The morning in Brightshore Kingdom began like any other, calm and orderly on the surface, yet beneath it, a quiet disturbance had already begun to spread. Inside the Intelligence Bureau headquarters, a tall stone building marked with the golden sun crest of Brightshore, a tense conversation was unfolding behind closed doors.
An officer stood upright before the Bureau General, his expression serious and composed, yet there was a faint urgency in his voice as he spoke.
"Sir, we have completed the inquiry regarding Aragon."
The General, a seasoned man with sharp eyes and a calm demeanour, leaned slightly forward in his chair. "And?"
The officer hesitated for a brief moment before continuing. "There is no trace of him, sir. He has been missing for the past week. We searched Marsh Town thoroughly, but there is no confirmed sighting."
The General frowned slightly but did not appear alarmed just yet. "Missing for a week does not mean much. Adventurers often take longer missions. He may have entered a dungeon or taken an escort task beyond our notice."
The officer shook his head firmly. "We considered that possibility, sir. However, I personally visited the Shores Adventure Guild in Marsh. According to their records, Aragon has not accepted any mission in the past five days."
The room fell silent for a moment.
The General's fingers tapped lightly against the wooden table. "What about the inn where he was staying?"
"He cleared all his dues," the officer replied immediately. "And officially checked out. The innkeeper confirmed it. He left with his belongings and did not inform anyone of his destination."
Now, that changed things.
The General's expression hardened slightly, the calmness in his eyes giving way to something more focused.
"So, he did not vanish. He left intentionally."
"Yes, sir "
"And no witnesses?"
"None reliable "
A brief silence followed, heavier than before.
The General leaned back slowly, exhaling.
"Keep monitoring, It is too early to conclude anything. He is a summoned individual. They tend to act unpredictably."
"Yes, sir…"
"Dismissed..."
As the officer left the room, the General remained seated, staring at the table in quiet thought.
Far away from the structured order of Brightshore, deep within the wild and untouched lands of the north, a completely different scene unfolded.
The sound of flowing water echoed softly through the dense forest as sunlight filtered through the towering trees. Near the edge of a shallow riverbank, two figures lay motionless upon damp earth and scattered stones.
Aragon slowly opened his eyes.
For a moment, everything felt distant. The cold touch of the river still lingered in his body, and his clothes clung heavily to his skin. He exhaled slowly, pushing himself up from the ground as his surroundings came back into focus.
"…We survived…"
His voice was calm, almost indifferent, yet there was a faint hint of surprise beneath it.
He glanced around. There was no sign of civilisation. Only endless forest stretched in every direction, thick and silent, almost as if the world itself had withdrawn from this place.
"…Middle of nowhere "
His gaze then shifted to the figure lying a short distance away.
The elven girl…..
She remained unconscious, her silver and green armour slightly damaged, her long hair scattered across the ground like strands of pale silk. Even in such a state, there was an undeniable elegance to her presence.
Aragon stood up slowly and walked towards her, observing her condition with quiet focus. There were no severe wounds, only minor injuries from the fall.
He crouched beside her, studying her face for a brief moment.
"…She's pretty," he muttered under his breath, his tone neutral rather than emotional. Then he added, almost immediately, "But what am I supposed to do with her now?"
There was no answer, of course.
After a short pause, Aragon sighed faintly and lifted her carefully into his arms. She was lighter than he expected.
"Well… standing here won't help "
Without wasting any more time, he turned and began walking deeper into the forest.
Back in Brightshore, the situation had escalated.
Inside the royal palace, within a grand chamber adorned with gold and blue banners, the Bureau General now stood before the King himself.
The King of Brightshore sat upon his throne, his presence commanding and composed. Beside him stood several high-ranking officials, including the Army General.
"Your Majesty," the Bureau General began, bowing slightly. "We have confirmed that the summoned individual, Aragon, is currently missing."
The King's expression did not change immediately, "Explain."
"He has not been active in the guild for several days, and he has vacated his residence without leaving any information regarding his destination."
A faint crease formed on the King's forehead. "And you believe this is unusual?"
"Yes, Your Majesty. Given his recent activities and growth, his sudden disappearance is… concerning."
Before the King could respond, the doors of the chamber suddenly opened.
A messenger rushed in, slightly out of breath, yet maintaining proper decorum as he knelt. "Your Majesty! Urgent report from the neutral lands!"
The room's attention shifted instantly.
"Speak," the King commanded.
"There was an attack on a village in the neutral zone. A large group of goblins, including hobgoblins and a Goblin General, launched an assault."
The Army General frowned, "And the outcome?"
The messenger hesitated, then spoke carefully. "They were all defeated… by a single individual."
Silence fell across the chamber.
"A single person?" the King repeated.
"Yes, Your Majesty. According to reports from a travelling adventurer who arrived later, the villagers claimed that one man fought and eliminated the entire force alone. He did not reveal his identity and left shortly after."
The Bureau General's eyes narrowed slightly.
"…I see..."
Though he remained silent outwardly, a single thought formed clearly in his mind.
It must be Aragon…..!!
No one else matched the pattern. A rapidly growing fighter. A summoned individual. And now, a lone warrior capable of defeating an entire goblin force.
Yet, he chose not to speak that thought aloud.
The King leaned forward slightly. "Did Forestfall respond to this incident?"
"No, Your Majesty. There has been no official response yet."
The King remained silent for a moment, considering. Then, he spoke decisively.
"Assemble three task forces "
The Army General straightened, "Yes, Your Majesty."
"Each team will consist of five members. One elite knight will lead, supported by four capable knights."
He continued without pause.
"One team will proceed to the neutral village and investigate the incident in detail."
"Yes, Your Majesty…at once!!"
"The second team will travel towards Forestfall. Establish diplomatic contact if possible, and gather information. If Aragorn is within their territory, I want confirmation."
"And the third?" the Army General asked.
The King's gaze shifted slightly,
"To Wolfden."
A subtle tension filled the room at the mention of the beast kingdom.
"If Aragon has left Brightshore, his most likely destinations are Forestfall… or Wolfden."
The command was clear,
"Begin preparations immediately."
"Yes, Your Majesty….."
Deep within the forest, far beyond the reach of kingdoms and politics, night had begun to fall.
Inside a small cave, dimly lit by a flickering fire, Aragon sat quietly, his back resting against the stone wall. The elven girl lay nearby, still unconscious, her breathing steady.
The soft crackling of the fire echoed faintly in the enclosed space.
Aragon stared into the flames, lost in thought.
"…Forestfall," he murmured softly. "So this is how it begins."
His journey had taken a clear turn now. There was no going back.
After a moment, his expression shifted ever so slightly, his eyes narrowed.
Shadow Sense....
It activated without effort. Something was approaching. Not one… but several. Outside the cave, hidden within the darkness of the forest, multiple pairs of glowing eyes began to appear, one after another, watching silently.
Low growls echoed faintly through the night.
Wolf-like creatures…..
They moved carefully, surrounding the cave from all directions. Aragon did not move immediately.
Instead… he smiled…..
A calm, almost amused smile,
"…You're late….."
The firelight flickered against his face as the shadows around him began to shift ever so slightly. And outside, the glowing eyes drew closer....