The Lost Guild: Beginning

Chapter 5: A Welcome Surprise

Looking around, all I see is pitch-black darkness, yet I can see my entire body clearly. Unable to make sense of it, I start walking in a random direction, hoping for some kind of explanation. Gradually, a faint red light appears in the distance, pulsing like a slow heartbeat. As I get closer, the light grows brighter, illuminating the space with streaks of red that pulse in a low, steady rhythm.

"Not bad," a voice echoes, resonating from every direction, as if the entire void is speaking to me. I turn my head, trying to locate the source of the sound. What is this place? Am I dead?

"No, you live," the voice booms again, the words vibrating through the air. "Perhaps we will meet... if you can slay the alpha wolf."

The voice fades, and I notice cracks appearing all around, splitting the darkness. White light seeps through, piercing the shadows like the shell of an egg breaking apart. Seconds later, the entire space shatters, and I jolt awake to the sight of a bright blue sky.

I lie there, dazed, watching clouds drift across the sky. A voice snaps me out of my trance. "Ah, you're finally awake. Good, good." I sit up slowly, rubbing my eyes, and turn to face the speaker.

Standing a few feet away is a man with light skin, curly brown hair, and a stubble that gives him a rugged look. He's dressed in a mix of medieval-style armor and tough leather, like something a seasoned hunter might wear, with metal plates protecting his vital areas and a large sword slung across his back. He regards me with curiosity. "Can you hear me?" he asks.

I nod, still trying to get my bearings, and pinch my cheek just to make sure I'm not hallucinating. "Yes," I manage to say. "But... who are you?"

The man brightens and places a hand over his chest in a friendly, almost formal gesture. "The name's Roland. I'm part of the Adventurers Guild."

Before I can respond, another voice chimes in from behind Roland. "Idiot, why'd you give away your information like that?" The new arrival steps forward—a tall, lean man who looks like a storybook version of Robin Hood, only his clothes are in shades of dark green and gray, more akin to camo wear. A longbow is strapped to his back, alongside a quiver full of arrows.

Roland only laughs, unfazed, and gestures toward me. "Do you really think two rookies are any threat to us?"

The man in green frowns, crossing his arms. "That doesn't mean you can let your guard down." He shifts his posture, eyeing me more seriously. "Which brings me to my next question—what are you doing out here in the Splintering Woods with just the two of you?"

Finally, we've met someone from this world, but I know better than to tell them we're from another realm. Clearing my throat, I respond with as much sincerity as I can muster. "The name's Adam. My friend Max and I were shipwrecked on the beach near the edge of the forest. The only way forward was through the woods, so... here we are."

Roland nods thoughtfully, considering my words, but the man in green looks like he's about to press further when another voice cuts in from behind me. "How did you sustain all these injuries?"

I startle slightly, craning my neck to see the new speaker. Sitting on a low stone nearby is a figure cloaked in a large, gray hooded robe. The hood is pulled up so far that I can't make out her face—only darkness, even as she turns her head to glance at Max, who lies nearby.

Something about her presence sends a chill down my spine. The dark hood, the calm yet penetrating tone of her voice—she seems to radiate a quiet authority.

She seems powerful, and something tells me she'll see right through any lie. Taking a steady breath, I recount the fight with the wolves to the group, carefully omitting the parts about our actual abilities. Roland's face shifts into a smirk as he speaks. "What made you two think you could take on a Wind Grey Wolf alone?"