Kael's heart raced as they made their way back to Eldenwood. The night air felt suffocating, each step weighed down by fear and confusion. He kept glancing back at the group of mages following him, their dark robes flowing behind them like shadows. None of them spoke, save for Austin—the man with the scarred, blind eyes who seemed to be the one in control. The others moved in eerie silence, their faces hidden, their hands occasionally glowing faintly with strange, otherworldly energy.
Kael's mouth was dry as he tried to ask the question gnawing at him. "W-what are you going to do? Why are you here?"
The man that introduced himself as Austin smirked, his lips curled in a thin smile, though he didn't bother to look at Kael. "We need to check something," he said, his voice nonchalant, almost bored. "But don't worry yourself over the details, boy."
Kael's chest tightened. The non-answer only deepened his growing sense of dread. His anxiety rose with every step toward the village. What could these people possibly want? What were they planning?
As they neared Eldenwood, Kael could see the faint outlines of the small, simple homes. The village was quiet—too quiet, even for this time of night. Lanterns still glowed faintly in a few windows, but there were no sounds of chatter or laughter, only the eerie silence that accompanied the mages' arrival.
They passed the first few houses, and Kael noticed people peeking out from behind curtains, their faces pale and drawn. Some of them recognized him as the only son of the farmer family, and their eyes lingered on him, wide with fear and confusion. His face must have betrayed his terror, for they quickly averted their gaze and shut themselves inside, locking doors and windows behind them. It felt like the entire village was holding its breath.
Kael's legs felt heavy, almost as if they were dragging him toward some inevitable disaster. His mind spun with unanswered questions. Why did they need him? What were they really after?
Austin forced Kael to walk at his side, a tight grip on his shoulder that sent cold shivers down his spine. Behind them, the other mages whispered strange words under their breath, their hands glowing with a faint blue light as they approached each house. The mages would chant in their weird language, wave their hands toward the home, and then shake their heads in disappointment when nothing happened. It was as though they were searching for something—something Kael couldn't begin to understand.
House after house, the routine was the same. A chant, a strange gesture, and a headshake. Each time, Kael's heart leaped with relief that nothing had been found, but his dread only grew. What could these people possibly be looking for if even the richer houses, the homes of the village elders and council, yielded no results?
Kael's thoughts raced. What do they want? Why did they bring me? What is this prophecy they keep mentioning?
A terrifying thought struck him: Are these people fanatics? Could they be looking for something—or someone—to fulfill some crazed prophecy? Kael's stomach churned as he thought of the ritual, the blood, and the glowing light that had somehow pointed toward him. His skin crawled at the memory of that thin, red string connecting him to the ritual circle.
The mages made their way methodically through the village, leaving a trail of confusion and fear behind them. But Kael's horror grew as they neared the last stretch of homes. His house was at the end of the path, tucked away like all the others. His family…
They had nothing. Just a simple farm, a small plot of land. What could these mages possibly want with them?
As they approached his home, the mages chanted their usual strange words. Kael watched in horror, his body trembling uncontrollably. They waved their glowing hands, and Kael braced himself for the usual disappointment—the same frustrated shaking heads as before.
But this time, it was different.
Instead of disappointment, the mages exchanged excited glances, nodding to one another. One of the mages, his face barely visible under his hood, grinned as he turned to Austin. His nod was slow, deliberate, as if they had finally found what they had been searching for.
Kael's breath caught in his throat. He felt as though the world was closing in around him, the ground slipping out from under his feet.
Austin turned to Kael, his blind eyes somehow still locking onto him. The scar across his face twitched, and a dark smile tugged at his lips. "You didn't think you could keep us from your family, did you?" he chuckled, the sound harsh and mocking.
Kael whimpered, the weight of the situation crashing down on him. His house… his family. They were in danger, and there was nothing he could do to stop it. His mind screamed for him to act, to do something, but the glow surrounding the mages held him in place like invisible chains.
His worst fears were coming true, and all he could do was stand there, helpless and terrified, as the mages closed in on his home.