Adventure of Lunar 1

The world road skirts a gray lake beneath a bruised afternoon sky. Reeds hiss in the wind, and wet earth gives way to a treacherous patch of quicksand.

A blue-scaled paladin sinks to his waist. His buster sword juts across the mire, its broad blade thrust toward solid ground, close enough to grasp.

The crescent sickle at Lunar's side gives a faint chime. Blue light crawls along its eyes, pointing past the trapped knight toward the lake, where something valuable waits beneath the water.

Lunar reaches the edge of firm ground as the paladin slips another inch. Across the lake, the surface dimples, then begins to churn in a widening ring.

A long shadow rolls beneath the water. The paladin sees it too, and his grip tightens around the sword hilt.

Lunar clamps both hands around the buster sword's hilt and hauls backward. The mire sucks at the blade, but his strength tears it free.

The sword comes hard against his palms, splitting the skin. Blood slicks the grip, yet Lunar keeps pulling.

The paladin surges forward with the sword's leverage. Mud collapses behind him as Lunar drags him across the rim and onto firm, stony ground.

The lake answers with a booming surge. Water heaves above the submerged guardian, and a wall of spray races toward the road, forcing the freed paladin to choose whether to stand and face it or run.

Lunar breaks for a wind-bent tree above the road, carrying the buster sword as the surge thunders closer.

Therefore, the Blue Paladin follows, limping hard but keeping low as sheets of water spill across the stones.

Lunar slips behind the tree's broad roots. The paladin crouches beside him, and the rushing wall passes on the other side of the trunk.

The lake guardian rises beyond the flooded road, a vast silhouette beneath streaming water. Its movement sends ripples through the mud.

The guardian turns its submerged head toward the tree. Water drips from its unseen crown while the paladin clamps one hand over his own mouth.

The sea beast's dragon-shaped head sinks beneath the black water. Its wake rolls away from the road, leaving only rain and trembling reeds.

Therefore, Lunar rises from cover and takes the Blue Paladin's weight before the knight's injured leg can buckle.

Lunar guides him along the flooded stones, one careful step at a time. The paladin's limp worsens, but together they reach a raised shelf of roots and dry gravel beneath the wind-bent tree.

There, the Blue Paladin lowers himself against the trunk and cradles his displaced shoulder. His breathing steadies as the lake settles behind them.

He glances toward the dark water, then lowers his voice beneath the rain.

His wary gaze settles on the crescent blade, no longer fearful, but searching for the shape of an oath he has not yet named.

Ser Kael nods and slips behind the wind-bent tree, keeping his blue armor below the roots. Lunar advances alone across the wet gravel.

With every careful pace toward the water, the sickle brightens. Beneath the lake, the serpent's immense shape rises toward the surface.

Before the guardian's head breaks the water, Lunar drops behind a low shelf of stone. The blue glow fades, and the serpent sinks again.

He repeats the test in measured stages. Each approach makes the sickle blaze sooner, and each retreat leaves the guardian circling beneath the dark water.

At the waterline, the sickle shines like a small moon. Far below, Nhalassa opens one vast eye, and a pale path appears through the flooded lake toward its depths.

The pale path contracts beneath the lake. Kael plants his buster sword in the gravel and tries to rise, but his injured leg buckles.

Where the submerged path narrows, three flat stones break the surface in a line toward the far shore. Beyond them, a dim lantern glows beside a reed-choked trail leading away from the water.

Below, Nhalassa's eye follows the sickle's light. The guardian does not close the way, but the first exposed stone begins sinking under the lake's slow pull.

Lunar steps onto the exposed stones behind Ser Kael Veyr and presses forward carefully, trying to lend him speed without throwing him off balance.

But the sinking stone rolls beneath Lunar's weight. His careful push becomes a sudden shove, and Kael's injured leg folds before he can quicken his pace.

Kael lurches sideways. Lunar catches his armor, but the correction drags both of them onto the middle stone instead of carrying them toward shore.

The planted buster sword tears free and splashes into the narrow gap behind them. The nearest stone vanishes beneath the dark water, cutting off the way back.

Kael shifts his weight onto the far stone, testing it with his boot. Lunar follows his timing instead of forcing him forward.

The middle stone pitches sharply. Lunar springs across the gap before it can roll beneath him.

He lands beside Kael on the last stone, boots skidding on wet rock. Kael catches the shoreward edge and keeps his injured leg clear.

Behind them, the middle stone slips under the lake. The pale path vanishes, leaving the submerged buster sword and widening ripples in its wake.

The distant lantern burns through the mist while reeds scrape against the far bank. Beneath the stone, Nhalassa's shadow turns, watching the choice.

Therefore, Lunar and Ser Kael launch together from the last stone toward the lantern path, leaving the reeds and the turning shadow behind.

Their boots strike the muddy shore. Lunar absorbs the landing and reaches back as Kael stumbles onto solid ground.

Kael leans on Lunar for three uneven steps, then finds enough balance to stand and act beneath the lantern's glow.

A hooded lantern-bearer emerges at the path's bend and raises one hand. Behind the bearer, the trail divides around a black pool, and a warning bell rings once.

Therefore, Lunar lowers his profile and guides Kael toward the reeds, choosing the mud's darkest edge instead of the lanternlit path.

But the soaked ground records every step. A line of wet footprints curves around the pool, and Kael's injured leg drags a bright furrow through the mud.

The bearer does not raise an alarm. Instead, they angle the lantern toward a narrow reed passage where the mud gives way to raised stones, offering concealment from the open fork.

Lunar slips between the reeds, placing each foot on the raised stones. Ser Kael follows his route, keeping his injured leg clear of the mud.

The narrow passage bends around the lantern-bearer and the black pool. From above, the wet footprints break apart among the reeds, masking the pair's true direction.

The stones carry Lunar and Ser Kael beyond the fork. They emerge onto a drier track where a crooked sign points toward the town inn.

Behind them, the lantern-bearer remains at the fork while the warning bell gives a second, distant ring. Ahead, warm windows glow beneath the inn sign, and a cloaked gatekeeper steps into the track to inspect their approach.

The gatekeeper lowers their arm after a brief inspection, and the inn door opens onto amber firelight and the scent of stew.

Inside, Lunar guides Ser Kael to the long wooden counter. The paladin leans on the edge, keeping his injured leg raised while Lunar presents their need for shelter.

The broad-shouldered orc keeper takes Kael's travel pack and points upstairs. A clean room, a basin, and two blankets await beneath a shuttered window.

Later, with Kael's leg wrapped and both travelers seated near the hearth, steam rises from two bowls. The inn's quiet warmth settles around them, and Kael studies Lunar across the table.