Kyro, Tharic, and Rena had been journeying through the forest for several days now, heading south of Hosta Village. Though their stay there had been pleasant, their departure was anything but. Even so, they kept their heads high and pressed onward, determined to save Sylmora.
"How much farther do we have to walk?" groaned Kyro, glancing up at the sky, which had begun to fade into a deep violet hue as the sun dipped below the horizon.
"I'd like to think we're near a village soon," said Rena hopefully.
Kyro sighed. "You've been saying that every day, and we've walked so far my legs feel like tree trunks!"
Tharic smirked. "Think of it this way—you're training your legs to be even stronger."
"Tharic!" Kyro shot him a glare.
"Look ahead," said Rena suddenly, pointing down the forest path.
Through the thickening mist and the silhouettes of trees, a faint glow appeared. As they got closer, the light revealed a small wooden structure — a roadside inn, weathered by years of travel and trade.
"A hut? What's it doing all the way out here?" asked Kyro, puzzled.
"It's not just any hut," said Rena, squinting at the sign swaying gently in the breeze. "It's a traveler's inn. Merchants and wanderers use it as a resting stop."
Tharic's face lit up. "Meaning, we can finally rest for the night before resuming our adventure tomorrow."
The three approached the inn, their boots crunching on the gravel path. The faint smell of smoke and stew drifted from the chimney, and the flickering candlelight behind the windows gave the place a fragile warmth.
At the entrance, an elderly man greeted them with a raspy chuckle that quickly turned into a cough.
"Oh, what do we have here?" he said, voice trembling but kind.
"Just some travelers passing by," said Rena, reaching into her pouch for coins. "We were hoping to rest for the night."
"Of course! Any and all are welcome here," the old man replied warmly. "You're in luck — there's one room open. My son, Daniel, will take you there."
A tall, broad-shouldered young man appeared from behind the counter — Daniel. His eyes were sharp but carried a strange hollowness, as if weighed down by something unseen.
Rena placed a few gold coins on the counter. "Hopefully, this will be enough. Thank you."
Daniel nodded silently and gestured for them to follow. He led them up a creaking staircase and down a dimly lit hall to a small room at the end. The space was old and unkempt — the floorboards groaned under their boots, the window was clouded with dust, and the air smelled faintly of damp wood. Still, after days of endless walking, it was paradise.
"Finally, some rest," Kyro sighed, stretching his sore limbs.
Tharic nodded in agreement. "Indeed. I could sleep standing up."
Kyro placed his massive battle axe against the wall and sat on the edge of the bed. "It's strange, though… we haven't run into many Aether Hunters lately."
"You're eager to fight again after what happened last time?" teased Tharic.
Kyro frowned, flustered. "No, not that! I just mean, with how many we saw before, I thought things would've gotten worse by now."
Before Tharic could reply—
KNOCK KNOCK.
"I got it," said Rena, standing and opening the door.
Daniel stood there once more, holding a tray of food — warm bread, a small bowl of soup, and a side of rice. Steam rose from the dishes, filling the room with a surprisingly pleasant aroma.
"Please, have some food," Daniel said quietly. "You must be starving."
"This is… awfully generous of you," said Rena, blinking in surprise as she accepted the tray. "You didn't have to go through the trouble."
Daniel only bowed slightly and walked away without another word.
Tharic raised an eyebrow. "Food? Just like that?"
"I guess so," said Rena with a shrug. "When we leave tomorrow, I'll make sure to leave an extra tip for them. It's the least we can do for their kindness."
They didn't think much of it and began eating. The food was plain but warm, and after days of dried rations, it tasted heavenly. As they finished, the forest outside had gone completely dark. Owls hooted in the distance, and the sound of crickets filled the cool night air.
Just as they were preparing to sleep—
KNOCK KNOCK.
"Again?" groaned Kyro.
"I wonder what it is this time…" muttered Tharic, walking over to the door.
When he opened it, Daniel was there again.
"You again?" Tharic said, confused.
"Forgive the interruption," Daniel replied in a low, apologetic tone. "I just wanted to make sure everything was alright before we close the inn for the night."
"Oh—yes, everything's fine. Thank you again for your kindness," said Tharic with a smile.
"The pleasure is ours. Thank you for your patronage," Daniel said, bowing once more before leaving down the hall.
A sudden gust of wind swept through the cracks in the window, making the curtains flutter violently.
"It's getting late," Rena murmured, closing the shutters. "Let's rest before another long day of travel."
Tharic yawned. "Right behind you."
One by one, they settled into their beds, the flickering lantern dimming as silence enveloped the room.
Meanwhile...
Far away, within a royal palace far away, Ivance ascended a vast golden staircase that gleamed under the torchlight. His cloak brushed against the steps, echoing faintly in the enormous hall. Two of his men from the First Order followed closely behind — both still recovering from their last encounter with Rena and Tharic.
"Wow…" one of them whispered, staring up at the towering marble pillars and chandeliers. "So this is the royal palace…"
"So beautiful and rich…" murmured the other.
"You think we could pocket some of this gold?" the first man whispered with a grin.
"Or maybe—"
"Quiet, you two," Ivance interrupted sharply. His cold tone silenced them instantly. "If either of you even think about stealing, I'll have your heads."
The men fell silent, trembling under his glare.
CLAP. CLAP. CLAP.
"Now, now," a calm voice echoed from above. "No need for such violence, Ivance. If anything, I'm pleased your men admire the palace as much as I do."
At the top of the stairs sat a young man upon a golden throne — masked like Ivance, but his mask was painted with deep sea-blue claw like scratches over the right eye socket, matching the piercing blue that shone behind them. A small crack marred the upper right side of his mask. His armor was light but refined, accented with shades of blue and silver. A dark cape draped behind him, and his white hair was parted neatly down the middle, a few strands falling across his mask.
Ivance immediately knelt, prompting his men to do the same.
"My lord."
The masked man raised a hand. "Ivance, how many times must I tell you? No need for such formalities. We are equals in this endeavor."
Ivance rose slowly. "Forgive me… Soryn."
Soryn smiled beneath his mask. "That's better. Now tell me — how have you been? It's been far too long since we last spoke."
"That it has," Ivance said, his voice calm but heavy. "And that's precisely why I'm here."
"Oh?" Soryn leaned forward slightly. "Do tell."
"My men encountered three individuals recently. One of them nearly wiped out my best fighters."
Soryn tilted his head. "Nearly wiped out the First Order? That's… unexpected. I wasn't aware anyone of such strength still existed in this country."
Ivance nodded. "We barely escaped. I didn't want to risk further losses."
Soryn crossed his arms. "Could you describe them?"
"The strongest among them was a woman — a warrior with a scar across her nose. She wielded a katana infused with Water Aether. Her power was unlike anything I've heard in years."
Soryn rubbed his chin, thinking. "A woman with a scar and water-based Aether… intriguing. And the others?"
"There were two young men — one with green eyes and a spear, the other with purple eyes wielding a massive axe. They were less experienced, but still formidable. My men said the woman carried most of the fight."
Ivance's tone lowered. "Yusef described her strength as… reminiscent of them."
Soryn's expression darkened behind his mask. He rose from his throne. "Them, you say? That's troubling indeed. I had hoped those days were long behind us."
He touched the crack on his mask absentmindedly, lost in thought. "For someone like her to remain hidden for this long… what are her true motives?"
"I wish I knew," said Ivance.
Soryn turned away, pacing slowly. "Perhaps they're not our enemies. Maybe they simply don't understand our vision yet…or have different motives than those of the past."
He looked over his shoulder. "If we can find common ground with them, perhaps they can be persuaded to join our cause — to build a greater Sylmora."
He placed a hand on Ivance's shoulder. "I'll have the Second Order track them down. Bring them here alive."
"As you wish," said Ivance.
Before returning to his throne, Soryn paused. "And your men? How are they faring?"
"They're still recovering," Ivance replied. "Yusef's been tending to them. I trust he'll have them back to strength soon enough."
"Good." Soryn turned back toward the throne, the flicker of torchlight reflecting off his blue-painted mask. "We'll need every blade we have… soon."
"This country will know absolute peace soon… I can feel it approaching."
Soryn's voice lingered in the vast hall, echoing off the gilded walls like a whisper of fate.
…
Back at the inn where Rena, Kyro, and Tharic were staying…
The moonlight crept through the cracks of the wooden shutters, casting pale stripes across the creaky floorboards. The faint hum of the night wind brushed against the old inn's walls, and somewhere in the distance, a lone wolf howled.
Inside one of the dimly lit rooms, Daniel quietly stepped into his father's quarters. The old man lay in bed, his frail body wrapped in a thin blanket, his breathing shallow but steady.
"Father," Daniel whispered softly.
The old man stirred, his eyes flickering open. "My son… is everything set?" he rasped, his voice trembling before breaking into a harsh, rattling cough.
Daniel nodded grimly. "Yes. Everything is ready. The three of them don't suspect a thing."
He hesitated before adding, "The food they ate was laced with a strong sleeping potion. They'll be unconscious for quite some time."
A look of relief washed over the old man's weary face. He sat up slowly, supporting himself with one shaking hand as he exhaled. "The Second will be pleased to hear this news… You've done well, my boy. I am proud of you."
Daniel managed a faint smile, though his eyes were shadowed with guilt. "At least this way, we'll be spared for another month. Maybe even longer."
His father coughed again — deep, ragged, and painful — before nodding. "Yes… how freeing it will be, knowing we can wake tomorrow without fear."
"I'll head to the capital as soon as I can," Daniel said, his tone softening. "I'll find medicine for your illness. The doctors there are some of the best — they'll know what to do."
The old man smiled faintly, though his lips trembled. "Thank you, my son. I've carried this sickness for as long as we've run this inn… hopefully these healers can help cure my disease."
Daniel knelt beside the bed, placing a reassuring hand on his father's arm. "Don't worry. Once the medicine arrives, you'll finally be able to rest without pain."
His father gave a weak chuckle, interrupted by another cough. "I'll pray you're right…"
Beside the bed stood a small iron birdcage. Inside, a black crow perched silently, its beady eyes glinting in the dim candlelight. Daniel reached into his pocket and pulled out a small slip of paper and a pencil. He quickly scribbled a short message — a report of their success in capturing the three travelers — and tied the note to the bird's leg with practiced precision.
"Fly swiftly," he whispered, opening the window.
The crow let out a sharp caw before spreading its wings and vanishing into the moonlit night, its silhouette melting into the dark clouds above.
Daniel closed the window and exhaled deeply, the weight of his actions pressing heavily on his chest. "It's done… now, just one last thing."
He glanced at his father, who had already drifted into a restless sleep, then turned toward the door. His expression hardened, his hands curling into fists.
"…Time to finish this," he muttered, stepping out into the dim hallway — heading toward the room where Rena, Kyro, and Tharic slept soundly, unaware of the trap closing around them.