The group arrived at the village of Veldara at dusk, the sky painted red with the first stars beginning to shine. Unlike Velgris, this village wasn't entirely abandoned, but it felt deserted—doors tightly shut and windows sealed. There was an oppressive silence, broken only by the crunch of their footsteps.
"Why do I feel like something's watching us?" Alex asked, adjusting the collar of his outfit.
"Because it probably is," Aria replied, her sword already drawn.
EMI looked around cautiously.
"The magical energy here is stronger than in the last village. Something—or someone—is manipulating the area."
They moved slowly through the empty streets, searching for clues. Near the central square, they found a cluster of markings similar to those in Velgris, but these were more complete, and a dark energy radiated from them.
"This is definitely the work of that dark mage or his followers," EMI said, crouching to inspect the runes.
Alex glanced around, nervous.
"Isn't it strange there are no signs of a fight? It's like the villagers just… vanished."
"That makes it even scarier," Aria replied, eyes scanning the rooftops as if expecting something hidden in the shadows.
As EMI tried to decipher the runes, a slow, mocking clap broke the silence, echoing from above.
"Well, well… what do we have here? Three little intruders snooping where they shouldn't be."
The group looked up in unison, searching for the voice's source. Standing atop the tallest house in the village was a figure silhouetted against the moonlight. He wore an outfit reminiscent of a ninja—but with flamboyant touches: feathers, golden embroidery, and a cape fluttering in the wind.
Though his face was covered by a black mask with red details, his mouth was exposed—curved into a twisted grin that revealed sharp fangs.
"Are you the kingdom's new lapdogs?" he asked, tilting his head with exaggerated flair. "What a disappointment. I was expecting something a bit more... entertaining."
Before anyone could react, the man vanished in the blink of an eye.
"Where is he?!" Aria shouted, spinning around with her sword raised.
A chill ran down Alex's spine as he felt a presence behind him.
"Right here, little hero," the stranger's voice whispered—now right behind the group.
Alex turned quickly, but the man was already standing a few steps away, swaying lazily from side to side.
"Who are you?" EMI demanded, raising a magical barrier around them.
The man let out a mocking laugh.
"My name? How quaint. You don't need to know it, but since you insist… You can call me Zarek. Though, to be honest, I doubt you'll remember much after tonight."
"You're one of the dark mage's followers?" Aria asked, tightening her grip on her sword.
Zarek tilted his head, his smile widening.
"Maybe. What does it matter? I'm just a simple messenger... a warning that you should turn back and stop meddling."
Before they could respond, Zarek flicked his hand, and a wave of dark energy surged toward them. EMI reacted fast, reinforcing the barrier—but the impact still made her stagger.
"Watch out!" Alex shouted, launching an attack with his rune.
The blast of light struck Zarek directly—but he reappeared an instant later, now sitting cross-legged on a railing.
"How predictable," he mocked. "But not bad for a beginner."
Zarek stood up and pointed a finger at them. Small orbs of dark energy flew toward the group. Aria dodged gracefully while EMI countered them with bursts of flame.
Alex tried to flank Zarek, but the man vanished again, reappearing behind him and whispering:
"You're not cut out for this, kid."
Before Alex could react, Aria intervened—swinging her sword in a sharp arc that forced Zarek to retreat.
"How fierce. The group's little pet?" he laughed, easily evading her strike.
Just as it seemed Zarek was ready to escalate the fight, he suddenly stopped. His grin faded slightly as he looked toward the horizon.
"Well, it seems I'm being summoned. What a shame—I was starting to have fun."
With a graceful leap, Zarek landed once more atop the tallest roof.
"A final piece of advice: if you truly plan to face my master, you'd better be ready. This was just a small taste of what's coming."
With those words, he vanished into a cloud of shadow, leaving the group in a tense silence.
"That guy…" Alex murmured, his heart still racing. "What the hell was he?"
"A loyal follower—and dangerously strong," EMI replied, checking the damage to her barrier.
Aria clenched her fist.
"We can't stay on the defensive. If we want to win, we need more information about this dark mage and his circle."
The group knew this was only the beginning of something far greater.