"We still can't say exact amount of casualties yet." Elder Green lied he knew that there's no hope for anyone.
Village chief lower his gaze even though he found he's dead son back this morning but he lost his comrades at last night.
He overjoyed with happiness when he saw his son but loss of his companion and brother is something he couldn't forget.
"Father you need rest, you should got to settlement with other."Rose look at her father sad expression.
"No, I'm fine I can walk you guys also need extra helping hand and I have to see for myself my brother's."
Luther try to stand up with shacking legs, Jack came and supported his father by holding him.
"Jack thank you for your help but I'm okay I can walk, your father is strong man." Luther refuse to take rest in settlement even though he just recovered now.
"Jack your father will be okay he drank health potion he will be fine and I. Few seconds he will be able to walk and run normally and its not we are going to fight any beast."
"We are trying to save people and one more helping hand is good for us "
Jack nodded at Dave words even though he wouldn't agree with him on everything but he always right most of the time.
Village chief Luther walked slowly with help of Jack and Rose supporting him.
One man among them carried elder Miz towards settlement rose had healed him with her healing spell but elder need some rest.
Along the path they saw blood stains on snow and trees and deep foot print of both man and beast with every heavy foot they walked forward and saw carnage of golden eye dark arctotherium.
They saw half eaten corpse of the mage and one leg of warrior, meat paste of warrior and mages and intestine of people they can't who they belong to atmosphere was heavy around them, it was pin drop silence no-one made any noise suddenly Gilliam saw something and run towards the one of the trees.
Below the tree lays the corpse of one of the warrior who's seems died from frostbite his fingers and legs turned black his face was also turned black only his golden hair and necklace around his neck was proof of his identity.
This man was Gilliam younger brother, while running away from golden eye dark arctotherium he got left behind Gilliam it seems and Gilliam thought he was still behind him.
Gilliam younger brother Avian head smash from behind and he's corpse was missing his right shoulder and right side torso and from looking at his corpse it seems he died while ago.
Gilliam was crying out over his brother death and Luther also had sad experience as Avian was also his cousin brother.
Gilliam eyes turned red from crying he turned to Dave and Jack with anger and hate in his eyes he clenched his fist in rage, "If you allowed us to check our companions at first my brother would be still alive right now."
"Now, I can't tell how many of our people died because of piece of shit like you refuse to stopped using from checking our brothers and friends."
Luther also turn his head towards Dave and Jack with questioning gaze cause he have no idea what happened between them.
Jack and Dave didn't said anything Rose put her hand on Gilliam shoulder, "Uncle Gilliam I'm sorry for your loss."
"We were late to save uncle Avian but we could still save those who might be alive right now."
"We have to move now uncle Gilliam."Rose said with sadness and concern in her voice. She knows that Gilliam and Avian always had eachother back and not being able to protect his brother had big hit on him.
Gilliam closed his eyes and said, "Okay" and walked with them without saying anything.
They saw few corpse of their friends and some who became cripple now and few who got completely devoured by golden eye dark arctotherium.
Those who died most of them from golden eye dark arctotherium attack and few died because of cold weather froze to death and frostbite.
Village chief Luther had four cousin brothers and two were dead and one become cripple for life, while one is still alive without serious injury but can't say same for his mental condition.
After returning to settlement with those who survived and corpse of their companion village chief pulled his son to side to ask him questions.
Other saw this they thought village chief Luther going to talk about where Jack has been all this time and how was he doing but instead village chief Luther asked about the group of people his son traveling with what's their agenda and what happened back then when they first found survivors of golden eye dark arctotherium attack.
Jack look at his father serious eyes and he knew what his father was about to ask, "I know there's lots of questions in your mind father and I will answer to them all as best as I can."
Luther look at his son sincere face and asked first question,"What Gilliam was talking about back then in forest?"
"When we first saw them, they were being chased by golden eye dark arctotherium and we killed the golden eye dark arctotherium and we thought they were bandits hiding in outskirts of forest."
"We didn't believe them when they said they were villagers as such low level people don't usually stay in outskirts of forest only bandits does."
"That's why we didn't let them check on their companion as they might alert their group." Jack said with guilt in his voice.
Luther let out heavy sigh after hearing his son answer."It will be hard to explain this to everyone."
"How big is the party you are currently in Jack."
"We are group of seven people."
"We are actually adventurers and were hunting around outskirts of forest after completing our quest we took up in few months ago."
"As we were about to return to guide we felt presence of strong monster that's how we ended up here."
"Is your people going to harm the Innocent people of this settlement?" Luther asked this question as village chief not as father.
"Why would we do that father, we have no intention of harming anyone from not just this settlement but everyone that is out there."
"We are adventurers, we follow and respect adventurers rules and regulations."
Even though his son did say they won't harm anyone but adventurers doesn't have good reputation around people.
After that they joined together with everyone us and talking about what to do next. While they were talking one of mid age man was running towards them in hurry
Village chief Luther look at the man he was woodcutter Brian but what happened that made him run towards them in such hurry and worried expression.
"Village chief you are back I'm so happy that you return safe and sound, I'm sorry to bother since you just returned from battlefield but we need your help."
Village chief Luther put his hand on Brian shoulder, "Take a deep breath Brian tell us what happened."
"No, we can't stay here we need hurry or else both that child and Max will die."
"We need Miss Rose with us as they need urgent healing."
Hearing concern in Brian voice all of them tagged along to where this happened, it wasn't far from them soon they arrived at place and saw what's going on here.
They saw the child that was almost dying and it was none other than Claude and besides him is Max and settlement people have surrounded them in protective way.
"I'm telling you once again he's spawn of dark elf and kingdom has issued order to everyone to kill dark elf at sight."
"Sooner or later he will turn over all of you and kill you all."
"Move out of my way even if he isn't dark elf, he still be child of misfortune. Having child of misfortune around you will only bring misfortune to you all."
Marlene was standing with blood dripping from her sword, she tighten her grip around her sword. She was getting irritated by this people behaviour as they were protecting this dark elf child.
She has seen the horror dark elf bring and this ignorant peasants doesn't know that yet.
"If you don't move out of my way now don't blame me for what would happen next, it will be your own fault my sword doesn't discriminate against foe."
"STOP" screamed out Dave as rushed beside Marlene.
"What happened Marlene, why you are doing this. We have to atleast confirm first if that child is really dark elf or not."
Even though Dave share same view as Marlene on matter of dark elf but right now they're in settlement who's leader is their teammates father.
There must be reason why they allowed dark elf or child of misfortune to stay here without knowing anything they can't make any move.