Thennel and the Marks of Purity, accompanied by Valen and Valea embarked onto their journey toward the Myrewood. They were on the Forest Edge route to Virelow Hollow, a winding dirt path that skirts the southern Myrewood edge before curving eastward. It was used mostly by apothecaries, hunters and poachers.
They were on a carriage, dragged by two horses. Thennel was on the reins while the rest were on the large carriage, interacting. Fenna, Valen and Valea chose to walk. Fenna was the ranger, so she was up front, surveilling the surroundings.
"Arthur." Thennel spoke up.
"Hm?"
"Let's set up camp near that bank of water." He pointed.
"Understood. Deyric?"
"No issue with me." He nodded.
The horses were then led to the water to drink, seemingly thirsty.
Deyric then looked around after speaking with Fenna, approaching Arthur who was now sitting down on a rock.
"Arthur. Things may get a bit more rough and dangerous, but I doubt you'll need the warning."
"Thank you for worrying, but we will be careful."
"...The Seerblades have already informed me about the incoming bandits… And Valea can definitely hold her own… Most of all, I'm not afraid to show my skill as a frontline warrior."
Deyric nodded.
"There'll be no problems that I won't be able to spot." Fenna tried to reassure Valen.
"...Even though you're not able to pick up on the bandits from this distance…"
"Please allow me to kill her…" Valea murmured.
"Valea." He briefly hit her head.
"I'm sorry, Y-."
Valen eyed her through his helmet.
"...Arthur."
"This area is part of Myrewood, right? It really seems to be a dark forest."
"...I believe this area is Ashbinder territory."
"...So it is public knowledge that there are three bandit factions within Myrewood… I was surprised when the Seerblades informed me of the development… They may eventually develop into a problem once they encounter Velkaris near the forest in its outer grasslands…"
Once a haven for outlaws, rebels, and exiled soldiers, the Myrewood became a kingdom of sorts—ruled not by a monarch, but by the brutal pact of three warlords known collectively as the Three Myres. Each commanded their own distinct faction and governed a third of the vast, untamed woodland. Their reputations were so great that the forest itself was named after them. The name Myrewood is both a geographic title and a warning to those who enter it:
"...You walk through their legend now…Heh, what a warning."
The Ashbinders were a band of sorcery and arcane might, known for magical warfare, cursed relics, and elemental manipulation. Their members are often cloaked in robes made of moss and raven feathers. They use ambush spells, illusions, and alchemical traps and are known to consort with the forest's spirits. Their territory were the southern glades and haunted ruins, filled with mists and arcane remnants.
"I believe their leader is known as the Witch of the Withering Root." Thennel spoke.
"...I'm quite curious to see how strong this witch is…"
*
"You seem to be super composed, Arthur." Fenna spoke up.
"Why would I not be?"
"Is it because you believe in me as the team's eyes and ears?"
"...Isn't that the reason why I suggested the Marks of Purity to accompany me on this quest?... I do acknowledge your skill as a ranger, Fenna."
She then smiled, having a better attitude then before. She then noticed the hostile intent emanating from Valea, as Valen then put his hand on her shoulder, calming her down.
"...Are you two lovers?"
"...Lovers… He has-." She began blushing at the thought.
"Do not speak another word, Valea."
She composed herself, as Thennel looked upon the conversation with curiosity.
"Fenna. While I do appreciate your support, please do not pry your way into interacting with me."
Deyric then came behind her and dragged her along. "My apologies, Arthur."
"You freaking idiot…." He said, speaking with Fenna as he dragged her.
Valen sighed, as he continued forward.
"Control yourself, Valea. That is the last time I will repeat myself."
"Yes, Arthur." She responded with a subservient tone.
Fenna then stopped and put her hand out. "We have company." Her face had a serious expression.
"...Finally…"
"Thennel. Remain hidden. Do not come out until we deem it safe."
"Got it." Thennel then ran inside of the hooded carriage.
The group looked upon the forest as they saw the earth being hurled at them. It was a clear ambush. Thorns from mysterious vines were launched in their direction as well, seemingly being manipulated by a controlled nature spirit.
"Gorran!" Deyric shouted.
Gorran then ran forward with his shield, as he then activated defensive magic that formed a larger shield over the area. The rocks and thorns that attacked them were deflected instantly.
"Valea. Lure them out."
"Understood." She immediately grasped her staff. It was known as the Solstice Veil, the Staff-Blade of Elegance and Wrath. It belonged to the former Sovereign of Valor's fallen wife. A tall staff tipped with a crescent arc-blade, forged from starlight alloy. It can shift between focus staff and full polearm mode. It holds a crystalline core that captures and stores light.
He then immediately casted gravity magic, the glyphs on the staff bursting in arcane energy. She raised the hidden Ashbinders within the forestry into midair and launched them downward to open ground.
"...That's more than I was expecting. But bandits do come in numbers… how do you want us to split, Arthur?" Deyric asked him as he unsheathed his own sword.
"Form a defensive formation around the carriage. Our priority is preventing Thennel from being harmed. I will face the bandits head-on. I wish to demonstrate my strength to the Mireleaf."
"Understood. We'll give you as much support as we can."
"They may retreat to the forest if we start fighting like this." Fenna spoke up.
"Let's grab the snakes from their tails. Do our usual."
"If any get past Arthur, we'll get to work. Fenna, take care of any you can see that are not preoccupied with Arthur, overwatch. Valien, trusting your healing skills if any of us get hurt."
"Follow the flow of the battle and you all will come out unscathed."
"...The shield is dropping now." Gorran said, as his defensive spell then vanished.
Valen then rushed forward, revealing his spear. It was the Aegis Judicium, the personal weapon of the former Sovereign of Valor.
The spear's shaft is made from a polished, white-gold alloy, with intricate engravings of celestial patterns spiraling upward. At the base, a brilliant, radiant crystal is embedded, glowing with a soft, golden light. The spearhead is a finely crafted, double-edged blade shaped like a stylized sunburst. The metal is silvered with traces of gold along its edges, and it shimmers as though it is bathed in eternal sunlight. Small gemstones, reminiscent of stars, are embedded near the base of the blade, enhancing its ethereal quality. The spear pulsed with a constant, ethereal light that intensifies with the user's will. When used in battle, the glow brightens, symbolizing his heroic nature and connection to light itself.
"...A majestic spear…" Gorran murmured.
"...This guy is insane!" One of the Ashbinders chuckled, as the group then began casting spells along the path Valen was rushing toward.
Fenna then swung out her bow, sending out an arrow that hit one of her targets. "That's what happens when you let your guard down."
The golden ring around Valen's helmet then brightened of arcane energy, going from a soft glow to a glorious light, as the divine aura enveloped his entire body. It activated a shield of pure light.
The elemental attacks that the Ashbinders sent toward him were countered or deflected as they made contact with the divine shield. Valen was unphased.
"...Holy shit… he's like a hero of light… None of our attacks are working!" One of the Ashbinders couldn't believe his eyes.
"Our traps aren't activating either! It's like he's defending and countering at the same time!"
The Ashbinders then formed large humanoid golems made of pure rock, emboldened by flames, as they hurled toward Valen. They had white runes that covered their rock structure, compositional strengthening magic.
The Marks of Purity looked upon Valen with awe, as he easily slashed through one of the golems like paper, despite it being of pure rock. The flames vanished with the golem's defeat, as the rocks then fell to the ground as the foundation was broken.
"...Not bad for a bunch of bandits. The golems would give regular soldiers a rough time…"
"...He… cut… through the spell itself?" One of the Ashbinders fell to his knees, as he felt the connection with the golem disappear and couldn't reform it.
"B-Rank… no… A-Rank…" Fenna spoke, her mouth widened.
"They've got to be the level of A-Rank Mercenaries, maybe even higher…" Deyric spoke out, speechless.
"Amazing…" Thennel murmured.
"What's wrong?... This cannot be all that you have." Valen addressed the Ashbinders. He continued striking through the golems with ease as they attempted to crush him.
From the outside perspective, it appeared that Valen was teleporting, only a trail of light was seen as he slashed another golem vertically. The golem's rocks return to the earth.
A few of the Ashbinders attempted to flank around him and head toward the Marks of Purity. He then casted their elemental and spiritual spells, and the forest around them became their enemy.
Deyric moved forward as he cut through the incoming vines covered with poisonous thorns. He was then struck by one of the thorns, as the poison swiftly entered his system.
"ARGH…" Deyric fell as he held onto his arm. Valien quickly rushed over as regenerative flames covered his arm, warding off the poison.
Fenna turned her attention toward the flanking Ashbinders, one of her arrows hitting one of the illusions they casted.
"...Damn it. What a waste." She raised up another arrow and fired it. This time, it hit one of the living Ashbinders as he fell dead, his neck pierced.
Gorran used his defensive spells to aid the entire party as he used his towering shield to block the vast onslaught of elemental spells being launched. He then noticed an incoming Ashbinder, to which he then hit with his hammer, but turned out to be another illusion.
"...Not a bad party at all…Not as good as my former comrades though… back in our younger days…"
Valen then countered and parried another golem, as he struck through it horizontally, cutting and disabling the spell once again. He then recovered, slashing through another golem and flipped into its center and landing onto the ground.
"Valea."
Valea immediately got in front of Valen, as she then casted light magic, radiant bursts of energy formed as they struck the remaining golems and hit a few of the Ashbinders in the process. The rocks that the golems were made of, as well as the Ashbinders' bodies, were burnt to a crisp.
"...R-Run!"
Valea then used gravity magic that sent the surviving Ashbinders slamming into the ground, paralyzed and stuck to the floor.
"...P-please, I'll give you anything, damnit!" One of the Ashbinders cried.
"Kill them."
Valea then used the magic to crush their bodies with gravity itself, as they imploded. Their remains scattered all around them. The blood that was sent onto Valen's armor was turned to dust.
Valen then turned around, seeing as the Marks of Purity had defeated their attackers. The two then walked back over to the carriage and regrouped with the others, as Valien was healing those with wounds or injuries.
Deyric was then seen taking the insignias of the four Ashbinders and gathering them into his pouch.
"Hm?"
"Oh, I'm collecting their belongings and their insignias. It's a way of showing you defeated bandits to the Crimson Ledger, since they don't really let go of their own stuff but steal others."
"I see…"
"You should collect the insignias of the Ashbinders you killed. It should raise a flag about how skilled you really are, since the Ashbinders are rated pretty high as a collective."
"I believe the Ashbinders are the weakest out of the bandit factions in Myrewood, but they are rated C-Rank as a group, so I think it should help."
"...You should also grab the rocks that were enchanted as well, they should be able to analyze them since those golems are the reason why the Ashbinders are actually stronger then what they're rated. Those golems were deemed A-Rank, a lot of mercenaries fell to them."
"...Sounds similar to the Adventurers of my world, but instead we'd grab the remains of monsters too…but it was the exact same when gathering proof of defeating a bandit…"
Valea had already collected the insignias and a few of the enchanted rocks with the white runes that were casted, using her spatial magic.
"...You were pretty amazing back there, Arthur… I never expected you both to be that skilled."
"Where'd you get that spear like that?" Valien asked innocently, his eyes gleaming at how brilliant and shiny it was.
"...You may be just as strong as the Crown's Blade, possibly even better since you countered their defenses and traps, on top of defending against the golems…"
"...It has been a while since I've seen Garran… funny that they mention him…"
"Of course. He's the Hero of Light." Valea said proudly.
"...I'd believe it. Just makes me think how there truly is always someone better." Deyric nodded.
"You will one day reach the level that you wish to attain. Experience, time and knowledge will grant you power."
The group all looked at each other in disbelief, unable to think of themselves able to reach his level of combat prowess.
Valen then felt the presence of a Seerblade, as they swiftly collected one of the remains of the Ashbinders to bring to Viscera's End, vanishing without a trace.
*
The Marks of Purity then settled down in the cover of night, setting up camp and hunting animals for food within the forest. They brought their own seasonings and potential rations for emergencies. They got their water from the nearby bank they first stopped at.
"Do you like it, Arthur?" Fenna perked up.
"I tried hunting the best animals I could find. I whipped most of the food too."
"...Don't forget about Valien. He did some of the cooking too." Deyric shook his head as Valien rubbed his head, smiling a bit.
"The food is fine. I am just composed because of the deaths I caused. It does resonate with me each life that I take."
"Hoh… so it seems you do have emotions after all…" Gorran said, eating as well.
"...Why do you call yourselves the Marks of Purity?" Valen said, glancing at each of them before looking directly at Deyric.
"...Each of us have our own stories, but we have all been the victims of the slums, neighboring bandits, corruption and the like. Valien, especially, considering he's a fallen noble…" Deyric then stopped, not trying to reveal his story without his permission.
"It's okay. I'm just a fallen noble who's family was killed in a dispute against a more powerful family. They just wished to take more from others…But I think my big sister is alive somewhere and I want to find her…"
"...Hm."
"The Marks of Purity, like in the name, comes from the Apostle of Purity from the Dominion of Solmira. We're not nearly as fanatical or theological as the Dominion, but we do take the ideal of cleansing corruption, in our own way. Especially since the Seven Divine Apostles were responsible for how the world is today, so mythology says, where monsters no longer exist. They are seen as legendary heroes and worldly defenders created by the gods."
"...So it is true… the Seven Divine Apostles fought against the demonic when the world fell into chaos… the tales I've been hearing do sound similar to how me and my seven former comrades were hailed when we united the world from the fragmented kingdoms we conquered…"
"...It doesn't really matter where we came or originated from. Despite taking on the name of Purity, our stories represent why we created this team, not for religion but purpose…"
"Good words, Fenna. I'm surprised." Gorran smirked, chuckling behind his helmet.
"...Don't tease me." She pouted.
"We gotta give her some praise once and a while, right?" Deyric laughed.
"I just said stop teasing me."
"...Being in this group does remind me of the party I formed with the past Sovereigns when we were just rising stars… we all met as adventurers, wanting to change our world for the better, not knowing we'd eventually form the Eidryn Empire…"
"You guys really are a tight-knit group, not all mercenaries are able to interact with each other like this. It's usually all work-related and groups fall out because of their differences…" Thennel said, nodding of approval.
"Yeah, we trust our lives to one another and we all come from a shared experience."
"A group's stability can be visibly seen when everyone comes from similar experiences or strives to a shared goal. Often then not, these are the types of groups that will survive the longest, not just through combat, but through internal strife."
"It is not merely what will kill you when you are in combat. It is also trusting and believing in your comrades, hoping they will not betray you when you need their help the most. Unfortunately, most mercenaries are in it for themselves."
"...You sound like you were in your own mercenary group, Arthur. The leader of it too." Deyric said, glancing at him.
"In my past. I was led to others that I could call true comrades for the first time in my life. Adventuring, collecting materials, building our unbroken foundation and solidifying unspoken trust."
"...I will never forget the days, months and years that I spent with them…"
"...I'm sure you'll find allies like them again." Valien said, attempting to cheer him up.
"...Maybe I already have… they did leave behind their apprentices… the new Seven Sovereigns, but…"
"...But they will never be replaced…"
Valen said, walking away from the group to sit near a rock, as he then stared at the sky.
Valien had a solemn frown on his face. "...Maybe I shouldn't have said that."
"...Considering how he described them and he is not with them now, they may have been killed." Gorran said as he paid attention to Valen before he left, seemingly more emotional then he had been before.
"He does give off that energy that he's lost his best friends…" Fenna said, looking over at Valen.
"It is a hard thing to cope with, not just mentally but emotionally as well."
"You do not need to apologize for what you've said, Valien. It is just how Arthur interpreted your words. I believe he knows in his heart that you were trying to just cheer him up." Deyric announced.
"Yeah, you're right." He nodded slowly.
"...Just like you, he's known the pain of losing loved ones that are cherished. Even friends are considered family…"
"...Lyssara…"