38

The capital of Eldoria, Aethoria, bustled with the comings and goings of its inhabitants. The markets were teeming with merchants hawking their wares, children darted between the cobbled streets, and the aroma of freshly baked bread mingled with the incense wafting from nearby temples. In the heart of the city, facing a square adorned with statues of legendary heroes, stood the imposing headquarters of the Aethoria Adventurers Guild, a white stone building with slender towers and stained-glass windows that reflected the sunlight like jewels.

Inside the headquarters, in an office located on the top floor, the guild leader, Lord Cedric Veylan, reviewed reports with an impassive expression. He was a tall and slender man, with silver hair combed back and gray eyes that reflected a sharp intelligence. His reputation as a calculating and pragmatic strategist was well known throughout the kingdom. He was not someone who was easily intimidated, not even by the crown.

As he flipped through a parchment filled with figures and statistics, a disturbance in the air alerted him. Without looking up, he said in a sarcastic tone:

"It is rude to present yourself without prior notice. Or have courtly manners declined so much?"

A dark figure materialized before him, enveloped in shadows that seemed to flow like water. It was the royal messenger, a being who needed no introduction. With a barely perceptible bow, he extended an envelope sealed with the royal emblem.

"A message from the king," he said in a neutral voice before vanishing as quickly as he had appeared.

Cedric raised an eyebrow as he took the envelope. With an elegant gesture of his hand, he activated a magical field that isolated the room. The walls briefly glowed with golden runes, with geometric shapes that intertwined like snakes, before returning to their normal state. Then, he broke the seal and extracted the letter.

"Read this, Eldrin" he murmured to himself as he unfolded the document. His secretary, a young man named Eldrin, was sitting across from him, taking notes in a leather-bound notebook.

"Should I read it aloud, sir?" Eldrin asked, adjusting the round glasses he always wore.

"Do me the favor," Cedric replied with a sigh, leaning back in his chair as he crossed his legs.

Eldrin cleared his throat and began to read:

"To Lord Cedric Veylan, Head of the Aethoria Adventurers Guild. The cooperation of your guild is hereby requested in a mission of utmost importance to the kingdom. Anomalous activity has been observed in the remote regions of the Veridian Forest, the northern mountains, and the border areas with the orcs. Teams of adventurers of rank D or higher are required to be sent to investigate these anomalies. Any relevant findings must be reported directly to the crown. A generous reward will be offered for crucial information."

Cedric remained silent for a few seconds, processing the information. Finally, he let out a dry laugh.

"How convenient. The king asks us to do his dirty work without revealing anything useful. And what exactly do they expect us to do? Look for ghosts in the forest?"

Eldrin, ever the diplomat, replied cautiously:

"It could be an opportunity to strengthen our relations with the crown, sir. Besides, if there is something really dangerous out there, it would be better to know before it causes bigger problems."

"Ah, of course, because sending our adventurers into unknown territories always results in guaranteed success," Cedric retorted ironically. Then, his expression turned thoughtful. "But you are right about one thing: if there is something out there, we must be prepared. We cannot afford to be surprised again as during The Catastrophe."

He stood up and walked to the window, from where he could see the bustling city. His gaze was lost on the horizon as he spoke.

"Summon the available team leaders. I want them to prepare mixed groups: experienced trackers in the art of following tracks, mages specialized in detecting subtle energies, and some fighters experienced in combat against magical beasts. Let them start with the Veridian Forest; it is the most accessible area and probably where we will find clearer clues."

"Should I mention something about the possible connection with the orcs?" Eldrin asked, quickly writing down the instructions.

"No," Cedric replied dryly. "I don't want anyone jumping to conclusions. If the orcs are involved, we will discover it ourselves. For now, we will keep this under the radar."

He returned to his desk and picked up a pen and ink.

"Draft an official letter for the king. Inform him that we are complying with his request, but make it clear that any discovery will be shared exclusively with the guild before reaching the crown. I don't like being used as a messenger without receiving adequate compensation."

Eldrin nodded, knowing that Cedric had strategic reasons for each of his decisions. As he left the office to begin preparations, Cedric remained alone, looking again at the large map that hung on the wall, with its detailed representations of mountains, rivers, and forests. His fingers slowly traced the lines that marked the Veridian Forest.

"Something big is about to happen, something that will change the destiny of Eldoria," he murmured to himself, with a mixture of curiosity and caution in his tone. "And when it does, I want to be several steps ahead."

With that, he returned to his desk and continued reviewing the reports, his mind already devising plans to ensure that the guild would benefit, no matter what secret the forest concealed.