BALLAD OF THE ORC PALADIN

A new dawn

The first light of dawn painted the sky in pale shades of orange and gold as Kaito's party gathered in the courtyard outside The Bronze Axe. The air was crisp, and a thin mist clung to the stone streets of Eldrath. The town was already stirring—merchants preparing their stalls, adventurers setting off on their own quests—but for Kaito and his companions, today marked the beginning of something far greater.

This wasn't just another mission. This was the start of their journey to the heart of Valkra, to the ancient temple where an unspeakable power lay hidden. A power that, if unleashed, would tear the world apart.

Grushak slung his massive axe across his back and gave the group a final once-over, his yellow eyes gleaming with determination. "Everyone ready?"

Kaito nodded, adjusting the strap of his pack. He had spent most of the night thinking, planning, and preparing for the journey ahead. It was clear now that their mission was no longer about just defeating the warlords; it was about stopping an ancient force from awakening. The stakes had never been higher, and the weight of that responsibility hung heavy on his shoulders.

As Kaito glanced around at his companions, he was reminded again of how strange their group was. They didn't look like the heroic adventuring parties he had read about in fantasy books back in his old life. Instead, they looked like a band of misfits, a ragtag group of mercenaries pulled together by fate rather than choice.

Grushak, the orc war veteran, was their unofficial leader, his rough exterior hiding the sharp mind of a strategist. Sylvara, the elven archer, moved with a quiet grace, her keen eyes always watchful. Borin, the dwarf warrior, grumbled as he adjusted his hammer, but his loyalty and strength were undeniable. Seris, the enigmatic Tiefling rogue, was a mystery even to them, her motives always in question. And then there was Dorian, the scarred human rogue who had only recently joined their ranks, his dark past still shadowing him like a cloak.

Together, they didn't look like a group destined to save the world. But Kaito had come to trust them all in his own way. They had survived the dangers of Valkra's wilderness and the horrors of the catacombs beneath Draigenholt. Now, they would face their greatest challenge yet.

Leira, who had met them at dawn to see them off, stepped forward. Her elven features were calm, though her eyes betrayed a hint of worry. "The Guild is mobilising," she said. "They'll send reinforcements to the temple, but it'll take time. You'll be on your own until they arrive."

Kaito nodded, his mind racing with everything that lay ahead. "We'll make it to the temple. We don't have a choice."

Leira's eyes softened, and she placed a hand on his shoulder. "Stay safe, Kaito. And trust in the power you've found. It's stronger than you realise."

He gave her a small smile, grateful for her support. "We'll be fine. We've made it this far."

Rogar, standing beside her, gave a gruff nod. "The Guild will send the best we have. But you're walking into the heart of darkness. Be ready."

With their farewells said, the group turned to leave Eldrath behind. The road ahead stretched out before them, winding through the forested hills and into the untamed wilderness of Valkra. Kaito took one last look at the town, then pulled his cloak tighter around his shoulders.

The first few days of travel passed in relative silence. The land around them shifted from the rolling green hills outside Eldrath to the more jagged, rocky terrain as they neared the Valkran border. The skies were often overcast, the sun a faint glimmer behind thick clouds, casting the land in a perpetual twilight.

Kaito could feel the tension in the air. Every step brought them closer to the temple, and the presence of dark magic seemed to grow stronger the farther they went. Even the animals they passed in the wild seemed more skittish, as if they, too, could sense the growing danger.

Despite the quiet, Kaito couldn't shake the feeling that they were being watched. At night, when they made camp, he would find himself staring into the shadows beyond the fire, expecting to see glowing red eyes or the twisted shapes of the creatures they had faced before. But nothing came.

Still, the unease never left him.

On the fourth day, they crossed into Valkra.

The landscape changed dramatically. The trees became twisted and gnarled, their branches reaching toward the sky like skeletal fingers. The ground was uneven, cracked in places where deep ravines split the earth. The air was colder here, and a thin layer of fog clung to the ground, making it hard to see more than a few feet ahead.

"This place is cursed," Borin muttered, his eyes scanning the horizon. "The land itself feels wrong."

Seris, always on edge, nodded in agreement. "It's the magic. It's everywhere, seeping into the ground, the trees... everything."

Grushak grunted. "We knew it would be like this. Stay sharp."

The group pressed on, the atmosphere growing more oppressive with each passing hour. Kaito felt the weight of the magic pressing down on him, but alongside that darkness, he also felt the light within him stir. It was faint, like a candle in the wind, but it was there—an anchor in the storm.

As they moved deeper into Valkra, the landscape became even more treacherous. The paths were narrow, winding through steep cliffs and dense forests where the trees seemed to shift and move when they weren't looking. Strange sounds echoed from the distance—low, guttural noises that set their teeth on edge.

One evening, as they made camp near the edge of a ravine, Kaito found himself standing on a rocky outcrop, staring out over the desolate land ahead. The wind howled through the cliffs, and in the distance, dark storm clouds gathered.

Seris approached, her footsteps silent as always. "You're thinking about the temple," she said, her voice quiet but certain.

Kaito nodded, not taking his eyes off the horizon. "It's hard not to. We're getting closer. I can feel it."

Seris crossed her arms, her golden eyes watching him carefully. "You're worried about what you'll find there."

"Aren't you?"

She shrugged, a small smile playing at her lips. "I've learned not to worry too much about what's coming. In my line of work, worrying just slows you down."

Kaito chuckled, though there was no real humour in it. "Maybe. But it's not just the warlords I'm worried about. It's... this power inside me. I don't know how to control it, and if it's tied to whatever's in that temple..."

Seris was silent for a moment, then she spoke, her voice softer. "Whatever happens, you're not alone in this. We're all in this together now."

Kaito looked at her, surprised by the unexpected sincerity in her words. For all her aloofness, Seris had proven herself time and time again. He gave her a nod, grateful for her support. "Thanks."

"Don't mention it," she said, flashing him a rare smile before turning to head back to the camp.

As Kaito stood alone, the wind howling around him, he let his mind wander back to the temple. The ancient power that had called to him in the catacombs, the light that had saved them from the dark creatures—it was all connected. The guardian had warned him that there would be no turning back once they reached the temple, and Kaito could feel the truth of that warning settling deep within him.