Chapter 5: Whispers in the Dark
Airen sat back in his chair, letting out a long breath, the warmth of the tavern settling over him like a blanket. For the first time in what felt like days, he was full, his body relaxed, and he wasn't constantly looking over his shoulder. But despite the temporary relief, his instincts wouldn't let him drop his guard completely. In this new world, trust was a commodity he couldn't afford to give out freely.
He leaned forward, elbows resting on the bar as he eyed the tavern's patrons. They all seemed absorbed in their own worlds, but Airen knew better than to assume that meant they weren't aware of him. In places like this, newcomers were always a source of curiosity—and sometimes trouble.
"Enjoying the meal?" the bartender asked, her voice gruff but carrying a hint of genuine interest.
Airen smirked, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand. "Surprisingly, yeah. It's been a while since I've had something that didn't taste like... well, dirt."
"Most travelers aren't too picky," she replied, leaning against the bar again. "You don't look like you're passing through just to see the sights."
"Never really was the sightseeing type," Airen said, his tone light but evasive. "Besides, I doubt this village makes it onto many maps."
The bartender chuckled, though her eyes remained sharp. "You'd be surprised. We get all sorts through here. Merchants, mercenaries, refugees... even the occasional noble looking to escape their life for a while."
"Is that right?" Airen arched an eyebrow. He had a feeling this woman knew more than she let on. People in her position usually did. "So, any interesting folks pass through recently? Someone I should know about?"
She gave him a hard look, then shrugged. "Depends on what you're after. Most of 'em don't stick around long. But..." She leaned in closer, her voice dropping to a whisper. "There's been talk. Rumors. They say something's stirring in the mountains to the west. People disappearing. Whole caravans gone without a trace."
Airen's eyes narrowed, his casual demeanor slipping slightly. "Disappearances, huh? Sounds like more than just bandits."
"Could be," she agreed, her eyes flicking toward the door. "Or it could be worse. People around here don't like to talk about it much, but if you're planning on heading west, you'd best be careful."
Airen nodded, leaning back in his chair. "Thanks for the tip. I'll keep it in mind."
She gave him one last look before moving off to tend to another customer, leaving Airen alone with his thoughts. He turned the information over in his mind, trying to piece together what it could mean. Disappearances in the mountains weren't exactly rare in most worlds, but if entire caravans were vanishing, it could mean something far more dangerous than just run-of-the-mill outlaws.
"Alphonse, you catch all that?" he muttered under his breath.
[Affirmative. The information suggests a high probability of danger in the region to the west. Strongly recommend avoiding it.]
Airen grinned, a glint of excitement in his eyes. "Avoid it? C'mon, Al, you know me better than that. If there's something dangerous out there, we're heading straight for it."
[Recommendation ignored. Proceed with caution.]
"You know, for a system, you really suck at telling me what to do," Airen quipped, tossing a coin onto the bar as payment before rising from his seat. He pulled his jacket tighter around him as he headed for the door. The sun was already setting, casting long shadows across the village, and the air had taken on a chill that made him shiver.
Stepping outside, he glanced around. The village seemed peaceful enough, but there was a tension in the air that he couldn't quite shake. The bartender's warning lingered in his mind, but it didn't dissuade him. If anything, it made him more curious.
As he began to walk down the narrow dirt path leading out of the village, he noticed something out of the corner of his eye. A man, cloaked and hooded, standing near the edge of the forest, watching him. Airen's steps slowed, his instincts flaring to life. The man didn't move, didn't try to approach, but the way he stood there, perfectly still, was unnerving.
"Alphonse," Airen whispered. "Keep tabs on this guy."
[Monitoring target. No hostile activity detected.]
"Yeah, but that doesn't mean he's just here to say hello." Airen continued walking, not wanting to give the man any indication that he had noticed him. But his mind was already running through possibilities. Was the stranger a scout? An assassin? Or just another traveler, curious about the newcomer?
He didn't get far before he heard footsteps behind him. Airen tensed, his muscles coiling as he prepared for a fight. But when he glanced back, it wasn't the hooded man. It was the boy from earlier, running toward him, breathless.
"Mister!" the boy called out, skidding to a stop in front of him. "You—uh, you left without telling anyone your name."
Airen raised an eyebrow, his stance relaxing. "You ran all the way out here just for that?"
The boy nodded, his eyes wide and earnest. "People here don't trust strangers. It's better if they know your name, so they don't think you're... y'know, dangerous."
Airen chuckled softly, crouching down to the boy's level. "Well, I'm not exactly the 'safe' type. But you can tell 'em my name's Airen. If that helps."
The boy grinned, nodding before darting back toward the village. Airen watched him go, shaking his head with a bemused smile. "Kid's got guts."
[It would be advisable to build rapport with the locals. Gaining their trust may provide useful resources.]
"Yeah, yeah, I know. Be a good neighbor, right?" Airen straightened up, turning back toward the forest. "But first, we've got other things to worry about."
He started toward the forest's edge, eyes scanning the treeline for any sign of the hooded man. But when he reached the spot where the figure had been standing, the man was gone. Airen cursed under his breath. Whoever that was, they were good—too good to just be a random villager.
"Guess we're not as welcome here as I thought," Airen muttered, stepping into the shadows of the trees.
The forest closed in around him, the air thick with the scent of pine and damp earth. The further he walked, the quieter it became, the only sounds his own footsteps and the occasional rustle of leaves. But despite the stillness, Airen couldn't shake the feeling that he wasn't alone. Someone—or something—was watching.
"Alright, Alphonse," Airen whispered, his hand drifting to the knife at his belt. "Keep your sensors sharp. I have a feeling we're not gonna like what's out here."
As if on cue, a low growl echoed through the trees, sending a shiver down Airen's spine. He stopped, every muscle tensing as he scanned the darkness around him. The growl came again, closer this time, and he drew his knife, his heart pounding in his chest.
"Here we go," he muttered, adrenaline surging through his veins. "Let's see what kind of monsters this world's got in store for us."
The growl turned into a snarl, and Airen braced himself, his eyes locked on the shadows ahead. Whatever was out there, it was big—and it was getting closer.