Night had already settled in by the time the watchtower torches were fully lit.
Just beyond the southern border of the capital city of Fūgen, Shinkōtsu, stood a veteran officer by a watchtower's base, wearing red samurai-style armor layered with steel plates.
His helm was tucked under one arm, his greying hair pulled back, and with tired eyes, he listened to the adventurers standing across him.
At their front was their leader, a massive man easily seven feet tall, with dark skin stretched over slabs of muscle that didn't quite match the flowing mage's robes he wore.
A heavy staff of solid Mithril rested in one hand with its crystal core pulsing faintly as he spoke in a rough voice.
"Survey's complete," he said calmly, extending a report. "No abnormal monster migration or magic beast nests are within threat range. At the current growth rate, you shouldn't see trouble from the forest for at least two months."
The officer accepted the report, slowly exhaling at the good news.
"…Good," he muttered. "That's good."
From just behind the mage, a woman with light brown hair and clear blue eyes stretched her arms lazily.
"Guess that means we're all set for this year's Night of the Red Moon," she said lightly.
Another woman snorted.
She stood slightly apart from the group, her black hair tied behind her head.
Her white-and-red shrine maiden robes flutered faintly in the night breeze as she spoke, "You can never truly be prepared for the Night of the Red Moon... Especially without a Crusader."
The archer beside her, a lean man with green hair and light leather armor, tightened his grip around the runic bow at his side.
"Yeah," he said. "Last year's..."
The officer stiffened.
"…Don't remind me," he cut him off, "I lost my son that night."
Stifled silence followed after his words.
After a breath, the officer straightened and forced his tone back into something official.
"Let's head to the garrison," he said, turning away. "I'll prepare your completion certificate."
The mage nodded, already stepping forward with the others when-
-BOOOOM-!
Purple dragonfire erupted from deep within the forest, blasting upward through the canopy.
The shockwave that followed rattled the watchtower while a stifling heat washed over the clearing.
With it came a tangible pressure. A suffocating weight that pressed down on everything, thickening the very air.
The officer froze mid-step, muscles locking as his breath caught in his throat.
But the adventurers did not hesitate.
The mage's eyes narrowed instantly.
"Sound the alarm," he calmly said, but the grin that stretched slowly across his face betrayed the calm in his voice.
The officer fumbled for the enchanted whistle at his neck, fingers shaking as he brought it to his lips and blew.
Runes lit up across it, sending the silent alarm across the garrisons before -
-ROOOOAR-!
A deep and furious roar reverberated through the air.
A heartbeat later-
-BOOM-!
Something massive was launched through the trees before it slammed into the clearing, skidding across the ground before slowing halfway to the watchtower.
It was a Basilisk.
Its scaled body bled from multiple places, its skull was caved in, its eyes rolled back as it exhaled one final rattling breath before going still.
Before anyone could speak, the archer's pupils dilated.
"…It's a Greater Dragon," he said, voice slightly trembling. "I can feel it."
"Then it can talk," The mage replied. "Form up… and wait for my mark."
In one smooth motion, the archer nocked an arrow drenched in white lightning.
The shrine maiden lowered her head as prayers spilled from her lips.
While the woman with blue eyes conjured three golden magic circles around her.
And just as the Mage stepped forward -
"Friendly!"
A man's voice called out from the forest.
The adventurers stood in stunned silence as they watched a man wearing a dirty blue cloak walk out of the darkness of the forest and into the moonlit clearing with both his hands up.
"Friendly!" He shouted again.
In the moonlight, they saw the man smiling nervously as he approached.
"Halt!" The mage shouted back, readying his staff as flames blazed around the tip of it.
And the man in the blue cloak complied.
The woman with blue eyes turned to the frozen officer, "Aren't you supposed to do something?"
That snapped the officer from his stupor. Coughing, he stepped forward and stood beside the Mage.
"Identify yourself!" the officer shouted.
"My name is Nico!" The man replied, before tilting his head left, "And this is my elder sister, Peko!"
And from the shadows stepped out a beautiful woman with chestnut hair and violet eyes. She stopped right beside Nico, hands in the air just like his.
"And this…" Nico continued, "… is my Familiar, Nom-Nom."
The woman who stepped out of the shadows with her hands up had piercing slit violet eyes that glowed in the dark.
The adventurers and the officer immediately tensed up, yet at the same time looked completely baffled.
None of them ever dreamt that a night would come when a Greater Dragon would stand before them with her hands up in surrender.
"But that's a Greater Dragon…" The archer whispered as a strained and nervous grin stretched across his face.
While the officer was instantly petrified at the sight of her.
Sighing at the officer beside him, the Mage spoke, "State your business!"
"Asylum!" Nico replied with one word.
Even the mage didn't know why he let out a sigh as he turned toward his team and spoke, "Alright… no point in screaming across the clearing. I am going to let them approach… be ready if they try anything."
With a tensed expression, the woman with blue eyes asked, "Are you sure captain?"
"Yes, Reha… I am quite sure," The mage lied.
Turning toward the strangers, he shouted, "Alright, approach! And do it slowly… No sudden movements!"
And the trio followed, stepping ahead slowly, all the while making sure their arms remained visible and their faces expressionless.
As they approached, the Mage spoke first while keeping the staff pointed at them, and the flames on it burning, "Where are you from?"
"The forest," Nico replied.
"Bullshit." The mage simply said.
"It's true… Pinky promise!" Nico said with a strained laugh, "We lived with our Master there… in an underground bunker."
Seeing the Mage's eyes narrowing, Nico let out another awkward laugh as he said, "Let me just start from the beginning – "
"I don't give a damn… nor is it up to me to decide your fate." The mage cut him off as he looked back, spotting multiple dots of light closing in, followed by the sound of dozens of hooves beating the ground in the distance.