In the quiet village of Wheatridge, a simple and unassuming young farmer toils away, tending to his crops and livestock day by day. Though he isn't the strongest lad in town, he's got a quiet determination that's often overlooked. The local bullies seem to have a knack for finding him, giving him a harder time than most. His dwelling is small and modest, nestled on the outskirts of the village, barely making ends meet. But life goes on. Edmond Lade begins his day by tending to the plants on his modest plot of land, occasionally harvesting them. On the other days, he strolls around the village, often passing through the local markets - if you can even call them that. He observes how business is faring for everyone else in the village. More importantly, he frequents the establishment referred to as the "weapon shop," though it's hardly deserving of the title. This shop primarily stocks farming tools such as scythes, rakes, shovels, and the like. However, it carries the label of a weapon shop because it also sells items like wooden swords, a rudimentary dagger, and a single shield. It's worth noting that in the village of Wheatridge, there's no shop dedicated to Armor. This place is about as remote as they come, devoid of any substantial defences, with no walls to guard it. The land holds little value, primarily dedicated to wheat cultivation. It's so isolated that it rarely sees any merchants or travellers venturing this far. Indeed, the markets in this village primarily cater to the local residents. While a few individuals sell wooden products, there's no interest in selling wheat because everyone here has more than enough of it, and they rely solely on it for their sustenance. All of their farming tools are handcrafted from wood, and the only trace of iron can be found in the "weapon shop," where the dagger and shield are the sole exceptions. These items found their way to the village approximately three years ago when a rare visitor decided to offer them for sale at an incredibly low price, giving rise to the establishment known as the "weapon shop." Visitors are an extraordinary occurrence, with the exception of the yearly visit by tax collectors. In an ordinary village, such visits might be monthly, but due to the impoverished state of Wheatridge, it's a once-a-year event. Once Edmond concludes his rounds around the village, often being driven away by irritated sellers and disgruntled customers due to his passive, aimless presence, he retreats into the forest surrounding the village. There, he engages in a peculiar habit of biting a strand of wheat, a gesture he perceives as a display of nonchalant coolness, having observed others doing it. However, he never performs this act in public; it's a secret ritual that holds no logical significance, but he continues with it regardless. While wandering the forest, he contemplates the seemingly useless and inedible weeds that occupy space. Although he occasionally walks near the denser parts of the forest, he refrains from venturing deep within due to the unsettling feeling it evokes within him. Returning home, he finds himself subjected to bullying, with each time seemingly carried out by different individuals, ensuring that there's no respite from these unpleasant encounters. After checking on his farm, Edmond retires to sleep. However, one fateful night, he awakens to a disorienting reality. It's not his usual morning wake-up call; instead, he's startled awake at midnight by the cacophony of people shouting, the source of which remains a mystery to him.