Evolution begins with an ant colony

As Mina released her control over the stone golem, it began to crumble to the ground, its massive form gradually dissipating. Just before its final moments, it gently lowered Chris, Mina, and John to the earth below.

High atop the village walls, the guards exchanged hushed words, their faces etched with intrigue and uncertainty. They leaned against the battlements, peering down at the trio who had descended from what they referred to as the "Stone Giant," the colossal stone golem.

Lucas, one of the more experienced guards, voiced his thoughts first. "Did those folks just come down from the Stone Giant?" he wondered aloud, his eyes never leaving the newcomers.

Amelia, her curiosity piqued, responded to Lucas's inquiry. "It seems that way," she replied. "And now that they're on the ground, they look defenseless. Maybe we should approach them and find out what they're doing here."

Robert, the young recruit, hesitated, feeling both intrigue and caution. "But what if they're a threat?" he asked, unsure of the best course of action.

However, John, ever the observant leader, caught wind of the guards' growing suspicions. He leaned in closer to Chris and Mina, his voice a hushed whisper filled with urgency. "Put your hands in the air," he instructed them quietly.

Chris, his skepticism apparent on his face, questioned John's orders. "Why?" he asked, his voice tinged with reluctance.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

John's eyes locked onto Chris's with a serious intensity. "Listen to me," he replied sternly. "If we want to avoid being seen as enemies, we need to show them we mean no harm."

Chris grumbled under his breath but reluctantly raised his hands into the air, with Mina doing the same beside him. They began to move toward the village walls, a trio of figures with raised hands, their intentions clear.

John stepped forward slightly and called out to the guards, his voice projecting sincerity. "We come in peace!" he declared, hoping to ease the suspicions that had arisen.

Surrounded by a vast open field, the village lay nestled against the backdrop of the distant forest. The clear path leading to the village gates was their only route forward. The guards on the walls observed this peculiar group, their hands raised as a sign of non-aggression, cautiously awaiting further developments.

As the trio with their hands raised approached the village walls, one of the guards leaned forward, his voice carrying a tone of suspicion. It was Lucas, the seasoned guard, who questioned their presence with a furrowed brow. "Who are you?" he demanded, his gaze fixed intently on John, Chris, and Mina.

John, unwavering in his resolve, met Lucas's gaze with a calm and composed expression. "We are heroes," he stated firmly, his voice carrying a weight of confidence. "We're here to complete a quest we received."

The guard who had inquired earlier, Robert, was not fully convinced and pressed further. "Can you prove your identity?" he asked, his voice tinged with skepticism.

lowering one of his raised hands, John reached for a pouch secured to his belt. With deliberate movements, he extracted a gleaming insignia adorned with the symbols of the Holy Church. Holding it aloft for the guards on the wall to see, he declared, "This should be enough proof of our identity."

The insignia, a symbol of their affiliation with the Holy Church, gleamed in the waning light, its design unmistakable. The guards on the walls exchanged glances, recognizing the significance of the holy emblem. In a hushed exchange of commands, they swiftly relayed their decision to the guards stationed at the village gates.

With a creak and a grinding of gears, the massive gates began to swing open, revealing the passage into the village beyond. The guards on the walls had determined that the trio's affiliation with the Holy Church was sufficient reason to grant them entry.

With the gates of the village now opened before them, John, Mina, and Chris ventured into the heart of the quaint settlement. The cobblestone streets stretched out before them, adorned with charming houses and bustling villagers going about their daily activities.

As they made their way further into the village, they were approached by Lucas, the guard who had initially questioned their presence atop the village walls. He regarded them with a curious expression, addressing them as heroes. "What quest brings you here, heroes?" Lucas inquired, his gaze shifting from one to the other.

John stepped forward, a sense of purpose in his voice. "We're here to deliver Gunshin flowers to a certain potion store," he replied, the weight of their mission evident in his words.

Lucas raised an eyebrow, a hint of amusement in his eyes. "That was quite a high-profile entrance for a simple flower delivery," he remarked with a chuckle. He gestured down the cobblestone street to their left, indicating the way. "Just a few buildings over, on your left. It's the one with the red roof and a potion sign."

"Thank you," John responded with genuine gratitude. "We appreciate your help."

Lucas waved them off with a friendly nod, watching as they continued on their path toward the potion store.

As John, Chris, and Mina walked away, Amelia, the guard who had stood beside Lucas, couldn't contain her curiosity. She leaned in closer to her fellow guard. "Are those kids really heroes?" she asked in a hushed tone.

Lucas contemplated the question for a moment before replying. "Well, they do have the insignia," he noted, his gaze drifting to Mina, whose vibrant, rainbow-colored hair was hard to ignore. "And did you see the colors of that girl's hair? It might sound absurd, but I think she has talent in all attributes of magic."

Amelia regarded Mina's distinctive hair with a thoughtful expression. "As much as I'd love to say that's impossible," she admitted, "I can see visible proof. So... I guess I'll have to agree with you."

With their identity as heroes acknowledged by the village guards, John, Chris, and Mina continued on their quest, walking the cobbled streets lined with curious villagers, their mission taking them to the potion store with the red roof and a potion sign. Discover more content at empire