Kaelen and Sigrid left the warmth of the inn and made their way through the winding streets of Braemere. The sky above remained heavy with clouds, and the air had a biting edge to it. They walked in silence, the weight of the village's quiet unease settling over them.

"Alright," Kaelen said, breaking the stillness. "We do this the usual way—find out what the blacksmith knows, make sure he understands the importance of a good reward. We don’t do this for free."

Sigrid shot him a sidelong glance. "I’m not here for your negotiations."

"Well, someone’s gotta keep an eye on that side of things," Kaelen said with a grin. "You know me—I’m all about the business."

Sigrid didn’t respond, her gaze already focused ahead. The blacksmith’s shop wasn’t far—just a small, square building with a forge glowing faintly in the back. The rhythmic sound of hammer striking metal filled the air as they approached.

Kaelen knocked twice on the doorframe before pushing it open. The inside of the shop was hot, filled with the smell of burning coal and iron. A burly man with soot-smeared skin was bent over his work, his muscles straining with each hammer strike. He looked up as the door creaked open, his dark eyes narrowing.

"Don’t need no more troubles," he grumbled. "If you’re here to ask about the beasts, I’ve said my piece already."

Sigrid stepped forward, her voice calm but firm. "We’re not here to waste your time. We’ve heard about the darkness you’ve seen. We want to know more."

The blacksmith put down his hammer, his gaze flickering to Kaelen. "And what’s in it for me?"

Kaelen leaned against the doorframe, his arms crossed. "We don’t hunt for free. We’ll deal with whatever’s out there, but you’ll need to compensate us for our efforts. Fair trade, right?"

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The blacksmith grunted, clearly unamused by the directness of Kaelen’s words. But there was an edge of desperation in his eyes. "I didn’t ask for this," he muttered, wiping his brow with the back of his hand. "That thing came from the hills, from the north. I’ve heard it whisperin’ in the wind, seen shadows where there should be none. People are disappearin’—whole families. I’m just tryin’ to survive. You want payment, fine. I’ll give you what I can, but only if you stop it before it spreads."

Kaelen pushed himself off the frame and walked to the center of the room, his posture relaxed but attentive. "We’ll take care of it. But for a price, of course. How does two silver for information and three more when we deal with this ‘thing’ sound?"

The blacksmith’s lip curled in a slight grimace, but after a beat, he nodded. "Fine. But if you fail, you’ll not see a single coin of it. Deal?"

Kaelen extended his hand, his grin widening. "Deal."

Sigrid nodded, her silver hair catching the dim light. "Now, tell us more. Where exactly did you see it?"

The blacksmith motioned toward the hills to the north, his expression darkening. "It’s not just some beast. It’s like it’s… connected to something deeper. An old magic, twisted and dark. It’s not just the animals changing. People too. You’ll need to be careful. Follow the tracks; they’ll lead you."

Kaelen rubbed his chin, considering. "Alright, tracks it is. Thanks for the info."

As they turned to leave, the blacksmith called out to them. "You’ll need more than steel to fight this thing. Be careful, hunters. There’s something wrong in those hills, something that won’t just lie down and die."

"Don’t worry," Kaelen said, with a wink. "We’re used to things that bite back."

As they made their way out of the shop, Sigrid remained silent for a moment. The air was thick with the weight of the task ahead. The blacksmith’s warning hung over them like a storm cloud.

"We move fast," she said at last, breaking the silence. "We’re not here to wait for more disappearances."

Kaelen raised an eyebrow, glancing at her. "I thought you didn’t like getting attached to the people you help."

"I don’t," she replied coldly. "But the faster we finish this, the sooner we can move on."

Kaelen nodded, then smirked. "Alright then, let’s get moving. I’ll lead the way. You keep up, Argent."

Sigrid shot him an irritated glance, but Kaelen was already walking ahead, his eyes scanning the ground for any sign of tracks.

They made their way northward, the journey taking them through dense forests and rugged terrain. The farther they went, the darker the atmosphere seemed to become. The trees grew thicker, their branches twisting in unnatural angles.

"Feeling it yet?" Kaelen asked, glancing at Sigrid. "The weirdness in the air?"

Sigrid nodded, her senses sharpening. "It’s there. Something’s off. Stay alert."

Kaelen didn’t need more encouragement. He drew his sword, the edge glinting in the faint light.

As they climbed the final stretch of the hill, they spotted signs of something recent—a broken branch here, a patch of disturbed earth there.

The air grew colder as they neared the top. Kaelen paused, looking at the landscape below them.

"Whatever’s out there," he muttered, "it’s waiting."