The battlefield was quiet now. Claus lay dead on the ground, his body still warm, a fitting end for a traitor. The mage was nothing more than a lifeless heap, and the three robed figures who had orchestrated this were no better. The fight was over.
Axel cracked his neck, rolling his shoulders. "Alright, let's not waste time." He knelt beside the fallen, pulling out a piece of chalk. With practiced ease, he traced a mark on each of their chins, a symbol of death and servitude.
Mat watched, arms crossed. "You're really taking all of them?" His tone was neutral, but there was a flicker of something in his eyes—curiosity, maybe unease.
Axel smirked. "Of course. What, you think I'd leave this much power rotting in the dirt?" He reached into the mage's pocket, pulling out the compass. With a flick of his wrist, he snatched up the small box meant for Claus. "And this."
The ritual began. Axel pressed his thumb against his own palm, drawing a thin line of blood. A single drop was enough. The moment it touched the markings, a faint glow pulsed across the corpses. One by one, their souls were bound.
Mat exhaled. "Creepy as hell."
Axel chuckled. "You'll get used to it." He dusted off his hands and stood. "That's enough."
Mat turned to leave, shaking his head. "We should check on Aeris."
Axel gave one last glance at the place. The once-powerful figures were now just another addition to his arsenal. He didn't feel guilt. Only satisfaction.
---
the elemental barrier shimmering faintly around Aeris. The goblin shaman stood watch, eyes glowing under the moonlight.
Aeris turned at the sound of footsteps. When she saw Axel, her expression shifted relief, but also something else. A flicker of hesitation.
"You're back," she said.
Axel nodded. "Of course. It was a headache, but we got away this time."
Aeris searched his face, as if trying to read him. She had just seen him raise the dead like it was nothing. He wasn't the same as before.
The goblin shaman stepped aside, his job done.
Mat stretched, glancing back at the battlefield. "That's it. The job's done. We can go."
Aeris hesitated. "What about Troy? Do you know anything?"
Axel's tone softened. "He's alive. Mia and Dario are with him. She's an experienced healer he'll be fine."
Mat scoffed. "That bastard Claus got what he deserved, though. Betrayed everyone, and look where it got him."
Axel didn't reply. Instead, he turned toward the path leading to the garden. "Let's go. We need to figure out what's next."
They started moving. The air was unnervingly quiet, the night still heavy around them.
Axel didn't relax.
Somewhere in the darkness, someone was watching.
----
The garden was quiet when Axel, Mat, and Aeris arrived. Mia was kneeling beside Troy, her hands glowing faintly as she healed his wounds. Dario stood nearby, arms crossed, watching her work.
Mia looked up as they approached. "You're back." She exhaled in relief. "Aeris, are you alright?"
Aeris nodded, though exhaustion was clear on her face.
Dario glanced at Axel. "What the hell happened back there?"
Axel gave a half-smile. "Handled it."
Dario frowned. "Claus?"
Mat shrugged. "Dead."
A long silence followed. Nobody seemed surprised.
Mia sighed, her voice tired. "This city isn't safe for us anymore. That attack wasn't random. Someone wanted Aeris, and they won't stop."
Dario nodded. "We need to leave before more trouble finds us."
Axel glanced at Troy. "Can he move?"
Mia finished her healing, wiping sweat from her brow. "He'll be sore, but he'll live."
Axel didn't waste time. "Then we leave now."
---
By early morning, they left the city, traveling nonstop until nightfall. The road was long, the tension heavy. No one spoke much. They all knew staying in the city was a mistake—whoever targeted Aeris would come back, stronger and more prepared.
When darkness fell, they set up camp deep in the forest. A small fire crackled, casting flickering shadows across their tired faces. The air smelled of damp earth and burning wood.
Troy sat near the fire, stretching his sore limbs. "So, what now?"
Mat exhaled. "We figure that out tomorrow. For now, we rest."
Axel stood up. "I'll take a walk."
Mia frowned. "Alone?"
Axel smirked. "I can handle myself." Before anyone could protest, he stepped into the darkness.
--
Axel walked deeper into the woods, away from camp, away from the others. He had known for hours that someone was following them. Now, alone, there was no reason for them to keep hiding.
Whoever it is, they're good, Axel thought. They've been tailing us for a while now. Probably a test...
He stopped. The forest was silent.
"You've been watching for a while," he said, his voice calm. "Might as well come out."
A soft chuckle. Then slow, measured footsteps.
From the shadows, a man emerged. Tall, broad-shouldered, wrapped in a black and silver cloak. His sharp features were framed by dark hair, tied back neatly except for a few loose strands. Cold gray eyes met Axel's, unreadable yet calculating. He carried no visible weapon, but his presence alone was enough to put anyone on edge.
This guy... Axel thought. No weapons, but he's still dangerous. Doesn't feel like a normal mercenary.
"You're good," the man said, his tone amused. "Fast. Precise. And that summoning of yours..." He smirked. "Or should I say necromancy?"
So he knows, Axel's mind raced. Not many recognize it at first. Not even summoners...
Axel's expression didn't change, but his fingers tensed slightly.
The man's smirk widened. "People think you're a summoner. But I know better. Necromancers are rare rarer than war souls. You walk between life and death."
Necromancer, Axel thought. That's one word I've never been fond of, but it's closer than summoner.
"No need for caution," the man continued. "If I wanted you dead, we wouldn't be having this conversation."
Axel remained silent, his mind racing through possibilities.
The man reached into his coat and pulled out a golden card, flicking it toward Axel. Axel caught it, his eyes scanning the inscription: HE with five stars.
"The name's Reinhardt," the man said. "Leader of the Monster Hunter Guild." His gaze sharpened. "And the Demon Hunter Guild. But that one… isn't for just anyone."
Axel looked up.
"The Monster Hunters deal with beasts, creatures of chaos," Reinhardt said. "Join us, prove yourself, and maybe just maybe you'll earn a place among the Demon Hunters. The elite." His voice dropped slightly. "My personal unit."
Axel flipped the card between his fingers. The Monster Hunter Guild... sounds like it could be useful, but what's he really offering?
"And if I don't?" Axel asked, his voice steady.
Reinhardt smirked. "Then we'll meet again. But next time, I won't be making an offer, only a few can enter the guild's trial and get the chance to join the demon Hunter team"
He's confident, Axel thought. But there's something else. He's not lying. This... this isn't a threat. Just an invitation.
Axel paused. Something about the way Reinhardt spoke calm, confident, yet not threatening left Axel with an uneasy sense of inevitability, it's the nature feeling of the threat of a pray standing in front of its natural predator.
"You can go to the guild office anytime you want" Reinhardt added, as if reading Axel's mind. " the choice is yours."
Before Axel could respond, Reinhardt stepped back and vanished into the night.
Axel stared at the card for a moment before slipping it into his pocket. Interesting.
"Interesting," Axel muttered to himself as he walked back to camp. His mind churned. The golden card with the five stars felt heavy in his pocket. There were layers to this offer, layers he wasn't sure he fully understood. But the pull of it, that certainty that it was only the beginning, couldn't be ignored.
----
Axel returned to camp, his eyes scanning the quiet surroundings. The others hadn't moved. Troy had already laid down by the fire, and Mat seemed lost in his thoughts.
Mia looked up as Axel approached. "Everything alright?"
Axel didn't answer immediately. He could feel the weight of the golden card, but he kept his expression neutral.
"Yeah, I just needed a moment" he replied.
Mat raised an eyebrow but didn't press.
"We leave at first light," Axel said, turning his attention to the fire. "We've got work to do."
Aeris was silent, her eyes thoughtful, but she didn't question him. They all knew better than to ask too many questions when Axel wasn't ready to answer.
The fire crackled, and the night stretched on.
------
The journey toward the elven kingdom was long, but peaceful. Axel, Mat, Aeris, and the others traveled without much trouble, the road growing increasingly fertile and the trees taller as they approached their destination. The air felt lighter, and there was a noticeable shift in the atmosphere as they neared the borders of the elven territories.
As they crossed into the elven lands, the city stretched out before them, an exotic sight unlike anything they had seen before. They stood at the edge of the city, gazing at the six massive pillars rising high from the ground, one at each corner of the city. Each one pulsed with a soft, ethereal glow.
"Wow," Mat muttered, eyes wide. "Look at those pillars. They're huge. What are they even for?"
Aeris, walking beside him, nodded. "Those are the warding pillars. They protect the city from outside threats, and they're tied to the magic that keeps this kingdom so secure."
Axel's gaze followed the giant structures. "Impressive. But there's one more... in the center." His voice carried a hint of curiosity.
Aeris smiled softly. "The central pillar is even more important. It channels the city's protective magic. That's why it's so massive."
The group continued into the city, passing through the main gates.
As they walked deeper into the elven city, the beauty of the place struck them. The streets were wide and lined with lush greenery. Flowers and vines cascaded from balconies, filling the air with a sweet fragrance.
Dario, glanced around. "The city feels... different. Everything's so quiet, yet there's so much life here. How do they keep it like this?"
"It's the magic," Aeris explained. "Elves have a connection to nature. Their city is part of the living world. It grows and thrives with them."
Mat smiled, his eyes catching a tall, silver tower in the distance. "That tower over there... It's so tall. I wonder how far up it goes."
Dario raised an eyebrow, gazing at the tower. "Yeah, it's impressive. Do you think it's just for show, or does it have some purpose?"
Aeris glanced at the tower. "That's one of the highest observation points in the city. Elven scouts use it to monitor the surrounding areas. They're always aware of any threats."
Axel paused to take in the sight of the elegant architecture. "Everything here looks so... seamless. Like the buildings are part of the trees themselves."
Mat nodded. "It's like they don't even need walls or fences. The city feels... open. Safe."
Aeris smiled. "That's the magic at work again. The elves designed it this way to feel natural, a part of the world around it."
They walked further into the heart of the city, where they noticed the narrow streets were dotted with elves dressed in flowing robes, walking gracefully through the streets. A few humans walked by, but there were far fewer of them than elves.
"I've never seen a place so... peaceful," Mat said softly, looking around. "It's like they've managed to keep the outside world away."
"Well, they've had centuries of peace," Aeris replied. "But nothing lasts forever."
They came upon a plaza, where a few elves were gathered around a fountain, chatting softly.
Axel, looking around, asked, "Do the elves usually live like this? So... in tune with everything?
Aeris nodded. "Yes, they live here their whole lives, and the city grows with them. Everything is in balance."
After a while, they made their way to Aeris' home in the center of the city. It wasn't as grand as some of the other structures, but it was beautiful in its own way, nestled against a small hill. Two elven servants greeted them as they entered.
Axel looked around, admiring the simplicity of the house. "It's... peaceful here. But, it feels a little empty."
Aeris smiled faintly. "It's a house meant for a family. But my parents aren't here anymore, so it's just... me. I come back here for solitude."
Mat glanced at the servants. " It's a quite place, good to spend time alone"
"That's the way the elves like it," Aeris explained. "They value their privacy, their space. It's common for families to have only a few servants or no one at all."
"Must be nice," Mat muttered, stretching out on one of the cushions. "A place of peace and quiet."
"Yes, but also lonely," Aeris replied quietly.
Mat's suddenly turned red as caught off guard by Aeris statement.
Axel changed the subject, looking out the window. "So, let's just rest for the night and let Troy heal, our mission is complete . But I can't let this opportunity wasted just like that"
Aeris said with a smile, "Don't worry we will explore more of the city tomorrow. There's plenty to see."
Time quickly went by as they cleaned after themselves and rested well .
Early in the next morning, Axel and the group stood in the open courtyard, the towering spires of the elven city surrounding them. The morning air was crisp, carrying the faint scent of blooming flowers and fresh earth. Aeris crossed her arms, her gaze steady.
the group decided to walk through the city again. They wandered the quiet streets, taking in the sights and sounds, marveling at the way the buildings and nature blended together so effortlessly.
"This place is amazing," Mat said, his eyes scanning a massive tree that seemed to sprout from the side of a building, its roots weaving through the walls. "They've got trees growing inside their houses. How do they even do that?"
Aeris chuckled. "It's a mixture of magic and nature. They grow the trees alongside the houses, and they just... meld together."
Axel nodded. "It's hard to even imagine how they made this place work. It feels like everything here has a purpose."
"And it does," Aeris replied. "Every stone, every tree, every pathway is part of a bigger design."
They made their way toward a large fountain, where elves were gathered, talking quietly.
Dario raised an eyebrow, watching them. "It's funny there are hardly any humans here. Do they not mind that?"
"They're used to it," Aeris said with a shrug. "Humans come and go, but the elves... they prefer their own company. It's peaceful."
Axel gazed at the peaceful scene. "Seems like the perfect place for a quiet life."
"It's not all peace and quiet," Aeris said softly. "But it's a good place to start over."
"Whooa.. what's that thing? "Mat suddenly asked pointing a tower that was invisible and but started to manifest out of thin air, like a rising phantom.
Aeris couldn't help but smile"that's our next destination."
The tower suddenly started to glow in white colour.