The morning light spilled through the villa's tall windows, bathing the polished wood and stone halls in a golden warmth. The villa was alive now, no longer the quiet estate they first purchased. Footsteps padded across the marble floors, hushed conversations drifted from room to room, and the faint clatter of pots and pans echoed from the kitchen. Even their new household members had settled into their roles comfortably—each with their own furnished quarters rather than cramped cots or bedrolls.
The elven twins, Liora and Sylwen, shared a lavish chamber with their mistress, Princess Elyndra, the white-haired elf whose calm grace seemed to fill any space she entered. Across the hall, the wolfkin siblings, Kaelen and Myra, claimed a room of their own, their laughter and mock sparring often spilling through the walls. And tucked neatly beside the courtyard, the dark-skinned halfling with dusky violet eyes, Nyxara, enjoyed her private quarters—always alert, always watchful, her affinity for night magic making her the quiet sentinel of the household.
Drathan stretched lazily as he stepped from his room, savoring the softness of the rug beneath his bare feet. Kenshin emerged next, hair a chaotic mess, scratching the back of his neck with a yawn. Seme rolled her shoulders as she walked out fully armored, clearly the only one disciplined enough to rise and dress early.
The aroma of herbs, roasted meat, and warm bread guided them into the dining hall. Mira was already setting down dishes—bowls of spiced root stew, sliced fruit, eggs, and steaming mugs of tea. Her tail flicked idly as she moved, her eyes sharp yet soft with a quiet satisfaction.
They ate together, laughter mixing with casual complaints. Kenshin teased Mira about being the "house mom," Seme reminded him to keep his mouth shut if he still wanted seconds, and Drathan, as always, played the mediator while taking his sweet time savoring every bite.
When they were done, Drathan pushed his chair back and glanced at their new housemates gathered nearby. "Aight, listen up. We headin' out for a bit. Kaelen, Myra—hold down the villa. Nyxara, keep your eyes sharp. Ain't nobody supposed to step foot in here without us. Got it?"
Kaelen crossed his arms with a grin. "You can count on us. No one's gettin' past."
Myra flicked her ears, determination flashing in her amber eyes. "This place will be safe when you return."
Nyxara bowed her head slightly. "I'll make sure of it. Nothing escapes my sight."
Satisfied, Drathan nodded. "Good. Then we out."
The streets of Tierwyn bustled as usual, though tension seemed to ride beneath the flow of merchants and travelers. The trio moved through the crowd with Mira at their side, their boots tapping rhythm against the cobblestones. They were halfway toward the guild hall when a figure came barreling down the street—a guild messenger, panting heavily, nearly colliding with them before skidding to a halt.
"Adventurers! Bad news!" he gasped, holding up a scroll. "Another village's been attacked. This one's closer—less than a day's march south of here!"
Kenshin's brows shot up. "Closer? Damn, they bold now."
Seme muttered, her jaw tightening. "If they're hittin' that close, city's next."
The messenger gave a stiff nod before rushing past, clearly bound for other squads. Drathan exhaled through his nose, expression unreadable as his eyes tracked the young man vanish into the crowd.
"Guess we about to find out what's really movin' out there," he said quietly.
And with that, the group continued toward the guild hall, the weight of the news settling heavy on their shoulders.
The guild hall was chaos the moment they arrived. The wide double doors groaned as they pushed through, and the sound inside hit them like a wave—dozens of adventurers shouting, bantering, arguing, and scrambling around the central commission board. Notices were being ripped down almost as soon as attendants nailed them in place. The air smelled of ink, sweat, and the faint tang of steel oil from weapons strapped to adventurers' backs.
Some groups buzzed with excitement, practically glowing at the thought of fat purses of coin and rewards for monster slaying. "This one says fifty gold per orc head! We'll be rich in a week!" one man shouted, waving a scroll over his head before his squad dragged him back into their huddle. Others looked shadier—older adventurers with sharp eyes scanning the room for rookies to rope in, clearly hoping to use them as fodder for the bloodbath ahead. Whispers floated about who was recruiting and who was likely lying about their capabilities.
By the walls, groups gathered in heated discussions, some trying to form larger alliances. "We'll take two mid-tier squads and split the reward!" barked a stern woman, gesturing at two nervous young teams clutching notices. Those teams exchanged uneasy glances, doubt flickering across their faces.
Kenshin leaned close to the others, a grin tugging at his lips. "Man, this like an MMO lobby before a raid. Everyone rushin', schemin', tryin' to get their piece."
Drathan smirked, his eyes half-lidded as he scanned the board lazily. "Difference is, no respawn here. You die, that's it."
Seme crossed her arms, her expression sharp. "Good. Weed out the dumbasses who only think about coin. Let the rest of us handle the real work."
Mira's ears flicked, catching snippets of conversations as they pushed through the press of bodies. Some adventurers bragged about past orc kills, their voices tinged with bravado. Others whispered of ogres shrugging off arrows, of villages leveled overnight. The hall was alive with a blend of fear and greed, and the trio could feel the current of anticipation thrumming in the air.
Velra's squad was spotted near the board, their leader's calm presence standing in stark contrast to the frenzy around her. She was already organizing her members, snapping out orders while keeping them focused. Her gaze flicked toward Drathan's group briefly, a silent acknowledgment before returning to business.
Drathan's hand shot up quick when a fresh notice was pinned. He yanked it free before anyone else could and tucked it into his cloak with a smirk. "Got ours. Let's bounce before the crowd eats itself."
They slipped from the guild hall, the noise fading behind them as they stepped back into the streets. The parchment crackled faintly as Drathan unrolled it, scanning the words. The commission marked the latest attack site—the southern village, now little more than ash and rubble.
Seme's grip tightened on her sword hilt. "Then that's where we're headed."
"Bet," Kenshin said, sparks already dancing between his fingers. "Time to see what's really leadin' these monsters."
With Mira steady at their side, the four set their course south, toward the smoking remnants of the last village to fall.