Eiji woke the next morning with a dull ache in his back, sticky leaves in his hair, and a lingering feeling that the universe had it out for him.
"Good morning, Oracle," Pyra teased, hovering above his head. "Ready for another day of chaos and potential death?"
"Can we… not?" Eiji groaned, sipping a cup of strangely glowing tea the mayor insisted was "fortifying."
But there was no rest. The missing livestock were still missing, and the Shadow Guild's presence lingered like a dark shadow over Grimbriar. Eiji knew he had to investigate… or at least, survive trying.
His first "clue" came in the form of a peculiar footprint glowing faintly in the forest mud. Eiji squinted. "Uh… is this… a goat or… something else?"
Pyra floated closer. "Definitely not a normal goat. Also, technically dangerous. Probably Guild-related. And yes, your luck is terrible enough to step in it."
Following the glowing footprints, Eiji tripped over a root and tumbled into a small clearing. In the middle, he found a tiny stone altar, covered in glowing runes and faint smoke.
He poked it with his foot. Immediately, a magical trap activated—a whirlwind of sparkling lights, floating books, and a minor explosion that singed his eyebrows.
"Uh… is this part of the prophecy?" Eiji asked nervously.
"Of course not," Pyra said dryly. "You just triggered a magical security system meant for someone smarter than you. But congratulations, you passed the test… accidentally."
Eiji coughed, brushing soot from his hair. The altar shimmered, revealing a hidden compartment. Inside: a small, intricately carved medallion, pulsing faintly with dark energy.
"That looks… important," Eiji muttered. He reached for it, and the medallion floated into the air, spinning slowly. Symbols glowed along its surface, forming a message only he could read:
"The Oracle walks the path of calamity, yet the key to the Shadow Guild lies within the unexpected."
Eiji blinked. "Great. Cryptic message. Probably means I'm doomed."
Pyra floated closer, sparks flickering nervously. "Actually… it means the Guild is hiding something big. And you, by the sheer accident of your existence, are going to uncover it. Or die trying. Maybe both."
Eiji groaned. "Why can't prophecies ever be simple? Like, 'Eat the goat, save the village, go home'? Why does everything have to involve explosions and mysterious dark medallions?"
Pyra smirked. "Because that's Zorynthia. Also, because your misfortune is the perfect tool for unraveling secrets no one else can touch. You're basically a walking, tripping key."
Eiji sighed. "I really, really hope no one is watching me… because this is going to end badly."
From the shadows of the trees, a pair of glowing eyes watched him. The Shadow Guild had noticed his meddling, and now, Eiji's accidental path toward unraveling their secrets had officially begun.
He had no idea what awaited him… but somehow, he knew it would involve more chaos, more explosions, and, inevitably, more pigeons.