Episode 56: Strange Dealings
Rumors of suspicious dealings within the Kingdom of Elysium had begun to spread. The kingdom's intelligence bureau took these reports seriously and summoned several squads, ordering their senior warriors to personally confirm the sites of these transactions. Each senior warrior, eager to prove themselves, radiated confidence, and the higher commanders encouraged this spirit of competition, pushing them all to bring back results.
Leon, now more confident from his accumulated combat experience, was assigned to lead a small unit on one such mission. The location of the reported dealings was a ruin at the outskirts of the kingdom. On the surface, it appeared to be nothing more than an abandoned site, but as dusk settled, shadowy figures began to gather one by one.
Leon and his men crept closer, watching from cover. In the center of the ruins, pieces of metal and a variety of crystals were being laid out, examined, and purchased by cloaked figures who came and went in turns. To the eye, the items resembled weapon components or gemstones, but Leon felt a faint, ominous energy seeping from them. Their true purpose was impossible to discern.
One of the other senior warriors whispered at his side:"If this were a simple arms deal, there'd be no need for such secrecy. There's something hidden here… perhaps even tied to ancient relics."
The thought made Leon tense. He could not be sure, but the aura surrounding the trade made the place feel like something more than a mere marketplace. If these materials are tied to something greater… what kind of danger could they bring to the kingdom? Resolving to report everything faithfully, he continued observing.
As the trades continued, Leon noted the rotation of figures studying the crystals—gleaming shards of many colors. Their attempts to remain unrecognized only deepened his suspicion. The longer he watched, the clearer one possibility became: these metals and crystals were not simply finished artifacts. Someone was gathering raw materials for a much larger purpose. The scale of such a scheme—and its consequences for both the kingdom and the elven realms—was impossible to predict.
Leon convened a quiet discussion with his squad and decided they needed to press closer. Concealed breaths, cautious steps—they moved nearer, catching sight of every suspicious exchange. Then, at the height of the dealings, a figure in a black cloak arrived: a corrupted elf. His crimson eyes flashed nervously as he collected metal scraps and crystals with deliberate haste.
So even the corrupted elves are involved… this cannot be mere trade.
Leon committed the scene to memory. But revealing himself now would be reckless; the risk outweighed any benefit. He chose to retreat quietly and live to report.
That night, after the dealings dispersed, Leon and his men withdrew. Their report to command was immediate and detailed. The commanders, disturbed by the implications, concluded the dealings might involve forces far beyond the ordinary black market. Further investigation was ordered.
Leon was formally tasked to continue pursuing the trail. Though he lay awake late into the night, replaying the ominous glow of the crystals and the corrupted elf's anxious eyes, he resolved that he would be ready for whatever truth came to light—and for whatever darkness sought to rise within the kingdom.
**
Episode 57: Suspicious Dealings and the Battle's Beginning
With Leon's report delivered, the Kingdom of Elysium decided mere observation would no longer suffice. Reinforcements were dispatched: three senior warriors and their companies, totaling sixty soldiers, all sent to the next expected gathering. The mission was clear—secure evidence, seize contraband, and, if necessary, destroy every threat at the site.
The rendezvous was a deep forest hollow surrounded by cliffs, a place that favored ambush and encirclement. Upon arrival, Leon and his comrades scanned the tense scene. Cloaked figures dotted the perimeter like sentinels. At the center stood a corrupted elf, his crimson gaze fixed on the exchange of crystals and scrap metals piled before him.
Leon crept nearer, watching as the tainted materials changed hands. The shards and ingots looked crude, of poor quality. Yet when gathered together, they radiated a strange intent, as though serving as fuel for something greater.
His unease proved correct. The corrupted elf began arranging the materials, chanting as his hands traced runes into the soil. The ground quivered. Stone and earth clumped together, swelling into a hulking form—a golem, its frame unstable, lurching as though stitched from broken boulders. Its movements were slow and ungainly, the poor quality of its components betraying it.
The corrupted elf hissed in frustration."Worthless trash! Even this is not enough to summon a true golem…"
He forced his will harder, chanting with venom, trying to stabilize the monster.
Leon raised his hand in signal. "Now!"
Elysium's soldiers surged forward. Steel rang out as the cloaked dealers revealed hidden blades and fought back. The hollow erupted into chaos.
The incomplete golem lumbered forward, its stone limbs smashing against trees and earth, scattering soldiers. But the unstable magic made it fracture as it moved—each strike widening the cracks in its body.
"This construct isn't whole!" Leon shouted above the clash. "Find its weak points—spread out and bring it down!"
The soldiers obeyed, darting to its flanks. Leon himself hurled forward, sword gleaming, and hacked at one of the golem's arms. Stone splintered under the strike, fragments scattering, though the beast roared on, thrashing harder.
Meanwhile, the corrupted elf, enraged by his faltering creation, stepped into the fray. His sword flared with shadow, scattering dark pulses that disrupted the soldiers' advance. Men stumbled, their attacks dulled by the tainted aura.
Leon gritted his teeth, pressing the fight. Around him, the other senior warriors rallied their squads, holding the corrupted elf's followers at bay. Every man bled effort into the melee, refusing to yield. Leon lunged for the golem's leg, his blade biting deep into the unstable mass. Cracks spidered upward, the giant faltering.
At last, the combined onslaught shattered one of the golem's knees. It collapsed, shaking the earth. The corrupted elf snarled, summoning a smokescreen of shadow. His voice rang from within:
"Do not think this ends here. Elysium will not halt what has already begun."
And with that, he vanished into the darkness.
The battle's echoes faded. Exhausted soldiers slumped where they stood, victorious yet wary. The ruins of the broken golem and scattered shards lay at their feet—ominous reminders of a scheme far greater than they could yet grasp.
Leon stood over the rubble, sweat dripping down his brow, his chest heaving. The corrupted elf's warning burned in his mind. This was no isolated affair. Something larger was taking shape, and it would fall upon them to meet it.
He reported back to his commander with grim clarity: unstable golems, corrupted elves, and a shadowed network of dealings. The commanders' faces hardened, aware of what such signs foretold.
That night, Leon lay awake once again, the vow already forming in his heart. If the kingdom faces greater darkness, then I will be stronger still. Whatever it takes.
**
Episode 58: Scattered Puzzle Pieces
At the headquarters of Elysium's secret intelligence division, the air was heavy with tension. Serena gathered her operatives for a brief meeting before presenting the latest reports to the higher command. The information detailed that a golem had been summoned to guard one of the suspicious trades, but because it was forged from impure metals and flawed crystals, it had failed to reach full power.
"This mission isn't over until we've uncovered the true hand behind these dealings," Serena declared firmly. "The high command is waiting on our report. These details may not yet expose the heart of the matter, but they are a vital piece of the puzzle—and they must be delivered."
Her operatives were already spread across the kingdom. One shadowed merchants in the markets, tracking every move of the traders; another scouted contact points in the northern territories, discovering that the dealings were expanding further within Elysium's borders.
After the meeting, Serena made her way to the command council. As soon as she entered, a senior commander confronted her directly."Serena, the intelligence you've brought so far is fragmentary. If such trades continue unchecked, don't you think a stronger response is required?"
She kept her composure."You're right, but we cannot strike blindly. Until we confirm who truly stands behind this—and whether they are dealing in mere metals and crystals or something more—we risk acting without clarity."
The commander leaned back, his brow furrowed in thought."You have a point. But delay too long, and the enemy will slip deeper into the shadows. Then we'll have no way to flush them out."
Serena bowed her head in acknowledgment, though her voice remained steady."I'll abide by the command's judgment. But one thing must be clear—these trades may not be what they seem. My instincts tell me the materials are only a means to something larger, and far more dangerous."
When the council ended, she returned to headquarters, her thoughts lingering as she stared into the gathering night. The mission had already moved beyond mere information-gathering. It might now be tied directly to the kingdom's survival.
That evening, she issued quiet orders to her operatives."Until we see the full picture, deploy every channel. Strengthen reconnaissance—no gaps. We'll fit these scattered pieces together, whatever it takes."
And once more, the intelligence division dissolved into the city's shadows.
**
Episode 59: A Collapsed Laboratory, and the Emergency Bracelet
Late one evening, Leon went to visit Serena, as he often did, to lend her a hand. But tonight's work was different. Deep within the research facility, inside an isolated chamber, Serena was conducting experiments on a 'crystal core'—a volatile artifact studied only under strict secrecy. No one else was permitted near.
Leon waited outside the chamber, alert for any sign of trouble. From within came the faint hum of instruments, punctuated by Serena's low, focused voice. He could not see her, but he would stand guard all the same.
Then, suddenly, a sharp explosion cracked the air. The walls trembled violently.
"Serena!" Leon shouted, hurling himself forward without hesitation. Dust and rubble cascaded as part of the chamber wall collapsed. From within, the unstable core flared with erratic light, its energy lashing outward. Equipment detonated in a chain of sparks and fire.
Forcing his way through the debris, Leon found Serena lying unconscious amidst the smoke. Blood streaked her arms and legs. Though not fatal, the wounds ran deep, and the sight struck him with terror.
He knelt beside her, voice trembling. "Serena, stay with me…"
Her eyelids fluttered, and she managed a pained smile. "I… pushed myself too far. I'm sorry, Leon—for worrying you."
Leon's hand shook as he pressed to stem the blood. Then he remembered—the emergency bracelet Serena had once given him. He slipped it onto her wrist, and at once the artifact glowed, weaving light around her wounds. Slowly, the bleeding subsided, her face relaxing with relief.
But then her eyes fell on him. Blood seeped through his tunic—his shoulder and side marked with crimson. Alarm seized her expression."Leon, you're hurt too! Why didn't you say anything?"
He forced a smile. "It doesn't matter. You're safe—that's all I care about."
Tears welled in her eyes as she clasped his hand over the bracelet. "You're just as precious as I am. Don't ask me to watch you bleed—it hurts me too."
He hesitated, then squeezed her hand gently. "Don't worry. This is nothing. If you're safe, that's enough for me."
That night, Serena carried the weight of guilt for her recklessness, while Leon held quiet pride that he had been able to protect her. Their bond, tempered by blood and peril, deepened into something neither could yet name.