The return journey to the adventurers' guild was unsettlingly quiet. Betty walked ahead, her keen eyes scanning the treetops and shadows between trunks, her bow still half-drawn, fingers ready to nock an arrow at the first sign of movement. Louis remained at the center, his mind racing through the events of the battle. Locob, bringing up the rear, was clearly shaken. The young mage kept looking over his shoulder, as if expecting the whispers to return.
When they finally crossed the safe shield, a collective tension seemed to lift from their shoulders. The unnatural weight of the corrupted forest no longer pressed against them. Yet, even though they were safe, none of them felt relieved.
Betty exhaled, rolling her shoulders as she relaxed her bowstring. "I don't like this. Something's not right."
Louis nodded. "It's not just the beasts attacking in numbers. It's the way they fought. It felt... directed. And that black mark—whatever it was—it wasn't normal."
Locob swallowed hard. "That wasn't just some sickness. I've read about corruption before. It's old magic—one that was never fully understood. But if it's appearing in beasts… then something or someone is spreading it."
The implications were grim. Beasts attacking humans was expected in the wild, but never in such a methodical way. And never with signs of corruption.
---
A Grim Report
The trio hurried through the city gates and made their way straight to the adventurers' guild. The usual hum of activity was present—hunters discussing bounties, merchants negotiating trades—but it all felt distant compared to what they had just witnessed.
They pushed through the main doors, where the thick scent of old parchment and burning candles greeted them. The guild's receptionist, a middle-aged woman named Mirea, noticed them instantly. Her eyes flickered over their expressions, noting their urgency.
"Back so soon?" she asked, setting down her quill.
Louis placed the torn parchment of their quest on the counter. "We completed the mission, but there's a problem. The beasts we fought... something was wrong with them."
Mirea raised a brow. "Wrong how?"
Betty took over. "Corruption. Dark markings on their bodies. They weren't just aggressive—they were organized, like something was controlling them."
Mirea's expression shifted from curiosity to concern. Without another word, she gestured for them to follow her past the counter and through a side door, leading them into a meeting room. The wooden table at its center was covered in mission reports, maps, and guild documents. The heavy scent of ink filled the space.
Seated at the far end was an older man with graying hair and a scar running down his cheek—Captain Reinhart, the guild's field strategist. He looked up from a report, his sharp gaze scanning the trio as they entered.
Mirea closed the door behind them. "Captain, we have an urgent situation."
Louis stepped forward. "Sir, the beasts in the outer forest weren't just wild. They were corrupted."
Reinhart leaned forward, setting his papers aside. "Corrupted? You're certain?"
Locob nodded, gripping the strap of his satchel. "I saw it up close. Blackened veins, unnatural aggression. It wasn't normal."
Reinhart studied them for a long moment before sighing. "You're not the first ones to report strange activity beyond the safe shield. Other parties have noticed an increase in monster aggression, but this is the first mention of corruption."
Louis frowned. "Then it's spreading faster than we thought."
Reinhart turned to Mirea. "Fetch the last three weeks of scouting reports."
She nodded and disappeared into an adjoining room. The captain then gestured for them to sit. "Tell me everything you saw. Leave nothing out."
---
Theories and Dread
By the time they finished recounting their experience, Mirea had returned with several stacks of parchment. Reinhart skimmed through them, occasionally furrowing his brow.
"Strange beast behavior… increased sightings near abandoned ruins… reports of unnatural decay in certain areas…" He exhaled sharply, setting down the papers. "This isn't just a minor disturbance. It's spreading."
Betty crossed her arms. "Any idea what's causing it?"
Reinhart shook his head. "Corruption isn't something we deal with often. It's old magic, tied to curses and forbidden rituals. If this is truly corruption, then we need to determine the source before it reaches the city."
Locob hesitated before speaking. "If it's old magic, then maybe scholars at the Grand Archive could help. They have ancient texts, forbidden records… someone there might know something."
The Grand Archive—one of the largest repositories of knowledge, home to scholars who studied forgotten history and forbidden arts. If anyone could uncover the truth behind the corruption, it would be them.
Reinhart considered the idea. "It's worth investigating. But I need time to confirm these reports and speak with other high-ranking adventurers. Until then, I want you three to stay alert. If corruption has reached the outer forests, we don't know how far it could spread."
Louis exchanged a glance with Betty and Locob. They weren't just dealing with a few dangerous beasts anymore.
This was something bigger. Something deeper.
And they had only scratched the surface.
---
Lingering Unease
After their report, the trio left the guild and stepped back into the evening air. The sun was setting, casting an orange glow over the city streets. Yet, even in the safety of the walls, an uneasy feeling remained in their chests.
Locob broke the silence. "We should visit the Grand Archive as soon as possible. If this corruption is spreading, we need to understand it before it's too late."
Betty sighed, rubbing her temples. "Yeah, well, let's not get ourselves killed doing it. If this is ancient magic, we might be messing with things we don't fully understand."
Louis exhaled slowly, tightening his gloves. "Then we learn. We find out what's going on. Because if we don't… no one else will."
A cold breeze drifted through the city, as if the world itself was whispering a warning.
And for the first time since stepping into that forest…
Louis wasn't sure if they were ready for the truth.
To be continued…