As dawn breaks, we set off once more, our hearts heavy with the knowledge of the devastation around us. We stop a few miles from Arroyo and walk the rest of the way, our senses heightened by the eerie silence that surrounds us. The road begins to fill with villagers—hungry, filthy, and desperate. Tents line the roadside, the makeshift camps a testament to the suffering endured by the people.

The scene is dreadful. Faces gaunt with starvation, eyes hollow with despair. Children cling to their parents, their cries piercing the air. Villagers have turned on each other, driven mad by hunger and fear. The once vibrant city of Arroyo stands with its gates firmly shut, a platoon of soldiers standing guard outside.

A crowd of villagers has gathered before the soldiers, their desperate voices rising over one another, pleading for food and water, begging to be let in. The air feels thick with their despair, the weight of their suffering pressing down on all of us. The soldiers, lined up in front of the city gates, hold their positions, their weapons at the ready, tense but unmoving.

At the front of the soldiers stands a man, his uniform is sharp, his badge gleaming, but his face—it's worn, his eyes heavy with fatigue. The streaks of gray in his hair seem to match the bleakness of the scene before us. He stands tall despite it all, scanning the crowd with a firm gaze.

"By the order of Jarl Balduin, the city of Arroyo is closed off to halt the spread of the illness," He calls out, his voice stern yet tired. "Disperse at once!" His command hangs in the air, but no one moves. Instead, the villagers only seem more desperate.

"We're starving! Please, Captain Adolf!" a woman in the crowd pleads, her voice cracking with hunger and despair. I can feel the raw need in her words, and my heart aches.

The captain lets out a weary sigh, rubbing the back of his neck as if the weight of the situation presses down on him personally. "I understand," he says, his tone softening just a bit. "Food rations and clean water will be handed out at midday, but you need to disperse. We are all suffering but protesting will achieve nothing. Please return to your camps. I'm doing everything I can to make sure food and clean water will be distributed to everyone." His voice holds the same pain as the villagers', and for a moment, it's clear that he's just as burdened by all of this as they are.

Slowly, the crowd begins to disperse, though their desperation is still written in every glance they cast back toward the gate. The hunger, the need—it's all there, lingering in their eyes.

As the villagers retreat, we move forward—Ryu, with Nikko at his side, followed by me and Apollo. Captain Adolf notices us immediately, and his posture stiffens. His sharp gaze lands on us, and I see a flicker of recognition in his tired eyes.

"I'm sorry," he says, his voice turning firm again, "but the city is off-limits."

Ryu flashes his identification badge, Apollo following suit with a mechanical precision, and I fumble with my own, awkwardly showing it after a brief struggle. But Captain Adolf shakes his head. "Even for adventurers," he adds. "I'm sorry."

Ryu steps forward, his tone calm but commanding. "What's going on?"

The captain raises an eyebrow, surprised by the question. "You don't know?" He looks us over as if trying to gauge whether we're serious. "How have you not heard of this illness that has plagued these lands?"

Ryu shakes his head. "We've just returned from Elaria. We didn't know what has happened here in Eldoria."

Adolf sighs heavily, the weight of his words already clear in his demeanor. "A great illness has swept through these lands. The drinking water has turned foul, the crops have withered, and the livestock... they've become sick too. It's affecting the people now—turning the sanest men delusional." He pauses, his expression somber as his eyes scan the distant horizon. "People from all over have been flocking to Arroyo for refuge, but we simply don't have the resources. Our food is running low, and we have so few sources of clean water left."

I feel a tightness in my chest. The weight of Eldoria's suffering feels even heavier now, knowing that my homeland has remained untouched by the illness. The stark difference makes me feel helpless, my heart aching for these people.

Ryu's voice breaks through my thoughts. "Captain, we need to see the guild master. It's urgent."

Adolf stands firm, shaking his head again. "I'm sorry," he says, the regret evident in his tone. "I have strict orders from the Jarl—no one may enter, and no one may leave."

Ryu steps forward again, his voice taking on a sharper edge. "You have to let us in."

For a moment, Captain Adolf's face changes, as though the command has struck something deep within him. He blinks, then repeats the words, his tone strangely flat. "I have to let you in."

I exchange a confused glance with Ryu, my brow furrowing at the strange shift in Adolf's tone. Even Nikko looks confused, her ears twitching.

"It's urgent," Ryu presses, his voice steady.

Adolf echoes, "It's urgent." He pauses, as if internally grappling with something, then straightens his posture. "Very well," he finally says. "Let them in."

The soldiers around him exchange puzzled looks, clearly confused by their captain's sudden change in demeanor.

One soldier steps forward, his voice hesitant. "But Captain, the Jarl's orders were very specific..."

Captain Adolf's voice sharpens again, snapping with authority. "I know," he says, his tone cold. "But this is urgent. Let them in."

The soldiers still look bewildered, but they obey, parting as the massive gates creak open. As we step forward, the gate closes behind us with a loud, echoing thud, leaving us to face the eerie silence of the city of Arroyo.

The streets, once bustling with life, are completely deserted. Shops are closed, homes stand dark and still, and the oppressive quiet is broken only by the distant sound of the wind blowing through the empty streets. It feels like a ghost town, haunted by the absence of the people who once filled it with energy and laughter.

"This place feels so... dead," Nikko whispers, her voice barely audible.

Ryu nods, though his face is hidden beneath the shadow of his hood. "We need to find Lady Elizabeth quickly. The sooner we get answers, the better."

We move through the city, our footsteps echoing in the hollow streets. The further we go, the deeper the sense of dread sinks in. The once vibrant city feels cold, abandoned—a shell of what it used to be.

We walk through the empty streets of Arroyo, the silence pressing in around us like a heavy weight. The gates had closed behind us with a loud thud, leaving behind the confused soldiers and the desperate villagers. But something about the way we were let in doesn't sit right with me. Captain Adolf—the man seemed too strict, too resolute to have simply let us through on his own accord.

I glance over at Ryu, who walks ahead, his face still hidden beneath the shadow of his hood. Apollo moves silently beside him, with Nikko keeping close by, her curious eyes darting around at the eerily empty streets.

You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

I can't shake the nagging feeling, though. There's a question forming on my lips, and finally, I can't hold it back any longer.

"What was that?" I ask, my voice breaking the heavy silence.

Ryu pauses, glancing back at me, his brow furrowing slightly beneath the edge of his hood. "What was what?" he asks, his tone calm, as if nothing unusual had happened.

I stop in my tracks, crossing my arms and narrowing my eyes at him. "Whatever you just did back there. That Captain Adolf would never have let us in so easily. So, what did you do?"

Beside me, Nikko looks up at Ryu, her head tilting slightly in curiosity. "Yeah, what was that, Papa?" she asks, her wide eyes filled with innocence, but there's a keen interest in her voice.

Ryu sighs softly, his hand brushing over his belt as he steps closer. "It's a little something I picked up from the Jedi," he says, his voice calm but careful, as if weighing how to explain it to me. "It's called a mind trick. I... manipulated his mind a bit to let us in."

I blink, the words settling over me like a cold weight. "Ryu," I snap, my voice rising in disbelief. "You manipulated him?!" The thought of it—of Ryu using someone like that—sends a shiver down my spine. I can't believe it.

"It's not as terrible as it sounds," he says quickly, his tone steady but with a hint of defensiveness. He takes another step toward me, lowering his voice as he explains. "I merely planted a suggestion. Captain Adolf believes it was his own decision. It won't affect him in any way, I assure you."

I stare at him, my heart racing a little. I want to believe him, and I know Ryu well enough to trust that he wouldn't do something like this lightly. But still, the thought of him manipulating someone's mind—it's unsettling.

Ryu watches me carefully, his expression softening. "I wouldn't have done it if there were another way," he adds, his voice quieter now. "We needed to get into the city, and that was the quickest way."

I bite my lip, my arms still crossed. I do believe him—I can see it in his eyes that he means no harm. But the discomfort lingers, a faint knot in my chest. I nod slowly, though the thought continues to gnaw at me.

Nikko's voice breaks through the tension. "But will Captain Adolf be okay?" she asks, her voice small and worried, tugging at Ryu's sleeve.

Ryu smiles softly at her, his hand resting on her head in a comforting gesture. "He'll be fine, Nikko. It won't hurt him. He'll just go about his day like normal."

Nikko seems satisfied with the answer, giving Ryu a small, trusting smile. I, on the other hand, let out a slow breath, forcing myself to push the discomfort aside. I trust Ryu—I know he wouldn't do something reckless. But still, the fact that he has the power to alter someone's mind like that leaves me unsettled.

We continue walking, the silence settling back in around us, but my thoughts are louder than before.

Finally, we reach the guild hall, its grand entrance looming ahead, but something about it feels off—ominous. I try the doors, but they don't budge.

"Now what?" I ask, my voice tense with frustration.

Ryu steps forward, his calmness unwavering. "We step in, of course." He waves his hand, and I hear the soft click of the lock disengaging. He pushes the doors open, and we step inside.

⚔⚔⚔⚔⚔

The interior of the guild hall is just as empty as the streets outside. The room, usually filled with adventurers, chatter, and activity, now stands eerily silent. The job board is bare, the reception desk abandoned, and the bar, once the center of life here, stands still, tables and chairs scattered as if left in haste.

I shiver at the emptiness, the void of life that fills the space.

"Is anyone here?" Ryu calls out, his voice echoing through the empty hall.

I raise my voice too, the urgency rising in me. "Felicity? Lady Elizabeth?"

For a long moment, there's only silence. Then, from the stairs above, footsteps.

A woman appears at the top of the stairs, her dark hair pulled back tightly, her eyes sharp but weary. She looks like someone who hasn't slept well in days—her clothes slightly disheveled, her expression stern but worn.

"Lady Elizabeth," I greet her with a slight bow.

She regards us with suspicion, her voice firm. "What are you doing here? The guild has been closed off. Didn't you see the sign?"

Ryu steps forward, his tone apologetic but firm. "We didn't see the sign, and we apologize for the intrusion, but we need to know what has happened here. We're here to speak with you about the Shadowfell."

"The Shadowfell? That's just a myth," Lady Elizabeth scoffs, her tone sharp and dismissive. Her arms are crossed tightly over her chest as she stands behind her desk, clearly impatient. "Now please, I have more pressing matters to attend to."

The weight of her words sinks in, but Ryu doesn't falter. He stands firm, his gloved hand subtly flexing at his side. I can see the tension in his posture as he tries to keep calm. "Please," he says, his voice steady but insistent. His gloved hand moves to the device embedded in his wrist. "This is an urgent matter."

A faint blue light flickers to life from the small projector on his glove, and in an instant, a hologram materializes between us and Lady Elizabeth—an image of the Shadowfell, captured during our terrifying encounter in the dragon's den. The shadowy figure hovers there, its ominous form twisting and writhing, a chilling reminder of the dark force we barely escaped.

Lady Elizabeth's stern expression falters. Her eyes widen in disbelief as they focus on the hologram, her lips parting slightly. For a moment, she is silent, her usual commanding demeanor shaken.

"What is this?" she finally asks, her voice quieter, her curiosity clearly piqued.

Ryu doesn't hesitate. "An image of the Shadowfell," he explains calmly, his voice carrying the weight of our experience. "Talia and I encountered it in the dragon's den. The illness spreading through Eldoria, the despair—it's all caused by this." His tone is measured, but I can hear the urgency beneath it.

I watch as Lady Elizabeth takes in the image, her eyes narrowing in thought. She's no longer dismissive, but something about the hologram has clearly unsettled her. I feel a faint sense of relief—maybe now she will take us seriously.

"And I know you possess a book about the Shadowfell," Ryu continues, his voice never wavering. "We would like to see it, please."

Lady Elizabeth tears her gaze from the hologram, her eyes flickering between me, Ryu, and Apollo. She exhales slowly, a soft sigh escaping her lips, as if the weight of our request has finally settled on her shoulders. She seems to be contemplating something before she nods, her stern expression softening ever so slightly.

"Very well," she says at last, her tone more serious now. She steps away from the desk. "Follow me."

We trail behind her as she leads us through the grand hall and into her private office. The room is large, filled with tall shelves stacked with countless books, each one neatly organized, though some appear worn from years of use. The smell of old parchment and leather fills the air, adding to the scholarly atmosphere. Lady Elizabeth gestures to a small table near the center of the room, indicating for us to sit.

"Take a seat," she says curtly, already moving toward the massive bookshelf that lines the far wall. I hesitate for a moment before sitting down. Nikko climbs into the chair beside me, her ears twitching in quiet curiosity, while Apollo remains standing, his metallic frame casting a tall shadow in the corner of the room.

Ryu moves to sit beside me, his eyes following Lady Elizabeth as she scans the shelves, clearly searching for something specific. She runs her fingers along the spines of the books, her brow furrowed in concentration.

After a few moments, her hand stops on a particular volume, and with a slight grunt, she pulls it from the shelf. A large, weathered book—its cover cracked with age and worn at the edges. It looks like something ancient, a relic of knowledge lost to time.

"This is all I have on the Shadowfell," Lady Elizabeth says, carrying the heavy book over to the small table where we sit. "Not many of these books were made," she explains as she sets the tome down with a soft thud, the weight of it palpable.

The book is massive, bound in dark leather that has faded over time. The intricate designs on the cover are barely visible anymore, but the sense of age and importance radiates from it. I glance at Ryu as he opens the cover with careful hands, and Nikko leans in, her eyes wide with fascination. Even I find myself holding my breath, curious to see what secrets the pages hold.

Ryu flips through the old, yellowed pages, each one filled with carefully written text and illustrations. The inked drawings of dark, shadowy creatures make my stomach twist—the Shadowfell has existed far longer than I imagined. Each turn of the page reveals more details—old prophecies, accounts from long-forgotten scholars, and images of a force that has plagued worlds before ours.

I catch glimpses of the Shadowfell, drawn in painstaking detail. It looks just as terrifying as it did when we faced it, its form always shifting, always ominous. I can feel Nikko's grip tighten on the edge of the table as she watches, her eyes wide and unblinking.

Apollo stands silently in the corner, his eyes scanning the room. Lady Elizabeth glances at him and raises an eyebrow. "Aren't you going to sit too?" she asks, gesturing toward the empty chair beside me.

Apollo merely shakes his head, his voice calm. "No, thank you."

Lady Elizabeth gives a small nod, though her gaze lingers on him for a moment longer before turning back to us. Ryu continues to flip through the book, his brow furrowed in concentration. His fingers stop suddenly, landing on a page with an accurate drawing of the Shadowfell—the same one we encountered.

The air in the room grows heavier, and I can feel a chill run down my spine as we all stare at the illustration.