Jaeck and Mashel grinned, bumping fists with Eziel in a gesture of solidarity. "Hell yeah!" they echoed, a shared determination burning in their eyes.
****
Eziel's voice dropped to a whisper. "This place gives me the creeps."
Mashel shivered, adding, "Couldn't agree more."
Sylvanbrook, nestled north of the Verdant Forest, seemed eerily deserted. Houses stood boarded up, an unsettling barricade against something unseen.
"Stay alert," Jaeck warned, his gaze scanning the empty streets.
As they cautiously navigated the village, a lone figure emerged. An old man, leaning heavily on a weathered wooden fence, gazed out at the fields with a deep sadness in his eyes. He turned at the sound of approaching footsteps, his posture straightening slightly.
"The guild finally sends someone," he rasped, a hint of bitterness clinging to his words.
"Greetings," Jaeck said, stepping forward. "We're from the guild. I'm Jaeck, and these are my companions, Eziel and Mashel."
The old man nodded curtly. "Mika," he introduced himself gruffly, then turned and began walking towards a nearby house without waiting for a response.
The trio exchanged glances. Mika's rudeness was evident, but his age and the sorrow etched on his face demanded respect. It seemed the guild's delay in responding had deeply affected him.
"Sit," Mika muttered, his voice gruff. Stepping inside, the trio found themselves in a cramped living room dominated by a central dining table. They took seats, facing Mika's back. A heavy silence hung in the air as they waited for him to speak.
When he finally turned, a picture frame clutched in his hand, his eyes were red-rimmed but strangely dry. It seemed the tears had long since run out. "Granddaughter," he whispered, a tremor in his voice, before placing the frame face down on the table.
"We're here to investigate," Jaeck stated, his voice firm. "Tell us what happened here from the beginning."
Mika's face contorted in a grimace. "Investigation!" he spat, his voice laced with anger. "Months ago we begged the guild for help! Livestock vanished in the night, women and children followed. What kind of fools do they take us for? I have nothing left to say! If you can't offer more than an inquiry, then leave!" With a final, furious kick at the door, Mika ejected them from the house.
"Hey, old man! We're here to help!" Eziel yelled, bristling with indignation.
Mashel placed a calming hand on Eziel's shoulder. "He's lost someone," he said softly, his gaze fixed on the slammed door. "You could see it in his eyes."
Jaeck's jaw clenched. "We can't delay. From what we've seen and heard, this village won't survive much longer. This is more than just an investigation now."
A silent understanding passed between them. No words were needed. The mission had taken on a new urgency.
Jaeck laid out the situation for his team. "Based on Mika's outburst and the boarded-up houses, it seems these disappearances happen regularly, likely under the cover of darkness."
Eziel, ever the admirer, couldn't help but be impressed. "Wow, you figured that out just from what the old man said and looking around?"
Mashel, ever practical, chimed in, "That's why he's the leader, Eziel."
Jaeck, unfazed by the praise, issued his orders. "Eziel, use your mana sense and scout the perimeter of the village, a hundred meters out. I need a report before nightfall."
Eziel, the undisputed scouting star of the group thanks to his exceptional skills as an arcane archer, readily agreed. "Got it, boss!" He dashed off into the forest, disappearing amongst the trees.
With Eziel gone, Jaeck turned to Mashel. "Get yourself prepped for a fight. We'll handle the close quarters when Eziel returns with intel." Mashel gave a curt nod in acknowledgement.
Hours ticked by as the sun dipped towards the horizon. Jaeck and Mashel meticulously checked their weapons and potions, formulating strategies for a worst-case scenario. Just before dusk painted the sky in fiery hues, Eziel materialized, leaping gracefully from tree to tree before landing near them. His face, however, held a disconcerting expression.
Jaeck, sensing something amiss, inquired, "What did you find, Eziel?"
Eziel's response was cryptic, laced with a hint of dread. "It's... better if you see this yourselves, boss."
Eziel led them a short distance from the village, his brow furrowed in concentration. He stopped abruptly, his arm outstretched. "There," he rasped, his voice laced with disgust.
Jaeck and Mashel followed his gaze, their blood turning to ice. Before them lay a horrific tableau: a grisly pile of bodies, women and children torn apart with savage brutality.
"At first," Eziel began, his voice tight, "I tracked footprints – a pack of dire wolves. But their behavior was… off. Wolves hunt to survive, not for wanton carnage." Jaeck nodded grimly, a wealth of experience flashing in his eyes.
Suddenly, an ear-splitting howl pierced the twilight, echoing through the trees. Shadowy figures emerged from the surrounding darkness, encircling the trio. A low growl rumbled from their throats, a chilling promise of violence.
Jaeck's grip tightened around his axe hilt. Mashel braced his spear, his gaze locked on the approaching figures. Eziel nocked an arrow in his bow, a determined glint in his eye. The hunters had become the hunted.