As much as Rohl loved his sleep, even he couldn't resist the bright morning rays that shone through his window and filled his room with the light of day. Years of having to awaken at daybreak had conditioned his body to spring to life whenever morning arose and knowing how futile it would be to try and return to his sleep, Rohl could only sigh and get on with the day.

In accordance with his usual morning routine, he slid his leg out of bed and allowed the cold brisk air to motivate him to hastily leap to his feet and rush to get dressed. But even with his added speed, he couldn't help but notice the surprising stillness that reverberated through the house.

They must have fancied fresh bread.

With his family having likely already left for the town's market, Rohl was left only one choice, begin the day's chores whilst he waited for them to return and share a family breakfast.

It would take them a short while to complete the journey, which would hopefully give Rohl enough time to make a good start on the day, and with that in mind, Rohl quickly kicked on his boots and slipped his ukatar into his pocket.

Even if he was only doing a few chores in and around the house, he was not just going to leave it unguarded in his room. It was far too precious for him to let it leave his sight so easily and besides, there was always a chance that it might come in handy, even if that was only giving a quick song to some passing villagers in exchange for a little change or if he was feeling particularly kind, amuse the villagers' few children.

But with his ukatar secure and his stomach already rumbling, Rohl decided to get the first chores out of the way with, which given their proximity to the house meant feeding the chickens and cleaning their coop.

After a quick search to find the required keys the disorganised Sami had for some reason placed in the kitchen, Rohl quickly left through the back door before taking a long minute to let the cold morning air truly awaken him as he took in the distant views.

Even with the vast forests, rolling hills and fields of wheat collating to form an idyllic view, Rohl couldn't find it within himself to relax and enjoy it. There was an odd feeling in the air, enough to create a churning in his stomach and make his hairs stand up in alarm.

Everything feels sick.

And as this presence made its way further into Rohl's body, that was when it hit him, the silence. There was not even as much as chirping birds to puncture the morning air, just pure dead silence.

No, no, it can't be. Not here.

There was only one explanation for the dreadful silence, an explanation that dominated Rohl's world, an explanation that every man, woman and child had rightfully come to fear.

With a small stumble, Rohl fell back towards the door before steadying himself with his free hand.

No, no, no, what do I do? What do I do? If it finds me, I'm dead.

Even with the lack of immediate peril, Rohl couldn't prevent his fears and thoughts from running wild. Every second he stood there was a second filled with dread. Every second was one where his mind showed him images of what the Endless Silence would surely do to him, how he would end up as just another victim of the sacrilegious beast. There had never been any survivors before and why would he be any different?

The thought made his heart pound furiously within his chest, even without placing his hand against it, he was able to feel its strong fearful beating. And as his terror grew, Rohl's breathing became more and more ragged, and his feet ever shakier.

I feel as if I'm going to pass out. Is that how they all felt?

But before Rohl could finally succumb to the pressure building within him, the feeling of the metal key sticking into his clenched fist sent a much-needed jolt to snap him out of his daze.

Mum, Sami.

He had no idea what had befallen them or if the village had even been attacked but with his family being one of the few things that mattered to him, Rohl had to find out if they were okay. He had to find them, make sure they were unharmed and most importantly make sure this beast never hurt them.

With a slow shaky grip, Rohl pushed himself off the door and focused his entire being on this one goal. No matter the crushing fear that surrounded him or the pain that soared through his skin, he had to find his family.

This need burned deeply within him as Rohl's furious steps pounded down the small dirt path that connected his home to the village's main road. Without hesitation Rohl took off at full sprint, ignoring the bodies of dead birds that littered the stone path as he did so.

There was nothing he could do for the poor creatures now and besides how could he focus on them when he was barely holding back his own ever-increasing dread or resisting the despair that clung to the air like a thick fog.

Please be okay. Please be okay.

Despite this journey being one Rohl had made countless times it exhausted him like never before. Each pounding step sent a jolt of pain through his legs, made his side cramp and only furthered his rapid breathing. Still, he pushed on desperate to find his family, he couldn't afford to lose them, not now, not ever.

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Even as he wiped the puddling sweat from his face, Rohl continued to put one foot ahead of the other, ignoring his fear and desperation as he did so.

But such an uneven, rushed sprint couldn't go on forever, but much to Rohl's horror it wasn't his exhausted frame or terrible stitch that finally brought him down but a haunting sound.

Its terrible punch struck him just as he stormed past the windmill, before he could even begin to process just what had happened, its hallowing pressure crushed him to his knees and sent him scratching at his head in pain.

It was as if the whole weight of the world was bearing down on him through the malevolent silence.

With a gut-wrenching cry of pain, Rohl couldn't help but collapse onto his side as he desperately attempted to halt the crushing silence. Even as his hands clasped at his ears and dug into his flesh did the sound continue to terrorise him.

For every second he was subjected to the attack, the worse Rohl felt himself become. The light of his eyes had begun to lowly darken, the blood dripping from his ears continued to pour through the gaps of his fingers and the clarity of his mind began to fade away into nothingness.

Even as his screams were drowned out by the pain, the pressure continued to wrack his frail body, no matter how much he suffered or tore at his ears, the attack continued and before long it seemed the only escape from this terrible fate was to embrace the ever-encroaching darkness that threatened to envelop him.

No, I ca- Not like this.

With his mind on the brink of collapse, there was only one solution Rohl could bring himself to submit to. For any fate was better than the dreadful pain and terrifying horror.

After a manner of slow pain wracked seconds, Rohl's hands finally reached his pocket and searched desperately for the coop key. Its dull edges were far from perfect but with enough effort, he might finally be able to end his terrible suffering.

And as his hand clutched desperately at the key, that's when he felt it, the gentle strings of his family heirloom. His hand brushed against it with a slow trembling touch and with that touch came a beautiful chord of music.

A chord of music that unleased a cascade of his oldest and fondest memories, of him first being handed the Bluedawn family heirloom, of him first plucking its strings as his family watched on with loving smiles, of the Bluedawn family together as one.

Just that simple chord was enough for Rohl to get lost in the safety and reassurance of his past. The sound his fingers made as they once again plucked at the ukatar's strings may have been barely audible but to Rohl's ears it was as if a marching band had picked up the tune and was desperately fighting to hold off the silence.

For all Rohl knew, the gods themselves could have been playing the nonsensical tune that repeated within his head and helped him resist the terrible sensations that the silence was forcing upon him.

Compared to the inhuman power that the silence had unleashed over the village, the fact that Rohl still somehow had a sense of self was a feat that he had never believed he was capable of. As long as he had the music and its memories, then Rohl knew he was going to be okay and find his family.

Even now as images of their happy faces flooded through his pain-addled mind, Rohl didn't shiver or squirm in pain, instead a teary smile slowly inched its way into his face.

I, I will not fail them.

With his father long gone, Rohl knew it was up to him now, he had to hold on and find his family, he may have had these memories to remind him but that's all they were, memories. No matter how powerful they were, they were nothing compared to being able to see his family smile in front of him.

And with that powerful drive cursing through him, Rohl somehow found the strength to push himself up from the ground and take one pain-filled limp towards his village and with it the family that needed him now more than ever.

The rushed movement sent a fresh jolt of pain racking through Rohl's body but despite his almost overwhelming urge to scream out once again, Rohl managed to hold on with only a bitten tongue for his trouble.

Even with his steps resembling that of an old man, Rohl continued his feverous journey, and even as the crushing silence beat down on him like the tide, he kept walking and clung dearly to that simple tune like a drowning man to his final breath.

I can do this. I can do this. They need me.

With such desperate thoughts raking around his skull, Rohl continued his slow exhausted limp towards the village. As terrible as the sensation was, Rohl did not dare to stop, he couldn't risk it, if he stopped just for a moment to catch his breath or quell the pain, then deep down a part of him knew it was unlikely he would ever find the strength to move again.

Even as the first unmoving bodies began to appear at the side of the path, Rohl continued his exhausted limping. As much as he wanted to check on his fellow villagers or at least make sure they were still alive, Rohl knew he couldn't.

All he could offer them was a tear-filled glance and a whimper of pain as he made his way past or worse over them.

Please forgive me, Archie. I'll make sure someone comes to get you.

With that and several muttered prayers to the gods, Rohl finally made his way off the village's outskirts and into its centre.

He was so close now, so close to finding his family. With fresh jolts of pain, Rohl's limped steps became faster and more desperate as he rushed past the hunched-over blacksmith and emerged into the village's market.

Where are you? Where are you? Please gods please let them be okay.

The fresh images of his family still burned away in his mind, they were powerful reminders of why he was putting himself through so much agonising pain, a pain that continued despite Rohl refusing to remove his hand from the strings of his family's most precious heirloom. Without these two things, Rohl knew the chances of him continuing his journey were slim, but he had come so far, gone through so much to reach his family, to fail now. Failing at this last hurdle was unacceptable, he couldn't fail now, not when he could see the prone forms of his family just at the other end of the market.

They were laid out just before the fruit stall with countless bodies of other villages scattered in every direction.

He had finally found them and with a second wind of renewed energy, Rohl ignored the terrible ache of his body and rushed to close the distance between them and him.

Several still eyes seemed to stare at him as he rushed across the market stall and no matter how much those eyes seemed to be calling out for him, Rohl didn't stop, not even as he passed the fallen bodies of villagers he knew. No matter what, he had to take care of his family.

After several seconds of exhausted movement and stumbles over outstretched limps, Rohl's family were finally within reaching distance. Without stopping his momentum, Rohl crashed to the ground with a deep thud before enveloping his cherished family within his arms.

He had finally made it and now as they were within his hands, the exhaustion and pain he had gone through finally seemed to be catching up to his exhausted soul. But even as his vision began to darken and his mind began to blur, there was one word that forced its way out of Rohl's jaw.

"No."