Lemone watches the guard from afar. He approaches the bait, exactly as expected. Lemone activates the trap remotely.
Lemone: (In her head) "Now!"
A poisoned dart springs from its hiding place and lodges itself in the guard's neck. The guard collapses, dead instantly.
Lemone: (In her head) "Mission accomplished. Both guards are dead."
Lemone returns to the village, satisfied with his work. He heads towards the guards' residence, where he knows the village chief must be looking for him.
Lemone finds the village chief sitting at a table, visibly worried.
Village Chief: (In a deep voice) "Where are my guards? Why haven't they returned?"
Lemone feigns innocence.
Lemone: (Looking scared) "I don't know, sir. I saw them leave this morning, but I haven't seen them since."
Village Chief: (Suspicious) "You're lying! You know something. Tell me the truth or you'll suffer the consequences."
Lemone remains calm and uses her manipulative skills to deflect the village chief's suspicions.
Lemone: (In a honeyed tone) "But no, sir, I swear! I am a simple traveler, I had nothing to do with the disappearance of your guards. Perhaps they simply got lost in the forest."
Village Chief: (Hesitant) "I hope you're right. But if I find out you're lying to me, you'll regret defying me."
Lemone smiled inwardly. He managed to fool the village chief once again.
Lemone: (In a respectful tone) "Don't worry, sir. I'm telling you the truth. I have nothing to hide."
The village chief gets up and walks towards the door.
Village Chief: "I hope you are telling the truth. If I find out otherwise, you will be arrested and tried."
Lemone watches him leave, relieved to have escaped the situation. He knows he must leave the village as quickly as possible, before the village chief discovers the truth.
Lemone sits in his room, thinking about his escape. He knows he can't stay in Aeterum Village any longer. The village chief is on guard and risks being discovered at any time.
Suddenly, the dark entity manifests itself in his mind.
Dark Entity: (In a deep voice) "Well done, my little demon! You managed to eliminate the two guards. You are more effective than I thought."
Lemone is pleased with the entity's compliments, but he remains cautious.
Lemone: (In her head) "What do you want now?"
Dark Entity: (In a mischievous tone) "I want to warn you. There is one person in this village that you must absolutely avoid: the daughter of the village chief."
Lemone is intrigued.
Lemone: (In her head) "Why? What's special about her?"
Dark Entity: (In a sinister tone) "She is dangerous to you. She has a special gift that allows her to see people's intentions. If she crosses you, she will immediately know that you are not who you say you are ."
Lemone is worried. He doesn't want to take unnecessary risks.
Lemone: (In her head) "What should I do then?"
Dark Entity: (Urgently) "You must leave this village as quickly as possible and head towards the royal city of Aeternum. It is there that you will find the answers you seek and that you can accomplish your mission. "
Lemone knows the entity is right. He can't stay in Aeternum any longer. He must leave before it's too late.
Lemone: (In her head) "Okay, I'll leave tonight."
Dark Entity: (In a satisfied tone) "Perfect. Remember, my little demon: the royal city of Aeternum is your destination. It is there that your destiny will be fulfilled."
The entity disappears, leaving Lemone alone with his thoughts.
Exteriors - Aeternum Village Square - Evening
Lemone sits on a bench, watching the villagers gather around a large campfire. He has the impression of being observed and he fears meeting the gaze of Griselda, the daughter of the village chief.
Lemone: (In her head) "I hope she doesn't come talk to me. I don't want to attract her attention."
Suddenly, the village chief approaches Lemone.
Village Chief: (In a friendly tone) "Come join us, stranger! We're sharing a meal of guinea pigs around the fire."
Lemone is hesitant, but he cannot refuse the village chief's invitation. He gets up and walks towards the campfire.
Lemone sits on a tree trunk next to the village chief. He notices his daughter sitting on the other side of the fire, watching him intently.
Lemone: (In her head) "Unfortunately, she's here. I hope she doesn't expose me."
The village chief begins to tell the story of Aeternum Village. It talks about the first inhabitants, the trials they overcame and the traditions they preserved. Lemone listens attentively, fascinated by the history of the village.
Village chief: (In a proud tone) "And this is how our village became what it is today: a tight-knit and resilient community."
The village chief then turns to Lemone and presents his daughter.
Village Chief: (In a fatherly tone) "Griselda, my daughter. Come meet our guest."
Griselda gets up and walks towards Lemone. She has a piercing gaze and an enigmatic smile.
Griselda: (In a soft voice) "Nice to meet you, stranger. I hope you enjoy our village."
Lemone is disturbed by Griselda's presence. He feels that she sees through him, that she divines his secrets.
Lemone: (In an awkward tone) "Thank you, miss. I'm delighted to be here."
Griselda smiles and returns to her seat. Lemone feels uneasy, aware that he is in danger if Griselda discovers his true identity.
Lemone, caught in the festive atmosphere of the campfire, decides to celebrate with the villagers. He accepts a glass of wine offered to him by a villager. But the wine is drugged and Lemone loses consciousness shortly after.
Interiors - Aeternum Village Cell - Morning
Lemone wakes up groggy and confused. He is in a dark and damp cell. He looks out the window and sees a crowd of villagers gathered in the square. They brandish torches and flaming sticks.
Lemone is terrified. He understands that he has been discovered and that the villagers intend to punish him.
Lemone is dragged out of his cell and tied to a tree trunk. The villagers, led by the village chief, surround him.
Village Chief: (In an angry voice) "You murdered my guards and caused trouble in our village! You will pay for your crimes!"
Lemone tries to defend herself, but her words are in vain. The crowd is furious and demands his death.
Lemone: (In a desperate voice) "I'm not a murderer! I'm innocent!"
But no one believes him. Griselda, the village chief's daughter, stands aside, a cold, merciless gaze fixed on Lemone. She knows the truth, and it was she who alerted her father.
Village Chief: (In a cruel tone) "Light the fire!"
The villagers throw torches on the pyre. The flames rise, surrounding Lemone with their infernal heat.
Lemone: (Screaming in pain) "Help me! Stop!"
But his cries are muffled by the screams of the crowd. Lemone feels like she's dying.
The flames of the pyre go out, leaving behind a charred body. The villagers, believing Lemone to be dead, scatter his ashes and leave the place.
But in the darkness, a miracle happens.
The title of Immortal conferred on Lemone by the dark entity accomplishes its sinister purpose. The ashes gather, recompose, and Lemone slowly rises, like a zombie snatched from its grave.
Lemone: (In a deep, hollow voice) "You thought you had defeated me? You thought you could kill me? Me, Lemone, the Immortal?"
His voice echoes in the night, chilling the blood of the villagers who have not yet left the place. They turn around, terrified, and see the figure of Lemone, standing among the ashes, her eyes burning with hellish fire.
Lemone: (In a sweet and cruel tone) "I killed your guards, and now it's your turn to die!"
Two dark swords appear in his hands, emitting an evil aura. Lemone throws herself at the crowd, unleashing a wild rage.
Cries, howls, pleas.
The villagers don't stand a chance against the Immortal. Lemone slices, slashes, decapitates. Blood flows in rivers across the square, turning the ground into a reddish swamp.
Lemone: (With a demonic laugh) "Tremble before me, wretches! I am vengeance, wrath, death incarnate!"
The scene is incredibly violent, a veritable bloodbath that freezes blood and breaks hearts. The villagers, once peaceful and welcoming, are now helpless victims in the face of Lemone's fury.
---End Of Chapter---