Kingsland Arc: Chapter:28 - Into the Dearthwood
The next morning, a crisp, invigorating chill filled the air as soft dawn light filtered through foggy windows at Freya's welcoming home in Crownfall. The aroma of freshly brewed tea and warm, spiced bread mingled with distant notes of steel and soot that drifted from the nearby Adventurer's Guild. Ronin, Chou, Rafaela, and Yue Xin gathered in the warmth of the kitchen, each packed for the journey—leather boots newly oiled, traveling cloaks fixed with lucky charms, and hopeful excitement flickering beneath the surface silence.
Freya, her cloak fastened with a brooch shaped like a falcon, led them along a cobblestone alley painted gold by the rising sun. The seasoned blacksmith's shop soon came into view, its sign creaking above a heavy oak door. Inside, the scent of burning coal thickened the air and the ring of hammer-on-anvil hummed through the walls. Weapons, some bright and new, others battered and proud, hung above sturdy workbenches. Joe, the blacksmith—a burly man with a silver-streaked beard, broad hands scarred from decades at the forge—looked up from his work with an easy, gruff smile.
"Morning, Joe," Freya called, her voice blending with the clang of metal. "Our blades need your touch."
Chou, rolling his shoulders to ease early nerves, laid his broadsword before Joe. Its polished blade caught the firelight, revealing notches from practice battles. Ronin, steady but inwardly tense, drew both Sei and Kuro, their edges gleaming yet marked by recent trials. Joe took each weapon with reverence, his calloused thumb tracing rune-etched hilts and razor edges.
"Back by afternoon," he rumbled, his eyes already measuring what work was needed. "They'll be sharper than your wits."
With a lighthearted chuckle, the party stepped back into the morning bustle.
The main chamber of the Adventurer's Guild Hall pulsed with life—a tapestry of voices, laughter, and the metallic jingle of coin. Tables crowded with adventurers in mismatched armor, quest parchments jutting out like wings, banners faded from years of sun and candle smoke. Ronin lingered by the entry, taking in the crush of strangers—a flash of worry darted across his eyes before he steeled himself and strode to Celine's counter.
He hesitated. "Ummm…"
Celine, dressed in crisp guild attire with a violet ribbon at her collar, looked up, brown eyes warm. She slid an intricately carved wooden card across the polished wood—a symbol of trust and new beginnings.
"Here, Ronin," she said, her fingers lingering as if transferring something intangible. "Your card is ready. The Guild wishes you luck."
Ronin accepted it, running a thumb over his own name, feeling hope and trepidation intertwining like the etched pattern on its surface. Celine's look softened for a moment, concern flickering before she masked it with a professional smile.
Meanwhile, Chou, Rafaela, and Yue Xin huddled by the gigantic quest board. Chou tapped his finger against his chin, brow furrowed.
"Anything good?" Freya asked, arms folded and gaze sharp.
"Too simple, or too risky," Chou muttered, tossing a parchment back onto the board.
Rafaela scanned the options, tightening the laces on her bracer as she considered. "Here's a safe one—herb gathering in Zevery Forest. Could build teamwork."
Yue Xin stood apart, face calm, silver hair glinting under torchlight. She pointed silently to a parchment pinned high.
"The dungeon quest?" Chou asked, incredulity edging his tone. He turned to Freya, whose face had grown still.
"Yes," said Yue Xin. "The Whispering Abyss Dungeon. It calls to us."
Freya's jaw set, old memories crowding her eyes. "That place is dangerous—my party barely reached the 20th floor. The Guild Leader went to 22. But mana stones on the upper floors… you should be safe if you don't go too deep."
Chou glanced around; his hand tightened unconsciously on the hilt at his waist. "It's risky, but worth it. Shadows of Wrath, what do you think?"
He looked for dissent. Rafaela gave a soft, brave nod. Ronin, recalling Baelish's words about testing one's limits, managed a determined smile.
"No objections," Rafaela said, tone steady.
"I'm in," Ronin replied, voice low but resolute.
Chou grinned—and for a heartbeat, the four exchanged a nervous, excited hand-stack, knuckles white, a shadow's pact sealed by hope.
At the counter, Chou presented the quest. Celine looked up, concern shadowing her features. "Are you sure? This is no simple job for your first quest."
"We're ready," Chou replied, meeting her gaze. Behind him, Rafaela tapped the vial tied to her belt for luck; Yue Xin's eyes never wavered; Ronin inhaled slowly, fists clenched, a whisper of doubt chased away.
Celine, recognizing their resolve, nodded. "All the best, Shadows of Wrath. Remember—the Guild stands behind you."
They spilled out into the streets, the weight of new responsibility heavy on their shoulders. Crownfall was a riot of color—vendors calling, hooves drumming against stone, laughter competing with the caw of gulls from the distant harbor. The party moved as a unit: Rafaela fussed over extra antidotes ("You never know!"), Chou negotiated for rations, Yue Xin double-checked rope lengths, and Ronin made sure the coins were distributed evenly between backup pouches.
Bag straps bit into shoulders as supplies accumulated. Potions clinked; bread and cheese were carefully packed. Each task, while mundane, felt vital—a tangible step closer to whatever awaited them in the Dearthwood.
The afternoon air deepened to amber by the time they retrieved their weapons from Joe, who handed them over with a curt but approving nod. "You'll come back with stories, or not at all," he said gruffly, masking pride behind feigned annoyance.
That evening, Freya's home brimmed with warmth and nervous energy. Kaelen, arms crossed over a worn tunic, ribbed Chou about his immaculately packed bag; Miya made rounds with extra bread; Lamus tossed an apple at Ronin, grunting approval when he caught it. For a few precious hours, laughter and advice mingled: stories of close calls, shared mistakes, and quiet victories. Each party member offered a final piece of wisdom—Kaelen cautioned against pride, Freya emphasized discipline, Miya stressed never wasting potions, Lamus urged vigilance.
Dinner was hearty—stew spiced with rare herbs, crusty bread, and slices of fruit. Ronin found himself watching his friends: Rafaela sharing an inside joke with Miya, Yue Xin practicing a silent ritual with her hands before eating, Chou grinning despite the intensity in his eyes. As dusk settled, the group gathered one last time by the hearth. Chou produced an old coin, marked with a shadow emblem.
"This is for luck," he said, voice wavering only slightly as he set it in the center of the table. Each party member touched it in turn, sealing a silent promise to look after one another.
Before dawn, the Shadows of Wrath assembled in the chilly gloom outside Freya's door, cloaks drawn tight. The carriage ride was tense, each jostle marked by the creak of wheels and the distant call of awakening birds. Ronin watched the city fade behind them, chest tight with anticipation. By the time they reached Dearthwood's looming edge, the sun was a pale line and the trees unfurled like sentinels.
As they disembarked, footsteps crunching frosted leaves, Ronin looked to his friends—Chou offering a reassuring nod, Rafaela double-checking vials, Yue Xin gazing ahead with unwavering focus—and felt both their fear and their unity. The shadowy arch of the Whispering Abyss awaited, cold air seeping from its entrance, the promise of challenge nested in the gloom.
With one last look back, Ronin whispered the promise they had claimed as their own: "We face darkness together."
[To Be Continued in Chapter:30 The Whispering Abyss Dungeon]