The southern road was long and winding, its path bordered by dense forests and stretches of wild, untamed land. The air was cooler here, carrying with it a faint, unnatural chill that set everyone on edge. Eren, Liora, Serin, and the group of volunteers traveled in silence, the weight of their new mission heavy on their minds.
Serin rode at the front, her posture straight and vigilant. Eren walked beside her, his hand never straying far from the hilt of his blade. Behind them, Liora kept watch over the group, her bow slung across her back, ready for any threat.
"How far until we reach the first village?" Liora asked, breaking the quiet.
"Another day, maybe less," Serin replied. "But you'll see the signs long before we arrive. The land... it changes."
"Changes how?" Eren asked, his voice tense.
Serin hesitated before answering. "You'll understand when you see it."
---
The Scarred Land
By midday, they began to notice the changes Serin spoke of. The trees grew sparser, their bark blackened and cracked as though scorched by an unseen fire. The grass underfoot turned brittle and gray, crunching with every step. The air itself felt heavier, as if it carried the weight of despair.
"This isn't natural," Liora said, her voice hushed.
Eren knelt by a patch of withered flowers, his brow furrowed. "It's the fragments. Even sealed, their power is still leaking out."
Serin nodded grimly. "The people in the villages have been calling it the Blight. It started small—just a patch of dead crops here and there. But it's spreading faster now."
Eren stood, his jaw tight. "Then we'll have to stop it before it consumes everything."
---
The Village of Veylan
By late afternoon, they arrived at the outskirts of Veylan, the first village Serin had mentioned. It was a small, humble settlement, but it was clear the Blight had taken its toll.
The fields surrounding the village were barren, the once-fertile soil now cracked and lifeless. The buildings, though intact, seemed faded, their colors muted as if drained of vitality. Villagers moved about with a weary air, their faces gaunt and shadowed.
As the group approached, they were met by a man who introduced himself as Eldrin, the village elder.
"You're the ones Serin brought?" he asked, his voice hoarse and tired.
Eren nodded. "We're here to help. Tell us what's happening."
Eldrin led them to the center of the village, where a large, jagged mark had been carved into the ground. It pulsed faintly with a dark, crimson light.
"This appeared a few weeks ago," Eldrin explained. "Since then, nothing grows. Animals avoid the area. And the people..." He hesitated, his eyes haunted. "Some of them started hearing whispers."
"Whispers?" Liora asked, her hand tightening on her bow.
Eldrin nodded. "Voices, calling to them, promising things. Those who listen too long... they change. They become something else."
---
The Mark's Influence
Eren stepped closer to the mark, feeling its pull like a distant echo in his mind. It was faint but unmistakable—the same dark energy he'd felt when holding the fragments.
"It's connected to the fragments," he said, his voice low. "This isn't just a leftover effect. Something—or someone—is trying to use their power."
"Can we stop it?" Liora asked, her voice tinged with worry.
Eren looked at her, his determination unwavering. "We have to."
---
A Night of Fear
The group decided to stay in Veylan for the night, setting up a watch rotation to ensure the villagers' safety.
As darkness fell, the whispers began. They were faint at first, just a soft murmur carried on the wind. But as the night deepened, they grew louder, more insistent.
Eren sat by the fire, his hand gripping his sword tightly. The voices seemed to call directly to him, weaving promises of power and absolution into the air.
"Eren."
Liora's voice snapped him out of the trance. She was kneeling beside him, her expression filled with concern.
"They're trying to get to you," she said.
"I know," Eren replied, his voice strained. "But I won't let them."
The whispers continued, but now they carried a new, ominous tone—one of anger and defiance.
---
The First Attack
A sudden, guttural scream shattered the night. The group sprang into action, weapons drawn as a figure emerged from the shadows.
It was one of the villagers, but his form was twisted and grotesque. His eyes glowed red, and his movements were unnatural, jerky and violent.
"He listened too long," Serin said, drawing her blade. "This is what happens."
The creature lunged at Eren, who deflected the attack with his sword. The fight was quick but brutal, ending with Eren driving his blade through the creature's chest.
As it fell, the whispers faded, leaving an eerie silence in their wake.
---
A New Threat Revealed
Morning came, but the village's mood was somber. The attack had shaken everyone, and the knowledge that the whispers could turn them into monsters only deepened their fear.
Eren addressed the group. "This mark is a beacon. Someone is using it to spread the fragments' power. We need to find out who—and stop them."
Serin stepped forward. "If we follow the Blight's path, it should lead us to the source."
Eren nodded. "Then we leave at once. We can't let this spread any further."
As they prepared to set out, Eren glanced back at the villagers, their faces lined with hope and fear.
"We'll come back," he promised. "And when we do, this will all be over."
Liora placed a reassuring hand on his arm. "We'll stop this, Eren. Together."
With those words, the group left Veylan behind, venturing deeper into the unknown, where shadows whispered of greater dangers yet to come.