The morning light poured in through the narrow window, banishing the shadows of the night before. Elara was already awake, packing her belongings with the practiced efficiency of someone always ready to move at a moment's notice.
"We should head out soon," she said, glancing at him as he rose from the bed. "The village isn't safe for long. There are signs of an impending shift in the flow of magic across Elarion. We need to get to Halward."
He nodded in agreement, though his mind was still foggy from the dream. The road ahead felt daunting, but there was an urgency in Elara's tone that compelled him to push his fatigue aside. As they prepared to leave, the innkeeper stopped them again, this time with a somber expression.
"There's been news of trouble on the trade route ahead," he said. "A few travelers have gone missing. Some say it's bandits, others... something worse."
"Thanks for the warning," Elara replied. She then turned to him, her eyes sharp. "We should be prepared for anything."
The sun was high in the sky by the time they reached the outskirts of the village. The trade route stretched out before them like a ribbon of dirt and cobblestones, flanked by dense forest on either side. The air was still, almost unnaturally so, and he found himself straining to catch any sound that might hint at danger.
An hour into their journey, a commotion arose ahead—a clash of steel and desperate shouts. Without hesitation, they quickened their pace, rounding a bend to find a group of bandits attacking a lone traveler clad in battered armor. The man was clearly outnumbered, struggling to hold off his attackers with a sword that seemed too heavy for his exhausted arms.
"Help him!" Elara shouted, and they charged forward, the ground seeming to blur beneath his feet.
He leaped into the fray, dagger flashing in a swift arc that caught the nearest bandit by surprise. The blade sliced through leather armor, and the man fell back, clutching at his side. Another bandit swung a crude axe toward him, but he dodged, feeling the wind of the strike pass close enough to brush his hair. In one fluid motion, he brought the dagger up, burying it in the bandit's throat before twisting away to face the next.
The wounded knight took the opportunity to rally, lunging at his attackers with renewed vigor. Side by side, they fought off the remaining bandits, their enemies scattering into the trees with curses and cries of retreat.
The knight staggered, dropping to one knee as the last of his foes fled. His breathing was ragged, blood trickling from a wound on his shoulder. "You... saved my life," he said. "I thought I was done for."
Elara hurried over and began tending to the man's wounds with healing magic, her hands glowing with a gentle light. "You're not safe yet," she said. "Stay still."
As the healing magic mended the knight's flesh, he looked at them with grateful eyes. "I owe you both a great debt. The name's Garret, a knight of Halward. I was on a mission to investigate disturbances in the Stat Grid when I was ambushed." He winced as Elara continued her work. "I should have known better than to travel alone."
The mention of the Stat Grid piqued William's interest. "What kind of disturbances?" he asked.
Garret's expression darkened. "There have been anomalies—gaps in the Grid where magic flows erratically. Creatures are becoming more aggressive, and people have reported losing their abilities altogether in certain areas." He glanced between the two of them. "Whatever's causing it, it's spreading."
A chill ran through him, as if the very air had turned cold. This world was unraveling before his eyes, and he was only beginning to understand the dangers that lay ahead.
System Stats Update:
Name: William
Level: 4
Stats:
Strength: 8
Agility: 8
Endurance: 7
Intelligence: 8
Wisdom: 7
Bloodline: Unknown
Last Name: Unknown
Skills:
Basic Combat Dagger Mastery I
Items:
Enchanted Iron Dagger.
End of Chapter Six