Eric headed straight toward the training grounds after leaving Mattock’s house. He was long overdue to check in with Flynn, and he doubted Flynn would be pleased in the delay of the next stages of his training. It was late afternoon, and the training grounds would be shutting down shortly so Eric hurried down the crowded streets in a brisk walk. He arrived in front of the training ground entrance and was happy to see the crowds were still present. The more capable combatants available to battle the approaching enemies were all the better as far as he was concerned.

Eric stepped into the familiar dirt covered grounds and headed toward the Grand Bow training range. It was unsurprisingly empty when he arrived. He scanned the area quickly looking for any sign of Flynn since he didn’t know of a way to contact him directly. He decided to wait for the end of training and check with one of the other instructors before they disappeared for the evening. He was hopeful they would be able to direct him to Flynn’s location.

Eric walked back into the chaos of the main grounds. he elected to take advantage of the time he had to wait and chose to observe some of the more advanced techniques being taught in the training grounds. He found an instructor teaching the use of spears and walked to the edge of the practice circle. The long reach of spears proved troublesome during his battles with the Valix, and he didn’t want to repeat the same mistakes against future enemies, so he decided to focus some time on studying the spear techniques first.

The instructor, a well-built light gray orc with bulging forearms; was sparring with a short slender man with slicked back black hair and tanned skin. The trainee was moving quickly around the training circle and equipped with a smaller short wooden spear that appeared to be built for quick Agility based attacks. The instructor was standing unwaveringly in the center of the circle. He was armed with a larger tall metal spear that had an intimidating black metal tip. The small man attempted quick jabs into the instructor and was easily countered each time, but with each attack, the instructor provided in-depth coaching on technique.

Eric watched the instructor’s methodical teaching methods and slowly saw the trainee making progress toward more fluid motions. Eric tried to memorialize the different techniques the instructor taught as each new trainee stepped into the ring. He gripped Shadowspark in his hands and followed along through the counter techniques with the trainees circled around in an effort to establish better control. The techniques changed with each trainee depending on the type of spear they wielded and combat style.

Eric looked up after watching several rounds of training and saw the sun was setting faster than he anticipated. He heard the familiar gong signaling the end of the training sessions for the day and hustled over to the large orc that had been instructing the training. The orc was clearing the training area as the final trainees dispersed for the evening.

“Excuse me. I am looking for Flynn Skyfire. Do you know where I can find him?” Eric asked politely.

“What business do you have with Flynn?” the instructor grumbled in reply without looking up from his work.

“I need to report in from my latest assignment. I am his apprentice,” Eric said calmly.

The large orc turned around and looked Eric over. “Ahh… I heard Flynn finally decided to take on an apprentice. I can take you to his office before heading home, he should be there working. He has been understandably busy with the recent problems. You can call me Xurl,” he said extending his hand to me.

“Thanks, Xurl. I’m Eric, I appreciate the help,” Eric replied gratefully.

Xurl finished his work in short order, and Eric followed him to the barracks. Eric asked him a few questions about the techniques he observed earlier in the day as they journeyed through the winding corridors of the stonework barracks. Xurl’s hard exterior was quickly replaced by a kind and warm personality. He patiently answered Eric’s questions and patiently described the variety of techniques demonstrated during the training sessions.

The new comrades passed through a variety of intersections and down several long corridors before Xurl directed Eric to the end of a dimly lit hallway with a thick oak door and polished bronze ring door handle. He told Eric, Flynn would be working in the room beyond and then departed with a friendly smile. Eric stepped toward the door raising his arm to knock when it suddenly swung open catching him by surprise. He was forced to step back and looked up to see Flynn standing in the doorframe with his usual smirk.

“Look who finally decided to make an appearance,” Flynn said smugly.

Eric bowed his head slightly, ignoring Flynn’s tone and said steadily, “I ran into some unexpected trouble after the Legion was disbanded, but I’ve returned to continue my training.”

“I see. I can’t say I’m all that surprised. I knew you would be easily swayed by your emotions and after hearing the devastation of the Legion and offer by the king to anyone brave enough to continue the hunt I figured you couldn’t resist. I must warn you about making rash decisions in times like this, they may very well get you killed,” he said with a more thoughtful stare.

Eric stayed silent, and they exchanged stares for several harsh seconds before Flynn continued. “Well, come in. There is much to discuss, and I don’t have any desire to do it in this dirty hallway,” he said ushering Eric inside.

“Thank you,” Eric replied as he followed Flynn into the chamber beyond, closing the thick door behind him. The area he entered was well-lit with a variety of torches and candles spread across a massive desk on one side of the room. Flynn settled into a high-backed chair with etched metal armrests and let out a deep sigh.

Eric found a seat across from him after scanning the unorganized room of bookshelves and miscellaneous items stacked against the walls. Flynn ruffled through some loose papers on his desk before looking back at Eric and saying, “I need to know how much you’ve heard about what is going on.”

Eric looked at him questioningly for a moment before saying, “I don’t know much other than the rumors swirling among the general population, but I do know there is a greater power at work causing the attacks against the kingdom.”

Flynn met his eyes and stated, “The Faceless Shadow.”

“Yes, the Valix warriors we attacked and eventually captured spoke of the foul creature that is disturbing the frontier and stirring up the monsters. I don’t know much more, but this creature seems to be spreading evil and suffering across the continent,” Eric replied.

Flynn looked at him with piercing eyes and said, “Unfortunately, we have very little details about this creature. The reports we’ve received indicate this Faceless Shadow creature uses incredibly powerful magic to incite the unintelligent monsters into a fury and uses devious attacks to spur the established monster species into action such as the Valix you faced.”

Eric shook his head in frustration. “How can we stop a creature that uses such powerful magic?” he asked in caution.

“I wish I could answer that question, but so far we have only been trying to slow down the advance of the monsters emerging from the frontier. I fear the worst is yet to come as the magic spreads into the deeper frontier awakening monsters of even more power,” Flynn replied.

Eric mulled over Flynn’s words for a moment before asking, “Has the Faceless Shadow’s location or origins been discovered?”

“No one knows where it came from, but we have heard reports from the kingdoms of Trent and Radora indicating the monster attacks are spreading south along the border leading us to believe it is actively moving in that direction. I don’t wish this kind of attack on anyone, but we are hopeful the Faceless Shadow’s movement away from our borders will slow down the constant monster raids and allow our army to replenish troops and supplies,” Flynn answered.

“I hope the kingdoms will realize this threat is going to take everyone’s help to defeat,” Eric said.

“I hope you are right, but the kingdoms have long been divided on matters of military and defense,” Flynn responded discouragingly.

Flynn paused for a few more moments as if in deep thought while looking at a ruffled paper in front of him. He continued, but with a stressed look forming on his face, “I have another assignment for you, and it will have to serve as your next lesson. It appears the live combat experience has already allowed you to bond closer to Shadowspark and learn a new skill from the looks of it. I think continuing with the real world combat lessons is the best approach in your case anyways with the current state of affairs.”

Eric gave him a bitter look in turn and said, “This seems like a way for you to get out of having to actually train me directly.”

“Hmm… Some may see it that way. I, on the other hand, see it as a new progressive teaching method, and you seem to be handling yourself well so far. Plus, you will be helping the kingdom so that should be reason enough to help,” Flynn replied.

Eric knew he was fighting a losing battle with Flynn and sarcastically stated, “I’m glad I have such a progressive mentor.”

Flynn responded completely un-impacted by the comment, “It is good we see eye to eye.” He slid a loose piece of parchment across the desk and continued in a sterner tone, “This assignment should not be taken lightly. The lack of information about what is going on in the frontier is proving detrimental to the kingdom and the scouts currently deployed are stretched too thin. I need you to gather information and make contact with the Tarth.”

Ting!

Quest Accepted: Summit of Tarth

Infiltrate the territory controlled by the race of Tarth and gain an audience with the council of elders.

Reward: Unknown

Flynn motioned to the parchment that he passed to Eric and explained, “That is all of the information we currently have on the Tarth, it is sparse at best. They are one of the few monster races that have reportedly not been impacted by the Faceless Shadow and we need to understand why. They are supposedly an intelligent race that inhabits the frontier and could potentially be an invaluable ally if we can gain an audience with them. We are in uncharted waters seeking the help of a race of monsters, and there are many who think the repercussions could be detrimental. This quest must be handled discreetly; don’t make me regret entrusting this to you.”

Eric was a little caught off guard by the enormity of the task ahead and nodded hesitantly. He looked down at the information provided by Flynn about the Tarth and silently read the contents. He realized Flynn wasn’t joking about their lack of information. The parchment described the Tarth as a secluded race of cave dwellers. They were believed to be descendants of a group of a long extinct sub-species of dark elves that evolved to thrive in the deep caverns of the mountainous regions to the northwest.

The document ended abruptly after outlining the general territory the Tarth were thought to control. Eric looked back up to Flynn, and he was already starting to stand up to usher Eric toward the door.

“Is this all you have for me to go on?” Eric asked desperately while quickly standing with the document clutched in his hand.

“What do you expect kid? If you wanted hand holding you should have sought a different instructor, didn’t you say you could handle anything I asked of you? Regardless, that is everything we have, and it’s taken years to learn that basic information. We only know about the Tarth’s current whereabouts by chance from a bandit that we recently interrogated,” Flynn said leading Eric back out into the dim hallway.

Eric nodded with resolve realizing he didn’t really have a choice regardless and said, “I won’t disappoint you.”

“Let’s hope not. I set a room aside for you in the barracks for a couple days so you can have a place to stay while you prepare for your journey. Here is the key, don’t cause any trouble for the guard. I have some urgent matters to attend to so come back when you have some information for me. Good luck,” he replied and passed Eric a hefty iron key and then swiftly closed the door.

Eric found myself in an empty hallway staring at a closed door. He released a small chuckle at the absurdity of the quest ahead before turning around to make his way out of the barracks. As he walked through the maze of hallways, he mentally kicked himself for not asking Flynn about getting a mount. The location outlined on the small sheet of parchment was even farther west than where he tracked down the Valix. Eri made it to the room in the barracks that Flynn set aside for him after only a few wrong turns.

He pushed open the heavy wooden door and walked in the room with low expectations. It didn’t disappoint, the simple wooden furniture was worn and splintered, and a rough wool blanket and thin pillow sat disheveled on the bed. He missed the comfort of the Relic Inn and frowned thinking about Ms. Sely’s situation. He made his way over to the bed and sat down on the edge.

Eric decided he would need some time to see through the situation with Erwin and Mattock as well as figure out the best route into the frontier to find this mysterious Tarth race. He would have to meet with Mattock tomorrow and also shop for some additional supplies. He settled into the uncomfortable bed, and it didn’t take long for tiredness to overwhelm him.