In the yard behind the blacksmith shop, the air hung heavy with the clang of hammer against metal in the distance. Old Brian, a grizzled blacksmith with hands as rough as the iron he shaped, listened quietly to his daughter, Olivia, as she explained the origins of their guests, Leon and his companions. He remained silent, his eyes narrowing slightly as she recounted their claim of having crossed the Nightmare Forest.
At the mention of the forest, Brian's weathered face shifted, and his eyes sharpened. His hands, which had been resting idly, now folded across his chest as he studied the young men standing before him with renewed scrutiny.
"You... really crossed the Nightmare Forest?" His voice was low, almost disbelieving, as if testing them.
Leon, sensing the weight of the question, answered earnestly. "I'm not sure about this 'Nightmare Forest' you're talking about, but if you mean the forest south of the village, then yes, we crossed it." His gaze was steady, his words firm, there was no point in changing his story now.
Brian stared at Leon for a long moment, searching the young man's face as though trying to decipher whether he was telling the truth or weaving an impossible tale. The silence stretched uncomfortably before the old man finally spoke again, his tone grave.
"If what you're saying is true, then the journey you undertook must have been... very dangerous." There was a knowing glint in his eye now, though he said nothing further.
Olivia, sensing the tension but eager to press forward, spoke up, breaking the solemn moment. "Father, the farmhouse on the edge of the farm is just sitting there. If we rent it to them for three dirhams, we could bring in some extra income. What do you think?" She looked at him expectantly, her hope evident in her voice.
Brian glanced at his daughter, his face softening slightly. After a moment, he nodded. "Yeah." It was a quiet nod, almost reluctant, but it was enough for Olivia, who beamed at the answer.
Gently patting his daughter's head, the blacksmith said, "All right, Olivia, go help them get settled at the farmhouse. It'll need some cleaning up for our guests." His tone was kind, but there was something else lingering beneath it.
Olivia frowned, confused. "Clean up? Father, the farmhouse is empty. What could there be to clean?" She hesitated, but Brian gave her a firm look, silently dismissing her.
Once his daughter was out of earshot, the old blacksmith turned back to Leon and his companions, his expression hardening once more. His voice, when he spoke, had a firm edge. "Young men, I must take back what I said earlier. I won't be renting the farmhouse to you after all, and I strongly suggest you leave Selva Village as soon as you can."
Leon, Liam, and Brandon exchanged puzzled glances. The sudden shift in the blacksmith's demeanor was stark. Only moments ago, he had agreed to let them stay, and now... now he was practically throwing them out. Even Leon, who was known for his patience, couldn't help but feel a twinge of irritation.
"What do you mean by that?" Leon asked, his voice still calm, though a shadow of frustration crept in.
Liam, never one to hide his feelings, scowled. "If you didn't want us here, you could have just said so! Your daughter invited us, not the other way around! And you agreed; now you're turning us away? Is this how Orlanders treat their guests?" His voice rose, and his hands clenched into fists at his sides.
"Liam, calm down," Brandon said quickly, stepping in to diffuse his friend's temper.
Despite Liam's outburst, Old Brian remained unflustered. His face was unreadable as he replied, "I understand your frustration, but you need to understand this, Selva is just a small, quiet village. We can't afford to take unnecessary risks."
"Risks? What kind of risks?" Leon's brows furrowed. He wasn't one to get worked up easily, but this change in tone from the old man left a bad taste. "If there's something you know, it's better to just tell us."
Brian exhaled heavily, his eyes narrowing as if weighing his next words carefully. "Let me be clear, then. If you truly crossed the Nightmare Forest, as you claim, do you even understand what that means? Do you know what it means to come out of that cursed place alive?" His voice lowered, almost conspiratorial. "Or have the stories about the Cursed Land faded in the Kingdom of Serian?"
Leon felt a flicker of realization. So, this village had its own stories about the forest. He exchanged a look with Liam and Brandon before turning back to Brian. "So, you believe us, then? You know what's in that forest?"
The old blacksmith shook his head slightly. "This isn't about belief. I don't know what horrors lurk in the cursed land, no one really does. But I do know that even the lord's soldiers avoid the Nightmare Forest, and those who've gone in... never return. I can't begin to imagine how you survived." His eyes drifted in the direction his daughter had gone, his face lined with concern. "Selva is a fragile place. We can't handle visitors who bring... darkness and danger with them. Please, understand, it's best if you leave. For your sake and ours."
The weight of his words settled in the air between them. The conversation had taken a darker turn than any of them had expected, and now, with the old man's plea, it was clear: this was no ordinary village, and they were no ordinary travelers.
Old Brian eyed the weapons strapped to the boys' waists, his gaze lingering for a moment before he spoke. "If you really don't know where to go next," he began, his voice gruff but not unkind, "head northwest along the main road. In about a day's journey, you'll reach a town. With your strength, and those weapons of yours, it shouldn't be hard to find work on the lord's land. The world's full of opportunities for people like you."
Leon's expression remained calm, though there was an edge to his voice. "Is that your way of giving us an ultimatum? To drive us out?"
Brian chuckled dryly, shaking his head. "No, no, nothing so harsh. I'm just an old blacksmith. I don't have the right to force anyone to leave. Consider this the advice of a gruff old man who's lived long enough to know trouble when he sees it." His tone softened, but his meaning was clear. "I'm not saying you can't stay a night or two to rest, but this village isn't a place for you to linger. Promise me you'll be on your way soon, and there won't be any hard feelings."
At the edge of the village, Liam kicked a stone down the dirt path, frustration written across his face. "Ugh, I really wanted to give that old man a piece of my mind. Acting like we were dying to stay in this shabby village! If it weren't for that girl's offer, we wouldn't have even bothered."
Brandon clapped him on the shoulder, grinning. "Come on, we're in a foreign land. Running into a few suspicious villagers is normal. Don't let it get to you."
Leon, always the steady one, glanced back at the village before speaking. "Enough complaining. Let's focus on finding a place to camp before nightfall." He wasn't particularly bothered by the old man's sudden shift in attitude. In fact, he had half-expected it. Without Olivia's invitation, they would've camped outside the village to begin with. Now, it was just a matter of returning to their original plan.
Just as they began to walk away, a voice called out from behind them.
"Hey! Wait, Leon!"
The trio turned to see Olivia running after them, her blonde hair flying behind her, her face flushed with urgency. Liam groaned, rolling his eyes. "What now? Hasn't she messed with us enough already?"
Brandon laughed at his friend's grumbling. "Come on, it's not like she was the one who wanted us gone. That was her father's doing."
Leon, his temper tempered by years of experience in his past life, stopped and waited for her to catch up. Unlike Liam, he wasn't one to let his emotions get the better of him, especially not over something so minor. Besides, Olivia had always seemed sincere, and it was clear she had meant well. Her father's concerns, while frustrating, were understandable in a world so full of uncertainty.
Olivia arrived, breathless and flushed, her emerald eyes filled with regret. Before Leon could even greet her, she dropped into a deep bow, pressing her hands against the skirt of her dress in a gesture of apology. "I... I'm so sorry! I just got back from the farmhouse and found out my father changed his mind. I didn't realize until it was too late, and I—" She looked up, her eyes glistening with guilt. "I'm really sorry. This is all my fault."
Leon shrugged, offering a small smile. "It's nothing, really. Your father made a smart choice. If I were in his position, I wouldn't be so eager to let strangers stay in my home either."
"But I didn't think about that before offering you a place to stay," Olivia insisted, her voice tight with remorse. "If anyone's to blame, it's me. I shouldn't have promised anything without asking him first. If you're angry, I deserve it. Just... scold me instead."
Her shoulders slumped as she spoke, the guilt hanging heavy on her. Even her bright blonde hair seemed to dull in the fading light of the day. Liam, who had been ready to snap a remark, scratched his head awkwardly. He had wanted to be mad at the old man, but seeing Olivia like this made him feel like a fool for holding onto his anger.
Brandon nudged him, chuckling. "See? She's not the enemy here."
Leon glanced up at the darkening sky. "Apology accepted. But is there something else? It's getting late, and we need to find somewhere to camp before nightfall."
Olivia straightened, nodding quickly. "Yes, actually, that's why I came. To make up for the trouble I caused, let me take you somewhere. It's not exactly a proper place to stay, but it'll give you shelter from the wind and rain. I think it'll do for the night."