The morning sun was already high in the sky when Aurora realized her stock of osmanthium herb was completely depleted. She called out to Alex, who was still contemplating the strange events of the previous night.
"Alex, can you do me a favor?" Aurora's voice was calm yet urgent, a hint of worry threading through her usual composed demeanor. "I need more osmanthium herb. Can you go to the village square market and buy some?"
Alex nodded, grateful for the task to distract him from his confusion. "Of course. I'll be back soon." He gave her a reassuring smile, though his own mind was troubled.
As he walked through the village, Alex couldn't shake the feeling that something was deeply wrong. The air felt heavier, and the usual bustle of village life seemed muted. As he approached the village square, a sight stopped him in his tracks: dark red, transparent beams of light stretching from the heads of most villagers up into the sky. They pulsed faintly, almost as if they were breathing.
A cold shiver ran down his spine. What was happening? He quickened his pace, eager to find the osmanthium and return to Aurora. In the village square, Alex spotted the village head, a stern man with an authoritative presence, guiding a peasant family towards Aurora's hut. The child they were with looked pale and sickly, but unlike most villagers, the child had no dark beam emanating from his head. Alex noticed that the village head and the guards accompanying him also lacked these beams.
His curiosity and concern deepened. Why were some people unaffected? Deciding he needed to know more, Alex discreetly followed the peasant family. As Aurora began treating the child, Alex watched intently. To his astonishment, a dark beam began to form above the child's head, slowly extending upwards like a sinister tendril.
Alex's uneasiness grew into alarm. Once the peasants had left, he turned to Aurora, his voice low and urgent. "Aurora, I need to talk to you about something strange I've seen."
Aurora tilted her head slightly, sensing the tension in Alex's voice. "What is it, Alex?" she asked, her usually calm demeanor now tinged with concern.
"There are these dark red beams of light coming from the heads of most villagers. They're spreading into the sky. I saw one form above the child you just treated." His words tumbled out in a rush, his eyes wide with fear and confusion.
Aurora frowned, her blind eyes reflecting her deep worry. "I can't see or feel these beams, but I've had a feeling that something's been wrong for a while now."
Alex nodded, his mind racing. "Do you think it could be related to the crystal you received from the second prince?"
Aurora's expression turned thoughtful, her brow furrowing. "It's possible. The crystal was supposed to be a gift, something to help protect the village. But I've always felt uneasy about it." Her voice wavered slightly, revealing the depth of her hidden fears.
"We need to investigate this further," Alex said, determination mingling with anxiety in his voice. "The village head and the guards don't have these beams. They must know something we don't."
Aurora agreed, her hand reaching out to grasp Alex's reassuringly. "Let's be careful, Alex. If the crystal is causing this, we need to find a way to neutralize it without putting the villagers at further risk."
Alex nodded, feeling the weight of their shared responsibility. "I'll get the osmanthium herb and then we'll figure out our next steps." His voice was steady, but inside, he felt a mix of fear and determination.
As Alex made his way to the market, the dark beams seemed to follow his every move, a constant reminder of the hidden dangers lurking within Veridian. He resolved to uncover the truth, no matter the cost, for the sake of Aurora and the villagers who had come to mean so much to him.
After that day, Alex and Aurora began to secretly examine the villagers for abnormalities. Aurora, sensing the gravity of the situation, decided to stop using her healing magic on the villagers. Instead, she began giving them healing potions, hoping to mitigate any potential harm.
Day by day, they noticed a disturbing pattern. The villagers' vitality was visibly decreasing. They grew paler, weaker, and more lethargic. Through careful observation, Alex and Aurora discovered that the dark red beams were slowly but surely siphoning away the villagers' life force.
"We need to do something, Alex," Aurora said one evening, her voice filled with a rare note of desperation. "I can't bear to see them suffer like this."
Alex nodded, his frustration mounting. "We've got to find a way to stop these beams. But so far, we've found nothing that works."
They spent countless hours brainstorming, experimenting with different herbs, potions, and even protective charms. But nothing seemed to prevent the dark beams from draining the villagers' vitality.
Desperation gnawed at Alex. He knew they were running out of time. The villagers were getting weaker by the day, and so was he. He needed more energy if he was going to continue his search for a solution. With a heavy heart, Alex made a difficult decision.
One evening, as the sun dipped below the horizon, Alex geared up to leave the village. He packed a small bag with essentials and strapped on his weapon. Aurora, sensing his resolve, approached him quietly.
"You're going hunting, aren't you?" she asked, her blind eyes seeming to pierce right through him.
Alex sighed, nodding. "Yes. I need more energy. If I can absorb enough from beast cores, I might be able to find a way to protect the villagers."
"Be careful," Aurora said, her voice trembling slightly. "Don't take unnecessary risks."
"I won't," Alex promised, though he wasn't sure he could keep that promise. "I'll come back safe."
With that, he set off towards the village border. As he passed the beast repelling stone, he felt a twinge of fear. The world beyond was dangerous, filled with unknown beasts and other threats. But he couldn't let that stop him. The villagers needed him.
For days, Alex roamed the forests and hills beyond silverdale, hunting beasts and harvesting their cores. Each core he absorbed filled him with a surge of energy, but also left him more aware of the immense danger he was facing. The beasts were fierce and unrelenting, and each hunt was a battle for survival.
One night, after a particularly grueling fight with a powerful beast, Alex sat by a small fire, clutching a glowing beast core in his hand. As he absorbed its energy, he thought of Aurora and the villagers. He had to succeed. He had to find a way to stop the dark beams and save them all.
Returning to the village days later, exhausted but brimming with newfound energy, Alex felt a renewed sense of hope. He and Aurora would continue their investigations, using every bit of strength and knowledge they had. They were determined to uncover the truth behind the dark beams and put an end to the mysterious force draining the villagers' vitality.
And so, their secret battle against the unseen enemy continued,