The villagers, slowly roused from unconsciousness, sat up with dazed expressions. The blackened streaks under their eyes had vanished, replaced by pale faces filled with confusion and fear.
"What happened to us?" an elderly man croaked, clutching his chest as he struggled to stand.
Kazuya stepped forward, lowering his sword. "You were corrupted by a dark force, but it's gone now. You're safe."
The man's eyes widened as he looked around at his fellow villagers. Relief spread through the crowd, but it was short-lived as murmurs of unease filled the square.
"Safe? From what? Will it come back?" a woman asked, her voice trembling.
Lyriana's sharp ears caught the question, and she turned to face the villagers. "Not if we have anything to say about it," she said firmly. "We'll find the source of the corruption and destroy it."
The villagers began to gather around, their gazes filled with fear and cautious hope.
"Who are you?" another villager asked. "Why would you help us?"
Kazuya hesitated, glancing at Lyriana and Solmara. He wasn't sure how much to reveal, but the haunted expressions on the villagers' faces pushed him to speak truthfully.
"My name is Kazuya Hiyotoshi. I'm not from here, but I'll do whatever it takes to protect people like you from what's coming."
"And what is coming?" the elder asked, his voice steady despite the fear in his eyes.
Solmara stepped forward, her luminous form drawing awed gasps from the crowd. "A great shadow spreads across this land, infecting and corrupting all it touches. The attack on your village was but a small glimpse of its true power. If we do not act quickly, countless lives will be lost."
The villagers exchanged uneasy glances, but their elder nodded. "Then we owe you our thanks. You saved us, and for that, you'll always have a home here."
Lyriana smiled faintly, but her gaze remained sharp as she scanned the horizon. "We'll need supplies before we move on. If you can spare anything—food, water, and perhaps some information—we'd appreciate it."
The elder motioned to a young boy nearby. "Gather what they need." The boy nodded and dashed off.
As the villagers dispersed to help, Kazuya walked to the base of the corrupted tree, now lifeless and brittle. He placed a hand on its bark, feeling a faint trace of the shadow's energy lingering.
"This wasn't random," he muttered. "Someone or something planted this here on purpose."
Lyriana joined him, her hand brushing the feathers of her quiver as she studied the tree. "It's a warning. The shadow isn't just spreading—it's targeting places with people who can't defend themselves."
"Or it's bait," Solmara said, her voice calm but somber. "The shadow may have intended for us to find this village. It wants us to chase it, to reveal ourselves."
Kazuya clenched his fists. "Then let it. If it's watching us, that means it knows we're a threat."
"Overconfidence can be deadly," Solmara cautioned. "But your resolve is admirable. We must tread carefully from here on."
Just then, the young boy returned, carrying a basket of bread and dried meat along with two flasks of water. He handed them to Kazuya, his eyes wide with awe.
"Are you really going to stop the shadow?" the boy asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
Kazuya crouched to meet his gaze. "I'll do everything I can. You just focus on staying safe and looking after your family, alright?"
The boy nodded, his expression brightening slightly. "I will. Thank you, mister."
As the boy ran off, Kazuya stood and turned to Lyriana and Solmara. "We should head out. The longer we stay here, the more danger this village might face."
Lyriana slung her bow over her shoulder. "Agreed. But where do we go next?"
Solmara raised a hand, her glow intensifying. A faint map of the surrounding region appeared in the air, marked by pulsing points of light.
"There are three locations where the shadow's corruption is most likely to spread next," she explained, pointing to each point. "The Silvergrove Forest to the north, the Wyrmbane Mountains to the east, and the Sunken Marshlands to the south."
Kazuya studied the map, his mind racing. Each location presented unique challenges, but time was of the essence.
"We'll go north, to the Silvergrove Forest," he decided. "If the shadow is targeting isolated areas, we need to get there before it's too late."
Lyriana nodded. "The elves of Silvergrove are skilled in magic. If they haven't already fallen, they could be valuable allies."
"And if they have?" Kazuya asked, his voice grim.
"Then we'll save whoever we can," Lyriana said, determination flashing in her eyes.
Solmara dissipated the map and turned toward the forest in the distance. "Very well. Let us make haste. The longer we delay, the stronger the shadow becomes."
As the trio prepared to leave, the elder approached them, his weathered face filled with gratitude.
"You've given us hope," he said. "May the gods watch over you on your journey."
Kazuya nodded, his resolve hardening. "Thank you. Take care of your people."
With that, the trio set off, their silhouettes disappearing into the horizon. Behind them, the villagers began to rebuild, their hope rekindled by the light of three strangers who had faced the shadow and emerged victorious.
But as Kazuya, Lyriana, and Solmara ventured deeper into the unknown, they knew the battle was far from over. The shadow was watching, waiting—and its next move would be deadlier than ever.