The sun had long dipped behind the jagged hills, leaving only the cold, oppressive darkness of the night. As Kaelen and Sigrid made their way back through the mist, the distant sounds of the village began to grow louder. They were silent, each lost in their thoughts, their steps heavy with the weight of the battle they'd just fought.

Kaelen couldn't shake the feeling that something was watching them. It wasn’t the village that troubled him—it was the long stretch of dark road that lay ahead. The more he walked, the more the unsettling sensation gnawed at him. Something had shifted, he could feel it in his bones, in the air itself. Whatever force had been controlling those villagers, it was far from over.

“You’re quiet tonight,” Sigrid remarked, her voice a soft murmur against the wind.

Kaelen looked over at her, his gaze narrowed. “I’m just thinking about what’s next. This wasn’t just some random attack. There’s something bigger at play here.”

Sigrid said nothing, but Kaelen could feel her eyes on him, assessing. "We’ll deal with it in time. First, we get our pay."

He nodded, gritting his teeth. Money always seemed to be the first priority, even in the face of danger. As much as Kaelen hated the constant reminder of their line of work, he knew the truth—hunters didn’t work for free. Survival, after all, came at a price.

By the time they reached the village, it was dark, save for the flickering lanterns hanging by the wooden doors. Kaelen wasn’t in the mood for pleasantries. He needed information—needed to know what had truly happened here.

The village elder, a bent old man with a grizzled face, was waiting for them. He stood outside the small cottage, clutching a tattered cloak around his shoulders as he stared at the two hunters.

“You did it, then?” he asked, his voice trembling with a mixture of fear and gratitude.

“We did,” Kaelen replied, his tone flat. “But this isn’t over. There’s something more going on here, something bigger than we’ve seen so far.”

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The elder’s gaze flickered nervously. "I feared as much... There are whispers of shadows growing in the west. Of beasts and creatures that have no name. People say it's worse than we can imagine."

Kaelen’s interest was piqued. “What exactly are you talking about?”

Before the elder could respond, a woman approached from the shadows—her face hidden beneath the hood of her cloak, her movements swift and calculated. She was tall, lean, and exuded an aura of quiet menace.

The elder tensed at the sight of her. “Not her,” he muttered under his breath.

But Kaelen wasn’t the type to shy away from anyone, no matter how imposing. He stepped forward, eyes narrowing as the figure came into full view.

“What’s your business?” he demanded.

The woman’s lips curved into a small, knowing smile. “I’m the one who’s been tracking your movements.” Her voice was cold, almost too calm. "And you’re in my way.”

Sigrid, who had been silent until now, stepped forward as well, her posture defensive. Her eyes gleamed with a subtle warning. “We’re not here for trouble. We’re hunting the same thing.”

The woman’s expression darkened. “And what makes you think you can stop it? You’ve seen what they’ve become—these things? They’re only the beginning. You’re too late.”

Kaelen’s hand instinctively went to his blade. “Who are you?”

“The name’s Nessa," she said simply, her gaze moving from one hunter to the other. "And if you want to survive what's coming, you’d do well to stay out of my way.”

“Not likely,” Kaelen muttered, his voice low and dangerous. “We’re not the type to stand aside and watch.”

Nessa studied them both for a long moment, her eyes calculating. “Then let’s see if you can keep up.” She turned, her cloak billowing around her as she began to walk toward the edge of the village.

Kaelen exchanged a brief glance with Sigrid. It was clear this woman wasn’t the ally they were hoping for, but if she had information, they had no choice but to follow.

The next morning, they left the village behind, heading west. Kaelen didn’t trust Nessa, but there was a certain air of urgency about her, something he couldn’t ignore.

The further they traveled, the more the landscape began to change. The fertile fields and forests soon gave way to a barren, desolate land, marked by twisted trees and cracked earth.

Kaelen’s instincts were on edge as the wind howled through the empty plains. Something wasn’t right. He could feel it in his gut. And then, just as the sun dipped below the horizon, he heard it.

A distant, low growl.Sigrid stopped, her head tilting to the side. “It’s close.”

Kaelen scanned the darkening horizon, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword. "Get ready."

And then, as if summoned by their very thoughts, a massive shape emerged from the shadows—a hulking beast, its eyes glowing with a sinister red light. It was like nothing Kaelen had ever seen before—part wolf, part human, with twisted, sinewy muscles and a maw filled with sharp, jagged teeth.

Kaelen didn’t hesitate. His body moved of its own accord, charging toward the creature without a second thought. The beast lunged at him with terrifying speed, but Kaelen was faster. He sidestepped the strike, his sword flashing through the air as he aimed for the creature’s neck.

It howled in pain, but it wasn’t done. The beast turned and snarled, its claws reaching for Kaelen.

Sigrid, having prepared her magic, raised her hands and sent a surge of energy crashing toward the beast, stunning it for just a moment. Kaelen took the opening, his sword cutting through the creature’s flesh with a brutal, swift strike.

But as the beast crumpled to the gr

ound, Kaelen knew this wasn’t over. There were more out there—much more.