The Return to Ravenspire

The Veilwood Forest was no longer silent. Now, it hummed with the distant calls of night creatures, the rustling of leaves, and the faint crackling of dying embers from Cynus's golden flames.

The battle was over. The caravan was lost.

And yet, unease settled deep in their bones.

Lyric kept a steady pace, her expression unreadable. Ren walked beside her, rubbing his arm where the corrupted beast had nearly slashed him. Cynus trailed a step behind, his fingers brushing against the satchel where the Fire Fragment pulsed faintly—not in warning, but in recognition.

That creature, the unnatural mist, the way his flames had reacted…

"Something is coming."

Ren sighed dramatically, breaking the silence. "So, just to summarize—our first mission as guild wizards was a complete disaster."

Lyric shot him a glare. "We survived."

Ren held up a finger. "Yes, but at what cost? The caravan is gone, the people are dead, and now we've got some weird, magic-eating monster problem."

Cynus exhaled, rubbing his temples. "We need to focus. When we report back to Emberlight, we tell them everything. No exaggeration, no downplaying it. Just the facts."

Ren grinned. "Since when do I exaggerate?"

Lyric and Cynus answered at the same time.

"Always."

By the time they reached Ravenspire, dawn was breaking. The city was waking, guild wizards heading to the mission board, merchants setting up their stalls, and city guards patrolling the streets.

Yet, even in the early light, something felt… off.

Cynus noticed it immediately—the increase in guards, their movements sharp, their gazes scanning every passerby with suspicion.

"Something happened while we were gone."

Lyric noticed too. "The city feels different."

Ren shrugged. "Probably just the usual nonsense. A noble's house got robbed, someone set a tavern on fire, maybe a duel broke out—"

Then, they saw it.

A public notice board at the city center.

A list of wanted individuals.

And at the very top…

WANTED: KAEL OF THE ASHEN FLAME

Crimes: Treason, Forbidden Magic, Endangerment of the Kingdom

Reward: 10,000 Gold

The air left Cynus's lungs.

"Kael…?"

They burst through the doors of Emberlight, the usual lively guild hall feeling heavier than before. Conversations were quieter, wizards grouped together, murmuring about the bounty on Kael's head.

Elara was waiting for them.

Her arms were crossed, her crimson eyes unreadable. Dante stood beside her, looking far less amused than usual. The moment she spotted them, she motioned for them to follow.

"My office. Now."

The trio didn't hesitate.

The Mission Report

Elara's office was lined with maps, mission reports, and old relics of past battles. She sat behind a massive wooden desk, her gaze sharp.

"Report."

Cynus took a breath and laid out everything—the monolith, the cursed mist, the missing caravan, and the corrupted beast that had attacked them.

Elara listened in silence, occasionally jotting down notes. When they finished, she exhaled slowly, rubbing her temples.

"So, the caravan was wiped out. But not by bandits."

Lyric shook her head. "No. Something much older. The monolith was trapping souls, and the beast… it was tainted. Corrupted by something beyond normal magic."

Ren leaned forward. "You've been in this guild for a while, Elara. Ever seen anything like that?"

Elara tapped her fingers on the desk. "Not in years."

Her voice was calm, but Cynus could tell she was thinking hard.

"Something is stirring in this kingdom," she murmured.

Then, she closed the mission report and folded her hands.

"Now… tell me why you were so concerned about Kael."

Cynus stiffened.

"What do you mean?"

Elara's eyes narrowed slightly. "You came in here talking about missing traders. And yet, the moment you step into Ravenspire, you rush straight to me asking about a fugitive? That's not a coincidence."

Ren scoffed. "So what? We're not allowed to ask questions now?"

Elara wasn't amused. "You don't just ask about Kael of the Ashen Flame unless you already know him."

She tossed a folded parchment onto her desk. It was a sealed letter bearing the royal insignia.

"This came directly from the kingdom's Administrative Department while you were gone."

Cynus slowly picked up the letter and unfolded it.

Inside was a simple directive from the Archons.

To all Guildmasters and Elite-Ranked Wizards,

Kael of the Ashen Flame has been declared a fugitive. He is to be captured on sight. Any guild harboring him will be seen as an enemy of the kingdom.

Any individual with past associations with the accused will be monitored.

This includes known former students, allies, and mercenary associates.

Cynus's grip tightened on the parchment.

Lyric inhaled sharply. "They're tracking anyone he's ever worked with."

Ren's expression darkened. "That means they know he trained Cynus."

Elara studied him, her expression unreadable. Then, finally—"You should have told me from the beginning."

Cynus didn't look away. "Would it have made a difference?"

Elara sighed. "No."

Dante let out a low whistle. "Well, damn. Looks like you're already famous, fire-boy."

Cynus ignored him. His mind was racing.

Kael had been declared a fugitive.

The kingdom was actively hunting him.

And now, Cynus was on their watchlist too.

Elara leaned forward, her voice low. "If you go after Kael, you do it alone."

Lyric frowned. "What?"

"Emberlight can't officially protect fugitives. If the Archons find out we're interfering, the entire guild will be at risk."

Dante chuckled, shaking his head. "That's a fancy way of saying 'I won't stop you, but if you get caught, you're screwed.'"

Cynus met Elara's gaze. "Understood."

Elara sighed. "Then you'd better find him first. Because if the Archons catch him before you do…"

Her voice dropped lower.

"He won't live long enough to clear his name."

That night, the trio sat in their shared guild quarters, the weight of their decision pressing down on them.

"We leave at dawn."

The flames of Emberlight burned bright.

And now, Cynus was stepping straight into the fire.