The four adventurers stepped into the inn. A few people turned to look at them, but unlike the wary glances Eccar and his group had received earlier, Jan's team was greeted with warm looks — even with clear respect. Their reputation was well established, not just in this city but across the entire kingdom. Their faces were known as those of powerful individuals who had completed more difficult quests than anyone else.
They were also famous for rescuing people trapped in the forest — whether ordinary townsfolk or fellow adventurers — and returning them safely to their families. That had earned them widespread recognition and goodwill.
Seeing Jan and his party mbers, the innkeeper bead, clearly pleased that such a well-known group had entered his establishnt.
"Welco! It's not often you visit here. Is there sothing I can help you with?" the innkeeper asked.
"Yes, actually." Jan stepped closer to the counter, lowering his voice slightly. "I'd like to speak with the people who just checked in. They're outsiders and seem to have arrived from a long journey."
"Ah, yes, them." The innkeeper nodded in understanding, then frowned. "But why do you want to et them? Have they caused any trouble?"
"No, no. They're fine. I just want to discuss sothing with them. Nothing serious or dangerous," Jan said casually, even letting out a small chuckle.
"Oh, I see. Alright." The innkeeper then provided the room location he had given to Eccar and his group.
Without wasting ti, Jan headed straight for the room. The others went to a corner table in the tavern and ordered food and drinks.
KNOCK. KNOCK. KNOCK.
After knocking three tis on one of the doors, Jan heard footsteps from inside. The door opened, and standing before him was a tall, slightly muscular man with tanned skin and a scar on his face.
Eccar glanced left and right but saw no one else besides Jan. "Can I help you?" he asked.
"My na is Jan, an adventurer. My party and I would like to discuss sothing with you," Jan said directly. "I heard that you ca from the Qomore Kingdom to warn the king about the incidents in the forest."
Eccar frowned. "How do you know about that?"
"Well, actually… uhh… let's just say I have a friend in the palace," Jan replied with a smile. "But that's not important. My party and I recently encountered sothing in an old temple deep in the northern forest. It had a strange energy… unlike anything we've felt in this world."
Eccar gave him a sharp look, then smiled faintly. "Alright. We can talk. Let wake up my companions first."
Jan nodded. "We'll be waiting for you in the tavern downstairs."
With that, Jan turned and headed back down to the first floor.
Eccar smiled. Just as he expected — if they stayed here, the information would co to them sooner or later.
---
Ten minutes later, after Eccar had finished waking Mark, Thorne, Selene, and Kaela and giving them ti to freshen up and change into clean clothes, they all ca down to the first floor.
Now, they were seated together at a large table in a private room, face to face with Jan, Annette, Hund, and Esther.
They all looked at each other, eyes quietly studying and weighing the people across the table. In just a few seconds, it beca clear to everyone that they weren't dealing with ordinary adventueres.
They could tell at a glance that each other were seasoned adventurers, and not just any kind but the kind who had strength carved from countless battles despite their young age.
They can sense it because theiirr instinct of experienced fighters.
But knowing strength didn't an trust. Trust wasn't sothing given freely; it had to be earned. And this was their first eting. The lack of trust was normal.
Yet, for Jan's party, there was sothing else about Eccar. Beyond his obvious powe there was an aura clinging to him, sothing they couldn't quite explain but could definitely feel.
Eccar noticed, of course. He wasn't blind to the way their eyes lingered on him. But he didn't care enough to address it. He couldn't fully suppress his presence even if he wanted to and honestly, he didn't see a reason to bother. Instead, he leaned forward and spoke plainly.
"Anyway, we already know each other's nas, so let's move to the real reason we're here," Eccar said, his voice steady and calm. "My friends and I ca from the Qomore Kingdom. I myself ca from the Elf Kingdom. I got a divination from my brother, a warning that an unknown forest god is awakening."
His words caused Jan and his party to exchange tense glances, the weight of his statent sinking in fast.
"But that's not all," Eccar continued. "We ran into plenty of trouble crossing the forest to get here. The tribesn went berserk, they attacked us from every corner. Mark here also noticed they were performing so kind of ritual. They were chanting sothing while they slaughtered a deer."
Jan's party shifted uncomfortably in their seats as Eccar's voice went on, steady but grim.
"And after that, we were attacked at night. Strange shadow creatures ca for us — things I've never seen before. After we killed them one of them muttered sothing about the rise of their old king. I think all of it leads to one thing." Eccar's gaze hardened. "The awakening of the forest god is real. And it's happening right now."
His words hung in the air like a heavy fog. Jan and his companions looked pale, their faces tight with unease.
"The shadow creatures?" Esther's voice broke the silence, her tone sharp with fear. "The Shadow Children? They're Magical beings that usually never leave the deep forest. If they're attacking travelers now, it ans… sothing truly bad is happening."
"They attacked you at night?" Hund asked, frowning.
"Yes," Eccar answered without hesitation.
Hund's face darkened. "They're strongest at night. If they attacked then they intended to kill you. But you actually survived and even killed them — and I see no serious wounds on you. That ans… you're far stronger than I thought."
Eccar let out a short chuckle. "You could say that."
Hund watched him carefully. No false modesty there, he thought grimly. If anything, Eccar was probably much stronger than all of them combined.
Jan let out a slow breath and leaned forward. "I guess it's ti we tell you what we found."
Then, with a grave voice, Jan began to explain.
He spoke of the old temple they had discovered deep in the forest, the strange statues standing like silent guardians, and the black smoke that thick with dangerous choking energy rising from beneath.
He told them how they had accidentally awakened an ancient golem that had slumbered for ages, bringing it back to life.
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