First steps in the shadows

1. Special mission

Erd and Dune were standing outside the office of Regnar, the master of the Velmoria guild. He was watching them in silence, his fingers interlaced in front of his face. He looked worried, as if he was hesitating to entrust them with a particular task.

- This mission is different from the ones you've done so far," he said at last. Several adventurers have disappeared near the village of Falkren. None of them have been heard from for days.

Erd raised an eyebrow.

- Do you think it was a creature that attacked them?

- It's likely, but it's not just any creature. Those who came back alive, barely able to speak, mentioned a 'demon in the forest'.

Dune crossed her arms, her gaze hardening.

- A demon? It could be a summoned creature or a corrupted monster," she murmured.

Regnar nodded and placed a communication crystal on the table.

- Take this. If the situation gets out of hand, use it to contact me immediately.

Erd took the crystal and slipped it into his pocket.

- We'll take care of it," he said with a confident smile.

2. On the way to the village of Falkren

The journey took half a day. Falkren was a small village on the edge of a vast dark forest, an expanse of gnarled trees that seemed to absorb the daylight.

Dune suddenly stopped in mid-stride and frowned.

- There's a strange aura here," she said. Something abnormal.

Erd immediately activated his Analysis skill, but he didn't detect anything unusual.

- I don't feel anything... maybe it's magic too advanced for me to see?

Dune nodded.

- It could be. We'll have to be careful.

They advanced in silence until they reached Falkren.

3. The village haunted by fear

Falkren was in a sorry state. The houses were dilapidated, some of the windows were broken and the villagers looked around nervously, as if expecting a monster to appear at any moment.

An old man slowly approached them. He wore a worn cloak and his grey beard was in disarray.

- Are you the adventurers sent by the guild?" he asked in a hoarse voice.

- That's right," replied Erd. Are you the village chief?

- They call me Gorvan, and yes, I run this village... or at least, what's left of it.

Dune looked around.

- Tell us about the disappearances.

Gorvan sighed.

- Every night, someone disappears. The guards on patrol see nothing. There's no sign of a struggle. It's as if the victims have been swallowed up by the shadow itself.

A child approached timidly and tugged at Gorvan's cloak.

- Grandpa... is the demon coming again tonight?

Erd got down on one knee so that he was level with the boy.

- Did you see the demon?

The boy nodded slowly.

- He comes when the black mist comes...

Erd and Dune exchanged a serious look.

- We're going to investigate," said Erd firmly.

4. Investigation and discovery

As night fell, Erd used Analyse to inspect the scene of the disappearances. He found nothing unusual, but Dune spotted barely visible magical traces on the ground.

- It's a ritual," she murmured. It's used to summon or control a creature.

- Which means that someone is behind all this," replied Erd, clenching his fists.

Suddenly, an icy wind swept through the village and a dark mist slowly rose from the ground.

- It's starting...

5. Night trap

Erd and Dune had positioned themselves strategically around the village. When the mist reached its maximum thickness, a massive silhouette appeared.

A gigantic creature stood at the edge of the forest. It had the body of a wolf, the wings of a bat and the tail of a snake. Its eyes shone with a scarlet glow.

- A Shadow Chimera..." murmured Dune.

- It's massive...

The creature approached slowly, its presence weighing on the atmosphere.

- This thing isn't normal," said Erd.

- We've got to get rid of it before it claims any more victims.

6. Fight against the Shadow Chimera

The chimera let out a piercing howl before swooping down on them.

- Sons of Hindrance!" shouted Erd, activating the technique he had copied from the giant spiders.

Magical threads sprang up from the ground and encircled the creature, slowing it down.

Dune attacked back.

- Draconic spear!

A spear of golden energy formed in her hand and she hurled it at the chimera, piercing its side.

The creature violently freed itself from the threads and roared, projecting a wave of black energy. Erd erected a barrier with Sanctuary, but immediately sensed that the creature had extremely rapid regeneration.

- We have to neutralise its regeneration power," shouted Dune.

Erd thought quickly.

- I've got an idea!

He activated Sanctuary around the chimera, limiting its range of movement. Then he used the Light element inside the field.

- Divine purification!

A blinding light flooded the area. The creature screamed in pain as it struggled.

The chimera lost its mass, its body gradually dissolving. In a matter of seconds, it collapsed into a pile of dark dust.

7. A disturbing revelation

Erd approached the remains of the chimera and saw a symbol carved into the earth.

Dune paled at the sight.

- This seal... it's used to control divine creatures.

Erd felt his heart quicken.

- Someone is trying to capture divine creatures?

Dune nodded slowly.

- It's no coincidence. I'm a divine creature... someone knows I exist.

Erd clenched his fists.

- So maybe we're already targets...

8. Return to the guild and report

Back in Velmoria, they reported to Regnar.

The guild leader listened attentively, his expression becoming increasingly serious.

- If someone is trying to capture divine creatures, it means that a secret organisation is at work," he concluded.

- Do you have any idea who might be behind this?" asked Erd.

Regnar hesitated for a moment before answering.

- There's a rumour... There's talk of a sect, the Order of the Eclipse, which is seeking to reunite the seven divine creatures in order to awaken an ancestral power.

Dune and Erd exchanged worried glances.

- If that's the case, then we need to act quickly," said Erd.

Regnar handed them a document.

- Your next mission could well tell you more about this Order. Do you agree to carry it out?

Erd smiled and grabbed the paper.

- We don't have a choice, do we?

Dune crossed her arms and nodded.

- Let's see how far this leads.