The air in Greystone felt different today, like the village was holding its breath. Every sound seemed sharper, every shadow darker. It was as if the entire world knew what was coming, even if we couldn't see it yet. We were preparing for a fight we couldn't avoid, and the tension was palpable.
I walked the perimeter of the village, my eyes scanning the walls, the gates, the faces of the villagers as they worked. They were scared—I could see it in the way their hands shook, the way their eyes darted around like they were expecting something to leap out at them from the shadows. But they were also determined. Whatever happened, they weren't going to go down without a fight.
"Kara, Varric," I called out as I approached the main gate, where the two of them were overseeing the last of the fortifications. "How's it looking?"
"We're as ready as we'll ever be," Kara said, her voice steady but with an edge of worry. "The villagers have done everything we asked. We've reinforced the walls, set up traps, and organized patrols. But if the Drakkan really are coming, it's going to be a tough fight."
Varric nodded in agreement. "They're resilient, but this will test them in ways they haven't been tested before."
I could see it too—the way the villagers were pushing themselves, trying to bury their fear beneath layers of hard work and grim determination. They had no choice. None of us did.
As I walked the perimeter, I couldn't shake the memory flash I'd experienced earlier. It had been so vivid, so real, like I was there again, in the middle of that battlefield, feeling every decision, every action as if it were happening now. I'd seen myself make a strategic call in the heat of battle—something that could give us an edge here if the Drakkan attacked.
"Kara," I said, pulling her aside as Varric continued to give orders. "I had another flash earlier. This one was different—more intense. I think… I think it showed me something useful."
She looked at me, her eyes searching. "Go on."
"I saw myself in a battle, leading a group against a stronger enemy," I explained. "We used the terrain to our advantage, funneled the attackers into a narrow pass where their numbers didn't count for much. If we do something similar here, we might be able to hold off the Drakkan long enough to turn the tide."
Kara considered this for a moment, then nodded. "We could use the southern gate—it's the narrowest entry point. If we force them to attack there, we can concentrate our defenses. I'll talk to Varric and the others."
"Thanks," I said, relieved that she didn't question the source of my idea. The flashes were becoming harder to dismiss, but they were also becoming more valuable. If they were memories from my past life, I needed to use them—whether I understood them or not.
As Kara moved off to relay the plan to Varric, I felt a presence behind me. I turned to find Eldric standing there, his expression as unreadable as ever.
"You're making quite the impression on these people," he said, his tone casual but with an undercurrent of something more. "They're starting to look to you for answers."
I met his gaze, wary of his intentions. "Just doing what I can to help. What do you want, Eldric?"
He raised an eyebrow, the hint of a smile playing on his lips. "Why so suspicious? I'm just a simple merchant, passing through. But I couldn't help but notice you've got quite the knack for leadership—especially for someone who doesn't seem to know much about himself."
I didn't like the way he said that, like he knew more about me than he was letting on. "What are you getting at?"
Eldric took a step closer, lowering his voice. "Word travels fast in these parts, especially when there's someone as… unique as you around. The Drakkan aren't the only ones interested in you, you know. There are other forces at play here, ones that might be more dangerous than you realize."
"Dangerous?" I echoed, feeling a chill run down my spine. "What do you know?"
Eldric shrugged, his smile widening. "Only what I hear on the wind. But let's just say, when the time comes, you'll have a choice to make. And that choice could change everything."
I wanted to press him for more, but something in his eyes warned me against it. Eldric was playing his own game, and I wasn't sure if I was a pawn or a player. "You like speaking in riddles, don't you?"
"It keeps things interesting," he said with a wink. "Just remember what I said. When the time comes, choose wisely."
With that, he turned and walked away, leaving me standing there with more questions than answers. What was he talking about? What choice? And why did it feel like the weight of the world was suddenly resting on my shoulders?
I shook off the unease and focused on the task at hand. There was no time to dwell on Eldric's cryptic warnings. We had a village to defend, and the Drakkan could attack at any moment.
As the sun dipped lower in the sky, casting long shadows across the village, I gathered the key villagers—Gregor, Elara, Dara—for one final training session. We ran through the drills we'd practiced, pushing them to move faster, to think smarter, to work together as a unit. This was it. There wouldn't be another chance.
"You're doing great," I said, clapping Gregor on the back as he finished a particularly grueling drill. "Just remember everything we've practiced. Stay calm, stay focused, and trust each other."
Gregor nodded, sweat pouring down his face. "We'll be ready."
Elara and Dara were nearby, going over the plans for the women and children to take shelter in the strongest part of the village if the attack came. I could see the worry in their eyes, but also the determination. They weren't going to let fear control them.
As the training session ended, I found myself wandering to a quiet spot on the edge of the village, a small hill that overlooked the walls. The view was surprisingly peaceful, the last rays of sunlight casting a golden glow over the landscape. But I knew it wouldn't last.
"Mind if I join you?" Kara's voice broke the silence, and I turned to see her walking up the hill to stand beside me.
"Of course," I said, giving her a tired smile. "I was just… thinking."
"About what?" she asked, her gaze following mine out over the horizon.
"About everything," I admitted. "About what's coming, and about whether we're really ready for it."
Kara nodded, her expression thoughtful. "You've done more for this village in the past week than anyone could have asked for. We're as ready as we can be. But I know what you mean—it's hard not to worry, especially when so much is at stake."
I sighed, feeling the weight of it all pressing down on me. "I just don't want to let anyone down. I'm not even sure who I am, and yet… these people are counting on me. What if I make the wrong call?"
Kara looked at me, her eyes filled with a quiet strength. "You won't. You've got good instincts, and you care about these people. That's more than enough. We'll face whatever comes together, and we'll get through it."
Her words were exactly what I needed to hear. I wasn't alone in this—not anymore. Whatever happened, we would face it as a team, as a community. And somehow, that made the uncertainty a little easier to bear.
As night fell, the village grew quiet. The torches were lit along the walls, casting flickering light over the stones. The villagers moved with a sense of purpose, taking their positions, checking and rechecking the defenses. There was no panic, no chaos—just a steely resolve to survive whatever the night brought.
I walked the walls one last time, checking in with Gregor, Elara, Dara, and the others. Each of them gave me a nod, a look that said they were ready. Ready to defend their home, ready to fight for their lives.
By the time I reached the highest point in the village—the watchtower overlooking the southern gate—the weight of the day's events was starting to settle in. I stood there, looking out into the darkness, feeling the anticipation like a tangible force. The calm before the storm.
Behind me, I heard footsteps and turned to see Varric climbing the ladder to join me. He didn't say anything at first, just stood beside me, staring out at the same darkness.
"They'll come soon," he said finally, his voice a low rumble.
"Yeah," I agreed. "But we'll be ready."
Varric glanced at me, his eyes hard but not unkind. "You've done good here. Whatever happens, don't doubt that."
I nodded, appreciating the sentiment more than I could express. "Thanks, Varric."
The two of us stood there in silence, watching the horizon, waiting for the first sign of movement. The night was still, the air cool and crisp. But the tension was electric, like the air before a thunderstorm.
Whatever came next, we would face it together. And we would fight with everything we had.
The Drakkan might come, and they might be stronger, fiercer, more numerous than we expected. But this village was ready. And so was I.
As the first stars appeared in the night sky, I took a deep breath, steeling myself for what was to come.
Because whatever happened next, I knew one thing for certain: I wasn't going to let this village fall.