Before their departure to Eldoria, the Black Luminaries made one final stop ,a quiet, private chamber provided by the guild for higher-ranking adventurers. The room was bare, save for a sturdy wooden table in the center. Upon it lay a worn map of the continent, unfurled and marked with inked notations.
Jace hovered over it, tracing their path with a gloved finger. "We're here, in Velmoria, and our destination is here just along the border, near the Forest of Eldoria."
Nick leaned in, nodding. "To get there, we'll need to pass through Dravenfall, then either cross the Great Desert of Celestial Peak… or take a boat from Dravenfall down the Elarin River into Eldorian territory."
Auxen, who had been quietly observing, finally spoke. "That won't be necessary."
Nick blinked. "Then how do you plan on getting there? Flying?"
Auxen smirked. "Not quite." He reached into his cloak and pulled out a small, pink-colored crystal, gently placing it on the table.
Nick's eyes widened. "A teleportation crystal? That's rare… and expensive. Where did you get this?"
Auxen gave a casual shrug. "Let's just say I'm not short on coin. You do remember this is a personal request, right? That means triple the payout of a standard job."
Jace's eyes sparkled. "Now that's what I'm talking about. Adventure and treasure."
Nick rolled his eyes. "We'll see if the excitement's worth the nausea."
With the plan set, Auxen grasped the crystal. Channeling his mana, the crystal glowed brilliantly. A shimmering magic circle expanded beneath their feet, humming with energy.
In the blink of an eye, the world shifted.
The trio vanished from the room. and reappeared with a flash outside the Forest of Eldoria. The air was fresh, the scent of moss and ancient trees heavy around them. Birds scattered from nearby branches as the magic faded.
Jace stumbled, holding his stomach. "Ugh… teleportation is the worst thing that's ever happened to me."
Auxen laughed. "You'll get used to it."
While healing Jace with a soft glow of magic, Nick glanced around. "Wait... why are we outside the forest? Weren't we supposed to land inside it?"
Auxen shook his head. "Teleportation within Eldoria is strictly forbidden. Try it, and the Elven Queen will sense you immediately. Best case? You get a warning. Worst case… an arrow to the throat."
He motioned down a worn path. "My village is on the forest's edge. From here, we'll follow the road and grab a carriage."
As they walked through the shaded trail, Jace looked sideways at their client. "You still haven't told us much about yourself, Auxen. Or how you even found us."
Auxen sighed, his tone growing quieter. "It's a long story. I was born in the village we're heading to. My father was a merchant, he moved us out when I was young to grow the business. But I kept visiting, even after we settled elsewhere."
Nick nodded thoughtfully. "And the bandits?"
Auxen's jaw tightened. "That's the strange part. There've been multiple attacks recently but they haven't stolen anything. No gold, no supplies. Just… violence."
Jace's expression turned serious. "So they don't want money. Maybe they're after something else."
"Exactly," Auxen replied. "That's what we need to find out."
He raised his hand, signaling to a nearby carriage station. "From here, we ride."
The wind stirred the trees behind them, a whisper of what was to come.
To be continued...