Chapter 5: Into the Village
The village lights flickered in the distance as Draven approached, cloaked in the darkness of the forest. The faint smell of firewood and cooked food wafted through the air, a sharp contrast to the blood-soaked chaos he had left behind with the hunters. His shadow wolf padded silently beside him, its glowing red eyes scanning the surroundings.
As they neared the village, the system chimed:
[Caution: Host is entering a human settlement. Detection risk is high. Recommended action: Blend in or remain unseen.]
"Blend in? Not exactly an option when I look like I haven't seen sunlight in centuries," Draven muttered.
The wolf growled softly, and Draven nodded. "Stay back and out of sight. If things go south, you know what to do."
The wolf dissolved into shadows, disappearing into the treetops. Alone, Draven adjusted his cloak and stepped closer to the village gate. It was a small settlement, with wooden walls reinforced by crude metal spikes. Two guards stood at the entrance, both armed with spears and wearing mismatched armor.
"Who goes there?" one of them called out, his voice tinged with suspicion.
Draven raised his hands in a gesture of peace, keeping his hood low. "Just a traveler looking for shelter."
The second guard squinted at him. "Traveler, huh? You don't look like you're from around here."
"I'm not," Draven said, his tone calm but firm. "I've been wandering for days. Just need a place to rest."
The guards exchanged a glance. "You've got coin?"
Draven reached into his pocket, producing a small pouch he had looted from the hunters. The coins jingled faintly, and the guards' expressions softened.
"All right," the first guard said, stepping aside. "But no trouble. The villagers have been on edge lately, with the monster attacks and all."
"Understood," Draven said, stepping through the gate.
---
The village was lively despite the late hour. Merchants packed up their stalls, children played in the dirt roads, and the smell of stew wafted from a nearby tavern. Draven moved through the crowd, keeping his hood low and his movements deliberate. He caught snippets of conversation as he passed:
"Another caravan didn't make it back. Must've been that vampire everyone's talking about."
"The paladin went after it, didn't she? Haven't heard if she succeeded."
"Monsters are getting bolder. We need more adventurers, not just guards."
Draven's lips tightened. They were already blaming him for the chaos in the forest. The paladin had survived their encounter with the shadow beast, but she hadn't told anyone about their truce—or the fact that he had saved her life.
He stepped into the tavern, a dimly lit space filled with the hum of conversation and the clinking of mugs. A fire crackled in the hearth, casting shadows across the wooden walls. Draven approached the counter, where a stout innkeeper wiped a mug with a rag.
"Need a room," Draven said, sliding a coin across the counter.
The innkeeper eyed him suspiciously but took the coin. "Second floor, last room on the left. Don't cause trouble, stranger."
Draven nodded, taking the key.
---
The room was small and sparsely furnished, with a narrow bed and a single window overlooking the village square. Draven dropped his cloak onto a chair and sat on the bed, his mind racing. The Shadow Core Fragment had given him new power, but it had also raised more questions. Why had he been reincarnated as a vampire? And what was the system's endgame?
A soft knock at the door broke his thoughts.
Draven tensed, his claws instinctively extending. He approached the door silently, his senses heightened. "Who is it?"
"A friend," came a calm, feminine voice.
Draven frowned, opening the door slightly. Standing there was a young woman with long black hair and piercing violet eyes. She wore a dark cloak, and her aura was anything but ordinary.
"Who are you?" Draven asked, keeping his tone neutral.
The woman smiled faintly. "Someone who knows what you are—and what you're capable of."
Draven's eyes narrowed. "If you're here to kill me, I'd suggest rethinking that plan."
Her smile widened. "If I wanted you dead, I wouldn't have knocked."
Draven opened the door fully but kept his guard up. "Start talking."
The woman stepped inside, closing the door behind her. "My name is Selene. I've been tracking you since the forest. You handled the shadow beast well, by the way. Most wouldn't have survived that encounter."
"Thanks," Draven said dryly. "But I'm not interested in flattery. Why are you tracking me?"
Selene's expression grew serious. "Because you're not the only one with a system. And if you want to survive what's coming, you're going to need allies."
Draven froze. "You have a system too?"
Selene nodded. "And I know what it's like to be hunted. This world isn't kind to people like us."
Draven crossed his arms, his skepticism clear. "Why should I trust you?"
"You don't have to," Selene said, meeting his gaze. "But I can offer you answers about the systems, the dungeons, and the truth about why you're here. If that's not worth a little trust, then I'll leave."
She turned toward the door, her cloak billowing behind her.
"Wait," Draven said, his voice firm. "Start with the systems. What do you know?"
Selene paused, a sly smile playing on her lips. "Let's just say… they're more than they seem. But if you really want to know, we'll have to deal with something first."
Draven raised an eyebrow. "What?"
She glanced out the window, where a group of armed villagers was gathering in the square. At their head stood the paladin, her sword glinting in the torchlight.
"Her," Selene said.