The adventures guild and Forest's Wrath

The morning sun filtered through the dense canopy of the forest, casting dappled light on the forest floor. Díkē stood at the edge of a clearing, his left hand resting on the hilt of his sword, the ruby embedded in his palm glowing faintly. Sir Calian stood beside him, his greatsword resting on his shoulder, his silver armor gleaming in the sunlight. The two had been traveling for days, Díkē honing his skills with the Knight's Heart under Calian's watchful eye. But today was different. Today, they were heading toward civilization—toward the town of **Eldermere**, home to the local branch of the **Adventurer's Guild**.

"Are you ready?" Calian asked, his voice calm but firm.

Díkē nodded, though a flicker of nervousness danced in his chest. "As ready as I'll ever be. But… what if they don't accept me? What if they think I'm just some kid playing at being an adventurer?"

Calian's eyes softened, and a faint smile played beneath his helmet. "You are more than that, Díkē. The Knight's Heart has chosen you, and you have already proven your strength and determination. The guild will see that. But remember—this is not just about proving yourself to them. It is about finding your place in the world, about forging your own path."

Díkē took a deep breath, his grip tightening on his sword. "You're right. I can't keep hiding in the forest. It's time to take the next step."

Calian nodded, his gaze shifting toward the distant town. "Then let us go. But be prepared—the road ahead will not be easy."

---

The town of Eldermere was a bustling hub of activity, its streets lined with merchants, travelers, and adventurers. The air was filled with the sounds of haggling, laughter, and the clanging of blacksmiths' hammers. Díkē felt a pang of unease as he walked through the crowded streets, his hand instinctively brushing against the ruby in his palm. He had spent so much time in the solitude of the forest that the noise and chaos of the town felt overwhelming.

But Calian's presence was a steadying force. The knight walked beside him, his towering figure drawing curious glances from passersby. Díkē could feel the weight of their stares, the whispers that followed them as they made their way toward the Adventurer's Guild.

The guild hall was an imposing structure, its wooden beams carved with intricate designs and its doors wide open, welcoming all who sought adventure. A large sign hung above the entrance, bearing the guild's emblem—a sword crossed with a quill, symbolizing the balance between strength and wisdom.

Díkē hesitated at the threshold, his heart pounding. "This is it," he muttered, more to himself than to Calian.

The knight placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "You are ready, Díkē. Trust in yourself."

With a deep breath, Díkē stepped inside.

---

The guild hall was even more chaotic than the streets outside. Adventurers of all shapes and sizes filled the room, their voices blending into a cacophony of laughter, arguments, and tales of daring exploits. A large bulletin board dominated one wall, covered in notices and requests for adventurers. Behind a counter at the far end of the room stood a stern-looking woman with sharp eyes and a no-nonsense demeanor. She was clearly in charge.

Díkē approached the counter, his nerves fraying with every step. The woman looked up as he approached, her gaze sweeping over him with a critical eye.

"Name and purpose," she said briskly, her tone leaving no room for nonsense.

"Díkē Aegis," he said, his voice steady despite the butterflies in his stomach. "I'm here to join the Adventurer's Guild."

The woman raised an eyebrow, her eyes flicking to Calian, who stood silently behind Díkē. "And who's your friend?"

"Sir Calian," Díkē said, glancing back at the knight. "He's… my partner."

The woman's expression softened slightly, though her tone remained businesslike. "I see. Well, joining the guild isn't just a matter of signing your name. You'll need to prove your worth. We don't hand out badges to just anyone."

Díkē nodded, his determination hardening. "I understand. What do I need to do?"

The woman gestured to the bulletin board. "Pick a request. Complete it. Bring back proof of your success. If you can handle that, we'll consider your application."

Díkē turned to the board, scanning the notices. Most of them were simple tasks—escort missions, monster hunts, item retrievals. But one notice caught his eye. It was a request to investigate strange activity in the **Darkwood Forest**, a dense and dangerous area on the outskirts of Eldermere. According to the notice, travelers had reported hearing eerie howls and seeing strange, shadowy figures moving among the trees. The reward was substantial, but the warning at the bottom of the notice gave him pause: **"Caution: High risk of encountering powerful monsters."**

Díkē glanced at Calian, who gave a slight nod of approval. "This one," Díkē said, pulling the notice from the board and handing it to the woman.

She raised an eyebrow, clearly surprised by his choice. "You sure about this? The Darkwood isn't for beginners."

Díkē met her gaze, his resolve unwavering. "I'm sure."

The woman studied him for a moment, then shrugged. "Alright. But don't say I didn't warn you. Good luck, kid."

---

The journey to the Darkwood Forest was tense and quiet. Díkē and Calian moved swiftly, their senses alert for any signs of danger. The forest was darker and denser than the one Díkē had trained in, the trees towering overhead and blocking out much of the sunlight. The air was thick with the scent of damp earth and decaying leaves, and the silence was unnerving.

As they ventured deeper into the forest, Díkē felt a growing sense of unease. The ruby in his palm pulsed faintly, as if warning him of something ahead. He glanced at Calian, who nodded silently, his greatsword at the ready.

Then, they heard it—a low, guttural growl, followed by the sound of something moving through the underbrush. Díkē's heart raced as he drew his sword, the ruby's glow intensifying.

"Stay close," Calian said, his voice calm but firm. "Whatever it is, we'll face it together."

The growl grew louder, and then, with a sudden burst of movement, a massive creature emerged from the shadows. It was a **Shadowfang**, a monstrous wolf-like beast with glowing red eyes and fur as black as night. Its jaws dripped with saliva, and its claws gleamed like daggers as it lunged toward them.

Díkē's instincts kicked in, and he raised his sword, blocking the creature's attack. The force of the blow sent him stumbling back, but Calian was already moving, his greatsword slicing through the air with deadly precision. The Shadowfang howled in pain as the blade struck its flank, but it quickly recovered, its eyes locking onto Díkē with a predatory gleam.

"Summon me if you need to," Calian said, his voice calm despite the chaos. "But remember—this is your fight. Trust in your strength."

Díkē nodded, his grip tightening on his sword. The Shadowfang lunged again, its claws slashing through the air. Díkē dodged, his movements fueled by the ruby's energy. He countered with a swift strike, his blade cutting into the creature's side. The Shadowfang snarled, its eyes blazing with fury.

The battle was fierce and relentless. Díkē and Calian fought side by side, their movements synchronized as they traded blows with the Shadowfang. Díkē's heart pounded as he pushed himself to the limit, the ruby's glow flaring brighter with each strike. He could feel the strain of the Knight's Heart's power, but he refused to back down.

Finally, with a powerful strike from Calian's greatsword, the Shadowfang let out a final, guttural howl and collapsed to the ground, its body dissolving into shadowy mist.

Díkē let out a breath he didn't realize he had been holding, his body trembling with exhaustion. But despite the fatigue, he felt a surge of pride. He had faced a powerful enemy and emerged victorious.

Calian placed a hand on his shoulder, his eyes gleaming with approval. "You fought well, Díkē. But this is only the beginning. The Darkwood holds many dangers, and we must remain vigilant."

Díkē nodded, his resolve hardening. "I'm ready. Let's finish this."

---

As they ventured deeper into the forest, they encountered more Shadowfangs, each battle testing Díkē's skills and endurance. But with each victory, he grew stronger, more confident in his abilities. The ruby's power flowed through him, its energy fueling his strikes and enhancing his reflexes.

Finally, they reached the heart of the Darkwood, where they discovered the source of the strange activity—a **Shadowfang Alpha**, a massive, monstrous version of the creatures they had been fighting. Its eyes glowed with an eerie red light, and its presence radiated a palpable aura of menace.

Díkē's heart raced as he faced the Alpha, his sword trembling in his hand. But Calian's voice echoed in his mind, calm and reassuring. "You are not alone, Díkē. Trust in the Knight's Heart. Trust in yourself."

With a deep breath, Díkē raised his sword, the ruby's glow flaring brightly. "Let's do this."

The battle was the most intense yet. The Alpha was faster, stronger, and more cunning than its lesser kin, its attacks relentless and brutal. But Díkē and Calian fought with everything they had, their movements synchronized as they traded blows with the monstrous creature.

Finally, with a powerful strike from Díkē's sword and a devastating blow from Calian's greatsword, the Alpha let out a final, ear-piercing howl and collapsed, its body dissolving into shadowy mist.

Díkē fell to his knees, his body trembling with exhaustion. But despite the fatigue, he felt a sense of triumph. He had faced one of the forest's greatest dangers and emerged victorious.

Calian placed a hand on his shoulder, his eyes gleaming with pride. "You have done well, Díkē. You have proven your strength and courage. The guild will see that."

Díkē smiled faintly, his gaze fixed on the ruby in his hand. Its glow was steady and reassuring, a constant reminder of the power he now wielded—and the responsibility that came with it.

"Let's go back," he said, his voice firm. "I'm ready to join the guild."

---

As they made their way back to Eldermere, Díkē felt a sense of anticipation building in his chest. He had taken the first steps toward forging his own path, toward becoming the adventurer he had always dreamed of being. And with Calian by his side, he knew that he could face whatever challenges lay ahead.

The road ahead would not be easy, but Díkē was ready. He was no longer the disgraced son of the Aegis family—he was a summoner, a wielder of the Knight's Heart, and a member of the Adventurer's Guild.

And his journey was only just beginning.

---

**End of Chapter 4**