Morning at the Inn
After solving the recent incident, the four companions headed to a local inn in Silvermoon to rest. The inn had a warm, inviting atmosphere—perfect for easing their exhaustion.
"Today was exhausting. Let's take a break here," Elena said with a sigh.
The group approached the innkeeper to request rooms, settling into the cozy lobby as they waited. As they sat, a conversation nearby caught their attention.
A man with half-lidded eyes and a mysterious aura spoke with the innkeeper.
"Innkeeper, I've heard rumors about an ancient ruin being discovered nearby."
His voice was calm yet carried a sense of intrigue.
The innkeeper nodded. "Yes, Kyle. I've heard the same. There's an old ruin deep in the northern mountains. But be warned—it's dangerous."
Kyle smiled. "Interesting. Thank you for the information."
Merslin and his companions exchanged glances, their curiosity piqued.
Kyle, having noticed their interest, turned toward them with a knowing smile.
"You seem like adventurers. Have you heard of this ruin?"
Merslin nodded. "Yes, we have. We want to learn more about it."
Kyle's eyes glimmered with intrigue. "Then I suggest heading north. That place is filled with secrets waiting to be uncovered. I plan to investigate it myself, so if you need help, feel free to find me."
Elena nodded. "Thanks, Kyle. We'll check it out."
Kyle gave a slight nod and disappeared into his room, leaving the group to plan their next steps.
"We need to explore that ruin," Lisa said, her excitement evident.
"Right. There might be something important hidden there," Aria agreed.
Merslin clenched his fist with determination. "Then let's rest for tonight. Tomorrow, we'll head out first thing in the morning."
With that decided, they approached the innkeeper to arrange their rooms.
Sleeping Arrangements
"Now we need to decide on room assignments," Elena pointed out.
"We have four people, so two rooms should be enough. The three of you can share a room, and I'll take the other," Merslin suggested.
Aria hesitated. "Wouldn't that be too cramped? Maybe we should get an extra room."
The innkeeper, overhearing their discussion, smiled and offered a suggestion.
"Two rooms should be fine. One room for a man and a woman, and the other for the remaining two ladies."
A deep silence fell over the group.
Lisa smirked. "That makes sense. I'll stay with Merslin."
Merslin nearly choked on air. "W-Wait, what?"
"What? We'll have two beds, right?" Lisa laughed. "Even if there was just one, it wouldn't be a problem. I've slept next to guys before—just for training, obviously!"
Elena frowned slightly but nodded. "Fine, Lisa and Merslin can share, and I'll stay with Aria."
Aria sighed in relief. "Let's go get some rest."
The Bath and Late-Night Thoughts
Elena and Aria entered their room and began changing into more comfortable clothes.
Elena casually removed her robe, stretching slightly. Aria, blushing, hesitated before doing the same.
"Aria, it's just us. No need to be shy," Elena chuckled.
Aria's face reddened. "I'm just… not used to this."
Elena found her reaction endearing. "You're adorable, Aria."
"E-Elena, stop teasing me!" Aria whined.
Meanwhile, in the other room, Lisa wasted no time shedding her outer garments.
Merslin turned away immediately. "Lisa! A little warning next time?"
Lisa smirked. "What's the big deal? We're warriors. We don't have time to be shy."
Still flustered, Merslin quickly retreated behind a curtain to change.
Lisa, watching his silhouette through the fabric, playfully commented,
"Hiding behind a curtain? You're way too careful."
"Better safe than sorry," Merslin muttered.
The Next Morning
As morning sunlight streamed through the windows, Merslin and Elena happened to meet in the hallway.
"Up early, I see," Merslin greeted.
Elena nodded, brushing her hair back. "Yeah. Couldn't sleep well. How about you? Did you and Lisa… sleep well?"
Merslin hesitated. "Uh, yeah. Lisa… sleeps like a log."
Elena let out a small laugh but didn't comment further.
The two stood there for a moment, an unspoken tension lingering between them.
Just then, Aria appeared, breaking the silence.
"Good morning! You two are up early!" she chirped.
Elena quickly smiled. "Good morning, Aria."
"Shall we go down for breakfast?" Merslin suggested.
With that, they headed downstairs to prepare for their next journey.
Breakfast and Rumors
The inn's dining hall was bustling with adventurers and travelers. The scent of fresh bread, butter, and roasted meat filled the air.
As they enjoyed their meal, they overheard some conversations.
"Did you hear? That ancient ruin in the north is more dangerous than people thought."
"Yeah, adventurers keep disappearing there. I wouldn't go near it."
Elena exchanged glances with Merslin. "This matches what we heard yesterday. We should hurry."
"Right. This is too important to ignore," Merslin agreed.
Lisa smirked. "A ruin full of secrets? I can't wait."
Aria smiled nervously. "I just hope we don't run into anything… too dangerous."
Finishing their meal, they gathered their supplies and set off toward the northern mountains, ready to uncover the ruin's secrets.
The Journey to the Ruins
The road to the ruins was rugged, lined with towering trees and uneven trails. Along the way, they encountered herbalists gathering plants and hunters tracking game.
Merslin approached one of them. "Excuse me, do you know anything about the ruins?"
An old herbalist looked up. "That place? People say it's cursed. Monsters have been appearing lately."
"Monsters?" Aria asked, eyes widening.
A nearby hunter joined the conversation. "The creatures didn't used to be there, but recently, something has stirred them up. Be careful."
Merslin nodded. "Thanks for the warning."
The party continued their journey, their excitement now laced with caution.
Discovering the Ancient Ruins
After hours of hiking, they reached the ruins. Towering stone pillars, engraved with ancient symbols, stood before them. Vines crept over the structures, and remnants of past civilizations lay scattered across the ground.
Elena ran her fingers over a faded inscription. "These symbols… they're incredibly old."
Merslin's gaze was drawn to the center of the ruins, where a grand altar stood. "There's something important here. I can feel it."
Just then, a familiar voice echoed behind them.
"You finally made it."
They turned to see Kyle standing at the entrance, his mysterious smile unwavering.
"Let's see if you can uncover the truth hidden here," he said.
With tension hanging in the air, the group prepared to uncover the secrets of the ancient ruins.