The mist crept through the forest surrounding Liang Village, forming ghostly shapes among the trees. Castian stood in an isolated field near the ancient oak, where everything seemed eerily quieter than usual. There, he could feel the presence of the entity, like a whisper in the deepest corners of his mind. His eyes were closed as he focused on the invisible bond between him and the ancient presence.
"They are coming," the entity whispered, its voice cold as ice. "The shadows are gathering, and evil approaches your lands. The village is in danger, and mortals have no idea of the magnitude of this threat."
"I know," Castian murmured, his voice almost lost in the wind. "But the elders... They won't listen to me. They don't believe me."
"They never do, until it's too late. If you wish to save your people, you must act now. The enemy is not just flesh and bone. Evil lies in the darkness that lurks within the depths of the human heart. And you, Castian, are the only one who can see it."
Castian felt a chill run down his spine. He knew the entity was telling the truth. He could sense the growing danger, like a mist spreading through the forest. The raiders were just a fraction of the threat to come. The darkness he felt was not ordinary—it was something far older and far more dangerous.
"What should I do?" he asked, his voice trembling.
"Wake them," the entity said. "Be the flame that warns them. Do not wait for them to fully understand. When evil finally knocks at the doors, you must be ready to face it, even if you stand alone."
Castian opened his eyes, the pale glow of the moon filtering through the tree leaves. He knew what he had to do. There was no more time to waste.
"They are coming," the entity repeated before vanishing from his mind, leaving Castian alone with his thoughts.
The outskirts of the village were cloaked in darkness, the torches flickering weakly along the newly built barricades. The moon, high in the sky, barely illuminated the dense forest horizon. It was there, in the shadows among the trees, that something lurked.
Castian, watching silently from the highest point of the defenses, could feel the air thick with an imminent threat. His eyes scanned the tree line, and for a moment, he was sure he saw a quick, almost imperceptible movement. Shadowy figures. They were there, hiding among the trees' darkness, watching... waiting.
The young man clenched his fists. The sense of danger he had been feeling for days was finally materializing. He knew the raiders were not the only problem. Something far worse was lurking. Something even the raiders themselves seemed to fear. Among them, the spies and the mysterious enemy leader whose intentions were still unknown were becoming increasingly active.
Castian looked away from a figure that quickly disappeared into the darkness, his heart pounding. They were preparing. He had to warn the elders. There was no more time to waste.
"I can't wait any longer," he muttered to himself before hurrying down from the barricades and running toward the elders' council house.
As he reached the village center, Castian felt the weight of his own fear mingled with the heavy atmosphere of the night. The community was strangely silent, with only a few villagers in sight. Everyone was in their homes, waiting for the worst. They might not have had the same perception as Castian, but the fear was spreading invisibly among the villagers. The light from the windows flickered as if reflecting the uncertainty in everyone’s hearts.
Castian entered the elders' meeting hall without asking permission, his boots thudding against the wooden floor with urgency. Inside, three of the elders sat, speaking in low voices around a small fire.
"We need to talk now!" Castian said, his loud voice echoing through the small room. "The village is in danger. They're here; I saw them at the forest’s edge. Spies—they're surrounding the village!"
The elders lifted their eyes to him, their expressions impassive. The oldest among them, Elder Boron, shook his head with an exasperated sigh.
"Castian, how many times are we going to have this conversation?" Boron said, his voice heavy with fatigue. "Raiders may indeed be prowling, but we are prepared. We've put up defenses. There's no need to panic."
"They’re not just raiders," Castian insisted, stepping forward. "There’s something more. A much greater force. Someone is behind this—I know it. And these spies... they’re not just watching; they’re preparing to attack!"
The second elder, Eldar, raised an eyebrow and crossed his arms."This mysterious figure you keep talking about. We have no proof he exists, boy!" Eldar let out a cynical laugh. "We can’t concern ourselves with rumors and legends."
Castian felt his frustration mount. They were refusing to see what he had witnessed with his own eyes. The village's safety was at stake, and they preferred to ignore him.
"I know what I saw!" Castian shot back, his voice rising with desperation. "They’re not legends. They’re plotting something big, something that could destroy the village if we don’t act now!"
The third elder, Merith, who had remained silent until then, spoke in a softer but no less condescending tone."Castian, you are young, impetuous. We cannot act on fear and assumptions. We are preparing for the raiders and nothing more. Your obsession with spies watching us will only cause panic."
Castian felt a wave of anger and helplessness. It was like talking to a wall. They didn’t understand—or worse, they refused to understand. His heart pounded with the certainty that something terrible was about to happen, but he was alone in his conviction.
"You are blind," he said through gritted teeth. "When the village is surrounded and it’s too late, you’ll remember these words."
Boron let out a long sigh and gestured with his hand, dismissing him."That’s enough for tonight, Castian. Go home and rest. Tomorrow, we’ll have plenty of work on the barricades."
Castian glared at the elder for a moment, the urge to keep arguing burning in his chest. But he knew it would be pointless. With clenched fists, he turned and left, his mind swirling with frustration. They wouldn’t listen to him. They wouldn’t believe him until it was too late.
Outside, the night was colder, the wind whistling through the empty streets. Castian raised his eyes to the forest in the distance, feeling the weight of the shadows lurking among the trees. He knew there was something far more dangerous than raiders approaching. And he was determined to do whatever it took to protect the village—even if he had to face this threat alone.