The morning was quiet. Too quiet.
The kingdom of Seranth was just waking. Birds chirped, wind rustled through the trees, but there was an unease in the air.
Kael noticed it first. He had been drawing the town square on his map. Something felt wrong. The shadows didn't move naturally. Even the light seemed muted.
Mira was skipping ahead, laughing with Lori. They didn't notice the subtle shift. Masha followed behind, carrying a small pack of supplies. Sir Aelric stayed close to Kael, his hand on the hilt of his sword.
"Something's off," Kael muttered. "I can feel it."
Aelric's eyes narrowed. "Stay close. Don't wander."
They moved toward the edge of the kingdom, where the forest began. The trees loomed taller than ever, their roots twisting like fingers into the earth.
Mira stopped suddenly, her ears catching a sound. Lori did too, stepping back.
"Did you hear that?" Mira asked, voice small.
A faint cry echoed through the trees.
Kael froze. "Children," he said. "I've heard this sound before. It's… desperate."
Masha's face tightened. "We need to be careful. Whoever it is, they're scared—and that means danger is close."
The path led them into thicker trees. The sunlight struggled through the canopy, making patterns on the forest floor.
Lori clutched her books. "I don't like this," she whispered.
Kael crouched, scanning the ground. Footprints. Small, hurried. Leading deeper.
"They're going this way," he said, pointing.
Aelric drew his sword, silent and precise. "Then we follow. Slowly. Stay alert."
They moved together, shadows stretching with each step.
The cries grew louder. Whimpers, low and trembling.
Then they saw them.
Three children, no older than ten, huddled near a broken tree. Their eyes were wide, and their clothes were torn. They didn't move as the group approached. Fear had frozen them.
Kael stepped forward. "Hey, it's okay. We're here to help."
The children flinched. Mira knelt beside them. "It's okay. You're safe now."
One of the boys whispered, "She… she comes at night. She takes us… turns us…"
Masha tightened her fists. "Who does?"
The boy's eyes darted toward the shadows. "The witch. The one with the dark hood. She… she makes potions from children."
A chill ran down Kael's spine. His stomach turned. He had heard rumors. Whispered warnings. But never this close.
Aelric's jaw tightened. "Show me where she took you."
The children shook their heads. "We don't know. We wake up somewhere else… every time."
Kael exchanged a look with Masha. Mira squeezed Lori's hand.
"We'll find her," Kael said. "We have to."
They followed the children's scattered clues. Torn leaves, footprints in mud, small trinkets dropped in panic.
Hours passed. The forest grew darker. Mist curled between the trees.
Finally, they reached a clearing. A hut. Small. Twisted wood. Smoke rose from a crooked chimney, black and pungent.
The air smelled strange. Sweet, sickly.
"This is it," Aelric said. "Stay back."
Kael stepped forward slowly. "We need a plan. She's dangerous. I don't know what she's capable of yet."
Masha nodded, eyes narrowed. "We can't let her hurt more children. We need to be smart."
They watched from the trees. Shadows moved inside the hut. A figure. Tall. Cloaked. Hands long and sharp, moving as if stirring something unseen.
Mira shivered. "She's… she's scary."
Kael put a hand on her shoulder. "We'll handle this. Together."
The witch didn't notice them. Not yet.
Her voice was low, chanting in a language that made the air tighten. Words like glass scraping over stone.
A small cage rattled inside the hut. The children's cries barely audible through the chanting.
Aelric whispered, "We can't just charge in. She'll kill them all if we make a mistake."
Kael nodded. "We need a distraction. Something… something clever."
Masha's eyes scanned the clearing. "Maybe the fire by the side of the hut. If we start a small flame, she'll come out."
Kael shook his head. "Too risky. She might sense it. We need to split her attention, get her out without hurting the children."
Lori, clutching her books, suddenly spoke up. "Maybe… maybe I can help. She seems to use magic. Maybe… I can read something from my books that can… block her for a moment."
Kael's eyes widened. "Are you sure?"
Lori nodded. "I think so… just for a few seconds. That might be enough."
Aelric's hand rested on the hilt of his sword. "Then we try that. But be ready to act fast."
The group split slightly. Mira stayed close to Kael and Lori, ready to protect. Masha moved toward the side, prepared to intervene. Aelric stayed at the edge, silent as a shadow, eyes scanning the forest.
From the trees, Kael saw the witch again. Her cloak was dark, her hair hidden beneath a hood. Her fingers moved with precision, stirring glowing vials, muttering incantations. Her presence made the air thick and heavy.
"This is worse than I thought," Kael muttered. "She's strong. Older than she looks. Experienced."
Lori opened her book, murmuring the spell under her breath. The letters glowed faintly. A ripple of light appeared around the hut.
The witch's head snapped up, eyes narrowing. She hissed. Something sharp sparked in her hand.
Kael and Masha exchanged a look. Mira pressed close to Lori, her small hands gripping her sisterly friend's arms.
The air grew tense, like the forest was holding its breath.
And then the witch stepped outside the hut, her face still hidden beneath the hood. The mist curled around her as if obeying her command.
Kael's heart pounded. This was no ordinary villain. Every step she took seemed deliberate, careful, and cruel.
"She knows we're here," Aelric whispered. "Get ready."
Masha tightened her grip on her sword. "We can do this. We have to."
Kael clenched his fists, feeling the weight of responsibility settle on him. The witch was powerful. She was dangerous. But she wasn't invincible. Not if they worked together.
The first move had to be perfect. One mistake… and the children inside the hut would pay the price.
The witch's hood shifted slightly. Kael could almost see her eyes gleaming, though the mist hid her face.
She smiled, and it wasn't a friendly smile.
"Now we see," Kael murmured. "Who she really is."
The forest held its breath. The first confrontation had begun, though no one knew how far it would go.