The Rising Threat of the Murkwalkers

"Your guess is as good as ours," the tall boy replied with a shrug. "But hey, if you're looking for Cedric, he's probably in the eastern forest by now. That's where the rune fragments are."

Evan wasted no time. He adjusted his boots, feeling the faint hum of the runes etched into them, and started toward the eastern forest at a steady jog. As soon as he entered the woods, he activated Simulate, his core pulsing in sync with the ability.

Immediately, a detailed map of his surroundings unfolded in his mind. Trees, shrubs, uneven ground, and even small animals flickered into view within a radius that felt noticeably larger than before. The sessions in the Shadowed Palace had sharpened his magic in ways he hadn't fully realized until now. Not only was the reach of Simulate greater, but the clarity of the feedback was almost overwhelming. Every root and stone seemed to stand out, as if painted with light.

"Cedric," Evan muttered under his breath as he scanned the projection. He sprinted through the forest, the enhanced feedback allowing him to navigate the terrain with ease. He ducked under low-hanging branches and leaped over fallen logs without missing a beat. The more he used Simulate, the faster and more fluid his movements became.

Then, near the edge of his range, Evan caught sight of a familiar figure—a lone apprentice crouched low, sifting through the dirt. Cedric. He was picking through patches of moss and leaves, searching for rune fragments scattered across the forest floor.

Evan grinned, relief washing over him. "Cedric!" he shouted, his voice carrying over the rustle of the forest as he ran toward his friend.

Cedric looked up, startled, his hand frozen mid-reach. Recognizing Evan, he stood and waved, a confused but amused smile spreading across his face. "Evan? What are you doing here?"

Evan skidded to a halt a few paces away, catching his breath. "Looking for you," he said, his tone serious despite the light grin tugging at his lips. "What's going on? Why is everyone talking about fish and the lagoon?"

Cedric sighed, shaking his head. "Oh, you're in for a story. But first, let's get out of this clearing. It's not the best spot to talk."

Nodding, Evan motioned for Cedric to lead the way, his mind already brimming with questions. Whatever was happening, he needed answers—and fast.

"You don't know about the Murkwalkers?" Cedric finally asked, raising an eyebrow. "Where have you been?"

Evan shook his head, arms crossed. "I've heard about the fish, the missions. But no one told me they had a name."

Cedric sighed, dropping the fragment into his satchel. "Murkwalkers. That's what the intermediates are calling them. They're humanoid, scaled, and come out of the Violet Lagoon. But here's the thing—they're not supposed to attack people. In fact, they're not supposed to leave the lagoon at all."

Evan frowned. "What do you mean?"

"For as long as anyone can remember, they've stayed in the water," Cedric said. "There hasn't been a single attack in over fifty years. The lagoon's practically a tourist spot. People travel from all over just to see it—there's even a whole festival tied to the lagoon every few years. It's a symbol of the peace between the territory and whatever's living in there."

"That doesn't sound like peace anymore," Evan muttered, his tone edged with unease. "Something's changed."

Cedric nodded grimly. "Exactly. No one knows why they're attacking now. One of the intermediates told me they're not just targeting travelers—they're hitting villages. Small ones, mostly. The ones between here and the lagoon."

Evan's mind raced. He thought back to the geography of the region: the Violet Lagoon, the Arcane Field standing as the closest settlement, then scattered villages spreading out toward the capital. His own hometown was much farther, closer to the territory's border. The lagoon had always been distant, both physically and as a source of concern. For it to suddenly become the center of chaos felt... wrong.

"And the capital?" Evan asked, his brow furrowing. "Why build it so far from the lagoon? It feels deliberate now."

Cedric shrugged. "Maybe it was. People have always whispered that the lagoon's... strange. That even if there's peace, no one wanted to live too close. That's why the Arcane Field is the closest settlement—it's basically a buffer zone between the lagoon and the rest of the territory."

Evan rubbed his temples. "And now we're at the center of it."

Cedric looked away, scanning the forest floor absently. "Yeah. The Tower's scrambling to figure out what's happening, but for now, they're just throwing apprentices and missions at the problem, hoping something sticks. You saw the missions, right?"

Evan nodded. He remembered the poisoned arrows, the toxic moss collection, the sabotage orders—strange tasks that spoke to a larger plan. "They're not just defensive," he said. "They're preparing for something bigger."

"Exactly. And it's not just preparations," Cedric added. "I heard they sent intermediates to take out a few Murkwalkers directly. The idea is to capture one alive, bring it back for study. But no one knows if they'll succeed."

Evan frowned. "Murkwalkers have been peaceful for decades. If they're attacking now, what changed?"

Cedric hesitated before answering. "I don't know. But... there's a rumor going around."

Evan raised an eyebrow. "What kind of rumor?"

"One of the intermediates said an advanced apprentice overheard something. Apparently, this started after the Archon visited the camp," Cedric said, lowering his voice as if the trees themselves might overhear. "Three days later, the first reports of Murkwalkers attacking came in."

Evan's chest tightened. The Archon's visit had been shrouded in mystery, his presence a disruption to the usual order of the camp. Evan had assumed it was some political or logistical matter, unrelated to the daily lives of the apprentices. But now...

"You think the Archon knew something?" Evan asked, his voice cautious.

"Maybe," Cedric said, shrugging. "Or maybe the Archon caused it. No one's saying it outright, but you've heard the whispers. Whatever reason he had for coming here, it wasn't good."

Evan clenched his fists. The timeline fit too perfectly to ignore. The Archon's arrival, the sudden shift in mission priorities, and now the Murkwalker attacks—it wasn't coincidence.

"And now they're sending intermediates to fight them?" Evan asked, his tone incredulous.

"Not just fight," Cedric corrected. "Control. They're trying to keep this from spreading too far. The lagoon might be a long way from the capital, but if this keeps up, it won't stay a local problem for long."

Evan fell silent, his thoughts swirling. The Archon, the lagoon, the sudden violence—it all felt connected, but the pieces didn't fit together yet. And the fact that no one seemed to know why was even more unsettling.

"I need to know more," Evan muttered, almost to himself.

Cedric gave him a curious look. "What are you thinking?"

Evan glanced toward the forest, his gaze distant. "We need to figure out what's happening at the lagoon. Maybe the intermediates will bring back answers. Until then, all we can do is prepare."

Cedric nodded slowly. "And hope those answers don't make things worse."

Evan adjusted his boots, his core humming faintly as he activated Simulate to scan the area for more rune fragments. The familiar glow of the ability revealed a cluster of shards buried under the leaves nearby. He pointed Cedric toward them, his focus already shifting to the larger problem at hand.

The peace of the Violet Lagoon was over. Whatever was causing the Murkwalkers to emerge, it was only the beginning.