An Archmage Among Adventurers

Morning broke over Greymire in muted shades of gray, the light filtered through a thick veil of low clouds. Ellie stood at the edge of the town, staring at the road that wound its way into the mountains. She shifted uneasily on her feet, adjusting the straps of her pack as she waited for the rest of the group.

“This is a mistake. “I’m not ready for this… How did I get roped into leading?”

It had all happened too quickly. The night before, her mind had been a frenzy, thoughts spinning like a storm as she tried to find some way out of the mess she had landed in. There was no way she could survive this mission. There had to be someone better—someone who knew what they were doing.

“I should’ve said no.” Ellie stopped exhaled sharply. “But here I am.”

The gate creaked open, and the rest of her party approached. A motley crew of adventurers, all eager to prove themselves. They were younger than she’d expected—several barely older than herself—but they wore the confidence of those who believed in the strength of their own magic.

The way they carried themselves with the assurance that they could shape the world with a gesture, a word, a spell had always eluded her. And now, more than ever, she wished she could sink into the shadows and disappear.

"Lady Liddell!" One of the adventurers, a tall man with a scar cutting across his cheek, called out to her. "We're ready. Just waiting on your command."

Ellie flinched at the title. Lady Liddell. They all said it with such respect, such certainty, as though she were exactly who they believed her to be. She forced a tight smile, nodding once, and walked toward them, every step weighted with reluctance.

“Of course.” She tried to keep her voice steady. “We’ll move cautiously. The ruin’s magic is unpredictable, and it’s best if we don’t... disturb anything we don’t understand.”

The others nodded, their expressions serious. They looked at her as though she had just shared some profound wisdom, and Ellie felt her stomach churn with guilt. She wasn’t leading them out of experience or insight; she was leading them out of sheer panic, hoping desperately that they would handle the real work while she stayed safely in the background.

The tall man with the scar introduced himself as Keldric. He was a seasoned warrior, his confidence palpable in the way he carried his sword, the ease in his stance. Next to him stood two mages—Liora and Ren—a pair of siblings who shared the same striking red hair and piercing green eyes.

“I read about those ruins.” Ren’s eyes had the glazed look of someone always half-lost in thought, likely scanning the air for magical energies. “They say the magic is as old as the mountains themselves. We might discover things that haven’t seen the light of day in centuries.”

“Let’s just make sure we don’t unleash anything we can’t handle,” Liora added, her fingers still flickering with a faint, controlled flame. “I’ve heard stories about the guardians of those ruins. They aren’t friendly.”

Then there was Hannes, the youngest of the group, a healer with a quick, eager grin. He looked barely old enough to wield his staff, but his reputation as a prodigy had already spread far beyond Greymire. “Guardians? Like... magical beasts?”

“They’re probably more like enchanted statues.” Keldric reassured the group, crossing his arms. “Still dangerous, though. So let’s keep our wits about us.”

“If things get tough, I’ve got some good tricks up my sleeve.” Hannes beamed up at Ellie. “You won’t have to do this alone!”

“Good to know.” Ellie nodded, hoping to project an aura of calm authority, though inwardly, she was screaming. “Let’s get moving, then.”

The group began their journey, the road leading them away from Greymire and into the foothills where the ancient ruin awaited. The morning air was brisk, carrying the scent of damp earth and pine, but Ellie barely noticed. She couldn’t help but wonder what they would find—what they would expect her to handle.

“Lady Liddell,” Ren’s voice broke into her thoughts as they walked, his tone quiet but respectful. “What’s your plan for dealing with the ruin’s wards? They say the magic there is... difficult to untangle.”

Ellie had read about wards before, of course, in the countless tomes her family kept, but understanding them was one thing. Dealing with them firsthand was another. She couldn’t admit that, though, not now. Not when so much was at stake.

“We’ll assess them when we arrive.” She kept her tone neutral. “There’s no need to act hastily. Sometimes wards... resolve themselves if left undisturbed.”

Ren nodded, as though this vague response had confirmed all his suspicions about her expertise. Ellie almost sighed in relief, though her nerves only frayed further as they neared the mountains.

Her plan, if it could be called that, was simple: stay as far from the action as possible. If she could let the others handle the dangerous magic, perhaps she could slip through this mission unnoticed, just another adventurer doing her part. But deep down, Ellie knew it wouldn’t be that easy. It never was.

“Look at the sky.” Keldric glancied up. “If it clears up, we might have some luck on our side.”

“Or we might find a storm waiting for us in the mountains.” Liora’s brow furrowing slightly. “Best to be prepared for anything.”

The sun had climbed higher now, casting long shadows over the path as they continued their climb. The conversation around her faded to the occasional murmur as the group grew more focused, the weight of their task settling on them. And yet, they still looked to her for guidance, as though she alone knew what lay ahead.

Ellie swallowed hard, her mouth dry. The ruin was just beyond the next ridge, a yawning entrance cut into the rock, its black mouth gaping like the remains of some forgotten beast. She could feel it now, the ancient magic thrumming in the air, a pulse just beneath the surface. It sent a shiver down her spine.

This was it.

“Stay close. And whatever happens... be careful.”

Her words hung in the air like a fragile promise, one she wasn’t sure she could keep.