Heroes of Etheron

The midday sun hung high above the town of Veilden, casting golden light over cobbled streets as adventurers milled around the guild hall. Inside, Arriel, Lira, and Kael stood at the quest board, eyes scanning through pinned parchments.

"Here," Kael said, tapping a notice with the butt of his spear. "Flame Wolves. Six of them. Nest cleanup mission, C-rank. Not too far, just outside the southern hills."

Lira leaned in. "Flame Wolves… Fast, aggressive, and fire-aligned. We'll need to neutralize them quickly or risk getting surrounded."

Arriel nodded. "Good for leveling. And I still haven't tested Wind Blade in actual combat."

Kael gave a slight smirk. "Then let's get to it before someone else picks the job."

After collecting the details and confirming with the guild clerk, the three left town with minimal fanfare. Veilden's outer farmlands quickly gave way to rolling, rocky hills browned by the summer heat. The scent of charred wood drifted faintly on the wind—sign of Flame Wolves marking their territory.

As they moved uphill, Lira broke the silence. "Remember, they're clever. If we fight one, the others will circle."

Kael's eyes swept the ridge lines. "That's why we hit fast and hard. I'll handle flanks. You two focus on offense."

"Right," Arriel replied, brushing his fingers along the leather strap of his status bracelet. It glowed faintly green—his mana still full.

They reached the location by late afternoon: the remains of a stone outpost half-swallowed by a collapsed hill, its walls scorched black. Charred bones scattered near the entrance, still fresh. The wolves were home.

Lira raised a hand. "Two, coming out. Probably scouts."

Two Flame Wolves padded from the ruin's shadow, their fur flickering like embers, red eyes fixed toward the trio.

"Now," she whispered.

Lira's fingers spun in the air, casting a quick Bind spell. One wolf's limbs froze mid-step, tangled by ethereal chains. Arriel launched forward, gathering wind at his fingertips.

"Wind Blade!"

A slicing gust of air split across the wolf's flank. It yelped and collapsed. The second wolf snarled, breaking from its bind. Kael was already moving. He pivoted behind it and rammed his spear into its shoulder. A flash of flame burst around the beast, but Kael ducked away, letting Arriel finish it with a dagger to the throat.

A low, sharp howl echoed from inside the den.

Lira's expression stiffened. "That called the rest."

Four Flame Wolves burst out from the ruins—larger, faster, fire practically leaking from their maws. The ground shimmered beneath their feet.

"Scatter!" Kael shouted.

Lira cast Flame Resistance on Arriel and herself. She then threw a Stun Orb spell at the lead wolf—it staggered, blinking violently. Arriel lunged forward, slashing with his dagger and following with another Wind Blade. One wolf down.

Another lunged at him from the side—Kael intercepted with a sweeping spear block, pushing it off balance. Lira pierced it with a Tier 2 Ice Lance, cracking its ribs in a blast of frozen mist.

Arriel rolled as a third wolf tried to bite his leg. He spun behind it and kicked upward, forcing it into the air for Lira to slam it with a Flame Suppression Seal. It fell with a thud, whimpering once before going still.

The last one charged Kael, teeth bared.

"Kael—behind!" Arriel shouted.

Kael twisted, barely deflecting the attack. Arriel leapt forward, tackled the beast mid-air, and stabbed deep into its side with his dagger. Lira finished it with another Wind Blade to the throat.

Silence returned.

Breathing heavily, Arriel stood. His sleeves were scorched, and sweat dripped from his jawline. Lira was crouched, chugging half a bottle of mana potion. Kael had a shallow cut on his arm but nodded they were clear.

"Six confirmed," Kael said, wiping his spear clean. "Let's check the den."

Inside the ruined outpost, they found nothing else but scattered bones and one Flame Wolf cub, already dead from injuries. Arriel's face tightened—there was no joy in this.

Back outside, Lira gathered the monster cores. "They're still warm."

A pulse surged through Arriel's chest. It felt like warmth rising from within—his body absorbing the life energy from the monsters. He blinked as the world around him sharpened ever so slightly.

"I leveled up," he said quietly.

"So did I," Lira replied, almost surprised.

Kael gave a satisfied nod. "You've both gotten sharper. And faster."

They made their way back to Veilden under a setting sun. Dust clung to their boots and armor, but none of them complained. At the guild, they turned in the cores, collected their 1,500 Git reward, and received quiet praise from the clerk.

Later, at a modest tavern, the three sat with warm food and drinks.

Lira raised her mug. "Here's to not getting burned alive."

Arriel chuckled. "And to Wind Blade finally hitting something that isn't a rock."

Kael added, "And to teamwork. We're getting better."

As laughter filled their corner of the tavern, for a brief moment, the world outside didn't matter—no monsters, no rogue heroes, no looming threats. Just friends, firelight, and the quiet reward of a job well done.