The marketplace fell silent as Nia's flames crackled around her, her grip tightening on the orc thug's face. The other two thugs staggered back, their bravado crumbling under her smoldering glare.
"N-Nia—wait!" Lito called out, stepping forward. "They're not worth burning in this Kingdom!"
Nia's fiery eyes flickered toward Lito, softening momentarily before she snarled at the orcs. "Apologize. Now!"
The pinned orc wheezed, "S-Sorry! We'll leave!" His companions dropped their knife, hands raised in surrender.
Lito knelt beside the trembling elf and water spirit merchants. "Are you hurt?" he asked gently. The wood elf shook her head, tears in her eyes. "Th-Thank you, Your Majesty. They... they demanded 'protection fees.' We couldn't pay..."
Lito's jaw tightened. He turned to the orcs. "Eden's prosperity belongs to all its people. If you're struggling, seek aid—not violence." The thugs flinched at the quiet authority in his voice.
Nia released the orc, who scrambled backwards. "If I catch you near him again," she hissed, flames dancing on her palms, "you'll be cinders." The thugs fled, the crowd erupting in relieved cheers.
Lito sighed. "Nia, you didn't have to—"
"Of course I did!" she interrupted, whirling to face him. Her fiery bravado faltered as she stared at his face. "You… you're really okay?"
Lito smiled awkwardly. "Thanks to you. But let's try diplomacy first next time, alright?"
Nia huffed, crossing her arms. "Diplomacy doesn't work on brutes."
Luna stepped forward, her voice icy. "And reckless violence risks his safety. Control your flames, Nia."
Nia's eyes narrowed. "Oh? And where were you, Miss Icy elf? Too busy for your casting a magic of yours?"
"Enough," Truth interjected, her calm voice slicing through the tension. "We have a mission. The energy sites won't secure themselves."
"The energy site? What are you guys up to?" Nia Ask.
Lito saw all the townspeople talking and also realized that they were the center of attention because of the previous incident, "We should get out of here, we're getting too much attention here, ok?"
The three of them agreed and gave a small wage to the wood elf and water spirit couple for the repair of their stalls and then left from there. While walking, Lito told Nia that the three of them wanted to go to the source point for the energy source of the generator as the generator of the city's light artifact. Hearing that, Nia went with them to go there.
---
The group traveled east toward the river, Nia stubbornly positioned herself at Lito's side. Luna lingered close behind, her gaze sharp.
"So, this 'unlimited energy' plan," Nia said, kicking a pebble. "You're using waterfalls and… wind?"
"Precisely," Truth replied, adjusting her goggles. "The river's current can spin water wheels to generate power, while wind turbines on the mountain ridges will harness air currents. The energy will be stored in elemental cores and distributed through cables."
Nia blinked. "So… it's like trapping a storm in a box?"
Lito chuckled. "In a way. It's sustainable—no artifacts required."
As they neared the river, an unnatural stillness settled over the forest. Luna's hand drifted to her artifacts wand magic book. "Something's wrong. No birdsong ."
"You're right, there's no bird chirping at all." Truth also prepared several bottles of chemicals from her bag artifact.
A low growl reverberated through the trees. From the shadows emerged a massive wolf-like creature, its fur matted with glowing green veins—a corrupted beast.
"Crossing Path mutation…" Truth whispered. "The apex predators—they're spreading this corruption!"
The beast lunged. Nia blasted flames, but it dodged, slashing at Lito. Luna yanked him backwards as Truth deployed a shimmering barrier with foam steel chemicals.
"Stay behind me!" Nia roared, fire swirling around her fire big sycthe.
"Wait!" Lito shouted. "Don't kill it! It's sick, not evil!"
The beast recoiled, howling in pain as the corruption pulsed across its body. Lito stepped forward, ignoring the others' protests. "It's suffering. We have to purify it."
"Are you insane?!" Nia shouted.
But Lito raised his palm, a soft light emanating from his ring artifact. The creature froze, whimpering as the light engulfed it. The green veins receded, revealing sleek silver fur. The beast collapsed, breathing unstable.
Truth gasped. "You reversed the corruption… How?"
Lito knelt, exhausted. "The Light element ring arifact, it's about healing, not just power." He stroked the sleeping beast's head. "We need to find the source of this corruption. It's connected to the monsters' migration."
Nia stared at him, her anger melted into awe. "You really haven't changed… still risking yourself for every stray creature."
Luna helped Lito stand, her voice uncharacteristically soft. "We'll investigate. But first, the energy sites. Eden needs light to survive what's coming."
As they pressed onward, the mountain loomed ahead—its peaks shrouded in storm clouds. But deeper in the forest, glowing green eyes began to blink open, tracking their every move.
To Be Continued...