Mission Between Friends!

The morning sun peeked through the dense canopy, casting streaks of golden light across the grove. Kael stirred from his makeshift resting spot by the small hut, his thoughts still circling the events of the previous day. The shimmer, the stones, and Eryon's boundless curiosity—they all felt like pieces of a puzzle he wasn't sure he wanted to solve.

Stretching, he glanced toward the guild walls, where faint activity had already begun. The hum of voices and the clink of metal echoed faintly through the grove, a reminder that life in Eclipsevane, fractured as it was, continued its slow, relentless grind.

Kael made his way toward the gate, his steps unhurried. He wasn't sure what the day would bring, but the knot of questions in his chest wouldn't let him sit idle for long. As he entered the guild's outer courtyard, he was greeted by the sight of a small gathering of members sparring in the training yard. Their movements were mechanical, almost perfunctory, as though going through the motions was more habit than purpose.

"Kael!" a familiar voice called out, breaking through the dull atmosphere.

He turned to see Eryon jogging toward him, his wooden sword slung across his back and a wide grin plastered on his face. The boy's energy was undiminished, despite the early hour.

"Morning," Kael said, his smirk faint but genuine. "You're up early."

"So are you," Eryon shot back, stopping just short of him. "You ready for another adventure?"

Kael raised an eyebrow, crossing his arms. "Already? Didn't we just finish one?"

"That was yesterday," Eryon said, waving a hand dismissively. "Today's a whole new day. And I've got a great idea."

Kael sighed, though the corners of his mouth twitched upward. "Alright, what is it this time?"

Eryon glanced around, lowering his voice as if sharing a great secret. "I was thinking we could check out the old archives. They're full of cool stuff—maps, books, even some artifacts. No one ever goes there anymore."

Kael frowned, the word "artifacts" sparking his interest. "Why not?"

Eryon shrugged. "Most people say it's a waste of time. But I found the dagger near there, so who knows what else might be hiding?"

Kael's mind raced. The archives could hold answers—not just about the dagger but about the shimmer and the stones as well. And maybe even more about this guild and the mess it's become.

"Alright," he said finally, his tone cautious but firm. "Let's check it out."

Eryon's grin widened, and he practically bounced on his toes. "Yes! This is gonna be awesome. Come on, it's this way."

The boy led the way, weaving through the guild's crumbling corridors with the ease of someone who knew every shortcut and hidden passage. Kael followed closely, his senses on high alert as they descended deeper into the guild's underbelly.

The air grew cooler, the stone walls damp with condensation. Faint etchings lined the passageways, their designs worn smooth by time. Kael traced one with his fingers as they passed, the faint hum of old magic brushing against his skin.

"This place gives me the creeps," Eryon admitted, though his excitement didn't waver. "But that's what makes it fun, right?"

Kael chuckled softly. "If you say so."

They reached a set of heavy wooden doors at the end of the corridor, their surfaces scarred with scratches and scorch marks. Eryon pushed them open with some effort, revealing a vast chamber filled with towering shelves and stacks of forgotten tomes. Dust motes danced in the faint light streaming through cracks in the ceiling, giving the room an otherworldly glow.

"Welcome to the archives," Eryon said with a flourish, his voice echoing slightly in the cavernous space.

Kael stepped inside, his gaze sweeping over the disorganized chaos. The air smelled of aged paper and damp stone, and the faint hum of old magic lingered just beneath the surface.

"Let's see what we can find," Eryon said, darting toward the nearest stack of books. "There's gotta be something cool here."

Kael followed more slowly, his eyes drawn to a faintly glowing pedestal near the center of the room. The light was subtle, almost imperceptible, but it tugged at him like a thread pulling taut.

What is this place hiding?

Kael moved cautiously toward the glowing pedestal, his steps echoing faintly in the stillness of the archives. The air grew heavier the closer he came, that same subtle hum of magic brushing against his skin. Eryon, noticing his focus, called out from a pile of books he was digging through.

"Find something already?" the boy asked, his voice tinged with curiosity.

"Maybe," Kael replied, not taking his eyes off the pedestal. "There's something here."

Eryon abandoned the books and jogged over, peering around Kael to get a better look. The pedestal was carved from smooth, dark stone, its surface covered in faintly glowing runes that pulsed in a slow, rhythmic pattern. At its center sat a small indentation, as if it were meant to hold something.

"Whoa," Eryon breathed, his eyes wide. "That's… definitely something."

Kael crouched down, his hand hovering near the pedestal without touching it. "Looks like it's missing a piece," he said thoughtfully, gesturing to the indentation. "Maybe a gem or an artifact."

"Think it's connected to the dagger?" Eryon asked, his voice a mix of excitement and caution.

Kael hesitated, the faint pull in his chest growing stronger. "It's possible," he admitted. "The patterns on the runes are similar to what was etched on the blade."

Eryon crouched beside him, his face alight with curiosity. "So what do we do? Try to figure out what goes here?"

Kael frowned, his instincts urging caution. "Not yet. We don't know what this thing does—or if it's dangerous."

Eryon nodded, though disappointment flickered in his eyes. "Yeah, I guess you're right. But it's cool, isn't it? I mean, finding something like this buried down here?"

Kael nodded slowly, his gaze lingering on the pedestal. Cool isn't the word I'd use. Unsettling, maybe.

Rising to his feet, he stepped back, forcing himself to focus on the rest of the room. "Let's keep looking around. There might be something here that explains this."

Eryon grinned, his energy returning as he darted toward another section of the archives. "Got it! I'll check over there."

Kael watched the boy go, his gaze drifting back to the pedestal. The faint glow of the runes seemed to pulse in time with his heartbeat, a steady rhythm that made the air around him feel alive. Whatever this is, it's tied to the dagger. I'm sure of it.

Forcing himself to look away, Kael began scanning the shelves and scattered documents around the room. Most were crumbling with age, their writing faded to near-illegibility. Still, he sifted through them carefully, hoping for any clue that might shed light on the pedestal—or the shimmer he'd seen in the forest.

After a few minutes, Eryon called out from the far side of the room. "Kael! I think I found something!"

Kael straightened, brushing dust from his hands as he made his way over. Eryon was crouched near a low shelf, holding up a small, leather-bound journal. Its cover was cracked and worn, but the binding was intact.

"Look at this," Eryon said, flipping it open to reveal neat, angular handwriting. "It's someone's notes. They talk about artifacts and magic—stuff like what we saw in the clearing."

Kael crouched beside him, his eyes scanning the pages. The handwriting was dense but legible, filled with diagrams and descriptions of magical phenomena. One passage caught his attention, the words "energy nexus" and "artifact resonance" leaping off the page.

"Energy nexus," Kael murmured, running a finger along the faded ink. "That could explain the pedestal."

Eryon leaned closer, his excitement palpable. "What's it mean?"

Kael frowned, piecing the information together. "If I'm right, it's a focus point—a place where magic gathers and amplifies. The pedestal might be part of a network, meant to control or stabilize the energy."

Eryon's eyes widened. "So… if we find the missing piece, we could turn it on?"

"Maybe," Kael said cautiously. "Or we could trigger something we're not ready for. Either way, it's dangerous."

Eryon nodded, his expression serious. "Then we've gotta be careful. But this is huge, right? Like, really important?"

Kael couldn't deny it. The pedestal, the shimmer, the dagger—it all felt connected, like threads of a larger tapestry he was only beginning to unravel. "Yeah," he said quietly. "It's important."

Kael flipped through the journal's pages, scanning the diagrams and notes with a growing sense of unease. The intricate sketches of runes and symbols bore a striking resemblance to the patterns on the pedestal—and the faint markings he'd glimpsed on the Crimson Dagger.

"Eryon," Kael said, his voice steady but firm, "we need to keep this journal safe. It might be the key to understanding all of this."

Eryon nodded eagerly. "Yeah, no problem! I'll hide it in the hut—no one ever goes there except us."

Kael hesitated. The hut was secure for now, but something about the pedestal and the shimmer left him feeling exposed. Whatever we're dealing with, it's not random. Someone—or something—put it here for a reason.

"Good idea," Kael said finally, handing the journal back to Eryon. "But keep it quiet, alright? We don't want anyone else snooping around."

Eryon's chest puffed out with pride as he clutched the journal. "Got it. I'll keep it safe."

Kael gave him a small smile, his mind still racing. As they continued searching the archives, his attention was drawn to a faint scratching sound echoing from deeper within the room. He froze, his hand instinctively moving to the hilt of his knife.

"You hear that?" he asked, his voice low.

Eryon stopped mid-step, his eyes darting around the dimly lit chamber. "Yeah… what is it?"

Kael shook his head, motioning for Eryon to stay behind him. The scratching grew louder, accompanied by a faint shuffling sound that sent a chill down his spine. Could be rats. Or something worse.

They moved cautiously toward the source of the noise, the shadows around them deepening as the light from the cracked ceiling faded. The sound led them to a narrow alcove lined with more shelves, its far end obscured by darkness.

"Stay back," Kael whispered, his grip tightening on his knife.

Eryon nodded, though his wide eyes betrayed his nervousness. Kael stepped closer, his movements slow and deliberate. As he peered into the alcove, the scratching abruptly stopped, replaced by an eerie silence.

Kael's heart pounded in his chest as he stepped into the shadows. The faint hum of magic grew stronger, a low vibration that seemed to resonate in his bones. He squinted, trying to make out the shape at the far end of the alcove.

A sudden flash of movement made him jump, and he instinctively raised his knife. But instead of an attacker, his eyes fell on a small, glowing object lying on the ground—a shard of crimson crystal, its surface etched with faint runes.

Kael crouched, his knife still at the ready, and picked up the shard. It was warm to the touch, its glow pulsing in time with the hum of magic in the air. The sight of it sent a jolt of recognition through him, though he couldn't explain why.

"Kael?" Eryon's voice broke the silence, hesitant but concerned. "What is it?"

Kael stood slowly, the shard cradled in his hand. "I'm not sure," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. "But it feels… familiar."

Eryon stepped closer, his curiosity overcoming his fear. "It looks like it came from something bigger. Like… the dagger?"

Kael nodded, his chest tightening. "Maybe. Or something like it."

As they returned to the main chamber, the shard's glow dimmed slightly, as though reacting to the change in atmosphere. Kael tucked it into his pocket, his mind racing with questions. If this shard is connected to the dagger, then why is it here? And what else might be hidden in this place?

Eryon placed the journal back into his bag, his face lit with determination. "This is big, Kael. We've gotta figure this out."

Kael nodded, his resolve hardening. "We will. But we need to be careful. Whatever this is, it's not just some lost artifact."

Kael and Eryon emerged from the musty corridors of the archives into the faint warmth of the open air. The contrast was striking—the cool, damp stillness below replaced by the faint rustle of leaves and the distant murmur of guild activity above. The young boy's energy was as boundless as ever, his wooden sword clacking against his back as he practically bounced with every step.

"Did you see the way that pedestal lit up?" Eryon exclaimed, his words tumbling out in a rush. "And those runes! I mean, what even was that? It was like something out of a storybook!"

Kael smiled faintly, his hand brushing against the pocket where the crimson shard was tucked away. "It was something, alright," he said, his tone measured. "But we don't know what it means yet. Could be anything—or nothing."

Eryon huffed, his steps quickening to keep pace with Kael. "Oh, come on! You've gotta admit, that thing wasn't 'nothing.' It was glowing! And those runes—they were practically screaming 'magic.'"

Kael chuckled softly, shaking his head. "Alright, fine. It wasn't nothing. But it doesn't mean we should jump to conclusions."

"Yeah, yeah," Eryon muttered, though his grin betrayed his excitement. "You'll see, though. We're onto something big—I can feel it."

Kael didn't respond immediately, his gaze drifting to the shadows stretching long across the courtyard ahead. The day was waning, the golden light of the sun casting a warm glow over the crumbling stone walls. The faint sounds of guild members sparring and chatting drifted through the air, a subtle reminder that life here hadn't completely stopped.

As they walked, Eryon suddenly froze, his ears pricking up like a startled animal. His head tilted to one side, his eyes narrowing as he strained to listen.

"What is it?" Kael asked, stopping beside him.

"Shh!" Eryon hissed, waving a hand to silence him. "Listen!"

Kael frowned, holding his breath as he focused. At first, all he could hear was the soft rustle of the breeze through the leaves. But then it came—faint and distant, the low hum of voices. They were too far to make out the words, but the tones were unmistakably lively, the rhythm of conversation punctuated by occasional laughter.

Eryon's face lit up like the sun breaking through storm clouds. Without warning, he bolted forward, his small frame darting across the stone path with a speed that left Kael no choice but to follow.

"Hey!" Kael called after him, his long strides quickly eating up the distance. "Where are you going?"

Eryon didn't answer. His focus was entirely on the voices, his excitement bubbling over as he skidded to a stop at the edge of the courtyard. Kael caught up just in time to see him turn, his face alight with joy.

"She's here!" Eryon shouted, his voice ringing out loud and clear. "The girl I wanted you to meet!"

Kael froze mid-step, the words hitting him like a physical blow. His heart quickened as he stared at Eryon, who was practically vibrating with excitement.

"Who?" Kael managed, his voice quieter than he intended.

Eryon didn't answer immediately. Instead, he pointed toward the courtyard with a dramatic flourish. "Just come see! You'll know her when you see her."

Kael hesitated, his chest tightening as he stepped forward, his boots crunching against the gravel path. The voices grew clearer with each step, the light, melodic sound of a woman's laughter cutting through the faint hum of conversation.

Rounding the corner, Kael's gaze swept over the courtyard, taking in the small group gathered there. Most were familiar faces—guild members he'd passed in the halls or seen sparring in the training yard. But one figure stood apart, her presence magnetic even among the crowd.

Kael's breath caught as his eyes locked on her.