Haunted by the hooded figure's words and the fire that razed his village, Rian treks through the Luminous Forest with Lina, where silvery footprints are fading. At the forest's edge, they stumble upon a merchants' camp—vibrant tents, pulsing crystals, and makeshift weapons, all bathed in the glow of bioluminescent trees. As they navigate the camp, Rian burns with vengeance, Lina stays sharp, and whispers of a "Reject" thicken the air with tension.
"Chill, Rian," Lina whispered, nudging his arm. "You look like you swallowed a sour vine. They're just curious."
"Curious?" Rian shot back under his breath. "They're staring like we're about to torch their camp."
"With that stormcloud vibe you're giving off, can't really blame them," Lina teased, a sly grin on her lips. "Let's trade what's left in your pack and get outta here."
Rian sighed, adjusting his backpack, eyes scanning the camp warily.
"You're too paranoid," Lina chuckled, but then her gaze caught a merchant hiding something under a tarp. "Interesting… Let's talk to that old guy over there. Seems less sketchy than the rest."
The elderly merchant, Velan, bore scars from battles long past, his sunken eyes glinting with time-hardened cunning. He inspected Rian's damaged goods—frayed ropes and a dented canteen—and offered a dust-resistant cloak and a flask of crystalline water.
"These aren't worth half that," Rian said, arms crossed. "Trying to rip us off, old man?"
Velan let out a raspy laugh, like dry wood cracking.
"Kid, I've seen rejects like you become legends. Don't sleep on a good cloak. And this water? It restores energy. You look like you need it."
"He really does," Lina cut in, flashing a cunning smile. "But tell us, Velan, what's the deal around here? Seen anyone weird lately?"
Velan hesitated, scratching his scruffy beard, eyes narrowing.
"A man… gray cloak, buying rare crystals, the kind that shouldn't exist anymore. Paid a fortune."
Rian swallowed hard, his heart racing.
"Was he carrying a sword? Anything unusual?"
Velan smirked.
"Shined like ice on fire. Not something a regular chosen would carry, kid."
"Where was he headed?" Rian pressed, voice tight, fists clenched.
"Verdaris, a city where strange things go down," Velan said, his tone heavy. "Watch yourself, kid. He didn't seem like an ordinary guy."
Rian closed his eyes, reaching for Craevon's voice in his mind.
What's the danger in this shadow?
Craevon's reply was cold as ice: Too much light draws predators. Stay in the shadows, or you'll be the beacon that leads them to you.
"Talking to yourself again?" Lina raised an eyebrow, twirling her knife. "Seriously, Rian, get a hobby that isn't swords."
"Very funny," Rian muttered, but the crystal on the wagon pulsed faster, almost frantic. "Lina, you seeing this? It's like—"
A sharp whistle sliced through the air. The campfires flickered, and shadows stirred among the tents. Craevon's voice rang in his mind: They're here for you.
The massive crystal on the wagon pulsed with erratic light. Suddenly, figures emerged from the shadows between the trees—dark cloaks billowing, daggers glinting with faint purple venom. A gray-cloaked spy led them, his eyes glowing with the same hue as a pendant around his neck. They slashed at the wagon's ropes, trying to free the crystal.
"Rian, move!" Lina shouted, already in motion. With a quick tug, she yanked a tarp from a nearby wagon and flung it over a spy, tangling his poisoned dagger. The tarp fell heavily, buying them a moment.
Rian gritted his teeth, a familiar burn flaring in his hand. Create! it screamed. His left hand ignited, forging the Fire Sword. The blade blazed a fierce red. Its heat drove him forward.
Fire Sword created!
Energy 10/15
With a swift spin, he carved a flaming arc. The fiery barrier blocked the spies' path, silver sparks bursting in the air. He lunged, dodging a poisoned dagger that flew toward him. Time seemed to slow as he parried another strike, his sword steady in his grip.
Energy 7/15
"Left!" Lina yelled, grabbing ropes from a wagon and rigging a trap. She tied the tarp around a spy, pinning him to a tree. The crystal pulsed faster, and the spy leader stabbed his pendant into the ground, as if triggering a ritual. Gray smoke began to cloud their vision.
Rian unleashed a Fire Strike. A wave of flames erupted, burning away the smoke. The light exposed the spies, their dark cloaks flickering in the shadows. He charged, fury rising.
Fire Strike!
Energy 5/15
"Who are you?" he growled, blocking another attack with a quick spin of his sword.
Lina, with deadly precision, knocked the spy leader down with a kick to his legs, pressing her knife to his throat.
"Talk, you rat!" she demanded. "Who sent you?"
The spy, panting, spat, "The Gray Divinity… they're hunting a kid with a purple mark. They think it's you, brat."
The words hit Rian like a blade. Memories of the fire flooded back—gray flames swallowing his village, his family's screams, a man's silhouette laughing in the shadows. The mark on his hand pulsed, and the Fire Sword flared a deep, almost purple red, its flames dancing wildly. Ignoring Lina, he pressed the sword's tip against the spy's throat. The heat singed the man's skin, drawing a pained groan.
Energy 4/15
"She's hunting me?" Rian snarled, voice shaking with rage, eyes blazing with a fury that made the air shimmer.
The spy, terrified, stammered, "I… just follow orders… the Gray will find you, kid!"
Rian pressed harder, the fire starting to burn the spy's cloak. Rage blinded him, but Lina grabbed his arm, yanking him back.
Energy 3/15
"Rian, stop!" she shouted, eyes wide. "Killing him now won't get you answers!"
Craevon's voice cut through his mind, sharp: Rage is a flame that can consume you before your enemy. Control it, or you'll be nothing but ash.
Rian hesitated, panting, his sword trembling. The flames dimmed, and he stepped back, heart pounding. The spy wriggled free, dropping a pendant etched with a stylized gray flame before vanishing into the trees. Rian grabbed it, nearly collapsing from exhaustion, his anger still smoldering but restrained.
A voice echoed in his head.
[Rian's Status]
Strength: 25
Speed: 9
Energy: 3/15
Abilities:
Fire Sword (30/100 to Lv. 3)
Fire Strike (10/100 to Lv. 3)
Heavy Strike (10/50 to Lv. 2)
Items:
Resistant Cloak
Crystalline Water
The camp fell silent, save for the crackling of the fires. The merchants watched Rian with a mix of awe and fear. Velan approached, handing over a rough map sketched on leather.
"Verdaris," he said, voice low. "That's where the gray-cloaked man went. Be careful, kid. That crystal's tied to something bigger."
"They won't get away again," Rian muttered, pocketing the map, his fist clenched, anger pulsing through him. He adjusted his new cloak.
Lina wiped her knife on her sleeve, smirking but with a worried glint in her eyes.
"Not bad, stubborn. But you shine too bright, like a walking bonfire. Use that anger to track them, not to burn everything down."
"And you're a talking shadow," Rian shot back, managing a half-smile. "Let's head to Verdaris. That guy knows more than he let on."
"Craevon, anything useful for once?" Rian asked mentally.
Verdaris holds truths, but also traps, Craevon replied, voice heavy. Choose your steps wisely.
Rian glanced at Lina, who waved her knife playfully.
"Ready for another adventure, partner?"
"Always," Lina grinned, her smile steady. "But if there are more spies, I swear I'll make an even better trap."