Night had fallen over Sablewood Forest, swallowing the towering trees and dense undergrowth in suffocating darkness.
Only the faint rustling of leaves accompanied the four young adventurers as they moved cautiously beneath the dim moonlight.
Esta Draveda led the group, her magic staff emitting a soft blue glow that barely illuminated the path ahead. Behind her walked a massive man clad in armor, a greatsword strapped across his back, his heavy footsteps echoing through the forest. An archer with a cynical smile scanned every corner with sharp eyes, while a quiet female healer in white robes followed silently, clutching a pouch filled with healing supplies.
"The herbs should be in the valley near the river," Esta said, attempting to conceal her nervousness. This was her first mission as an officially registered guild mage.
The archer nodded."If we find them quickly, I might still have time for a drink at the tavern tonight."
"Stay focused, Kile," growled the warrior, his voice deep and stern. "This forest is more dangerous than you think. The goblins around here have been getting bolder."
Kile shrugged."If goblins show up, you've got a sword, I've got a bow, and Esta has magic. Besides, we've got a healer. What's there to worry about?"
Yet Esta felt something was wrong.
The night air was unnaturally cold, and the sounds of the forest gradually faded, replaced by an oppressive silence that pressed down on her chest.
Suddenly, a low growl echoed from the surrounding bushes. Moonlight reflected countless small glimmers—eyes watching from the darkness.
"Formation!" the warrior shouted as he drew his sword, the sharp ring of steel slicing through the silence.
Esta raised her staff, her lips chanting a spell. Kile swiftly drew his bow, while the healer stepped back, trembling, preparing to defend their rear.
But there were too many.
Goblins leapt from the shadows, wielding spears, daggers, and razor-sharp claws. This was no random mob—they moved like a coordinated unit, led by a large goblin clad in filthy armor, its eyes burning with hatred.
"What is this…?" Esta cried as her first spell shot toward the goblins, only for more of them to surge in from the flanks.
Kile fired an arrow, striking one goblin squarely in the head. But his next shot went wide as a goblin spear pierced his shoulder.
The warrior swung his greatsword with ferocity, cutting down several goblins at once. He rushed to aid Kile—only to be struck from behind by the goblin leader. The massive impact sent his body flying, crashing violently into the trees.
The healer tried to shield Esta, but she was too slow.
Before Esta could finish chanting her fire spell, a goblin lunged forward, its claws slashing straight across her throat.
The world went dark.
Esta's body collapsed to the ground, blood pouring from her neck. The healer rushed to her side in desperation, but before she could help, a goblin struck her head from behind, killing her instantly.
Kile, barely able to stand, watched his companions fall one by one. His arms trembled, no longer strong enough to lift his bow, yet he forced himself upright. For a brief moment, he stood amid the goblin horde, his vision blurring as his knees gave way.
A goblin swung its blade.
Kile's head was severed from his body, ending his life in an instant.
As the sounds of battle faded, the goblin pack dragged the adventurers' corpses toward their nest, leaving trails of blood across the rain-soaked forest floor.
From afar, another presence watched from behind the trees.
A mysterious figure cloaked in darkness, face hidden beneath a deep hood, observed the massacre with a twisted smile.
"Just as I expected," the figure murmured softly."They were not ready."
That night, the tragedy of Sablewood Forest became the beginning of a calamity—one that would forever alter the fate of a small boy in the village of Elvendor.
His name was Leon Draveda.