The wind coldly blew through the dense trees. Julia stood at the edge of Black Hollow, her red hair catching in the icy breeze. Her magic sword rested at her side, a comforting weight against her hip as her sharp eyes scanned the village, noting the eerie lack of movement. No children playing, no farmers tending the fields, just empty streets and shuttered windows.
The snow crunched beneath her boots as she took her first step toward the heart of the village, the rest of her team following close behind.
Rina walked beside Julia, her armor clanking softly with each step. The scars on her left arm—her only arm—stood out against the steel of her armor. Despite her missing right arm, she wielded a massive sword, far larger than most would think possible for a single-handed fighter. Her short-cropped hair barely moved in the wind.
"You think this place is deserted?" Rina asked.
"It's too quiet," Julia replied. "Something is wrong."
