Chương 27: Chapter 27: Midsummer break - Week 2 Shadow and Flame
The weekend passed in a blur of training and studying for the members of the Order of Rune Bearers. Arin spent most of his time in the training room, practicing his spells and perfecting his swordsmanship with the Icefire Blade. He could feel the raw power coursing through his veins, a result of his demonic possession rune that had awakened when Azazelith was hurt.
Azazelith spent her time in the library, poring over ancient tomes of demonic magic and studying the art of combat. She was determined to become stronger, both in her command of the dark arts and in her physical prowess. She knew that the Order of Shadows would not stop until they were defeated, and she was determined to help lead the charge.
Luke and Kira spent their time together, honing their skills with their respective magic elements. They practiced their spells and worked on developing new ones, hoping to surprise their enemies with their versatility and power. They also spent time sparring with each other, testing their abilities in mock battles.
Nethranor watched over them all, offering guidance and advice as needed. He was pleased with their progress and knew that they would soon be ready to face their enemies once again. He also knew that Arin's demonic possession rune could be both a blessing and a curse, and he was keeping a watchful eye on the young Rune Bearer to ensure that he did not succumb to the dark powers within him.
As the weekend drew to a close, the group felt a renewed sense of purpose and determination. They were ready to face whatever the Order of Shadows had in store for them, and they knew that they had the skills and power to emerge victorious.
Arin stood in the middle of the complex with his hand outstretched, focusing his energy on the Ethereal Passageway spell. The rest of the group stood behind him, their rings glowing as they linked their magic with Arin's. Suddenly, a vortex of energy opened up in front of them and they stepped through, transported instantly to the school grounds.
They made their way to the main gate, attracting a few curious glances from passing students, and then headed off towards the capital. Arin led the way, his mind focused on the task at hand, while the others chattered excitedly behind him.
As the group arrived at the Adventures Association Headquarters, they made their way to the job board, hoping to find a quest that would challenge them. However, as they looked through the available jobs, they stumbled upon an emerald rank quest for a rumored Dark Mage stronghold.
The warning caught their attention, but Arin, being an experienced Rune Bearer, knew that this was the perfect quest for them. He pulled out his emerald rank badge and reminded the lady at the front desk that Azazelith was a gold rank, and Luke and Kira were both silver.
After a brief discussion, the lady at the front desk gave them the quest, warning them once again of the dangers that lay ahead. The group made their way to the outskirts of the city, where they were dropped off by a carriage. The stronghold was in the middle of a dense forest, surrounded by a thick mist. As they approached the stronghold, they could feel the dark energy emanating from within.
Arin and Azazelith took the lead, with Luke and Kira following closely behind. As they made their way through the forest, they encountered several traps set up by the Dark Mages.
Arin used his Water Magic creating a whip of water to deflect the arrows shot at them, while Azazelith used her demonsteel longsword to cut through the vines that held the traps in place.
As they neared the stronghold, they could see several Dark Mages guarding the entrance. Arin used his Radiant Blast to take out the guards, while Azazelith charged in, taking out the remaining guards with her demonic magic.
The group made their way through the stronghold, room by room, taking on any opposition they found. The sound of clashing metal and spells being cast echoed through the halls. They fought with great skill and determination, freeing anyone they found being held captive.
As the group arrived at the door of the leader's room, they could feel the energy emanating from within. It was an ominous feeling, and the air was thick with dark magic. Arin, Azazelith, Luke, and Kira looked at each other, each of them ready for whatever lay ahead.
Arin took a deep breath, summoning his inner strength, and then kicked open the door. Inside, they found the leader of the dark mages, a sinister figure with dark robes and a wicked-looking staff.
The leader stood up as the group entered, a wicked smile on his face. "Ah, the Order of the Rune Bearers. I've been expecting you," he said in a voice dripping with malice.
Without hesitation, the group charged forward, ready to fight. Arin launched a powerful blast of rock and sent several torrents of water, while Azazelith summoned a pack of demon dogs to attack the enemy. Luke used his gauntlets to deliver powerful punches, while Kira used her staves to strike from a distance.
The battle was long and grueling, with the group fighting against the powerful leader of the dark mages. Spells and blows were exchanged back and forth, with each side trying to gain the upper hand.
Luke and Kira worked together, using their fire and water magic to create steam to obscure the enemy's vision while also using their magic to keep the group healed and protected.
Azazelith was using her demon and dark magic to attack the leader, while also using her quick reflexes to dodge his attacks.
Arin, however, was in a world of his own. His demonic possession had fully taken hold, and he was using his magic with a ferocity that was unmatched by any of the others. He was infused with a demonic energy that was making his spells darker and stronger, and he was using that energy to devastating effect.
As the battle raged on, the leader began to tire, and it seemed like the group was gaining the upper hand. Arin launched a Radiant Blast spell infused with his demonic energy, which struck the leader squarely in the chest. The leader let out a scream of agony, then crumpled to the ground, defeated.
As the group caught their breath, Azazelith noticed something strange happening to Arin. She could see the demonic energy still swirling around him, and she realized that it was slowly consuming him. She knew that they needed to go to the demon realm and talk with her father again.
"Arin," she said, placing a hand on his shoulder. "We need to go to the demon realm. My father might be able to help you."
Arin looked at her, his eyes wide with surprise. He hadn't realized how much the demonic energy was affecting him, and he knew that he needed to do something about it.
"Okay," he said, nodding his head. "Let's go."
With that, the group gathered their things and made their way back to the headquarters to turn in their quest.
As the group made their way back to the Adventures Association's Headquarters to collect their reward, they were met with cheers and applause from the other adventurers who were in the area. They had heard about the successful mission the group had just completed and were impressed with their skill and bravery.
When they reached the front desk, the lady there congratulated them on a job well done and handed them each a bag of coins as their reward.
As for Luke and Kira, they were promoted to the rank of Gold for their bravery and skill during the mission. They were given new badges to signify their new rank and were given access to more advanced and dangerous quests.
The group left the Adventures Association's Headquarters feeling proud and satisfied with their work. They knew that there were more challenges ahead of them, but they were confident that they could handle anything that came their way.
The group receives a alert to all adventures from the Adventurer's Association that there have been reports of tensions rising between Ignis and Nocturna at the border town of Valtoria and to stay away until the military arrives. The town is located near both countries and is known for its large trade market, which has become a hotspot for political and economic negotiations between the two nations.
The group decides to investigate the situation to see if the order of shadows has a hand to play in this and they seek advice with Nethranor.
Nethranor explained to the group that there were two Order of the Rune Bearer remote outposts in both Ignis and Nocturna, near their capital cities. He explained that the outposts were now dormant, but if Arin activated the rune in the outpost, it would connect back to the complex.
"Ignis, to the north, has a capital city called Pyrothia," Nethranor said. "It is a city known for its stout military and fire magic users. Nocturna, to the west, is a country shrouded in shadows. Its capital city is called Shadowhaven, and it is rumored that magicians use taboo types of magic there, like blood and death magic."
Nethranor went on to explain that the outposts were created to respond to threats across the continent, wherever the Order of Shadows may appear. "However," he warned, "we put traps and failsafe's in place when the outposts were deactivated to prevent the Order of Shadows from taking control and being able to assault the complex from them."
Arin nodded thoughtfully, understanding the gravity of the situation. "We will need to be careful," he said. "But it's worth it if it means we can respond to threats more quickly."
The group gathered around a table in the main hall of the complex, maps of Ignis and Nocturna spread out before them. Arin and Azazelith had finished researching the histories of both countries, while Luke and Kira had gathered information on the terrain and potential obstacles they may face on the way to each outpost.
"So, which outpost do we go for first?" Azazelith asked, her eyes scanning the map of Nocturna.
Luke spoke up. "Well, Nocturna is closer, and we could potentially reach the outpost in a day's travel if we use our runes to teleport most of the way. Ignis, on the other hand, is further away and we would have to travel through rough terrain to get there."
Kira nodded in agreement. "Plus, if we go to Nocturna first, we can potentially gather more information on the conflict between the two countries and gain more insight into what we might be up against."
Arin leaned back in his chair, considering their options. "That's true, but we also have to consider the traps and failsafe's that Nethranor warned us about. We need to make sure we're fully prepared and have a plan in case anything goes wrong."
The group continued to discuss their options, weighing the pros and cons of each choice. After much debate, they finally decided to head to Nocturna first, using their runes to teleport as far as they could and then travel the rest of the way on foot. They also made sure to prepare for any traps or obstacles they may face at the outpost.
With their plan in place, the group set out on their journey towards Nocturna, determined to uncover the secrets of the dormant outpost and help protect the continent from the looming threat of war.
As the group arrived at the border town, they took a moment to rest and gather their bearings. Arin suggested they move on foot from there, as they didn't want to draw any unwanted attention to themselves.
They began to sneak over the border into Nocturna, keeping to the shadows and staying quiet as they made their way deeper into the country. As they went further in, they began to notice a shift in the environment around them. The trees and plants looked twisted and unnatural, and there was an eerie stillness in the air.
Azazelith spoke up, her voice low and cautious. "This place gives me the creeps. Something isn't right here."
Luke nodded in agreement. "Yeah, I'm getting bad vibes too. We need to stay alert."
Kira added, "I sense a lot of dark energy around us. Be careful, everyone."
Arin led the way, his eyes scanning the area for any signs of danger. They moved forward slowly and carefully, their senses on high alert.
As they continued, they began to see more and more signs of the taboo magic that was rumored to be practiced in Nocturna. Strange symbols and effigy's were etched into the trees and rocks, and they came across strange shrines and altars that looked like they had been used for dark rituals.
Despite their unease, the group continued forward, determined to reach the outpost and reactivate it. But they knew that they had to stay vigilant and prepared for whatever dangers lay ahead.
Just ahead they saw what looked like a town in the middle of all the unnatural this looked closest to normal they have seen since they entered Nocturna.
As they arrived in the small town of Nocturna, they immediately went to look for a place to stay the night. The town was surprisingly normal, compared to what they had experienced so far. They found an inn with a stable where they could keep their horses and a room for each of them.
Arin and Azazelith were assigned to a room with only one bed, which made things awkward between them. They had expressed their feelings for each other before, but this was the first time they would be sharing a bed. As they entered the room, they both hesitated for a moment, unsure of what to do.
Finally, Arin cleared his throat and said, "I guess we'll have to share the bed."
Azazelith nodded and replied, "Yeah, I guess so."
As they got ready for bed, they tried to avoid eye contact, but it was hard to ignore the tension in the room. Eventually, they both got into bed, lying on opposite sides. But as they tried to get comfortable, they found themselves inching closer and closer to each other until they were spooning.
They both blushed, feeling embarrassed and vulnerable. But as they lay there, holding each other, they felt a sense of comfort and safety that they had never experienced before.
Meanwhile, Luke and Kira had their own room, and Luke offered the bed to Kira while he slept on the floor. Kira protested, saying that they should share the bed, but Luke insisted, saying that he didn't mind sleeping on the floor.
As they settled in for the night, they talked about their mission and their goals. They both knew that they had a tough road ahead of them, but they were determined to see it through. And as they drifted off to sleep, they knew that they could count on each other for support and protection.
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