Broken and the others stood in silence as the faeries drew closer. There was no further comment from Maylock-he seemed to consider his conclusions final.
It was clear that the attack by the monster horde had been instigated by the faeries, yet Maylock had suggested that Broken could consider trusting their Tribe Leader. Their bond, forged by surviving the attack, seemed to have created a certain level of affinity.
When the faeries were close enough, it was easy to see that one among them stood out-a figure carrying a spear, exuding a commanding presence. This faery was clearly Morel, the Knight Commander as identified by the name visible above his head. He took a step forward.
“Forgive us for our delay in welcoming you,” Morel said respectfully. “My name is Morel, Knight Commander of the Moonlight Fae. I come bearing a message of invitation from our Tribe Leader, Lady Elaine.”
Broken and the others all stood, their eyes shifting downward to meet the gaze of the faeries, whose small, child-like bodies made them appear deceptively innocent.
“So, it’s you who caused us so much trouble,” Broken said sternly. “Two of our friends are dead, and our Yunatean friends were put in danger because of you. And now you come here with an invitation in your hands. Do you expect me to trust you?”
Morel immediately dropped to his knees, bowing low. “I apologize for the challenge I issued,” he said. “I had no other choice. I needed to be certain that you were the one we have been waiting for.”
Broken’s gaze narrowed. “And what is it that you want?”
Morel looked up. “We would be deeply honored if you would agree to visit our home and help us liberate our tribe from the ancient curse that has plagued us for centuries.”
Broken remained silent for a moment, his brow furrowed. “Liberate the tribe from a curse?” He recalled the details from the quest he had received-something about a prophecy. Could it be that they believed he was the one prophesied to lift the curse that had afflicted them for centuries?
Broken glanced at Maylock, who nodded slowly, as if affirming what had been said. Taking a breath, Broken turned his gaze back to Morel.
“How are you so certain that I can free your tribe from this curse?” Broken asked. “What kind of curse is it? And why should I care about your tribe when I barely know any of you?”
“Mr. Broken,” Morel replied slowly, “you are the one our Queen of the Fae prophesied would come to aid us. You fulfill the two requirements she spoke of. We are prepared to reward you generously for your assistance. I truly hope you will consider our request.”
He paused, then added, “As for the curse, it would be best if you heard the full explanation directly from our Tribe Leader. Please come with us to learn more.”
Broken eyed Morel for a moment before asking, “Where exactly are you taking me, and how long will it take? And can I bring a friend with me?”
Morel bowed his head in acknowledgment. “We will be inviting you to our residence, deep within our territory. It will take around a month,” he said carefully. “However, due to certain restrictions, you may only bring one Yunatean with you-not another player.”
Broken narrowed his eyes slightly, considering the terms. A month was a significant amount of time, and being limited to bringing only one Yunatean made things even more complicated.
“And these restrictions,” Broken pressed, “why do they exist? Why only a Yunatean and not another player?”
Morel took a moment, his gaze lowering as if searching for the right words. “The magic that protects our home is ancient and selective. It’s built to ward off outsiders who do not belong -specifically, those not originally from Yunatea. Another player would disrupt the delicate balance of our sanctuary. It’s simply how the enchantment works.”
Broken was quite intrigued by what the faeries were proposing. He was particularly interested in their pre-existing affinity with him-it implied a certain level of trustworthiness.
But a curse? And a generous reward?
It was undeniably something worth exploring. Who knew what he might find there? Whatever it was, he knew it promised to be interesting.
Still, the restriction remained: he could not bring another player with him, and was only permitted to bring one Yunatean. His choice was between Ivana or one of the Knights.
“Let me discuss it with my friends, and I will let you know when I’ve made my decision,” he declared.
With that, the faeries began to walk away. Among them were Cedric and Cecilia. Cedric waved his arms energetically, a wide smile on his face.
“I’m glad you’re safe, Mr. Broken!” he called out. In contrast, Cecilia remained silent, her eyes cast downward, her demeanor far more reserved.
Broken smiled at them both and gave a wave in return. It was clear that Cedric was the
friendly, outgoing one, while his sister seemed shy and introspective.
Once the faeries were out of sight, Broken turned back to his companions. He stepped a few paces away with Maylock to discuss the unexpected situation in private.
“What do you think, Maylock?” He asked, needing a second opinion on the matter. Maylock smiled, nodding slowly. “It’s obvious-you should accept the invitation,” he said confidently. “That’s what you were thinking too, right? This is a major quest, and there’s bound to be a significant event you’ll trigger from here. It’s an incredibly rare opportunity. The answer is clear: take their invitation. It’s worth the risk.”
“Yes,” Broken admitted, “but I’m only allowed to bring one person. I think Ivana should come with me.”
Maylock gave a firm nod. “I agree. Ivana is the best choice for this. Don’t worry about the knights. Elincia, Melliandra, and Kingsley are already on their way here, and they’ll make sure we all return to the city safely. Plus, with the time you’ll need to complete this quest, it makes sense for us to head back and wait for word from you.”
Maylock’s reassurance was enough to make Broken feel more at ease. The plan made sense. Ivana was not only dependable but also capable of adapting to whatever surprises awaited them on this journey.
“An event like this,” Maylock continued, “is something that many players are eagerly anticipating. This is an important quest, and it will undoubtedly bring great rewards. I’m sure there’s something significant behind that curse they’re talking about.”
Broken nodded slowly in agreement. frёewebηovel.cѳm
“I just want you to know that you made the right decision, Broken.”
“Thank you.”
Broken knew the faeries were waiting not far away, but he was determined to stay put until the afternoon when Elincia and the others would join them. Given her ability to fly, Elincia could travel much faster than the rest. Meanwhile, Melliandra and Kingsley relied on Kingsley’s transformation-Melliandra riding on his back in his beast form to keep up.
After a while, a blue light shot towards them from a distance, and as it approached, Broken could see the figure wrapped in crackling blue lightning energy. Elincia descended before them, landing gracefully.
“Hi, trouble inviter…” Elincia greeted with a grin.