Chapter 7: Dark Portents
Emerging from the portal, the group found themselves in a desolate village, buildings crumbling and shrouded in an unnatural darkness. Shadows lingered like heavy fog, and the faint cries of its inhabitants echoed in the distance.
"What happened here?" Lirael whispered, dread coiling in her stomach.
Elowen surveyed the scene, eyes narrowed. "The Shade Lord's influence has reached this place. We have to help them."
Suddenly, they were approached by a frail elder, her eyes wide with fear. "You must leave! The darkness will consume you too!"
Kael stepped forward, holding the Blade of Light aloft. "We won't leave you. We're here to fight."
The elder, intrigued by the blade's glow, shared the village's plight. "The Shade Lord's minions have taken our children, whispering promises of power and protection. We are powerless to resist."
Lirael felt her heart clench. "We'll rescue them," she declared with newfound resolve. "But we need your help to gather information on their whereabouts."
The elder nodded hesitantly, leading them through the ruined village to a gathering of frightened villagers. They shared stories of the night raids, of shadow creatures stealing into homes and dragging their loved ones away. The despair in their eyes ignited a fire in Lirael's heart.
"Gather your strength; we'll take back what was stolen," Thorne declared, establishing his authority and rallying the villagers. Inspired,the villagers began to arm themselves with whatever they could find—makeshift weapons and torches to light the encroaching darkness.
As night fell, the group fortified the village defenses. Lirael, Kael, Elowen, and Thorne moved among the villagers, sharing strategies for the fight that lay ahead. The air crackled with tension and anticipation.
Once the preparations were complete, the group gathered at the edge of the village, shadows stretching long under the pale moonlight. Lirael raised the Blade of Light, its radiance cutting through the darkness like a beacon. "We will not let fear govern us. Together, we can reclaim what is ours!"
With a resounding cheer from the villagers, they set off towards the heart of the dark forest, ready to confront the Shade Lord's minions and rescue their stolen kin.