It is the year 845 AS, on the fifth day of the Month of Angels on the Astra Calendar. Adventurers roam the land in search of an ancient goddess, hidden deep in the Eastern Kingdom. Near the town of Dalton, south of the capital of Glashmere in the Eastern Kingdom, four friends from Ifer seek shelter from the rain.
Slash, a self-taught swordsman with lightly darkened skin, peer through the fog and heavy rainfall and spots a cave not far away. He brushes his short, black, wavy hair out of his eyes and looks back at his three companions.
"We can take refuge there," he says, pointing at the cave. His brown eyes reflect the rainfall.
His three companions hurry after him into the mouth of the cave. The most precious being his fiancé, Sodina. Many say she is the living image of the Goddess herself with her long red hair, fair skin, and entrancing blue eyes that resemble the serene afternoon sky. Despite only being twenty years old, her wisdom and demeanor match those older in age. Her jaded green dress is soaked by the evening rain as she leans over, wringing out her hair.
"That rain came out of nowhere," Sodina says, looking over at Slash.
Slash smiles as he puts his hand on her head. Looking deeper into the cave, he sees a path leading inside. "It looks like luck is on our side," he says.
"Goddess Astra, grant us your light." Sodina points her staff forward as the blue orb near its end shines brightly.
Amanda, a short woman, twenty years of age with long brunette pigtails, and freckles covering fair skin, sits on the stony interior of the cave "The last thing we need is more rain," she says with a disgruntled expression Wiping her glasses, she looks back toward the torrential downpour. "The last few days were filled with rain. I'm tired of it all."
"Wet hair seems to be the latest fashion trend in the kingdom," Lorenz jokingly replies.
Being the oldest at twenty-two years old, Lorenz sees himself as somewhat of an older brother to his three friends. His lush, long purple hair and clear fair skin have made him a favorite amongst the women in Ifer. It helps that he's also the oldest son of the mayor.
"Are we sure no monsters are on our scent?" Lorenz asks, readying his short bow. He peers back out of the cave, squinting.
"The rain would cover our scent even if monsters were roaming this area," Slash says to Lorenz.
His calming voice eases the tension in Lorenz's shoulders. Putting the arrow back in its quiver, Lorenz turns toward his friends and lets out a sigh of relief.
"An ambush is the last thing we need," he says, "but you have yet to steer us wrong." Letting out a loud laugh, he takes a seat by Amanda and twirls her pigtails.
She pulls away from him with a scowl. "How many times have I told you not to play with my hair?"
Playing with his younger sister's hair has been a habit of his ever since they were young. Amanda finds it extremely annoying and always berates Lorenz for his behavior.
An hour passes by as the group nourishes themselves on pumpkin bread and water.
"We should explore this cave, since it's not on the map," Slash says to his friends. "We need your light magic to guide the way, Sodina."
Walking forward, Slash pulls out his sword and proceeds into the cave with Sodina right behind him. Amanda stays in the middle of the pack, while Lorenz guards the rear with his bow at the ready. The way forward holds an impenetrable darkness. The light from Sodina's staff illuminates the path.
Walking through the darkness, sounds of screeching echo throughout the cave, bouncing off the moist stone walls.
"What was that?" Amanda squeals as she grabs the hem of Sodina's green cloak. She is the least capable of combat in the group.
"Keep it down." Slash hushes her. A door appears ahead of them in the light.
"Strange," he mutters as he investigates the oddly placed entrance. "A door with no warnings or instructions right in the middle of a cave. Be at the ready—"
Without warning, the floor collapses beneath them. The group falls into the darkness, wailing and flailing as they tumble down.
"Illuminate!" Sodina yells.
She shoots a flash of white light from her scepter, revealing the ground they are plunging toward.
She closes her eyes as she chants a prayer. "Goddess Astra, hold away our graves." She looks at her friends once more before she shouts, "Levitate!"
With only a few feet to spare, the group's fall slows, and they descend gently to the ground. Amanda collapses onto her knees, crying. "Surely Astra is with us, because our death was imminent," she yells out in frustration "Why did I ever agree to come on these adventures? One of these days, we won't be so lucky."
Sodina walks up to Amanda, wrapping her arms around her "Everything will be okay," she reassures her with a smile.
"It would appear far too many have met their death in this area," Lorenz says, pointing toward several decayed and broken skeletons littering the large pit. Amanda shudders.
"I think there are people around here," Lorenz adds as he points toward a path sparsely lit by torches. "That path might lead us out of here." He takes one step forward, but his right leg buckles under him, bringing him to his knees. He winces.
Slash walks over to him and offers a hand to help him back up. "You all right?"
"It's nothing but a piece of wood that went too deep," snaps Lorenz. "I already pulled it out."
"The way you're speaking leads me to believe otherwise." Amanda sighs, walking over to her brother. "Let us see it!"
Sodina leans her staff toward Lorenz's right leg, revealing a deep bloodied wound on his calf. Surveying the injury, Amanda pulls out a vial of blue liquid.
"This is going to sting a bit," Amanda warns her brother before pouring it on his calf.
Lorenz yells while covering his mouth, then inhales and exhales deeply. His heart pumps faster as he tries to resist the painful sting in his leg.
"Well, it's not a hug from the Goddess." Sodina giggles. Slash chuckles, too. "Your humor brings a smile to my face."
"You always seem to keep the situation pleasant." Lorenz groans as he avoids looking at his wound.
"That should stop the bleeding," Amanda assures him.
Pulling out a large bandage, Slash wraps the exposed flesh, to Lorenz's relief. He makes sure to tightly secure the cloth around his calf ensuring that he'll still be able to move.
"I am sorry for putting all of you in harm's way," Slash says as he bows his head, looking at Lorenz.
"We could have chosen to wait out the storm near the cave's entrance but now there is no escape," Lorenz replies grimly.
Looking toward the darkness in front of him, Slash points his sword "I will slay all who come our way."
"We believe in you, Slash," Sodina says with a smile.
She lifts Lorenz and puts his arm around her shoulder. Slash looks at Sodina with an approving gaze. Her words always boost his confidence.
"We have a wedding to plan in the coming months." Sodina giggles.
"I'm going to scout ahead," Slash says.
"Be careful, love," Sodina cautions him before giving him a comforting kiss.
He nods to her and descends toward the illuminated path. It soon leads to a split. Slash takes the left path, walking into a large square room lined with lit torches.
A growl comes from the corner, and he spins toward it. There stands a wolfen, five foot tall with foam oozing from its mouth.
What in Astra's name? Terror climbs his spine as he looks into the eyes of the beast.
The wolfen, covered in thick brown fur, lunges towards Slash on all fours. Slash clenches his sword with both hands and sidesteps the attack dodging the massive canine and digs his blade into the beast's flesh. The wolfen snarls in pain, blood dripping from its shoulder. Turning around for a second attack at Slash, the creature jumps into the air, diving toward him, its mouth wide open.
"Off with you!" Slash yells, slamming the tip of his sword into the wolfen's neck.
The body of the beast flails as Slash slams the ferocious creature toward the ground. Soon, it falls limp.