By the next day, the air in the village square hung heavy with unease.
Seth noticed the tension but didn't yet understand its cause.
A meeting was called by the village elder, and the villagers gathered in the square.
Their murmurs created a low hum, filled with suspicion and fear.
Seth stood off to the side, arms crossed, exuding a calm that belied the turmoil within.
Zera's voice buzzed softly in his mind, offering her cold reassurance.
[The crowd is fracturing,] she noted.
"I can see that much," Seth replied, his tone neutral.
The elder's staff struck the ground with a loud crack, silencing the restless crowd.
Despite his frail appearance, his voice carried weight.
"Order! We are here to address the continued deterioration of the barrier and to decide what must be done to protect the village."
The villagers muttered in response.
Seth could already sense the direction of their grievances.
