"Who would have thought that a village would be buried in the back of such a dangerous forest," an adventurer said
The adventurer's words echoed through the charred forest as they made their way towards Malbury Point. The once vibrant village now lay in ruins, a victim of a brutal attack that sliced through everything and everyone in its path.
As Tafu slowly regained consciousness, she gazed around in disbelief at the destruction before her. Her eyes were wide with fear and confusion as they took in the sight before her.
"Why have you done such a thing to the forest and our home," a villager demanded, their voice trembling with anger and sorrow.
All those that had been managed to live through everything that happened both before and after the attack was gathered in the center of the village where they were able to see everything this group had brought to them for unknown reasons. They just show up out of nowhere possibly were the cause of the fire or were in charge of the one that caused it. Given that power was directed only at the forest and not the village itself. The power was also being used as a barrier to prevent them from fleeing into the forest to escape as well it seems.
"It was in the way as we were tasked with getting rid of it as it was going to cause a problem as we were expanding into this area" the adventurer stated "Though to think that rumor was true though"
The adventurer showed no remorse or explanation for their actions. They simply stated that they were tasked with getting rid of the forest, which stood in the way of their expansion. And though rumors of the village's existence had reached them, they believed it to be just that- a rumor- until now.
"What rumor. You burnt down an entire forest and came in here slaughtering us just because and now you speak of rumors" the villager said.
The villagers then collapsed to their knees all of a sudden with the adventurer was now looking down at them.
"Of course not as the forest was not the rumor I talking about. It was that this village existed beyond it" they said before they coldly slammed their head into the ground, reveling in their power and control over these innocent lives.
"Interesting as I was sure that attack would have wiped out everyone that was within the village but it seems through sheer dumb luck or being saved by someone that you all are still alive," the person said looking at Tafu and the others that they were talking about.
The villager whose head was smashed into the ground was no longer moving at all.
"This one they were already dying the moment their knees hit the ground as I made sure of that as well to gloat in their last moments of life too," the adventurer said "Troops kill all of them still alive and do not leave a single one of them expect for this one *pointing towards Tafu* they might be more useful alive"
Just as they were ordered to do so without a second thought or questioning their orders. It did not matter to them that they were ordered to wipe out a village without a good reason beyond apparently this rumor their adventurer leader spoke of to them. Their leader did not even go into details about what was contained within the rumor itself just that there was one and that was seemingly enough. Enough to massacre her entire village leaving only her left as their leader had ordered.
Soon the remaining villagers shared the same fate as the forest and everyone else that was taken out before them. Reducing the village to becoming a mere ghost town version of its former self with seemingly nothing and no one left alive...with one expecting though. The adventurer that was leading these troops was just about to carry out the second phase of whatever reason they had for doing what they did to Malbury Point and the forest. When news of two that were seemingly being able to get away at least for the moment was reported to them.
"Sir two the targets mark for death are trying to escape" a soldier informed their leader.
"I will go after them myself and you are coming with me," the leader said forcing Tafu who was now in a state of shock again to follow them
With the two villagers that are attempting to escape...
"Should we really be leaving this way as there is only a cliff over here?" the first one said.
"At least of two of us should live through since you and....." the second villager said before collapsing to their knees and then hitting the ground.
"So there is a cliff that why interesting. Keep walking then" the leader ordered her
"Tafu!? What are you doing with that person" the first villager yelled pissed off
"Her!? I wonder if she can even hear you right now as she was stuck watching everyone else but her being killed one by one" the leader said
The first villager was walking backward not wanting to even attempt taking this person on themselves at the moment until they reached the edge of the cliff
"Now fall in" the leader ordered the villager
They were started collapsing to their knees for a similar reason to the second villager. Before they could do so the leader shoved them forward and watched as they disappeared into the black recess of the valley below the cliff
Thus only two of the villagers remaining alive at this point were Tafu and Rangi who were still away at the time. As for How this would be explained well it would not be as no one was expecting to find a village behind the forest. The village was considered a rumor not a fact after all. So it was covered up as the remains of the village were wiped from the face of the planet just like the forest was. There would be no one who knew about the village in the dangerous forest that was finally taken care of. Thus the land would soon be opened for development as that is what would become of the area eventually as time would go onward.