After leaving the magic shop, the group found themselves in front of the Silvermoon City notice board. Various announcements were pinned up, but one in particular caught their attention.
Bounty Notice: Eliminate the Bandit Gang
A notorious bandit group has been terrorizing the outskirts of Silvermoon. A reward will be granted upon mission completion. For further details, visit the city guards.
Merslin plucked the notice off the board. "This seems like the perfect job for us. Let's report to the guards."
When they arrived at the city guard station, they presented the bounty request.
"We'd like to take on this mission," Merslin declared.
The captain of the guards eyed them carefully, his expression skeptical. "A party with one man and three women? Are you sure you can handle this?"
Lisa crossed her arms, irritation flashing in her eyes. "You think we can't?"
Merslin kept his cool and spoke with confidence. "We've faced countless dangers together. This mission will be no different."
After a moment of silence, the guard captain nodded. "Very well. If you succeed, you'll be rewarded. The bandits have set up camp deep in the northern forest. Proceed with caution."
"We won't let you down," Merslin replied.
The group gathered their gear and set off toward the dense, rugged terrain where the bandits were hiding.
The journey through the forest was treacherous, filled with uneven paths and thick vegetation. As they advanced, the faint glow of campfires flickered in the distance.
At the heart of the forest, a hidden stronghold lay nestled between cliffs and towering trees. Wooden watchtowers stood tall, and armed guards patrolled the perimeter.
"This place is heavily guarded," Lisa whispered.
Merslin tightened his grip on his weapon, casting an enhancement spell to boost his strength. "Lisa, let's break their formation. You lead, and I'll support."
Lisa grinned. "Finally, some action. Let's show them what we can do."
Elena studied the surroundings. "If Lisa can drive them into a tight spot, Merslin and I can unleash an area attack to wipe them out."
Aria clutched her staff, readying her spells. "I'll focus on keeping everyone safe. Just don't do anything reckless!"
The battle began.
Lisa rushed forward like a storm, her blade flashing as she tore through the bandits' defenses. Her movements were a blur, each strike precise and lethal.
"You want a fight? Come and get it!" she taunted, drawing their attention.
The bandits scrambled in disarray, struggling to keep up with her speed.
"Now, Elena!" Lisa shouted.
Merslin thrust his palm forward, summoning a chain of lightning that arced through the enemy ranks. Electricity crackled as the bandits collapsed, stunned by the magical surge.
Elena followed up by unleashing a binding spell, golden threads wrapping around the remaining bandits, rendering them immobile.
The surviving bandits tried to counterattack, but Aria's protective spells shielded Lisa, ensuring she could fight without injury.
Minutes later, the hideout fell into complete chaos and silence. The bandits lay defeated.
The team thoroughly searched the bandit camp, retrieving stolen goods and documents.
"Looks like they were smuggling more than just stolen goods," Elena murmured, scanning the records.
With their mission complete, they returned to Silvermoon's city guard headquarters, reporting their success.
The guard captain, visibly impressed, handed them their reward.
"You've done a great service to this city. We're grateful," he said with genuine appreciation.
Merslin accepted the reward but couldn't shake a nagging feeling. "These bandits… something doesn't add up. Why were they gathering so many supplies?"
Elena agreed. "This feels like part of something bigger. We should investigate further."
The Silvermoon Mage's Guild
The team's next stop was the Silvermoon Mage's Guild, a prestigious institution in the city's heart.
A towering structure, its intricate carvings and floating magical runes radiated an air of mystery and wisdom. Inside, mages engaged in deep discussions, some scribbling notes while others experimented with spells.
Elena led the way. "Let's see if there are any useful missions or information here."
At the front desk, a mage greeted them. "Welcome. Are you seeking a mission or magical research?"
Merslin nodded. "We're looking for information about recent unusual occurrences in Silvermoon."
The mage handed them a mission board with multiple requests.
"This one looks promising," Elena mused, scanning the details.
"Yeah, but before taking another mission, we should check out the rumors we heard in the last village," Merslin suggested.
"Agreed. Let's gather intel before making our next move," Lisa added.
The team delved into the Guild's archives, poring over records about strange disappearances and disturbances in Silvermoon.
Nightfall - A City's Hidden Secrets
As night fell, they wandered through the shadowed streets of Silvermoon, searching for the eerie sounds and disappearances rumored to occur at night.
A merchant whispered anxiously, "Every night, strange noises echo through the streets… and people vanish without a trace."
Merslin's expression hardened. "If that's true, we need to find out what's behind it."
A local innkeeper nodded gravely. "They say the sounds come from the abandoned district… near the old ruins."
Aria clutched her staff. "Then that's where we should go."
Following the rumors, they arrived at a long-forgotten building, its structure weakened with age.
"This is the place," Lisa whispered.
As they entered, the scent of dust and decay filled the air. Their footsteps echoed eerily against the stone floor.
Then, a hidden passage revealed itself beneath a collapsed bookshelf.
"Something's down there," Merslin muttered.
Descending the dark staircase, they entered a vast underground chamber illuminated by eerie blue light. Strange symbols covered the walls, pulsating with an unnatural energy.
At the center stood cloaked figures, chanting in a language unknown.
"A cult… They're behind the disappearances," Elena hissed.
Merslin clenched his fist. "We need to stop them before they complete whatever ritual this is."
Elena quickly cast a Silence spell, muting the chants and throwing the cultists into disarray.
Merslin followed up with a Sleep spell, causing several cultists to collapse instantly.
Aria raised a defensive barrier, shielding them from magical counterattacks.
Lisa, with her blinding speed, closed the gap between herself and their leader, striking his hand before he could cast a spell.
"It's over," Lisa growled.
With their leader incapacitated, the remaining cultists panicked and surrendered.
After securing the area, the team examined the altar at the center of the chamber.
"These symbols… they're part of something ancient," Merslin murmured.
Elena traced her fingers along the markings. "I've seen these before. They resemble texts from lost civilizations."
Lisa frowned. "Whatever this is, it's dangerous. If we don't uncover the truth, Silvermoon will be in even greater peril."
With this discovery, they decided to report their findings to both the Mage's Guild and the City Guard.
As they stepped out of the ruins, the first light of dawn painted the city in golden hues.
A new mystery lay ahead, and their greatest challenges were yet to come.
To be continued…