The last thing I expected was to be awakened by Henry jabbing my face over and over, repeating the same word until my groggy brain finally managed to process it.
"Atlas. Atlas. Atlas. Atlas."
"Stop that," I hissed, swatting his hand away. "What do you want?"
He only shrugged. "Oh, I was just wondering when you cut your hair."
I just stared at him.
This was why he kept jabbing my face?
With a sigh, I answered him, only for Benjamin, who was seated on his bed, to chime in, sounding mildly curious. "When did you find the time to do that?"
"I just felt it was getting too long for my liking."
Henry, ever the skeptic, added, "So you just woke up, decided to cut your hair, and then did it?"
I nodded. "Yep, you pretty much summed it up. So are there any more questions, or can we go eat?"
Henry shrugged. "I guess."
Downstairs, we met up with everyone else, and I had to go through the whole process of explaining my impromptu haircut to the entire group.
"It looks good on you," Ella complimented.
Emily, on the otherhand, looked down at her dirty blond hair with a thoughtful expression, "You know, it's getting a little long. I wonder if there's a salon around."
"Who knows?" Henry added clearly done with the topic. "Anyway, we should make our way to the guild."
As we approached the guild, the streets grew denser with adventurers of every class. Armored warriors, robed mages, and agile rogues, the whole lot forming a lively, almost chaotic scene. Emily looked around, wide-eyed. "Wow, there are a lot of people."
Pushing through the bustling crowd, we finally reached the guild entrance. To our surprise, the interior wasn't nearly as crowded as the outside suggested.
And just as Amalia was about to ask around to see what the commotion was about, a familiar face cut through the crowd. "There you are!"
We turned to see Rebecca weaving her way through the crowd, a wide grin on her face.
"Rebecca!" Amelia blinked in surprise as she stepped forward and pulled her into a quick hug. "Good to see you."
Rebecca gave her a quick squeeze back, then looked at the rest of us.
"Hey, do you know what's going on?" Amelia asked, nodding toward the growing crowd. "Feels like half the city's gathered here."
Rebecca's grin widened. "That's actually why I was looking for you." She leaned in slightly, her voice dropping just enough to pull us in. "A group just found an entrance to a stronghold, completely untouched, and the guild's putting together an expedition." She glanced between us, eyes hopeful. "And… I was really hoping you'd be part of it."
Amelia raised a brow, thoughtful. "That does sound interesting… but how risky are we talking?"
Rebecca gave a small shrug and a nod, her tone shifting more serious. "There's always danger. But that's why the guild's preparing a large force. And the rewards?"
She paused, letting the weight of her words settle. "Let's just say... if it's actually untouched. The kind that changes lives."
"We should go," Ella chimed in, practically bouncing on her heels. "We've all got our cores now, and who knows what we'll find in there?"
Amelia glanced at me, then Henry, her lips pursed in thought. After a beat, she gave a small shrug and a smile. "Alright. We're in."
"Perfect." Rebecca clapped her hands once. "Let's get you signed up."
She turned and led the way through the crowd toward the guild's front desk.
"When exactly are we heading out?" Henry asked as we walked, adjusting the strap of his bag.
Rebecca looked back over her shoulder. "Three hours. That'll give you time to gear up and grab anything you're missing."
Once our names were on the roster, Rebecca glanced between us.
"Hey, my team's grabbing food nearby, would you all like to join us?"
"I would love to," Ella chimed in.
With nods from the others, she brought us to a cozy restaurant down the street, where her team was already enjoying a hearty spread.
"David," Rebecca announced with a smile, "I've invited Amelia's team to join us on the expedition."
David looked up from his meal and greeted us with a mix of emotions. His gaze landed on Ella, and he smiled, although it flickered as if surprised by something, but masked it a split second later. "I see you've all been keeping busy. And Ella, it's nice to see that you finally got your core."
Rebecca motioned for us to sit, and we joined her around the table, just in time for Matthew to lean back, eyes narrowing as he gave us a once-over.
"Well I'll be damned…" he muttered, voice low and gravelly with a touch of surprise. "Your levels shot up since last I saw ya. What've you lot been up to—slayin' dragons in your spare time?"
Henry blinked, scratching the back of his neck. "Uh… just a couple jobs, really."
Matthew raised an eyebrow, clearly unconvinced. "Just a couple?" he echoed, scoffing. "If all it took was a couple jobs t' climb like that, I'd be loungin' in the capital with a pipe in one hand and a silver goblet in the other."
I stiffened slightly. Was our growth really that fast?
A low grunt rumbled from nearby. Michael, who had been silent until now, shifted in his seat.
"It's not impossible…" he said, voice like a landslide. His eyes drifted toward Daniel, clearly expecting him to elaborate.
Daniel coughed awkwardly and leaned forward, fingers steepled.
"Some people experience a smoother transference of power when they receive their core," he explained. "But all of you, at the same time? That's… rare." He paused, eyes alight with a flicker of fascination. "Oh, what I'd give to study a trait like that."
Before the mood could dip too far into strange territory, David knocked his knuckles on the table with a loud thud, breaking the tension.
"Anyway—right, yeah—long story short, sounds like your cores resonate well. Some people just get lucky with the sync. No one really knows why cores work the way they do."
Matthew waved a dismissive hand.
"Oye, enough of the nick-knacks. What say we settle this the proper way?"
He leaned forward with a grin. "Arm-wrestlin'. Let's see if that fancy power o' yours holds up in a test of grit."
David shot him a look. "That won't be necessary."
Lauren chimed in with a smirk. "You do remember the last time you tried that, right? I think your wallet still has trauma."
Matthew winced. "Oi, that was a setup! That table was ready to snap before I even touched it. A stiff breeze could've taken it out, I swear."
"Yeah? Still cost you twenty-eight silver to replace," Lauren said sweetly, clearly enjoying herself.
Matthew threw up his hands, scandalized. "A scam, I tell ya! Daylight robbery!" He crossed his arms with a huff, slouching back in his chair. "Anyhow…" He cleared his throat and gestured around the table. "This your first real expedition?"
We nodded.
Matthew let out a breath, almost a groan. "Well… brace yourselves. Last one I went on? Absolute mess. Was s'posed to be this big treasure run."
He stared at the ceiling as if trying to scrub the memory from his mind.
"Turned out to be a dump. No beasts, no loot, no nothin'. Guild didn't even pay us in the end." He scoffed hard. "Whole thing was about as useful as a wet torch."
Lauren leaned in and gently patted his head. "Poor thing. Still holding onto that, huh?"
Matthew flinched like she'd struck him. "Oi! What'd I tell you about touchin' the hair?"
"Oh? You mean this?" Lauren teased, fingers hovering dangerously close again.
He swatted at her hand with mock outrage but missed. "Ohh… you're pushing it', woman!"
Their back-and-forth carried on, voices rising and falling as laughter spread around the table. Plates emptied, mugs clinked, and time slipped by like warm smoke in the air.
Before long, the hour of the expedition arrived.
After the meal, we spent the rest of our time gathering some supplies and made our way back to the square.
David was checking his pack for the third time, muttering to himself about supplies. Rebeca leaned casually against a wooden post, her arms crossed, though her eyes drifted from the crowd and back to me with a curious expression.
"Quiet! It's the guild master!" someone near the front hissed, their voice slicing through the low rumble of chatter.
Like a ripple across still water, silence spread through the courtyard. Conversations died mid-sentence. A shifting boot echoed too loudly. Even the wind seemed to hush.
All eyes turned to the raised platform ahead, where a lone figure stood watching us.
He wore a weathered leather jacket, faded by years of sun and storms. The fabric clung to his broad frame like a second skin, each crease and scuff a quiet testament to battles long behind him. His beard, flecked with grey, framed a face carved by time. And his sharp brown eyes swept across the crowd, not with the cold authority of a commander, but with the quiet weight of someone who had walked these same roads, fought these same fights.
He didn't raise his arms or bark for attention. He didn't need to.
A few steps to my left, Nick nudged David with an elbow, and he stiffened before standing a little straighter, eyes locked forward.
Then, finally, the guild master spoke.
His voice was steady, worn at the edges, and carried like the ring of steel on stone.
"Guildmates. Friends."
He paused, the words hanging in the quiet like the first roll of thunder before a storm.
"You all know I'm not much for speeches. So I won't give you one."
A few chuckles stirred in the back, but no one interrupted.
"You already know what's ahead. You've seen the danger, the sacrifice, and the work it takes to come home in one piece. No speech changes that."
He took a slow step forward, gaze never leaving the crowd.
"But I will say this, when we head out today, we're not just going on another job. This one's different. The kind you remember. The kind that shapes what comes next."
"And because of that," he continued, "we've chosen a leader who's earned that role more than once."
He extended a hand, gesturing to the edge of the platform.
"Captain Thorian."
A murmur of recognition rippled through the courtyard as Captain Thorian stepped forward.
He looked every bit the seasoned veteran, with tall, broad-shouldered, and that calm authority. His armor bore the scars of a dozen campaigns, but he wore it like it was part of him.
He nodded to the guild master in quiet acknowledgment, then turned to face us.
"I won't stand here and promise glory or riches," he began, his voice steady and unpretentious. "That's not what this is about."
He let the silence stretch a little, meeting the eyes of those closest to the platform.
"What I can promise is this: I'll lead from the front. I won't send you anywhere I wouldn't go myself. When things get ugly, and they might, I'll be right there with you."
A few heads nodded. Some adjusted the grips on their weapons.
"You've all earned your place here. Not with how long you've been a part of us or the amount of worth you brought, but with your willingness to take part. I've seen what this guild is made of. What you're all made of."
He glanced at the guild master, then stepped back with a respectful nod.
The guild master returned to the center, the wind catching the edge of his coat as he faced the crowd once more.
"Now, listen well."
"We march south, five days into the ruins. What lies there isn't just treasure or forgotten stone. It's danger, the kind of place that's swallowed better fighters than most of us."
The courtyard was still.
"I won't lie to you. Some of you are going to be scared. That's normal. I've been scared plenty. But fear's not the enemy–complacency is. Don't underestimate what's waiting out there. And don't overestimate what you can do alone."
He looked slowly from face to face, his words heavier now.
"If someone's struggling, help them. If you are, speak up. Nobody gets left behind. We rise or fall together."
Then a voice called out from the crowd–half joking:
"Sounds like just another Tuesday."
Laughter broke the tension for the briefest moment.
The guild master cracked a grin. "Maybe. But don't count on this one being routine."
He let the smile fade, replaced by the old weight in his eyes. "When the dust settles, I want all of you back here. Alive. Tired, scraped up, maybe missing a boot–but alive."
He raised a hand, signaling the final words.
"You've got one hour. Gear up. Say your goodbyes. Then meet at the city gates."
"The road ahead is long, but I've never seen a better group to walk it."
A heartbeat of silence passed… then the courtyard erupted with motion – adventurers talking, moving, gathering gear, calling to one another. The expedition had begun.
As the adventurers dispersed, the courtyard hummed with the sound of last-minute preparations. Flags bearing the guild's emblem fluttered in the breeze, and adventurers milled about with a mix of determination and excitement. The towering gates groaned as they swung open, revealing the vast expanse of fields waiting beyond. With the guild master and Captain Thorian at the lead, the expedition set off, the city's safety fading behind us.
As we ventured deeper into the wilderness, an odd silence accompanied us. The usual sounds of wildlife were absent, and the creatures that typically roamed these parts stayed out of sight, as though they sensed something about our group. It wasn't clear if they were wary of the sheer number of adventurers or if something else was keeping them away. Either way, it lent an unexpected layer of security to the march.
Walking alongside Rebecca, I decided to strike up a conversation to fill the quiet. "What's Thorian like?" I asked, my curiosity piqued by the bits of chatter I'd overheard from others. "I've heard rumors that he's one of the strongest adventurers in the region."
Rebecca glanced at me, her expression softening into a smile. "Thorian's a strong leader, no doubt about that," she said. "He's powerful, wise, and fair. People respect him for a reason. Some even say he has a legendary class, though I'm not sure anyone's seen him use it."
"Legendary class?" I asked, raising an eyebrow. "What's that?"
Rebecca halted mid-step, her eyes wide with genuine surprise. "Wait, you seriously don't know about classes?" she asked, a blend of amusement and disbelief coloring her voice. "Where have you been hiding?"
I shrugged sheepishly. "Guess I've been living under a rock," I joked. "Care to enlighten me?"
"They're a pretty big deal," Rebecca said, her voice lively as she gestured toward the horizon. "Once you hit level twenty-five, you unlock a class. It's like a milestone, new powers, stat boosts, specialization. The rarer the class, the greater the benefits."
"That's good to know," I replied, scratching the back of my neck. "Thanks for the crash course."
She grinned, her eyes catching mine. "Careful, Atlas. If you keep making me explain all the basics, I might have to start charging… maybe dinner."
I blinked, caught off guard, and for a moment, my brain stalled. But then I gave a small nod, a faint smile tugging at my lips. "Dinner sounds nice, actually."
Rebecca's eyes widened slightly, like she hadn't expected me to call her bluff. A nervous laugh slipped out of her as she tried to recover. "Oh—well, I mean, I was only half-joking…" She tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear, then added with a playful smirk, "But I'll hold you to it now."
"Guess I'll have to make sure it's worth your time then," I said, still a little awkward but more at ease.
"Well, you've got options," she teased, tilting her head. "You could impress me with a fancy tavern meal… or burn something over a campfire and pretend it was intentional."
I let out a quiet chuckle. "I'll aim somewhere between the two."
She laughed softly, the sound carrying easily over the crunch of our boots on the road. For a while, we just walked, the conversation drifting to smaller things, like how the different places she had been to looked, and little stories from her own early jobs.
I listened, chiming in here and there, genuinely enjoying her presence as the quiet between us no longer seemed awkward.
But as the twin suns dipped toward the horizon, the open fields were washed in warm shades of orange and soft pink. Captain Thorian raised a hand, bringing the group to a halt. His voice carried effortlessly as he ordered everyone to set up camp for the night.
Rebecca's gaze lingered on me a moment longer before she turned to help set things up, that faint smile still playing at her lips.
The campsite quickly took shape as tents rose and firewood gathered. Soon, flames crackled warmly, and the comforting scent of roasting food wafted through the air. I sat by one of the fires, with Rebecca settling down close by. She rested her chin on her hand, eyes reflecting the flickering flames.
"It's strange, isn't it?" she murmured suddenly, breaking our silence.
"What is?" I asked, turning slightly toward her.
"How quiet it is out here," she replied softly, briefly meeting my gaze. "It's like the wildlife knows something we don't."
"Maybe they're just afraid of Thorian," I joked weakly, smiling.
She laughed quietly, shaking her head. "Perhaps. Or maybe it's something else." She tilted her head, her gaze contemplative as she studied me. "What about you, Atlas? Any thoughts on what we'll find?"
"Hopefully nothing hungry enough to eat us," I replied, trying to keep it light despite the growing unease in my chest.
Rebecca chuckled softly, again tucking her hair back behind her ear, her eyes lingering warmly. "Guess we'll find out soon enough," she said gently, a hint of curiosity and something deeper hiding in her thoughtful expression.
Before either of us could say more, Nick approached from across the camp, his steps hurried but casual. "Hey, Rebecca," he called, gesturing toward the cooking area where several others were gathered. "Could really use your help with dinner. You know how Matthew gets about 'properly balanced meals.'"
Rebecca sighed, a playful exasperation crossing her face. "Of course, he does," she muttered before turning back to me. "Looks like duty calls."
With a quick smile, she added, "Try not to get too lost in thought, Atlas." And with that, she got up, brushing off her pants before walking off with Nick toward the other side of the camp. I watched her go, her light laugh fading into the distance as they joined the others around a large cooking pot.
The camp began to settle into a quiet rhythm as the stars emerged above us. I focused on organizing my supplies and arranging a makeshift bed for the night, the day's events still playing on a loop in my mind.
I was so caught up in my thoughts that I almost didn't notice Henry plopping down next to me by the fire. He stretched out with a satisfied sigh, poking at the flames with a stick.
"So," he began, smirking as he turned toward me, "you and Rebecca, huh?"
I raised an eyebrow at him. "What about Rebecca?"
Henry shrugged, a mischievous glint in his eye. "Oh, nothing. Just that you've been chatting her up more than usual. I mean, I get it—she's nice, smart, not bad to look at…"
I rolled my eyes, cutting him off. "Henry, don't start."
"I'm just saying," he teased, leaning back and grinning like he'd uncovered some grand secret.
I shook my head, chuckling despite myself. "You've got too much free time on your hands."
"Maybe," Henry admitted, tossing his stick into the fire and watching it catch. His smirk lingered. "But don't act like I'm wrong."
Deciding to steer the conversation away, I tilted my head toward the flames, adopting a more speculative tone. "So," I began casually, "what do you think we'll actually find out there in the ruins?"
Henry's smirk shifted into a thoughtful expression as he poked the fire again. "I don't know… ancient treasures? A lost civilization? Something cool enough to make all this worth it?"
"Or," I said, letting a teasing grin creep onto my face, "an army of creepy dolls with knives."
Henry froze mid-poke, his eyes narrowing as he turned to glare at me. "Seriously? You know I hate dolls."
I laughed, leaning back on my elbows. "Exactly why I said it. Imagine them all coming at you, their little glass eyes glinting in the dark."
"Not funny," Henry grumbled, crossing his arms. "If we run into anything like that, you're dealing with it."
"Deal," I replied, still grinning. "But if we find a swarm of giant spiders, they're all yours."
He shuddered dramatically. "Great. Now I'll probably dream about that. Thanks, Atlas."
"You're welcome," I said lightly, feeling the tension ease. Henry leaned back as well, staring into the fire with a thoughtful expression.
"Seriously though," he mused, "I wonder what it'll be like."
"Who knows? It might even be empty," I replied. "The unknown is part of the adventure."
"That's true. I guess there's no point in stressing over it," Henry remarked.
The crackle of the fire filled the silence for a moment before an idea struck me. "Hey," I said, sitting up, "wanna play a game of checkers?"
Henry raised an eyebrow. "How? We don't have a board."
"Watch this," I said, pulling out a flat wooden block from my bag with lines forming squares. With a flick of my hand, I summoned tiny void pieces.
Henry blinked. "Okay, that's cool, but when did you even make the board?"
"Oh, I carved it while we were walking earlier," I replied nonchalantly.
"Oh, okay," he said, still inspecting the pieces. "So, how can I tell which ones are mine?"
"The ones you use have round tops, and mine are flat since I can't change the color," I explained.
"Got it," he said, setting up his pieces with a focused expression.
It didn't take long for frustration to creep in as Henry lost multiple times. After his sixth defeat, he threw up his hands. "Come on! How are you so good at this?"
I grinned, leaning back smugly. "I don't know; I guess I'm just that good."
Ella wandered over, curiosity sparking in her eyes. "What are you guys doing?" she asked, crouching down to look at the board.
"Checkers," I said. "Henry's not very good."
"Hey!" Henry protested, glaring at me.
Ella smirked. "Can I play?"
"Sure," I said, gesturing for her to take Henry's spot.
The game resumed, and it didn't take long before I realized I was in over my head. Ella's moves were meticulous, and it felt like she was planning ten steps ahead. Before I could process what was happening, she swept out five of my pieces in a single move, grinning triumphantly.
"That's just unfair," I muttered, staring at the board in disbelief.
Ella shrugged, a playful grin spreading across her face. "I guess I'm just that good," she said, mimicking my earlier tone.
Henry, watching the exchange, burst out laughing. "Looks like someone finally knocked you down a peg," he teased, smugness radiating from his expression.
"Yeah, yeah," I said, rolling my eyes, but I couldn't help smiling.
Ella grinned, leaning back with a smug expression. "Well, beating you at checkers is fun and all," she teased. Then, her tone shifted to something softer as she reached into her bag. "But I actually wanted to give you this–it might help you in the long run."
Curious, I raised an eyebrow as she handed me a book. The cover was simple, with an illustration of a silver sword crossed over the silhouette of a multi-headed creature that looked suspiciously like a hydra.
"What's this?" I asked, turning it over in my hands.
"It's a bestiary," she said, her eyes sparkling with enthusiasm. "A book of creatures. It explains their weaknesses, their habitats, what they can do, and all that good stuff. Thought it might be helpful for you to take a look at. Who knows, it might even save your life."
I flipped it open, skimming a few pages. The detailed illustrations of strange beasts and the notes scribbled in the margins immediately caught my interest. "You sure you don't need it?" I asked, glancing at her.
She shook her head. "I've already read it cover to cover–twice. Figured it'd be better in your hands, seeing as you like to charge headfirst into danger."
"Hey, I don't always charge headfirst," I countered. "But thanks, Ella. I'll definitely take a look."
"Good," she said, standing and brushing off her hands. "Just don't lose it. It's got some notes in there." With that, she headed back to her spot by the fire, leaving me with the book in hand.
I retreated to my makeshift bed, propping myself up against my pack as I opened the bestiary. The crackling firelight illuminated the pages, and I began flipping through them. The first section covered forests, and I recognized several creatures we'd encountered before. Detailed sketches of their anatomy filled the pages, alongside notes about their behaviors and vulnerabilities.
One creature caught my eye: the Briar Stalker, a shadowy predator that camouflaged itself among trees and struck unsuspecting prey. Another, the Lumina Moth, emitted a faint glow and was known to swarm during full moons, its wings shimmering with hypnotic patterns. I smiled, remembering a time when we had to fend off a swarm of those glowing pests.
Moving on, I reached the desert section. The change in tone was stark. The creatures here were unlike anything I'd ever seen – harsh, cunning, and terrifyingly efficient.
Apparently, many desert creatures didn't kill their prey immediately but instead preserved their bodies while slowly digesting them. One entry detailed a spider-like creature called the Amber Recluse, which encased its victims in a hard, amber-like resin, keeping them alive for days. The thought sent a shiver down my spine.
Further along, I read about Sand Wasps, which dragged their prey underground into massive hive caverns. There was a detailed drawing of one of these caverns, showing an interconnected network of tunnels deep beneath the sands. Notes in the margins speculated that some colonies could contain thousands of these creatures, their hives spanning miles.
Another entry detailed the Ash Scorpion, a creature that used heat-sensitive vision to track its prey. Apparently, it had a venom that induced paralysis and preserved its victim's body while it drained their fluids over several days. The sheer brutality of it made my skin crawl.
As I flipped through the book, the words began to blur. Exhaustion pressed down on me, my eyelids growing heavier with each passing page. I caught myself rereading the same line for the third time before finally closing the book and setting it gently beside my bedroll.
I lay back and stared through the gaps in the clouds, where stars shimmered faintly above. My thoughts drifted to the creatures I'd just read about.
What would it actually be like to fight them?
A giant spider? Sure, I could probably handle that. But a swarm of tiny ones? Yeah… no thanks.
Then again, maybe a compact ball of lightning would do the trick. Flash-fry the whole lot in one go.
The thought made me smirk. That little trick would've saved me a lot of trouble more than once.
With a slow breath, I let my eyes close, the stars fading as desert caverns and multi-headed hydras melted into dreams.