"A child?" Nimora was startled upon seeing a young boy who was said to be part of her team.
The boy's name was Rowan Mistdancer. His clothing was made of natural fabric, adorned with small twigs, wooden beads, and woven cords wrapped around his waist. Every accessory on his body was more than mere decoration—they were gifts from the forest, offerings from singing birds and playful squirrels in the branches.
In his hands, an old violin gleamed with a magical glow that flowed from the stroke of his bow. As he drew it across the strings, the air around him trembled with a melody that crept through the trees.
"You must be joking, Doc. I can't protect this kid in Mythren," said Nimora. She and Dr. Thrain were watching from a distance as Rowan's violin melody filled the air.
"You're wrong," a male elf suddenly interjected from behind them. "You don't need to protect him—he will be the one protecting you."
"Sorry, but who are you?" Nimora asked.
"He's Ry—"
"Rylan Gideon, the most handsome and formidable druid in all of Eldoria," Rylan interrupted, cutting off Dr. Thrain before he could introduce him.
Not wanting to waste any time, Dr. Thrain urged them to gather at their designated meeting point. They only needed to wait for two more people. While waiting, Rylan shared a bit about himself and Rowan.
Long ago, he had found Rowan as a baby, floating down a river in a wooden basket. He had harbored a deep hatred for humans due to an age-old conflict. And yet, fate had placed a human child in his path.
However, he realized that Rowan was just an innocent infant. He couldn't let the child drift away, so he decided to raise him.
Raising Rowan required secrecy. If the Village Chief discovered what he was doing, he would be punished. The war between humans and elves had claimed thousands of lives, making coexistence impossible. The elves were fortunate to have survived and found refuge in this hidden village.
As time passed, Rylan knew he couldn't hide Rowan's identity forever. He eventually approached the Village Chief, confessed everything, and presented Rowan before him.
The Chief was furious at the sight of a human child. But Rylan assured him that Rowan posed no threat. He vowed to raise Rowan as a loyal and honorable member of Tenebrous. More than that, he swore that if Rowan ever harmed an elf, he would accept execution without hesitation.
After much deliberation, the Village Chief agreed. From that day on, Rylan and Rowan trained together, becoming the strongest duo in Tenebrous. They even managed to defend the village from several vicious beast attacks.
As a druid, Rylan possessed the ability to communicate with animals and control the four elements—fire, water, earth, and air. However, he wasn't particularly skilled in elemental magic, relying instead on his ability to shapeshift into various creatures.
Rowan, on the other hand, was a master violinist. His violin was not just his favorite instrument but also his weapon. The melodies he played could enhance his allies, healing their wounds and rapidly restoring their stamina. In dire situations, he could even summon an electromagnetic shield. However, bards were rarely targeted in battle, as their allies would always protect them.
Just as Rylan finished his story, two figures arrived simultaneously. One was a towering, muscular man riding a wolf far larger than himself. He was Arthur Valtor.
The other person was Eira Shadowglow, a repentant necromancer. Her presence in Tenebrous was met with distrust, as necromancers were known to be the most ruthless individuals—capable of ending lives in mere seconds.
"What? Why her? She has no right to join our expedition," Rylan protested.
"I know you still can't trust her. But trust me—she will be crucial to your journey," Dr. Thrain replied calmly.
"But she's a life-drainer. What if she betrays us and takes us down before we even reach our goal?" Rowan objected, sharing Rylan's concern.
"And what are you doing here, boy?" Eira countered as she stepped toward Rowan. "You're human—a mere pest to the elves. You have no right to be here."
"Say that again, and I'll rip your guts out," Rylan threatened, his eyes locked onto Eira with a deadly glare.
Dr. Thrain intervened, breaking up their argument and urging them to focus on their mission—to find a plant known as Mythril Moss.
Once tensions settled, they set off on their journey. Arthur rode his massive wolf, Rylan and Rowan shared a stag, while Nimora and Eira each rode a horse.
•••
EVERIA
A battered man sat slumped in a chair, his hands bound behind his back. Another man, clad in an Enforcer uniform, struck him across the face.
"Where is she?" asked Lance, an older but still formidable man, loyal to Everia for as long as anyone could remember.
"I already told you—I don't know," Jake gasped, his voice weak. "I wanted to save her, but someone else got to her first."
Lance exhaled sharply before landing another brutal punch, followed by a kick that sent Jake crashing to the ground. Jake cried out in pain, but Lance didn't stop.
Suddenly, the door swung open.
"Lance, stop! That's enough," Kali commanded.
Lance halted, though his gaze remained hard and unrelenting. "He's lying. I know he knows something."
Kali stepped closer, placing a firm hand on Lance's shoulder. "Lance, we've tortured him long enough. If he truly knows nothing, there's no point in continuing. We won't get anything out of him."
Lance let out a frustrated breath before finally loosening his grip. Jake collapsed onto the floor, still bound, his face twisted in pain.
"Fine," Lance muttered, turning toward Kali.
Meanwhile, Kali studied Jake carefully. "We need to be sure he has no information about Calantha. But we also need to be sure we're not crossing a line."
"This isn't like you, Kali," Lance replied curtly before walking away.