Chapter 36

The town bustled with heightened activity as armored guards patrolled the streets, their eyes darting anxiously from one corner to another. Whispers swirled among the street vendors, carrying the weight of foreboding news. Dark rumors spread like wildfire, igniting the imaginations of the townsfolk. Word had spread that the mighty king had vanished without a trace, leaving behind a void of leadership. The war against the goblins had inflicted a devastating blow on the kingdom, decimating the entire army, including the valiant general and a handful of noble knights. The air was thick with tension, and a sense of despair hung over the people.

As the sun climbed higher in the sky, a group of weary adventurers arrived in town, their faces etched with concern. They hurriedly reported to their guild, their voices hushed, relaying the horrors they had witnessed. Their eyes widened as they recounted the sight of vast hordes of goblin corpses littering the battlefield, their twisted forms a grim testament to the fierce battle that had unfolded.

The news echoed through the guild, spreading like wildfire. Guild members exchanged worried glances, their minds racing with the implications of such a catastrophic loss. The kingdom stood on the precipice of ruin, vulnerable and defenseless. The fate of the land now rested upon the shoulders of these brave adventurers, their determination kindling a spark of hope amidst the encroaching darkness.

Within this somber atmosphere, a lone figure emerged—a seasoned adventurer named Aric. His rugged appearance and steely gaze bespoke a depth of experience unmatched by many. Word of the kingdom's plight had reached his ears, compelling him to venture into the town and seek answers.

Aric was there amidst a band of intrepid adventurers when they discover the gruesome mound of goblin corpses. As he meticulously examined the grotesque scene, his eyes searching for clues, a disquieting realization washed over him. The bodies, mutilated beyond recognition, bore no signs of a ferocious army clash. The gory aftermath seemed orchestrated as if the work of a malevolent puppeteer pulling invisible strings. The absence of any trace of the kingdom's forces only deepened the mystery, leaving Aric and his comrades perplexed.

Aric strode purposefully towards the office of the adventure guild leader, his heart pounding with a sense of urgency. The situation that unfolded outside was dire, demanding immediate attention. It was clear to him that reporting the matter to the guild master held paramount importance.

As he reached the entrance of the adventurer guild, Aric's gaze fell upon the busy receptionist. Without a moment's hesitation, he approached her, his voice filled with determination. "Is the guild master available? I must speak with him urgently. There are grave matters that require his immediate attention."

The receptionist glanced up from her paperwork, her eyes widening with concern as she noticed the intensity etched upon Aric's face. "Yes, Aric," she replied, her voice tinged with worry. "The guild master just returned moments ago, but... I believe he's currently engaged in a meeting with the secretary." The receptionist stammered a few times, her face turning red.

Frustration bubbled up within Aric as he heard the receptionist's hesitant words. "What the hell is wrong with this man? He's at it again, isn't he? And at this hour of the day," Aric muttered to himself, his annoyance growing. It was an open secret that his uncle, the guild master, was having an affair with his secretary. They shamelessly indulged in their intimacy right within the confines of the office.

Without paying further heed to the flustered receptionist, Aric's determination surged. He briskly ascended the stairs, each step fueling his determination to confront his uncle about his reprehensible behavior. The air crackled with tension as Aric's footsteps echoed through the corridor, a foreboding sign of the confrontation to come.

As Aric reached the door of his uncle's office, he could hear hushed voices and the occasional rustle of papers. He paused for a moment, gathering his resolve. With a deep breath, he pushed open the door, revealing a scene that sent a jolt of fury coursing through his veins.

His uncle, seated behind his grand mahogany desk, looked up with surprise as Aric stormed into the room. The secretary, startled, scrambled to adjust her disheveled appearance. The air hung heavy with tension, the atmosphere crackling with unspoken words.

With eyes ablaze, Aric confronted his uncle, his voice trembling with a mix of anger and hurt. "Uncle, how could you? Betraying not only Aunt Maria but the entire family... and all for what? This fling? You've tarnished our name and our trust!"

His uncle's face turned a deep shade of crimson as guilt and shame washed over him. He rose from his chair, his voice shaky. "Aric, I... I never meant to hurt anyone. It's a mistake, a weakness I succumbed to. Please understand, it's complicated..."

But Aric wouldn't hear any more excuses. His eyes narrowed, his voice cutting through the tension like a sharp blade. "Complicated or not, it doesn't excuse your actions. You were meant to be a guiding force, a pillar of our guild. Instead, you've become a source of disgrace." The secretary hastily exited the room, leaving behind a tense atmosphere as Aric unleashed his fury upon his uncle. Every word that escaped Aric's lips carried a potent mix of anger and disappointment. The air crackled with palpable tension, like a storm brewing on the horizon. But as the torrent of emotions subsided, Aric let out a weary sigh and sank onto the plush sofa.

"I surrender," Aric finally admitted, his voice heavy with resignation. "This is your life to lead, but mark my words, the consequences will catch up with you one day." He locked eyes with his uncle, his gaze burning with a blend of concern and defiance. Despite his uncle's reputation as a notorious womanizer, Aric couldn't deny the remarkable skills he possessed as a guild master.

Quickly changing the subject, Aric eagerly relayed the harrowing discovery made by the brave adventurers—a sprawling mass grave of goblin corpses, a chilling sight that hinted at the handiwork of a lone, sinister perpetrator. The guild master's visage contorted into a deep frown as the words reached his ears. Magnus Ironfist, the incumbent guild master, was a once indomitable adventurer who had braved countless dangers in his youth. However, the responsibilities of marriage eventually led him to embrace a more settled life, opting for less perilous quests. When the previous guild master succumbed to the ravages of time, Magnus reluctantly assumed the mantle.

The gravity of the news weighed heavily on Magnus's broad shoulders. His rugged features hardened as he contemplated the implications of this macabre revelation. In a hushed voice tinged with concern, he addressed Aric, his nephew and a promising adventurer in his own right.

"Aric, my lad," Magnus began, his voice laden with concerns. "We must tread carefully in the face of such darkness. A solo perpetrator is capable of such unspeakable acts... It bodes ill for our realm." With a determined gaze, he issued a command. "Gather a team of our finest warriors and investigate this gruesome scene. We cannot allow this menace to roam unchecked."

"What about the frontline? There are reports that the general and his knights were brutally slain by the savage goblin king," Magnus whispered, his voice tinged with a mix of fear and awe. His eyes locked onto Aric's, filled with a haunting intensity. "I witnessed the gruesome aftermath myself, dear nephew. The fallen knights lay strewn across the blood-soaked battlefield, their valor extinguished in an instant. Those bodies still lies near the goblin king's cave"

Aric's heart skipped a beat as he absorbed the weight of Magnus's words. He knew his uncle commanded a team of skilled scouts, ever vigilant in their duty to protect the realm. These brave souls possessed mystical instruments, such as the legendary orb of truth, forged by the master wizards from the enigmatic eastern tower. These enchanted devices had the power to capture vivid images, enabling the transmission of visual messages back to the guild master.

"There is still no news regarding the whereabouts of General Lance and his valiant knights of the Twelve. Should we assemble a team to embark on a quest to locate them? This predicament is not only crucial for our fellow adventurers but also for the very fate of our kingdom," Aric cautiously conveyed to Magnus, his voice laced with concern. The gravity of the situation weighed heavily upon him.

The room fell into silence as Magnus pondered the implications. The mad king's deep-rooted disdain for the adventure guild, viewing it as an unchecked force capable of inciting rebellion, added an extra layer of consideration to their decision. Aric added on, "I think it will be beneficial for some scouting, if the rumors are right and the goblin king has won, we should prepare for him to come here to Ravenspire, this is the route to the castle."

Magus nodded his head solemnly, his eyes filled with determination. "Yes, you are right," he replied, his voice laced with urgency. "Our townsfolk are more important than the whims of a mad king. But there's more to it. Rumors abound that the king has vanished, disappeared into thin air." The words hung in the air, shrouded in mystery and fear.

Suddenly, as if a dark force had gripped him, Magus fell silent. His eyes bulged, revealing his shock and disbelief. Aric, startled by the guild master's sudden distress, leaped to his feet and rushed to Magus's side. "Are you alright?" he asked anxiously, guiding him to the nearby sofa.

Gasping for breath, Magus managed to compose himself. "Yes, yes, I am fine," he muttered, his voice strained. "Someone is deliberately stirring up trouble, can't you see? We've been blind, all of us! Foolish, naive fools!" His words reverberated through the room, tinged with a mix of anger and desperation.

With a sudden surge of energy, Magus sprang to his feet, his movements so swift and startling that Aric took a step back in surprise. "The missing king, the vanished general and knights, the piles of lifeless goblins and fallen knights," Magus exclaimed, his voice trembling with intensity. "They are all connected, intertwined by something sinister and deeply hidden."

As Magus paused to catch his breath, a newfound resolve burned in his eyes. He turned to Aric, determination etched on his face. "We cannot afford to ignore this any longer. We must uncover the truth, for the sake of our people and the safety of our realm."