Ethan and Nyssa moved cautiously along the path leading to Trakan Village.
They were prepared for anything that might appear wild beasts, natural traps, or even attacks from the infamous gray werewolves.
As they approached the village's edge, they heard a faint movement in the distance. The sound of breaking branches and rustling leaves heightened their alertness.
Nyssa quickly drew her sword, and Ethan tightened his cloak, ready to summon the power within him if necessary.
However, what approached was not a wild beast but a young boy stumbling toward them, his body ragged, covered in dust and sweat. His breath was labored, and his eyes were filled with panic and sorrow.
"Please... please save the villagers of Trakan... I beg you..." The boy collapsed in front of them, his voice breaking between heavy breaths.
Nyssa immediately knelt beside the boy, placing a gentle hand on his shoulder to calm him. "Calm down, child," Nyssa said softly but firmly.
"Tell us slowly. We came here to help Trakan Village from the gray werewolves."
The boy, with tears streaming down his cheeks, sobbed while raising his fearful face. "My... my name is Tof," he said, his voice trembling.
"They... they killed my father and mother... they killed my family!"
Nyssa and Ethan exchanged glances. They both knew how difficult it was to hear stories like this, especially from a child. Nyssa tightened her grip on Tof's shoulder, trying to offer support.
"Killed?" Ethan finally spoke, his voice deep and serious. "Tof, who killed your family? Can you tell us more?"
Tof wiped his tears with the back of his hand, trying to calm himself even though his body was still shaking.
"The men sent by Chief Ralnor...," he replied with bitterness. "My father suspected something was wrong in the village... people started disappearing, one by one. Every day, someone would go missing, but no one dared to ask.
My father began to suspect that Chief Ralnor was involved in all of it."
Nyssa furrowed her brows, sensing something off.
Chief Ralnor was the one who had given them this mission, but Tof's story suggested otherwise something darker lurked beneath the surface. "What did your father find out, Tof?" Nyssa asked carefully, wanting to understand the situation clearly.
Tof took a deep breath, then began to explain more clearly. "My father tried to investigate secretly. But... when he found something, they caught him. They took him away... after that, Ralnor's men came to our house.
They wanted to capture me and my mother... my mother fought them off, buying time for me to escape. She said if my father didn't return by sunrise, I had to leave the village as soon as possible."
Tof started sobbing again, remembering the last time he saw his mother sacrifice herself for him. "I... I barely managed to escape. My mother... my mother sacrificed herself to save me..."
Nyssa bit her lip, feeling the pain in her heart from hearing the child's story. Ethan, listening quietly, clenched his fists beneath his cloak.
Anger began to simmer within him. Chief Ralnor had asked them to deal with the gray werewolves, but now it seemed there was a deeper conspiracy betrayal from the very person they had trusted to protect the village.
"Tof," Ethan said calmly, though his eyes revealed the anger he was holding back. "You were very brave. You managed to escape and find help.
Now you're with us, and we won't let them hurt you. But we need to know, where are they now? And do you know where they are hiding the missing people?"
Tof shook his head. "I don't know exactly where... But I heard them talk about a place deep in the Death Forest."
"Death Forest?" Ethan and Nyssa exchanged looks. They had already sensed a trap behind this mission, but now it was becoming clearer that the real threat might not only be the gray werewolves but also the betrayal of Chief Ralnor and his men.
Trakan Village might have fallen under the grip of something far darker than mere werewolves.
Nyssa finally stood up, gently placing her hand on Tof's shoulder. "You've done well, Tof. Now, let us handle this. We will save this village, and we will stop Ralnor and his men."
Ethan and Nyssa walked side by side through the village, passing rows of wooden houses that appeared deserted and neglected.
Their eyes constantly scanned the surroundings, each step taken with caution. Nyssa couldn't shake the strange feeling that had been enveloping the place since they first arrived.