The guild hall of Darrowfell was louder than it had been in years. Tankards clanged, swords gleamed under torchlight, and adventurers crowded around the notice board where a single parchment bore the guildmaster's seal.
"Raid commission. Gold-ranked only. Target: the monster village in the eastern forest. Objective: eliminate the slime king."
Murmurs ran like fire through the room.
"A slime king?"
"They say it talks."
"Bah, monsters don't talk."
"Then why's the guild so worked up?"
At the front of the hall, Jaren basked in attention. His arm was freshly armored, his new spear sharp.
"I saw it with my own eyes," he boasted. "It commands goblins, wolves—maybe more. If we don't strike first, it'll spread. Better to cut it out at the root."
Brenna sat at a table nearby, polishing her shield. Her jaw tightened as she listened, but she said nothing. She still remembered the look in Luminus's eyes: calm, steady, almost human. But Jaren's voice was louder, and no one cared for doubts.
Halric the guildmaster stepped forward, his scarred face stern. "Enough chatter. The raid leaves at dawn. Gear up. This is no ordinary hunt—fight smart, fight together."
A cheer rose from the hall.
Elira, standing in the shadows, felt her heart sink. The decision she had feared was upon her.
---
**The Village's Uneasy Calm**
In the forest, the village stirred with the usual rhythm—wolves circling the perimeter, goblins drilling under Kairn's barking orders, Mira tending the wounded. Yet beneath the surface, unease gnawed at everyone.
Scouts had spotted humans near the treeline. Not just a few—dozens, moving with purpose.
Luminus stood with Rugo on a ridge overlooking the forest path.
"They're gathering," Rugo rumbled. His scarred snout twitched. "More than last time. Many more."
"How long before they move?" Luminus asked.
"By tomorrow's dawn, at most."
Silence stretched.
At last Luminus said, "Then tonight, we prepare."
---
**The Leaders' Council**
That evening, beneath the great oak, the leaders gathered:
* **Zerath**, staff in hand, his eyes glimmering with old wisdom.
* **Rugo**, his wolves restless behind him.
* **Kairn**, fists clenched, already itching for blood.
* **Mira**, healer's robes streaked with herbs and ash.
* And around them, the goblin captains and wolf scouts.
Luminus addressed them.
"The humans march tomorrow. This won't be like last time. They'll come ready for war."
Mira's voice was quiet but firm. "We can't match their numbers."
"Numbers aren't everything," Kairn snarled. "We know this forest. They don't. Let them come—we'll crush them like before."
Rugo shook his head. "These won't be scouts. They'll be veterans. Hungry for glory."
Zerath tapped his staff against the ground. "Then the question becomes—do we meet them with fear, or with resolve?"
All eyes turned to Luminus.
He felt the weight of their trust, heavy but steady. "We fight. But not to kill them all. If even a few can be spared… if even one can see us as people, not monsters, then it's worth it."
Kairn growled in frustration, but said no more.
---
**The Adventurers' March**
Dawn painted the horizon red as the raid departed Darrowfell.
Two dozen adventurers in gleaming mail, cloaks fluttering, weapons ready. Fire mages muttered chants under their breath. Rangers adjusted quivers, eyes sharp. Warriors laughed and boasted, but tension sat thick beneath their bravado.
At the head rode Jaren, spear gleaming, pride swelling with every step. Brenna marched beside him, her silence a stark contrast.
Elira lingered near the rear, her pack heavy—not with gear, but with the secret choice pressing on her heart. She kept glancing toward the forest, toward the path that would lead them to the village.
She had sworn loyalty to her guild, but her thoughts whispered otherwise:
*If they attack… how can I stand against him?*
---
**Infiltration**
That night, as the adventurers camped on the forest's edge, Elira slipped from her tent. The moonlight painted her path silver as she moved silently through the trees.
Her heart pounded. If she was caught, she'd be branded a traitor. But she couldn't stay silent. Not this time.
She found them where she expected—goblin scouts in the branches, wolves prowling below. At first, they snarled and raised weapons.
"I need to see him," Elira whispered. "Luminus. Please."
The wolves circled, growling low. But the goblins exchanged glances, then led her deeper into the forest.
By the time she stood before the great oak, her knees trembled.
Luminus appeared from the shadows, his form shifting softly in the moonlight. His presence was calm, steady, the same as before.
"Elira," he said simply. "You came."
She dropped to her knees. "They're coming. An entire raid. Tomorrow. I… I couldn't stay quiet."
Mira gasped. Rugo bristled. Kairn cursed under his breath.
But Luminus only stepped forward, his voice calm. "Thank you. You've risked much to bring this. Why?"
Her voice cracked. "Because you're not a monster. And if they can't see that… then I'll fight with you."
The words stunned her even as they left her lips. She had chosen.
Luminus's core glowed faintly. "Then we'll stand together."
---
**The Calm Before the Storm**
By dawn, both sides were ready.
The adventurers advanced into the forest, blades drawn, eyes sharp. The undergrowth swallowed them quickly, their formation tight.
Deeper within, goblins crouched in ambush, wolves pacing restlessly, their breath steaming in the chill morning air.
Luminus stood at the front with his leaders, Elira at his side. The choice was no longer hidden.
Rugo's ears twitched. "They're close."
Kairn flexed his fists, eager for the clash. Mira's lips moved in silent prayer.
Zerath raised his staff, his voice low. "Then let the forest bear witness."
The drums of war were silent. The tension was louder.
And then, through the mist, steel glinted.
The raid had arrived.