The morning in the small village began quietly, with the golden rays of the sun creeping through the fog-laden fields.

The chirping of birds outside melded with the faint rustling of the trees, creating a tranquil symphony.Sam's house stood tall in the heart of the village, larger than most homes.

Its wooden structure gleamed faintly under the morning light, and the road leading to it was wide enough to host the entire village if needed.

The bodies of the deceased lay in orderly rows outside Sam's house, covered with simple white cloths. The air around them was heavy with the murmur of curious villagers who had gathered.

They whispered amongst themselves, eyes filled with unease as they waited for Sam to emerge and explain the grim situation.

Meanwhile, at Adam's house, the day began as usual. Inside the warm wooden walls, Rachel was in the kitchen, preparing breakfast. The smell of freshly baked bread mingled with the earthy aroma of boiled potatoes and fried eggs.

A kettle of tea whistled softly on the stove. At the dining table sat Adam's father, Ricky, lacing up his sturdy leather boots as he prepared for a day of work in the fields.

A sudden knock at the front door broke the serene morning. Ricky looked up, his thick brows furrowed in mild confusion. The knock came again, louder this time, accompanied by hurried footsteps on the porch.

Opening the door, Ricky found their neighbor standing outside. The man's face was pale, his features drawn with worry. "What's going on? Why are you here so early?" Ricky asked, his voice tinged with concern.

The neighbor stammered, his words rushed. "Ricky, everyone's been called to Sam's house. Something's happened. Hurry, you need to come."

The urgency in the man's tone made Ricky's heart race. He turned back toward the kitchen, his voice steady but urgent. "Rachel, wake the children. We need to go."

Rachel looked up from the stove, worry flashing across her face. She quickly wiped her hands on her apron and hurried toward the stairs. Ricky, grabbing his coat, stepped out into the cool morning air, heading toward Sam's house.

Rachel reached the bedrooms, her hurried footsteps creaking against the wooden floorboards.

She knocked on Yami's door first. Inside, Yami stirred, her dark hair messy and her eyes half-closed as she blinked groggily. "Mom, what's going on? Why are you waking me so early?" Yami asked, rubbing her eyes.

Rachel's voice was soft but firm. "Yami, wake your brothers, Sophia and George. Something important has happened, and we all need to gather at Sam's house."

The sight of her mother's tense expression snapped Yami out of her drowsiness. She quickly nodded, throwing on a simple dress and tying her unruly hair back as she hurried to the boys' room.

In the boys' room, Eric and George were sprawled across their beds, their blankets tangled around their legs. Yami knocked firmly on the door, her voice laced with urgency. "Eric! George! Get up. Something's happened!"

A groggy Eric opened the door, his hair sticking up in all directions. George peeked over Eric shoulder, his face still half-asleep.

"What's going on, Yami?" George asked, yawning. "I don't know," Yami admitted, "but Mom and Dad are worried. We need to get to Sam's house quickly."

The seriousness in her tone jolted both boys awake. Without a word, they grabbed their clothes and followed Yami downstairs, their faces a mixture of confusion and concern.

As Yami descended the stairs, she paused at Adam's room.

She hesitated, remembering her mother's words about Adam not feeling well. Still, she rapped gently on his door, calling out, "Adam, wake up! We need to go to Sam's house."

The knock and Yami's voice stirred Adam awake. He blinked groggily, his vision blurry as he tried to piece together what was happening.

Beside him, Sophia stirred as well, her blonde hair cascading over her face like a golden curtain. Her green eyes blinked open slowly, and for a moment, they locked eyes. The two were lying closer than either had realized.

Adam's face reddened slightly as he glanced down at his left arm, which had gone completely numb. "My arm... it's asleep," he muttered under his breath, flexing his fingers awkwardly.

Sophia, realizing their proximity, sat up quickly. Her cheeks flushed pink as she ran a hand through her tousled hair. "Good morning," she said softly, her voice barely above a whisper.

Adam chuckled nervously. "Good morning," he replied, offering her a faint smile.

Sophia noticed Adam rubbing his numb arm with his other hand, trying to restore circulation. Concern flashed across her face as she knelt beside him.

"Let me help," she said, her tone sincere. Before Adam could protest, she gently took his arm in her hands, rubbing it carefully to stimulate blood flow. Her touch was soft and warm, and Adam found himself blushing even more.

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"You don't have to do that," he murmured, his voice tinged with embarrassment. Sophia smiled, her gaze focused on his arm. "It's my fault your arm went numb," she said. "I should be the one to fix it."

As she worked, Adam watched her, his thoughts a mix of gratitude and awkwardness. He was acutely aware of how close they were, and yet, her presence was oddly comforting.

Sophia lifted his arm slightly, massaging his wrist and fingers with care. "Does it feel better now?" she asked, looking up at him. Adam nodded, flexing his fingers experimentally. "Yeah, it's much better. Thanks."

Sophia's lips curved into a shy smile, though her cheeks remained pink. "Good. I wouldn't want you to stay uncomfortable because of me."

As Adam moved to stand, he caught sight of Sophia's blonde hair glinting in the morning light. For a moment, he found himself captivated by how her hair framed her face.

Downstairs, the rest of the family was preparing to leave. Rachel stood at the door, a shawl draped over her shoulders, her brow furrowed with concern.

Eric and George were ready, their hair hastily combed, while Yami adjusted her scarf. The smell of breakfast still lingered in the air, though none of them seemed hungry anymore.

"Mom," Yami said as she descended the stairs, "I woke Adam. He'll be down soon." Rachel nodded, her hands wringing nervously. "Good. We need to hurry."

Just as Adam and Sophia joined them, the family stepped outside, the cool morning air brushing against their faces.

Together, they made their way toward Sam's house, unaware of the tense gathering that awaited them.

The morning air was filled with tension as the village stirred to life. Adam's father had already left the house, rushing toward the center of the village.

Rachel, accompanied by her children and Sophia, followed shortly after, their hurried steps echoing along the dirt path. The group moved quickly, anxiety etched on their faces.

Sophia, walking close to Yami, couldn't help but voice her concern. "Why is everyone heading to my house so suddenly? Did something happen?"

Yami glanced at Sophia, her own worry visible. "I don't know," she replied. "But Mom told us to get there as fast as possible. Something serious must have happened."

Sophia's face grew pale, her unease increasing with every step. Adam, walking silently beside her, noticed her distress.He is feeling very sad.

Seeing Sophia's sadness, he wants to put his hand on Sophia's shoulder and say, don't worry, I am with you, but he stops himself from doing this and wants to see first.

As they approached the village center, the atmosphere grew heavier. Adam noticed the crowd swelling near Sam's house, its large wooden frame dominating the area.

The road leading to the house was wider than most, bordered by neatly arranged homes and lined with curious villagers.

Adam spotted his father, Ricky, pushing through the growing crowd near Sam's front yard. Rachel, upon seeing some familiar women standing nearby, joined them to exchange hurried whispers.

Meanwhile, Adam and the rest of the group moved toward an area where children had gathered.

Among them, Adam spotted Robin, a boy around their age, with short auburn hair and a freckled face. Robin had been one of Adam and Sophia's closest friends during their childhood.

Seeing Robin triggered a flood of memories in Adam's mind. He recalled countless days spent exploring the forest together, sharing stories, and laughing at silly jokes.

Robin's cheerful demeanor always seemed to brighten the group, and even now, his wide smile momentarily eased the tension in the air.

"Sophia, you're here!" Robin called out, jogging over. "Do you know what's going on? Your father's about to make an announcement."

Sophia frowned, worry evident on her face. She pushed through the cluster of children, making her way closer to her father. Adam, along with the others, followed closely.

When they reached the front yard, they saw Sam standing on the threshold of his house. His tall frame and commanding presence naturally drew attention.

Lying before him on the ground, covered in white cloths, were several bodies. The sight of the corpses caused a ripple of gasps and murmurs to spread through the crowd.

Sophia froze at the sight, her hand flying to her mouth in shock. "What... what is this?" she whispered.

Beside her, George's curiosity got the better of him. He turned to a nearby boy and asked, "What happened here? Who are these people?"

The boy glanced at the bodies nervously before replying, "They were found in the forest this morning. No one knows who they are."

Adam, who had been trailing behind the group, overheard the exchange. As he caught sight of the covered corpses, his heart sank.

A wave of panic washed over him as he realized these were the very people he had killed the previous night. His hand instinctively went to his forehead, pressing against it as he muttered under his breath, "I should have handled this better."

Adam's guilt gnawed at him. He had acted out of necessity to protect the village, but seeing the consequences laid out so starkly before him filled him with regret. "No one saw me," he reassured himself silently. "They have no way of knowing it was me."

If someone sees Adam, then he will be in a lot of trouble because he will not be able to explain to anyone why he did this and it will also be difficult for Adam to explain how he did this, that too alone.

Beside him, Sophia and Yami were pale, their eyes glued to the bodies. Fear and unease were written across their faces, and Adam couldn't help but feel responsible for their distress.

Seeing Sophia and Yami in such a condition, Adam becomes very sad and closing his eyes, he says to Sophia and Yami in his mind, "Forgive me".

As the scene in the village unfolded, another, darker presence lurked on the outskirts. Deep within the forest, just beyond the village's edge, eight figures moved swiftly and silently among the trees.

These were not ordinary men but members of the Soku Clan's branch family, samurai warriors tasked with a dangerous mission.

Their leader, Sinu, moved at the forefront, his black robes blending seamlessly with the shadows. The lower half of his face was concealed beneath a mask, leaving only his piercing eyes visible.

Behind him, the other seven samurai followed in perfect formation. Dressed in tight blue outfits, their faces were similarly obscured, with only their eyes exposed.

Each carried a katana strapped to their back, the blades glinting faintly under the dappled sunlight filtering through the canopy. As they approached the village's border, Sinu raised a hand, signaling the group to halt.

They perched gracefully on the thick branches of a towering tree, their movements so fluid and precise that not a single leaf rustled.

Sinu descended to the ground, his boots landing silently on the forest floor. From the cover of the trees, he gazed out at the village, his sharp eyes scanning the fields and houses in the distance.

Even from this distance, Sinu could sense it—a faint but undeniable magical presence emanating from within the village. A wicked smile spread across his face as he muttered to himself, "There's a mage here."

The revelation only fueled his anticipation. Sinu's hand tightened around the hilt of his katana as he turned back to his men, his voice a low, commanding whisper. "Stay hidden. Observe. We'll make our move soon."

The chapter ends with Sinu and his warriors poised on the edge of the forest, their intentions clear but their movements shrouded in mystery. In the village, the crowd waits anxiously for Sam to speak, unaware of the danger creeping closer.

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End of the chapter 12.