The group moved together down the winding stretch of the Western Trade Road, the morning sun spilling across the landscape in warm gold. The air smelled faintly of pine and wet earth, and somewhere nearby, a stream murmured softly. Aria led the way, her boots crunching over loose gravel, Kael scanning the treeline with practiced precision, and Renn humbling walking behind them with a smirk that said he was both bored and ready for trouble.
Jae-hyun tagged along at the rear, hands in his pockets, glancing between the trees nervously. His earlier "I'm in" bravado had worn off slightly. Patrol quests were fine and all, but something about the forest made his gut tighten.
"I don't like this," he muttered under his breath, keeping his voice low so no one could hear. "Too quiet. Too perfect. Like the calm before a badly-scripted fantasy battle."
Renn chuckled. "That's because you've got zero experience."
"Shut up," Jae-hyun said without turning, adjusting the strap of his satchel awkwardly. His boots scuffed on the dirt path. Every twig that snapped underfoot made him flinch.
It wasn't long before the tension they'd been ignoring cracked. Ahead, Aria halted suddenly, raising a hand. Her voice softened, almost instinctively whispering, "Hold."
Kael's bow twanged softly as he drew an arrow, his eyes narrowing to pinpoints. Renn unsheathed his daggers with a faint metallic whisper. Jae-hyun, meanwhile, stepped further back, hands twitching, trying to make himself as small as possible without looking cowardly.
The sound came first — a low rumble echoing faintly through the trees, vibrating against his ribs. Then movement: four hulking beasts emerged, their bodies covered in dark scales that shimmered faintly. They moved with unnatural grace despite their size, limbs folding in ways that made Jae-hyun's stomach knot. They had long limbs, claws like curved blades, and snarling maws that dripped with something black and viscous.
"C-rank beasts," Kael muttered, eyeing them carefully. "Stay sharp."
Aria smirked. "We've got this." She stepped forward, staff glowing faintly, muttering words under her breath. A pulse of magic radiated outward, and a thin wall of energy formed in front of them.
The beasts roared and charged in perfect unison, like a single mind directing them.
The clash was instant. Renn darted forward, daggers flashing, slashing into the nearest beast's neck with a spray of black ichor. Kael fired arrows with uncanny speed and precision, each shot punctuated by a grunt of effort and a hiss from the wounded creatures. Aria chanted, her voice rising and falling in a strange cadence, sending bursts of magical energy crashing into their enemies with radiant bursts that smelled faintly of ozone.
Jae-hyun just… watched.
He shuffled back a few steps, chewing on his lip. "Okay… wow… they're fast. That thing just… bit Renn. How did he even—?"
The world around him roared in chaos. Magic exploded. Metal clashed. The beasts screamed in rage and pain. The smell of ozone and blood filled the air. Jae-hyun's instinct was to run — but he stayed put, watching his new teammates work in perfect unison. He noticed small details: Kael's controlled breathing, Renn's smirks even when bleeding, Aria's focus. It was impressive.
After what felt like forever but was probably ten minutes, the beasts lay broken and twitching. The air was thick with dust and magic residue, and the ground was stained dark. Kael lowered his bow, breathing heavily. Aria wiped sweat from her brow, and Renn chuckled despite a shallow gash along his arm.
"That was fun," Renn said with a grin, wiping his blade on his cloak. "Who's next?"
Aria glanced toward the forest entrance. "We should check ahead. There's something deeper."
They pressed on, weaving deeper into the trees until a narrow cavern entrance opened before them, half-hidden by moss and vines. The air was cooler here, carrying a faint metallic scent. A strange hum resonated faintly, almost imperceptible at first, like the whisper of a far-off song.
"This isn't on any of the maps," Kael said, frowning, stepping closer to inspect the stone frame. "But it looks… intentional."
"Like a secret dungeon entrance?" Renn said with a grin. "Ohhh, I'm down."
Aria gave a nod, tightening her grip on her staff. "Let's see what's inside."
They entered the cave together, torchlight flickering against the walls. The passage narrowed and twisted until it opened into a strange chamber. At its center was a massive stone frame — not a door, exactly, but a perfect rectangular opening leading into an unnatural blackness. It shimmered faintly, like a thin veil of smoke that moved even without air.
"It looks like an open doorway," Aria said quietly. "But there's no door."
"Let's go," Renn said, stepping forward without hesitation.
They all began walking through it. Jae-hyun stayed behind, hesitating at the edge. His instincts screamed at him, but part of him was curious. He watched as they stepped into the darkness.
Then, before he could follow, a faint click sounded. The shimmering frame closed silently behind them. The air shifted. Silence fell like a curtain.
Jae-hyun blinked. "Uh… oh. That's… bad."
He stared at the closed doorway for a long moment, hands on his hips. He could hear the faint echo of their footsteps inside, but no shouts or clashing steel. His throat felt dry.
"Well… it was nice knowing you guys," he muttered softly, his voice oddly calm. His voice echoed slightly against the cold stone. "On this… adventure."
He clasped his hands together awkwardly, bowing in mock solemnity. "I pray for your survival, brave warriors. I will tell all the bards of your heroics."
Then he started walking away. Slowly. Without urgency. His boots scraping softly against stone. His shadow stretched unnaturally long along the cavern floor.
After a few steps, the sound of movement echoed behind him. The shimmering frame clicked again and swung open. A faint hum returned. One by one, Aria, Kael, and Renn stepped out, looking annoyed but triumphant.
They eyed him suspiciously. Aria crossed her arms. "Where are you going?"
"We couldn't get the door open," Kael said, brushing dirt from his cloak. "But we found some stuff. Gems. A sword. Something you could use."
"And you're just walking away?" Renn asked, smirking, wiping his blade.
Jae-hyun froze, scratching the back of his head. His eyes widened. "I… uh… was getting a running start." He glanced around, trying to look convincing. "Yeah. I was gonna kick the door in."
Aria raised an eyebrow. "Really?"
"Well…" Jae-hyun said, sheepishly, "I wanted to make it dramatic. You know, heroic style. But I figured… maybe discretion is the better part of valor." He chuckled nervously, scratching his head again.
Kael smirked, shaking his head. "You're lucky we didn't leave without you."
Renn laughed. "Yeah, don't think you're getting out of the next fight that easy."
Jae-hyun forced a grin. "Oh, I wouldn't dream of it. I'll be there… in spirit." He gave them a dramatic bow again before jogging to catch up, muttering under his breath, "Next time, I'm totally kicking the door in."
They laughed and fell in step together, the cave behind them fading into silence as they moved deeper into whatever adventure awaited.