Though they had survived the previous night, they must be ready to fight the brood of Dermis. They have to climb the rocky hills to reach the village above.
The early morning seemed just the same as yesterday. The air was cold. The wind blew without mercy past the brambles, whose leaves, not being able to withstand the gale, flew along the wind, leaving only the berries and the thorns behind.
There had already been a mountain trail leading up into the mountain. Dan took his fully-reloaded revolver and his sword. As the temperature was very cold, he had put on a woolly coat, which touched the ground. He mounted on Hadrian and ordered Marcus not to follow him, but to reach the village on a different route. Dan gave him a carrot, which Marcus happily eats and obeyed his master's orders.
Hadrian started to trot. Fayette accompanied Dan, while Camb paired with Marcus. Dan was sweating in fear. Though the hill looked peaceful and quite normal, he felt that something was wrong.
While he was walking along the trail, he found a small, wooden hut. Upon taking a closer look, he was taken back. It was a witch's hut.
"I ain't gonna be here for so long, " said Dan. "This place gives me goosebumps."
"Dan, calm down. Don't be scared. Witch huts are common across Fantalasia. Go on, Hadrian."
Dan moved further into the woods. It was morning, yet the owls hooted. The wolves howled. Dan cleared his mind and ordered Hadrian. "Hadrian! Full speed ahead!"
Hadrian didn't move. He looked into the woods closely.
"Hey there! What's the matter. Why don't you move forward? Full speed!"
Hadrian DID NOT MOVE. He looked closer and suddenly, he trotted sideways. A bolt of lightning struck the ground where they were on the trail moments before.
Hadrian neighed loud. Marcus followed them in the opposite direction. Dan turned back to see more horses chasing them. On the horses were people mounted, who were undoubtedly the people for whom Dan has come.
"CHARGE FORWARD!" exclaimed Dan, as he shot above in the sky. The birds made a loud noise and flew in a confusion. Hadrian reached the open area, where Fayette noticed the clock tower.
One of the villagers spelt magic in a different language and all of them got swords in their hands. Another villager said something and a beam of light kicked off Dan from Hadrian. Fayette spelt her magic and sent pulses of magical beams over them. Dan shot five bullets with his revolver at them.
He quickly ran to Hadrian, who halted at Fayette's command. He mounted him and ran towards the villager-turned-warriors. He slashed his sword at some of them. They were immediately eliminated. As a result, one of them slashed Dan's left arm with a sword. He was badly hurt, as the sword had cut his left arm. He was bleeding, yet he slashed with great force, eliminating five of them. The fight continued until evening. Dan, despite his bad injury, fought hard, eliminating all of them. Fayette was continuously chanting spells against them. Marcus often interrupted the battlefield, pushing many of the soldiers, who attacked Dan, who were slashed with great force by him.
With many ups and downs for both sides, the adventurers won the conflict. But the cost they had to pay was terrible. They had to fight hunger (their hunger), as well as the villagers, simultaneously. Dan got badly injured not only in his left arm but got lots of scratches on his legs and arms as well.
The village was now abandoned. They had escaped the brood of Dermis successfully. They took a rest inside the clock tower. It was just a small tower, with a room inside, leading to the top. Dan was laid on the temporary bed that they brought along with them. Fayette applied a liquid named "Vasculinium" which would help relieve cut wounds. Fayette applied the liquid onto the scratches as well, which he had got on the limbs. She bandaged the cut wounds.
It was now time to think about the next day for them. Dan slept very soon after dinner, while Fayette, Camb, Hadrian and Marcus watched over the night sky, which was clear of could, exhibiting the brightest of stars.