The warm morning sun greeted Sukabumi, rousing the young adventurers of Nytharia Academy. On the bustling mission board, two groups with contrasting tasks were making their preparations.
On one side stood Aria. Beside her, Sylvia, her fingers occasionally twitching as if sensing the pulse of life around her. Completing their trio was Sylvana, her gaze often fixed on the distance, as if listening to the whispers of the wind and trees. They had just returned from the Mosswood Forest, bearing a disturbing report of demonic power and an unusual beastmaster. Now, they awaited Master Elara's instructions for further investigation in the ancient ruins bordering the same forest.
On the other side of the throng, a more... colorful group had gathered. Xarther, with mysterious black tattoos coiling around his arms and neck, possessed the sturdy build of a warrior but was often shrouded in silence. Faun, with his pointed ears and a bushy tail twitching with energy, exuded an air of cunning and excitement at the potential for profit. Rush, a stout figure with rosy cheeks, looked like a rolling stone about to erupt, his large axe slung across his back, currently radiating palpable annoyance. In the corner, Lyra, her nose buried in the pages of a thick tome, seemed isolated from the surrounding commotion, her mind exploring the magical worlds within the text.
The mission posted on the board, which had silenced Xarther and infuriated Rush, was a request from Lord Auberon Vancroft. Having lost his beloved albino ferret, Snowflake, the nobleman offered five hundred hero points to anyone who could return it safely to him.
"Five hundred hero points to look for... a white pest?" Rush grumbled, his voice higher and more piercing than one might expect. "This isn't a mission! It's menial labor! We should be facing mountain trolls, not searching for a glorified sewer rat kept by some crazy noble!"
Faun, a wide smile revealing his pointed teeth, replied cheerfully, his tail swaying gently. "Come now, Rushy. Don't be so pessimistic. Points like that don't come every day. We could use them to buy better healing potions, or perhaps some sweet pastries from Aunt Agnes' shop."
"Healing potions? Sweet pastries?" Rush snorted. "I'd rather sharpen my axe to face orcs than waste time looking for a brainless ferret that's probably already owl food!"
Xarther, who had been staring blankly at the mission scroll, finally asked in a low, deep voice, "But... why a ferret? Why not... a small wolf?"
Lyra, without looking up from her book, answered flatly, "The choice of pet often reflects hidden aspects of the owner's personality. Perhaps Lord Vancroft has a side that is... elusive and likes to hide."
Faun chuckled, his fox ears twitching with amusement. "You always have such interesting perspectives, Lyra. But the point is, five hundred points are too good to pass up. This will be a quick and easy mission."
Rush shook his round head. "Easy, you say? What if the ferret has some kind of curse or is protected by magic? Or what if we have to fight the noble's other pets? I heard he has a giant iguana!"
"Don't worry, Rush," Faun coaxed, patting the dwarf's arm. "We'll work together. I'll use my agility to search, you can smash anything that gets in our way, and Xarther... you can look intimidating if we encounter any aggressive pets."
Xarther nodded slowly, though his expression remained unchanged. "Intimidating... a ferret?"
"Anything is possible," Faun said with a foxy wink. "Now, let's head to Lord Vancroft's manor. The sooner we find Snowflake, the sooner we get our points."
With heavy steps, Rush followed Faun and Xarther out of the academy, his stomach slightly rumbling at the thought of potential dangers (and the lack of heroic combat). Lyra trailed behind them, occasionally flipping a page of her book. The ferret rescue mission had begun.
In Master Elara's study, the atmosphere was tense. Aria, Sylvia, and Sylvana stood before the master, whose face showed deep concern.
"Your report has reached the Council," Master Elara said in a low but firm voice. "Demonic power... that is something we cannot take lightly. The beastmaster is also a worrying development. We suspect a larger force is at play behind the scenes."
"Then, what should we do, Master?" Aria asked, sensing the urgency of the situation.
"You will investigate further," Master Elara replied. "There have been reports of unstable magical activity in the ancient ruins bordering the Mosswood Forest. That place has a dark history, and we fear whatever you encountered in the goblin camp may be connected."
"Ancient ruins..." Sylvia murmured, recalling the frightening legends surrounding the place.
"They are indeed dangerous," Master Elara said, "but you are a strong team. Aria, your sword skills will protect you. Sylvia, your knowledge of plants and nature magic may uncover the ruins' secrets. And Sylvana, your ability to interact with living beings, even those not ordinary animals, may provide crucial clues."
Sylvana nodded, her eyes showing determination. "We are ready, Master. We will find out what is happening."
"Be careful," Master Elara warned. "The energy in that place may be corrosive. Do not touch anything without careful consideration. And if you encounter anything threatening, return immediately."
Aria, Sylvia, and Sylvana nodded in unison, determination burning in their eyes. They left Master Elara's study and prepared for their journey to the ancient ruins, leaving the ridiculous ferret hunt behind them.
Meanwhile, Faun, Rush, Xarther, and Lyra arrived at Lord Vancroft's manor, a grand building with a somewhat gloomy air. The backyard was indeed a labyrinth of overgrown hedges and a dilapidated fountain. Rush immediately began to complain.
"I can't believe we're wasting our time in a place like this," Rush grumbled, trying to squeeze through a thorny rose bush. "I could be practicing cleaving giant slimes right now!"
Faun, nimbly avoiding the thorns, replied, "Relax, Rushy. Think of it as a warm-up. Besides, maybe the ferret is hiding a treasure map!"
Xarther simply looked around with a blank stare, the black tattoos under his eyes seeming to shimmer faintly in the sunlight. Lyra, of course, remained silently at Xarther's side, like a dutiful attendant.
After several fruitless hours of searching, Rush grew increasingly frustrated. His stomach rumbled loudly.
"I'm starving," he complained. "And I bet that stupid ferret has run off miles away."
"Don't give up," Faun said, though he was starting to feel a little worried himself. "Snowflake has to be somewhere around here. He probably likes small, hidden places."
Suddenly, Xarther pointed to a small hole beneath a gazebo. "Tracks... small."
They approached and saw tiny white footprints leading into the hole. Faun grinned. "Bingo!"
They followed the tracks, which led them into the house through a slightly ajar back door. Inside, the mansion was filled with Lord Vancroft's bizarre collection.
As they passed through a living room filled with strange taxidermied birds, Rush whispered, "This place gives me the creeps. I feel like something is watching us."
Suddenly, a small squeaking sound came from the direction of the kitchen. Faun signaled for them to be cautious. They crept towards the source of the noise.
In the cluttered kitchen, they saw Snowflake facing off against a large black cat with glowing green eyes. The cat looked fiercely territorial.
"Watch out!" Xarther exclaimed, moving quickly to protect the ferret.
A brief but intense skirmish ensued. The cat lashed out with claws and teeth, while Xarther used his bulk to shield Snowflake. Rush tried to help with his axe, but the cramped space made it difficult. Faun tried to catch the terrified ferret.
With a swift movement, Xarther managed to kick the cat away, and the black creature fled through an open window. Faun quickly scooped up the trembling Snowflake.
"We got him!" Faun exclaimed happily.
"That cat... was strong," Xarther said, examining a scratch on his arm.
Lyra, who had finally learned about magical creature encyclopedias, stated, "A black cat with glowing green eyes... that could be a grimalkin, a witch's familiar."
The three of them fell silent, realizing that their ridiculous mission might involve something more than just a lost pet. They quickly returned Snowflake to a delighted Lord Vancroft, collected their reward, and headed back to the academy with a stranger tale than they had anticipated. Meanwhile, Aria, Sylvia, and Sylvana ventured deeper into the ancient ruins, unaware that the demonic traces they sought might be connected to the mysterious familiar in the eccentric nobleman's house.
[...]
Dust and rubble greeted Aria, Sylvia, and Sylvana as they ventured deeper into the heart of the ancient ruins. The air was musty, carrying the scent of damp earth mixed with a faint, rusty metallic tang. Sunlight filtering through the collapsed sections of the roof only managed to illuminate small portions of the winding, dark corridors. Sylvia, with her natural sensitivity to her surroundings, led the way, her fingers occasionally brushing against the cold, moss-covered stone walls.
"Be careful," Sylvia whispered softly, her steps cautious. "I sense magical disturbances around here. It's like something was set up to trap anyone who enters."
Sylvana, with her keen beastmaster senses, nodded in agreement. "I also feel the presence of... something unnatural. Not ordinary living creatures. More like... forced energy."
Aria, her twin swords drawn low, scanned their surroundings warily. "Then we must tread very carefully. Let's not step on anything wrong."
Their journey through the dark and narrow passages felt like dancing on eggshells. Sylvia stopped them several times just before they stepped on a stone tile that looked different or brushed against a nearly invisible tripwire. These ancient traps, though centuries old, still radiated a dangerous magical aura. There were rusty arrow traps ready to shoot, gaping holes hidden beneath illusions of solid ground, and massive stone pendulums hanging from the ceiling, poised to crush anyone who strayed into their path. Thanks to Sylvia's caution and Sylvana's vigilance, they managed to navigate all these obstacles unharmed.
After passing through a series of disorienting corridors, they finally arrived at a vast, majestic hall. Though a portion of the roof had collapsed and cracks spiderwebbed across the walls, the remnants of past grandeur still lingered. Gigantic stone pillars soared upwards, adorned with bizarre carvings depicting terrifying creatures. In the center of the hall, a sight that chilled them to the bone awaited.
Several demonic figures, with fiery red skin and malevolent yellow eyes, were dragging various struggling animals towards a large door at the far end of the hall. There was a badly wounded deer, a whimpering wolf, and even several large owls whose wings flapped weakly. From within the dark room beyond the door came the sorrowful sounds of animals and a strong, acrid smell.
"What are they doing?" Aria hissed, her hands clenching tightly on the hilts of her swords.
"They're taking the animals inside," Sylvana replied in a worried tone. "I feel immense fear coming from them. Like they're about to face something terrible."
As they watched the demons, one of them, carrying a small, seemingly helpless bear cub, turned its head in their direction. Its sharp yellow eyes seemed to pierce the darkness where they were hiding behind a large pillar. Their three hearts pounded in their chests.
"We were almost spotted," Sylvia whispered frantically. "We need to hide better."
They quickly moved behind a larger pillar, holding their breath as the demon suspiciously surveyed the area for a few moments before finally resuming dragging the bear cub towards the door. Once the demon disappeared into the room, a chilling silence returned to the hall.
"We have to know what's happening in there," Aria said with grim determination. "We can't let them hurt those animals."
Cautiously, they followed the path the demon had taken towards the large door. It was made of black metal that looked corroded but radiated an unpleasant cold aura. Gruesome carvings adorned its surface, depicting scenes of torture and sacrifice.
Sylvia tried to sense the magic around the door. "There's some kind of magical barrier here," she whispered. "Not too strong, but enough to slow us down."
"We don't have time to find a way to open it slowly," Aria said. "Sylvana, can you sense what's behind this door? What kind of creatures are in there?"
Sylvana closed her eyes, focusing her ability to reach the thoughts and emotions of the beings beyond the door. After a moment, her eyes opened with a horrified expression.
"There are many animals inside," she whispered. "They're scared, in pain... and I also sense the presence of... a human."
"A human?" Aria and Sylvia asked in unison.
"Yes," Sylvana replied. "I feel a familiar aura... the aura of the beastmaster we saw in the goblin camp."
A mixture of shock and anger welled up within them. So, that person was here, and they were involved in whatever was happening to these poor animals.
With renewed determination, the three of them slowly pushed open the metal door, trying to make no sound. The hinges creaked softly, and they peered into the dimly lit room.
The sight within was far more horrifying than they had imagined. Dozens of animals of various species were confined in cages made of rusty iron. Some were visibly badly injured, while others looked weak and listless. In the center of the room, on a large stone table covered in strange equipment and dark-colored liquids, stood a figure chillingly familiar to them: the beastmaster from the goblin camp.
However, something was different about him now. His eyes, which had once seemed cold and calculating, now gleamed with a terrifying madness. His hands moved quickly, mixing various concoctions and injecting them into the body of a wolf strapped to the table. The wolf writhed in agony, its body convulsing as a thick black liquid entered its veins.
"What is he doing?" Sylvia whispered in horror, covering her mouth with her hand.
"He... he's trying to merge them with demonic power," Sylvana replied, her voice choked with emotion, feeling the immense pain and fear of the animals. "I can feel dark energy flowing into their bodies, corrupting and changing them."
Aria tightened her grip on her swords, her anger reaching a boiling point. "We have to stop him. Now!"
But before they could move, the beastmaster raised his head. His mad eyes caught their silhouettes in the doorway. A gruesome smile stretched across his face.
"You again?" he hissed in a mocking tone. "You really can't stop interfering, can you?"
The battle in the ancient ruins was about to begin. The three of them would have to face not only the demons guarding the place but also a human obsessed with demonic power, willing to torture innocent creatures to achieve his goals. And amidst it all, the fate of dozens of helpless animals hung in the balance of their courage and skill.