The tavern slowly settled after the messenger's urgent news. The adventurers returned to their meals, laughing, drinking, and talking loudly as the smell of roasted meat and warm bread filled the air.
Laughter and chatter filled the Golden Moon Tavern. Lenalie argued with Kraust over the last loaf of bread, Rowan quietly observed Kael while sipping from his mug, and Rubal casually tossed another piece of bread toward him.
"Eat up," Rubal said simply.
Kael nodded, tearing off a piece of bread and chewing quickly. His eyes flicked around the table, catching the adventurers laughing, clinking mugs, and passing plates.
For a moment, the scene struck a faint chord in his memory, a flash of his old life, of late nights in a corporate bar with coworkers, celebrating a successful project, mugs raised and laughter spilling over.
He hesitated at first, heart still racing from the duel, the Purge Knights' sudden arrival, and the looming expedition ahead. His fingers drummed nervously against the table as he swallowed, then he shook the thought away.
I have to… I need to save Eiscia.
Time seemed to stretch and compress all at once, and before he knew it, several hours had passed.
The tavern grew quieter as the night deepened. Adventurers laughed, drank, and some slumped over their mugs, nearly passed out on the tables, the clink of empty glasses punctuating the low hum of conversation.
Kael sat quietly, finishing the last bites of his meal.
"Hey… not done eating yet?" Lenalie asked, leaning over with a playful grin.
"What are you, some kind of bottomless pit?"
Glade just shook his head.
"Guess he needed that much," he said, then chuckled softly, brushing it off
Rubal, usually quiet, perked up slightly, eyes flicking toward Kael's plate.
"Yeah… I guess that makes sense," he murmured, raising his mug just a little in silent agreement.
Meanwhile, the rest of the adventurers watched Kael with quiet amusement, some shaking their heads, others letting out soft chuckles at how he could keep eating without ever seeming full.
Then, Glade, towering and calm, finally stood. The clink of his armor drew the attention of everyone nearby. He fixed Kael with a steady gaze, a mix of respect and curiosity in his expression.
"Kid," Glade said, his voice even, "we'll discuss the plan with Zerilda at the guild hall tomorrow morning. Make sure you're there."
Kael nodded, fingers brushing the edge of the table as he steadied himself. "I'll be there, sir."
Glade gave a faint, approving smile.
"Good. The expedition won't wait forever, but the first step is strategy. Be ready."
Glade and the rest of the Purge Knights decided to call it a day. Kraust stretched lazily, Rubal adjusted his spear, and Glade glanced at the group once more before motioning toward the door.
One by one, they left the tavern quietly, exchanging verbal farewells with Kael. Some of the knights simply nodded, others clapped him lightly on the shoulder.
Only Rubal slid a small folded note across the table.
Kael unfolded it with curiosity.
"If you like to eat well, try the roasted boar with honey glaze. Don't skimp on the spices. –R"
He blinked, then laughed softly. Even amid chaos and combat, Rubal's habits shone through. Food was something he shared with new faces, a small gesture of camaraderie hidden beneath the hardened exterior of an S-rank Purge Knight.
Once the Purge Knights had gone, Rowan and his party stood. Kinon, Runo, and the others approached Kael with warm smiles.
"We'll see you tomorrow at the guild hall," Rowan said firmly.
"Get some rest. You'll need it."
Kael nodded, a faint smile forming.
"I'll be there."
"Good," Kinon added, "don't let the a Guild Master scold you for being late."
Runo snickered, and Lenalie leaned on the table with a playful smirk.
"See you tomorrow, kid."
With that, they turned and left the tavern, their steps fading into the plaza outside.
Kael sat alone at the table, finishing the last bites of his meal. The tavern's warmth contrasted with the cool night air outside. His mind wandered to the Sanctum Forest, the black flame, Eiscia, and the upcoming expedition.
Three days from now, everything would begin in earnest. For now, though, he allowed himself this small moment of peace. A full belly, a quiet room, and the knowledge that tomorrow, he would start preparing with Zerilda and the others for what awaited them.
The Purge Knights' and Rowan's party's footsteps faded in the distance, leaving Kael alone with the memory of a duel that had tested him beyond limits, and a meal that, for the first time, felt truly like survival and life.
----
Morning arrived quietly over the city.
Soft sunlight filtered through the narrow streets, brushing against the tiled rooftops and wooden signs that swayed gently in the breeze.
Merchants were already opening their stalls, and the distant clang of a blacksmith's hammer echoed from somewhere beyond the plaza.
Kael walked through the streets with steady steps.
Despite the short rest he had managed to get, his mind was already racing. The duel, the black flames, the Purge Knights, and the looming expedition into the Sanctum Forest, it all felt unreal.
Three days.
That was how long they had before everything began. The towering structure of the Adventurer's Guild soon came into view. The familiar stone building stood proudly in the center of the plaza, its banner fluttering above the entrance.
Kael pushed the heavy wooden doors open. Inside, the guild hall buzzed with activity.
Adventurers filled the long tables, some finishing breakfast while others discussed quests posted on the large notice board. The scent of ink, parchment, and fresh bread filled the air.
But one table stood out. Rowan and his party were already there.
Runo spotted Kael first and raised a hand.
"Hey! Over here!"
Kael approached as Rowan leaned back in his chair.
"Took you long enough," Rowan said casually.
"I'm not late," Kael replied.
Kinon chuckled.
"Barely."
Lenalie smirked from across the table.
"Zerilda's been waiting."
Kael blinked.
"Already?"
Before anyone could answer, a familiar voice spoke from behind him.
"You're here."
Kael turned. Guild Master Zerilda stood near the large strategy table placed in the center of the room. Several rolled maps were spread across it, held down by daggers and metal weights.
Her sharp eyes studied him briefly.
"Good," she said. "We can begin."
Around the table stood several others.
Glade was there, towering as always, arms folded across his chest. Kraust leaned lazily against a nearby pillar while Rubal examined a map with surprising focus.
Even a few high-ranking guild members had gathered. The atmosphere was different from the tavern yesterday.
This was serious. Zerilda tapped the map.
"The Sanctum Forest."
The parchment displayed a detailed map of the massive forest stretching far beyond the city's borders. Several areas were marked in red ink.
"Three days from now," she continued, "a full expedition will depart."
Her gaze shifted between Kael, Rowan's party, and the Purge Knights, lingering for a moment as if weighing something unsaid.
"Something isn't right inside the forest."
Rubal spoke up between bites of bread, his voice quieter than usual but firm.
"Monsters… they're migrating. Isn't it weird that they… can think for themselves now?"
Kraust added lazily, "Or else, someone, or something, was leading them."
Zerilda nodded. "We'll have to find out soon enough."
"Also, scouting teams reported unusual mana disturbances near the deeper sectors. Creatures that normally stay hidden are moving closer to the outer regions." Zerilda added.
Glade's deep voice finally cut in.
"That doesn't happen without a reason."
Silence fell across the table.
Kael's eyes drifted to the map.
The deeper parts of the Sanctum Forest were marked with faded warnings, areas rarely explored, even by experienced adventurers.
Zerilda tapped one particular point marked with a dark circle.
"This is where we believe the disturbance is coming from."
Kael studied it carefully. Something about it made the air feel heavier.
"We're not sending a full army," Zerilda said. "Not yet."
Her eyes shifted to Kael again.
"This expedition will be a reconnaissance force."
Rowan crossed his arms.
"Meaning we go in first."
"Correct."
Rubal gave a small grin.
"Sounds fun."
Kraust yawned. Glade simply nodded once. Zerilda rolled another map open.
"Your objective is simple."
She pointed to three locations.
"Scout these areas. Confirm the monster movements. And if you find the source of the disturbance…"
Her expression hardened. "Report immediately."
Kael stared at the map.
But deep inside, something stirred.
A faint memory of heat. The lingering image of the black flame.
Then, Zerilda's voice broke the silence.
"Any questions?"
Kael looked at the marked point on the map again.
Three days. Whatever waited in the Sanctum Forest…They were going to face it soon. Silence lingered over the strategy table.
The large parchment map of the Sanctum Forest stretched across the wooden surface, its edges pinned down by metal weights. Red marks, circles, and small symbols covered the deeper sections of the forest.
Kael studied the markings carefully.
This wasn't just a simple hunt.
It was a full operation.
Zerilda placed both hands on the table.
"Before we continue," she said, "you all need to understand the structure of this expedition."
She unrolled another sheet beside the first map.
"This mission will be divided into two primary operations."
Her finger traced along several marked zones.
"First, the reconnaissance teams."
Rowan leaned forward slightly.
"Intel gathering," he muttered.
Zerilda nodded.
"The reconnaissance teams will move ahead of the main force. Your task is to gather information and map the monster population within specific locations of the Sanctum Forest."
She pointed to several sectors spread across the forest.
"Document the types of monsters present, their numbers, and any unusual activity. We need updated maps of the area before we proceed deeper."
Zerilda paused and looked toward Kael.
"You've spent more time inside the outer forest than most of the adventurers here. If there's anything important we should know about the current territories, now would be the time to say it."
Several eyes turned toward him.
Kael stepped closer to the map.
For a moment, he studied the forest layout, then slowly raised his hand and pointed to three separate regions.
"There are three major territories in the outer and mid sections of the forest," he said.
His finger moved first to the eastern area.
"The eastern region is controlled by the Crimson Fang Boar."
Some of the adventurers nodded in recognition.
He continued.
"They move in herds and are extremely territorial. If the forest disturbances are affecting them, they'll likely push outward and become more aggressive."
His finger moved to the opposite side of the map.
"The western region belongs to the Grey Fur Bear."
Kraust raised an eyebrow slightly.
"Those things are nasty." He nodded.
"They're solitary most of the time, but if their territory is threatened, they'll fight anything that enters it."
Finally, he pointed toward the northern part of the forest.
"The northern territory used to belong to the Void Scale Lizard."
Rowan's party exchanged looks.
Kael continued calmly.
"It was the apex monster in that region."
Zerilda narrowed her eyes.
"Used to?"
Kael nodded once. "It was defeated."
Kinon smirked slightly. "By us."
Rowan chuckled under his breath.
"Hell of a fight."
The room filled with quiet murmurs.
Defeating an apex monster inside the Sanctum Forest wasn't something ordinary adventurers did casually.
Zerilda absorbed the information quickly.
"That explains the unstable monster movement in the northern territory."
She tapped the map where Kael had pointed.
"When an apex predator disappears, the surrounding ecosystem collapses. Smaller monsters either migrate or compete for dominance."
Glade finally spoke. "And if something stronger is moving in…"
The implication hung in the air.
Zerilda nodded slowly. "That's exactly what we're trying to confirm."
She then returned to the operational plan.
"The reconnaissance teams will focus on mapping these territories and confirming monster populations."
Her finger traced the marked areas again.
"Once the reconnaissance groups finish gathering intel, the purging teams will move in."
Kraust grinned lazily. "Finally."
"The purging teams will eliminate all hostile monsters within the mapped sectors." Zerilda continued.
Rubal cracked his knuckles. "Cleaning the area."
"Exactly." Her finger moved toward the deeper parts of the forest where the markings became darker.
"If S-rank monsters appear, they will not be handled by standard parties."
Everyone in the room knew what that meant.
Zerilda spoke clearly.
"They will be handled by the three S-rank parties currently stationed in Liberlan."
She listed them one by one.
"The Storm Raven."
Several adventurers exchanged looks. That name carried weight.
"The Blazing Tempest."
Kraust gave a low whistle.
"And the Phantom Thorn."
Even Rowan leaned back slightly.
Zerilda pointed to the outer edges of the forest.
"These parties will secure the northeast and southern regions of the Sanctum Forest. Any S-rank threats that appear in those zones will fall under their responsibility."
Kael listened quietly.
Then Zerilda pointed to a darker mark on the map. A small symbol near a rocky formation.
"A cave system located deep within the forest."
The room grew quiet again.
"Scouts detected abnormal mana activity near this location."
Kael felt something tighten in his chest.
Zerilda continued.
"We believe this cave may be connected to the source of the monster disturbance."
She turned toward Glade.
"That area will be explored by a special team."
Glade remained silent, but his attention sharpened.
Zerilda listed them calmly.
"Glade." "Kraust." "Rubal."
Her eyes shifted to him.
"And Kael."
Rowan's eyebrows lifted slightly.
Zerilda finished.
"Lenalie will accompany the group as acting support."
Lenalie leaned back in her chair with a confident grin.
"Finally. Something interesting."
Rubal laughed softly.
"Looks like you're stuck with us again, kid." Kraust crossed his arms.
"Hope you can keep up." Kael didn't answer.
His gaze remained on the cave marking.
Something about it felt strange.
Unfamiliar, yet somehow close.
Glade noticed the look in Kael's eyes but said nothing.
Zerilda rolled the map slightly.
"The reconnaissance teams will depart first on the day of the expedition."
She looked around the room.
"The cave exploration team will move separately once the outer sectors are secured."
Rowan tapped the table lightly.
"So we clear the path first."
"Correct."
Zerilda's replied, voice lowered slightly.
"If that cave truly is the source of the disturbance…"
Her eyes moved toward Kael and the Purge Knights.
"Then what you find inside may determine what happens next."
Silence settled across the table.
Outside, the morning sun climbed higher above the city. Inside the guild hall, the expedition preparations had officially begun.
And somewhere deep within the Sanctum Forest…
Something was waiting.