Thomas met Jamie's gaze, the gravity in his eyes leaving no room for doubt. "Zero," he stated bluntly.

  Jamie stood silent for a moment, the weight of the scenario settling heavily upon his shoulders. The forest around them was unnaturally still.

  "Let's fall back," Jamie decided, his voice firm yet hushed. Without hesitation, they retreated several hundred meters, moving swiftly but cautiously through the dense underbrush until they reached a secluded spot where they could speak freely.

  "The situation is this," Jamie began, facing his companions.

  Camille, Bertram, and Aldwin looked at him inquisitively, their expressions a mix of confusion and concern. They had not yet grasped the full extent of the peril that loomed over them and potentially over the entire city of Hafenstadt.

  "A short distance ahead," Jamie continued, "we came across a clearing with a group of caves. Inside the clearing, we counted twenty to thirty Trolls."

  "Bloody hell," Bertram muttered under his breath, his face paling.

  "We need to retreat," Camille urged, her eyes wide with apprehension.

  "However," Jamie said, his tone steady but resolute, "we can't retreat."

  "What do you mean we can't?" Aldwin asked incredulously, his voice edged with anxiety.

  "There is a massive Monster Crystal there," Jamie explained. "It's on the verge of breaking."

  "By the gods," Camille whispered, shock evident in her features.

  "If that crystal shatters, Hafenstadt will face an imminent attack," Thomas interjected solemnly. "We can't allow hundreds, if not thousands, to die."

  'And certainly, who would be left to buy our beer if the city is razed?' Jamie thought wryly, another angle to the catastrophe flickering through his mind.

  "But how are we supposed to stop this?!" Aldwin exclaimed, his eyes darting between his companions. "Can't we at least warn them about the crystal?"

  "It would take us half a day just to get back to the city," Thomas explained patiently. "And another two to three days for the army to mobilize and arrive. The crystal will undoubtedly break before then."

  Despair clouded the faces of Aldwin and Bertram, while Camille stood silently, her gaze cast downward.

  They all turned their eyes to Jamie, trying to find some kind of hope amidst the gloom. He could feel their unspoken plea, the trust they placed in him. The bard drew a deep breath, his mind racing to piece together a solution.

  "What must we do to prevent the Rush?" Jamie asked, turning to Thomas with urgency etched in his voice.

  "The crystal needs to be destroyed before its natural breaking point," Thomas explained, his gaze steady and serious.

  "And what happens if we break it ourselves?" Jamie pressed further.

  "The monsters become stunned and weakened," Thomas replied. "Even if we flee, they won't be able to pursue us effectively."

  Jamie began to pace back and forth, his boots crunching softly against the forest floor as he considered their options. The leaf-strewn ground was dry, and as he walked, he noticed how the canopy was letting some dead leaves and twigs fall to the floor.

  "Perhaps..." Jamie murmured to himself, a spark of an idea igniting in his mind. He paused and looked up. Then he turned back to Thomas. "How much force is needed to break the crystal? One strike? Several?"

  "It depends," Thomas said thoughtfully. "It's like a solid piece of glass. It depends on the weapon and the strength behind it."

  "Excellent," Jamie mused, a plan coalescing. "I think I've got an idea. It might be bold, perhaps even reckless, but then again, my plans often are." A faint smile tugged at the corner of his mouth as he walked over to a nearby tree and snapped off a twig.

  Returning to the group, he knelt down and began to sketch on the soft earth, using the stick as a makeshift stylus. He drew a large circle and then added three smaller circles near its center. Lines and markings soon followed, creating a rudimentary map.

  "Imagine this is the clearing," Jamie explained, pointing to the large circle. "And these three circles here are the entrances to the caves."

  The group, Camille, Bertram, Aldwin, and Thomas, gathered around, their faces lit with a mix of curiosity and concern as they studied the improvised map.

  "What would happen if only one side of the forest started to catch fire?" Jamie asked, glancing up at them. He hoped someone might shed light on how the trolls would react.

  "Trolls aren't intelligent," Camille responded promptly, tucking a stray strand of hair behind her ear. "But they have a strong survival instinct. If the fire is far from their nest, they'll likely ignore it or move away. If it's close, they'll attempt to extinguish it to protect their home."

  Thomas nodded in agreement, his arms crossed as he considered her words.

  "Excellent," Jamie declared, his eyes glinting with determination. "Because it's autumn, the leaves are dry and will easily spread the flames. But the soil is still damp enough not to burn the whole forest down."

  You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.

  "Aldwin and I will position ourselves on the western side of the clearing," Jamie continued, pointing to a spot on the makeshift map. "We'll gather leaves, twigs, and some stones to contain the fire. Then we'll ignite it with flint."

  "Why me?" Aldwin asked, perplexed. His brows knit together beneath his tousled sandy hair, and a hint of unease flickered in his eyes.

  Jamie turned to him with a reassuring smile. "You and I are the fastest, well, perhaps except for Camille," he conceded with a nod toward the quiet elf who stood a few steps back, her emerald eyes attentive. "Besides," he added, "you're an herbalist. You can help me find leaves that might produce smoke or scents that attract the trolls."

  Aldwin's eyes widened in surprise. "How do you know I'm an herbalist?" he stammered, a faint blush creeping up his neck.

  Jamie waved off the question, his focus unswayed. "We'll discuss that later," he said briskly before continuing with the plan. "On the eastern side, Bertram, Thomas, and Camille will wait. As soon as you see the trolls moving away from their lair, you'll enter the clearing and head straight for the crystal. Bertram, Thomas, you both have the physical strength to destroy it, and if needed, you can defend Camille. Camille, you're capable of using magic should the situation call for it."

  "It makes sense," Camille remarked softly, her voice barely above a whisper yet carrying a steadiness that belied her slight frame.

  "Seems rational to me," Bertram agreed.

  Thomas, however, raised an eyebrow skeptically. "And where's the reckless and bold part?" he inquired, a hint of wry amusement in his tone. He had known Jamie long enough to recognize that his plans often held an edge of daring.

  Jamie met his gaze evenly. "Aldwin and I will draw the trolls' attention if they reach the fire too soon," he revealed. "Moreover, after breaking the crystal, none of us will flee. We'll use the flames to kill the trolls. Not a single one will remain."

  Aldwin's face paled, and he swallowed hard. "Wa-wait," he stuttered, his voice trembling slightly. "There are too many for just the five of us to defeat."

  Jamie placed a firm yet gentle hand on Aldwin's shoulder. "If we don't eliminate them now, it's only a matter of time before another crystal draws them under control," he explained. "And there's something else. If we don't have proof that we've destroyed a monster’s nest, they might deny our permission to operate as a mercenary company."

  "Fucking hell," Thomas muttered under his breath, a rare curse slipping from the stoic guard. "You're right. They might not grant us the license if we return without some proof."

  Jamie surveyed each member of his team, his gaze steady and earnest. Thomas and Camille appeared contemplative but resolute. Bertram and Aldwin, on the other hand, showed traces of fear. Bertram's jaw was set tight, and Aldwin avoided direct eye contact, though he tried valiantly to mask his apprehension.

  "If there are no further questions," Jamie said, his tone inviting yet decisive, "let's put our plan into action."

  The group advanced silently through the dense forest, their footsteps muffled by the thick carpet of fallen leaves that blanketed the ground.

  As they neared the trolls' encampment, Jamie raised a hand, signaling the others to halt. He caught their eyes and made a subtle gesture, indicating that he would split off.

  Before splitting, Jamie remembered one of the blessings he received upon reaching level two.

  [Questmaker]

  As he thought about the blessing, a few letters quickly appeared before him.

  [What will be the objective of the Quest?]

  Jamie took a moment to think. "Kill the Trolls," He thought.

  [How much EXP do you wish to invest in the Quest?]

  Jamie quickly checked how much experience he had.

  | James Frostwatch (Soul: James Murtagh)

  | Experience: [1070 / 5000]

  ‘500?’ Jamie guessed.

  | Who will take part?

  ‘Thomas, Camille, Bertram, and Aldwin,’ Jamie thought.

  [New quest created]

  [Quest sent …]

  | New Quest: Kill The Trolls

  | Objective: Kill The Trolls

  | Any new EXP will be held off until the quest is completed.

  | Reward: The gods will decide upon quest completion.

  The first to speak was Aldwin, who was startled. "What the hell is this? A quest?" he whispered, looking at Jamie.

  “Just another incentive for all of us," Jamie whispered before turning away.

  With a firm but quiet motion, he beckoned Aldwin to join him. The two slipped away from the main group, moving with practiced stealth as they began to circle the perimeter of the clearing.

  Staying close to the shadows cast by the trees, Jamie and Aldwin crept along the edge of the clearing. Each step was deliberate, their senses heightened to detect any sign of danger.

  After what felt like an arduous journey, Jamie and Aldwin reached the far side of the clearing. From this vantage point, they could see Bertram, Thomas, and Camille concealed on the opposite edge, barely visible amidst the foliage. Jamie gave a slight nod, acknowledging their positions.

  "Let's begin," Jamie whispered, his voice barely audible.

  Without wasting time, they set to work, gathering as many dry branches and leaves as they could find. The forest floor was abundant with autumn's offerings—twigs snapped easily in their hands, and leaves crumbled at the slightest touch.

  "It's better to focus on these leaves," Aldwin advised quietly, pointing to a cluster of leaves speckled with white spots.

  Jamie examined them closely. "What's special about them?" he asked.

  "They're from the ghostwood tree," Aldwin explained. "They have a strong, pungent odor that will catch the trolls' attention and mask any trace of our scent. Plus, they produce thick smoke when burned."

  Jamie nodded appreciatively. "Good thinking," he remarked, adding the leaves to their growing pile.

  They worked swiftly but carefully, mindful of every sound. The minutes stretched on as they built three large mounds of kindling, each strategically placed to maximize the effect of the smoke and flames. Sweat beaded on their foreheads despite the coolness of the day.

  "Ready?" Jamie asked, straightening up and wiping a smudge of dirt from his cheek.

  "Ready," Aldwin confirmed, his eyes reflecting a mix of determination and nervous energy.

  Jamie retrieved his flint and steel from a pouch at his belt. Crouching beside the first pile, he struck the flint sharply, sending a cascade of sparks onto the dry tinder. A small flame flickered to life, greedily consuming the brittle leaves and twigs. Jamie shielded it with his hand, gently blowing to encourage the fire to grow.

  Soon, flames leapt upward, crackling as they spread through the pile.

  Click here to join