After a few hours of travel, the landscape began to change.
As they neared the village, a heavy fog rolled over the land. The once calm sky turned ominous and dark. Thunder roared in the distance, winds howled, and flashes of lightning illuminated the dark terrain.
Lya looked out the carriage window, the sight of the coming storm sending chills down her spine.
Lya: "Guys, this doesn't look good. The storm's getting worse the closer we get."
Zephyr also took a look and spoke.
Zephyr: "Something's wrong. This storm… it doesn't feel natural. The Essenz ranges are way off the charts." He paused for a moment and continued "you guys feel it too right?"
Aron nodded grimly and spoke up.
Aron: "Yeah, we do." He paused then spoke again, "You're right. Guess the info Maru gave us was true after all. Something bad's going on here."
As the carriage rolled closer to the village, the sky grew grimmer and darker. By the time they reached the village gates, the thunder and flashes of lightning had become more intense. Soon, Elric pulled the carriage to a halt.
Eldric: "Well, this is where I leave you. I've got to head back to the city. You three, be careful, alright?"
The three nodded, thanked the driver for bringing them over to the village, and saw him off.
They then started walking through the village gates, revealing a quiet, wet village with a few villagers under the shop tarps. The trio made their way through the village.
Zephyr approached a villager standing near a small shop.
Zephyr: "Excuse me, but can you tell us about these strange weather patterns?"
The first villager, a middle aged man with a stern face, eyed them with cautious curiosity.
Villager 1: "Not much to say. The storms have been like this for weeks. No one really knows where they're coming from. They're not right. And the creatures that come… they're really bad news."
Aron: "What kind of creatures?"
Villager 1: "They're strange. Big, fierce, and violent. They come from the forest and attack sometimes. But once the storm's over, they go running back to the forest."
Lya: "That's really unsettling."
They nodded, but before they could ask more, another villager approached them: an old lady with her back slightly hunched, but her eyes sharp.
Villager 2: "You're here because of the unnatural phenomena going around here, aren't you?"
Zephyr: "Yeah, we're here to investigate what's going on here and hopefully stop it. Could you take us to your village chief? We need more information before we start."
The old woman nodded and gestured for them to follow her.
The group followed her through the winding paths of the village, and soon enough, they arrived at the town hall, a large lodge with carvings on the logs. The old lady knocked on the door, and a tall figure stepped out.
The chief was an old man with a powerful presence. His face was lined with age, yet his posture was strong. His look was intense, but there was a hint of desperation behind his eyes.
Chief: "You lot must be the ones sent by the academy. I am Chief Aldrich. I've been waiting for your arrival. My village needs help. We are slowly dying due to this, and with each death, the surges grow stronger."
Zephyr: "We're here to help, but you have to tell us everything that's been happening."
The chief's expression grew grim as he invited them inside. He took them to a table with a few chairs around it and gestured for them to sit.
Chief: "The storms started around a few weeks ago. They were mild and weak at best, but soon enough, they grew stronger and stronger. Now, I fear that if it grows any more powerful, we will all succumb to its wrath. But there's more to it. The creatures that come from the forest are unnatural. I've never seen anything like them. They're more than just wild beasts; it's like they're drawn to the energy coming from the forest. There's something in that forest that's causing these surges, and if it's not stopped soon, I fear it may spread and devour the world as we know it."
Lya: "How are the creatures unnatural?"
Chief: "It's like the energy is mutating them. Last time I went into the forest, I saw a wolf three times the size of one, with a hundred times more ferocity. My group and I barely escaped with our lives."
Zephyr's face grew saddened, and he spoke up.
Zephyr: "We'll put an end to this. I promise."
The chief's face slightly softened, and he spoke once more, his voice filled with despair.
Chief: "I beg of you, save my people. Bring back the prosperity there once was…"
The trio exchanged a determined look and got up. Aron reassured the chief.
Aron: "Don't worry, Chief. We'll unravel this storm, bring the forest back to normal, and stop these Essenz surges. So that you may all hold your heads up high once more."
The chief's eyes began to tear up.
Chief: "Thank you all. I'm deeply grateful for your help."
The three then waved goodbye and went out of the town hall, heading towards the forest.
Soon they made passed the first trees and were in the forest seconds after passing by them.