A long and heavy sigh escaped Zoran's lips as he entered his home and wordlessly took a seat. The man who had brought the unfortunate news followed him in and took the chair across from him, casting a deafening silence over the room.
"Tell me as much detail as possible," Zoran finally mustered the mental stamina to say, a cold glint in his eyes.
"The place was wrecked beyond recognition. You wouldn't even think a rat survived," the man elaborated.
"The cause?"
"My best guess? Bandits. Fires were still burning, and I saw human-shaped footprints."
"Do you think it's that group that's been getting bolder lately?"
"You mean Jarmarth's band of misfits and thieves? Yeah, could be. Surprising, though, a highborn shouod have still been there."
"There was a highborn in a small place like Genahven? Why?"
"Can't say, but knowing highborns, it probably had something to do with their obsessions. Maybe he was into farming or something. Hard to say, I'm no expert."
"Was this highborn strong?"
"Even a ten-year-old highborn is strong enough to bring the viscounty's soldiers to your doorstep. Unless this one was injured..."
"Has Jarmarth experienced an awakening, then?"
"If he has, then we're in even bigger trouble."
Silence again invaded the room as Zoran carefully considered the information he had just received. First, Genahven was gone. He had only been there a handful of times, but to those who liked the simple life, it was a quaint village that would have seemed like paradise. Now it was just ashes and rubble...
The death of the highborn was particularly surprising. Although rare and mostly confined to their own territories, some highborns left in pursuit of their obsessions. The idea of one dying was hard to believe, as highborns were dozens of times stronger than ordinary humans. Could the highborn have left prematurely, giving the bandits a chance to strike, or did something else happen?
"Did you see anything else?" Zoran asked, still lost in turbulent thoughts.
"Not really. The ride was quick and easy, but my ass hurts."
Zoran glared at the rider, who quickly adopted an apologetic expression.
"Sorry. How were things here? Anything happen?"
"Normal."
"That's good, then. So what's the plan?"
"Why are you asking me? Shouldn't you take what you heard to the chief?" Zoran asked, considering what their next move should be.
"I'll be honest, I'm not confident he'd have any good ideas. The man's great at farm rotation and rationing during winter, but this is dangerous. I'd rather ask someone with experience. Plus, you're the only one here who's had an awakening. If that barbarian comes knocking, we'll be hiding behind you, not the chief." The man bluntly explained his reasoning.
Zoran agreed internally; the man had a point. The chief was by no means incompetent, but he held his position due to age and experience in village matters, not combat. In a confrontation with the bandits, even if Zoran managed to repel them, losses would skyrocket under the chief's leadership.
"Right. Organize a group of men to take shifts standing watch every hour of the day. Next, have Old Man Red craft a few sturdy spears. When you're done, find me and bring those men and weapons," Zoran reluctantly instructed as he stood.
"Yes, sir." The man jokingly saluted. "And what will you be doing?"
"I'll be going to see Salvia. We'll need her help if anyone gets injured."
"Is that the only reason?" the man teased with a grin.
"Yes. People's lives are at stake. Act like it." Zoran scolded sternly.
The man looked down, chastened. "Sorry. I guess I'm just trying not to think about it."
Zoran understood the impulse but knew he had to offer a warning. "Not thinking about it won't change anything. What we do now will save your friends and family later." Zoran looked the man directly in the eyes before continuing. "It's good to be scared, I am too. But if you don't fight those impulses and face the danger head-on, we'll end up just like Genahven."
Without another word, Zoran left, leaving the man in his hut to absorb his words. Zoran moved toward the center of the village, marked by a watchtower. Convincing the chief to build it had been a pain, but in times like these, Zoran praised his past insistence.
Zoran climbed the wooden tower and surveyed the surroundings. It wasn't exceptionally tall, but it provided a good view of the area. He felt a chill in the air as he took in the landscape. The forest bordered the village closely, with no other distinct landmarks nearby.
"Caw!"
A large black bird's cry drew Zoran's attention. He watched it fly toward the forest and land, remaining still. He dismissed it as unimportant and returned to the ground. With no threats in sight, he decided to focus on convincing Salvia to prepare for a potential conflict.
The village was small, so the walk was brief. Villagers went about their daily tasks, greeting Zoran warmly, except for the children, who scurried away, hiding behind their parents. He paid it no mind; he knew he wasn't handsome and was just relieved they didn't antagonize him.
He arrived at a particularly large house, one of the largest in the village. The strong smell of herbs and plants permeated the property, blending with nature. As he approached the door and prepared to knock, it suddenly opened, and a child collided with his legs.