Nagmora opened the window, letting the smoke and aroma that filled the room dissipate outside. Lyra and Kaelyn, who had also been affected by the sleepiness, began to feel more alert and awake as Sam's wind magic pushed the lingering fragrance away.Sam's eyes were still on the oracle. Nagmora’s words hung in the air, a sense of foreboding and anticipation filling the room.“Don’t just leave us hanging,” Sam said, his voice tinged with concern.Nagmora’s expression was serious yet determined. “I believe I know where you need to go. The true meaning of your dream lies there. But it will be dangerous,” she said cryptically.Sam nodded, feeling a mix of fear and resolve. “We’re ready. Tell us where.”Nagmora took a deep breath. “You must go to the Blighted Plain. There, you will find the answers you seek and the key to confronting your darkness.”“Blighted Plain?” Kaelyn said, her eyes widened.“You know that place?” Sam asked.“That was once a verdant place but was ravaged by the magic
The journey into the Blighted Plains began uneventfully, with the group settling into a steady pace along the road. Sam, Lyra, Kaelyn, Felix, Nagmora, and Mimi filled the cart with a surprising mixture of somber purpose and light banter. As they crossed a forest with twisted trees, the atmosphere shifted to grim. The trees, once tall and proud, were now gnarled and blackened, their branches reaching out like skeletal fingers. The air grew colder, and a thick fog began to seep through the woods, obscuring the path ahead.Nagmora's face suddenly turned serious. Her eyes became vacant as if her thoughts and vision were not here. “Be careful. Darkness will soon come,” she said cryptically.Mimi’s expression became sour as she hugged Lyra tightly. “No, Mommy showed that face again!”“It’s okay, Mimi. Nagmora just told us to be care—”The horses suddenly reared up, whinnying in terror. The cart jerked violently, nearly tipping over as it veered off the road."What’s happening?" Sam shouted,
The cart rolled into Dustven village, and the group was met with surprising warmth. Villagers approached them with smiles, their faces friendly and welcoming, a stark contrast to the rugged survivors Sam had expected. The village itself, though humble, was neat and well-maintained, with thatched roofs and neatly tended gardens."Welcome, travelers!" one of the villagers called out, his smile broad. "We don't get many visitors here. What brings you to Dustven?"Before anyone could respond, another villager, a woman with a basket of herbs, noticed their pale faces, especially the coachman, who was visibly shaken. "You look like you've seen a blighted undead! Is everything alright?" she asked kindly.The coachman, still trying to shake off his anxiety, struggled to speak. His hands trembled as he gripped the reins, his face ashen. "W-we were attacked," he finally managed to stammer, "by blighted wolves."Nagmora, sensing the rising tension, comforted Felix and Mimi, who clung to her. "It
With their quickbirds at the ready, Sam and Lyra embarked on their journey to the next village. The path was faint and barely discernible against the desolate landscape, indicating that travel between villages was not a frequent occurrence in the Blighted Plains. The terrain was rough, with patches of withered grass and twisted shrubs that seemed to claw at them as they passed. The air was heavy with an unnatural stillness, and the sky remained perpetually overcast, casting a gloomy pall over the land.The quickbirds, with their vibrant plumage and powerful legs, were swift and agile. However, handling them proved to be a challenge. Sam managed to keep his bird steady, but Lyra struggled at first, her quickbird bucking and darting unpredictably."Easy, there," Lyra murmured, trying to soothe the creature. "I'm not going to hurt you."Sam watched her with a mixture of concern and amusement. "Need some help?" he called over, his quickbird trotting steadily beside hers.Lyra shook her he
Sam’s mind was racing. "I really hope it's not those blighted wolves again," he muttered under his breath. While he was confident in his own abilities to fend off the beasts, he knew the villagers wouldn’t stand a chance against such formidable foes. The memory of the previous encounter with the blighted wolves was still fresh in his mind, and he feared a repeat would spell disaster for Glimmerop.Lyra, ever vigilant, ran in beside him, her bow already in hand. “Whatever it is, we’ll handle it together,” she said, her voice steady but laced with concern. Sam nodded, appreciating her resolve.As they neared the fields, the first sight of the attackers sent a chill down Sam’s spine. The crops, their lifeblood, were being trampled, destroyed, and some were eaten by monstrous creatures. But these weren’t the blighted wolves he had feared. Instead, a pack of blighted quickbirds were wreaking havoc among the rows of crops.The blighted quickbirds were a grotesque perversion of their more na
Sam and Lyra reached Ashen Heart just as the sun began to dip below the horizon. The village, nestled within a circle of gnarled trees, exuded a sense of both warmth and isolation. As they approached, they were greeted warmly, though with surprised looks from the villagers. Among them was a kind woman named Remma, and a curious man called Porthos, who bounded up to them with a bright smile."Welcome, travelers," Remma said, her voice soothing. "We rarely get visitors. Please, come and rest."Sam and Lyra got off their mount with weary eyes, before Sam began to recount their journey. " … we’ve traveled through the Blighted Plains. We fought off blighted wolves before reaching Dustven. It was …. In Glimmerop where we defended the crops from blighted quickbirds."The villagers gasped at the mention of the blighted creatures. "We've had attacks too," Remma said, shaking her head. "But the ward placed by Welzon has been effective in reducing the danger.""Speaking of Welzon," Sam said, a h
As the storm loomed on the horizon, Sam and Lyra waited for it to pass, taking solace in the relative calm of the Ashen Heart. They spent their days helping the villagers, and to their surprise, the storm seemed to steer clear of the village. This place was truly a safe haven, nestled within the chaos of the Blighted Plains."This village really is a sanctuary," Sam mused that noon, watching the storm clouds swirl menacingly in the distance. "It’s incredible how the storm avoids this place."Lyra nodded, her eyes scanning the horizon. "It’s like the village has found a perfect balance amidst the chaos."In the days that followed, Sam and Lyra became more integrated into the daily life of Ashen Heart. They soon discovered that there were other magic users in the village, though their magic was primarily used for survival and utility rather than combat. These villagers were grateful for their magic, using it to ease daily chores and ensure their safety.One morning, Sam watched as a vil
Sam rushed towards the burning infernal daemon. Though he knew infernal daemons had an affinity toward fire, it was the first time he saw one in a physical form completely engulfed in flames.Meanwhile, Porthos warned the village, causing villagers to come out and see what was happening. Lyra immediately flew to assist Sam, her bow ready.The daemon, crouched down and absorbing energy from the ward, didn’t notice Sam approaching. It was busy, sucking the energy into its mouth. Sam attacked first with a powerful gust of wind, pushing the daemon slightly but not enough to stop it. The daemon turned, looking at Sam angrily for disturbing its meal.The daemon stood tall, as big as the gorilla monster that had fused with Connor, but this one was fully humanoid, standing on two legs like a giant. It had two long arms, twisted horns, two small bat wing, and a long tail with a sharp end. It roared at Sam, and the roar producing a wave of fire.Sam quickly summoned an aegis spell to block the