Chapter 10: Shadows in the Forest
The gates of Aurelia creaked open early in the morning as Mario and the five girls stepped into the rolling countryside beyond the city walls.
Andrew stood on the steps of the guild, now wearing the officer's uniform he'd won. He didn't wave, didn't smile—just gave a small nod.
"Good luck," he said, already scribbling into a small strategy ledger tucked under his arm. "Bring me back a map of enemy positions if you find any."
Caroline smirked. "You're starting to sound like a general."
"That's the plan."
Emma lingered a moment. "Are you sure you don't want to come?"
Andrew looked up. "No. If I want to be promoted, I need to analyze today's defense drills. Plus… someone's gotta watch the city while you all go save the world."
And with that, they left him behind, the city fading behind them as their boots crunched over gravel and grass.
For hours, the group traveled through shaded paths and sunlit fields. Mario walked behind the girls, relaxed for once, until Caroline looked over her shoulder.
"So," she asked casually, "does Andrew always act like he's two steps away from launching a sarcastic fireball?"
Mario chuckled. "Honestly? Yeah. But don't let the jokes fool you. He's way more serious than he lets on."
Lena raised an eyebrow. "Really?"
"Oh yeah," Mario said. "You should see him back in school. He was top of the class in strategy games, always reading history books instead of, you know, talking to people. The whole 'class clown with a sword' thing? That's armor."
Emma looked down. "He never told us that."
"He wouldn't," Mario replied. "He doesn't think anyone cares. But he's the kind of guy who stays up all night studying war formations… and then pretends he just 'guessed right' when he wipes the floor with a commander twice his age."
Caroline smiled faintly. "Sounds familiar."
Around midday, they reached a clearing surrounded by trees glowing faintly with magic.
"Let's stop here," Emma said. "We can eat and rest before the final leg."
Sofia spread out a blanket. The group sat in a loose circle, enjoying fruit and dried meat from their packs.
But the break didn't last long.
A low growl echoed from the edge of the forest.
Four creatures emerged—twisted wolves with bone-like protrusions from their backs, eyes glowing green.
"No rest for the brave," Caroline muttered, drawing her short sword.
Mario stood, shield ready. "Stay together!"
The monsters rushed in.
Emma blasted the first with a spark of magic, Lena stabbed a second through the flank, and Sofia crushed the skull of a third with a mace swing that made even Mario flinch.
Mario blocked the last beast's claws, then drove his sword through its throat with a grunt.
Silence returned to the forest.
Breathing heavily, Caroline wiped blood from her blade. "We're getting better at this."
Emma nodded. "Teamwork."
Mario exhaled. "Andrew would've analyzed that ambush pattern in two seconds."
"Then made a joke about how ugly the wolves were," Sofia added.
Everyone laughed.
As the sun began to dip behind the trees, a tall stone structure appeared on the horizon, nestled against a low ridge—watchtowers, wooden palisades, and smoke curling from a distant chimney.
Mario squinted. "That's the outpost."
Caroline nodded. "We finally arrived at our destination."