Recollection

The sun hung low over the town of Luthra, casting warm amber hues across the cobblestone streets as Avi, Ellie, and Tharlon made their way back toward the guildhall. The bustle of the town was a stark contrast to the stillness of the forest they had left behind, the chatter of merchants and the clang of blacksmiths' hammers filling the air. Yet Avi's thoughts were elsewhere, turning inward as they walked.

His memories replayed vividly—the anguish of believing Ken and Emily were lost, the heated quarrel with Alex, his determination to go out alone despite the risks, and the strange relief of finding Eleanor in the woods. Avi had always prided himself on his stoicism, but these past days had tested him in ways he hadn't thought possible.

For all his stubbornness and self-reliance, he couldn't deny the growth he'd undergone. Not just in strength but as a person. Now, he was even looking after Ellie, who skipped along beside him, her innocent chatter a strange balm to his otherwise chaotic thoughts.

"I never thought I'd be babysitting," Avi muttered under his breath with a smirk, earning a curious glance from Ellie.

As they approached the guildhall, its tall wooden doors loomed like the entrance to another challenge. Tharlon, ever the enigmatic figure, stopped short of the steps. The light of the setting sun caught his rugged features as he turned to them.

"You're deep in thought, kid," Tharlon's gruff voice interrupted. Avi blinked, realizing they were nearly at the guild hall. The building loomed ahead, a sturdy structure of dark wood and stone, bustling with activity even in the fading light.

"Just... remembering," Avi replied, his tone even but laden with unspoken emotions.

"Good. Don't let those memories go. They'll shape you, even when you don't realize it," Tharlon said with a knowing nod.

"One of the patients woke up while you were out," he informed them, his deep voice steady but tinged with a hint of intrigue. "They're in the medical ward being taken care of."

Avi's chest tightened. One of my friends had woken up. The thought ignited a mix of relief and anticipation. "Which one?" he asked, his voice betraying his eagerness.

Tharlon chuckled softly. "You'll find out soon enough, young sproutling. Syra will guide you."

The receptionist from earlier stepped forward. She was a petite woman with a sharp gaze that belied her gentle demeanor. Syra nodded respectfully at Tharlon before turning to Avi and Ellie.

"I'll show you the way," she said, motioning for them to follow.

Tharlon waved them off. "I'll catch up later. For now, let the boy reunite with his friend—and make sure he stops by my office afterward."

Avi barely heard the last part. His curiosity and concern had taken hold, and he found himself all but dragging Syra and Ellie along as they navigated the guildhall's dimly lit corridors.

The medical ward was quiet, the scent of herbal ointments lingering in the air. The soft murmurs of healers attending to patients added to the serene atmosphere. Avi's heart raced as Syra led them through rows of cots. Finally, they stopped before a figure sitting upright in bed, bandages wrapped around his arms and head.

"Ryan," Avi said, his voice a mix of relief and something unspoken—perhaps disappointment that it wasn't Ken.

Ryan blinked groggily, his dark eyes squinting in the faint light. "Avi? Where… where are we?" His voice was hoarse, his confusion evident.

Avi pulled up a chair beside the bed, his expression softening despite himself. "We're in a town called Luthra. Don't ask me how a town ended up in this school-turned-forest, because I don't have a clue."

Ryan rubbed his temple, wincing slightly. "Luthra… How long have I been out?"

"Almost six days," Avi replied, his tone quiet. "The others are still unconscious. I was hoping you could tell me what happened."

Ryan frowned, his memories clearly fragmented. He glanced at Syra and Ellie, both of whom stood nearby, their curiosity evident. Avi noticed his hesitation and added, "Before you start, buy the [Universal Translator] function from the system. It'll make things easier."

Ryan raised an eyebrow but complied, activating the feature. A faint shimmer passed over him, and

he nodded. "Alright. Let's see what I can remember."

His voice steadied as he began recounting the events.

"We were tasked with scouting the east," Ryan began, his voice distant and low, as if the weight of the memory threatened to crush him. His eyes, dark and shadowed, gazed past Avi to a place only he could see. "It was the usual group—me, Mia, Sophia, and the others. At first, it was manageable. We were mapping the surroundings, dealing with those weird creatures you mentioned before."

Ryan paused, rubbing his temples as though the memory itself hurt. "The glowing wolves with three tails? Horned rabbits? Oversized monkeys? Yeah, those things. They weren't easy, but we handled them. At that point, it was just another mission."

Avi nodded, his mind flickering to Tyler's version of the story. A knot formed in his stomach; he had a sinking feeling where this was going.

"But then…" Ryan hesitated, his voice faltering. He clenched his fists as if holding on to the memory too tightly might shatter him. "I started to notice something strange. It felt like we were walking in circles. No matter where we went, the terrain seemed… off, like the forest itself was shifting around us. At first, I thought I was imagining things. I mean, we were tired—it could've been in my head."

He met Avi's gaze, his voice dropping to a whisper. "But it wasn't just me. We stumbled across Ken and Tyler's groups. Together."

Avi's brow furrowed. "Together? What were they doing there?"

"That's what we asked them," Ryan said, his tone grim. "Ken was supposed to be scouting south, Tyler west. They said the same thing—they kept running into dead ends and ended up going in circles too. None of it made sense."

Ryan leaned forward, his jaw tightening. "That's when I contacted Alex. Told him everything—the weirdness, the terrain, and how the three groups somehow ended up together. He told us to stay put until he could decide what to do."

"And you didn't wait," Avi guessed, his tone flat.

Ryan shook his head. "No. None of us wanted to stay in one place. What if the forest moved us again? We figured it was better to stick together and keep moving. Three groups combined—safer that way."

Avi sat back, his unease growing as Ryan's story continued.

"Things were fine for a little while," Ryan said, though his voice betrayed the lie. "But then it started to go wrong. The creatures weren't just attacking us randomly anymore. They were waiting for the right moments—when we stopped to catch our breath, when we were most vulnerable. They came at us in waves, one after another, not giving us any time to regroup. It was like they were being directed, like someone or something was controlling them."

Syra, who had been standing quietly by the door, crossed her arms. Her sharp gaze narrowed. "That's unusual for forest creatures. They're territorial, sure, but they don't work together like that. Not without… external influence."

Ryan didn't seem to hear her. His fists were trembling now, the knuckles white. "And then it showed up."

Avi's stomach dropped. He could see it in Ryan's expression—this wasn't just another oversized monkey or glowing wolf. "The guardian," Avi said, more a statement than a question.

Ryan nodded, his face pale. "Ken shouted the warning first. It was massive, Avi. A snake—no, a monster. At least five times my size, maybe bigger. Its scales were like plates of iron, each one gleaming like it had been polished. And its eyes…" Ryan's voice faltered, his Adam's apple bobbing as he swallowed hard. "Its eyes burned like they were filled with molten lava. You couldn't even look at them for long without feeling like they were boring into your soul."

Ellie whimpered softly, clutching Avi's arm. Syra's face turned a shade lighter, her usual composure cracking as she muttered, "I doubt that you faced a guardian. It rarely showed up in the woods and when it shows up, not even the strongest in our guild can defeat it."

Ryan's words spilled out faster now, his breathing quickening as he relived the horror. "Ken didn't hesitate. He put himself between us and the snake, his shield raised. I think he knew how bad it was. Tyler charged in next—he always does—but he might as well have been swatting at a mountain. The snake knocked him aside like he was nothing."

Ryan's voice cracked as he went on. "The rest of us tried everything we could. Our fighters swarmed it, hacking at its body, but nothing worked. Its scales were too thick. Our spells bounced off like we were throwing pebbles at a fortress. And the snake… it wasn't just strong. It was smart. It targeted our supports first."

Syra gasped audibly, her hand flying to her mouth. "It… can't be. That's too much intelligent for a mere giant snake.."

Ryan nodded, his face tight with pain. "One by one, they fell. Mia tried to shield us, but the snake slammed into her barrier until it shattered. Sophia… I don't even know when she went down. All I know is that Emily was the last one standing."

Avi's chest tightened. "Emily?"

Ryan's eyes shimmered with unshed tears. "She wouldn't stop, Avi. Even when her nose was bleeding, even when her hands were shaking, she kept casting. Heal after heal, even on the ones who were already unconscious. She wouldn't let anyone die if she could help it."

Ellie sniffled softly, her grip on Avi tightening. Syra looked pale, unable to meet Ryan's gaze.

"And then she screamed at me," Ryan continued, his voice trembling. "Told me to keep fighting. To do something. She—she fired a blinding light at the snake's face. It was bright enough to make it flinch, just for a second. That gave me the opening I needed to get close. I don't know if my attack did anything, but I managed to hit its head. Right after that…" His voice broke entirely, and he buried his face in his hands. "There was this massive ball of fire—bigger than a car—hurtling straight for the snake. And then… nothing. I blacked out."

The room fell into a heavy silence, broken only by Ryan's shaky breaths. Finally, Syra spoke, her voice trembling with disbelief. "You're saying… a group of teenagers fought a guardian snake and survived? That's—"

"It's the truth," Avi interrupted, his tone firm. "We've faced a guardian before. A bear. Emily saved us then too."

Syra's expression shifted from disbelief to something closer to dread. "But a guardian snake…" Her voice trailed off, and she shook her head, muttering to herself. Without another word, she turned on her heel and bolted from the room, her footsteps echoing down the corridor.

"What's her deal?" Ryan asked, confusion etched on his face.

Avi shrugged. "No idea. But we've got bigger things to worry about. Let me catch you up to speed."

He pulled out a chair, resting a hand on Ryan's shoulder. Despite everything, a small smile tugged at his lips. "It's good to have you back, man."