Chapter 11: The Call to Lorigna

The day after the festival, the streets of the capital city, Zoria, were quieter than usual. The laughter and cheers from the night before had faded, and people were returning to their daily lives. Samuel, along with his friends, sat in their usual meeting spot, a small café on the edge of the city. Though they had just returned from the dangerous mission with the eight-headed snake, they couldn't fully relax. The peace felt fragile.

Samuel had just finished his meal when a messenger arrived, breathless and sweating. "Sir Samuel, the King requests your presence immediately," the messenger said, holding out a royal letter sealed with wax.

Samuel stood, glancing at his friends. He knew this meant something urgent. "I'll be right there," he said, and without another word, he followed the messenger through the winding streets of Zoria.

When he arrived at the palace, he was ushered into a large, grand hall. The King sat at the end of a long table, his stern face softened only by the exhaustion of the recent battles. Alongside him was Lyra, who stood with her usual calm demeanor, though her eyes watched Samuel closely.

"Samuel," the King said, his voice low but firm, "I have a mission for you and your group. It seems our troubles are far from over."

Samuel stepped forward, nodding. "What's going on, Your Majesty?"

The King looked at him seriously. "There is a city by the sea, called Lorigna. It is built on the water, with large seaports that serve as vital trade routes. But recently, something strange has been happening. Monsters, huge ones, have been attacking the ships coming in and out. Our traders are terrified, and the city is slowly falling into chaos."

Lyra spoke next, her voice clear and measured. "The city is in a state of panic. The problem isn't just the monsters. The people of Lorigna are becoming more fearful, and rumors suggest there may be something darker at work. The creatures attacking the ships are not natural. I believe they are leviathans—beasts from the deep that should not be able to reach the surface."

Samuel furrowed his brow. "Leviathans? I've heard of them... but I didn't think they would be a threat to the surface world."

The King nodded. "The seas are not what they seem. There's much we don't understand about the depths. But these leviathans... they seem to be coming from a place beneath the city, from the ocean itself. Your mission will be to investigate these attacks, find out what is causing the creatures to surface, and put an end to it."

Samuel glanced at his friends, who were waiting for him to speak. He didn't have to look at them long to know they would follow him. "We're ready," he said.

The King's gaze softened slightly. "Good. But there's one more thing you need to know. We'll be sending someone with you. Jason, from the city of Sylphora. He's a skilled fighter, and his city has also experienced some unusual activity in their waters. He'll be joining your party."

Samuel turned toward the door as a tall, muscular man stepped inside. Jason, with short black hair and piercing blue eyes, looked like someone who had seen his fair share of battles. His posture was straight, and his eyes locked onto Samuel with an air of challenge.

"I've been sent to help," Jason said, offering a firm handshake. "I've heard a lot about you, Samuel. Let's see if you live up to the stories."

Samuel raised an eyebrow but accepted the handshake. "We'll see, Jason. Let's get this done."

The King stood, signaling the end of the meeting. "Prepare yourselves. You leave for Lorigna at dawn. I trust you will solve this problem. The city and its people are depending on you."

With that, the group left the palace and made their way to the city's outskirts. They gathered their supplies, knowing the journey to Lorigna wouldn't be easy. The port city was several days' travel, and they would need to stay alert at all times.

Jason joined them as they packed, his quiet presence a stark contrast to the energy Samuel's group carried. Though Jason had the look of a seasoned warrior, there was something about his calm demeanor that made Samuel uneasy. Still, he didn't let it show. They had a mission, and that was all that mattered.

As the group made their way to the edge of the city, Samuel looked at his friends—Elaine, Marianne, Sylvia, and now Jason. Each one of them had a unique strength, and Samuel trusted them all. But this mission felt different. The leviathans were no ordinary monsters. Whatever was causing them to attack the city was something far more dangerous.

They camped for the night, preparing for the long journey ahead. The stars above them were bright, but the weight of what lay ahead hung heavy in the air.

The next morning, they began their journey toward Lorigna. As they traveled, Samuel couldn't shake the feeling that something wasn't right. The closer they got to the city, the more unsettled he became. He wasn't sure if it was the ominous calm of the ocean or the strange sense of dread that seemed to follow them, but he knew they were walking into something far darker than they could understand.

They traveled for several days, passing through small villages and seeing the growing signs of fear in the people. Stories of strange happenings on the shores were common, and many of the townspeople had heard whispers of the massive creatures attacking ships. But no one knew the true cause.

As they neared the coast, the sea air grew thicker, and the sound of the waves crashing against the shore was deafening. The landscape around them began to change, with tall cliffs giving way to the wide, open expanse of the ocean. Samuel could see the docks of Lorigna in the distance, but something in the air felt wrong.

"I don't like this," Jason muttered, looking out at the horizon. "It's too quiet."

Samuel nodded, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword. "Stay alert. We don't know what's waiting for us."

As they made their way closer to the city, the signs of destruction became more obvious. Boats were broken in half, their splintered remains washed up on the shore. The docks were empty, and the air was thick with the scent of saltwater and decay.

They entered the city, their eyes scanning the surroundings. The streets were nearly deserted, with only a few brave souls moving about. It was clear that the people of Lorigna were terrified.

A local guard approached them, his face pale and anxious. "You must be the ones the King sent," he said, looking at Samuel and his party. "Thank the gods you're here. We've been fighting these monsters for weeks, but we can't stop them."

Samuel stepped forward. "We'll do everything we can. Where are these monsters coming from?"

The guard hesitated. "We've tried to track them, but they always come from the water, from deep beneath the docks. They're not like anything we've ever seen before. Massive creatures—leviathans, like the legends say."

Samuel's heart sank. "We'll investigate. Show us where the attacks have been happening."

The guard led them down to the docks, where the water was still and dark. The air felt thick with tension. Samuel knew this was just the beginning. Whatever was causing these attacks was far worse than they had imagined.

As they moved closer to the water, Jason spoke up. "This isn't normal. Whatever's down there is powerful."

Samuel nodded grimly. "We'll have to be ready for anything."

And so, they prepared to face the unknown threat. But as they set up their camp and waited for nightfall.