The quiet elven town of Sylvalis lay wrapped in the gentle glow of moonlit serenity. Lanterns hung from ancient tree branches, their soft green light swaying as the evening breeze passed through. After the duel earlier that afternoon and the feast that followed, Kael, Draven, Tarian, Selene, Borin, and Mira had chosen to rest at Selene's home for the night.
Her parents, Faelar and Naevys, were warm and welcoming hosts, insisting that the group take every room available. Kael slept on a bed softer than any he had used in his life—woven from silken leaf fibers enchanted for comfort. He felt his body finally relax after days of escorting, fighting thieves, and struggling with his own emotional burden of taking lives.
But their peaceful night would not last long.
Morning light filtered gently through the translucent leaves forming the windows. Kael blinked awake slowly. The fragrance of fresh bread filled the house—surely Naevys was already busy in the kitchen. Draven was still snoring lightly beside him, wrapped in a cozy blanket.
Kael nudged him.
"Wake up, Draven… It's morning."
Draven groaned. "Five more minutes…"
"No, seriously. Tarian said we leave early."
That worked. Draven sat up with total laziness.
Within minutes, the entire group was outside Selene's home, adjusting bags, tightening belts, cleaning weapons, and preparing for departure.
But something was wrong.
A distant commotion echoed across the wooden platforms of Sylvalis. Murmurs. Gasps. The sound of hurried footsteps.
Kael frowned. "What's going on over there?"
Selene's eyes widened. "That's near the main gate…"
They hurried toward the entrance. A crowd of elves had gathered, whispering anxiously. When they pushed through to the front, Kael felt a cold knot form in his stomach.
Several elves lay on the wooden floor—bleeding, bruised, trembling. Their tunics were torn, some were missing armor pieces, and one had a desperate grip on a broken spear.
Naevys was kneeling beside one, using healing magic. "Hold still—don't move too much—"
"What happened?" Draven asked.
One of the wounded elves coughed violently before gasping,"L–Lizardmen… They ambushed us… near the southern trail…"
Another elf cried out in agony, clutching his leg. "There were dozens of them. We tried to retreat—but they chased us! Like they were hunting us!"
Kael exchanged a sharp look with Tarian.
Selene whispered, "This isn't normal… Lizardmen rarely hunt in broad daylight…"
Then Sir Eldrin Swiftstrike, the knight commander of Sylvalis, stepped forward. His green cloak fluttered behind him as he inspected the damage.
His eyes—sharp like falcon talons—turned toward Kael and the others.
"You all… you must leave immediately," Eldrin said sternly. "The forest grows dangerous by the hour. If you move now, you may reach the outskirts of Therandil before nightfall."
Tarian nodded gravely. "Then we shouldn't waste any more time."
Kael felt a pang of worry. He remembered the lizardmen attack during the escort trip. They were fast, organized, and frighteningly intelligent.
Draven placed a hand on his shoulder. "We'll be careful. We've handled them before."
Kael nodded slowly. "Yeah… Let's get moving."
The group bid farewell to Selene's parents, who hugged their daughter tightly.
"Stay safe," Faelar murmured."Come back any time," Naevys added.
As they left Sylvalis, Kael glanced back at the elegant treetop homes, the glowing lanterns, the peaceful bridges of vines and wood—and the bandaged elves at the gate.
A chill crawled up his spine.
The forest felt different this time.
The wind was too still. The air too heavy. Even the birds kept silent.
After hours of travel, Kael checked the sun's position.
"We covered most of the distance… Just a bit more and we'll reach the outer roads."
Draven exhaled with relief. "Good. Hopefully nothing happens—"
A sudden rustle echoed from behind them.
Kael froze.
Tarian's voice sharpened. "Everyone—stop the carts."
Borin, who was driving the rear cart, frowned. "What's wrong?"
Then they heard it.
Soft footsteps.
Low hisses.
Claws scratching bark.
Mira's eyes widened. "No way…"
Kael grabbed his sword. "They followed us."
From between the trees, glowing slit-pupil eyes emerged—one pair, then two, then five… then dozens.
The Lizardmen had been stalking them.
"Move!" Tarian shouted. "Drive faster! Don't stop unless we have to!"
The horses galloped, wheels creaking as carts bumped over the forest road.
But the lizardmen were faster.
They ran on all fours, then leaped onto trees, then jumped down with terrifying precision.
One landed directly in front of the carts, forcing them to skid to a halt.
Kael cursed. "We fight!"
The battle exploded instantly.
A lizardman swung a jagged spear toward Kael. He blocked it, sparks flying.
Another clashed against Draven, who used his dagger in close combat while firing an arrow at point-blank range.
Selene chanted spells rapidly, unleashing bright spheres of light that exploded against the lizardmen's scales.
"Push them back!" Mira shouted, swinging her axe with tremendous force.
Borin jabbed his spear repeatedly, trying to keep them away from the carts.
For every lizardman they killed, two more lunged forward. Their numbers were frightening.
Kael gritted his teeth. "We… we can't let them get past us!"
With a precise strike, he cut down another lizardman. His body moved almost instinctively—dodging, countering, slicing. Sweat dripped down his forehead, but he didn't stop.
"Kael, left side!" Draven yelled.
Kael turned just in time to block a spear aimed at his ribs.
Their fight continued until, finally, the last lizardman collapsed.
Everyone stood panting heavily, gasping for air, clothes torn, bodies aching.
Mira wiped blood off her cheek. "Gods… they were so many…"
Borin panted. "Please let that be the last of them—"
But the forest trembled.
Thud.Thud.THUD.
Kael's heart sank.
"That's… not lizardmen."
Three massive figures stepped out of the darkening trees.
Towering. Muscular. Covered in bone armor.
Orcs.
Tarian's face turned pale. "Everyone—brace yourselves!"
The orcs roared and charged.
The ground shook with each step.
Kael barely lifted his sword in time as an orc's massive club slammed into him. The blow sent him sliding several feet, his boots digging into the dirt.
Draven fired arrow after arrow—but the orc simply broke them mid-air using its armored forearm.
Selene prepared a spell. "Wind Burst—!"
But before she finished chanting, a second orc slammed a giant hand into her stomach, throwing her across the ground.
"SELENE!" Tarian screamed, his voice breaking.
Something inside Tarian snapped.
His aura turned icy cold. Frost rose from his skin.
"You miserable brute… I'll kill you!"
He lunged at the orc who hurt Selene. A spear of ice formed in his hands, glowing bright blue.
The orc swung its club—but Tarian dodged with blinding speed, stabbing the ice spear into the creature's leg.
The orc roared in agony.
Tarian raised both arms. "Frozen Tomb!"
Ice erupted from the ground, forming a massive jagged prison around the orc, trapping it completely.
But the orc, fueled by rage, shattered the ice.
Tarian didn't hesitate.
"Die!"
He thrust the spear straight into the creature's heart. The orc stumbled, gurgled, and collapsed.
While Tarian fought his foe, Kael struggled against a massive orc of his own. Its blade—almost the size of Kael—came crashing down repeatedly.
Kael blocked each hit, but his arms trembled violently from the impact.
"I can't… keep this up…" he gritted out.
The orc swung again—but Kael rolled aside at the last second and slashed at its thigh.
The orc roared but barely slowed.
Draven shouted, "Kael! Above you!"
Kael looked up too late—The orc slammed him with its forearm, sending him crashing into a fallen tree.
Blood dripped from Kael's lip. His ribs throbbed. Every breath hurt.
The orc approached, ready to finish him.
Kael forced himself upright.
"Not… yet…"
He accepted the pain and pushed forward, slicing upward—cutting off the orc's arm.
The orc staggered back, bellowing in fury.
Draven fired a glowing arrow infused with paralysis poison.The arrow struck the orc's neck.
Its body froze.
Kael didn't waste the opening.He charged behind it, gripping his sword tightly, and sliced deeply across its throat.
The orc crumpled.
Kael swallowed back bile. Another kill. Another weight on his conscience.
But there was no time to think.
The third orc overpowered both Mira and Borin.
Borin stabbed its leg—but the orc punched him square in the chest, launching him several meters through the air.
"BORIN!" Mira screamed.
Her body trembled—then snapped.
Wind magic surged around her axe.
"You stupid, ugly monster… I'll tear you apart!"
She dashed forward with surprising speed. The orc swung its club downward, but she slid beneath the attack and leaped upward.
"Wind Edge—WRATH!"
Her axe glowing with swirling emerald energy, Mira cleaved downward—
SLASH!
Clean from head to belly.
The orc split into two halves.
The forest fell silent.
Only the crackling of torches and the heavy breathing of the exhausted adventurers filled the air.
Kael stumbled toward Selene. She was conscious, but groaning in pain.
Tarian knelt beside her, trembling. "Selene… say something…"
She smiled weakly. "I-I'm fine… It looks worse than it is…"
"Don't lie to me," Tarian whispered, voice cracking.
Draven handed him healing potions. Tarian carefully poured them over Selene's wounds.
Color slowly returned to her face.
Kael exhaled in relief. "Thank the heavens…"
Everyone was shaken.
"This place isn't safe," Mira said firmly. "We have to rest, but someone must stay awake."
"I'll take first watch," Tarian muttered, refusing to leave Selene's side.
"I'll watch too," Draven added.
Kael nodded. "Then Mira and I will sleep for a few hours."
They set up a small camp on the roadside. A fire was lit. Selene was wrapped in blankets.
Kael lay down but didn't sleep immediately. His mind replayed the fight again and again.
The lizardmen.The orcs.The killing.The fear.
He clenched his fist.
"I have to get stronger… much stronger…"
Eventually, exhaustion pulled him into sleep.
Morning sunlight broke through the trees. Birds chirped cautiously—still wary after the violence of the previous night.
Everyone looked drained, but Selene could stand again, though still sore.
Kael and Tarian climbed onto the carts' front seats, holding the reins.
"Let's go home," Tarian said softly.
Draven and Mira collapsed into the back, instantly falling asleep.
The journey was long but peaceful this time. No lizardmen. No orcs. No threats.
The trees slowly thinned.
And finally—
They emerged onto the familiar open roads leading to Therandil.
Kael let out a breath he didn't realize he'd been holding.
"We made it…"
Tarian nodded. "Yes. Despite everything—we made it."
Draven yawned from the back. "Wake me when we reach the gates."
Mira groaned, "I'm never fighting an orc again…"
Kael smiled faintly.
As the towering walls of Therandil came into view, the group felt their bodies relax, their hearts lighten.
They had survived the forest.They had survived lizardmen and orcs.They had protected one another.
And they had made it home.