Elias took a deep breath, adjusting his bag on his shoulder as he prepared to leave Eldoria behind once and for all. Margo stood beside him, ready to follow wherever he led. As they turned to step through the towering gates, a loud voice suddenly cut through the air, calling out to Elias.
"Elias Ashdown!! Wait up!"
Elias turned, his brows furrowing as he recognized the familiar figure of Sarah Ironwood sprinting toward them. She was dressed in a mix of leather armor and casual garb, her metal armor pieces clanging against each other as they dangled from her overstuffed bag. Her face was flushed from exertion, and she was slightly out of breath by the time she reached them.
Elias sighed, his expression a mix of annoyance and resignation. "Sarah, what are you doing here?" he asked, his voice carrying a hint of exasperation.
Sarah paused to catch her breath, bending over with her hands on her knees. "Trust me, I don't want to be here," she huffed. "But my stubborn father insisted that I go with you. And besides," she added, straightening up and glaring at him, "you still have my sword, and I'm not about to let you run off to gods know where with it."
Elias rubbed the back of his neck, glancing at the blade in his inventory, In all honesty he had forgotten that he still had her sword.
"So, everyone knows I'm leaving now, huh?" Elias muttered, glancing back toward the city as if half expecting more familiar faces to emerge from the crowd.
Sarah shrugged, then pulled a sealed piece of paper from her bag and handed it to him. "My father said you should have this."
Elias took the note, breaking the seal and unfolding the paper. Lord Varric's handwriting was barely legible, his scrawls uneven and cramped, but Elias managed to decipher the message:
**Elias,
Elias took the lead, his steps purposeful and steady. He had no clear destination in mind, just the vague sense that he needed to become stronger, to find the power and skills that would allow him to stand against the demon kings on his own terms. His battle with Acedia had been a harsh reminder of his limits, and he couldn't afford to face another foe unprepared.
As they walked, the weight of his decision settled more firmly on his shoulders. He had completely deviated from the expected path, from the script laid out by fate and the game of [Arcane Days]. Everything was changing, shifting in ways that even the gods themselves wouldn't anticipate.
Elias knew that this was the beginning of something entirely new. He was no longer just a player in a predetermined story; he was the author of his own fate, carving out a path that was uniquely his. And though the road ahead was fraught with uncertainty and danger, he felt a surge of determination rise within him.
He glanced back at Margo and Sarah, their expressions a mix of resolve and curiosity. They were here by his side, willing to follow him into the unknown. It wasn't the party he had envisioned, but it was the one he had. And for now, that was enough.
"Keep your eyes open," Elias said as they ventured deeper into the forest. "This is just the beginning. We've got a lot of ground to cover, and who knows what's waiting for us out there."
Margo smirked, adjusting her grip on her weapon. "Bring it on," she said confidently. "I'm ready for whatever's out there and you know it. It's Ironwood here that you should be worried about "
Sarah, meanwhile, glanced around warily, her hand resting on the hilt of her sword. "I am very much capable of taking care of myself, priest" she muttered under her breath
Elias chuckled, shaking his head. Despite the unexpected company and the uncertainty of their journey, he felt a flicker of excitement.
[+10 000 000 FWP]