Nearly a month after Ronan and others started training.
The Mistbourne Guild's urgent request for assistance had reached Serenwyn Magic Academy. Two four-man patrol teams had vanished in the Whispering Woods, a place notorious for its eerie silence and the unnatural fog that clung to its heart like a shroud of mystery.
With many of their advanced-tier members already deployed on missions, the Guild was left stretched thin. The Academy, recognising the gravity of the situation, appointed Mr. Felix Drayton, a seasoned investigator and instructor, to lead the investigation.
Mr. Felix selected four capable individuals to accompany him: Roderick, the prophesied Light Goddess's chosen one and a rising star, Dorian, his trusted and steadfast companion, Lyra, a fire element user with a knack for unravelling mysteries and Samantha, whose Light element mastery made her invaluable in dark and dangerous places.
The group arrived at the Mistbourne Guild on a grey, mist-laden morning. The Guild Hall, a sturdy structure of stone and timber, bustled with nervous energy. Guild members moved with purpose, their voices hushed as if the forest's malevolence lingered in the air.
They were greeted at the entrance by the Guild Master, an older man with greying hair, a scar running across his jawline, and eyes that bore the weight of too many losses.
"Mr. Felix Drayton," the Guild Master said, extending a calloused hand. His voice carried a mix of gratitude and tension. "I'm Garrick Thorn, Guild Master of Mistbourne. Thank you for coming on such short notice."
Mr. Felix's handshake was firm. "We understand the urgency. We're here to assist." He gestured to his team, introducing each member. Garrick's gaze lingered briefly on Roderick, a flicker of recognition passing over his features, but he said nothing.
"Come," Garrick said, motioning them inside. "There's much to discuss, and time is not on our side."
They followed him through the Guild Hall's corridors, past maps pinned to walls and shelves lined with magical artefacts.
The atmosphere grew heavier as they entered Garrick's office. It was a cluttered space, dominated by a large wooden desk strewn with papers and a detailed map of the Whispering Woods. Garrick spread the map out before them, pointing to marked patrol routes.
"These were the routes assigned to the teams," he began, his finger tracing the lines. "One team, four people in total. All experienced. They've been patrolling these woods for years. They know the terrain.
Yet, none of them returned. We've sent search parties, but…" He hesitated, his jaw tightening. "We lost one of those groups as well. That's when I decided we needed outside help."
Mr. Felix's expression darkened, his mind already racing through possibilities. "Were there any signs? Tracks? Messages left behind?"
"None," Garrick said. "The search parties reported an unnatural silence. Even the usual sounds of the forest—birds, insects, wind—were absent. And then there's the fog." He tapped two red-circled areas on the map. "These zones. Anyone who enters the fog loses their way. Some report hearing voices and seeing visions. Most don't come back."
Roderick frowned, his brow furrowing. "Illusions? Magical interference?"
"Likely both," Lyra interjected, her mind already dissecting the information. "If the fog is enchanted, it could be designed to confuse and trap. But to what end?"
Mr Felix turned to Garrick. "We'll begin our search immediately. We'll follow the patrol routes and see what we can uncover. Rest assured, we'll do everything in our power to bring your people back."
Garrick nodded, though his eyes betrayed lingering doubt. "I appreciate it. But I must warn you again—stay away from the fog. Whatever lies within, it's beyond what we've faced before."
"Understood," Mr. Felix replied. He folded the map and handed it to Samantha. "Let's move out."
As they left the Guild Hall, a tense silence settled over the group. The gravity of the mission weighed heavily on each of them, though they carried it differently.
Roderick's resolve was palpable, his eyes set firmly ahead. "We'll find them. We have to." Dorian placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "We'll handle this together, as we always do."
Lyra muttered, "Let's just hope the forest doesn't swallow us whole while we're at it." Despite her dry tone, the flicker of concern in her gaze didn't go unnoticed.
Samantha walked right behind Mr. Felix, her presence radiating calm. "The Light will guide us," she said softly. Mr. Felix glanced at her, a faint smile breaking through his serious demeanour.
"Let's hope it's enough," he replied.
As they approached the edge of the Whispering Woods, the dense canopy loomed like a barrier between safety and the unknown. The team paused, taking in the ominous sight before them. The air was thick with tension, but also determination.
"Stay alert," Mr. Felix instructed, his voice cutting through the quiet.
With that, they stepped into the forest, their journey into the unknown beginning with the crunch of leaves beneath their boots and the oppressive silence of the Whispering Woods closing in around them.
As the group followed the mapped path where the team had last been seen, Mr. Felix murmured, his tone filled with scepticism, "It's already been a few days... I doubt there will be any mana traces left."
Mr. Felix activated his Perception Skill, 'God Eye', his eyes narrowing as he scanned the surroundings. The others watched silently, the tension palpable. After scouring the route meticulously, they found nothing but scattered leaves and an eerie stillness.
The group ventured deeper into the woods, their boots crunching on the uneven forest floor. Samantha's voice broke the silence. "Sir, what is this mana trail? This... it doesn't feel human." Her tone wavered slightly, a mix of curiosity and unease.
Mr. Felix studied the faint mana trail shimmering before them. His brow furrowed as he muttered, "You're right, Samantha. This isn't human mana... not any kind I've seen before. Let's follow it."
The trail split into two directions: one leading toward the edge of the forest, the other deeper into its shadowy depths. Without hesitation, they chose the latter.
As they moved, the team encountered peculiar traps—magical snares that shimmered with human-like precision rather than the chaotic energy of beasts.
"This is human work," Dorian observed, his hand brushing against a rune etched into a nearby tree. "Someone skilled, too."
Breaking the traps took hours, and frustration simmered among them. "This is getting us nowhere," Lyra muttered, rubbing a hand through her hair. "Who would even set something like this here?"
Mr. Felix remained calm, his sharp gaze assessing their surroundings. "We keep moving. Whoever set these traps didn't want anyone finding whatever lies ahead."
They pressed on, the tension mounting. As the trail wound deeper, Samantha suddenly stopped, her body stiffening. Her face paled as an immense mana signature surged behind them.
"Is someone following us?" she murmured, her voice barely audible over the sound of her pounding heart. Her knees threatened to buckle as the oppressive force pressed down on her. Summoning her courage, she activated her Perception Skill, 'Oracle's Sight', to locate the source.
To her shock, there was nothing. "Impossible..." she whispered, shaking her head. "Did I make a mistake?"