As we made our way toward the eastern wing, the atmosphere felt heavier with each step. The winding corridors felt longer now, the walls narrowing, like the College itself was pushing me into this unknown space. I could feel the weight of my guild assignment dragging me down, the label of Pathfinders etched in my mind like an unwanted mark.
When we reached the door to the Pathfinders' guild room, I hesitated for a moment. Nyssa's presence beside me was a small comfort, but I could tell she was eager to go to the Seekers' meeting. She gave me an encouraging smile.
'You've got this,' she said. 'Don't overthink it. You'll fit right in.'
I nodded, even though I wasn't sure I believed her. I pushed the door open, and the room beyond was dimly lit, with a large wooden table surrounded by mismatched chairs. The walls were lined with shelves of books, maps, and strange relics. The scent of parchment and old wood filled the air, a far cry from the bright, bustling halls of the College.
At the far end of the room, a tall figure sat in one of the chairs, a pair of boots propped up on the table. His dark, red eyes glinted with a knowing light, and his presence was immediately imposing. He looked every bit the demon that he was, his horns curving just above his dark hair, which was slicked back into a neat style. His black and silver uniform was a sharp contrast to the casual, lazy air he exuded.
'Well, well,' he said, his voice a smooth rumble that echoed through the room. 'Another lost soul walking through the door.' His lips curved into a smirk as he pushed his boots off the table and stood. 'You must be Ruby Ashbluff.'
I stiffened. 'Yeah. That's me.'
'Tyson,' he said, with an almost bored tone, as if introducing himself was the least important thing on his mind. 'Your guild leader.' He gave me a long, assessing look, clearly taking in my uniform, the ruby necklace hanging around my neck. 'You're in the right place. Though...' He gave a mock frown. 'I'd hoped for someone a bit more... competent.'
I couldn't help it—I bristled. 'I'm not incompetent,' I shot back, my voice sharper than I meant it to be.
Tyson raised an eyebrow, clearly amused. 'Well, we'll see. Pathfinders aren't about being competent, they're about finding your own way. A group of misfits, in case you hadn't figured that out yet. Welcome to the club.'
I opened my mouth to retort, but then the door to the room swung open, and another figure entered. He was shorter than Tyson, but his presence immediately made itself known in the room. His ginger hair seemed almost too bright against his dark clothing, and he carried himself with the kind of swagger that immediately made me want to roll my eyes. His smile was wide, infectious, and the lightest glimmer of mischief danced in his hazel eyes.
'Well, look at this,' the newcomer said with a playful grin, looking between Tyson and me. 'A demon and a lost lamb. How adorable.'
'Wes,' Tyson muttered, rolling his eyes. 'Don't start with me.'
Wes chuckled, his smile widening. 'Oh, come on, Tyson, you know I can't resist. Besides, I'm here to help guide the lost souls. It's my specialty.' He gave me a wink.
I couldn't help but smile despite myself. There was something about his playful attitude that was disarming. But then again, I had no idea what to expect in this guild. Tyson was intimidating, and Wes seemed like the complete opposite—too relaxed for his own good.
'I'm Wes Calloway,' he said, extending a hand toward me. 'Shape-shifter extraordinaire. And I'm guessing you're Ruby. Though, you don't exactly look like someone who would end up in the Pathfinders. No offense.' He gave me a mock appraising look, but his smile softened the blow.
'None taken,' I said, trying to sound confident, but feeling anything but.
Tyson looked between us, his red eyes narrowing. 'Wes, don't you have something better to do than crack jokes? There's actual work to be done.'
Wes waved a hand dismissively, like he was above the idea of working seriously. 'Yeah, yeah. Let me guess—are you going to make her go on some soul-searching journey, Tyson? You've been a bit much since we first met.'
Tyson gritted his teeth, clearly frustrated. 'I'm just saying, Wes, you could stand to take things more seriously. Not everyone needs to rely on cheap jokes to make it through the day.'
'Oh, I take plenty seriously,' Wes replied, not backing down. 'Just not when I'm around you, buddy.' He grinned, looking at me as if Tyson were some big brother he liked to tease. 'Besides, I'm sure Ruby will figure it out in her own way, right?'
I found myself laughing, even though I wasn't sure what was so funny. The ease with which Wes teased Tyson was oddly comforting, as though it was okay to not have everything figured out. For the first time that day, I felt a small flicker of hope. Maybe this guild wasn't going to be so terrible after all.
Tyson cleared his throat, cutting through the banter. 'Enough. I've got something for you two. A little task to... test your skills. Or rather, to help you find your path. There's a pearl hidden somewhere on campus. Your job is to find it. You'll need to follow the clues carefully.'
I raised an eyebrow, unsure whether to feel excited or uneasy. 'A pearl? What does that have to do with anything?'
Wes stepped forward, clearly intrigued. 'Wait, this sounds interesting. A hidden treasure hunt? Now we're talking.'
Tyson waved a hand as if brushing aside the theatrics. 'The clue says: "Where knowledge flows and wisdom gleams, A quiet place with rippling streams. Beneath the bridge where students tread, A pearl lies where the books are read."'
Wes let out a low whistle. 'Ah, this sounds easy enough. A bridge near the library, huh? That's got to be the one with the peaceful stream. I'm sure it's a nice little spot for a hidden treasure.' His grin was wide, but there was a gleam of determination in his eyes too.
I could feel a flicker of excitement building in my chest. A task like this might give me something to focus on, something I could do to prove myself. I wasn't sure about my place in the guild yet, but I could prove that I was capable of handling this.
Tyson sighed, clearly not enjoying the idea of Wes' enthusiasm. 'Just don't get too cocky. It's not about the treasure. It's about learning to work together, figuring things out on your own, and testing your skills. You both need to work together, and if you can't—well, then we'll see if you're really cut out for this guild.'
Wes chuckled, clearly unfazed by Tyson's stern tone. 'I think we'll manage just fine. Right, Ruby?'
I smiled faintly, nodding. 'Yeah, we'll figure it out.' I was starting to feel the weight of the task settle in, but there was something in Wes' energy—something playful—that made me feel like I could handle whatever came next.
Tyson gave us a final look, his eyes still narrowed in suspicion. 'Don't screw this up,' he muttered, then turned to leave, clearly done with both of us for the moment.
Wes watched him go, his smile fading into a more serious expression. He turned back to me, hands in his pockets. 'So, what do you think? Ready to find that pearl?'
I nodded, my nerves tingling. 'I think so. Let's do it.'
We turned toward the door, and as we walked down the corridor, I couldn't shake the feeling that this was the start of something much bigger than I'd anticipated.
10 minutes later
The bridge was quiet, the faint sound of a stream gurgling beneath it mingling with the soft rustling of leaves in the breeze. The library loomed behind us, its stone walls quiet and imposing, as if it had seen centuries of secrets whispered within. Wes was already pacing the edge of the bridge, his fingers brushing against the old wood as he muttered about how easy it was to spot a pearl hidden somewhere so... obvious.
I wasn't so sure. The task felt simple enough on the surface, but something in the back of my mind kept gnawing at me. As I stepped closer to the stone railing, scanning the area for any sign of the hidden pearl, I felt an odd sensation—like eyes were on me.
My heart skipped a beat, and I quickly turned around, my gaze darting to the nearby woods that stretched just beyond the bridge. A chill ran down my spine, and I squinted, my senses sharpening.
For a moment, everything was still. The wind was quiet, the stream had slowed, and I felt an unsettling silence settle over the area.
Then—just as quickly as I'd noticed it—a shadow flickered between the trees at the edge of the forest. It was quick, almost too fast to register. My breath caught in my throat as I stared, trying to make sense of what I'd seen. The shadow had the shape of something tall and thin, and just as I moved to focus on it, it vanished into the underbrush.
"Did you see that?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.
Wes, who had been fiddling with the edge of the bridge, glanced over at me with a raised eyebrow. "See what?"
"Something... something moved in the woods." I felt my pulse quicken. The air around me felt thick, heavier somehow, like the atmosphere had changed.
Wes rolled his eyes with a grin, clearly not taking me seriously. "Ruby, it's just the woods. It's probably an animal or the wind. You're letting your imagination run wild."
I shook my head, not convinced. "No, this felt different. Like someone was watching me."
Wes stepped closer to me, his smile turning a little more serious. "You sure you're not just feeling the pressure of the task getting to you? You're not exactly in the most comfortable spot to be on edge."
I wanted to brush it off, to tell him that it was nothing. But the feeling didn't go away. I glanced back at the trees, my eyes scanning the shadows beneath the branches, hoping for any sign of movement. But it was as quiet as before.
"Maybe you're right," I muttered, trying to shake it off. "It was probably nothing."
Wes looked at me, his playful grin returning, though his eyes still held a hint of curiosity. "Come on, let's focus on the task. A pearl's not going to find itself."
He stepped away from me, heading toward the side of the bridge where the stream wound through the rocks. I hesitated for a moment, still uneasy, but forced myself to follow. The whole area was too quiet, too still.
We continued to search the space around the bridge, Wes pulling aside some rocks and inspecting the dirt, all while cracking jokes to lighten the mood. But I couldn't shake the feeling that something—or someone—was out there, watching us from the edges of the woods.
I tried to focus, pushing the sensation aside. If I was going to prove myself in the Pathfinders, I needed to be sharp, to handle whatever came my way. But every time I looked toward the trees, I felt that sense of unease creeping back.
Then, from the corner of my eye, I saw a flicker again—a movement, quick and deliberate. My heart skipped a beat. I whipped around, but again, the shadow was gone, vanishing into the thick underbrush with impossible speed.
"What is it, Ruby?" Wes asked, not looking up from where he was crouched by a pile of stones.
"I saw something again," I said, my voice low, my breath coming quicker than before. "It's like someone's out there, watching us. I don't know who or what, but..." I trailed off, my stomach twisting with anxiety.
Wes straightened, dusting his hands off as he looked up at me with an amused but concerned expression. "Alright, alright, now you're really creeping me out. You're telling me there's some kind of spooky figure lurking in the woods?"
"I don't know," I admitted, shaking my head, trying to focus. "It's just a feeling. Like... someone's there. I swear I saw something move."
Wes sighed, standing up fully now. He looked thoughtful for a moment before turning to face the woods, scanning the tree line. "You know, I might have heard some rumors about strange things happening around this part of the campus. But hey, we've got a job to do, right? Let's focus on finding this pearl and leave the ghosts and shadows for later."
Despite his casual tone, I could tell Wes was taking it seriously now too. He glanced around once more, his usual lightheartedness dimming for just a second.
I nodded, even though my insides were still coiling with unease. Wes gave me a reassuring grin, though, and it helped calm me just a little.
"Alright. I'll take the left side, you take the right. Let's see if we can't find this pearl and get back to Tyson without being haunted by whatever's in the trees."
We moved into our separate spaces, Wes stepping toward the far end of the bridge and me toward the path that curved around a large boulder. As I moved along the edge of the stream, I couldn't shake the feeling that I was being followed. Every rustle of the wind through the trees seemed to echo in my ears, and each time I looked over my shoulder, I half expected to see a figure looming just out of reach.
Then, my foot hit something cold—smooth, polished. I froze, my heart skipping a beat.
There, half-buried in the dirt near the water's edge, was a small object—a gleaming pearl.
I bent down slowly, my fingers trembling slightly as I reached for it. The moment my hand touched the smooth surface, a strange, almost electric sensation shot up my arm. The world seemed to hold its breath for a moment, and I quickly snatched the pearl, clutching it tightly in my palm.
As I stood up, a sharp, sudden rustling sound broke through the tension, followed by a deep, low growl. My blood ran cold. I spun around, heart racing, ready to defend myself—but there was nothing. Just the quiet sound of the stream, the rustling of the leaves, and the distant chirp of birds.
No shadow. No figure.
I exhaled, trying to calm my racing heart. My grip on the pearl tightened, and I made my way back toward Wes, trying to shake off the feeling that the woods had been watching, waiting for me to leave.
"Wes," I called, my voice trembling despite myself.
He looked up from where he was inspecting another stone, his face lighting up as he noticed the pearl in my hand. "Oh hey, there you are. Did you find it?"
I held it up, still shaken. "Yeah... but I swear, I felt something."
Wes grinned, but I could see the concern in his eyes now. "Hey, at least you found it. Maybe your instincts were right."
I nodded, feeling the weight of the pearl in my hand. Something was definitely off, but for now, I had the Pearl and that was enough.
Wes and I made our way back toward the college grounds, the quiet tension lingering in the air as we walked together. The pearl was a solid weight in my palm, its smooth surface both reassuring and strange. I glanced over at Wes, who seemed to be trying to shake off the unease as well, his usual joking demeanor slightly muted.
"So," I said, breaking the silence, "we found the pearl. Tyson's gonna be thrilled."
Wes grinned. "Yeah, though I think we made it look way too easy. You know Tyson's probably been sitting there all smug, assuming we'd screw it up somehow."
I chuckled. "Yeah, you're probably right. But hey, we got it done."
Wes's grin widened, his eyes glinting with mischief. "And now we get to see Tyson's grumpy side. He'll probably act like it was no big deal—'cause it wasn't for him."
I couldn't help but smile at his teasing. It was easy to forget the weight of the morning's task when Wes was around, making everything feel a little less daunting. We reached the guild room, and I hesitated for a moment before pushing the door open.
Inside, Tyson sat at a large desk, his dark eyes scanning over a stack of papers. His horns, just visible beneath his messy black hair, gave him an almost intimidating appearance, but there was something oddly comforting about his presence. As he looked up, his sharp gaze softened, and a grin tugged at the corner of his lips.
"Well, well, looks like you two made it back in one piece. That's a surprise."
I rolled my eyes. "Not funny, Tyson."
Wes stepped forward, holding up the pearl. "We got it. No thanks to your cryptic clue-giving." He smirked, his ginger hair falling messily over his forehead.
Tyson's grin faded into a more serious expression as he looked at the pearl, his eyes flickering with approval. "Nice work. This is exactly what I expected."
I felt a small sense of pride, but it was overshadowed by the unsettling thoughts from earlier. I had almost forgotten about the strange feeling in the woods, but the moment Tyson looked at the pearl, something in the room shifted. The air felt charged again, like the task had unlocked something hidden.
Wes, ever the jokester, slapped me on the back. "I'll let Ruby take the credit. She found it, after all. I just helped with the hard part."
Tyson raised an eyebrow. "You two are ridiculous, but fine. Good job."
I smiled faintly, but my mind kept drifting back to that feeling of being watched. It lingered even now, even with Tyson and Wes joking around. I just couldn't shake the sense that there was more to this than what we had uncovered.
"So, now what?" I asked, pushing my concerns aside.
Tyson leaned back in his chair, folding his arms. "Now we wait. There's always something else coming up for Pathfinders. We'll figure it out when the time comes. You'll learn quickly enough."
I nodded, my gaze dropping to the pearl in my hand.
"Alright," Wes said, his voice brightening, "we should probably let Tyson get back to his papers. No need to bore him with our stellar sense of humor."
Tyson gave him a pointed look. "I'm never bored, Wes. Not when I have you two to keep me entertained." His eyes flicked toward me, a brief flicker of something unreadable in them. "Don't take too long to figure things out, Ruby. There's a lot waiting for you here."
The weight of his words made my stomach twist. Tyson didn't often get serious, and I wasn't sure what he meant, but I couldn't shake the feeling that something was off.
Later that afternoon
As I walked back to my dorm, the familiar sights of the college felt oddly foreign. The halls were quieter than usual, and the air had a crisp bite to it, signaling the change of seasons.
I adjusted the strap of my bag, my mind still on the events of the day, trying to put them in order. I had barely made it to the entrance of my dorm before a figure stepped out from the shadows.
Before I could react, a hand gripped my wrist, pulling me back into the hall. I gasped, panic surging through me, but the person was quick, a whisper barely reaching my ear.
"You've been selected to join The Gem Order," the voice murmured, low and urgent. "Come to the garden at 1 AM. Don't tell anyone."
The words hit me like a cold wave, and for a moment, I couldn't move. The voice was muffled, cloaked in a sense of secrecy, and the grip on my wrist tightened as the person leaned in closer, their breath cool against my ear.
"You must come," they said, their tone pressing into me like a command.
I barely had time to process before they released my wrist and vanished into the shadows, leaving me standing there in stunned silence. My heart was hammering in my chest, my breath shallow as I tried to make sense of what had just happened.
I looked around quickly, but there was no one in sight. The halls of the dorm seemed impossibly still, like I was the only one left. I took a few steps forward, my pulse racing, and my mind was spinning.
The Gem Order? I had never heard of it, and yet the urgency in the stranger's voice was undeniable. What did it mean? Who was this person, and why had they chosen me?
I pressed my hand to my chest, trying to steady myself. The feeling of being watched from earlier in the day returned, stronger now. It felt like something—or someone—was pulling the strings, controlling the course of my life. But why?
I stood frozen in the hall for a moment longer, my mind whirling with questions. Should I go? Could I trust this stranger? What was The Gem Order, and why had I been selected?
I knew one thing for certain—this wasn't a coincidence. Whatever was happening, whatever had just started, it was only the beginning.
And I had a feeling I wasn't ready for what came next.