After descending the slopes of the mountain, Kael and Lira set their sights on the small settlement nestled in the valley below.
Earlier, from their high vantage point on the mountain, the village had appeared small, a small village tucked away in a clearing around the forest.
Kael unfolded the map Marcus had left them, confirming the location of this village. "This should be it," he said, his voice tinged with relief. "It's the first sign of life we've seen in days."
Lira adjusted the strap of her pack and gave him a faint smile. "Let's hope they're friendly."
Their approach was careful, the rocky terrain forcing them to watch each step. When they finally reached the edge of the settlement, the sight before them was both inviting and unsettling.
The cobbled streets passed through a cluster of wooden houses, their thatched roofs illuminated by the warm glow of lanterns hung from wooden beams.
The village seem slightly bigger and more advanced than Riverstone.
The area was filled with activity, laughter from a nearby square, the clinking of tools, and the occasional shout of a merchants advertising their wares.
But upon entering the village they noticed that beneath the bustle was unease, subtle but unmistakable.
People moved as if worried, their conversations quiet and their eyes frequently flicking toward the hills that loomed in the distance.
Kael adjusted the hood of his cloak, instinctively ensuring the fragment embedded in his wrist remained hidden. "Stay close," he murmured to Lira. "We don't know how people here feel about strangers."
Lira smirked, her confidence unshaken. "Relax, Kael. I'll handle the people. You handle the questions."
They headed to the town square that was alive with activity, it was filled with merchants advertising their goods and children darting between the stalls.
Despite the lively scene, Kael's eyes picked up the little signs of tension.
Conversations halted whenever strangers passed too close, and the laughter that echoed through the square felt forced, as if masking a collective anxiety.
Kael leaned casually against a stall selling dried herbs, his gaze scanning the crowd as he struck up a conversation with the merchant.
"Good day," Kael began, dropping five copper coins onto the stand. "This seems like a lively place. You must see a lot of travelers come through."
The merchant, a wiry man with streaks of gray in his hair, glanced at Kael with a mix of curiosity and caution then at the coins.
"Not much these days," he replied, shaking his head. "The roads aren't what they used to be. Bandits, they say, but... it's worse than that."
Kael's brow furrowed. "Worse? How so?"
The merchant glanced around as if checking for eavesdroppers, then leaned in. "Strange folk up in the hills. They don't come into the village, but we've seen them. Dressed in armor that glows, carrying weapons unlike anything we've ever seen."
Kael nodded, careful to keep his expression neutral. "Sounds troubling. Thanks for the warning."
Lira took a different approach, joining a group of women chatting near a well. Her casual demeanor and friendly smile quickly won their trust.
One of the women admired her cloak, and Lira brushed a speck of dust from her shoulder. "Thank you," she said warmly. "I traded for it up north. The roads weren't bad then, but I've heard things have changed."
The women exchanged uneasy glances. "You've heard right," one of them said. "It's those strange people in the hills. They've scared off merchants and travelers. We're more cut off than ever."
Feigning casual curiosity, Lira tilted her head. "Do you know where they're coming from?"
"Up in the hills," another woman whispered. "That's all we know. We stay away, and they leave us alone. For now at least."
Kael and Lira regrouped at a meeting point near the edge of the square, their voices low as they shared what they had learned.
"They're definitely in the hills," Lira said, her expression grim. "But the villagers don't know much more than that. They're too scared to get too close."
Kael frowned, his thoughts racing. "That matches what I heard. Odd armor, strange weapons—it has to be fragment-related. But if they're keeping their distance, they're not after the villagers. At least not yet."
Lira crossed her arms. "Do you think they're like the bandits we ran into?"
"Maybe," Kael said, though unease tightened his chest. "But they sound more organized, and more dangerous ....Should we check them out?"
Lira looked at him, then simply responded with a, "sure."
Kael led Lira to a small hill overlooking the settlement. From this vantage point, the hills beyond the village came into view, their rocky peaks and dense patches of forest created long shadows as the sun began to set.
"They're using their surroundings," Kael said, his voice quiet. "If they've set up camp there, they'll have the high ground. Getting close without being seen won't be easy."
Lira crouched beside him, her sharp and adventurous eyes scanning the area. "So, what's the plan? Sneak in and see what we can find?"
Kael shook his head. "I don't know why you would feel like checking it out... too, but not yet. We need more information before we approach. If we rush in blind, we're as good as dead."
"Fair," Lira said, standing and brushing dirt off her hands. She stepped closer to the village, her gaze sweeping over the people moving about. "The villagers know more than they're letting on. Let me dig a little deeper."
Kael watched as she moved, blending seamlessly into the crowd. Lira's ability to read people was unmatched, and Kael knew she would uncover details he might miss.
Near the edge of the village, Lira approached a group of young men working to repair a broken cart. She adopted a casual tone, her expression open and curious.
"Hello, how's the road holding up around here?" she asked, gesturing toward the cart. "Any trouble we should know about?"
One of the men, a lanky teenager with dirt-streaked hands, hesitated before speaking. "I saw something once," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. "Up in the hills. The people there, if they are people, had this... glow about them. Like they weren't entirely human."
Lira tilted her head. "Glow? What kind of glow?"
"I don't know," the boy admitted, shivering despite it being a warm day. "But whatever they are, they're not natural."
Kael joined Lira as the boy finished speaking, his expression thoughtful. "They're fragment users," he said quietly. "But we need more—how many there are, what they're armed with, what they're planning."
Lira nodded. "Give me a little more time. I'll see what else I can find."
As the day wore on, the thought of what they were doing settled heavily over Kael.
Each detail they uncovered added to make the threat far greater than they had anticipated. Should they be doing this? What for? these thoughts were going through Kael's mind.
"You're thinking too much again," Lira teased when she returned, nudging him lightly.
Kael forced a small smile. "Just trying to stay a step ahead."
Lira softened, resting a hand on his arm. "We've handled worse. We'll figure this out. And if things go south, we run away. Simple as that."
"Don't worry if you're too slow I'll carry you" She added jokingly
Kael let out a slow breath and nodded. "You're right. Let's keep moving."
They withdrew to a secluded area outside the village to plan their next move.
"They're in the hills," Kael said, pointing to a cluster of cliffs on their map. "If we're going to approach, we need to be extremely careful."
"Agreed," Lira said, tracing a route with her finger. "But we don't even know how many there are. If it's too many, we'll have to retreat."
Kael outlined several strategies. For a small group, they would infiltrate the camp to gather intel and leave unnoticed. For a larger force, they would focus on stealth, avoiding direct contact at all costs. And if discovered, they'd retreat immediately, using the terrain to their advantage.
"We stick to the plan," Kael said firmly.
Lira smirked. "No unnecessary risks. Got it."
They checked their supplies one last time and bought some more from the village. Kael sharpened his blade, while Lira adjusted the straps of her pack.
"Ready?" Kael asked, sliding his blade into its sheath.
"Always," Lira replied with a grin.
The sun began to set as they moved toward the hills, the air growing cooler with each step.
Then, in the distance, faint lights flickered among the rocks, small flames that swayed against the light wind.
Kael clenched his fist. "Here we go," he murmured, his voice steady but low.