...
...
Dusk.
The setting sun hangs on the horizon.
Mistwood Town in the Ancient Wood Duchy is shrouded in a yellowish twilight.
To the west of the town lies a dense oak forest, home to birds, insects, rabbits, and snakes.
But at the moment, the bird calls in the forest have ceased; an unusual silence hangs in the air.
The guards behind the wooden fence quickly sensed something was amiss and looked up.
"Do you feel it,"
a guard whispered, "it's a bit too quiet?"
The guard beside him, an old soldier, didn't reply, squinting his eyes intently at the distant woods.
A moment later, a rustling sound came from afar.
The sound grew louder, steadily creeping toward the town.
"What is that?"
The young guard's voice began to tremble.
The old soldier ignored him and shouted, "Alert!"
As soon as he shouted, a flock of birds suddenly took flight from the edge of the forest!
An indescribable stench of decay rushed toward them!
A few of the guards couldn't help but retch!
