Chapter 22: Tracking the Path

After hearing about the unfortunate incident involving the injured adventurer during his journey, Alex, Izak, and Delaynie swiftly gathered their companions. They summoned Arkalis, the skilled sorcerer, along with the two sharpshooters, Maeve and Darnell.

"So where are we going!?" Darnell, one of the archers, asked Delaynie.

"To the Northwest! That's where that Vampire is believed to be hiding, but it's not certain," Delaynie replied. He went on to explain that they had learned about the vampire's location from an injured adventurer.

"Alright! Let's get this done this time!" Maeve, the other archer, said in response to Delaynie's explanation.

After some time, Delaynie and Alex secured a carriage for their party. They all boarded the carriage at the town's entrance and left the town behind, heading toward the forest. As they arrived at the particular road leading into the woods, they disembarked and instructed the driver to set up camp here.

Delaynie spoke to the driver, "You'll stay here safely while we venture further into the forest. We wouldn't want you getting caught up in any potential danger."

The driver nodded and began preparing the campsite while the adventurers readied themselves for their journey into the woods.

"How about we leave someone with the driver?" Izak suggested, voicing his concern for the driver's safety.

Alex pondered the idea for a moment and then replied, acknowledging Izak's concerns, "Maybe that's a good idea! Darnell, you'll stay here and watch over the driver while the rest of us investigate. If you hear any signs of trouble, rush in for battle. Got it?"

Darnell nodded in agreement, responding to Alex's command, "Got it!"

Leaving Darnell in charge of the driver's safety, the party advanced into the forest along the open path. They could clearly discern the signs of disturbed earth and several trees bearing the scars of destruction, which aligned with the reports of the vampire's morning attack on the injured adventurer en route to their location.

As Alex contemplated possible solutions, an idea struck him. "Delaynie! Use your power to sense!" he exclaimed. Without needing further explanation, Delaynie tapped into his unique abilities, extending his senses to detect the power levels of everyone in the area, including the elusive vampire.

"I've got it!" Delaynie declared with certainty, having located the vampire's power signature and its source.

"It's in the forest! Follow me!" Delaynie directed the group, pointing toward a path off the road. They ventured deeper into the forest, maintaining their guard. Soon, they reached a small clearing dominated by an old building covered in moss and vines, the foliage creeping up the brick walls from the surrounding forest.

"There! He's in this old... fort, or something," Delaynie remarked, his uncertainty evident as he pointed toward the building.

"Let's all get inside without being seen and stay hidden," Alex advised, taking charge of the situation. He strategically guided the group, ensuring they approached the fort from various entrances, moving stealthily to maintain their cover.

"No sight of him!" Maeve reported from her vantage point above the fort. Similar updates came from Alex, Delaynie, Izak, and Arkalis as they searched the area carefully.

"It appears he's inside this hatch, possibly hiding there," Arkalis observed and shared with the group.

"Let's proceed cautiously," Izak suggested, taking the lead by slowly opening the rusted hatch and descending via the old wooden ladder.

However, Delaynie expressed concern, recognizing the potential danger. "I don't think it's safe for all of us to go down at once. Izak, you check it out and let us know," he advised, considering the ladder's fragility and Izak's smaller size as an advantage for a safer exploration.

"It looks a little old, but this is definitely not some forgotten place," Izak muttered to himself as he surveyed a room that appeared to have been untouched for a long time, as if it had remained hidden from anyone's knowledge.

His curiosity piqued, Izak noticed a lever that was oddly exposed, not concealed like the rest of the room's features. Without hesitation, he pulled the lever, causing a hidden door to materialize from the wall.

Izak steeled himself, brandishing his sword, and cautiously opened the door. His shock left him momentarily speechless as he entered. Before him lay a plain white room adorned with imposing white pillars, dominated by a giant red door. 

Inexplicably, the vampire stood beside the colossal red door, engrossed in some strange activity, seemingly attempting to communicate with the imposing entrance. Izak watched in stunned silence, his eyes wide open at this unexpected and bizarre sight.

Izak retreated silently, carefully closing the secret door behind him, and quickly made his way back to the ladder. He gestured urgently to his party, signaling them to descend. Alex, who was on watch duty above, noticed Izak's signal and silently guided the others down the ladder one by one, ensuring a safe descent.

Once everyone was gathered below, Izak briefed them on the situation. They all readied their weapons, preparing for a confrontation. 

"Bust in!" Alex commanded, and they burst into the white room, cornering the vampire. Maeve took a shot at the vampire's leg, causing him to flinch and glance at them with dark, red eyes. He turned toward the giant red door, murmuring an ancient incantation. Suddenly, the entire room began to ascend, the ground beneath them moving upward as everyone clung to the floor.

Finally, the room emerged on the surface, the giant door slowly opening and releasing a shroud of ominous black mist. 

Alex lunged at the vampire, but the door erected a protective barrier, preventing them from reaching him.

"Looks like we have to retreat!" Alex muttered, realizing they had no other option. He hastily led the group back to the carriage, and they all sprinted toward it, a sense of impending danger urging them to escape.

They all rushed back to the open road, sprinting towards their carriage as fast as they could. As they made their escape, Izak couldn't help but glance back at the black mist. In a single look, he realized that the vampire had unwittingly unleashed a horde of vampiric creatures, launching them into the skies.

"Darnell! Get in the carriage now!" Alex's urgent shout reached them as he raced toward Darnell and the driver. The driver swiftly took his seat and urged the horses into a swift gallop, making their way back to town as quickly as the steeds could carry them.

However, they weren't alone. Vampiric creatures were hot on their heels, flying after them with incredible speed. Darnell and Maeve readied their bows, shooting down the creatures one by one, though not killing them. Alex conjured fireballs, hurling them at the pursuing fiends in a desperate bid to evade their relentless pursuit.

"Keep going!!" Alex continued to encourage the driver, doing his best to prevent any fear from creeping in.

The driver drove as swiftly as possible, and after a while, those vampire creatures ceased their pursuit, allowing Alex and his friends to make their way home without further chase.

"They stopped?!" Maeve exclaimed.

"They might not venture this far, I guess," Izak speculated.

"Let's inform everyone first! Then we can discuss it further," Delaynie suggested, and they headed toward the town guild.

Upon their arrival, they rushed inside, catching the attention of every other adventurer in the guild. Alex approached the receptionist and quickly explained the dire situation.

Panic swept through the town guild as the news of the vampire and the unleashed creatures spread like wildfire among the adventurers.

"Everyone, please, don't panic!" The receptionists took charge, attempting to calm down the alarmed adventurers.

Alex and his companions stepped outside, where Izak pointed to the ominous mist in the sky from the northwest, visible even from their location.

The situation was dire, but they needed to come up with a plan to address the threat looming over their town.

"We need to be prepared for anything now," Alex and Delaynie declared, their determination clear as they stood firm, ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead.

"Of course!" Darnell affirmed, his sentiment echoed by Maeve, Arkalis, and Izak.

As they ventured to the northwest side of town, they couldn't help but notice the unsettling state of the forest, with the leaves wilting and the landscape turning ominous.

"This doesn't bode well," Izak commented, shaken by the sight of the dying forest.

"We'll make him pay for this," Alex vowed, his determination unshaken as they prepared to confront the impending threat.

As they gazed upon the darkened and withered forest, a heavy sorrow filled their hearts. It wasn't just the adventurers; the entire town was in shock. The residents had come out to witness the unsettling sight and share in the collective grief.

They let the day pass without discussing it further, understanding that tomorrow would be their only chance to save their home from suffering the same fate that had befallen it centuries ago. With determination, they steeled themselves for the challenges ahead, ready to face the looming threat to their beloved town.