Phoenix Vanguard: Legends of Astravera

Into the North Forest

A new day dawned over Valoria, but the skies quickly darkened as heavy rain began to pour, drenching the landscape. Andres and Haruki found themselves seeking shelter, watching as fellow adventurers trudged back to the village, their faces weary from the hunt.

“Maybe we should head back too,” Haruki suggested cautiously, glancing at the ominous clouds. “There’s no point risking our necks in weather like this. It makes everything more unpredictable.”

But Andres, with his usual cocky bravado, glanced at the retreating adventurers and grinned. “Risk? Nah, I’m not letting a little rain stop me. That’s where the fun starts. Let’s go!” He rushed outside the gates, splashing through puddles.

“Wait, Andres!” Haruki called, but he had no choice but to follow his friend as they passed through the north gate.

As they stepped into the northern forest, the rain continued to fall, creating a thick mist that hung in the air. Haruki’s instincts kicked in, and he suddenly halted, raising a hand. “Slow down and keep quiet,” he whispered urgently. “Something’s off. We’re not alone,” he added. 

They crept forward, peering through the trees. In the distance, they spotted three cloaked figures, their identities obscured. The air was thick with tension as they watched the dark figures attack a party of unsuspecting adventurers, taking them down with brutal efficiency. The victims had barely managed to raise their weapons before they were cut down. Andres’ heart raced, his fists clenched in anger as he watched the cold-blooded slaughter.

Haruki’s heart raced as he recognized the insignia on the back of the cloaks. “So, they’re the guild that robs other adventurers,” he muttered, fear gripping him. But what are they called? He still didn’t know the name of this dark guild, but their ruthless reputation preceded them.

Seeing the massacre stirred something deep inside Andres. An old, painful memory resurfaced—a time when he was beaten nearly to death, helpless because of his low status in society. Even after the Celestial Collision, racial discrimination had only worsened, and his family’s poverty made them easy targets. The streets had been brutal to him and his family, and even some adventurers had treated them like trash.

That memory fanned the flames of rage inside him. He trained tirelessly every day with his master, honing his sword skills, determined to become stronger so no one could ever treat him like that again. But all that training had been cut short because of the incident in the dungeon cave, a memory that still haunted him.

Andres clenched his fists, rage boiling inside him. “We should charge in and stop them!” he declared, his eyes burning with determination.

Now, as he watched the cloaked adventurers loot the corpses of their victims, Andres wanted to charge in and end them. His fingers itched to grab his weapon, but before he could act, Haruki stepped in front of him, blocking his path.

“No!” Haruki stepped in front of him, blocking his path. “We can’t take them on. We’ll end up just like those adventurers. We’re not ready to fight them yet.”

Andres gritted his teeth, frustration boiling inside him. “We can’t just sit here and do nothing!” he cursed, wanting to charge in despite the odds.

“I’m not saying anything,” Haruki replied calmly. “But we need to be smart. If we rush in, we’re as good as dead. Let’s leave—now—and return to the Adventurers’ Hall.” 

Frustrated, Andres cursed under his breath, feeling helpless. Andres shook his head. “No. We can’t just run away! We have to get stronger and make progress today. Otherwise, we’ll never be able to protect ourselves from them!” He was angry, not just at the situation but at feeling powerless.

“Fine,” Haruki conceded reluctantly. “But let’s hunt somewhere else. Fast!” With that, they took off, feet pounding against the cobblestones of Valoria as adrenaline coursed through their veins.

However, the shadows behind them stirred, and the assassins, alerted by the commotion, sprang into action. Their footsteps echoed eerily, a haunting reminder of the danger hot on their heels.

After a few harrowing meters of sprinting, they turned a corner and skidded to a halt. There, standing resolute at the mouth of an alleyway, was a rookie adventurer clad in gleaming golden armor, his sword drawn and ready. It was the same adventurer that Andres had stumbled across days earlier—a boy who had been full of bravado but was now faced with the grim reality of the night.

“Run, you idiot!” Haruki shouted as he and Andres raced past him, the sound of the assassins’ pursuit echoing ominously in their ears. The rookie’s eyes widened in confusion, but instinct took over; he pivoted into a fighting stance, his sword glinting under the dim light, ready to confront whatever threat approached.

As Haruki glanced back, he saw the assassins shift their focus, their predatory gazes locking onto the young warrior, who had unwittingly become their next target. At that moment, a surge of desperation fueled his legs, propelling him and Andres forward.

“We can’t slow down!” Andres urged, breathless from the exertion. He felt a mix of guilt and urgency, wishing he could do more for the rookie.

The duo sprinted away, their hearts pounding in unison, each step taking them further from danger. The distant sounds of struggle and clashing steel faded as they plunged deeper into the labyrinthine alleys of Valoria.

After what felt like an eternity of running silently through the labyrinthine streets, they broke through into the dense, shadowy embrace of the forest that bordered the town. The cool night air filled their lungs, but there was little time to savor it. With every passing second, they could feel the assassins closing in, relentless as ever.

Then, almost like a beacon in the dark, they spotted a cave entrance, its dark maw inviting them in with the promise of temporary refuge. “Let’s go in there!” Haruki suggested, relief washing over him as he veered toward the cave. The adrenaline still surged through their bodies, but it was a welcome distraction from the terror that lurked behind them.

As they ducked inside, the cave swallowed them whole, darkness enveloping them like a protective shroud. They pressed against the cool stone walls, trying to catch their breath.

“Do you think they followed us?” Andres whispered, his heart still racing. The cave was eerily quiet, save for the sound of their ragged breaths.

Haruki strained to listen, the echoes of the forest filling the stillness. “I don’t know… but we can’t stay here long.” He scanned the shadows, noting the way the cave twisted deeper into the earth. “We should move further inside, just in case.”

After what felt like an eternity of running quietly through the forest, they stumbled upon a cave entrance, its dark maw inviting them in. “Let’s go in there,” Haruki suggested, relief washing over him.

Andres nodded, grateful for the temporary reprieve from the storm and the lurking danger outside.

As they ventured deeper into the cave, the dampness of the stone chilled their skin. The sounds of the forest faded, replaced by the distant dripping of water. “We need to find a way out of this mess,” Haruki muttered, frustration gnawing at him. “I can’t believe we got ambushed like that.”

“Maybe we can find another exit,” Andres suggested, eyes scanning the rocky walls for any signs of a pathway. “Or a way to defend ourselves.”

Suddenly, a low rumble echoed through the cave, making them both freeze. Haruki exchanged a wary glance with Andres. “What was that?”

Before they could process their next move, a faint flicker of light appeared ahead, casting eerie shadows along the cave walls. It beckoned them forward, a glimmer of hope in an otherwise daunting situation. With shared determination, they pressed on, the adrenaline driving them further into the unknown.