The group arrived at the village of Veldara at dusk, the sky tinged red as the first stars began to shine. Unlike Velgris, this village wasn't completely abandoned, but it seemed deserted: doors locked tight and windows sealed. An oppressive stillness reigned, broken only by the crunch of their footsteps.
"Why do I feel like something is watching us?" asked Alex, adjusting the collar of his outfit.
"Because it probably is," replied Aria, her sword already drawn.
EMI observed their surroundings cautiously.
"The magical energy here is denser than in the last village. Something… or someone… is manipulating the area."
They advanced slowly through the empty streets, searching for clues. Near the central square, they found a set of marks 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," said EMI, crouching to inspect the runes.
Alex looked around nervously.
"Doesn't it seem strange that there are no signs of a struggle? It's as if the villagers just… vanished."
"That makes it even more terrifying," replied Aria, her 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."
The group looked up in unison, searching for the source of the voice. Standing atop the tallest house in the village, silhouetted against the moonlight, was a figure. He wore attire reminiscent of a ninja, but with extravagant touches: feathers, golden embroidery, and a cape that fluttered in the wind.
Though his face was covered by a black mask with red details, his mouth was exposed, curved into a twisted smile that revealed sharp fangs.
"Are you the kingdom's new lapdogs?" he asked, tilting his head with exaggerated style. "What a disappointment. I was expecting something a bit more… entertaining."
Before anyone could react, the man disappeared in the blink of an eye.
"Where is he?" shouted Aria, spinning around with her sword raised.
A chill ran down Alex's spine as he felt a presence behind him.
"Right here, little hero," whispered the stranger's voice, now right behind the group.
Alex turned quickly, but the man was already standing a few steps away, lazily swaying from side to side.
"Who are you?" demanded EMI, raising a magical barrier around them.
The man let out a mocking laugh.
"My name? How curious. You don't need to know, but since you insist… you can call me Zarek. Though, to be honest, I doubt you'll remember much after tonight."
"Are you one of the dark mage's followers?" asked Aria, tightening her grip on her sword.
Zarek tilted his head, his smile widening.
"Perhaps. What does it matter? I'm just a simple messenger… a warning for you to turn back and stop meddling."
Before they could respond, Zarek moved his hand and a wave of dark energy surged toward them. EMI reacted quickly, reinforcing the barrier, but the impact still made it waver.
"Watch out!" shouted Alex, launching an attack with his rune.
The burst 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 spheres of dark energy flew toward the group. Aria dodged gracefully while EMI countered with bursts of fire.
Alex tried to flank Zarek, but the man disappeared again, reappearing behind him and whispering:
"You're not cut out for this, boy."
Before Alex could react, Aria intervened, swinging her sword in a precise arc that forced Zarek to retreat.
"How fierce. The group's pet?" he laughed, dodging her blow with ease.
Just as it seemed Zarek was ready to escalate the fight, he suddenly stopped. His smile faded slightly as he looked toward the horizon.
"Well, it seems I'm being called. What a pity, I was starting to have fun."
With a graceful leap, Zarek landed once more on the highest rooftop.
"One final piece of advice: if you really plan to face my master, you'd better be prepared. This was just a small preview of what's to come."
With those words, he faded into a cloud of shadow, leaving the group in a tense silence.
"That guy…" murmured Alex, his heart still racing. "What the hell was he?"
"A loyal follower, and dangerously strong," replied EMI, 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 air in Veldara seemed even colder after the encounter. The elongated shadows danced on the walls, and the wind whispered through the empty houses as if carrying secrets.
"We shouldn't stay here," said EMI, her voice low but clear. "If he knew we were here, others might know too."
"Do we return to the castle?" asked Alex, still feeling the adrenaline tingling in his hands.
"Not yet," replied Aria, her gaze fixed on the spot where Zarek had disappeared. "He mentioned he was 'called'. That means his master is nearby, actively giving orders. If we can trace the direction of that call…"
"We could find their base," completed EMI, nodding. "But we would need a very sensitive energy tracker, or…"
"Or someone who felt the wave of that call," interrupted Alex. Both girls looked at him. "I don't know how to explain it, but when he left… I felt something. Like a vibration in the air, moving away toward the northeast."
Aria and EMI exchanged a look filled with surprise and new consideration.
"Since you've been using those runes, your magical sensitivity has increased," murmured EMI, more to herself than to them. "It could be possible…"
"I trust him," declared Aria without hesitation. "If Alex says it went northeast, we go northeast."
---
Following the direction indicated by Alex, they arrived at the edge of a forest denser and older than the one near Velgris. The trees were tall and twisted, and a low fog clung to the ground.
"The corruption is stronger here," observed EMI, running her fingers over a tree's bark. Dark marks, similar to veins, spread from the roots upward.
"Do you think this place is being used as… as some kind of conduit?" asked Alex, recalling Aria's words about anchor points.
"Yes," Aria replied somberly. "Not just to channel magic, but to feed on the life of the forest. That's why the vegetation seems withered, even in the middle of the night."
They advanced with even more caution, every sense alert. Suddenly, Alex raised a hand, stopping them.
"Listen."
A low hum, almost imperceptible, came from the depths of the forest. It was the same tone he had felt when Zarek disappeared, but now constant, like a heartbeat.
"It's like a heart," whispered EMI. "A dark heart beating in the middle of the forest."
There was no need to discuss it. They knew that was their target: the epicenter of the corruption, and possibly, an outpost of Veyron's.
---
"We can't confront him directly," said Aria, voicing what everyone was thinking. "Not with how little we know. But we can observe. Learn."
"Espionage," nodded Alex. "My 'side character' specialty."
EMI didn't smile at the joke this time. Her expression was one of absolute concentration.
"We need to conceal our presence completely. I have a camouflage spell, but it won't last long if we get too close to the core."
"Just a quick look then?" asked Alex.
"A quick look," confirmed Aria. "We identify whatever they are doing, any pattern or weakness, and we retreat. No combat."
The agreement was sealed with an exchange of determined glances. EMI began weaving the camouflage spell, a veil of distorting light that fell over them, making them almost invisible to the naked eye and muffling their sound and magical signature.
Together, they ventured into the fog, following the dark heartbeat that guided them toward the heart of the shadow. The atmosphere grew heavier, the air more difficult to breathe. It was as if the forest itself was holding its breath, fearful of what it harbored at its center.