Leon lay on his bed at the inn, staring at the ceiling, his mind clouded with thoughts. The mysterious dream still lingered—an unfamiliar voice calling his name, Ricardo's warning, and that feeling of something... missing. He turned onto his side, trying to force himself to sleep, but every time he closed his eyes, the dream resurfaced.
It wasn't just an ordinary nightmare. It felt real. Too real.
After what felt like hours, he finally gave up on sleep. With a heavy sigh, he sat up, rubbing his temples. "What the hell is happening to me?" he muttered under his breath.
He had faced death, monstrous creatures, and powerful warriors, yet nothing unsettled him as much as this creeping sense of uncertainty.
His thoughts wandered to Ricardo. Where had he gone? Was he safe? Why did he leave without a word?
Leon clenched his fists. He needed answers, but he didn't even know where to start.
•••
By the time the first rays of dawn touched the rooftops of the city, Leon had already left his room. The streets were quiet, with only a few early risers setting up their market stalls. The scent of freshly baked bread and morning dew filled the air as he made his way toward the guild hall, where his party, Dusk Claws, had gathered.
Jin, the rogue of the group, was already sharpening his daggers, while Valerie, the spear-wielding warrior, was practicing her swings with precision. Lisa, their skilled archer, sat on a wooden crate, adjusting the fletching on her arrows.
The moment they spotted Leon, Jin smirked. "Finally awake, huh? Thought you wouldn't get up after all that brooding last night."
Valerie chuckled. "If you're still half-asleep, maybe we should pick an easy job today."
Lisa studied Leon's expression. "You look like you've got something on your mind."
Leon forced a smile, stretching his arms. "I'm fine. Just thinking about... stuff."
Jin leaned in with a teasing grin. "Oh? A secret romance, perhaps?"
Leon rolled his eyes. "Not even close."
They all laughed, but Lisa continued watching him with a knowing look. She wasn't fooled so easily.
•••
They eventually picked a job—a simple hunting mission in the northern forests. A pack of mutated wolves had been terrorizing merchants, and it was their job to deal with them. Easy money.
Or so they thought.
The journey to the forest took several hours, giving the group plenty of time to talk, joke, and plan their approach. But as they walked, Leon found himself distracted again. His thoughts drifted back to Ricardo, the dream, and that eerie voice calling his name.
"Leon! Watch out!"
Lisa's warning came just in time.
Leon barely dodged as a massive wolf lunged at him from the side, its fangs inches from his neck. Instinct took over—he drew his sword in a flash, slashing through the beast in one clean strike. Blood sprayed onto the forest floor as the wolf collapsed.
Jin whistled. "Still as fast as ever."
Valerie smirked. "But you almost got bitten. You sure you're all here, Leon?"
Leon exhaled, wiping sweat from his brow. "Yeah… just got lost in thought."
Lisa gave him a skeptical glance but didn't press the issue.
The battle had only just begun.
•••
The deeper they ventured into the forest, the more wolves they encountered. They weren't normal beasts—they were larger, faster, and their eyes glowed with an eerie light. But Leon and his team fought skillfully, cutting through them one by one.
As the final wolf fell, Valerie stretched, cracking her neck. "That was way too easy."
Jin grinned. "Yeah, I was hoping for a challenge."
Lisa, however, was still on high alert. "Something's off."
Leon agreed. Despite the battle, something felt… wrong.
Then the whispers returned.
"Leon..."
His breath hitched. He spun around, but there was nothing there.
The whispers grew louder, surrounding him. The others continued talking, unaware of the strange presence.
Leon clenched his fists. He wasn't imagining this. Something—or someone—was watching him.
•••
That night, the group set up camp in the forest, resting after the hunt. The fire crackled, casting flickering shadows on the trees. Jin and Valerie exchanged stories, laughing over past adventures, while Lisa sat quietly, lost in thought.
Leon, however, was silent, staring into the flames.
He couldn't shake the feeling that something was coming.
Something that would change everything.
To be continued…
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