The early morning mist shrouded the village in a cool haze as Lin Xuan stepped out of the inn. The faint smell of damp earth and wood smoke lingered in the air, mingling with the distant sounds of villagers beginning their day. His eyes scanned the quiet streets, noting the wary looks cast by the few who passed by.
"Something's wrong here," Lin Xuan muttered under his breath.
Behind him, Yun Xi exited the inn, adjusting the satchel that held the Shard of Night. Her face was pale, her usual calm demeanor strained. "The shard is… restless. The energy is faint, but it's like it's reaching for something."
Lin Xuan's gaze hardened. "If it's reacting to something nearby, we can't ignore it. We need to find out what's going on in this village."
As the rest of the group gathered, Lin Xuan outlined their plan. Fang Yun and Xiao Lan would scout the forest to investigate the disappearances, while Lin Xuan and Yun Xi would speak with the villagers.
"Stay on guard," Lin Xuan warned. "We don't know what we're dealing with yet, but if the shard is involved, it won't be ordinary."
Fang Yun slung his bow over his shoulder, his expression serious. "We'll cover as much ground as we can. If we find anything, we'll signal."
Xiao Lan twirled her spear, the faintest smirk on her lips. "Let's hope whatever's out there doesn't regret crossing our path."
The group split up, Fang Yun and Xiao Lan heading into the forest while Lin Xuan and Yun Xi turned toward the village square.
---
The square was modest, with a central well surrounded by weathered stone benches. A handful of villagers milled about, their expressions guarded as they noticed Lin Xuan and Yun Xi. The old man who had greeted them the day before sat on one of the benches, carving a piece of wood with a small knife.
Lin Xuan approached him, bowing slightly. "Elder, may we speak with you about the disappearances you mentioned?"
The old man paused his work, his eyes narrowing slightly before nodding. "Aye, but there's little to tell. People vanish without a trace. No signs of struggle, no tracks leading away. Just… gone."
Yun Xi tilted her head. "Has this happened before?"
The old man sighed, setting the carving down. "Not like this. We've had wolves take livestock, bandits harass travelers, but this… this feels different. Unnatural."
Lin Xuan's eyes sharpened. "When did it start?"
"About a fortnight ago. First, it was a young hunter who never returned from the woods. Then a woman fetching water from the river. Last week, two children vanished while playing near the forest's edge." His voice grew heavy with sorrow. "We've stopped letting anyone go near the trees."
Lin Xuan exchanged a glance with Yun Xi. The shard's energy had begun pulsing faintly again, as if in response to the old man's words.
"Thank you for sharing this with us," Lin Xuan said. "We'll do everything we can to find out what's happening."
As they walked away, Yun Xi whispered, "The shard's reaction isn't random. Whatever's taking these people, it's connected to the shard's power."
Lin Xuan nodded grimly. "Then we need to find it before it takes anyone else."
---
Meanwhile, deep in the forest, Fang Yun and Xiao Lan moved swiftly but silently, their eyes scanning every shadow. The dense trees and undergrowth made the terrain difficult, but years of training had honed their senses to a razor's edge.
"Do you feel that?" Xiao Lan asked, pausing and gripping her spear tightly.
Fang Yun crouched, his bow drawn and an arrow nocked. "The air… it's heavier here. Something's not right."
A faint rustling sounded ahead, followed by an eerie silence. Fang Yun motioned for Xiao Lan to stay low as he crept forward. Through the foliage, he spotted a clearing where the ground was unnaturally dark, as if scorched by fire.
"Something happened here," Fang Yun said, his voice barely above a whisper.
Xiao Lan stepped into the clearing, her eyes narrowing as she examined the ground. "No signs of a struggle. No footprints, no blood. Just… this."
The two stood in silence, the oppressive atmosphere pressing down on them. Suddenly, a low growl echoed from the trees. Xiao Lan spun, her spear at the ready, as three pairs of glowing red eyes emerged from the shadows.
"Wraith wolves," Fang Yun said, his voice tight. "Corrupted by dark energy."
The wolves were larger than normal, their black fur shimmering as if made of smoke. They moved in unison, their growls deep and guttural.
"Looks like we've found the cause of the disappearances," Xiao Lan said, a fierce grin spreading across her face.
Fang Yun loosed an arrow, the projectile glowing faintly as it struck the lead wolf. The creature howled in pain, its form flickering like a dying flame. The other two lunged, but Xiao Lan was ready, her spear cutting through the air with lethal precision.
The battle was swift but brutal. Fang Yun's arrows pierced through the wolves' smoky forms, while Xiao Lan's spear struck with devastating force. As the last wolf dissolved into a wisp of darkness, the oppressive air lifted slightly.
"These weren't ordinary beasts," Fang Yun said, retrieving his arrows. "Something—or someone—is controlling them."
Xiao Lan wiped her spear clean, her expression grim. "We need to report this to Lin Xuan. This is bigger than we thought."
---
Back at the village, Lin Xuan and Yun Xi were speaking with another villager when a sharp whistle pierced the air. Lin Xuan's head snapped up, recognizing Fang Yun's signal.
"Trouble," he said, his tone urgent.
Yun Xi nodded, her grip tightening on her staff. "Let's go."
The two moved quickly toward the forest, the faint pulsing of the shard growing stronger with each step. They met Fang Yun and Xiao Lan near the clearing, their expressions grim.
"Wraith wolves," Fang Yun reported. "Corrupted by dark energy. We destroyed them, but something's controlling them."
Lin Xuan's eyes narrowed. "Did you find any signs of the missing villagers?"
Xiao Lan shook her head. "No bodies, no traces. Just the clearing and those wolves."
Lin Xuan looked at the darkened ground, his expression hardening. "Whatever's behind this isn't done. We need to end it before it spreads further."
Yun Xi's voice was steady but laced with unease. "The shard's energy is resonating with this place. It's almost as if…"
She trailed off, her eyes widening in realization.
"As if the shard is calling it," Lin Xuan finished, his voice low.
The group exchanged grim looks, the weight of their discovery settling over them. Whatever they were facing, it was only the beginning.