The morning air was cool as Elda stepped out of the Adventurers' Guild. The sun was just beginning to rise over the city, casting long shadows across the streets. Behind her, the other party members followed.
Hendrik walked with them, but stopped at the top of the stairs, his face drawn with exhaustion and worry from the long night.
Elda stopped in the empty courtyard near the guild. The others gathered around her, but gave her some distance, watching in silence.
She closed her eyes and raised her hands slowly.
Shortly after, a circle of blue light formed in the air before her. It swirled and slowly started taking shape. Dark energy coalesced, forming something small and compact. The outline of a cat began to emerge. Everything was made of pure energy, solid black against the morning light.
After a few seconds, the cat's bright blue eyes opened, glowing softly in the dawn. Then it looked directly at Elda, and its face lit up with joy.
"Mew—meow!" it called out in a small soft playful and excited tone.
It bounced on its energy paws, moving in circles around her. The sound of its voice carried a longing—the voice of a companion that hadn't been summoned in far too long.
Elda dropped down to one knee before reaching into her small backpack and pulling out a small magic stone.
It glowed faintly in her palm as she held it out to Noir, and the small black cat ate it eagerly, the stone dissolving into its energy form.
Then Elda gently petted the cat. Her hand ran over its smooth, energy-crafted fur. Noir purred, before closing its blue eyes in contentment.
"I'd like you to find someone for me."
Noir nodded with its eyes closed, it was still happy from being petted.
Elda pulled out the shoe—the one Hendrik had given her, and held it out to Noir.
"Here."
The familiar leaned down and sniffed the shoe carefully. Then its blue eyes opened as it focused intently on the scent. After a moment, Noir spun around in the air, its energy body rotating as it processed the scent.
Then it faced the bustling streets ahead. Its entire body went rigid with focus, its blue eyes narrowed and locked on the trail the others couldn't see.
Elda noticed this and stood up, before turning to the others.
"Noir has picked up his scent."
Davyn clapped his hands sharply, rallying his team with the sound. His voice cut through the morning air.
"Alright people. Prepare yourselves. It's time to get going."
Elda turned back to look up at Hendrik. She gave him a silent nod when their eyes met, before turning to back her bag.
Shortly after, all five of them left the guild area. Hendrik watched them go, then he took in a deep long breath. He rubbed his eyes slowly, exhaustion weighing on him. Then he turned and went back inside the guild hall.
The five adventurers moved quickly through the bustling streets of Stormholm. They bent corners into the lower districts—the section known for black market trades, a place that somehow operated with the city's blessing since every trader here always settled the city watch officers with coins and favors.
After navigating quietly through the crowded streets, they finally arrived at the location where Noir's scent had led them.
A trading warehouse lay in ruins before them.
The structure was collapsed. Stone and wooden beams were scattered across the ground. They could all tell that destruction was recent, and everywhere, the city watch was on ground, moving through the wreckage, documenting everything.
Davyn's jaw tightened. He turned to his team with concern crossing his face.
"This doesn't look right, A kid wouldn't be in a place like this with the city guards already here. He must have been taken away. We should go back for now and—"
"No."
Elda shook her head, her voice firm and certain.
"Noir picked up his scent here."
She turned to look at her familiar, who was still focused on the ruins. "This is where the trail leads."
Noir nodded in affirmation, its blue eyes fixed on the destroyed warehouse.
Davyn looked at the familiar, then back at Elda. He studied her face for a moment, then he sighed.
"Alright. I'll go ask the city watch if they saw the kid. The rest of you stay here and don't draw attention."
The party settled into position as Davyn walked towards the guards.
Garry whispered to his team with a voice barely audible above the activity of the city watch.
"You guys think the captain will be alright?"
Mira responded just as quietly.
"Davyn will be fine. They probably won't take him seriously anyway. He's never really got the chance to prove himself to be a good leader."
The team chuckled softly at her words, but careful to keep their laughter silent.
"Poor guy," Mira added, shaking her head as they watched him approach the guards reluctantly.
Meanwhile, Davyn was already showing signs of exhaustion by just being here at this site. He didn't like the city watch guards. The way they moved through spaces—it all bothered him on a fundamental level.
But his gaze fell on the three figures on horseback, all dressed in white armor and formal wear. And their leader—a woman with blonde hair and blue sharp eyes—was approaching a small figure sitting among the broken wood and stones.
Davyn's heart skipped a beat and he furrowed his brows when Hendrik's description flashed through his mind.
But the noble woman's hand was reaching out toward the boy, inches away from his hair.
Davyn immediately turned his full attention to them and called out.
"Wait!" he shouted, moving towards quickly.
The noble woman's hand stopped mid-reach as she turned, assessing this approaching stranger.
The two men that came with her immediately dismounted. They drew their swords and moved to block Davyn's path, their bodies tense and ready.
Davyn skidded to a halt. He immediately raised both his hands in a surrendering gesture, showing he meant no threat.
The noble woman studied him for a moment.
"Who are you?"
"I'm a hired adventurer, tasked to find this boy." He pointed at Kael with his index fingers while his hands were still up.
Kael looked up at Davyn, with confusion written across his small face. He had no idea who he was.
The woman looked at Kael, then back at Davyn, her eyes narrowed slightly.
"Who sent you?"
Davyn kept his eyes on Kael as he answered, monitoring the kid's reaction.
"A merchant called Hendrik."
The reaction was immediate. Kael's entire body straightened and his eyes widened. The recognition was visible to everyone present.
The woman looked at Kael directly.
"Do you know Hendrik?"
Kael nodded, relief flooding his expression.
The noble woman studied him for a moment longer, before nodding.
"Alright."
She stood up and stepped away from Kael, then turned to her men.
"Withdraw. We're leaving."
The two knights sheathed their swords and began to move back toward their horses. The noble woman looked at Kael one more time, offering a small bow—a gesture of respect that left him confused.
Then she turned and lifted Senna onto her horse. She mounted behind the girl, settling herself in the saddle.
"We'll meet again, kid."
Then she pulled her reins and they all departed, the horses moving swiftly towards the city streets.
Davyn watched them go, then turned his attention back to Kael.
"You alright, kid?"
Kael shook his head.
The response surprised Davyn for a moment—most kids would've nodded, tried to play tough. But this one just told the truth.
"Did Hendrik really send you?"
Davyn nodded. "He did."
Relief washed over Kael's face. He let out a shaky breath, then groaned as pain flared through his ribs.
Davyn noticed Kael was in pain and turned back to his group distance away.
"Hey! Everyone, get over here."
The group crossed the site quickly, covering the distance in no time. Then Elda followed Davyn's gesture towards Kael, noticing he was in pain. She knelt beside him and placed her hands on his shoulderd. Kael watched silently as her hands glowed faintly with a green light.
Davyn stood and turned in a slow circle, taking in the wreckage around them.
"What the hell could have happened here?" he muttered.
Kael just closed his eyes as Elda instructed, trying to relax as bright green energy swirled around his body. The warmth sank into his bruises, easing the worst of the pain.
Minutes passed in silence. When the glow finally faded, Elda sat back with a satisfied nod.
"He'll be sore, but he's stable."
Davyn glanced at Thorne. "Carry him."
The archer's expression soured. "Why me?"
"Because I said so."
Thorne muttered something under his breath but crouched down anyway, letting Kael climb onto his back. The boy's small hands gripped his shoulders, and Thorne stood with a resigned sigh.
"This better not become a habit."
* * *
Hendrik sat in the corner of the guild hall where he'd spoken with the C-rank party hours ago. His hands were clasped tightly in his lap, his gaze fixed on the door.
He'd been praying silently since they left. The receptionist kept glancing at him. He'd noticed it an hour ago and it made him uncomfortable, but he didn't move.
Then he heard it—a gentle voice calling his name.
"Hendrik."
His head snapped up.
The C-rank party was walking through the guild doors. Mira led the way, Davyn beside her, the others trailing behind. But Hendrik's eyes locked on the small figure sliding off Thorne's back and breaking into a run.
"Kael—"
Hendrik stood quickly, then dropped to one knee as the boy reached him. He pulled Kael into his arms, holding him tightly.
"Thank the gods," he breathed. Then he pulled back, his hands moving over the boy's shoulders, his arms, checking for injuries.
"What happened? Are you hurt?"
Kael swallowed hard.
The party leaned in slightly, waiting. Mira's sharp eyes were fixed on Kael. Elda stood quietly beside her, while Thorne and Garry both exchanged glances.
They were all waiting for what Kael was going to say.