Phoenix Vanguard: Legends of Astravera

Shadows of Urgency

The next morning, the group gathered their gear, ready to head toward the cave for another day of training. However, an unsettling atmosphere enveloped them as Max approached, clutching a crumpled piece of paper with a troubled expression.

“Andres! Haruki!” she called out, her voice laced with concern. “You need to see this.”

Andres furrowed his brow, noting the gravity of her tone. “What’s wrong, Max? You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”

Max’ gaze dropped to the paper in her hands, and the surrounding air grew thick with tension. “Ashton’s gone,” she finally said, her voice barely above a whisper.

“What do you mean, gone?” Andres responded impulsively, confusion clouding his features. “He can’t just—”

Before he could finish, Haruki had snatched the paper from Max’ hands and began reading aloud. “It’s a letter from Ashton,” he said, his voice steady despite the turmoil surrounding them. The words spilled out as he read:

“There's been an emergency in Valoria, and I need to get there as quickly as possible. My brother needs me. I apologize for not being able to say a proper goodbye.”

Max’ eyes shimmered with unshed tears, the weight of the news crashing down on her. “I didn’t even get to say goodbye…” she murmured, the sadness in her voice palpable.

As the scene shifted, the narrative focused on Ashton, who was riding a horse at lightning speed through the dense forest. His expression was fierce, worry etched deep into his features. “Wait for me, brother! I’m coming!” he shouted, determination fueling his every stride. The sound of hooves echoed in the quiet, a stark contrast to the heavy hearts left behind.

Back in the clearing, Andres paced restlessly, his mind racing. “What else did Ashton say?” he pressed, desperate for more information.

Haruki lowered the letter, his expression growing serious, his brows furrowing deeply. "Garrick was attacked... and the letter says it was by the leader of the dark guild. The name they gave was Tariq Ndungu."

Max' eyes widened, her gaze sharpening as she absorbed the gravity of what Haruki was saying. “Tariq Ndungu? Leader of the Ravenous?” She paused, a look of deep concern crossing her face. “That guild… they’re infamous. Their brutality and ruthless tactics go way beyond anything a normal dark guild would attempt.”

Haruki nodded, his voice low. “Yeah. And from what this letter says, it wasn’t just an ordinary raid. Garrick was specifically targeted. It sounds like they wanted to send a message.”

Max shook her head, her mouth tight. “The Ravenous don’t just kill; they decimate. They take over entire towns, leave no survivors, and make sure word of their actions spreads, so others will fear them.”

“They even target the vulnerable,” Haruki added with a pained expression. “Old people, children—it doesn’t matter to them. They leave nothing but destruction in their path, and no one is safe.”

As Haruki and the others digested the letter, the scene shifted to a cold, desolate village ravaged by the Ravenous. Dark smoke rose from charred homes as figures cloaked in tattered robes and bearing the emblem of the Ravenous loomed over the aftermath, their silhouettes moving like shadows through the night.

A tall, foreboding figure stood at the heart of the destruction, his aura dark and unyielding. Tariq Ndungu, his face obscured by a hood, surveyed the ruined village with cold satisfaction. His eyes gleamed under the shadow of his hood, piercing and devoid of any empathy. One of the Ravenous members approached, his voice low yet filled with a grim pride.