In this supposed village, with various buildings and shelter structures, one building stood out the most. Maybe it was due to the many lights displayed all around it, or maybe it was the noise coming from it. It wasn't certain. However, the crowd of men sitting on benches around it revealed exactly what this building was.
"…and then I pulled out my staff and threw it all the way into its damn eye. It wasn't able to move till I took off its head," one voice bellowed out in pride.
"Hahahahaha…that's little compared to what happened this morning in the forest," another shouted, continuing to describe his encounter with exaggerated details.
As the men were jeering and laughing while enjoying their beer, a middle-aged woman strode out with about seven mugs of beer in each hand and a tray of five mugs on her head, displaying her skills in her craft.
"Ooooohhhhhh," the crowd cheered. Already intoxicated enough to be impressed easily.
A brown-skinned middle-aged man, wearing a black singlet and cargo shorts exposing the various scars running along his arms, with a messy brown beard already wet with beer, blurted out,
"Nitta, why're you the only one serving? What about that little runt that's always helping you?"
The woman, with an apron tied around her waist and a scarf covering her hair, responded as she set the drinks down on the table before taking her leave.
"Tch, who knows, maybe she finally ran out of luck and stole from some big shot, leaving me with all the work. I swear if I don't spank the living hell outta…anyways, I haven't seen her for two days now. Come to think of it, I haven't seen her brother for a while too."
Another middle-aged man with a balding head, a well-maintained beard, and glasses with obvious cracks perched on the bridge of his nose spoke as he interrupted, dropping an empty glass on the table,
"That runt, he's probably dead by now, eaten by some wild beast or something. Honestly, he kinda had it coming for him."
A wiry man with a mischievous glint in his eye, unkempt, tousled hair, and a scruffy beard, dressed in a haphazard combination of mismatched clothing, added,
"Don't tell me you guys haven't heard."
"What?" Troy, the brown-skinned man, inquired.
"Heh, so you all don't know. Well, word on the street is that he was infected and is currently being hunted."
"What are you blabbing on about? You think if soldiers were in this town, I wouldn't know? What do you take me for?" James, the bald-headed man retorted.
"He's right, Thomas. There's no way we wouldn't have known if soldiers were here," Troy added.
"Well, that's the issue. They weren't just regular soldiers!" Thomas looked around as if afraid of being spied upon and whispered, "It was Nexus."
"I overheard the chief and one of their members talking, and apparently, they were here on a hunt."
The whole group went silent for a while, seemingly trying to digest what they had just heard. But that was when a newcomer arrived.
"Hey there, fellas. What's got y'all gossiping like little girls?"
The newcomer, Mark, a seemingly young man with blond hair and freckles on his face, dressed in a formal attire of trousers with straps going over his black button shirt. His outfit obviously stood out from the norm, making him stand out in this sort of environment.
Mark's arrival seemed to have softened the atmosphere a little, but immediately after, all of them made weird faces. It was no secret that Mark was a friend of the hunted in question, and there was no telling how he would react to this news.
Steeling up his courage, Troy hit the nail on the head and asked, "Hey Mark, when was the last you heard from Jacob?"
Confused, Mark replied, "Last week, why?"
Thomas continued as he saw Troy hesitating,
"Well, apparently, he got infected and is being hunted by Nexus."
"What are you saying? What do you mean?"
Frustrated, Thomas added, "Consider him dead, man. Gone."
Mark's face went pale upon hearing the grim news about his friend, Jacob. His freckles, which had been a defining feature of his friendly demeanor, now seemed to disappear under the weight of the revelation.
"Gone?"
Mark stammered, his voice barely above a whisper. "You're telling me Jacob's been infected, and Nexus is after him?"
Thomas, though regretful of having to deliver such a harsh truth, nodded solemnly.
"That's the word on the street, Mark. We can't be sure, but if Nexus is involved, things don't look good."
As the gravity of the situation settled in, Mark's thoughts raced. He knew Jacob as a resourceful and resilient individual. The idea of him being hunted by an organization like Nexus seemed improbable, and yet the fear of the unknown gnawed at Mark's heart.
The table grew quiet as everyone pondered the implications. Nexus was a name that sent shivers down even the bravest of spines. An elusive group known for their relentless pursuit of individuals infected by the monsters, they were like a shadowy specter, feared and respected in equal measure.
Mark finally broke the silence, his voice trembling.
"Do you know where he was last seen? Is there any way we can find him?"
Thomas exchanged a glance with Troy and James, each of them wrestling with the knowledge of Nexus's reputation. Then, he sighed and leaned in closer.
"I heard he was last seen near the tunnels by the forest's edge. It's a dangerous place, but if you're determined to find Jacob, that's where you should start."
Mark clenched his fists, determined to help his friend.
"I'm going to find him."
The others exchanged somber looks, understanding the peril that lay ahead. Yet, they couldn't deny the bond between Mark and Jacob. Loyalty in these desperate times was a rare treasure.
As Mark left the tavern, his mind raced with thoughts of Jacob and the looming threat of Nexus. The forest beckoned, and the unknown awaited. But for the sake of friendship, he was prepared to brave whatever dangers lay ahead.