Hathwick

I made my way toward the center of Hathwick, the mission paper folded neatly in my hand. The town bustled with life, its cobblestone streets crowded with merchants calling out their wares, children darting between market stalls, and travelers stopping to barter for supplies. The warm scent of baked bread and roasted meats mingled with the sharper tang of leather and iron from the blacksmith's forge.

Hathwick was vibrant, a small town full of charm and activity, but I barely paid attention to the lively surroundings. My focus was on the job at hand. The mission was labeled as a three-star task—well below my current abilities as a six-star adventurer. It felt almost too easy, but after three years of relentless training, I had learned to never underestimate a situation.

"I guess this mission shouldn't be too difficult," I muttered under my breath. Mavis, perched on my shoulder in her tiny dragon form, flicked her tail lazily.

"Underestimating again, are we?" she teased, her pink eyes gleaming with amusement.

"Hardly," I replied, my voice low enough that the passing townsfolk wouldn't hear. "It's just a simple mana beast problem near the outskirts of Willowshade. Not exactly life-threatening."

The market square opened up before me, bustling with vendors peddling colorful trinkets and fresh produce. A bard strummed a lute in the corner, drawing a small crowd with a cheerful tune. The atmosphere was lighthearted, almost festive—a stark contrast to the darker, quieter parts of my past.

"Still, complacency gets people killed," Mavis reminded me, curling her tail more securely around my neck.

"I know," I said with a sigh, tucking the mission paper into my cloak. "You've drilled that into me enough times."

I passed a group of adventurers gathered near the notice board, their conversation carrying snippets of exaggerated tales about past conquests. One of them, a young man with a sword strapped to his back, glanced my way. His gaze lingered for a moment, taking in my mismatched eyes and the confident way I carried myself. I met his stare briefly before he looked away, muttering something to his companion.

The mission itself was straightforward, protect the nearby village of Willowshade from a growing number of mana beasts. According to the details, there hadn't been any casualties yet, but the situation was worsening.

"Think it's a nest or just a group of wandering beasts?" I asked Mavis as we left the market square and headed toward the town gates.

"Could go either way," she said, her voice thoughtful. "But if it's a nest, you'll need to deal with the source—likely the brood mother. That could get messy."

"Great," I muttered, my fingers brushing the hilt of my katana. The blade, a gift from Mavis, felt cool and steady at my side.

The gates of Hathwick came into view, flanked by two guards standing watch. Beyond the wooden archway, the wilderness stretched out in all directions—rolling hills, patches of dense forest, and a winding dirt path that led toward Willowshade. The crisp scent of autumn hung in the air, mingling with the faint smoke from the guards' torches.

The town behind me buzzed with life, but I felt a strange sense of calm as I stepped through the gates and into the open expanse. The world outside was unpredictable, but it was also familiar in its wildness.

"Alright," I said, tightening the strap of my bag and casting a glance toward the horizon. "Let's get this done."

Mavis let out a soft chuckle. "Just don't get too confident. I'd hate to have to remind you why I'm the smarter one here."

"Sure, Mavis," I replied with a smirk, adjusting the katana at my side. "Let's see what these mana beasts have to offer."

The gates of Hathwick came into view, sturdy wooden beams reinforced with iron. Two guards stood at their posts, clad in leather armor with metal pauldrons, their spears glinting in the afternoon sun. They straightened as I approached, their eyes flicking to the small dragon perched on my shoulder before returning to me.

"State your business," one of the guards said, his tone brisk but not unfriendly.

I reached into my cloak, pulling out the folded mission paper, and held it up for them to see. "I'm here to complete the mission regarding the mana beasts threatening Willowshade," I said, keeping my voice calm.

The older guard stepped forward, taking the paper and scanning it briefly. "This job's been on the board for a week. Several adventurers tried to take care of it, but none of them came back."

"Then it's time someone competent stepped in," I replied evenly, tucking the paper back into my cloak.

'Confident, aren't we?' Mavis's voice echoed in my mind, her telepathic tone laced with amusement. 'Let's hope you don't choke on that bravado.'

'I didn't ask for commentary,' I thought back, resisting the urge to roll my eyes.

The younger guard, a nervous-looking man, hesitated before speaking up. "Are you sure you're ready for this? The beasts have been getting more aggressive. They attacked a caravan just two days ago—tore through the wagons like nothing."

"I'm ready," I said, my mismatched eyes locking onto his.

The guards exchanged a glance, the older one finally stepping aside and gesturing toward the open gates. "If you're so sure, good luck. Willowshade's about half a day's journey northeast. Stay on the main road until you see the marker post—it'll guide you to the village."

"Understood," I said, stepping past them.

As the gates of Hathwick closed behind me, the bustle of the town faded into the distance. The dirt road stretched out ahead, winding through fields and scattered copses of trees. The air was crisp, carrying the earthy scent of wildflowers and freshly tilled soil.

'So,' Mavis's voice rang in my head, 'care to place bets on what kind of mana beasts we're dealing with? I'm guessing something with too many teeth and a bad attitude.'

'Could be,' I replied silently. 'If the previous adventurers couldn't handle it, it's probably more than just a few strays. Maybe a corrupted pack—or worse.'

'Corrupted mana, perhaps?' Mavis mused. 'If that's the case, it's a good test for you. After all, what's three years of training worth if you can't handle a pack of overgrown mutts?'

'You're awfully chatty today,' I thought, a faint smirk tugging at my lips.

'Someone has to keep you entertained,' she replied, her tone teasing.

The road stretched ahead, bathed in the fading light of the setting sun. Shadows grew long and twisted, draping the landscape in an eerie stillness. Despite the serene appearance, there was something distinctly off about the atmosphere—a subtle tension, like the world itself was holding its breath.

The deeper I ventured, the stranger the surroundings became. At first, it was small things flowers turning an unnatural shade of black and an unmistakable aura of dark mana radiating from them. The air itself seemed heavier, as though charged with something malevolent. I knelt by one of the flowers, brushing its petals lightly with my gloved fingers.

"They haven't withered…" I murmured, studying the faint shimmer of dark energy within. "The dark mana is keeping them alive?"

"That seems to be the case," Mavis said telepathically from her perch on my shoulder. "All types of mana can bring life to living things, but this... feels more like an imitation of life. Corruption sustaining what should have died."

As we moved further, a thick fog began to creep across the area, curling around the gnarled trees and obscuring the horizon. I glanced back in the direction of Hathwick, its faint outline still visible behind us. The town wasn't far, but the lack of natural barriers or fortifications made its vulnerability painfully clear. Besides the two guards at the entrance, there was little to stop an invasion of beasts.

"Seriously," I muttered under my breath, "who thought leaving this place so poorly defended was a good idea?"

The fog thickened, and the corrupted plants grew more numerous, their blackened forms twisting unnaturally. It felt as though the land itself was being warped. I rested my hand on the hilt of my blade, instincts sharpening.

"The flowers and plants here were drained of their natural mana first," Mavis observed. "Afterward, they were infused with dark mana, creating corruption."

"So, I was right," I said quietly. "This place is being marked. Whatever's responsible must be trying to claim this area as its territory. No sane creature would wander into a place like this with all this fog and corrupted mana hanging in the air."

Mavis shifted on my shoulder, her golden eyes scanning the surroundings. "I sense several beasts in the area—more than one. Be careful."

Without another word, she spread her wings and took off, her small form vanishing into the dense fog above. I rolled my eyes, gripping the mission paper tightly in one hand.

"I can handle myself just fine, you know."

I can hear your thoughts, she shot back smugly.

Then you should know I'm ignoring you.

A faint chuckle echoed in my mind before her presence receded. I exhaled, steadying my nerves as I turned my focus back to the eerie silence surrounding me. The wind rustled faintly, but even that seemed stifled by the oppressive fog.

Then I heard it—a low, guttural growl from somewhere to my right. My hand instinctively went to my sword as my eyes scanned the fog. A pair of glowing red eyes appeared, cutting through the mist like burning coals. The growl deepened, reverberating in the still air, and the figure stepped forward.

A massive, shadowy wolf emerged from the fog, its form flickering like smoke. Its fur seemed to ripple with dark mana, tendrils of energy trailing from its hulking frame. Its glowing eyes locked onto me, primal and unrelenting. I pulled my blade free from its sheath in one smooth motion, the sound cutting through the silence.

"Looks like I've found one of you," I muttered. "Or maybe you've found me."

The beast growled again, low and threatening, as it crouched, muscles tensing. It was no ordinary mana beast—its presence radiated power and malice, the unmistakable mark of a four-star threat. I let my blade hum with mana, the faint glow illuminating the fog around me.

"So, where are the rest of you hiding?" I taunted, stepping forward. "Or are you just the welcoming committee?"

The wolf lunged, a blur of shadow and teeth. I sidestepped, my blade flashing in an arc as I aimed to counter. The creature twisted unnaturally mid-air, evading the strike with an agility that belied its massive size. Its feet skidded across the ground as it turned to face me again, growling even louder this time.

"Well," I said with a small grin, "this might actually be fun."