King Ardyn Valerius rose from his obsidian throne, ember-veined armor glowing faintly with each breath. His voice carried both authority and warmth.
"Thank you for responding so urgently. My guards report a powerful fellow destroying villages, entire armies routed in minutes."
Ice King stepped forward.
"No problem at all, Your Majesty. Do you have a recent location on where he's been?"
Ardyn nodded gravely.
"Yes. He was last seen near a small town called Stoneheight, a short ride from here."
Ice King gave a respectful bow.
"Alright. Thanks, we'll get it done."
The king continued, "Should you need anything, maps, supplies, or troops, my soldiers will assist you. For now, they will escort you to the city inn. Rest. Eat. This land can be unforgiving."
With that, the squad stepped out into the castle courtyard where a pair of guards waited.
The Inn at Caelumbrae
The guards led them through winding stone streets until they reached the city inn, a tall timber-and-stone building with lanterns glowing warmly in the windows.
A soldier handed Ice King a large iron key.
"Here is your room. Four beds, two baths. Make yourselves at home."
Inside, the room was spacious: oak beds, banners on the walls, a small sitting area, and a dining nook overlooking the town square.
Night Coil dropped his chain weapon onto a chair.
"Alright… where do we start?"
Dreadwake answered immediately.
"Ice King and I will find a cartographer tonight. We need a detailed map. You two, " he pointed at Blue Blaze and Night Coil, "go introduce yourselves to the townspeople. Familiarize yourselves with the place. Eldrathor has strict customs. Don't act stupid."
Blue Blaze shot him a mock salute.
"Yes, sir, no stupid. Got it."
Blue Blaze and Night Coil wandered through the lively town square. Families relaxed on benches, musicians played soft medieval tunes, and children fed birds near a fountain.
They approached a couple sitting together beneath a willow tree.
Night Coil smiled.
"Hey, just wanted to introduce ourselves. We're new here. What are you two up to?"
The man answered warmly.
"Just enjoying the afternoon. Settling in."
Blue Blaze tilted his head.
"You two moved here recently?"
The woman nodded.
"Yes. We came from a modern planet. Decided to leave that lifestyle behind."
Blue Blaze blinked.
"What made you choose Eldrathor?"
She smiled.
"We've always loved medieval worlds. Thought we'd vacation here… and ended up falling in love with the place. Now, it's home."
Blue Blaze grinned.
"That's sweet. Hope you both have a great day."
As they walked off, Night Coil nudged him.
"Blaze, admit it, you were this close to showing off your staff tricks again."
Blue Blaze shrugged.
"What? They would have liked it!"
Meanwhile, Ice King and Dreadwake walked into an old cartography shop. Maps hung everywhere, ceiling beams, walls, tables, like a maze of parchment.
Behind the cluttered counter sat a very old man with a flowing white beard.
"What kinda map are y'all lookin' for?" he asked without looking up.
Ice King folded his arms.
"We just need a map of the general empire. Landmarks, towns, roads."
The cartographer hobbled into the back, digging through endless piles until he found a detailed parchment.
"This one'll do. Here ya go."
Ice King reached for his pouch.
"How much?"
The man waved a dismissive hand.
"Just 300 credits in the form of paper or gold."
Dreadwake's brow twitched.
"…What?"
The cartographer gave them a toothy grin.
"These maps aren't easy to make."
Ice King sighed.
"…We can make that work."
They left with the map.
The sun had dipped behind Eldrathor's hills when the team regrouped in their inn's dining room. A warm fire crackled in the hearth.
Blue Blaze leaned back in his chair.
"I think the locals have taken a liking to us."
Night Coil pointed at him.
"Blue Blaze started doing tricks with his staff. He's basically a street performer now."
Dreadwake glared.
"Seems like you two did more than meet the locals."
Ice King spread the map across the table.
"Alright, listen up. Tomorrow we head to Stoneheight, this town right here."
He tapped a small mark on the parchment.
"That's where our target was last spotted. Expect trouble before we reach it. The battle could happen anywhere along the route. Stay sharp."
The group nodded.
They each retired to their beds, the weight of tomorrow's mission settling into their bones.
And somewhere out in Eldrathor's dark hills…
Vyroz Strael waited.