“Clear this area out, make sure nobody else is here.”. Ervin commanded the soldiers, who started to march into the room.

“Yes sir!” They screamed in unison.

As they entered Emrys' dimly lit room with the moon casting a soft glow through the open curtains, they meticulously checked every nook and cranny. With precision, they extinguished each candle, leaving only the flickering flame of the one held in their hand to guide their search. The room fell into shadow as they methodically pushed aside the books on his table, revealing empty surfaces beneath. Not stopping there, they stripped away the blankets from the bed, unveiling a space devoid of any hidden secrets or clues.

“This room’s clear!”. One of the soldiers exclaimed.

As they ventured into the bathroom, the aged wooden flooring groaned under their weight, adding an eerie soundtrack to their thorough search. The walls, once sturdy, now creaked with each movement, as if whispering secrets of forgotten moments. With determined hands, they examined every corner, checking behind the slightly cracked window and inspecting the disheveled toilet.

Despite their efforts, the soldier's sharp eyes caught a glimpse of something out of place amid the chaos. There, amidst the debris, lay a solitary item - a child's sandal. Its tiny size stood in stark contrast to the somber atmosphere of the room.

"I found something!" The soldier's voice rang out, breaking the tense silence that had settled in the room.

“Well what is it?”The other soldier asked.

The soldier showed him the ripped brown sandal he found and they finally got a clue- a child was near the vicinity.

…

Mr. Smith stood vigilantly in the dimly lit room, his hand firmly clasping Emrys' ears, shielding the young boy from the grim reality unfolding outside. The darkness seemed to wrap around them like a protective cloak, muffling the sounds of chaos and fear that echoed through the cabin.

His heart raced with a mixture of apprehension and dread. The fear of discovery by the soldiers weighed heavily on him, but an even deeper fear gnawed at his conscience - the fear of exposing Emrys, an innocent child, to the brutal truths of death and violence. A single tear traced a path down his weathered face, a silent testament to the pain and sorrow he felt.

In that moment of solitude and despair, Mr. Smith grappled with the harsh reality that two of his closest friends, whom he had come to consider as family, were now gone, their lives brutally snuffed out by forces beyond their control.

Mr. Smith bore witness to the horrific spectacle unfolding before his eyes, each moment etching itself into his mind with brutal clarity. The sight of Lance's stomach being carved open, left a gaping wound that seemed to swallow the very essence of hope. The sound of Isabella's agonized screams as her head was consumed by merciless flames, the crackling of the fire echoing through the cabin like a sinister symphony of destruction.

Fear coiled tightly around Mr. Smith's heart, its icy grip squeezing every ounce of courage from his being. He trembled at the thought of his mortality, realizing that if the soldiers uncovered his true identity, death would not be far behind for him and Emrys. Every creak of the floorboards, every whisper of the wind outside, sent shivers of apprehension down his spine, a constant reminder of the imminent danger lurking in the shadows.

After the man called ‘Ervin’ left, Mr. Smith would go into a corner, trying to stay hidden from the chaotic atmosphere.

He’d hold Emrys tight to his chest as the soldiers got closer.

The soldiers' footsteps echoed ominously as they approached the final room, the parents' chamber cloaked in an eerie silence. With deliberate caution, they pushed the door open, revealing a scene bathed in the soft glow of their flickering candles. The absence of the usual candlelight in the room added to the tension, casting long shadows that danced along the walls.

Mr. Smith and Emrys huddled together in the corner, their hearts pounding in unison with the creaking of the floorboards under the soldiers' weight. Beads of sweat trickled down Mr. Smith's brow, his nerves on edge as he braced himself for whatever grim discovery awaited them in the room.

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This game is so boring! Finally, something interesting is happening outside!

Unaware of the tragic events unfolding outside, including the death of his parents, Emrys remained blissfully ignorant, thinking it was all part of an elaborate game. However, it wasn’t his fault as Mr. Smith created this plan to make him not see the devastation outside.

The soldiers embarked on their search of the dimly lit and spacious room with fervor. Their actions were swift and destructive as they vandalized the serene setting. With a single blow, the mirror shattered into a myriad of pieces, its reflection distorted and fragmented. Their boots stomped across the wooden floor, leaving splintered remains in their wake, while the bed met its demise under the relentless assault, its frame splintering and collapsing.

Every item they came across met the same fate – destruction. Their search was thorough, leaving no stone unturned and no object unbroken.

What's all that sound?! Emrys thought as most of his senses were blocked by Mr. Smith.

As they reached the corner where Mr. Smith and Emrys were concealed, a tense silence enveloped the room. The candle held by the soldier flickered ominously, its flames dancing erratically before extinguishing altogether. In that fleeting moment of darkness, Mr. Smith felt a glimmer of hope, a chance that they might escape the looming danger unscathed.

But as the soldier's yawn echoed in the room, a shiver ran down Mr. Smith's spine. Fatigue threatened to cloud the soldier's senses, the weariness of the late hour casting a heavy veil over his alertness. Mr. Smith's heart raced as he watched the soldier's gaze shift towards the hat lying innocently on the floor, a hat Mr. Smith had placed there to create a diversion. Every second felt like an eternity as Mr. Smith held his breath, praying that the soldier's drowsiness would work in their favor and that their hiding spot remained undetected.

The soldiers made a hasty exit from the room, eager to wrap up their duties for the night. Stepping outside, they approached Ervin, who was seated on the freshly constructed table, his hat resting casually beside him. Wisps of smoke curled upward from the cigarette dangling between his fingers, illuminated faintly by the moonlight. As a sudden gust of wind swept through, it tousled his neatly combed hair, adding an air of rugged charm to his demeanor.

“Did you find anything?”. Ervin questioned them.

“No sir!” They answered as therespectably saluted Erviner.

"You're done for the night," Ervin commanded the soldiers, his voice carrying authority as he gestured toward the exit. "And make sure to relay all the details to A. A when you report back to Folzia headquarters." With that, the soldiers took their leave under Ervin's directive, their footsteps fading into the night as they headed back to their base.

As Ervin watched the soldiers depart, a faint smirk played on his lips, concealing the darker thoughts swirling within his mind. The flickering candlelight cast dancing shadows across his face as he contemplated the events that had just transpired. The forbidden forest seemed to echo with the weight of his thoughts.

"Why did the king command such executions?" Ervin muttered to himself, his voice carrying a tone of skepticism and contemplation. However, his doubt quickly dissolved into a chuckle, tinged with a hint of malice.

Regret was a foreign concept to Ervin. His laughter echoed through the stillness of the forest, a chilling sound that hinted at the depths of his twisted desires. He reveled in the thrill of the hunt, relishing the act of ending lives as a Dacnomania—an individual who derived pleasure from killing.

With a nonchalant shrug, Ervin retrieved his hat and rose from his seat, the moonlight casting an eerie glow around him. He sauntered away from the scene, his footsteps barely audible against the forest floor. The night embraced him, concealing his sinister intentions as he ventured deeper into the forbidden forest, leaving behind a trail of unanswered questions and unsettling laughter.

…

Mr. Smith breathed a sigh of relief as the last echo of footsteps faded into the night. The tension that had gripped him began to ease, yet a sense of unease lingered in the air. He turned his attention to Emrys, who sat there with a mixture of confusion and impatience in his eyes.

"Emrys, could you do me a favor and stay here for a little while longer?" Mr. Smith's voice was gentle yet firm, his eyes scanning the dimly lit room for any signs of danger.

Emrys, still caught up in his desire to play outside with his parents, frowned and protested, "No! I want to go outside and play! Why do I have to stay here?"

Understanding Emrys' frustration but also realizing the gravity of the situation, Mr. Smith knelt beside him, placing a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "I know you want to play, but we need to be cautious. I just need to check something quickly, and then we can figure out a way for you to have some fun, alright?"

Emrys hesitated for a moment, glancing around the room nervously. The weight of the recent events seemed to hang heavily on his young shoulders. With a resigned nod, he finally relented, "Okay, but make it quick."

Mr. Smith gave him a comforting smile before rising to his feet. "I promise, it won't take long. Just stay here and be safe."

As Mr. Smith made his way to the door, a sense of determination mixed with apprehension filled his heart. He knew he had to tread carefully, for the shadows of danger lurked just beyond the room’s walls.