As night fell, Filda Village once again settled into its characteristic tranquility. The streets of the village were deserted, with only a few dim streetlights illuminating the path. Alger walked on his way home, the only sounds being the occasional rustling of leaves and the whispering of the wind. Although he had grown accustomed to the silence, tonight's evening filled him with unease.
Unconsciously, his pace quickened, and he turned around several times, as if something was quietly following him. He shook his head, trying to dispel the inexplicable fear, and continued walking. However, a scene that had appeared in his dreams suddenly flashed in his mind: he had transformed into a massive wolf, chasing after prey, yet bound by an uncontrollable force, unable to stop, unable to cease the pursuit.
"What am I doing?" Alger suddenly stopped, whispering the question to himself. It was a question he had asked himself countless times. Ever since that howl and the dream, he had noticed a growing sense of unease within him, as if some invisible force were guiding him. He even began to wonder whether he had truly lost his sanity, whether this land and this forest were changing him, altering his thoughts and perceptions.
He took a deep breath, trying to calm himself. "It's just stress," he whispered, trying to reassure himself, and continued on his way home.
However, as he passed the small path outside the village, he noticed something unusual—at the edge of the forest in the distance, some indistinct shadows were moving. He stopped, his eyes fixed on the dark forest. The shadows were blurry under the moonlight, but they seemed to be some kind of creature wandering about.
"What is that?" Alger's heart raced, and a strong sense of unease rose within him. Could it be a pack of wolves? Or something else?
He tightened his coat, preparing to walk closer, but in the next moment, he hesitated. A voice deep within told him not to go, not to approach that forest, for there was something there that didn't belong to humans.
Just as he hesitated, a wolf's howl suddenly echoed through the night sky, its sound clear and menacing, as if it were right beside him.