Volume 1: Chapter 07: "The Five Fragments Quest"

Part 1

Location: At the dusk-land main Quest office.

The sun lit up the cobbled streets of Dusk-land. The kingdom was slowly healing, but the weight of yesterday's events still hung in the air.

Inside the main quest office, Masashi, Elra, Clara, Crystella, and Yulleus stood together, waiting in silence. A large table map of the world lay in front of them. The shattered remains of the Ember Relic were displayed in a sealed glass case nearby — glowing faintly with scattered light.

Commander Vellia stepped forward, arms behind her back. Her expression was tense.

Vellia: "You've all been summoned… because yesterday, a masked mage used forbidden magic to shatter the Ember Relic and scatter its fragments across the five continents."

Gasps and murmurs filled the room.

Vellia: "This mage is tied to King Virroga of the Gotmova Kingdom. And now… he's trying to collect the relic for himself."

She turned toward the map, pointing to each continent.

1. Argata – East: Forests and islands

2. Centara – Center: Mountainous heart

3. Galvanna – West: Volcano continent

4. Annava – Southeast: The deadlands

5. Gotnovaric – Southwest: Endless desert

Masashi: "So… we go to each continent and get the fragments back."

Clara: "Before he does."

Crystella, who had been quiet, finally stepped forward. Her long blue hair shimmered under the light. She looked at the cracked relic with guilt in her eyes.

Crystella: "…This was made from ancient energy — older than even the witches. If Virroga gets all five… he could destroy the balance of this world."

Everyone turned to her. Her voice was calm, but firm.

Crystella: "I want to help. I've caused enough damage… let me fix it."

Masashi gave her a small nod.

Elra: "Then we're in this together."

Yulleus: "Hmph. The more blades and spells, the better."

Commander Vellia unrolled five parchment scrolls — each one stamped with the Dusk-land seal.

Vellia: "These are your world-travel permits. Use them well. This journey will be long and dangerous."

As the team looked at the map one last time, Vellia spoke once more.

Vellia: "Your first destination… Argata. A scout from Resttia awaits you there. The journey begins at sunrise tomorrow."

The Next Morning

The sun was rising as Masashi and the others stood at the eastern gate of Dusk-land. A strong, wooden carriage waited for them.

It was covered in glowing runes and built to handle rough roads. Instead of horses, two big terra lizards stood ready — tough creatures with thick scales and sharp claws for rough terrain.

Yulleus checked her sword and stretched.

Yulleus: "Argata, huh? I heard it rains all the time there."

Crystella brushed a small frost crystal from her shoulder.

Crystella: "Still better than a hot desert."

Masashi quietly checked his bag. Inside were his notes, a blank notebook, and a drawing of the broken Ember Relic.

He looked calm, but his mind was sharp and ready.

Clara: "Already thinking again, huh?"

Masashi: "This time, I have to."

Elra pulled her hood over her head to block the sunlight.

Elra: "Let's go. If Virroga is already moving, we can't waste time."

Everyone nodded.

The carriage started moving as the big gates of Dusk-land opened.

A stone road stretched ahead into the green forests of Argata. Trees swayed in the wind.

Birds called from a distance. Mist rolled across the ground.

Up high on the wall, Commander Vellia watched them leave.

Vellia (thinking): "Let the world remember the ones who stood between destruction and peace."

AT GOTNOVARIC CONTINENT-PALACE

Throne Room (Far Away)

On the other side of the world, in the desert kingdom of Gotnovaric, a huge dark palace stood under a red sky.

King Virroga sat on a tall throne. His armor looked like it was made of sand and gold, glowing with strange magic. Next to him stood the masked mage — the one who broke the Ember Relic.

Virroga: "They're moving. Good. Let them find the pieces…"

He stood slowly, each step shaking the ground.

Virroga: "And when they do... I will take them all."

The masked mage nodded silently. In the distance, a strong wind blew through the desert.

Sure! Here's the first half of the Argata Arc — about 200 words, with a clear tone and pace for a new adventure:

2 months later----(timeskip)

The wheels of the enchanted carriage slowed as they reached the edge of the forest. The trees of Argata were tall, silver-leaved, and glowing softly even during the day.

A gentle drizzle fell — not of water, but of thin, shimmering crystals that looked like glass. They tinkled lightly as they hit the leaves and ground.

Masashi stepped out first, holding his hand out. A crystal landed on his glove --- cold, but not sharp.

Masashi: "So this is the Forest of Glass Rain…"

Clara walked beside him, looking around.

Clara: "It's beautiful… but kind of eerie."

Crystella narrowed her eyes.

Crystella: "Be careful. That glass rain may not stay gentle forever."

Elra pulled her cloak tighter.

Elra: "This forest is rumored to shift. Paths vanish, and sounds echo in strange ways."

Just then, someone stepped out from behind a tree — a girl in scout armor with the Dusk-land sigil on her shoulder.

???: "You're the team from Dusk-land, right?"

Masashi: "Yes. You're the contact?"

The scout nodded.

Scout: "Name's Rael. Welcome to Argata. The first fragment is said to be hidden in the Heartgrove Ruins… but getting there won't be easy."

The group had only been in Argata for a few hours when chaos struck.

From deep within the forest, they reached the edge of Resttia, the capital of Argata — a peaceful city made of greenstone buildings and moss-covered rooftops. But peace didn't last.

Screams.

Running footsteps.

People flooded the streets, rushing from the city square in a panic.

Masashi: "What's going on?!"

Rael: "Something's wrong… we need to check it out!"

The group pushed through the crowd, heading toward the center of the panic. Clara helped guide children to safety while Elra scanned for magical signs.

As they arrived, they saw it — floating above the city square fountain…

A cloaked figure. A glowing mask.

The same masked mage from the Dusk-land attack.

Yulleus: "It's him…!"

Crystella stepped forward, her eyes sharp. "The one who shattered the relic…"

The masked mage raised his hand. The air froze for a moment. Then — BOOM!

A blast of dark magic shook the plaza, sending everyone flying back. Shops shattered, stones cracked.

Masked Mage: "You should've stayed in Dusk-land."

Masashi stood up, fists clenched.

Masashi: "You… we're not letting you escape this time."

Part 2

The masked mage floated above the broken fountain, shadows swirling around his hands like dark flame. The ground trembled slightly under his presence.

Elra quickly summoned a barrier of light as falling debris from nearby buildings rained down.

Crystella extended her hand. A chill wind burst from her palm and froze the broken stones mid-air. "We protect the people first!" she shouted.

Yulleus already leapt ahead, blade drawn. "I'll hold him off!"

Her sword clashed against the masked mage's barrier with a loud clang, sending magical shockwaves through the square.

Masked Mage: "Fools... you don't even know what you're chasing."

Masashi stepped forward, eyes steady. "We know enough. You're working for Virroga. You shattered the Ember Relic."

Masked Mage: "…And I'll do it again. The world needs to burn before it can be reborn."

Suddenly, he raised his hand. Five floating shards of dark crystal appeared around him — and fired in every direction.

Clara tackled Masashi to the ground as one zoomed past them. Elra caught another with a magic seal, gritting her teeth as it sizzled in the air.

Rael: "He's not trying to kill us. He's testing us."

The masked mage landed softly on the cracked fountain, staring at Masashi and the group.

Masked Mage: "This is just the beginning. If you want the next fragment… come find me."

With a sharp motion, he vanished in a storm of black mist.

The square was in ruins. Smoke curled in the air. The people of Resttia slowly emerged from hiding.

Masashi clenched his fists, staring at the space where the mage disappeared.

Masashi: "He's after the Argata fragment."

Crystella nodded. "Then we head to the forest. The Forest of Glass Rain."

Smoke still curled in the air. Cracks spread across the stone plaza. Resttia had turned from a calm forest city to a place of panic in just a few minutes.

The masked mage was gone. But his warning still echoed in Masashi's ears.

"Come find me…"

Masashi stood quietly. His fists were clenched, eyes staring at the fountain where the mage had stood.

He didn't speak. But everyone could tell — he was ready.

Rael brushed broken leaves from her armor. "The people are shaken. But they'll recover."

She turned to the group. "You need to get to the Heartgrove Ruins. That's where the fragment is said to be."

Crystella narrowed her eyes. "And that's where he'll be waiting."

Yulleus slammed her sword back into its sheath. "Perfect. Let him wait. I'll cut through his illusions."

Clara touched Masashi's arm. "Are you okay?"

Masashi gave a small nod. "I won't let him win again."

Elra looked toward the forest path that stretched beyond the plaza. The trees seemed thicker now. The air, colder.

The Forest of Glass Rain had grown darker — as if it felt the dark magic earlier.

Rael pointed toward the tall tree line. "Heartgrove is half a day's travel on foot. Through that."

The Journey Begins

They left before noon.

Rael led the way through a narrow forest path. Shimmering glass rain drifted from the sky, falling gently like snow. It didn't cut — but it made no sound when it landed, which made the silence unsettling.

Masashi stayed near the front, his mind running in circles.

The masked mage… he knew we were coming. Was this a trap from the start?

Clara walked beside Elra, glancing up at the sky. "It's quiet… too quiet."

Yulleus walked behind them, sword ready at her side. "That's because something's watching."

Suddenly — crack!

A branch snapped nearby.

Everyone stopped. Crystella held up a hand. "Don't move."

Elra whispered, "There's mana nearby…"

Then it showed itself.

A beast made of wood and crystal stepped from the trees. It was twice the size of a man, with sharp legs and glowing green eyes. It looked like a deer, but its antlers were twisted vines.

Rael whispered, "A forest guardian… we must be close."

The creature looked at them… then charged.

Masashi jumped back, pulling out a flame orb from his satchel and firing it. The fire hit the side of the beast, but only slowed it down.

Yulleus moved next, sword flashing.

Crystella summoned a freezing wall of ice in front of the path, blocking its second charge. Clara threw a burst of air to push it back.

Elra held her hands up — chanting softly. "Spirits of light… bind this creature."

Chains of glowing light wrapped around the beast. It struggled, then finally fell still.

Everyone breathed heavily.

Rael walked over, checking the creature. "It wasn't trying to kill us. It was… guarding something."

Masashi looked ahead.

The trees opened slightly — revealing a glowing path of moss and stone.

Elra whispered, "That must be Heartgrove…"

At the Ruins of Heartgrove

The ruins were strange and beautiful — old stone platforms covered in vines and crystals. A broken temple stood at the center, cracked but still standing.

In the middle of the temple floor… a pedestal.

A glowing fragment of the Ember Relic hovered slightly above it, pulsing with warm red light.

Masashi stepped forward.

But before he could reach it… a blast of shadow hit the ground in front of him.

BOOM!

The masked mage stood on one of the upper pillars, cloak flowing.

Masked Mage: "You came. Good."

Yulleus: "Back off! That relic isn't yours!"

Masked Mage: "It belongs to no one. But I'll gladly take it… from your cold hands."

A battle began.

Cliffhanger (End of Chapter)

The trees shook as magic flew.

Masashi charged forward. Elra and Crystella cast spells from the side. Yulleus blocked shadow blades with her sword. Clara kept the air swirling, deflecting dark energy.

But the masked mage was stronger this time.

As the team struggled to keep up, he grabbed the relic with dark magic — pulling it toward him.

Masashi shouted, "No—!"

But the relic glowed brighter… then—

BOOM!

A light explosion knocked everyone down. When the dust cleared… the fragment was gone.

And the masked mage was no longer alone.

Next to him stood a shadowy figure — tall, wearing armor made of desert stone and gold.

No one knew who it was.

But his voice chilled the air.

???: "This is just one piece. And it's already ours."

Masashi tried to stand… but the world was spinning.

Elra: "Who… is that?"

The figure turned his head slightly.

???: "I am the storm coming from the sand."

Sure! Here's a shorter version of the Gotnovaric foreshadowing scene:

Woooosh…

A fierce sandstorm swept across the golden dunes of Gotnovaric. The wind howled, burying the desert under clouds of dust.

Atop a dune, the black towers of Gotnova pierced the sky — the capital city glowing faintly under the storm's haze.

Inside the dark palace, King Virroga sat still, his golden cloak trailing down the throne steps. The masked mage knelt before him.

Virroga's voice, calm but heavy:

Virroga: "Let them chase fragments… We'll bring the world to its knees."

.....

Then —

He spoke.

Virroga (Narration):

"They call me tyrant...

A ghost in the desert...

A king of ruins."

"But they are wrong."

"I am Virroga—

The rightful ruler of this dying world."

He raised his hand.

The swirling sand froze in place — like even time obeyed him.

Virroga:

"And soon… all kingdoms will kneel."

.....