The tension in the town hall was thick, the room buzzing with heated voices. The wooden beams of the low ceiling seemed to tremble under the weight of the discussion. Felix’s disappearance had shaken the villagers, and emotions ran high as they debated what to do.
“We can’t just sit here while he’s out there, who knows where!” a middle-aged man exclaimed, his fists clenched at his sides. “He’s one of us. We have to go after him.”
“And leave the village defenseless?” an older woman shot back, her voice sharp. “If the bandits return, what then? We can’t risk everyone’s lives for one person.”
The elder raised her hand, her cane tapping against the wooden floor for attention. “Enough,” she said, her voice calm but firm. The room quieted as all eyes turned to her. “Rash actions will cost more lives than we can hope to save. Felix is important, but so is this village. We cannot abandon one to save the other.”
Murmurs of agreement rippled through the crowd, but Elira stepped forward, her arms tense at her sides. “So what then? We do nothing? Felix is out there, probably hurt or worse, and we just sit here and hope for the best?”
A tall, broad-shouldered man stepped into the circle of lamplight—Elira’s father, the village leader. His expression was grim, his voice measured. “No one said we would do nothing, Elira. But running into the forest blindly will only get more people hurt.”
Elira’s shoulders tensed, and she looked away. “I can’t just leave him out there.”
Kael, who had been leaning silently against a beam, finally spoke. “She’s right. Felix won’t last long on his own, especially if the bandits catch him—or worse.”
The crowd stirred at his words, but Elira’s father raised a hand to silence them. His eyes locked on Kael, narrowing slightly. “And you think you can find him?”
Kael stepped forward, his posture steady and assured. “I can. I have tools that allow me to track him faster and more accurately than anyone here. But I’ll need to act quickly.”
Elira’s father frowned, his gaze flickering to his daughter. “And you?” he asked her. “I assume you’ve already made up your mind.”
Elira met his gaze, her voice firm. “I’m going with him.”
The weight of her words hung in the air, and her father sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. “I should say no. I should demand that you stay here where it’s safe.”
“But you won’t,” Elira said softly. “Because you know I won’t listen.”
A flicker of wry humor crossed his face, but it was quickly replaced by worry. “You’re as stubborn as your mother,” he muttered, shaking his head. “Fine. If you’re going, at least be smart about it. Take what you need and don’t take unnecessary risks.”
Elira nodded, relief washing over her face. “Thank you.”
Her father turned to Kael, his voice hardening. “And you. If anything happens to her, you’ll answer to me.”
Kael gave a single nod. “Understood.”
The elder, watching the exchange, tapped her cane again. “Then it’s settled. You’ll search for Felix. The rest of us will stay here and prepare for whatever may come.”
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The room grew quieter as the decision sank in. Elira’s father placed a hand on her shoulder, his grip firm but gentle. “Come back safe. Both of you.”
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The air was cool and still as Kael and Elira left the village behind, the quiet amplified by the faint rustling of leaves underfoot. The torches that lit their path faded into the distance, leaving them alone in the vast darkness of the forest.
Elira adjusted the strap of her satchel as her thoughts raced. “I should’ve stopped him,” she muttered, breaking the silence.
Kael glanced at her. “You’re not responsible for his choices.”
“But I am,” she insisted. “Felix has always been impulsive, but I should’ve seen this coming. He—” She stopped herself, shaking her head. “It doesn’t matter.”
Kael’s voice was calm but firm. “It matters, but not now. Save it for when we bring him back.”
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Kael crouched by a patch of disturbed soil, his sensor eye flickering faintly as it scanned the area. Broken branches, shallow footprints, and the lingering warmth of recent movement painted a picture in his mind. “He came this way,” Kael said, rising to his feet. “Not long ago.”
Elira followed closely, her gaze darting around the woods nervously. The deeper they went, the more unnatural the forest felt. The air grew colder, heavier, as if it pressed against her chest. The usual sounds of the forest—chirping insects, rustling leaves—were absent. The silence was suffocating.
“This isn’t right,” Elira said, her voice barely above a whisper. “The forest… it’s wrong.”
Kael paused, his gaze falling on a faint purple glow. A thin, viscous liquid seeped from a crack in the earth, pulsing faintly. He frowned, his sensor eye analyzing the substance, but the readings were inconclusive.
“What is it?” Elira asked, stepping closer.
“Something new,” Kael murmured. “And not natural.”
Elira knelt beside him, her brow furrowed as she tried to sense the energy. Her expression twisted with discomfort. “It’s not just unnatural. It’s wrong. Like... something trying to be magic but failing.”
Kael straightened, scanning the forest ahead. “We’re close.”
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The faint sounds of movement broke the oppressive silence—a low shuffle, hurried and uneven. Kael held up a hand to stop Elira. Two figures stumbled into view, their forms unsteady and desperate. Bandits. Their faces were pale, their eyes wide with terror, and their breaths came in ragged gasps.
Kael stepped forward, his movements calm but ready. “Stop,” he ordered.
The bandits froze, their hands trembling as they raised them in surrender. “We’re not looking for trouble,” one of them stammered. “We’re just trying to get out of here.”
“Where’s Felix?” Elira demanded, stepping forward.
The bandits exchanged confused glances. “Felix?” one of them repeated, unsure.
Kael sighed, his voice dry as he clarified, “One head shorter than me, blond hair, and way too much heroics for someone his age. Ring any bells?”
The bandit’s face twisted in recognition, and he nodded quickly. “Yeah… yeah, he’s in the cage. With the others.”
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When Kael and Elira reached the bandit camp, it was in ruins. The ground was littered with debris—shredded tents, broken weapons, and dark stains of blood. The faint glow of firelight flickered weakly, casting long, distorted shadows.
Elira drew in a shaky breath. “This wasn’t a fight,” she said softly. “It was a slaughter.”
Kael’s sensor eye scanned the area. “Stay close,” he said.
Ahead of them, a handful of bandits stood in a loose circle, their weapons trembling in their hands as they faced the source of the purple glow. In the flickering firelight, the monster came into view—a towering, grotesque form, its dark, mottled skin pulsing with veins of glowing purple. Its claws gleamed as it slashed at a bandit who screamed before being thrown into a nearby tent.
Elira’s breath hitched. “What is that?”
Kael didn’t answer immediately, his eyes locked on the creature. “We’ll figure that out later,” he whispered. “Right now, we need to stay out of sight.”
One of the bandits shouted, “Get it! Don’t let it get closer!” A crossbow bolt fired, striking the creature’s shoulder. It didn’t even flinch. Instead, its glowing eyes locked onto the shooter, and it lunged with terrifying speed. The bandit’s scream was cut short as the monster’s claws struck home.
Kael turned to Elira, his voice barely audible. “Follow my lead. Quietly.”
He guided her through the wreckage, keeping low and using the chaos to mask their movements. They weaved between the remnants of the camp, avoiding the flickering firelight and the monster’s line of sight. Kael’s sharp eyes scanned the camp until he stopped abruptly, gesturing for Elira to crouch beside him.
At the far end of the camp, a crude wooden cage stood partially hidden behind torn tents. Inside, huddled figures clung to each other, their faces pale and filled with terror as the sounds of the battle raged on.