Travel with a Princess and Shadow Warrior

The sun hung low over the jagged cliffs of the Whispering Canyons, painting the sky in streaks of orange and purple. Terran trudged through the sandy path, his worn leather boots kicking up small clouds of dust. His brown hair stuck to his forehead, damp with sweat, and his pack weighed heavily on his shoulders. Beside him, his two scary companions, Princess Uriko and Vin Stoke, kept pace, their chatter filling the air with a lightness that contrasted the barren landscape.

Uriko asked, “Think we’ll find it today?”  

Her green eyes glinting with excitement as she adjusted the strap of her satchel. Her golden blonde hair swung as she walked, and she gripped her long lance, its tip glowing faintly with reflection of the light. 

Uriko then said, “Unai City got to be close. The map said where the winds sing loudest, and I swear I heard something weird last night.”

“Probably just the princess snoring,” Vin teased, glancing at the other girl with a grin.

Uriko, shot back at the shadow warrior, saying “Keep dreaming, pervert. That was the wind or your weird fetish dreams at night.” 

Despite her sharp tongue, her dark eyes scanned the canyon walls, alert for danger. The trio had been traveling for few days, getting used to being travel companions was a large task. Yet neither girl wanted to surrender free alone time with Terran. 

They’d left after watching the Great Healer leave and return back to Imperial City. Vin, the planner of the group, had memorized the map they’d received from Sadie. 

Vin, with shadow hidden fighting style, kept them on the path. Uriko, quick and resourceful Advanced Imperial Warrior level was great with a lance or spear. This was the first time she was able to travel with so few people and little supplies. Together, they were unstoppable—or so they hoped.

The canyon narrowed, its reddish walls rising high on either side. The air grew cooler, and a low, eerie hum echoed through the pass. Terran stopped, holding up a hand. “Hear that? It’s louder now.”

Actually, it was Enuma whispering in his ear warning of the situation. "Boy, you will not make it to the city in time. You best find a place to relieve yourself in the wild. Don't be scared of the women so much." 

Vin tilted her head, listening. “That’s no ordinary wind. It’s singing.” Her voice dropped to a whisper, and she gripped her small kunai tools. “We’re close.”

Uriko crouched, inspecting the ground. “Tracks,” she said, pointing to faint scratches in the dirt. “Not human. Something with claws. Recent, too.” 

She glanced at Terran, her usual bravado replaced with caution. “We’re not alone.”

Terran’s stomach tightened, but he forced a confident nod. “Let’s keep moving. Stay sharp.”

The three moved forward, quieter now, their footsteps muffled by the sand. The canyon opened into a wide basin, where the wind’s song grew piercing, almost melodic. At its center stood a jagged pillar of rock, and embedded in it, glinting faintly, was a crystal the size of Terran’s fist. 

Its surface shimmered like a submerged star, pulsing with soft light. Before they could approach, a low growl rumbled from the shadows. Three shapes slunk into view—sand wraiths, their bony forms cloaked in tattered hides, eyes glowing like embers. Their claws scraped the ground, and their hisses joined the canyon’s eerie song.

“Uriko, watch our backs for an ambush!” Terran shouted, stepping in front of Vin. 

Uriko chanted a spell into her spear, her hands steady despite the fear in her eyes. Vin raised her hand with explosive tools. 

A few heartbeats later she tosses the smoke grenades to certain areas to funnel the enemies to certain location. Terran leaped with his flicker step and using his fist striking one wraith and sending it skittering back with a shriek.

Terran charged the nearest wraith, throwing his jabs in a quick tight and forceful repetition. The creature was unable to dodge, and its claws fluttered in the air only to be felled. 

Terran yelled, “Vin, now!” 

Vin threw her multiple kunai, and a wave the sharp kunai stabbed into the other wraiths, and they fell to the ground ended. 

Uriko’s magic found its mark in another, dropping it with a thud. The third wraith lunged at Terran, but he rolled aside. He knew he was better to get out of the way rather than just dodge. 

Uriko fired again, and the creature collapsed, its hiss fading into the wind.

Panting, the three stood back-to-back, scanning for more threats. The canyon was silent again, save for the wind’s haunting tune. “Nice teamwork,” Uriko said, her voice shaky but proud.

Terran relaxed and then said. “Yeah, but let’s take a break before heading into the city.”

Vin approached the jagged pillar of rock, her fingers brushing the crystal. It pulsed brighter at her touch, and she gasped. “It’s warm. Like it’s… alive.” 

he carefully pried it free, cradling it in her hands. “What do you think this is?”

Terran did not care, we put down his bags and ran off to use a toilet. 

Vin exchanged a glance with Uriko. Uriko snorted, but her eyes softened. “You’re such a sap.”

Vin grinned, clutching the Shard. “Then let’s keep it for now. We’ve got time.”

Once Terran returned and the women mocked him. They turned to leave, the wind’s song seemed to hum in approval, echoing through the canyon as the sun dipped below the horizon. 

The glowing embers of Unai City glowed faintly in the distance, and Terran felt a spark of relief. Enuma chuckled, "Hoh~ Boy, you are so hopeless sometimes. However, once we get to the city, we will find more than the hunter's guild."

Enuma continued, "You should keep these women around, you actual have decent fighting strength. Almost as strong as the Hero party your father led." 

The sun cast a warm glow over the bustling town of Unai as the trio approached the towering gates of the Adventurer’s Guild. The air was thick with the scent of fresh bread from nearby stalls and the distant clatter of weapons being cleaned. Inside, the guild buzzed with activity. Adventurers exchanging stories, clerks were recording quests, and the clatter of armor echoing through the halls.

Terran took a deep breath, steadying himself. His eyes scanned the busy room, settling on the guild’s notice board. Beside him, two women moved with along with him. Vin with a quick smile and a sharp mind, and Uriko with a quiet confidence that commanded respect.

Terran said softly, “First step.”  

His voice steady despite the butterflies in his stomach. “We need to register and pick our first quests. Let’s make a huge name for ourselves.”

Vin nodded, adjusting her cloak. “I’ve heard the forest to the east has been overrun by goblins. That could be a good start. Simple enough for us to prove ourselves.”

Uriko, arm crossed and eyes gleaming with determination, added, “And it’s close. We can handle that. But we should also look for something with a little more challenge. We’re not here to be ordinary.”

Terran smiled, feeling a surge of camaraderie. “Agreed. Let’s get registered first. Then, we’ll figure it out from there.”

They approached the guild's front desk. There was a towering figure with a long white beard and piercing eyes. Terran stepped forward. “We’re here to join as adventurers. We’d like to register and take our first quests.”

The clerk’s gaze flicked over them, assessing. “Welcome. Name?”

“I’m Terran, a warrior from Imperial Academy,” he said confidently.

“Vin,” the smaller woman introduced herself with a friendly smile.

“And I’m Uriko,” her voice calm but firm.

“Very well,” the guild clerk said, he took their academy identification. Looked it over, and then pressing a stamp onto their registration forms. “You’re officially members now. For your first quests, I recommend the goblin problem in the eastern woods. It’s a good test of teamwork.”

As they received their quest papers, Vin's eyes sparkled. “This is just the beginning. We’ll get to adventure with Honey.”

Uriko cracked her knuckles, a smirk on her face. “Let’s go. I will show you why I am Terran's perfect partner.”

Terran looked at his companions, feeling a nervous. They already worked well together, but it felt team was about to explode like demon magic bomb. They were extremely competitive and brought a lot of attention inside the guild. Not just because they were rookies. The women did attract a lot of eyes due to their beautiful looks.

Terran looked confident, as he strolled through the guild despite the onlookers and gossipers said, but he actually was trying his best not to burst out laughing with Enuma in his ear mocking all the weak adventurers and the poorly maintained Guild Hall. 

 The Demon King chuckled, "Hoh~ Look at that one. it is shame. He wields a great sword with such small arms. He will be so slow to land any blows."

Then Uriko decided, "Let's stay here at the Guild's inn. We can start the quest in the morning."

The group agreed and got their rooms and rested their fatigue.