AUTHOR NOTE❤️

This book will eventually go through a lot of editing. Mostly, from the earlier chapters, I didn't particularly like how I went about with some scenes and characters and would love to improve to align with my more recent chapters. But, that shouldn't stop you from reading my books. I'm glad you checked it out, make sure to check my profile for my other upcoming books. I would love to hear more from you, don't be shy to leave comments or any suggestions.

====

Towering bookshelves surround a young lady with brown skin and long black hair. She is carrying and arranging books on their respective shelves. As she looks up at the clock, she notices that her shift will soon be over. Despite feeling tired with red eyes, she smiles at the thought of finishing her work soon.

She thinks to herself, 'I shouldn't have stayed up late trying to perfect my recipe.'

"Afternoon, Emily," said a voice from the entrance. Emily turned to identify the unknown voice "Oh it's just you Rosie," said Emily.

Rosie adjusts her glasses and tucks her blonde strand of hair behind her ear. Rosie walked over to the reception table and dropped her bags.

"You didn't have any sleep last night, did you?" she commented to Emily.

Emily stared back at her blankly. Rosie shook her head and chuckled, "I'll take that as a Yes."

Emily looked up at the clock and smiled lazily "Well, looks like my shift is finally over, felt like forever" " She stood up and started arranging her things and bag as Rosie watched her.

"I leave everything to you now," said Emily. "You always seem excited to leave. You don't like this job. I was expecting you to quit a while ago," Rosie said.

Emily started strolling towards the door to leave and said to Rosie, "I can't quit, it pays the rent."

✨🌙✨

As Emily walked along the stony footpaths, she heard the crunching of her slow footsteps, the sun illuminated the puddles of water beside her. She was surrounded by cottages of many sizes, with chipped and crumbling walls and weather-worn facades that looked run-down and empty. The village is eerily empty and quiet, causing a sigh to leave her lips as she remembers the more lively time in the village air.

Emily arrived at one of the village's agricultural lands, her heart heavy as she gazed at the dry, cracked soil, which was devoid of any life. The land was filled with withered leaves and plants that had dried up and died, and there were no signs of the insects and birds that had once filled these plantations and brought joy and happiness to another great harvest. She stared at it with watery eyes and downturned lips feeling the weight of its loss and devastation, the village growing weaker and weaker as time passed in the villagers and its surroundings.

Emily's lips trembled as she whispered into the silence, 'How much longer can we survive this?'

✨🌙✨

She arrived at the village square, where a crowd of villagers had gathered. The village guards, distinguishable by their armour and the village crest, were guiding the area. Emily recognized the head guard, Lucas among them, a familiar figure in the chaos.

'We must be having a village meeting,' Emily thought to herself, 'which makes sense with all the events that have happened in the past months.'

As she approached the square, the villagers' voices grew louder, filled with panic and urgency. They were demanding answers from the head guard, who looked overwhelmed by the crowd.

"What is going on?" a young man shouted, his voice breaking. His face was pale, eyes wide with fear as he shoved his way to the front of the crowd. "Villagers are disappearing! My sister hasn't come home in three days, and now the Lord is gone too?" His voice wavered, but the anger and desperation in his words struck the crowd like a hammer, stirring a wave of murmurs. "Are we next?"

Emily pushed her way through the crowd, determined to find out the truth behind the disappearances and the fate of their Lord.

"The Lord's house was burnt down, but there were no signs of his body," explained Lucas, his voice grave. "We are still investigating the scene and the disappearance; no conclusion shall be made now."

"Can you explain the sudden deaths?" asked the elderly lady, her voice trembling with emotion, tears glistening in her eyes.

"Unfortunately, we can't," Lucas replied, his expression solemn. "But I promise we are working on that. I will lead and guard the village in place of our Lord."

"Stay here? While people vanish in the night? While our fields wither before our eyes?" A young woman shouted, her voice shaking as she held a crying child close to her chest. "I'm not waiting around for us to be next." She turned on her heel and stormed away, others watching in silence, their faces ashen with fear. The crowd parted for her, uneasy whispers filling the air.

"Everyone should remain calm; I will inform you if we find something else. Thanks for your patience." Lucas replied as he left the scene with the other guards.

The tension in the air was still high as the villagers began to leave the scene. Emily stood there, the events of the situation still lingering in her mind. She gripped her bag tighter, her heart clenched with a sudden, suffocating fear. Would her family be safe? Would she be safe? She forced herself to take a breath, trying to avoid the unwanted thoughts in her head. With her pounding heart, she turned to leave the square eager to continue with her daily routine.

✨🌙✨

Emily sat on the worn couch; her eyes fixed on her childhood home. The vibrant walls she once remembered were now faded and peeling, signs of water damage evident in the walls. Her gaze shifted to the framed pictures on the wall as she smiled at them, a wave of nostalgia reaching her core.

Emily was interrupted by a sound coming from the kitchen door. "I finally got the tea! We cannot have a conversation without it," claimed her mother as she carried a tray of cookies, cups, and a kettle.

Emily smiled at her mother's energy. "Thanks, Mom, for the tea."

Her mother sat down and poured a drink for herself. She put the kettle down and turned to face Emily. "Have you moved out yet?" she asked as she sipped her tea.

"No, I haven't yet. I will very soon. I just need to get some things done. I'm moving in with my new roommate today." Emily answered, as she gently took a sip from her cup.

Her mother nodded as she took a bite of the cookies. "Mm, you always come up with fantastic recipes. You can use this to attract a husband," her mother exclaimed.

Emily rolled her eyes at her mother's comment and chuckled. "A partner is the last thing on my mind and by the way, I messed up the ingredients."

Smiling, her mother replied, "Well, the cookies are still exquisite, even with their imperfections. Just like you."

As Emily looked at her mom and gave a wide and bright smile, her smile faded as her mind drifted to what had happened earlier that day. "Did you know there was a village meeting today discussing 'you know what'?" Emily sighed.

Her mother sensing what the conversation was going on, stood up straight. "With all the missing villagers, death and the Lord. Of course, a village meeting will be held. what was said?" Her mother responded.

"Lucas said he will be leading the village in the place of the lord for now: investigation is still being carried out on the matter" Emily replied as her eyes stared at the floor.

Her mother raised her brows as she looked at the cup she was holding "Lucas? You mean the head guard. Will he be able to handle such responsibility by himself?"

"We should wait and hope." Emily sighed, glancing at the portrait on the wall of a young boy, her heart tightening.

Her mother looked at the portrait Emily had glanced at and kept her hand on her shoulders, giving her a warm smile.

"I know you are worried about Eric, but your brother will be perfectly fine. He is a trained guard" she assured Emily.

"You are probably right; he will be fine," Emily said, her voice having a tinge of worry and fear

Her mother stood up and clapped her hands together offering a warm smile to Emily.

"We shouldn't be late; Let's go meet Casper at the market square" announced her mother.

"Yes, I almost forgot" Emily stood up and started packing her things to prepare for departure.

✨🌙✨

Emily and her mother, Amelia, arrived at the market square. The usual scene of many traders and villagers was nowhere to be seen. Only a handful of market stalls remained, the vendors looking disheartened as they attended to what little business there was. The square felt strangely empty, the silence stretching between the few people gathered.

From a distance, Emily spotted two familiar figures. Her eyes lit up, and she waved.

"Casper! Eric! We're here!" she called out

The two men turned toward the sound of her voice. A bright smile stretched across Casper's face as he waved back.

"Good day, Amelia," said Casper as he opened his arms for a hug."Good day, Amelia," said Casper as he opened his arms for a hug.

"Good day, Amelia," said Casper as he opened his arms for a hug.

Amelia, Emily's mother, reciprocated the hug and greeted him back. "Glad you made it back to Tauris. I would love to hear about your journey."

Standing beside Eric, Emily smirked as she glanced at her brother. He leaned toward her slightly, his face a fake display of innocence.

"So, Emily… any cookies for me?" Eric asked, crossing his arms and pouting dramatically.

Emily chuckled, rolling her eyes. "Not this time. I've had a lot on my plate lately." She smirked again, watching his exaggerated frown. "You'll survive."

Eric huffed and gave her a playful side-eye but let it go as he focused on Casper, who turned his attention to Emily and her family.

"Emily, how is everything?" Casper asked them.

"Could be better," Emily shrugged.

Casper sighed, furrowing his eyebrows as he put his hand in his pocket. "Eric filled me in about everything going on here. This place does look deserted compared to when I was here months ago."

Eric rubbed his face out of frustration, as he exhaled sharply. "Tension is high; Lucas isn't going easy on training."

Casper nodded solemnly. "This isn't just happening in Tauris, though. I've been to other villages—things are falling apart across the region. Disappearances, crops failing, death ... It's everywhere."

Emily and her mother exchanged worried glances as the weight of Casper's words settled in.

"So... it's not just us?" Amelia asked quietly

"No, it's widespread," Casper said seriously, "but Tauris seems to be hit the hardest. The pace here is faster, more... intense."

Eric sighed, frustration lacing his tone. "I need to head out. Patrol's starting soon, and I'll make sure to fill Lucas in about everything you've said." He gave a nod to Emily and his mother before turning to leave. "See you later."

As Eric walked off, Emily watched him, her chest tight with worry. Casper placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder.

"Don't worry, he's tough. He'll be fine," Casper said, offering her a small smile.

Emily nodded, but her gaze remained on her brother's retreating figure. "Yeah... I hope so."

✨🌙✨

Lucas stood at the edge of the cliff, his helmet under his arm, golden blonde hair catching the warm breeze as he gazed out towards the village of Tauris. His normally stoic face held a hint of concern, eyes distant as they traced the outline of the quiet village below.

Behind him, Eric lay awkwardly on a wooden pole, an apple balanced on his head. His eyes darted nervously as a younger guard, who stood a few paces away, bow drawn and aimed straight at the fruit.

"I'm not sure about this, Zack," Eric said, his voice laced with anxiety. "Maybe we should use something ...other than my head."

Zack smirked, his tone light but cocky. "Relax. I'm good at this. Trust me."

Overhearing them, Lucas didn't even turn around, but his dry voice cut through the air. "He failed beginner archery, by the way."

Eric's face went pale. His eyes widened in alarm, and Zack shot Lucas a glare, "I wouldn't say that I failed." Zack comments, trying to assure Eric.

"I've got this. Just watch," exclaimed Zack as he returned to his pose.

Zack drew his arrow towards the apple, his stance ready and focused. He parted his feet wide apart and kept his chin above the hand holding the strings. Finally, he released the arrow, which soared through the air, landing with a thud on the pole beside Eric's head. Eric shivered as he felt the arrow close to his face, he sighed in relief at the near miss.

"Hey, Lucas, something on your mind?" Zack asked as he nocked another arrow, though his grip was loose, his attention elsewhere.

Distracted, Zack let the arrow fly without even aiming. It moved wildly off course, sailing past Eric, who had just barely gotten out of the way.

"What the hell, Zack!" Eric yelled, his voice echoing across the cliff as he angrily stormed towards the younger guard. "Are you trying to kill me?!"

Zack was too focused on Lucas to care about Eric's outburst. "Come on, Lucas. You look like a mother of six. What's going on?" he asked.

Lucas stood silent for a beat longer, the wind rustling his hair. Then, with a sigh, he finally spoke, his voice low. "Look at the village, Zack. The people are scared and restless. And it's not just here—it's happening everywhere. Eric told me it's spreading across the region. I... don't know how to fix this."

Zack sighs in acknowledgement "Yeah, things are shit, but I'm sure we can find a way to get rid of this mess. The villagers still have faith."

"I hope the faith sticks for a bit longer," Lucas commented.

The moment was broken by Zack's sudden realization. He frowned, looking at the apple sitting on a nearby barrel instead of on Eric's head. "Uh... Eric? Why's the apple over there? Aren't you supposed to be there?"

Eric, now sharpening his sword on a nearby rock, shot Zack a scowl. "Because I value my eyes, Zack. Not risking them for your 'trust me' nonsense."

Before Zack could fire back a retort, Lucas stepped between them, his voice firm. "Focus, both of you. We're on patrol today. No distractions."

Eric and Zack exchanged glances, both sighing in unison before begrudgingly grabbing their helmets.

✨🌙✨

Emily is standing before a wooden door of a beautiful two-story cottage. She adjusted her grip on the luggage handle and, after a brief hesitation, knocked gently on the door.

Moments passed. The soft creak of the door broke the silence, revealing a familiar face on the other side. Emily's eyes widened in surprise, mirroring the expression of the young woman before her.

"Emily?" Rosie blinked, clearly taken aback. "What are you doing here? Wait—how do you even know where I live?"

Emily shakes her head before responding, "I'm moving in with a new roommate...maybe I got the wrong address."

Rosie's surprise quickly melted into a warm smile, her posture relaxing. "Oh, no, this is the right place. I've been expecting you.

With that, Rosie turned and stepped back into the cottage, leaving the door open in invitation. Emily stood frozen for a moment, processing the unexpected turn of events.

'This is going to be awkward... Living with a coworker?' she thought, as she grabbed her bags and stepped inside.

The interior of the cottage was homely and warm, with books scattered across a small coffee table, and the soft light of afternoon sun streaming through the windows.

"I never knew you were looking for a place?" Rosie asked as she sat in the seat of the coffee table.

Emily dropped her bag on the floor, her face turning to Rosie. "Decided to move out of my mom place. I need to be dependent on myself if I want to have my own bakery." Emily said with a smile.

Rosie nodded at her response. "Too bad I don't have a sweet tooth," Rosie remarked, before getting up from her seat. "Let me show you your room."

Emily picked up her bag again and followed Rosie up the stairs. Her mind started drifting to the sudden decline in the village population. 'How can I even start a bakery in this crisis?' she thought

✨🌙✨

In a distant village, far from the Tauris region, a small cottage stood quietly. Inside, a young lady with two children was anxiously pacing the living room. She glanced repeatedly at the clock on the wall before calling out urgently to her husband.

"Elijah, we have to go!" Ava's voice carried a sense of urgency.

"I'm coming, there's no need to rush," Elijah's voice echoed from another room.

Ava shook her head disapprovingly but crouched down to speak to her two children.

"Aunty Rita is coming to babysit. Only open the door for her and no one else, do you understand?" Ava's voice was firm yet gentle.

The children nodded in understanding. One of them asked, "When will you be back?"

"Can't say for sure. Your Dad and I are visiting his family in Tauris, but we'll try to come back as soon as we can. Take care of your little sister, William," Ava instructed.

"I will," William assured her.

Elijah emerged from the door and grinned at his wife. "See, it didn't take too long. I've packed all the needed items, my dear."

Ava stood up and smirked. "Don't patronize me, Elijah."

After hugging her children, Ava began to gather her own things. She moved towards the door, and Elijah, noticing her action, pointed to the children.

"What about the instructions for the kids?" he asked, puzzled.

Ava paused before giving a side glance to her husband. "Done that. While you were packing all the needed items, my dear." Ava mocks him.

Elijah chuckled nervously and bid farewell to the kids before picking up the remaining luggage and following Ava out the door.

As they walked down the path towards their departure, Ava asked, "Are they aware we're coming?"

"No, I wanted it to be a surprise, so I didn't send a letter," Elijah replied.

"Well, in any case, it will be wonderful to see everyone again," Ava said cheerfully.

"Yes, I miss Emily's cookies. We'll be at the docks soon," Elijah added, taking the luggage from Ava.