JURAL DISTRICT: AZURA
Morning had fully settled over Azura.
The sun hung high, casting a warm golden glow across the neatly paved streets and perfectly maintained buildings. Windows reflected the sunlight, and the rooftops gleamed, their well-kept tiles and polished woodwork speaking of a prosperous village.
Flowering vines climbed along walls, and the scent of fresh bread and morning dew lingered in the air.
Villagers went about their daily routines, tending stalls, sweeping the walkways, or greeting neighbors with quiet smiles.
Suddenly, in the center of the village square, the air shimmered.
A circle of brilliant blue light appeared, runes spinning rapidly along its edge like liquid crystal.
It was a magic teleportation circle, and the villagers froze, unsure whether to flee or watch.
The guards stationed throughout Azura, lower-ranking but vigilant, sprinted toward the circle, weapons at the ready.
Their eyes narrowed, prepared for any threat that might emerge.
From the heart of the glowing circle, three figures stepped forward, appearing as if the light itself had carried them into the village.
They were strikingly similar, identical in height and build, their red hair shining brilliantly under the morning sun, tied neatly behind their backs.
Each wore a short, long-sleeved tunic, cropped just below the waist and fitted at the arms, paired with sturdy, stylish boots. Across their shoulders rested identical satchels, simple but well-made, the only accessory they carried.
Their collars gleamed with Gold 2 badges, perfectly polished. The engraved names and ranks read:
Serenya Veyrin – Gold 2
Serelia Veyrin – Gold 2
Seranya Veyrin – Gold 2
Each badge shimmered as the sunlight caught it, clearly marking them as high-rank adventurers.
The guards halted mid-step as recognition settled over them.
These were no ordinary visitors, they were adventurers, highly trained, and the villagers had no reason to fear.
Their weapons sheathed, the girls' presence radiated calm authority.
The village itself seemed to relax.
Azura was alive and prosperous: streets paved with smooth cobblestones, homes built from finely carved timber and stone, their walls sturdy and well-maintained. Shops displayed wares neatly, and the villagers resumed their routines, glancing occasionally at the teleportation circle that had now vanished, realizing it posed no threat.
The three girls, Serenya, Serelia, and Seranya, walked together toward the inn at the edge of the square, moving with effortless grace.
Their eyes scanned the village briefly, noting the orderliness and the alert guards, before they entered the inn.
Though identical in appearance, each carried an air of quiet confidence, as if they were already evaluating the district for the task ahead.
The Moonveil Party had arrived.
Within a few minutes of their arrival, a knock at the door of the inn they've rented.
A guard was standing outside, as the door was opened.
"Sorry to disturb you," the voice said calmly, "The capital has assigned me to bring you to his office, the adventurers who arrived here today."
The building was large and well-kept, with smooth pale stone walls and dark-framed windows. Its steep red-tiled roof and sturdy wooden doors gave it a solid, official look.
A neatly paved courtyard and trimmed gardens surrounded it, marking it as an important administrative office without dominating the village.
The Moonveil Party entered the office of Azura's guard in charge of village safety.
The trio walked up the wide staircase, their footsteps soft on the steps.
At the top, the guard who had escorted them knocked firmly on the door.
"They're here, sir," he announced.
From inside, a deep, authoritative voice responded, "Come in."
Morning sunlight streamed through the windows, falling on polished stone floors and neatly constructed wooden beams. Shelves lined the walls, stacked with ledgers, maps, and supplies.
The village outside moved quietly, everyday life continuing undisturbed.
Behind the desk sat Captain Gorrick, a broad, fat man with a round face, dark eyes, and a thick mustache. His uniform strained slightly across his midsection, but his gaze was sharp and alert, a man used to maintaining order rather than facing Gold-ranked adventurers.
"Morning, ladies. Please, have a seat.
What brings you to Azura?" he said, voice calm but tinged with curiosity.
Serenya, Serelia, and Seranya sat in unison, their identical red hair tied simply, their crisp, short-and-long-sleeve outfits reaching just to their bellies, boots polished and practical, bags identical and neatly secured on their backs.
They exuded a quiet confidence that drew a subtle tension into the room.
"We've been assigned here to deal with the Weavers," Serenya began. "They've"
"Weavers?" Gorrick cut her off, leaning back in his chair. "I've been stationed here for ten years. Not once have I seen a spider, or a Weaver, nothing of the sort....."
Before he could finish his words , the doors and windows suddenly shut on their own, the locks clicking in place.
A faint, shimmering barrier spread across the walls of the office, enclosing the space completely.
Gorrick's pen trembled in his hand.
Sweat beaded on his forehead.
"W-what's going on? Why… why are the doors shut? Barriers? Open this immediately or I'll report to the capital, this is a crime "
"Go ahead, report it, Or better yet, take it directly to the king," the three girls spoke together, their voices perfectly synchronized. Calm, certain, and terrifyingly unyielding.
Gorrick's eyes flickered white for a moment, and his posture stiffened.
He rested back on his chair.
"I need you to tell me,why affect the villagers' souls? What is your gain in tormenting them?" the girls continued, their tone sharpened with authority.
"Yes… you. I know you can hear us."
" What are you saying, I don't understand what's going on here....
Gorrick's voice faltered.
"M-master… you're right Daria… it's filled with extraordinary people, year past and they still haven't changed… I… shouldn't…"
His words stumbled out, as though filtering through another presence.
The girls leaned back slightly, confidence unshaken, sitting as if the room were entirely theirs.
"Your master," they said, voices harmonizing again, "we would very much like to meet him.
But know this , you've done more than possess this man.
You've influenced every soul in the four affected villages. You are both the victim and the predator."
The three girls' voices rang out in perfect unison, cold and unwavering.
"You've not only taken control of the weavers, but every single victim as well.
For what purpose?
Splitting one's soul is impossible… yet you've done it beyond anything we've ever encountered.
Possessing the villages, controlling the Graveweavers… you've fragmented your soul into a thousand pieces.
Each shard is still you.
Damage one, and you risk irreparable harm to the whole.
Or… are you able to heal an injury inflicted on your soul?"
Gorrick possessed, not himself nodded faintly, acknowledging their understanding, trapped in the truth they laid bare.
"You… what you've said … it's formidable…" the voice that spoke through him murmured, then paused.
Gorrick's face contorted as he plunged his hand into his mouth, elbow disappearing entirely as his jaw stretched unnaturally. Slowly, with an almost grotesque precision, he retracted it, gripping a small piece of paper between his fingers. Wordlessly, he placed it carefully on the desk, the paper sliding to rest in front of the three girls.
"This is for the ex-captain of the Daria elite soldiers. My time is up."
Before the girls could react, Serenya's gaze snapped to the window.
"Incoming!" she said, her voice calm but sharp.
Enormous, white nails tore through the morning air, crashing against the building and shattering parts of the barrier.
The sound echoed through Azura, startling the lower-ranked guards outside but causing no panic.
"Nice distraction, but you're not leaving," Serelia murmured, brushing a fingertip across one of the massive nails.
"White nails, Highest-grade weapon creation, Durability negation… soul destroyer.
We are dealing with a strong opponent."
Serelia vanished in a blur, moving at light-speed, leaving the office behind .
She arrived at the forest's edge, tracing the residual Dio energy left by the attacker.
Deploying her detection over the entire village, every house, every path, she scanned tirelessly.
Nothing.
The intruder had vanished.
Meanwhile, Serenya maintained the barrier around Gorrick, keeping him in place as she assessed the next moves.
The moment Serenya shouted the incoming , a brilliant white barrier erupted outward, instantly enveloping every living being in the village, humans, demi-humans, and animals alike.
The remaining nails didn't destroy any residents or close building.
Seranya had already protected everything within that very moment.