The trio stood before the grand wooden desk inside the Velmoria Adventurers' Guild as the golden afternoon light streamed through the stained-glass windows, painting patterns of red, blue, and green across the floor. Behind the desk stood Claire, arms crossed, eyes narrowed in that familiar "I-just-cleaned-up-your-mess" expression.
Claire: "You two again. Let me guess… bandits turned into cultists, a runaway elf girl, and an exploding carriage?"
Jace gave a sheepish laugh, rubbing the back of his neck. "More or less, yeah."
Nick: *"Actually, this time it was the Cult of Vrag. And, technically, the elf girl saved us."
Claire groaned, pinching the bridge of her nose.
Claire: "You always manage to get tangled in trouble and now the Cult of Vrag? Gods above, what's next? A dragon?"
Eve fidgeted slightly beside them, visibly unsure whether she should smile or apologize. "I didn't mean to cause any trouble…"
Claire waved her off gently. "Not your fault, dear. It's them I worry about."
Once the laughter and tension settled, Claire slid a sealed scroll across the counter.
Claire: "Well, good news is, you're still alive. Bad news is, we've got another mission for you."
Jace: "Wait, already? What about the festival? I thought we'd get a break."
Claire: "The Festival of Magic and Steel begins in two weeks. You'll be back in time if you don't waste time swinging your swords at trees again."
Nick: "So, what's the mission?"
Claire: "This is a special request from the capital. You're to retrieve a rare flower known as Dionaeamuscipula.
Jace blinked. "what?, dionaea...."
It's Dionaeamuscipula, It eats living creatures and that flower now only grows in the cursed soil of the Demon Lands."
The room grew still.
Jace: "Wait, the Demon Lands?!"
Nick leaned forward, brows furrowed. "I thought that place was sealed."
Claire: "It's under human control now. Ever since the fall of the Demon King, the Aranthor military has patrolled the borders. The deeper zones are still unstable, though… saturated with wild mana and old curses."
Jace: "So we can teleport there, right?"
Claire shook her head. "Unfortunately not. Teleportation magic fails in the high-density mana zones. Only the ancient demon runes could open a portal inside. I'll arrange for you to be sent to the southern border post."
Jace: "Alright then… demon land road trip it is."
Before they turned to leave, Eve stepped forward.
Eve: "Would you mind if I joined you on this mission?"
Nick: "That'd be awesome! The more the merrier and we could use your magic."
Jace: "You sure, though? It won't be safe."
Eve nodded. "I want to grow stronger. And besides… I don't really have anywhere to stay until the festival. I'd rather travel with you than wait around alone."
Jace: "Well then… welcome aboard, Eve. Temporary member of the Black Luminaries."
A gentle smile lit her face.
Scene Transition: The Demon Lands Border
The trio stepped through the shimmering teleportation gate and emerged under a crimson sky. The sun hung low like a bleeding orb over jagged black hills. Ashen winds whispered through dead trees, and the land ahead stretched barren and cracked, dotted with ruined fortresses half-sunken in cursed soil.
Nick: "This place gives me the creeps…"
Jace: "Can't believe this used to be a kingdom. The Demon King really ruled this place?"
Eve: "Yes. And this is also where the Yakshas once lived."
Jace's brows furrowed. "The Yakshas… the demon warlords? Aren't they the ones trying to resurrect the Demon King?"
Nick: "I've heard the same. They almost wiped out the Aranthor army five years ago."
Eve suddenly snapped: "You're wrong."
The two boys turned to her, surprised.
Eve: "The Yakshas… they're not evil. At least… not to good people."
Jace: "And how would you know that?"
Eve: "well, it's because I heard a tale from my sister."
Jace raised a brow, curiosity slowly rising in his chest. "Alright then, Eve. You've got my attention. Let's hear it."
Nick "yeah, it's not like we anything else to do. It's a long way ahead."
The three of them continued walking as the wind howled and distant thunder cracked across the sky. Eve closed her eyes briefly, then spoke:
Eve: "The story begins long ago… during the last days of the second Great War…"
To be continued...