Veil and Kaela looked around, trying to pinpoint the source of the voice that had just thundered through the forest. But it could have come from anywhere amid the dense trees.

  “We… we’re not poachers! We’re here on a mission for Valdorne!” Kaela called out loudly.

  No answer. Only a sharp whistle split the air—followed by an arrow that struck the ground dangerously close to Kaela’s feet. Branches cracked above them, the canopy rustling as a figure finally stepped into view.

  “On a mission for Valdorne? Don’t make me laugh. I just saw a Phoenira take off in a panic,” the man said dryly.

  Veil crouched down and picked up the wire that had been holding the creature, prompting the man to draw his bow and aim straight at him. Without hesitation, Veil tossed the wire at the man’s feet.

  “Maybe that’s because we freed it. We found it trapped when we arrived. You might’ve noticed that if you’d looked before threatening us. I doubt your little poacher buddies go around freeing what they catch,” Veil shot back, clearly irritated.

  “Watch your tongue, stranger. You step onto our land, you don’t get to talk back. Valdorne might be expecting adventurers, but not a pair of reckless brats like you,” the man growled.

  At those words, Veil grabbed Kaela’s hand and began walking away.

  “Where do you think you’re going? Who said you could leave?” the man shouted after them.

  But just as they reached the edge of the meadow, a woman appeared, blocking their path. Veil instinctively drew his sword, expecting another ambush.

  “Easy, children. I mean you no harm,” the woman said in a calm voice. “I’ve come to take you to Valdorne. But first, do you have any proof that you’re the adventurers we were expecting?”

  Kaela quickly rummaged through her bag, pulled out the guild papers, and handed them to her. The woman examined the document carefully, scanning every line despite its small size. Meanwhile, the man who had threatened them earlier emerged from the woods behind them.

  “Elzyna, mind explaining what you’re doing? Why aren’t you arresting them?” he demanded coldly.

  But the woman—Elzyna—folded the papers neatly and shot him a sharp, cutting glare before handing the document back to Kaela.

  “Melrone, if you don’t want me to lose my temper, I suggest you shut your mouth right now. They’re the ones we were waiting for. Go back to the village and inform the chief—now,” she ordered firmly. “And we’ll be having a talk about your behavior later.”

  Melrone opened his mouth to protest, but only a series of frustrated, wordless sounds came out. Finally, he turned on his heel and disappeared into the forest.

  “My apologies for him. He’s still young and tends to cause more trouble than he’s worth. Follow me—I’ll take you to the village,” Elzyna said, her tone returning to calm.

  She stepped past Veil and Kaela, who exchanged a wary look before deciding to follow, though they kept their guard up.

  “Do you always welcome visitors like that around here? Or is this treatment special, just for us?” Veil asked, his voice still tense.

  “No, it’s nothing personal,” Elzyna replied evenly. “The chief will explain once we arrive. But… lately, misfortune seems to have taken a liking to our village. People have grown wary of outsiders.”

  “I see,” Veil muttered. “Still, attacking anyone who shows up doesn’t sound like the best way to handle it.”

  Kaela, meanwhile, was unusually quiet—far more than Veil had ever seen her. Her calm felt strange, detached, almost distant.

  “Kaela, what’s wrong? Are you okay?” Veil asked, concerned.

  She didn’t really answer—just gave him a small nod and a faint smile. Veil didn’t press the issue, though unease crept into his thoughts. Did I do something? he wondered. They walked on in heavy silence, the soft rustle of the wind the only sound accompanying their steps.

  You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.

  At last, the village of Valdorne came into view.

  It wasn’t much to look at. A tall wooden fence surrounded the settlement, its gates barely holding together, tied in place with thick ropes that looked hastily knotted. The houses inside were in poor condition, their walls worn and uneven. At the center stood a broad courtyard with an old stone well, a weathered bucket resting beside it.

  “Welcome to Valdorne, kids,” Elzyna said with a weary sigh. “Not quite like your fancy cities, huh? Nobody helps us, but we still have to give like everyone else.”

  They crossed the courtyard toward a large building whose thatched roof was half torn away, letting patches of sky peek through. The swollen wooden doors groaned as Elzyna forced them open.

  “Wait over there. The chief will see you soon. No need for formalities, just be respectful,” she said before walking off.

  Veil and Kaela stepped toward the center of the hall, their boots brushing against thick animal pelts that muffled the creak of the old floorboards. A few minutes later, Elzyna returned silently and sat in an armchair. Moments after, Melrone appeared again—this time accompanied by an older man. Melrone took his seat opposite Elzyna, while the elder sat in the middle.

  “Greetings, young ones. Welcome to Valdorne. I am Esmeth, the village chief,” he said, his voice tired but steady.

  “Grandpa, come on, no need for introductions. Do you really think they care? Look at them. Just tell them what they need to know so we can get this over with,” Melrone muttered, his tone sharp and dismissive.

  Veil clenched his fists at the remark, though Kaela remained eerily calm, her expression unreadable.

  “Melrone, show some respect,” Esmeth replied, still composed. “They traveled here to help us. The least you can do is be polite.”

  “Help us? As if we need help from tourists…” Melrone scoffed.

  Before he could say another word, Elzyna shot to her feet. Her hand cracked sharply across his face, the sound echoing through the hall. Melrone’s eyes welled up from the sting.

  “I told you to shut it! Your behavior is unacceptable. If you can’t act properly in front of our guests, then leave—and deal with our problems yourself! They’re here because we can’t handle it anymore, remember?” she snapped, trembling with anger.

  “Excuse me,” Veil cut in, his tone edged with irritation, “but why exactly do you need our help? What I find strange is that the guild said Valdorne was having trouble with Slimes. Yet it looks like you’ve got fighters here.”

  “They… They’re not dealing with Slimes, Veil,” Kaela interrupted, her voice unsteady. “Am I wrong, Esmeth? On the way here, those black traces I saw… that wasn’t the work of Slimes. You… you lied about the reason, didn’t you?”

  All eyes turned toward her. Elzyna froze at Kaela’s words. Esmeth’s expression shifted too—still weary, but now lined with guilt. The only sound was the wind slipping through the cracks in the old beams above.

  “There are four of us left who can still fight. Four… to protect the entire village, day and night. Until recently, we managed. But this past week… things have gotten out of control,” Elzyna explained quietly.

  Melrone shot up from his seat and stormed out without a word, not even glancing at anyone.

  “Let him go, Elzyna… I’ll handle it,” Esmeth said softly before turning to Kaela. “You’re right, young lady—it’s not Slimes, though they’re still around. Another creature appeared not long ago, and it’s already killed five of our people. The village is poor, and the only contract we could afford to post was for the Slime issue.”

  He rubbed his face with a trembling hand, fingers pressing against his forehead as if to hide his shame.

  “That’s all well and good,” Veil replied, his voice calmer now, “but… what kind of creature are we talking about? We’ll need more information.”

  Elzyna sank heavily back into her chair, letting out a long sigh as she met Veil’s eyes with a weary, regretful look.

  “We don’t know. It’s the first time any of us have seen something like it. Its skin drips with some kind of thick, viscous fluid, and it gives off an awful stench. It’s feline in shape—completely black, like it swallows light itself. And blades protrude from its back,” she explained.

  Veil froze. The description tugged at something deep in his memory. It was faint, but disturbingly familiar. No… it can’t be…

  He stood there, silent, his mind racing through the fragments of memory he’d tried to bury.

  “You’re… you’re joking, right? If it’s what I think it is… that sounds like the creature I saw inside a dungeon. A Cataxys, if I remember right,” he muttered, voice low.

  “I don’t know, my boy,” Esmeth said gravely. “But it’s already killed one of our fighters and left another barely alive. You’re the only ones who can help us.”

  Veil didn’t respond. He just stood there, pale, the weight of the name pressing down on him. After a moment, he grabbed Kaela’s hand and pulled her gently toward him.

  “We’re leaving, Kaela. We need to warn the guild,” he said firmly.

  “You… you’re really going to abandon us?” Elzyna asked, her tone breaking with panic. “If it’s money you need, we’ll find a way to pay you more.”

  “Money? This isn’t about money,” Veil said sharply. “You don’t understand. If that thing is really what I think it is, then even with an A-rank adventurer, we couldn’t defeat it. We survived by luck—and I still don’t know how. What you need isn’t a rookie and an E-rank. You need veterans.”

  A heavy silence fell over the room. No one moved. It was as if the air itself had stopped.

  Then—BANG.

  The door slammed open. Melrone stood there, bow in hand, fury written all over his face.

  “What did I tell you? Useless! You humiliate me in front of strangers, and for what? I was right from the start!” he roared, glaring daggers at Elzyna.

  “We came here for Slimes, nothing else!” Veil shot back, his voice rising for the first time. “If the mission had been clear, you would’ve had the help you needed! I can understand being desperate—but if it’s just to treat us like dirt, then we’re done here!”

  Everything he’d been holding in for days came pouring out at once. The usually steady tone in his voice was gone, replaced by raw frustration. He hadn’t meant to lash out, but Melrone’s arrogance had been the final spark.

  The tension in the room thickened, anger and despair colliding without any resolution—until the door burst open again.

  A villager stumbled inside, gasping for breath, his face slick with sweat and panic.

  “She… she’s back—at the fields… it… took someone…” he stammered between gasps.

  Melrone didn’t wait. He bolted from the room, Elzyna close behind him.

  Veil and Kaela stood frozen for a heartbeat, uncertain, their minds racing.

  “Please…” Esmeth said quietly, his old voice trembling with sorrow. “We need your help, young adventurers. At least… help us bring that person back.”

  Veil and Kaela didn’t answer right away, but after a moment of hesitation, they followed the others.

  When they reached the fields, a crowd had already gathered. The desperate cries of a woman echoed across the open air, her words broken by sobs.

  They pushed through the cluster of villagers, who stepped aside to let them pass. The murmurs faded as they drew closer, and the woman’s voice became painfully clear.

  “Bring her back… Please, bring my little Eleanor back… Do something… please…” she screamed, clutching a small doll tightly to her chest.

  Kaela hurried to her side, kneeling down to try and comfort her while around them, hushed whispers rippled through the onlookers.

  “Poor child… To meet such a fate at her age. Do the gods have no mercy, to make a six-year-old suffer like this?” murmured an older woman standing near Veil.