As the group ventured into the village the next morning, it became clear that the disappearances were only part of the problem. Frosthaven's quiet streets were filled with tension, and whispers followed them wherever they went.
Lyra noticed it first. "They're watching us. But not just out of curiosity."
Kael glanced over his shoulder at a group of villagers quickly averting their gazes. "Yeah, it's like they're hiding something."
Amara felt the pendant's faint hum against her chest. "Whatever it is, the Whisperer's influence is deeper than we thought."
Seris nodded. "Let's split up and see what we can learn. Stay in pairs. We don't know who—or what—we're dealing with."
---
Amara and Seris: A Mother's Fear
Amara and Seris approached a woman hanging clothes on a line, her movements hurried and her eyes darting nervously.
"Excuse me," Amara began gently. "We're here to help with the disappearances. Can you tell us anything?"
The woman hesitated, glancing around as if afraid of being overheard. "You shouldn't be asking questions. It's not safe."
Seris stepped closer, her voice firm but calm. "We need to know what's happening. Lives are at stake."
The woman sighed, wringing her hands. "My husband was one of the hunters who went missing. When he came back… he wasn't the same. He didn't speak to me or our children, just sat in the dark, muttering about the shadows calling him."
Amara's heart sank. "Where is he now?"
The woman's eyes filled with tears. "Gone. One night, he just walked into the woods and never came back. Others say they've seen him… but it's not him anymore."
---
Kael and Lyra: The Elder's Warning
Kael and Lyra found the village elder sitting by a fire, his weathered face grim. He eyed them warily as they approached.
"You're not like the others," he said, his voice low. "Why are you here?"
Kael crouched beside him. "We're here to stop whatever's causing this. But we need answers."
The elder stared into the flames. "It started months ago. A voice in the wind, promises of power and salvation. Some resisted, but others… others listened. They vanished, only to return as hollow shells of themselves."
Lyra frowned. "And the ones who listened? Are they still here?"
The elder looked up, his eyes haunted. "Some are. They act normal during the day, but at night… you can see it in their eyes. The red glow. They're no longer human."
---
A Growing Suspicion
The group reconvened at the inn, their findings weighing heavily on them.
"It's worse than we thought," Seris said. "The Whisperer's not just taking people. She's turning them into something else."
Kael leaned back in his chair, arms crossed. "And some of them are still here, walking around like everything's fine."
Lyra glanced toward the door, her voice low. "We need to figure out who's been turned. If the Whisperer has spies in the village, they could be reporting back to her."
Amara nodded, the pendant glowing faintly. "But how do we tell who's been affected? We can't accuse people without proof."
Seris tapped her chin thoughtfully. "The pendant reacts to the Whisperer's influence. If we get close enough to someone corrupted, it might respond."
---
The First Test
That evening, the group moved quietly through the village, using the pendant as their guide. Amara held it close, its glow steady until they passed a particular house.
The light flickered.
"This is it," Amara whispered, her heart pounding.
Seris motioned for silence, peering through a crack in the window. Inside, a man sat at a table, staring blankly at a candle's flame. His eyes glowed faintly red.
Kael gripped his sword. "We've found one."
Lyra placed a hand on his arm. "We can't just barge in. We don't know how dangerous he is—or if he can be saved."
Amara felt a pang of sympathy. "If there's even a chance, we have to try."
---
A Dangerous Confrontation
The group entered the house cautiously. The man didn't react, his gaze fixed on the candle.
"Sir," Amara said gently, stepping forward. "We want to help you."
His head turned slowly, the red glow in his eyes intensifying. "You cannot help me. The shadows have claimed me. They will claim you too."
The air grew heavy, a faint whispering filling the room. The man stood, his movements jerky and unnatural.
"Get ready!" Seris barked, drawing her blade.
The man lunged at them, his strength far greater than it should have been. Kael intercepted him, struggling to hold him back.
Amara raised the pendant, its light flaring. The man recoiled, clutching his head as if in pain.
"The light—it's working!" Lyra shouted.
Amara focused, channeling the pendant's energy. The whispers grew louder, then suddenly stopped. The man collapsed, the red glow fading from his eyes.
---
A Grim Realization
The man groaned, blinking in confusion. "Where… where am I?"
"You're safe now," Amara said softly, though her hands trembled.
The group exchanged uneasy looks.
"If the Whisperer can do this to a person," Seris said, her voice grim, "then we're fighting more than just her. We're fighting an army she's building."
Kael sighed. "And this was just one man. How many more are out there?"
Amara clutched the pendant tightly. "We'll stop her. We have to."
As they left the house, the villagers watched from the shadows, their faces a mix of hope and fear. The battle against the Whisperer was far from over, and Frosthaven was only the beginning.
---
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