The once chaotic village steadily settled down after the defeat of the Brute. The silence was only broken by the busted whispers of the villagers, the gathering of the injured, and the mourning of the dead.
Captain Thorne stood tall, barking orders, his rough voice boomed as if still amidst the chaos; he organized a defensive line in the event of another un-plan attack and sent runners to contact neighboring villages for reinforcements.
Elias stood unmoving, gripping his sword, which was still stained with the blood of his dead enemy. His eyes still gazing at the corpse of the brute. I wondered why such a creature would be in the Forest.
Moving his sharp emerald eyes to the horizon beyond the northern gate, the Elfora Forest loomed with a dark cast shadow. It was quiet. Too quiet.
The battle ended, but the storm wasn't over
A sense of dread and uneasiness weighed down on him. Whatever forced the brute to attack a well-defended village like Eldrim wasn't natural.
---
Karl's POV
'Seriously... He left me again.' I thought, if I could I would have face-palmed
The sounds of chaos outside slowly died down, which were replaced by muffled voices and rushed footsteps. Strangely enough, I could still feel a lingering energy that sent shivers down my spine.
'What's that feeling? The air vibrated as if whispering in my ears.
I turned, trying to see what was happening outside, but to no avail, as the boxes around me were blocking my view. He could at least leave me where I could see what was happening.
I wiggled in frustration, my now tiny hand reaching up and touching the air, feeling a faint shimmer in the air. The sensation quickly spread warmth through my body vanishing as quickly as it came.
'The hell was that?' I thought shocked.
The shimmer didn't return, only leaving a feeling lingering within me. Whatever it was.
I was certain that it was not normal.
---
Elias's POV
I went and met with Gareth and the others apart of the northern gate patrol. One man stood as imposing as ever; it was Captain Thorne, with his halberd glowing under the fading light. Portraying a sense of authority and power.
"Elias," Thorne greeted, his voice as deep as ever. "You're late."
"Had a few things to tie up," I replied in a flat tone.
Thorne's eyes lingered on me for a moment before turning to gaze at the forest. "A lot of good men were lost tonight. I will not risk the safety of this village again. Whatever drove that brute here needs to be put down."
Gareth, who was nearby, tightened and secured the straps on his gauntlets. "We'll Stick together this time. So no surprises."
I nodded, placing my hand on the hilt of my sword. "Let's move."
---
The Forest
As soon as we got into the Elfora Forest, the air was heavy; it only got worse the further we went in. An unnatural stillness, A feeling of being engulfed by the shadows that stretched like claws, twisting into shapes in dim light. The patrol moved in silence, every step muffled by the moisture of the earth.
Elias felt it before anything came into his sight had felt a faint, almost pulsating energy as if playing games with his senses.
"Wait," he said raising a hand to signal the others.
They stopped, eyes scanning the dark stationary woods.
"What is it?" Thorne asked, his voice low.
Elias crouched down, brushing his fingers against the ground. "Something's off. This feels...wrong."
Gareth knelt beside him, frowning. "Wrong how?"
He received no answer from Elias. Instead, he pointed at a nearby tree. Its bark was split open, a thick black decaying substance oozing out from it onto the ground. The plants around it withered away, and the corpses of several lifeless animals.
"That's not natural," Elias said now standing back up. "Something is corrupting the land and affecting the animals.
The patrol continued to push forward but now more cautious and alert, with their weapons already in hand. Venturing off deeper into the forest following the signs of this corrupted black liquid-growing work further, they went. Tress twisted unnaturally, the ground which was now cracked and blackened, and the air thick with the stench of death.
Then they found it.
In a small opening, surrounded by broken trees and charred earth, stood what looked to be an artifact. One that Elias had never seen before. It was jagged inside a shard embedded in the ground, releasing a dark, malevolent glow.
"By the Gods, what is that?" Gareth whispered.
"Trouble," Thorne replied, tightening his grip on his halberd.
Elias continued to step forward, his instincts screaming at him to go back. The artifact's energy violently pressed against him. He could feel it worming its way into his consciousness, giving him dark empty promises.
"Elias don't-" Thorne started, but it was too late.
Elias's hand had already touched the artifact, and the forest suddenly erupted.
The shadows fused around the clearing, forming into several monstrous shapes. Their eyes glowed in the darkness, and low growls soon filled the air. The patrol quickly form a defensive line, raising their weapons high.
"Hold the line!" Thorne bellowed.
The creatures attacked wildly, their twisted forms, which were both faster and stronger than any monster Elias had ever faced before. He quickly activated Aetheric Resilience, his body now surging with unrelenting power as he cut down one beast after another.
But for every monster that was cut down two more would take its place.
"We're outnumbered!" Gareth shouted, his sword flashing as he decapitated a beast that tried to rip his face off.
Elias clenched his jaw, staring intensely at the artifact. 'It's calling them.'
"Thorne! Cover me!" He yelled, breaking the defensive line and charging toward the artifact, cutting anything in his way.
"what are you-" Thorne began to protest but was cut off as he swung his halberd, decapitating several monsters. "God damn it! Cover him!"
Elias reached the artifact, his heart beating like a drum in his chest. Summoning every ounce of strength in his body, driving his sword forward-shattering the shard into pieces. The ground vibrated violently as a shockwave of dark energy erupted, sending both monsters and men alike flying.
When the debris and dust began to, the remaining monsters could be seen dissolving into shadow, disappearing, leaving nothing but an eerie silence.
Elias stumbled to his feet, slowly regaining his balance and breathing heavily. As he was approached by Thorne with his grim expression.
"You're either the bravest man I know," the Captain said, "or the biggest fool."
Elias chuckled weakly. "Well, can't I be both?"
Thorne shook his head, glancing back at me. The now shattered shard. "This isn't over. That thing didn't get there on its own. Someone or something put it here."
Elias nodded, as his gaze drifted back to the forest.
The storm was far from.