The sun had just set, casting a warm orange glow over Thalewood. The village, which usually seemed peaceful and quiet, was now busy with the sounds of preparation. The villagers, numbering about 100, were working hard, reinforcing barricades and setting traps along the edge of the forest. Everyone knew the attack was coming, and there was a sense of fear and urgency in the air.
Calen sat near the central fire, his sword in his hands as he sharpened it, the sparks flying with every stroke. His mind wandered to the mysterious woman in the woods who had warned him about something greater coming. Her words still echoed in his head, leaving him with a sense of dread. Why had she come to him? And what did she mean when she said that he was marked for something bigger?
His thoughts were interrupted when Ronan and Kira arrived, their faces grim.
"Something's wrong," Ronan said, scanning the edge of the forest. "We've seen empire scouts before, but they don't linger like this. They're watching."
Calen frowned. "Watching for what?"
"The empire doesn't send soldiers to a place like this unless they're looking for something—or someone," Kira said, her voice low and worried.
The meaning was clear: Thalewood wasn't just a small, quiet village anymore. It had become a target.
The attack came just before midnight.
It started with a sharp whistle, followed by the sound of a single arrow hitting a wooden post near the village square. The noise cut through the still night, and everyone jumped, instantly awake.
"Everyone up!" Ronan shouted, his voice breaking the quiet. "We're under attack!"
Calen's heart raced as villagers scrambled to grab their weapons and take their places. There were only about 20 men and women ready to fight, the rest of the villagers helping to defend from behind barricades or tending to the wounded. The barricades held for a brief moment, but then the attackers broke through. At least 30 soldiers, all dressed in dark armor, charged into the village.
Calen stood with Ronan and a few others near the southern entrance. The clash of steel on steel filled the air as the first wave of soldiers reached them. Calen's hands trembled as he gripped his sword. He wasn't a warrior, and the fear nearly froze him.
A soldier charged at him, and in a panic, Calen swung his sword. He wasn't sure how, but the sword hit the soldier's side, and the man collapsed, groaning. Calen stood frozen, unsure if what had just happened was real.
"Focus, Calen!" Ronan's voice snapped him back to the present. "Don't freeze now!"
Calen took a deep breath, forcing his body to move. Each swing of his sword was fueled by fear and desperation. It wasn't pretty, but it worked. He fought beside Ronan and the others, doing whatever he could to keep the soldiers back.
On the northern side of the village, Kira led the archers. She was calm and collected, her orders clear as arrows rained down on the advancing soldiers. Finn, quick and quiet, moved in the shadows, triggering the traps he had set earlier. One soldier fell into a pit filled with sharp stakes, while another was caught in a snare that pulled him off the ground.
In the midst of all this, Elena moved quickly among the wounded. She worked with calm precision, binding wounds and giving comfort to those who had been injured. "Stay with me," she told a young man who had a deep cut on his leg. "You're going to be fine."
But even with their best efforts, the battle was far from over. Then, as Calen fought off another soldier, he found himself face-to-face with one of the most skilled fighters he had ever seen. The soldier was tall and broad, his movements fast and precise. Calen struggled to keep up, each of the man's strikes pushing him further back.
"You've got fire, boy," the soldier sneered, his voice filled with mockery. "But fire burns out fast."
The soldier's next strike knocked Calen's sword from his hands. It skidded across the ground, just out of reach. Calen fell back, his heart racing as the soldier moved in to strike.
But before the soldier's blade could land, a burst of bright light filled the air. The soldier screamed and dropped his weapon, stumbling back as though burned.
Calen looked up, and his eyes widened. The woman from the forest stood there, her eyes glowing in the dark. With a flick of her hand, a wave of energy shot out, sending the nearby soldiers flying. The remaining attackers hesitated, their confidence shaken.
"Who are you?" Calen asked, his voice shaky with surprise.
"I'm your ally," the woman said, her voice clear and commanding. "For now."
The battle ended quickly after that. The soldiers, disoriented by the blast of energy, retreated into the forest. Thalewood had won, but the victory had come at a cost.
The villagers gathered in the square, their faces weary but proud. Ronan and Kira moved through the crowd, checking on the wounded, while Elena worked to treat everyone who had been hurt.
Calen sat on the ground, his sword still in his hand, staring at the woman who had saved him.
"Why did you help us?" he asked, his voice hoarse.
The woman smiled faintly. "Because this village is more important than you know. And so are you."
Ronan stepped forward, his eyes narrowing as he studied the woman. "Who are you?"
"My name is Seris," she said. "And if you want to survive what's coming, you'll need more than just weapons and walls. You'll need me."
The villagers exchanged uncertain looks, but Calen felt a flicker of hope. For the first time, he believed they might stand a chance.
Seris turned to Calen, her glowing eyes meeting his. "You've taken your first step, Calen. But the road ahead will be long—and dangerous."
Calen nodded, feeling the weight of her words. Thalewood had survived the night, but the real battles were just beginning. His peaceful life was gone, replaced by something bigger, something he didn't fully understand yet. All he knew for sure was that the journey ahead would change everything.