"Right then," Gorn clapped his hands together, grinning. "Time to head home."
William felt something loosen in his chest at that. Home. Even a few days away from Willow Creek had felt strange, and he missed the creak of the cabin floorboards, the smell of Elara's bread, Maya's teasing.
They gathered their gear and left the guild hall, midday sun bouncing off the cobblestones. Sword at his hip, scrolls tucked in his pack, William felt something close to a thrill. His first real trip beyond the village, and he'd made it out the other side.
At the stables, his horse, a bay mare with a bit of an attitude, nickered at him. He swung up into the saddle, settling in.
Gorn, Aella, Borin, and Kael mounted up too, and with a nod between them, they rode out through the city gates. The road to Willow Creek stretched ahead, hills and forest all the way home.
The ride gave William time to work on his mana control, keeping a steady flow going even with the horse's gait throwing him off rhythm. He watched the others while he practiced. Aella conjured fire with barely a flick of her wrist, the flames lighting up the dusk forest. Borin swung his axe like it weighed nothing, though it looked heavy enough to flatten a wall. Kael barely made a sound moving, like the shadows just accepted him as one of their own.
Evenings meant the campfire, stories, and Gorn's patient corrections on William's form. Discipline, focus, that sort of thing. William soaked up every story Gorn told about old battles and close calls.
One night, watching the embers die down, William found himself thinking about Elara and Maya. Wondering how they were doing. Wondering if they were worried.
After days on the road, they crested the last hill and saw Willow Creek sitting in the valley below. But something felt off as they rode in. No noise, no usual bustle. The few villagers they passed looked withdrawn, careful.
"Gorn," William said, his voice tight. "Something's wrong."
Gorn's face went grim. He stopped a villager. "Friend, did something happen while we were gone?"
The man's face fell. "Old Man Hemlock. He's gone. A corrupted beast got him."
"Here?" Gorn's voice went hard.
The villager nodded, miserable. "Happened fast. Nobody could stop it."
Something cold settled in William's stomach. The corruption wasn't staying in the forest anymore. It had reached the village itself.
Gorn spurred his horse forward without another word. "Come on, lad. To the cabin."
They rode through the quiet streets fast, William's mind on nothing but Elara and Maya. He needed to know they were alright.
Gorn threw the cabin door open. "Elara! Maya!"
A beat of silence, then a cry. "Gorn!"
Elara came out first, worry all over her face until she saw him, then relief flooding in. Maya followed right behind, somewhere between happy and scared.
Gorn pulled them both into a hug. William stood back, something warm settling in his chest. They were safe. For now.
But the danger hadn't passed. It was still out there, waiting.
Once things settled, Gorn kept an arm around Elara and Maya and turned to the adventurers, his face serious. "Seems we've got a real problem. The corruption's hit the village directly now."
Aella's eyes sharpened. "We need to move fast. This can't spread."
Borin gripped his axe. "Where was it last seen?"
"Near the old oak grove," a villager called from the doorway, part of a small crowd that had gathered. "Edge of the Blackwood."
"Then that's where we go," Kael said, already heading for the door, daggers catching the light.
William stepped forward, heart hammering. "I'm coming too."
Aella glanced at him, not unkindly. "Better you stay here, William. The Blackwood's dangerous right now."
"I can help," William said, hand on his sword. "I've started magic training."
Borin let out a short laugh. "Lad, fighting a corrupted beast isn't a training exercise. You need more than a few tricks for that."
Gorn put a hand on his shoulder. "He's right. Too dangerous. Stay here with Elara and Maya. They need you."
He turned back to the others. "I'm going with you. The village needs to see we're not hiding from this." Then, to William, gentler now. "Keep them safe, lad."
William watched them disappear into the twilight, frustration burning in his chest. He wanted to be out there, fighting, proving he could pull his weight.
But he knew where he was needed. He clenched his fists. 'I'll get stronger,' he thought. 'Strong enough for whatever comes next. Strong enough to protect the people I care about.'