BALLAD OF THE ORC PALADIN

A Stranger's Warning

Kaito's hand instinctively went to his dagger, but he hesitated, sensing the man wasn't here to fight. The stranger's cold eyes scanned the group, his posture tense but measured. He was a predator, that much was clear, but he wasn't reckless. He was sizing them up, assessing their threat level, and Kaito had the distinct impression that this man had seen plenty of combat.

Grushak stood, his large form casting a shadow over the stranger. "Who are you, and what do you want?"

The man's scarred face remained unreadable as he met Grushak's gaze. "Names don't matter here. I'm just a traveller passing through—same as you." His eyes flicked to Kaito, lingering for a moment before shifting back to Grushak. "But I've been hearing some interesting things. Rumours about a group headed toward the old temple. That wouldn't happen to be you, would it?"

Kaito felt a cold knot tighten in his stomach. How could this man know about their mission? They had been careful, staying under the radar since leaving Draigenholt. The warlords were already closing in, and the last thing they needed was more attention drawn to them.

Grushak's grip on his axe tightened, but he kept his voice calm. "Maybe. What's it to you?"

The stranger smiled, though there was no warmth in it. "You're walking into something far more dangerous than you realise. The warlords aren't the only ones after the temple, and they're not the worst of what's waiting for you there."

Seris narrowed her eyes, clearly suspicious. "What do you know about the temple?"

The man shrugged, his expression casual. "I've been in Valkra long enough to know that the ruins of that temple hold more than just old stones and forgotten gods. The warlords are after the artefact buried beneath it, and they'll stop at nothing to get it. But there's something older, something darker than even they understand." He paused, his voice lowering. "The warlords think they can control it. They can't. No one can."

Sylvara, always sceptical of strangers, folded her arms. "And what's your interest in this? Why warn us?"

The man glanced at her, his eyes hardening. "Because I've seen what's coming. The warlords are fools. They're waking something up, something that's been asleep for centuries. If they succeed in unearthing that artefact, it won't just be Valkra that falls. The entire world will burn."

His words hung in the air, heavy with a warning that chilled Kaito to his core. The weight of their mission pressed down on him more than ever. He had known the temple held something dangerous, but this stranger was confirming their worst fears—whatever the warlords sought was powerful enough to threaten not just the balance of power, but the very fabric of the world itself.

Kaito's voice broke the tense silence. "You've seen what's in the temple?"

The man's cold eyes shifted to Kaito, his expression unreadable. "Not exactly. But I've seen enough. I've seen the twisted things the warlords have been using to dig deeper into the temple. I've seen the bodies they've left behind—those who thought they could control the power down there." He shook his head. "It doesn't end well for anyone."

Grushak's growl was low and menacing. "You've told us a lot without saying what you want."

The man smirked. "What I want is to stay alive. And to make sure this power doesn't fall into the wrong hands. I've been tracking the warlords for weeks now, and I know how they operate. But I can't take them down alone. You're headed for the temple whether I warn you or not. So, my offer is simple: let me help. I can get you there. I know how they move, how they guard the ruins. You need someone like me."

The group exchanged uneasy glances. Trusting a stranger in Valkra was risky, especially one who seemed to know so much about the warlords' plans. But his knowledge of the temple could be the key to getting there before the warlords did.