The wagon creaked along the dirt road, the rhythmic clop of the horses almost soothing. Kale leaned back, adjusting his tunic, a smile creeping across his face as he glanced at Rika. "That warhammer's bigger than you. How do you even swing that thing?"

Rika grinned, tossing the reins aside for a second. "You see these muscles?" She flexed her biceps, giving him a cheeky grin before sticking her tongue out. "It's all in the guns."

Kale chuckled, about to reply when a massive tree slammed down in front of them. The horses reared back with a startled whinny, and the wagon lurched to a halt. Before Kale or Liliana could register what was happening, shadows emerged from the trees on both sides, robbers armed with swords and axes.

A gravelly voice shouted, "Drop your weapons and hand over everything!"

Rika's eyes lit up. "Awwwww yeaaa!"

Without hesitation, she leapt off the wagon, her warhammer already in hand. Kale barely had time to blink before she swung her weapon, and a highwayman's head exploded into a red mist, his body flopping to the ground like a discarded sack of laundry. "Get smashed!" she shouted, grinning.

Kale gasped, "Oh my god."

Another bandit, eyes wide, stammered, "What the fuck?!"

Before the man could react, Rika slammed her warhammer into the chest of a heavily armored robber. The impact was brutal. Metal buckled, bones cracked, and blood sprayed from the man's mouth as his torso caved in. He collapsed to the ground, gurgling his last breath.

Rika laughed wildly, her eyes gleaming with excitement. "You boys picked the wrong wagon!" She whirled around, her warhammer swinging in wide arcs as she tore through the ranks of the stunned robbers.

Kale and Liliana scrambled to join the fight, but Rika was already a blur of motion. With a wild grin, she vaulted over another attacker, her hammer swinging in a vicious arc. There was a sickening crunch as it connected, folding the man like a hinge. He dropped to the ground in a heap, his limbs bent at angles they were never meant to.

An archer from the tree line notched an arrow, aiming at Kale. But Kale activated Swiftform, dodging the arrows as they whizzed past him. In a blur, he closed the distance, his dagger flashing as he sliced across the archer's throat. The man collapsed, his eyes wide with shock as he bled out.

The surviving bandits froze as the blood-soaked scene registered. Eyes wide with terror, one stumbled back. "Screw this, I'm out!" he yelled, scrambling to escape.

Liliana's voice cut through the chaos, cold and merciless. "No one leaves."

From the mangled remains of their fallen comrades, blood tendrils slithered out, wrapping tightly around the fleeing men's legs. The bandits screamed, clawing at the ground, their fingers digging into the dirt as they were dragged back, inch by inch, toward the massacre.

"Please! No! I—" One of them tried to plead, but his words were silenced in an instant as Rika's warhammer came down with a brutal thud. His body crumpled under the force, blood spraying across the dirt as his form was reduced to mangled flesh and bone.

Rika wiped the blood from her cheek with the back of her hand, grinning wickedly. "Nice assist, floating head!"

Before Liliana could respond, Rika raised her hammer once more, bringing it down with a bone-crunching crash. The last of the bandits' bodies shattered beneath her strike, leaving nothing but crushed remains smeared into the earth.

As the dust settled and the sounds of the ambush faded, Liliana floated closer, her expression tight. "Stop calling me 'floating head.'"

Rika barked a laugh. "Didn't mean to offend, Lili." She winked, leaning on her warhammer. "What would you prefer? 'Headliner?' 'Chief Executive Noggin'? 'Head honcho'?"

Liliana's glare intensified. "Liliana will do just fine."

Rika grinned wider. "Alright, Lils. I'll be sure to remember that..."

Kale snorted, hiding his grin behind his hand, as Liliana huffed, clearly not in the mood for more banter.

Liliana floated toward the fallen bodies. As she raised her chin, the corpses twitched and shifted, blood seeping from their wounds. The red streams rose in thin, winding tendrils, swirling around her. She closed her eyes.

"Valtharion, I offer this blood in your name. May it strengthen us both."

As the final word left her lips, the blood vanished, pulled away, swallowed by an unseen force. The bodies now motionless and lifeless in every sense.

Rika blinked, then let out a low whistle. "Man, that's gnarly."

Liliana shot her a look. "Shut up."

Kale gestured toward the bodies Rika had left behind—the shattered bones, the crimson-streaked mess. "Really? That's what you think is gnarly?"

Rika glanced at the remains of her handiwork, then shrugged, her grin returning. "Fair enough."

She bent down, grabbed the massive tree, and with zero effort, hurled it into the sky.

"Hup!"

The trunk spun end over end, vanishing into the treetops with an impressive whoosh before crashing somewhere far, far away. Birds scattered. A distant thud echoed through the forest.

This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

Kale blinked at the empty road where a tree had just been.

"…Huh."

Rika dusted off her hands. "Wagon's good to go."

The wagon creaked as Rika hopped back onto the front bench. Kale followed, still trying to shake off the adrenaline coursing through his veins. Liliana hovered nearby, her usual sarcastic expression replaced with a more contemplative look, though her irritation was still palpable.

Rika stretched, her grin still wide. "Well, that was fun."

Kale shook his head, half-smiling. "Fun? That was brutal. I'm pretty sure you obliterated at least three of them before I could even blink."

Rika leaned over, giving him a playful nudge with her elbow. "What can I say? It's all in the guns."

Kale chuckled, rubbing his shoulder. "You were... honestly, you were incredible back there."

Rika's grin softened, and before Kale could react, she threw her arms around him, pulling him into a tight hug. "Awww, you're too sweet! But don't worry, Kaley, I'll protect you."

Kale squirmed, laughing awkwardly. "Okay, okay! You're crushing me, Rika."

She released him with a laugh. "You're tougher than you look, Kale. You'll get the hang of this soon enough."

Liliana, floating alongside the wagon, gave an unimpressed snort. "You're both lucky those bandits were idiots."

Rika winked at her. "You're not wrong, floating—uh, Liliana."

As the banter died down, the road ahead stretched into the fading sunlight. Rika's eyes narrowed as she looked toward the horizon. "There's a village up ahead. Earthborn village, Mossvellir." She glanced back at Kale and Liliana. "We can stop there for the night, get a nice warm meal, and maybe even pick up some information."

Kale nodded, feeling a wave of relief wash over him at the thought of food and rest. "Sounds good to me."

Rika flicked the reins, urging the horses forward. "Don't worry, Kaley. We'll be there soon enough."

***

By the time the group reached the village, dusk had settled over the land, painting the sky in deep hues of purple and gold. The air was cool and heavy with the scent of damp earth and moss. Mossvellir came into view like a hidden gem, nestled at the foot of rolling hills. The stone cottages, covered in thick layers of moss, blended almost seamlessly into the landscape. Tiny streams trickled between the buildings, their soft murmurs adding to the serene atmosphere.

Everything about the village felt earthy, as though it had grown directly from the ground itself. Moss clung to the stone walls of the homes, and the cobblestone paths were slick with the moisture of the day.

Rika guided the wagon forward. "Mossvellir," she said. "The earth speaks here, you can smell it in the air."

Kale stretched and gazed around, taking in the earthy beauty of the place. "It's… different. Kind of peaceful."

"Different or not, it'll do. At least it's quiet," Liliana said.

As they approached, a few villagers looked up from their work, their eyes various hues of gold, ranging from amber to deep, molten shades. Their hair, in shades of green, teal, and blue, caught the fading light. They watched the wagon with mild curiosity, but one older man stepped forward, his eyes the color of burnished gold, and his hair streaked with dark green and gray. His clothes were worn, simple, but his presence felt grounded, like a tree deeply rooted in the earth.

"One of us, eh?" the old man said, squinting at Rika with a crooked smile. "Haven't seen you around here before."

Rika jumped down from the wagon, brushing her hands on her tunic. "I'm from the Southern Ridges, down near Bjarnholl."

The old man's face lit up with recognition. "Ahhh, I see. And you've brought outsiders?" His gaze shifted to Kale and Liliana, his tone carrying a hint of curiosity.

"Just passing through. We're looking for a hot meal and a place to rest. Think you could point us in the right direction?"

The old man's eyes lingered on Kale and Liliana a moment longer, then he nodded. "Aye, head to Ingibjörg's tavern, last building on the left. She'll fix you up. Not often we get outsiders here, but if you're with one of us, you'll be fine."

Rika gave him a nod of thanks. "Good to know. It's nice to be among our own, even if only for a night."

The old man smiled, though his golden eyes remained curious as he glanced back at the two outsiders. "Take care. Mossvellir is... particular about who walks its paths."

With a final nod, he turned and walked away, his moss-covered boots making almost no sound as he disappeared into the village.

"Friendly enough," Rika said with a shrug, turning to Kale and Liliana. "Let's go before it gets too dark."

The group made their way through the village, the soft glow of lamps lighting the path, casting golden reflections on the streams that wound between the houses. Mossvellir had an old, earthy tranquility, but it also carried an ancient, untamed energy. As they neared the tavern, a warm light spilled from its windows, welcoming them in from the gathering night.

***

The door to The Stony Hearth creaked as Rika pushed it open, a wave of warmth hitting them from within. Inside, the tavern was cozy, lit by soft amber light from low-hanging lanterns. The stone walls were draped with thick moss, giving the room an earthy, natural atmosphere. Wooden beams lined the ceiling, and a large hearth crackled in the center of the room, sending waves of heat through the space. A few patrons sat at rough-hewn tables.

Rika strode in confidently, with Kale and Liliana following close behind. She flashed a grin at the woman behind the counter, an older Earthborn with deep teal hair tied back in a loose braid, her eyes a molten gold. She stood with her hands on her hips.

"Evening," Rika said, leaning casually on the counter. "We're looking for a meal and a place to rest."

"Evening. Outsiders, huh? Not something we see much of in Mossvellir."

"I'm one of you, though," Rika said, tapping her chest. "From the Southern Ridges."

The woman looked over Kale and Liliana. "That much I can see. You've brought strangers, though. Makes me wonder what business brings you all the way out here."

"We're just passing through," Rika said. "But we could use a hot meal and a bed for the night. Think you can help us out?"

The woman studied them for a moment longer before nodding. "Aye, Ingibjörg's the name. You'll find no warmer hearth than this one in all of Mossvellir." She turned her head and called toward the kitchen. "Food's almost ready. Take a seat, and I'll bring it out."

Rika motioned to an empty table near the hearth, and the trio sat down. As they settled, Kale noticed the subtle stares from a few patrons. Most were curious, but some seemed wary.

"So, this place seems... nice," Kale said, trying to shake the feeling of being watched.

Rika leaned back in her chair, arms crossed behind her head. "It's just how they are. Not used to outsiders. But don't worry, you're with me."

As they waited, a few earthborn at a nearby table murmured among themselves. Kale caught snippets of their conversation, words like "tremors" and "strange creatures," but their voices were low enough that he couldn't make out the details.

Ingibjörg returned shortly, balancing a tray of steaming bowls and mugs, she looked over the room before settling on Rika. "Strange times lately. The earth's been restless. Tremors, strange sightings... folks are on edge."

Rika leaned in closer. "Restless how?"

Ingibjörg placed a steaming bowl in front of Kale. "The ground shakes in the night, and people swear they've seen strange figures near the edge of the woods. Creatures that don't belong."

Liliana, hovering just above a chair, narrowed her eyes. "Strange figures?"

Ingibjörg gave her a nod. "Aye. The earth's been uneasy. And when the earth's uneasy, we are too. Some say it's just the land settling, others think it's something more... unnatural."

Rika threw a fist in the air. "Now that sounds like our kind of problem!"

Kale groaned under his breath. "Can't we just enjoy a meal for once without signing up to fight something?"

Rika slapped him on the back. "Where's the fun in that, Kaley?"

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.