The morning after their descent into the cursed ruins, Kaelen and Sigrid made their way through the dense forest surrounding the site. The dawn was muted, the sun struggling to break through the overcast sky.

Kaelen winced as he adjusted his pack, his shoulder still sore despite Sigrid’s healing magic. “I don’t know what hurts more: the fight or having to climb all those stairs after it.”

Sigrid walked ahead, her silver hair catching the weak light. “You’re lucky to be alive.”

“Thanks for the vote of confidence,” Kaelen muttered, though his lips twitched into a smirk.

They soon arrived at a small clearing where a worn trail suggested the presence of a nearby village. The faint smell of woodsmoke and the distant clinking of metal confirmed it.

Kaelen perked up. “Finally, civilization. I’m going to find a tavern, a warm meal, and maybe someone who doesn’t glower at me all the time.”

Sigrid stopped and turned to face him, her expression cold as ever. “We’re not here for leisure. This village may hold clues about the obelisk—or worse, the corruption might have spread.”

“Right,” Kaelen said, scratching the back of his head. “But we can still eat first, right?”

Her eyes narrowed, but she didn’t argue.

The village of Braemere was small, its streets muddy from recent rain. The houses were humble, their thatched roofs sagging under the weight of age. Villagers paused in their work to glance at the newcomers, their expressions a mix of curiosity and caution.

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Kaelen leaned toward Sigrid as they walked. “Friendly bunch, aren’t they?”

“They’re wary,” she replied, scanning the surroundings. “And they should be.”

They reached the center of the village, where an inn with a faded sign offered some semblance of hospitality. Kaelen pushed open the door, the scent of roasted meat and stale ale greeting him like an old friend.

Inside, the common room was modest but warm, a fire crackling in the hearth. A handful of patrons sat at rough wooden tables, their conversations quiet but watchful.

Kaelen strode to the bar, leaning on the counter with his usual swagger. “Two meals, the biggest you’ve got. And ale.”

The innkeeper, a stout man with a bushy beard, gave him a skeptical look before nodding. “Silver first.”

Kaelen reached for his coin pouch, but Sigrid was already placing a few coins on the counter.

“You’re paying?” Kaelen asked, raising an eyebrow.

“Consider it an investment,” she said dryly.

They took a seat near the fire, the warmth a welcome relief from the damp chill outside. Kaelen stretched out, savoring the moment.

“You know,” he said, “if it weren’t for the looming threat of unspeakable evil, this wouldn’t be a bad place to settle down.”

Sigrid gave him a withering look. “You’d last a week.”

Kaelen laughed, the sound surprisingly genuine. “You’d be surprised. I’m full of surprises, remember?”

Before Sigrid could retort, the innkeeper approached with their food: steaming bowls of stew and thick slices of bread. Kaelen dug in with gusto, while Sigrid ate methodically, her eyes scanning the room.

“What’s the plan?” Kaelen asked between bites.

“We ask around,” she said. “The corruption doesn’t spread in isolation. Someone here might know something.”

“And if they don’t?”

She met his gaze, her expression unyielding. “Then we keep moving.”

Kaelen sighed, leaning back in his chair. “You really know how to lighten a mood, Argent.”

Sigrid didn’t respond, her focus already on the task ahead.

As they finished their meal, an old woman approached their table, her gnarled hands clutching a walking stick. Her eyes were clouded with age, but there was a sharpness in her voice.

“You’re not from around here,” she said, her tone wary but curious.

Kaelen smiled. “What gave it away? The weapons or the fact that we don’t look miserable?”

The woman ignored his quip, her gaze settling on Sigrid. “You’re hunters.”

Sigrid inclined her head. “We are.”

The woman’s voice dropped to a whisper. “Then you’ll want to speak to the blacksmith. He’s seen it—the darkness. It came through here not long ago.”

Kaelen exchanged a glance with Sigrid. “Looks like we’ve got our lead.”

The woman nodded, a shadow crossing her face. “Be careful. It’s not just beasts anymore. The darkness…it twists people,too.”

With that, she shuffled away, leaving Kaelen and Sigrid in uneasy silence.