The group finally packed their belongings and prepared to embark on their journey to find the "Heart of Light." Guided by Madam Marie, they traversed the intricate castle corridors and arrived at a hidden door.
Several fine horses and a wagon loaded with supplies were already prepared outside the gate. The young guard quickly mounted his horse, skillfully tightening the reins, his eyes filled with determination. "Ready? We can set off!" he shouted to Aiden and the others.
Sofia took a deep breath and nodded. "Yes, let's uncover these ancient secrets together." Her voice was soft but firm.
"Do you really believe what this kid says?" a soldier at the door muttered under his breath, his eyes filled with doubt. "Who knows if he might suddenly betray us..."
His companion shook his head and sighed, "Well, we can only pray for good luck. Since Lord Maril has chosen to trust us, we can only hope they find the treasure."
The group gradually moved away from the castle, crossed the barren plains, and entered a dense forest. Sunlight filtered through the treetops, casting dappled shadows and adding a touch of mystery to this arduous journey.
Hank frowned, cautiously observing his surroundings. "Something feels off..." he muttered to himself.
"Relax, boss. We're here for the adventure!" Leah chuckled, trying to ease the tension. "Just think about it! Once we find those artifacts, we can become legendary heroes! How cool is that!"
Just then, a patrol slowly walked past from the other side of the woods. The captain in charge caught sight of them and stepped forward with a puzzled look. "Hey, where are you guys headed? You seem a little different than usual..." His tone was clearly wary.
Aiden calmly replied, "Hello, Captain. Actually, we've received an important mission and are heading to a distant place. Don't worry, we're just passing through."
The captain carefully examined the unusual-looking squad. "Alright, alright, since it's Lady Mariel's order, then it's fine. But remember to be very careful—it's said that some strange figures have been appearing around here lately..."
After watching the patrol leave, the young guard looked at Ms. Maril and asked, "We need to be extra careful now, right? After all, no one can guarantee that there won't be enemies lying in ambush on the road waiting for us to walk right into their trap..."
She nodded in agreement, saying, "That's true. Therefore, we must act more cautiously and remain vigilant at all times to prevent any unforeseen events from happening."
As night fell, we found a place to rest and spend the night near a quiet and peaceful town. Just as everyone was sitting around the campfire sharing their thoughts and worries, some noises from not far away caught our attention.
"Is there some kind of argument over there?" James pointed to a dark corner.
Aiden gestured for everyone to quiet down and listen carefully. Sure enough, they heard two strangers having a heated discussion about a certain topic:
"I'm telling you, we absolutely cannot let them find those three divine artifacts first!" one of them said angrily.
"But we don't have any other choice now, do we?" another slightly helpless voice replied.
Hearing this, Sophia couldn't help but ask in a low voice, "So... someone else has already set their sights on these treasures?!"
“It’s time to decide what to do next,” Aiden said seriously. “We need a more detailed plan to deal with all possible situations.”
“That’s right, we can’t keep going blindly like this,” Hank agreed. “It would be best to send people to gather more intelligence first.”
“Hmm… I think we can split into two groups: one group can go directly to the place where ‘Heart of Light’ might be located, while the other group can stay in the vicinity to continue gathering intelligence on the enemy,” James suggested.
The suggestion was immediately met with unanimous approval, even from the usually cautious young guard. "This saves time and ensures safety, making it a relatively safe approach."
And so, under the moonlight, this group of brave individuals gathered around the warm flame to discuss their next course of action...
"No matter how difficult the challenges, we must do our utmost to complete this mission!" As they spoke, a heavy sense of responsibility arose, further strengthening everyone's resolve to face the unknown challenges. However, are the hidden dangers and lurking figures in the shadows as simple as they appear on the surface? Everything remains to be seen…
As night fell, a gentle breeze swept through the quiet streets of the town, and the campfire illuminated everyone's faces, creating a somber atmosphere. After careful consideration, the group finally decided on their next route and strategy. Just as everyone was immersed in imagining the impending battle or unknown dangers, an unexpected visitor suddenly broke the silence of the night—several local residents curiously gathered around, drawn to this group of travelers who seemed quite different from others.
“Oh, isn’t this Lord Aiden?” An older man broke the silence first, his tone full of admiration. “I heard from the villagers that Mistress Maril has sent an elite force on a secret mission. My goodness, how important must it be to risk so many people’s lives?”
Another young man followed up with, "And...it's said you're searching for the legendary 'Heart of Light'?" His face was full of curiosity. "We heard many stories about it when we were kids. It's said that whoever possesses it will gain endless power! Does such a magical thing really exist?"
Sofia smiled slightly and replied, "Thank you for the compliment, but actually we were just fulfilling a mission." However, she did not deny the claim about the treasure, leaving everyone with endless room for imagination.
Leah chimed in, "Yes, yes! Maybe our triumphant return will bring good luck to the town!"
At that moment, an elderly woman, leaning on a cane, slowly walked forward. Looking at the brave little team before her, her eyes were filled with anticipation and hope. "I wish you success in finding those long-lost treasures and a safe return," the old woman said in a trembling voice. "May God bless our heroes."
Upon hearing this, even the usually aloof and taciturn young guard couldn't help but smile. "Thank you, we will do our best!"
As this warm yet somewhat somber conversation unfolded, Hank remained highly vigilant, sensing that something was quietly approaching from not far away...
"Quiet!" Suddenly, the experienced warrior whispered a command to stop everyone from talking, then took a long arrow from his backpack and nocked it into his powerful bow. "It seems there's an unidentified object moving this way. Prepare for battle!"
This scene immediately caused a stir among the villagers. "Wow, it's just as thrilling as described in novels!" exclaimed one of the little boys, his eyes sparkling with excitement. "I'm so envious that I can go on this adventure with them!"
Meanwhile, a group of figures dressed in strange attire appeared in the distance, rapidly approaching the camp. Leading them was a handsome young man with a sinister air. "Hmph, daring to steal what we want..." he chuckled contemptuously, "Perfect opportunity to eliminate this trouble once and for all!"
Seeing that the enemy was approaching aggressively and clearly had ill intentions, Sofia hurriedly asked Aiden beside her, "Do you think they're coming for us?"
Aiden frowned and pondered for a moment, then replied firmly, "Very likely! But we can't let them succeed no matter what! Comrades, spread out and set up defenses quickly according to the plan we just discussed!"
So the entire team began their intensive but well-organized preparations, based on their individual strengths and the previously agreed-upon strategy…
"Hey, who do you think these people are?" a passing villager whispered to his friend.
"Who knows?" The man shook his head. "But judging from their posture, they're definitely not easy to deal with. We'd better keep our distance!"
When everything was in place and the decisive battle was about to begin—
Aiden turned to his teammates and gave them one last instruction: "Remember, while ensuring your own safety, buy time to delay the enemy until the other group succeeds! Understand?"
Everyone nodded in response, "Understood!" Their tone was firm and resolute.
Then, all eyes turned once again to the approaching target...
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