too expensive."
Merslin turned to the shopkeeper. "Is there any way we can get these at a lower price?"
The shopkeeper chuckled. "I wish I could help, but these are top-tier artifacts. No discounts."
Aria clasped her hands together, putting on her best pleading expression.
"P-please? This magic item is really important… I promise I'll use it wisely!" she pleaded, tilting her head slightly.
The shopkeeper chuckled, shaking his head. "You're too adorable for your own good. Alright, I'll give you a special 15% discount."
"Really?! Thank you so much!" Aria beamed.
Lisa rolled her eyes. "Seriously? I should try that sometime."
Elena laughed. "I don't think that would work for you, Lisa."
Merslin sighed and made his decision. He picked up a magic-enhancing artifact.
"This one. It'll be the most useful for all of us."
Elena placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "Good choice. Whatever you pick, we trust you."
Lisa smirked. "Yeah. But next time, I'm picking first."
With their new equipment, the four of them stepped out into the streets of Silvermoon, ready for the challenges ahead.