Mon. Oct 20th, 2025

Deep in the heart of Eldergrove, where sunlight barely touched the ground, stood the Eldertree, an ancient being blessed with wisdom as old as time. It had witnessed the rise and fall of countless realms, and now, it sensed a dark force approaching. Its branches rustled, and from its thick bark emerged a figure—Sera, the Guardian of the Eldertree.

Sera looked upon the grove and knew there was no time to lose. “Listen to me, brave souls!” she called out, her voice echoing through the mist. Suddenly, a trio of friends appeared: Edrin, the brave warrior; Lira, the clever thief; and Moko, the shy but talented healer.

Edrin stepped forward, gripping his sword tightly. “What’s wrong, Sera? Why do you call us?”

“A shadow grows near, a being known as the Shadow Wraith. It seeks to drain the life from our land! Only you can stop it,” Sera explained, her eyes glowing.

Lira frowned, adjusting her satchel filled with stolen oddities. “But what can we do against such an evil?”

“We have a map that reveals the Wraith’s lair, but it is hidden in riddles,” Sera replied. “You must work together to follow the clues!”

Moko, trembling with uncertainty, whispered, “What if we fail?”

“Then all may be lost. But if we unite our strengths, we can prevail!” Sera inspired, her voice gaining strength. The group nodded, determination building.

The first riddle illuminated the thick mist, shimmering like starlight: ‘Where the waters meet the flames, the path reveals itself, unshackled and untamed.’

Edrin pointed towards the lake nearby. “Water and flames—it must mean the old hot springs!”

“Right! Let’s move,” Lira chirped, excitement replacing her earlier doubt.

Upon reaching the springs, steam danced in the air. The trio began to search when Moko found a stone inscribed with lyrics pressed into its surface. “What was this for?”

Edrin scrutinized the words and exclaimed, “It’s a song of balance! Sing it, Moko!”

“Me? But I can’t!” Moko protested, cheeks flushing with embarrassment.

“Believe in yourself! We’ll support you,” Lira encouraged, kneeling beside him.

Gathering courage, Moko began to sing a hesitant tune, and as he did, the waters flared with movement, revealing a secret pathway.

“Great job!” Edrin cheered, beaming. The path wound deeper into the forest, leading to the next clue—a riddle etched into a moss-covered stone: ‘Where lost dreams find their dawn, the spirit guard awaits to fawn.’

Lira’s eyes glinted. “The Enchanted Clearing! We’ve heard tales of a legendary creature there!”

Quickly, the trio navigated to the clearing, where a luminous creature awaited—a radiant phoenix, who spoke softly, “Brave hearts, seek the light beyond your fear. What do you wish?”

Edrin responded, “To defeat the Shadow Wraith and protect our realm!”

“Then retrieve ‘the Tear of Dawn’ from its lair,” the phoenix instructed. “It is a gem, representing hope—without it, the Wraith will only grow stronger.”

After exchanging nods, the friends prepared to set off towards the Wraith’s fortress, uncertainty swirling in the depths of their minds. But as they took the first steps, they each understood the bond they had formed during this journey, filling them with courage and strength.