Alaric made his way back to the village just as dawn began to break, the early morning mist lingering over the ground like ghostly tendrils. The amulet he'd found hung beneath his shirt, its faint hum a comforting reminder of his progress.
As he neared the edge of Elden Hollow, he could see the villagers beginning their day, moving in sleepy, familiar routines. Farmers gathered tools, a few children ran past, and the scent of cooking fires wafted through the air. He pulled the hood of his worn cloak over his head, blending into the shadows of the morning.
Yet as he observed the villagers, he noticed something peculiar: everyone moved with a hushed urgency, glancing toward the Darkwood as if fearful of what it held. He remembered Lina's warning, the way Finn had looked at him with a mix of curiosity and concern. Something about this village was hiding secrets of its own.
A small crowd had gathered in the village square, near a stone well where an older man addressed the villagers with a voice full of authority. Alaric approached cautiously, staying on the fringes to observe.
"This marks the third night in a row!" the man shouted, his voice cracking with strain. "Another one gone, and the tracks lead straight to the Darkwood."
Fear rippled through the crowd. A young woman clutched her shawl tightly, her face pale, and a young boy asked, "Will they come back, Elder Gareth?"
The elder shook his head solemnly. "I've already sent word to the Order, but it may be days before they can send help. Until then, we must remain vigilant. No one goes near the forest. And keep your doors bolted at night."
Alaric's interest piqued. If villagers were disappearing into the Darkwood, it might explain the corpse he'd found, as well as the sudden appearance of dark creatures in the area. He wondered if it was an isolated case or a symptom of something larger—a shift in the balance of this world's magic, perhaps.
A sharp nudge at his side pulled him from his thoughts. He looked down to see Lina, her expression filled with worry and a hint of suspicion. "You went out last night," she whispered, accusation lacing her tone.
He offered a faint smile. "I only walked a bit outside the village. No harm done."
"No harm? You know what's been happening," she shot back, her voice low but fierce. "People are missing. The forest isn't safe, especially for someone who's barely recovered."
"I assure you, I'm more resilient than I look," he replied evenly, hoping to ease her worry without revealing too much.
Lina's expression softened but her gaze remained sharp. "Just… don't go out alone again," she said, crossing her arms. "And if you're staying here, you might want to show Elder Gareth some respect. He doesn't take kindly to strangers who don't understand our ways."
Alaric glanced back at the village elder, who was dispersing the crowd. The man's aura carried a faint trace of magic—subtle, but present. Alaric made a mental note to keep a closer eye on Gareth. Elders in remote villages like this often knew more about local lore and the supernatural than they let on.
"I'll keep that in mind," Alaric assured her, watching her expression relax slightly. She gave him a lingering look before walking away to join her brother.
With the crowd thinning, Alaric decided it was time to return to the hut and reflect on the night's gains. Yet as he turned to leave, Elder Gareth's voice stopped him in his tracks.
"You there, stranger."
Alaric turned, keeping his face neutral. Gareth approached him with a scrutinizing gaze, his weathered face showing signs of age and worry. The elder's presence carried an unspoken authority, one that made the villagers wary and respectful in equal measure.
"I don't recall seeing you before," Gareth said, his voice low and measured. "Lina and Finn mentioned they found you injured near the Darkwood."
Alaric nodded, meeting Gareth's gaze calmly. "I was on a journey and lost my way. I'm grateful for the villagers' kindness."
Gareth's eyes narrowed. "Be that as it may, we are wary of outsiders—especially those with a curiosity for the Darkwood."
"I have no intentions of troubling your village," Alaric replied smoothly, keeping his tone respectful but firm. "In fact, I might be able to help, if you'll allow it."
Gareth raised an eyebrow, his interest piqued. "Help? And how would a wanderer like yourself help us against the forest's darkness?"
Alaric leaned in slightly, speaking in a lower tone. "You said people have disappeared. Perhaps what you need is someone willing to enter the forest, someone who isn't bound by the same fears."
A flicker of something—hope, perhaps—flashed across Gareth's face, quickly replaced by skepticism. "The Order will be sending their scouts in due time. Until then, I'll not risk the lives of my people. But…" He paused, sizing Alaric up. "If you wish to earn your keep, I won't stop you from patrolling the village perimeter at night. Anything beyond that is your own risk."
Alaric gave a small nod. It wasn't permission, but it wasn't refusal either. He could work with that.
---
As night fell over Elden Hollow once more, Alaric found himself near the village's edge, watching the shadows of the Darkwood with renewed purpose. The amulet pulsed faintly against his chest, as if attuned to the magic of the night. He took a deep breath, letting his senses expand.
The forest was alive with subtle energy. Faint whispers drifted on the wind, nearly inaudible but filled with an ancient sadness. It was as if the spirits of the missing villagers lingered just beyond the trees, their voices muted yet beckoning.
With the system's guidance, he focused on those whispers, letting them lead him toward the shadows. His mind raced with possibilities, each darker and more tempting than the last. If he could summon the spirits, he might learn what truly haunted the Darkwood.
The system icon flickered again.
[Quest: Awaken the Power Within - Part II]
Objective: Speak with a spirit lingering in the Darkwood.
Hint: Use the Amulet of the Whispering Shade to connect with lost souls.
A small smile tugged at his lips. The system's guidance was aligning perfectly with his own ambitions. Slowly, he lifted the amulet, focusing on the faint glow emanating from its runes.
A chill swept over him as the whispers grew louder, coalescing into a faint shape in front of him—a spirit, translucent and wavering like mist. It was the spirit of a young man, his eyes wide with lingering fear.
"What happened to you?" Alaric asked, his voice low and steady.
The spirit shivered, its gaze darting toward the forest. "It was the shadows… they came from the trees. We couldn't see them, couldn't hear them… until it was too late."
Alaric felt a thrill of understanding. Shadow creatures—entities that thrived in darkness, silent hunters of the night. But what had summoned them here, to this quiet village on the edge of the Darkwood?
The spirit's form began to fade, its energy weakening. Alaric reached out instinctively, drawing a portion of its essence into himself. Power surged through him, another fragment of his strength returning, his senses growing sharper.
[Soul Absorption - Progress: 20%]
As the spirit dissipated, Alaric turned his gaze back to the village, his mind alight with new purpose. He now knew what he was up against—creatures from the shadows, lurking at the village's edge.
Elden Hollow was no ordinary village, and the Darkwood held secrets that were growing restless.