Eva sat atop the worn bleachers, the wooden planks creaking softly beneath her weight. Her brother, Jorma, lay sprawled beside her, his head resting awkwardly on the bench, his mouth slightly open in a loud snore. Alek, meanwhile, was nestled in Eva's lap, his usually vibrant eyes dulled by the gentle enchantment she had placed on him.

With a deep sigh, Eva gazed out across the arena, her fingers absentmindedly tracing patterns on Alek's arm where the scythes tentradles left marks. "I wonder if Freya and Arbor are having more fun than I am right now," she mused aloud, a hint of envy lacing her words. "Freya seemed to be in a hurry earlier."

Alek stirred, the fog of sleep lifting from his mind. Blinking groggily, he looked up to find Eva's face inches from his own, her eyes distant. Confusion knitted his brows as he tried to piece together his surroundings. "What happened?" he murmured, his voice hoarse from sleep.

Eva's eyes widened in surprise as Alek's awareness sharpened. "Oh, good afternoon, Alek," she began, her voice laced with a mixture of relief and concern. "It seems like you tried to kill Arbor earlier, and I had to stop you by putting you to sleep."

Alek's eyes darted in alarm, his hand instinctively reaching for his side. "I did what?" he exclaimed, the color draining from his face.

Eva nodded, "Yep," her tone carrying a hint of amusement despite the seriousness of her words. "You seemed to be really mad for whatever reason. It was funny at first, but eventually, it got a bit out of hand, and I had to stop you."

Alek, his agitation evident, rose to his feet and began to pace back and forth, his brow furrowed in deep thought. "I do remember getting really mad at Arbor," he admitted, pausing briefly to rub his temples. "It was strange because all day I had a strong urge to fight someone, and Arbor just happened to annoy me at the wrong time. But after drinking those potions, the rest is just... a blur."

Eva watched him intently, her expression one of deep concern mixed with confusion. "It probably was the stupid weapon and potions I warned you about, the ones you shouldn't have taken from that old man," she said, her voice tinged with exasperation.

Alek's gaze dropped to the ground, his posture slumping slightly as he acknowledged his mistake. "Yeah," he murmured, looking somewhat ashamed. "You did warn me about it."

Eva's expression softened, attempting to reassure Alek. "Well, at least you're okay, and no one was seriously injured. Also you are in your fem form, if that bothers…"

Before she could finish her sentence, Alek's face flushed with embarrassment as he swiftly transitioned back to his more masculine physique. He cast his eyes downward, clearly uncomfortable. "No one saw me like that, did they?"

Eva, not wanting to further distress him, decided to bend the truth slightly. "No, they didn't. And just so you know, unlike elves, most Atherians aren't overly concerned with such matters, given that our forms are primarily projections of magic."

However, she quickly shifted the conversation back to the matter at hand, her tone becoming more serious. "Regardless, I need you to stop using that weapon and dispose of it. It's far too dangerous."

Agreeing, Alek said, "You are right Eva as usual; I just need to get stronger you know?" 

Eva's smile widened, her confidence evident. "Of course, I'm always right. Never forget that. You possess a remarkable affinity for magic; with dedication, you can hone your skills further. As for your weapon, if you're set on wielding a scythe, my sister Freya might know the perfect contacts to assist you."

Alek nodded, rolling up his sleeves. "Let me access my weapons gate real quick." He extended his hand, focusing intently on the connection, but all that manifested was a feeble glimmer of light. Frustration crept into his voice as he tried again, "It's not working... Why won't it open?"

Eva's patience wore thin, her voice tinged with urgency. "Stop messing around and open your gate."

Alek's brows furrowed in concentration. "I am trying, Eva, but it's not responding." Eva murmured, "This isn't good," rising from her seat on the bleachers. She moved closer to Alek, extending her arm as if her mere gesture could coax the gate to open. Both of them watched intently, but as expected, nothing happened. The air grew thick with unease, punctuated by Eva's heavy sigh.

Jorma's sudden emergence from the shadow was unexpected, causing a sharp intake of breath from both Eva and Alek. In the tense moment, Eva's eyes began to shift, hinting at a transformation. Recognizing the danger, Jorma swiftly intervened, splashing Eva with a flask of water he had at the ready. The cold water seemed to jolt Eva back to her senses, her eyes returning to normal as she sputtered in surprise.

As Alek and Eva struggled with the unresponsive gate, Jorma roused from his slumber, feeling a mix of annoyance and bewilderment at being knocked out by Eva. Emerging suddenly from Alek's shadow, he startled the duo engrossed in their task. Reacting swiftly, Eva's eyes began to change, but before the transformation could complete, Jorma intervened, dousing her face with a flask of water. Her eyes returned to normal in an instant. "Nope, can't have that," Jorma quipped. "Eva, honestly, your powers are a real pain. You seriously need to learn control. I can't keep getting knocked out every time you get startled."

Eva shot back, wiping her wet face, "Maybe if you stopped appearing out of nowhere, I wouldn't be so jumpy around you." Eva, her hair dripping, retorted, "I mean, why not just take a few steps like a regular person? You were only about 20 feet away from us."

Jorma brushed off his pants, looking slightly irritated. "Shadow-walking is my thing. Every time I appear, you go into full defense mode, and I get knocked out."

Rolling her eyes, Eva continued to squeeze water from her hair. "You both need to realize that my powers aren't just for show. They're designed to react to potential threats. And someone suddenly materializing from a shadow? That's a red flag."

Arching an eyebrow, Jorma countered, "If you had better control of your abilities, maybe you'd discern real threats from mere surprises."

Crossing her arms defensively, Eva shot back, "And if you'd just give a little warning before you pop out, we wouldn't be having this conversation."

Alek, sensing the tension, let out a nervous chuckle. "Things were getting pretty heated here." He leaned closer to Eva, whispering, "Remind me again, who is this guy?"

Eva turned to Alek with a sheepish grin. "Ah, my apologies, Alek. This is my brother, Jorma. He's part of the elite legion, just like Freya. But unlike Freya, he has this uncanny knack for appearing at the most inconvenient times. You'd think I'd recognize his shadowy entrances by now, but I rarely ever get the chance to see him."

Jorma straightened up, a hint of pride in his voice. "Well, I'm often out on crucial assignments for the goddess."

Muttering under her breath, Eva couldn't resist a jab, "Yeah, like trying to charm every woman in sight."

As they were talking a voice could be heard far off. It was arbor screaming as though they were dying. "What is that?" Jorma asked, his voice edged with concern.

"It's Arbor," both Eva and Alek exclaimed in unison. Without wasting another moment, they sprinted toward the edge of the arena, their eyes darting toward the sound. A ball of crackling lighting, presumably Arbor, was hurtling through the air, closely followed by another, likely Freya.

Reacting swiftly, Jorma positioned himself protectively in front of Eva and Alek. "That fox kid doesn't look like they're stopping anytime soon. Time for some intervention." With swift movements, he unsheathed a dagger covered in runes, its gem glowing ominously at the hilt. As the first sphere of light neared, Jorma swung the dagger, conjuring two colossal black gates imbued with runes—one large and one small. Between these gates materialized a floating rune circle made of chains inscribed with more runes.

The speeding light was first ensnared by the chained circle, its luminosity being trapped bouncing though the chains as it was drawn toward the first gate. Leaving only arbor flying at the second gate. This gate decelerated Arbor's momentum until they were safely caught by Jorma's protective grasp.

Arbor's teary eyes shimmered with gratitude locking with Jorma’s and relief as they clutched their chest. "Thank the Forest! You truly saved me. Are you some kind of guardian spirit sent by Atheria herself? All these other creatures would rather have me hurt on the ground."

Jorma, with a look of disgust on his face, dropped Arbor on their butt. "Well, I can see why Freya finds you so...challenging. Quite the chatterbox, aren't you?"

Still nursing their sore rear, Arbor grumbled under their breath, "Just when I thought I'd catch a break. Hang in there, Arbor. Soon, you'll be curled up in your comfy little basket, fast asleep."

Freya just then slid from out of the ball of lighting. Adjusting her stance with a confident grin, remarked, "Finally awake Jorma, im glad I can always count on you to handle things."

Jorma, brushing off the compliment, questioned, "So, what's the deal with Atheria needing the fox?"

Freya's voice dripping with intrigue, "Why don't you ask them? They were the ones in conversation with her."

Alek's eyes widened in disbelief. "You? You got an audience with Goddess Atheria? The very essence that gives life to all in Atheria?"

Eva interjected, her tone edged with a mix of awe and skepticism, "Yeah, that's reserved for the elite legion and her closest attendants."

Arbor, still processing the situation, said, "Honestly, she seemed... approachable? More curious than anything." They proceeded to share the details of their newfound mission: to journey beyond the confines of the forest, to gather knowledge about the world outside, and the freedom to bring along whoever they deemed fit for the expedition.

Arbor, with a hint of mischief in their eyes, proudly displayed the gleaming silver staff. Its design was intricate: a radiant blue grip, a luminous orb resembling a moon hovering above, and a smaller orb in perpetual orbit around it. As Arbor brandished the staff, a rock suddenly shot out from its tip, aimed straight at Freya. Reacting swiftly, Freya effortlessly deflected the projectile with the sword at her side.

"Oops," Arbor remarked sheepishly, "This staff is... potent."

Freya's eyebrows furrowed in a mix of annoyance and concern. "Let me inspect that." She reached out to grasp the staff, but the moment her fingers made contact, a searing heat forced her to retract. "It seems this staff is bound to your soul," she explained, her tone edged with frustration that she couldn’t take it as payment for Arbor breaking her last staff. "Never store it within a gate; its bond to you might make it difficult to retrieve. Like my sword or Jorma daggers."

A shadow of concern passed over Eva's face as she remembered Alek's predicament. "Um, Freya," she began hesitantly, "Alek's weapon might be in a similar situation. It's stuck within his gate."

Freya's expression soured further. "That accursed weapon you had no business wielding has become one with your soul?" she stated with a hint of anger. She elaborated, "That scythe was crafted to combat demons and other malevolent entities beyond our borders. Over time, the negative magics it absorbed from those creatures likely caused it to change to its cursed form you have now. While the weapon will emerge from the gate during moments of extreme stress, I can't sever the connection you have with it. The only remedy is for your innate magical energy to deplete entirely – a scenario that, for magical beings like us, is virtually impossible until our demise. My advice? Abandon its use unless you wish to risk your soul's corruption. I can provide an alternative weapon for you later."

Alek's eyes bore a weariness that seemed to weigh him down, his voice a mere whisper, "All I ever wanted was strength. Now, I feel trapped." His tone resonating with raw frustration.

Eva, moved towards him, placing a gentle, reassuring hand on his shoulder. "We'll find a way through this, Alek," she said with a soft conviction that offered him a glimmer of hope.

Seizing the moment to orginize, Freya stepped forward, her posture radiating authority. "Let's keep our priorities straight," she began, her eyes scanning the group. "Alek, Eva, your immediate task is to prepare for the expedition. You will go on the mission Atheria has entrusted to Arbor. My duties will only allow me to escort you to the border; beyond that, you're on your own. As for Alek, I'll contact your elven kin to secure a replacement weapon. Eva, accompany me; we'll also need to gather essential supplies to ensure you're well-equipped for the challenges ahead."

Arbor, gripping the enigmatic staff tightly, met Freya's gaze with a blend of eagerness and trepidation. "I'm prepared for whatever lies ahead," they announced resolutely, a fire of determination blazing in their eyes.

Freya nodded, finalizing her instructions, "Very well, Arbor. Begin your preparations. This mission has the potential to span years, offering invaluable field experience. We depart in 3 moon great moon rotations, make sure you're ready." 

As the weight of their impending journey settled in, the group dispersed, each lost in their thoughts and responsibilities. Eva cast a lingering glance at Alek, her worry evident, but he offered a small, reassuring smile in return. Freya, ever the strategist, began mapping out their next moves, her mind already racing ahead to the challenges that awaited them. And Arbor, clutching the staff close, felt a mix of anticipation and fear, the gravity of their mission sinking in.

The arena, once filled with the echoes of their conversations, grew silent, save for the distant rustle of leaves and the faint whispers of the wind. Each member of the group, bound by fate and duty, now stood at the precipice of a grand adventure, their paths intertwined by the threads of destiny.

As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting the world into twilight, the promise of a new dawn loomed on the horizon.