The cool evening air wrapped around Keitaro as he stepped out of the tavern his breath misting slightly in the fading light. The village of Darkwood was settling into a quiet rhythm with only a few people still wandering the streets. Lamps were being lit casting a soft orange glow along the dirt road. For a moment everything seemed peaceful but Keitaro couldn't shake the feeling that something was off.
His mind replayed the encounter with Rafe and his two companions. They were clearly looking for him but why? Keitaro knew he was an outsider there was no denying that but how had they known he would be here? Was it pure coincidence or had someone tipped them off?
"Something's not adding up" he muttered to himself as he walked aimlessly down the village street. "I just got here and they're already after me and what was all that talk about trouble with outsiders'?"
He had questions and he needed answers. But first he needed a place to stay for the night. The idea of sleeping in the open after everything he'd been through wasn't appealing especially with the looming threat of more monsters or worse.
As he wandered his eyes caught sight of an inn near the edge of the village. It was a modest building with a simple sign hanging above the door that read The Silver Tree Inn. A warm light flickered from inside and the comforting smell of baked bread travel through the air. It seemed like a good place to get some rest and maybe gather a bit more information about what was going on.
With a shrug Keitaro made his way to the inn and pushed the door open. Inside the common area was small but cozy. A few tables were scattered around and the scent of food mingled with the crackling warmth of a fire in the hearth. There weren't many people inside just a couple of patrons hunched over their drinks and a young woman with short brown hair behind the counter cleaning glasses.
Keitaro walked up to the counter offering the woman a polite smile. "Hey do you have any rooms available?"
The woman looked up from her work her brown eyes curious but friendly. "We do how long are you planning to stay?"
Keitaro scratched the back of his head unsure. "Uh I'm not sure just a night for now, I guess."
The woman nodded and put the glass down. "One night's no problem five silvers and I'll show you to your room."
Keitaro frowned. Silvers? Right, I'm in a new world now. I don't even have the currency. He cleared his throat awkwardly. "About that I don't exactly have any money right now is there anything I could do to uh work off the cost?"
The woman raised an eyebrow then let out a soft chuckle "We don't get many travelers offering to work for a room. What's your name stranger?"
"Keitaro," he said offering a sheepish smile. "I just arrived in the village today."
"Keitaro, huh?" The woman studied him for a moment then shrugged. "Well you're in luck. The inn could use a little extra help and we're short-handed. If you're willing to do some work in the morning, I can give you a room for the night."
Keitaro's said with relief. "Thank you, I really appreciate it."
"Don't thank me yet," she said with a smirk "We'll see how good you are with a broom in the morning."
She turned and grabbed a small iron key from a hook behind the counter. "Room's upstairs, second door on the left. My name's Lila by the way. I run this place with my brother but he's out of town at the moment."
Keitaro took the key nodding. "Nice to meet you Lila. Thanks again."
Lila waved him off as he headed for the stairs clearly not interested in small talk. Keitaro was more than happy to avoid further conversation for the moment. His mind was still buzzing with thoughts of Rafe and the strange events that had unfolded since his arrival.
The stairs creaked as Keitaro made his way up to the second floor. The inn wasn't fancy but it was clean and comfortable which was all he needed after the day he'd had. He found his room easily enough and pushed the door open stepping inside.
The room was small but cozy with a single bed, a wooden chair and a small window from where one could looked at the quiet village. A thick quilt was folded neatly at the foot of the bed and a candle sat on the windowsill casting a soft glow over the room.
Keitaro dropped onto the bed with a groan feeling the weight of exhaustion settle into his bones. The events of the day the battle with the wolf, the river, the confrontation with Rafe had taken a lot out of him. His muscles ached his head throbbed and all he wanted to do was sleep.
But sleep wouldn't come easily. Not with so many questions still lingering in his mind.
He stared up at the wooden ceiling thinking about his next move. He couldn't stay in the village forever that much was clear. But he needed more information before he could decide what to do next.
"System," he whispered hoping it would hear him. "You've been pretty quiet since that last quest. Got anything to say?"
The system responded immediately its voice as calm and mechanical as ever. "Host has completed the last quest. No new quest is available at the moment."
Keitaro rolled his eyes. "Yeah, I know that but I was hoping for some guidance here. I'm not exactly sure what I'm supposed to be doing in this world."
"The system's purpose is to assist the host in growth and survival. Exploration and engagement with the world will provide opportunities for new quests."
"Helpful as always," Keitaro muttered sarcasticaly closing his eyes he thought. "Guess I'm on my own for now."
As he lay there his thoughts drifted back to the moment when Rafe and his companions had questioned him. They had known about him somehow but how? Was someone keeping tabs on new arrivals to the village? or was there something about Keitaro that had attracted their attention?
The more he thought about it the more his instincts told him that something wasn't right in this village. Rafe had acted like a man on a mission determined, suspicious and dangerous. Keitaro couldn't help but feel like there was more going on here than met the eye.
He sat up staring out the small window. The village was quiet now the last traces of sunlight fading into darkness. Shadows stretched across the dirt road and the distant sound of dogs barking echoed through the night.
Keitaro sighed. "Alright let's be real. I'm not going to sleep until I figure out what's going on."
With a groan he pushed himself off the bed and grabbed the small iron key Lila had given him stuffing it into his pocket. If he was going to get some answers it wasn't going to happen by lying in bed and waiting for the system to spoon feed him a quest.
He needed to do some investigating and what better time to explore a village's secrets than in dark?
Keitaro sneakly got out of the inn sticking close to the shadows as he moved through the quiet streets. The village was eerily still with most of the houses dark and the roads empty. The only light came from the occasional lamp or flickering candle in a window. His footsteps were soft against the dirt road but he couldn't shake the feeling that someone was watching him.
He glanced around scanning the shadows for any sign of movement but the village seemed deserted. Even the tavern which had been bustling earlier was now dark and empty.
"This place is way too quiet for my liking," Keitaro muttered under his breath "Where is everyone?"
As he walked his mind raced with possibilities. There had to be more to this village than met the eye. Maybe it was just his paranoia after the run in with Rafe but something about the way the villagers had looked at him earlier like they were hiding something didn't sit right with him.
As he walked through the streets Keitaro found himself near the village's outskirts where the houses were more spread out and the trees of Darkwood Forest loomed in the distance. Here, the air felt heavier like a quiet tension hung over the place. It was almost as if the village itself was holding its breath waiting for something to happen.
That's when he saw movement in the distance.
Keitaro ducked behind a stack of wooden crates peeking around the edge to get a better look. Down the road past a row of houses he spotted a group of figures moving in the shadows. They were walking quickly and quietly sticking to the darkened alleyways as if they didn't want to be seen.
He squinted trying to make out who they were and his heart skipped a beat when he recognized one of them Rafe.
"What the hell is he up to?" Keitaro muttered narrowing his eyes.
Rafe and his companions were headed toward the edge of the village near the forest. Keitaro watched them as they moved deeper into the shadows clearly trying to avoid drawing attention. Whatever they were doing it wasn't something they wanted the rest of the village to know about.
This is too suspicious to ignore.
Keitaro's gut told him to follow them but he knew he needed to be careful. If Rafe caught him snooping around things would get ugly fast his earlier negotiation skills might not be enough to bail him out a second time.
He waited until the group had moved further ahead, then quietly slipped out from behind the crates and began following at a safe distance. His footsteps were soft and he stuck to the shadows keeping his eyes on Rafe and his companions as they disappeared into the darkness.
The deeper they went the more uneasy Keitaro felt. They were heading toward the outskirts of the village near the forest's edge. The trees loomed like dark sentinels their branches swaying gently in the night breeze. Keitaro kept his distance being careful not to make a sound as he crept along.
Finally Rafe and his companions stopped near the edge of the village where a small dilapidated building stood half hidden among the trees. It looked abandoned the roof sagging and the windows boarded up. Keitaro crouched behind a large bush watching as the group approached the building.
One of Rafe's companions the tall woman with sharp eyes knocked on the door in a specific pattern. Three knocks a pause then two more knocks.
Keitaro frowned a secret code? What are these guys upto?
The door creaked open and a hooded figure appeared in the doorway. Rafe exchanged a few words with the person though Keitaro couldn't hear what was being said from where he was hiding. The hooded figure nodded then stepped aside to let the group inside.
Keitaro's curiosity burned. What could Rafe and his companions possibly be up to in an abandoned building at the edge of the village? And who was that hooded figure?
This was more than just some routine village patrol. Rafe was involved in something big and if Keitaro wanted answers he was going to have to get closer.
He waited until the door had closed behind them then slowly crept toward the building, keeping low and staying out of sight. His heart pounded in his chest, the adrenaline course through him as he approached the side of the building. The windows were boarded up, but there were gaps between the wooden planks just big enough for him to peek through.
Carefully he pressed his eye to one of the gaps trying to get a look inside.
What he saw made his blood run cold.
Inside the building Rafe and his companions were standing in a circle with several other people all of them wearing dark cloaks. In the center of the room was a large stone altar and on top of the altar was a strange glowing orb. The orb pulsed with an eerie blue light casting long shadows across the room.
The hooded figure from before stood at the head of the altar chanting something in a language Keitaro didn't recognize. The air inside the room seemed to thrum with energy and Keitaro could feel the hairs on the back of his neck standing on end.
"This is some next-level cult stuff," Keitaro whispered his mind racing. What the hell are they doing?
As the chanting grew louder the glow from the orb intensified. Rafe and his companions watched silently their faces illuminated by the eerie light. Keitaro had no idea what kind of ritual this was but one thing was clear this was no ordinary village.
Something dark and dangerous was happening here and Keitaro had just stumbled right into the middle of it.
He needed to get out of here fast.
But before he could move a hand clamped down on his shoulder.
Keitaro's heart leapt into his throat and he spun around his eyes wide with panic.
Standing behind him was one of Rafe's companions the burly man with the shaved head. His expression was grim, and his grip on Keitaro's shoulder was like iron.
"Well, well," the man said his voice low and menacing. "Looks like we've got ourselves a spy."
Keitaro's mind raced his body tensing as he prepared to fight or run. He was out of time, out of options, and surrounded by enemies.
and this time there might not be a way out.