Wendy and Lucy turn around as four weapons start chatting with them as if nothing is out of place. Ethan talks to Sophia in his mind.
"Alas, something feels off about this place."
Sophia also senses the strangeness around them. She instructs the others to keep Wendy and Lucy occupied while they assess the situation. Ethan is grateful that the two girls are exhausted from the fight. Having them distracted will go a long way. Sophia spoke with concern.
"Alas, does it seem gloomier the closer we get to the city centre? Could it be my imagination?"
Ethan slowed down, and the chatter behind him became less and less. Something felt wrong, but he could not place the feeling.
"Alas, the light seems dimmer here. The shadows seem thicker and more substantial. Our footsteps are echoing as if we are walking inside a tunnel. What was that?"
Ethan takes a defensive stance, his hands raised, his fists ready for anything. He did notice it as well. The breeze rustled leaves across their path. Could it be their imagination? Wendy and Lucy stand back-to-back, and his weapons circle them, Mei floating above them with Lilly. They moved forward cautiously.
"Squee, I cannot hear one bird in this city, so we should leave this place."
"Hail, not even one rat as well. This place feels strange. We should investigate further."
Ethan focused. He could hear the fear in Lucy's voice, and Wendy wanted to push on, but she also sounded a bit fearful. Sophia spoke.
"Alas, there was a shadow in the window two stories up."
The breeze ruffled their hair. Ethan could not smell anything. The air was sterile.
"Hail, did you hear that."
"Alas, Ethan, we should leave."
Was it his imagination, or did he see a shadow move in the doorway to his left? Sophia spoke in his mind.
"Alas, did you see that? We should leave."
Ethan's eye caught a shadow moving. How was that possible? The shadow of the old street pole moved just for a second. Ethan's skin crawled, and a shiver ran through his body. Lucy and Wendy hugged each other, the weapons pressing against them. Ethan strolled to the girls as casually as possible and whispered.
"Alas, hold on time to leave. Everyone on me, and don't look back."
Ethan placed his hand under their bums slowly as he scanned the area for any danger. Ethan lifted Wendy and Lucy onto his hips. They held him around the neck, pressing their heads into his shoulders. Lilly, Mei, Zelda, and Ting-Ting floated beside him, almost touching him. Ethan caught movement; in the corner of his eye, something moved.
He was sure of it now. His heart rate increased, and the feeling of fleeing overwhelmed him. Ethan flew up incredibly fast. His weapons were next to him, matching his speed. He could feel their panic and fear as if they were his own. He had a sinking feeling. As he did not want to look back, the sense of being chased increased. Sophia shouted in his mind.
"Alas, it is behind us faster, faster."
The wind whirled beneath Ethan. Wendy and Lucy pressed their heads into his neck, holding on for dear life. He could feel them trembling in his arms.
Everyone screamed with panic as he shot forward, landing next to Grace seconds later. He comforted Wendy and Lucy with hugs and kisses, whispering they were safe. Then he went into his mind to the mountain. The ladies hugged him, and he caressed their backs and heads, kissing them. He spoke softly to them, telling them that they were safe. Grace placed her hand on his shoulder, and he could hear her calling his name.
"Ethan, Ethan, what has happened? Why are Wendy and Lucy crying, and your weapons fell to the ground for a few seconds."
"Alas, Grace, do not go near the city. It would be best if you alerted the king. There is something sinister going on."
"What did you see? Tell me."
"Alas, I do not know, but the shadows moved, and the city smells of nothing. Like an empty void: no birds or rats and no sign of life. We should finish our work here and leave. The village should place a warning sign to stay away from here till the palace can determine what is happening here."
Grace turned pale, and Lara and Maple joined them as Ethan sat down with Lucy and Wendy in his arms, their heads buried in his neck. He gave them a rundown on what had happened in the city, including the strange wind and the shadows that seemed to move until you looked at them, then nothing, always moving out of the corner of the eye. Ethan and the five women on the mountain said in tandem.
"Alas, this could be sorcery."
The three women stared at his weapons. They spoke simultaneously as Ethan and felt it was something they had never heard of. He admitted that it could be something else they did not understand. Sorcery involved items, the sacrifice of lives, lots of blood, and chanting until you felt like you wanted just to sleep. How boring it becomes.
"Alas, you must be a real fanatic to subject yourself to it. It never ends well."
Ethan could admit he almost shat in his pants when he saw the shadow move. He had never felt that scared in his life before. How could a shadow move and the wind have no scent on it? Grace picked her bag up.
"We are finished here. Let us have a bath and a meal. Would you mind if we went with you to the Shepard's Inn? We feel a bit shaken from today's ordeal."
"Alas, you are always welcome in my bed."
Silence fell as the women turned and walked towards the town. Ethan followed, his weapons floating behind him. He spoke to them.
"Alas, it just slipped out. You know how it is."
The ladies on the mountain teased him while they walked. He was still determining what to make of what they had seen. They had seen something impossible and scary. They could tease him as much as they wanted to. People stared at five women talking up a storm, followed by a giant man with a flying sword, knives, a ball, and a longbow who spoke. Some village residents fainted, and others turned pale.
Ethan removed his backpack, securing his longbow and sword sheath as Ting-Ting sheathed herself. He counted his arrows twenty-five per quiver and secured the two quivers. Zelda and Lilly returned to his robe. Sophia spoke.
"Alas, they are safe on the mountain now. I think you will have to comfort your team. They look a bit shaken by today's events."
"Alas, Sophia, Zelda, Ting-Ting, Mei, Lilly, if you need me, do not hesitate to call me. We have witnessed something that should not be possible."
He could hear them confirm, and he could hear the relief in their voices. They might be inside him, but they were alive and could be afraid as well. He did not see them as tools but as his wives on the mountain. Everyone took their time in the bath, and Ethan was the last to go in. Mead was ordered, and everyone downed their first mug and the second. Spiced wine was ordered, and the meal came. It was a curry with plenty of meat and vegetables served with nan bread.
Penny assured him that Maple and Lara could eat and drink for free. Ethan needed to pay for their room again in a few days. Ethan needed a breakthrough or manna gems. Grace had her beautiful smile back, her guild coin problem solved, and she could deliver gems to the palace.
"Smith had nothing for me. He used to live next to my parent's house."
Grace slurred her words, and so did all the women. Ethan could see them look around, staring at shadows. Lucy's ears moved in all directions, and she jumped when he touched her arm. Wendy held his arm tightly, and his right hand started losing feeling. Wendy's ears were moving erratically. They moved when she spoke or when she reached her climax. He looked around his table. Everyone had a haunted look in their eyes. Ethan took the parchment out of his robe, and everyone fell silent.