Phoenix Vanguard: Legends of Astravera

The Cloak of Escape

As Andres and Haruki lay on the ground, trying to catch their breath after their battle with the Wraith of Valoria, a wave of exhaustion settled over them. The adrenaline of the fight had worn off, and now all they wanted to do was rest.

Andres, still gasping for air, glanced at his status window and let out an annoyed sigh. “What a scam!” he exclaimed, clearly frustrated. “We didn’t even level up from that!”

Haruki, too tired to respond at first, simply chuckled, knowing Andres’s boisterous personality. After a brief silence, Andres, always the impatient one, groaned, “Hey, slave, go get the loot.”

Haruki rolled his eyes, playing along as usual. “Already did, master,” he replied with a teasing tone, pulling out the items they had gathered from the Wraith’s remains.

Andres turned his head slightly, still lying on the ground, and eyed the items with interest. “What did we get?” he asked curiously.

Haruki sat up, pulling out the loot and laying it out for them to see:

3 Phantom Herbs: a Rare herb that could be used to craft potions, giving the drinker temporary invisibility.

2 Wraith Cloaks (Epic): Cloaks that increase stealth, allowing the wearer to move silently and remain undetected.

1 Armor of Sorrow (Epic): A dark, ominous set of armor that offers increased defense against dark magic and spirits.

Andres’s eyes lit up when he saw the items. “I’ll take one of the Wraith Cloaks,” he said, grinning. “Let’s both wear one. And you’ll get the rest, especially that armor—you almost died again, you weakling.”

Haruki shook his head with a small smile, knowing Andres was half-joking but also aware that Andres had a habit of teasing him whenever the opportunity arose. “Thank you for your generosity, master,” Haruki said sarcastically, bowing his head as if in subservience. He couldn't help but chuckle to himself, thinking he had made the right choice teaming up with someone like Andres, who, despite his eccentric personality, had a heart of gold.

Andres smirked, satisfied with their loot. “You’re welcome,” he said, then stretched his arms out, yawning loudly. “Man, I’m beat. Let’s just rest for a bit.”

As Andres and Haruki bolted through the forest, the sound of the mysterious man's laughter echoed behind them. Despite their exhaustion from the earlier battle, adrenaline surged through their veins as they sprinted back toward the safety of Valoria. Leaves and branches whipped at their faces, and their boots thudded against the forest floor, but neither dared to slow down.

"Who the hell is messing with us now?" Andres growled, glancing over his shoulder while still running at full speed. His frustration was evident, his mind racing with possibilities. Haruki, however, was more focused, keeping his eyes ahead and mapping the quickest route back to town.

"Don't worry about it! Just keep moving!" Haruki shouted, his breathing heavy but controlled. He knew their playful attacker wasn’t trying to hurt them, but it was better to be cautious, especially after the fight they had just survived.

Another shot rang out, this time further behind them, and they both knew the attacker was just toying with them. The gunman could’ve hit them easily if he had wanted to. Despite that, neither stopped, unwilling to take the risk.

As the first light of dawn peeked through the trees, Andres and Haruki dashed through the forest, their hearts pounding as they attempted to evade the relentless shots from the mysterious sniper who continued firing at them without actually hitting. Each shot was deliberate, landing just close enough to keep them moving, and though they knew the gunman wasn’t aiming to kill, they weren’t taking any chances.