Elena cast Frost Arrow, freezing the monstrous wolf in place. However, the creature began regenerating at an alarming rate. Lisa swung her sword, landing a solid strike on the beast. Just as they thought they had it under control, the wolf lunged at them while they were momentarily off guard.


    "Watch out!" Merslin shouted, but it was too late.


    The beast struck Elena and Lisa with full force, knocking them down. Seizing the opportunity, the wolf unleashed a fierce barrage of attacks.


    Thinking quickly, Merslin extended his hand. "Flash!"


    A blinding light burst from his palm, momentarily blinding the creature. The wolf staggered, its attacks faltering.


    Elena and Lisa took immediate advantage of the opening.


    "Fireball!" Elena chanted, sending flames scorching across the wolf''s fur.


    Lisa followed up with a decisive slash, severing the beast''s neck.


    With a final, guttural growl, the wolf collapsed, and the forest fell silent once more.


    Merslin let out a breath of relief. "We did it."


    Elena and Lisa exchanged glances before turning to Merslin with smiles.


    "You did great, Merslin," Elena said. "You fought alongside us as an equal."


    Lisa nodded. "That''s right. Without you, things could have gone badly. Keep training and growing stronger."


    Merslin, encouraged by their words, smiled. "Thank you. I''ll keep working hard."


    With the mission successfully completed, the three returned to the royal palace and reported to Alex.


    "The mission is complete, Alex," Elena said.


    Alex nodded in satisfaction. "Well done, all of you. Merslin, you played a key role in this."


    Merslin, a little embarrassed, replied, "Thank you, Alex. But I couldn''t have done it without them."


    Alex chuckled. "Then you''ve already learned an important lesson—victory is never won alone."


    Looking at them fondly, he continued, "You all deserve a break. Enjoy yourselves tonight. Have a drink and relax."


    Lisa smirked. "That sounds like a great idea. Let''s head to the tavern."


    A Night at the Tavern


    The tavern near the palace was bustling with life, filled with the sound of laughter, music, and clinking glasses. The three adventurers found a seat and ordered drinks.


    "It was a tough day, but it feels great to celebrate a successful mission," Merslin said, lifting his mug.


    Elena smiled and raised her glass. "Agreed. To our teamwork—cheers!"


    "Cheers!" Lisa echoed, clinking her mug with theirs.


    Just as they were enjoying their drinks, the tavern door swung open, and a mysterious woman stepped inside.


    She had long black hair and striking violet eyes, her lithe frame draped in light, practical attire. She exuded an air of effortless confidence as she scanned the room.


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    Spotting Lisa, she smiled and made her way over.


    "Lisa! I didn''t expect to see you here."


    Lisa''s eyes lit up. "Serena! It''s been a while. What brings you here?"


    Serena grinned as they exchanged a brief hug.


    "I had some business in the area," she explained. Her eyes flicked to Merslin and Elena. "And who are these two?"


    Lisa gestured toward them. "This is Merslin, a newcomer from another world. And this is Elena, a fellow magician."


    Serena turned to them with an easy smile. "Nice to meet you. I''m Serena. I work as a rogue—specializing in retrieving valuable things… and information."


    Merslin''s curiosity was piqued. "A rogue? So, what exactly do you do?"


    Serena''s lips curved into a playful smirk. "Let''s just say I help the kingdom from the shadows. Sometimes I retrieve lost artifacts, sometimes I gather intelligence. It depends on what''s needed."


    Elena, intrigued, handed Serena a drink. "Then let''s enjoy the night together. Cheers!"


    Serena raised her glass. "Cheers!"


    As the drinks flowed, the conversation grew livelier. Merslin listened attentively as Serena shared her stories, each one more thrilling than the last.


    "So, there was this one time," Serena began with a mischievous glint in her eye, "I had to find a highly guarded artifact. Took me days to track it down, and the damn thing was hidden so well, I almost gave up. But in the end, I got it."


    Lisa laughed. "That''s why you''re the best, Serena. No one else could pull off jobs like you."


    Merslin nodded in admiration. "That sounds amazing. I hope one day I can be as skilled as you all."


    Elena smiled at him. "You''re already doing well, Merslin. Keep going, and we''ll all grow stronger together."


    Serena took a sip of her drink and leaned forward. "Honestly, I wasn''t always this confident. When I first started, I was terrified. But over time, I learned that fear fades when you push past it. Now, I love what I do. There''s nothing quite like the thrill of the chase."


    Merslin absorbed her words, nodding thoughtfully. "I''m learning a lot here. I wouldn''t have made it this far without all of you."


    Elena rested her chin on her hand. "The key to survival is persistence. No matter what obstacles you face, as long as you keep going, you''ll succeed."


    The night continued with laughter, toasts, and shared tales. The tavern was alive with energy, the sound of music and conversation filling the air.


    As the night deepened, Merslin looked around at his companions, realizing how precious this moment was.


    For the first time since arriving in this world, he truly felt like he belonged.


    With a determined heart, he made a silent vow.


    "No matter what lies ahead, as long as we stand together, we can overcome anything."