20:53
Callie returned from her routine patrol around the village. The streets of Caligo village were blanketed in thick fog, shrouding the quiet night in an eerie stillness. As she walked along the cobbled streets, she noticed a horse-drawn carriage pulling up in front of the village chief's house.
Curious, Callie quickened her pace and approached the house. Once there, she immediately asked, "What's going on? Who are they?"
The village chief, a mixture of relief and worry in his expression, replied, "They're the help we requested from Misthaven. However, they've been lost for several days due to the thick fog at night and the disturbances caused by wild creatures."
Callie listened carefully, but her curiosity wasn't yet satisfied. "But it's already quite late. Fort has already dealt with the creature, right? By the way, where is he now?"
Without wasting another moment, Callie turned and quickly left the chief's house, her thoughts focused on Fort.
When she arrived at her home, she opened the door, her face weary. "I'm home, sister," she spoke with a tired tone, her exhaustion evident.
Her younger sister rushed to her and embraced her eagerly. "Kak! I can cook by myself now!" she exclaimed, full of excitement.
Callie smiled faintly. "Good. You're getting better at this."
But the warmth of the moment quickly shifted when her sister suddenly remembered something. She retrieved a letter from the table and handed it to Callie. "Some strange man gave me this for you earlier."
"A letter?" Callie asked with a raised eyebrow, intrigued.
She opened the envelope and read its contents. Her face instantly shifted into one of shock and disbelief. Without saying a word, she turned to her sister. "Stay here, okay? I need to go out for a moment."
Without another explanation, Callie ran back to the village chief's house. She burst through the door, gasping for breath. "Fort might be in danger, sir!"
The village chief, along with two individuals dressed in dark robes and navy suits, stood up immediately, their expressions serious.
---
Elsewhere...
Fort crouched behind a hallway, breathing heavily. The undead summoned by Madam Mourch was relentlessly pursuing him. With trembling hands, he gripped the Iron Emblem, hoping for something—anything—to happen.
But nothing. His frustration grew. ("Come on...!")
Suddenly, a chilling laugh echoed through the hallway, sending a cold shiver down his spine. In the blink of an eye, the creature crawled across the ceiling, moving toward Fort with terrifying speed.
Fort immediately ran in the opposite direction, heading toward the first floor. But once he reached it, he found no safe hiding place. He crouched behind a pillar, praying the creature wouldn't find him.
It didn't take long before the wall separating them was shattered, and the creature's voice echoed ominously, "Where are you?"
Fort held his breath, hoping it wouldn't detect his presence. But in an instant, the creature's eerie voice rang out again, "Found you!"
The undead crawled toward him, destroying pillars in its path.
At the critical moment, a soft whisper brushed against Fort's ear. "Binding Time."
Reacting instinctively, Fort rolled forward, narrowly avoiding the creature's strike. He raised his revolver, but hesitation lingered. ("I only have four bullets left...")
Another whisper sounded in his ear, this time more insistent:
"Cum old venia, per hoc Emblematum, temporis plasmatorem, Deum rerum, Binding Time."
The Iron Emblem in his left hand vibrated slightly. With determination, Fort tightened his grip and recited the chant.
A searing pain shot through his hand, as if the emblem were burrowing into his flesh. Yet, within seconds, the agony subsided, and iron chains burst forth from cracks in the air, binding the undead's entire body.
Fort didn't waste the opportunity. He aimed the revolver at the creature's head and pulled the trigger.
Bang!
The creature's head exploded, but before Fort could exhale in relief, its head began regenerating, piece by piece.
Realizing he couldn't win this fight, Fort tried to flee. But just as he turned to escape, a sudden, intense pain struck his head, similar to the feeling he had when using "Binding Time."
The Emblem in his hand broke free, intensifying the pain. Fort collapsed to his knees, vision fading.
Before he lost consciousness, he saw the chains holding the undead dissipate into light dust. "What a foolish choice..."
Even as the darkness closed in, Fort made a vow.
("If I survive this... if I get another chance... I'll be stronger. I'll do it my way, but I'll be smarter about it.")
With a weak laugh, he blacked out.
The last thing he saw before losing consciousness was the sky darkening, the moon turning blood-red, and the sound of a wolf's howl. Two figures stood before him, their feet planted firmly on the ground.
---
The following morning...
Fort woke up under a tree, with the remains of the Mourch Mansion in ruins behind him. A young man in dark, wearing Dark Cloak stood nearby. "You're awake," a calm voice said.
Fort turned his head to see a young man in dark, navy clothing standing nearby. His expression was composed, though his sharp eyes studied Fort intently.
"Are you alright?" the man asked, his tone neither warm nor cold.
Fort nodded weakly, sitting up with great effort. "I think so..."
Before he could say more, another voice cut through the air. A woman emerged from the ruins, brushing dirt from her dark cloak. "She's gone," the woman said, her tone clipped. "The signs of the undead are still strong, but Madam Mourch has escaped."
Fort sat under the tree, still trying to gather his strength after the events of the night before. The faint scars and dust on his body were clear signs of his struggle. Not far from him, Ignis stood calmly, dressed in a dark navy coat that fell just above his boots. The man's sharp gaze studied Fort, attentive but not intimidating.
Ignis broke the silence with a calm yet firm voice. "My name is Ignis Draco. I'm from Misthaven, part of the Light Church. You're Fort, correct?"
Fort nodded slowly, still trying to process the presence of this stranger. "Yeah… How do you know my name?"
"The warning letter sent by your friend, Callie," Ignis replied. "She wrote it with enough detail. We left as soon as we received it."
Fort fell silent, his thoughts drifting to Callie. "I owe her a lot… If you'd been just a little later…" His voice trailed off, heavy with guilt and exhaustion.
Ignis stepped closer, crossing his arms. "You're fortunate we arrived in time. But from what I've seen, you were clearly out of your depth. Why would you try to face something like this alone?"
Fort looked down at the ground, feeling exposed under Ignis's gaze. "cause no one will–"
"—it was a foolish decision," Ignis interrupted, his tone cold but not derisive. "You knew you weren't ready to Fight those abomination"
There was a brief silence before Ignis spoke again, his tone softer this time. "Your courage is commendable, but courage without caution is a path to ruin. You survived last night not because of your strength, but because of luck—and a little intervention from us."
Fort looked up, curiosity breaking through his embarrassment. "What do you mean by 'a little intervention'? What did you do?"
Ignis gave a faint, almost imperceptible smile. "That's not important right now.." But "You know," Ignis continued, "most people wouldn't have survived what you went through last night."
Fort frowned, his gaze still on the emblem. "Survived? I barely got out of there alive. If you hadn't shown up when you did…" He shook his head. "I don't see how that's anything special."
Ignis tilted his head, his sharp eyes narrowing slightly. "You're wrong. It's not about surviving the creature. It's about what you endured before that. The undead summoned by Madam Mourch—those aren't just ordinary reanimated corpses. They carry the essence of corrupted souls."
Fort looked up, confused. "Corrupted souls?"
Ignis nodded. "Rotting souls. Their presence alone can break a person's spirit. Just being near them fills most people with despair, hallucinations, or worse. Yet you stood in their presence, faced one head-on, and still fought back. That takes a mental strength most people can't even comprehend."
Fort blinked, caught off guard by the explanation. "I… I didn't feel anything like that. Sure, it was terrifying, but I wasn't hallucinating or losing my mind."
"Exactly," Ignis said, his tone sharper now. "That's why I'm here. Your ability to withstand such corruption without any sign of mental decay isn't normal. It's rare, even among seasoned warriors. " "…it makes you someone worth recruiting."
Fort tightened his grip on the emblem, his brow furrowed. "So that's it? You're only interested in me because I didn't lose my mind? Because I can hold the presence of Corrupted Soul without going crazy?"
"It's more than that," Ignis replied, stepping closer. "The fact that you didn't succumb means you have potential—potential to wield powers that would destroy others.
He glanced at Ignis, his eyes steady. "I don't know what's coming, but I'd rather face it head-on, with something—anything—better than sitting here waiting to be swallowed whole by it."
Ignis studied him for a long moment, his lips pressing into a thin line. Then he nodded, his voice steady. "A good choice. One that'll make all the difference."
Fort stood, dusting off the dirt from his pants. "I'm not doing this for some noble cause, Ignis. I'm doing it for myself. For the chance to not just survive, but to live—even if that means facing whatever's lurking inside me and around me."
Ignis's eyes softened ever so slightly, a rare glimmer of approval crossing his face. "That's the right kind of resolve. You'll need it, Fort. Welcome to the journey."
Ignis said, stepping back. "We leave in 2 hour. Get ready."
Fort nodded.
deep inside, the voice whispers Fort heard continued to haunt his thoughts.
---
Later, at the village...
Fort stood in front of the village chief's house, observing the people who had given him hope. Callie, with a worried yet caring expression, stood beside him. After a brief conversation with the village chief and Callie's younger sister, Fort turned to the woman, speaking with a tone full of gratitude.
"Thank you for delivering my letter on time, Callie," Fort said, his voice low and filled with regret. "Without you, I... I don't know what would have happened."
Callie looked at him with a gentle gaze, though there was a hint of concern in her eyes. "I only did what I could. But... it seems like you handled it well enough on your own, even though I can't imagine what it must have been like."
Fort shook his head, his expression more serious than before. "You have no idea how close I came to not making it. If you hadn't come at the right moment, I... might not be here anymore."
Beside them, Ignis stood calmly, his arms folded across his chest. In a flat, yet clear voice, he spoke. "We just arrived on time. But if I may add, your bravery is worth acknowledging. Still, going up against such a threat alone was foolish."
Stella, who had remained silent until now, finally spoke, her voice flat and emotionless. "Perhaps. But if you continue to act without thinking, we might all end up in greater danger."
Fort shot Stella a sharp glance, disliking her cynical tone. "I know what I'm doing. No need to remind me."
Callie shifted her gaze toward them, then spoke with a soft yet authoritative voice, trying to ease the tension. "Fort, enough. We're all here to help. The important thing now is that this village is safe."
Ignis took a step closer, his expression serious. "True. But even though the threat has been neutralized, we can't afford to relax. There's still much to investigate, especially who sent those creatures and what their purpose was."
Stella glanced at Fort with a faint, mocking smile. "At least you didn't die right away. That's good enough for now."
Fort sighed heavily, his eyes distant as he thought about the past and what had transpired. "I didn't intend to die so easily... But sometimes, fear and confusion can make someone make the wrong choices."
Callie stepped closer, placing a hand on Fort's shoulder with a caring gesture. "No one's perfect, Fort. What matters is what you'll do from now on."
Ignis gave him a sharp look, as though evaluating something. "You'll face more dangers. Misthaven isn't a place that's kind to someone who doesn't know what they're doing."
Stella leaned against the cart, her face showing little expression except for a slight hint of curiosity. "But if you want to survive, you'll need to learn quickly. We can teach you a few things."
Fort lifted his head, his gaze meeting Ignis and Stella's eyes. "I'll find a way to survive. There's no other choice."
Callie looked at Fort with full attention, a slight smile playing on her lips. "If that's what you choose, I'll support you, Fort. But remember, you're not alone."
Stella glanced at Ignis, smiling slightly in a teasing manner. "Heh, could be an interesting adventure. Be careful, Fort. The world is far darker than it seems."
Ignis looked at Fort, his gaze filled with determination. "True. But if you survive, you'll learn a lot. This world is full of secrets and darkness yet to be uncovered."
Fort nodded, though his eyes were filled with both determination and conflicting anxiety. "I'll be ready. I have to be ready."
Callie looked at Fort with a bit of worry that she couldn't hide. "Be careful, Fort. Don't forget us."
Fort gave a small smile before turning toward the door with a decisive step. "I won't forget you. Thank you." Fort said as he walking toward his rental house
---
At his rental house...
Fort sat, staring at his revolver and the Emblem—Binding Time—that still weighed heavily in his mind.
Why had Madam Mourch resorted to cannibalism? Even her own husband...
These questions swirled around Fort's mind, but he resigned himself to the fact that some mysteries might never be answered.
After a bath, Fort calculated the two days and two nights he'd spent in the village. Four silver coins gone from his 50. After food and rent, he was left with 42 silver coins. He needed to find a way to make money in Misthaven, and quickly.
---
The Day.
Fort packed his meager belongings—just his clothes, without even a bag. But he made sure to bring the revolver, the Emblem, and the books he'd found in the ruins.
After a quick breakfast of stale bread, he paid his rent to Callie and said his goodbyes to the village chief and his sister.
Upon reaching the village exit, Stella eyed his meager belongings with disdain.
Stella leaning against the carriage, arms crossed
"Is that all you're bringing? A revolver, a trinket, and a dusty old books? Do you plan to fight off monsters or start a library?"
Fort shrugs
"It's all I've got. I make do with what I have."
Stella raising an eyebrow, smirking
"Humble and hopeless. Great combination."
She glances at Ignis, who's standing nearby.
"Think he'll survive the week?"
Ignis calmly said
"That depends on how fast he learns.
"Heh" Stella chuckled.
Without asking further questions, Stella chuckled and climbed into the horse-drawn carriage.
Fort muttered to himself, wondering what kind of future awaited him in the royal city. Despite feeling belittled by their mystical powers and knowledge, he couldn't deny that he had a chance to start fresh in Misthaven.