Year 1097, March 14. Kingdom: Bartton.
On a dark and rainy night in the capital, Valoria, King Gregory Blake summoned his most trusted warrior, Elion Falconer. The castle hall, illuminated by ancient chandeliers, came to life with flickering flames that cast dancing shadows on the walls. The sound of the wind and rain echoed through the corridors, intensifying the tense atmosphere.
"Did something happen for you to call me at this hour, Gregory?"
Kneeling alone before the monarch, Elion, at 30 years old, with black hair and blue eyes, displayed a muscular physique, the result of the intense training he had undergone. On his back, he proudly bore his family crest: a falcon drawn in golden lines on his cape. Also resting on his back was his sword, a precious family heirloom that accompanied him at all times.
"The Falconers have served the Blakes for decades. That is why I treat you as a member of my family; I believe you already know that, Elion."
"Of course I do!"
Gregory, an elderly man, sat on his throne, wearing imposing garments and a crown adorned with shining jewels that gleamed like his green eyes. Though his body was weakened by age, he still exuded an aura of courage and determination, like that of a warrior ready to fight at any moment.
"Elion, I have an important mission for you, because I trust only you with this task." Gregory sighed, averting his gaze, as if hesitant to continue. "In the south of my kingdom, people are disappearing, and others are being killed, but no one knows what is behind this. I need you to investigate as soon as possible and find out what is happening."
Hearing Gregory's request, Elion lifted his head and stared directly at the monarch, unable to avoid the gesture.
"I've heard rumors about this… Gregory, sorry to say it this way, but I have more important things to do in the capital. Why send me to find what seems to be just another assassin? If you wish, I can suggest names of soldiers I trust for this mission."
Gregory remained silent for a moment, his expression hardening.
Suddenly, a bolt of lightning tore through the sky, illuminating the castle with a momentary and menacing glow.
"No! It has to be you!" Despite his reaction, Gregory took a deep breath and adjusted himself on the throne, trying to appear calmer, though his concern was evident. "I can't reveal everything. I hope I'm wrong, but if my premonitions are correct… No, I'd rather not even think about it."
Elion observed Gregory and noticed his uneasiness, something that deeply unsettled him. However, from their years together, he knew that Gregory was extremely intelligent and had lost count of how many times he had helped his citizens, solving problems that seemed impossible. For this reason, he believed Gregory must have his reasons for insisting.
"Alright, I will do as ordered." His gaze dropped to the floor, reflecting his worry and confusion.
"Avoid wearing the kingdom's attire to avoid drawing attention. If you are recognized, it may cause confusion among the villagers and give the culprit a chance to escape. Take your best men and tell no one about this mission."
"Understood!"
With no further objections, Elion left the castle, determined to uncover what was happening and find the culprit.
Upon returning home, he prepared the horses and selected three trusted warriors to accompany him, including Jack, his right-hand man, a 25-year-old with brown hair and black eyes.
Elion briefly explained to his warriors the importance of the mission and detailed the murders in the south of the kingdom, emphasizing the need for discretion. The warriors exchanged glances, hesitating for a moment before agreeing.
"But, boss, this seems more serious than any other mission we've ever undertaken. Wouldn't it be better to take more experienced soldiers?" Jack commented, his concern clearly evident on his face.
Elion nodded, determination in his eyes, though his face carried a slight shadow of doubt, reflecting his concern about what lay ahead.
"I know it's risky, but I trust you. We'll figure out what's going on together."
That same night, disguised as villagers, the five set off toward the south of the kingdom under relentless rain, which made the journey difficult by turning the ground into mud, trapping the horses' hooves.
The surrounding landscape consisted of dense forests. Distant mountains could be seen through the mist, creating a sense of isolation. The constant sound of rain and the cold wind blowing against their soaked clothes made the journey even more exhausting and challenging.
✧༺⚔༻✧
After three exhausting days of riding, they arrived at one of the attacked villages. Before settling in, they conducted a quick patrol through the village, checking for possible threats and ensuring there was no immediate danger. The small village of Elda, once bustling with merchants thanks to livestock farming, now seemed like a deserted town.
The windows of the houses were broken, and the doors, reinforced with hastily nailed boards, revealed the villagers' desperation in the face of imminent danger. The occasional sound of the wind blowing through the empty structures created an unsettling echo, reinforcing the sense of abandonment and desolation. People, gripped by fear, hurried into their homes.
Due to the exhaustion of the journey and the approaching night, they decided to find the nearest inn to rest. The next day, they would try to find clues about the attacks that had left Elda in a state of apparent abandonment.
Almost all the inns were closed; only one remained open. As they entered, they noticed the floor creaked beneath their feet, and the scent of old and damp wood filled the air. The room was lit only by candles scattered across the tables, casting a dim and uneven light.
There was only one man sitting in a corner, with a thick linen hood over his head and holding a cane. His clothes, made of rough fabric, seemed suited for travel rather than for a local resident. Elion approached the receptionist, who was sitting and reading a book. Though she appeared to be an elderly woman, he noticed that she showed no fear of them.
"Hello, I'd like two rooms for one night."
The receptionist stood up, took two keys, and placed them on the counter without saying anything.
"It's two cruzeiros per room, per night," she commented casually as she returned to her chair and resumed reading.
Elion placed the coins on the counter and then took the keys, handing them to Jack.
"Here, go up and rest."
Upon taking the keys, Jack realized there were only two of them.
"Boss, there are only two beds per room. Where will you sleep?"
"Don't worry about that, Jack. I'll rest in the common room or anywhere else I find. You all go ahead."
Jack looked at Elion, scratched the back of his neck, and sighed.
"Alright, but listen, don't try to handle everything alone like you usually do, alright?"
"Don't worry, you have my word."
After his companions went upstairs, Elion approached the receptionist again.
"Why are the villagers so scared?"
"Look, if night falls, it's better not to go outside. At dawn, leave for the capital if you want to stay alive."
Elion reflected on the nighttime danger and the urgency of leaving as soon as possible, realizing the situation was more serious than he had imagined. He leaned his right arm on the counter and stared at the receptionist.
"What is the reason for all this?"
She looked at him with a sorrowful expression. Elion felt the weight of the mission increase, recognizing the fragility of the situation and the imminent risk.
"In the last few days, several people have been killed in our village. Everyone is scared and doesn't know what to do anymore."
"This wasn't a village with many traders. Hasn't anyone tried to solve this problem?"
"The village leader called the strongest men to guard the surroundings at night, to find out who the culprit was..."
"And what happened?"
She sighed deeply before answering, with sorrow in her voice.
"The next day, they only found parts of their bodies. They were all killed in a gruesome manner. From then on, many left in search of the capital, while those who can't leave now live in fear of being killed at any moment."
Elion frowned, struggling to understand her words.
"But how is that possible? Couldn't it have been some kind of wild animal?"
"If it were an animal, it would have attacked the whole village at once! This killer is smart, waits for nightfall to strike, and then simply disappears."
She glanced at Elion's sword and gave a small smirk.
"That sword… you're hunters, aren't you? I've seen many like you, chasing money and fame."
She locked eyes with Elion, her serious expression showing a mix of concern and alertness.
"You can believe it or not, but what's killing the people in this village is not a rare animal, like you think. It's a human, strong and dangerous, who attacks with intelligence."
"Heh." The man let out a quiet chuckle upon hearing the conversation between Elion and the receptionist.
Intrigued, Elion turned to the man.
"Who is he?"
"He's not from this village. It seems he got into trouble in the capital and during a fight, ended up blind. After that, he ended up here. Now he just sits there all day, muttering nonsense like: 'Why did I trust him?' or 'Don't believe his lies.' He's just a madman."
Curious, Elion approached the man and observed the scars over his eyes, probably caused by a sharp blade.
"Hello, why did you laugh while we were talking?"
The man remained silent, his head lowered and both hands gripping his cane.
"I told you he was crazy!" the receptionist remarked, irritated.
As Elion turned to leave, he heard a low, mysterious voice.
"Survive."
Intrigued, Elion turned back to the old man, but he had already returned to repeating his senseless phrases.
Determined to uncover the mysteries surrounding the small village of Elda, he felt that something had been wrong since the moment he arrived that afternoon.
✧༺⚔༻✧
Moments earlier, in the inn's room, the four warriors were gathered, still dressed in their common villager disguises, each reflecting in their own way on the mission.
Roderick, the eldest, with black hair and brown eyes, stood near the window, looking outside thoughtfully.
"I hope we finish this mission soon… my wife is pregnant, and I want to be by her side."
Eldric, his longtime friend, with black hair and dark eyes, leaned against the wall with his arms crossed and a teasing smile.
"Ever since you got married, you've turned soft when it comes to Selena."
"You'll understand when you get married."
"Married? Tied to a woman? No way! I prefer freedom and many companions."
Leon, the youngest of the group, blond with blue eyes, stood up, visibly impatient.
"Are you guys joking? There's a killer on the loose, murdering people, and you're here talking about marriage? We need to go out now and look for clues!"
"Relax, Leon. We just arrived from a three-day journey, barely stopping. Besides, Chief Elion is already taking care of that," Eldric replied, placing a comradely arm around Leon's shoulders.
"Even so, I can't just sit here!"
"Oh, I see… you want to finish quickly so you can go see Talia, right? I saw you two together the other day… lucky guy, she's beautiful."
"It's nothing like that!" Leon protested, shoving Eldric away, blushing. "I'm a royal soldier, and I swore to protect this kingdom and its people. We can't waste time with nonsense."
Jack, sitting on one of the beds, leaned forward slightly, his hands clasped over his legs, and interrupted.
"Could you all be a little quieter?"
"What's wrong, Jack? You've been too quiet. Don't tell me you're thinking about Malkar's daughter? What was her name again?"
"It's Nissa. I heard that her father only allows a man to marry his daughter if he's brave enough to pass a test. Apparently, he makes the suitor cut off a finger to prove his worth," Roderick commented with a smirk.
"Haha, forget it, Jack. You wouldn't have the guts for that."
Roderick turned back to the window, his expression growing serious.
"Even so, something is very wrong here. Why is this killer murdering these people for no reason?"
"Probably just another wretched lunatic who enjoys killing. But he must be pretty clever to have not been caught yet."
"When we arrived in the village, I could barely face the fear in the people's eyes. They looked at us as if we were monsters," Leon said, his tone heavy with sadness.
"It's expected. These people are simple villagers. All they can do is flee or hide. I believe their only remaining hope is the king's help… What do you think, Jack?"
"I'm not sure. But something is definitely wrong with this killer. I have a bad feeling. The chief didn't give us many details about the mission either, only mentioning that it was a direct order from the king."
"Jack, don't you think you're overreacting? I'm sure we'll find him soon. Did you forget that we have Chief Elion, the greatest knight of this kingdom? This mission will be as easy as the others," Eldric said, gesturing confidently with a smug smile.
"The journey was long. The best thing now is to rest. Tomorrow, we'll start looking for clues about this killer," Roderick concluded.
After the brief conversation, a heavy silence enveloped the warriors, each lost in their own thoughts as they prepared for what was to come.
✧༺⚔༻✧
During this period, Elion left the inn in search of information but found only terrified villagers. They hesitated before moving away, casting furtive and frightened glances, as if they feared even speaking. Frustrated by the lack of answers, he returned to the inn's room as night fell.
While his companions rested, Elion sat by the window, carefully cleaning his sword while attentively watching the town below.
Suddenly, a woman's scream echoed through the night, making Elion tense up, his eyes narrowing in alert as his heart raced. He woke Jack and ordered him to wake the others and come down immediately with their weapons.
In the inn's hall, Jack, still sleepy, asked with a confused look, "What happened, Chief? Did the killer show up?"
Meanwhile, Elion was already preparing their gear.
"I heard a woman scream, not too far away. Grab some lanterns and keep your weapons ready. We don't know how many there might be."
"Chief, this is dangerous. What if it's a trap?"
Elion recalled the suffering faces of the villagers, his heart tightening as he thought about everything they had been enduring in the past days.
"We can't just abandon that woman. Let's carefully check the village surroundings."
They quickly equipped themselves and left the inn, following the direction of the woman's scream. Elion's heart pounded with anticipation of what they might find, but he was determined not to leave Elda's people unprotected.
At a certain point, they came across a trail of blood leading into the dense darkness of the forest.
"This blood is fresh. Let's go, she might still be alive!"
In the darkness, which limited their vision to only a few meters, Elion led the group with determination. He analyzed each step carefully, ensuring everyone followed his instructions.
"Stay together! Jack, watch the rear while the rest of you stay alert for any movement. Keep your shields ready; we don't know what this killer is capable of. He might even use poisoned arrows."
Leaving the village, they followed the trail of blood, which led them to the heart of the forest, where they came upon the woman's severed arm.
Elion raised his hand to signal the group to stop and declared: — Wait! The blood trail ends here. I need to check for more clues.
With his heart racing, he crouched, his eyes scanning every detail in search of evidence.
The night in the forest was eerily silent, with only the wind rustling through the leaves. The lanterns cast unsettling shadows on the ground, while the muffled sound of the warriors' footsteps blended into the surroundings. The engulfing darkness seemed to swallow everything around them, creating a growing sense of vulnerability and tension.
This doesn't feel right... We should be hearing animals everywhere. What's going on
Before he could finish his thoughts, a strong gust of wind swept through, snatching the lanterns from their hands and making the flames flicker until they finally went out one by one.
"What was that? It felt like something just passed through us!" Roderick said, looking around with wide eyes and gripping his sword tightly.
"Men, form a circle! Everyone watches a different direction and don't blink unless you want to die!"
Everyone huddled close, fear evident on their faces. Only Roderick and Elion, seemingly unfazed, remained alert. Suddenly, a strange noise arose from the nearby bushes.
"Boss, we're at a disadvantage! They're in groups, making noise everywhere! It's too dark. I can only see as far as my sword reaches!" Roderick said, scanning the surroundings.
Sensing fear creeping into the group, Elion took the initiative.
"Do not be afraid! Stay on guard! If anything moves suspiciously, defend first and attack right after!"
"Yes, boss!" they all responded in unison.
With Elion's words, the group regained their confidence, preparing to face whatever lay ahead.
Everything went silent again, keeping the men tense and on high alert. Suddenly, Roderick was yanked into the darkness by his leg.
"AAAHHH!" His desperate scream echoed through the forest, prompting Eldric to immediately run toward him.
"ROOOODErick..."
"No, wait, don't move!" Elion warned, trying to stop Eldric.
However, his voice was completely extinguished as Eldric too was swallowed by the darkness.
Elion quickly repositioned himself, pressing his back against the others in the circle.
"Men, don't move. There are rope traps on the ground."
"C-Chief, if we stay here, they'll take us too. We have to act fast!" Jack exclaimed urgently, realizing the gravity of their situation.
"We'll move carefully back the way we came."
As Elion turned to warn Leon to watch his step, he noticed that his companion's head had completely disappeared, with blood gushing in all directions. The group was struck by shock. Jack screamed in despair, his eyes wide in disbelief.
Instinctively, Elion swung his sword swiftly toward his neck, managing to parry an attack and counterstrike. His opponent let out a strange sound, but the impact of the blow was strong enough to hurl it backward, causing it to crash into Jack's back.
Huh? What was that? What kind of strength is this?
Jack was visibly terrified, his hands trembling as he struggled to stay calm.
"C-Chief, what's happening? I can't see anything—everyone else is dead. At this rate, we're going to die too!"
Elion felt the tension in the air heighten and pressed his back against Jack's, turning his head slightly in his direction.
"Calm down, Jack. We're not going to die. It seems like there's only one enemy, and I managed to wound it. If we act carefully, we can defeat it."
"Y-Yes, chie—" A desperate scream cut through the air. "AAAHH!"
Jack was violently dragged by his leg, forcing Elion to immediately reach for him, but his hand grasped only empty space. However, he spotted one of the lanterns lying upside down, its flame barely alive. With a decisive motion, Elion smashed the lantern with his sword, allowing the flammable liquid to spill onto the blade, setting it ablaze. Now, with a clear view of his surroundings, he was finally able to see his enemy and save Jack.
"JACK!"
Noticing the flames, the enemy lunged at him. Elion turned and was met with a sight beyond his imagination, a creature unlike anything he had ever seen.
Its grayish skin, marked with deep scars, suggested it had survived countless battles. Its pitch-black eyes, devoid of any empathy or humanity, contrasted with its sharp teeth, dripping with blood, while its massive claws tore into the ground. A long, muscular tail swayed menacingly. With a bloodthirsty expression, this creature was neither a wild animal nor a human—it was a true monster.
Despite having faced ruthless assassins, Elion had never felt such intense fear. His eyes widened in disbelief at the surreal sight before him, like a nightmare come to life. For a moment, his body froze, his muscles paralyzed by terror, but he knew retreat was not an option. Not now. The creature lunged, and with his heart pounding, he gripped his sword firmly.
Jack struggled to regain composure, breathing heavily as he watched Elion prepare for battle. Despite the evident terror on his face, he knew he couldn't let Elion face the creature alone. Gripping his sword, and though his body trembled with fear, Jack resolutely charged at the monster.
✧༺⚔༻✧
Meanwhile, not far away, three hooded men rode through the darkness of the night. Their faces remained hidden beneath dark hoods. Suddenly, the man in the middle came to an abrupt stop.
"Why did you stop?"
"One of my creatures has been slain."
"Should we go back?" suggested the third man.
"No! Turning back now would be a waste of time."