Running a Tavern as a Former Witch!

I nodded, feeling a mix of excitement and trepidation. "When do we leave?"

"At first light," he replied. "We'll need all the daylight we can get to navigate the forest."

I agreed and began making preparations. The tavern would have to run without me for a while, and I trusted my staff to handle things in my absence. I just hope that Vernon would not try to slip in my tavern while I'm not present.

As the night wore on, the rain continued to pour, and the adventurers gradually took their leave, finding shelter for the night. Maybe I should offer rooms soon. I ought to do just that after this little quest.

Just before dawn, Eamon and I set out, our journey illuminated by the faint glow of the Heart of Ember. The path to Eldenwood Forest was treacherous, but we pressed on. As we ventured deeper into the forest, the atmosphere grew more oppressive. The trees seemed to close in around us, their twisted and dried branches casting eerie shadows. We moved silently, aware that the spirits of the forest were watching.

Barely making any noise, we traversed through the muddy grass of the forest grounds. Once in a while, Eamon would initiate a conversation and I would keep it going until I could. Through our quiet conversation, I was able to learn that Eamon was the commander of the Royal Knights before stepping down due to the difference of the order's goal as given by the King. The order is not allowed to put even a toe to the growing problem of monsters unexplainable appearances around human shelters.

It's easy to guess that the protection barrier around the Kingdom is growing weaker. Had the King exiled the Holy Saint also? I ought to send him a letter.

After hours of navigating the dense undergrowth, we finally reached the ancient temple. It was a grand structure, its stone walls covered in moss and vines. The entrance was guarded by two massive stone statues, their eyes glowing with an otherworldly light.

Eamon approached the statues cautiously, whispering an incantation. The statues' eyes flickered and then dimmed, allowing us to pass. Inside, the temple was dark and chilling, the air thick with ancient magic.

We made our way through the labyrinthine corridors, guided by the pulsing light of the Heart of Ember. Finally, we reached a chamber where the Staff of Aether was suspended in midair, surrounded by a swirling vortex of energy.

As we approached, the spirits of the forest materialized, their ethereal forms blocking our path. Eamon and I exchanged a glance, knowing that these are the Guardians who protected the artifact from any hands that held unacceptable motives.

"Eamon," I whispered, "do you have a plan?"

He nodded, drawing a slender blade that shimmered with a bluish hue. "Stay close to me and use the Heart of Ember. Its power can help us weaken them."

I retrieved the Heart of Ember from my satchel, feeling its familiar warmth pulse in my hands. The Guardians began to move, their ghostly forms gliding across the chamber with an eerie grace. Their eyes glowed with an intense light as they raised their spectral weapons.

Eamon moved first, his blade slicing through the air with precision. The enchanted weapon cut through one of the Guardians, causing it to dissipate into a misty vapor. But the others were quick to retaliate. One Guardian lashed out with a spectral spear, and Eamon barely dodged the attack, rolling to the side and coming up in a defensive stance.