The night was particularly cold, and the silence hanging over the village of Liang was unsettling. Castian pulled his wool coat closer to his body as he walked along the barricades. The lit torches cast flickering shadows on the makeshift wooden defenses that protected the perimeter, but the light seemed fragile, as if it could be swallowed by the forest's darkness at any moment.
He was not alone. By his side, four young warriors from the village accompanied him, all carrying spears and swords. Although brave, the tension was visible on their faces. None of them were trained soldiers, just farmers and fishermen who had taken up arms to protect what was left of their lives. Even so, there was a sense of determination that Castian admired.
"It's too quiet tonight," murmured Joren, one of the young warriors, gripping his spear with trembling hands. "I don't like it."
Castian nodded. He felt the unease in the air too, as if something was about to happen. Since Lord Feng's warning, night patrols had intensified, and tension among the villagers grew with each passing day.
"Stay alert," said Castian, his voice low but firm. "If anything happens, don’t hesitate to sound the alarm."
They continued their patrol, advancing slowly along the barricades. Castian kept his eyes fixed on the forest beyond the village, where the darkness seemed alive. He knew Feng didn’t make empty threats. His spies had already prowled around the village before, and now, every night, it felt like the threat was drawing closer.
As they walked, a faint sound caught his attention. A rustling, almost imperceptible, coming from the forest. Castian stopped abruptly, raising his hand to signal the others to be quiet.
"Did you hear that?" he whispered.
The others nodded, their eyes wide as they stared into the distant trees. The sound came again, this time closer. It was as if something—or someone—was moving through the underbrush, trying to approach unnoticed.
"Stay together," Castian ordered, tightening his grip on the hilt of his sword. "And don’t lower your guard."
They advanced cautiously, their hearts pounding. Castian felt cold sweat on his forehead despite the icy night. He knew they were being watched but couldn’t see from where.
Suddenly, a quick movement caught his eye. Shadows shifted among the trees, swift and silent like predators stalking prey. Castian raised his sword, his eyes fixed on the spot where he’d seen the movement.
"Who’s there?" he shouted, trying to sound more confident than he felt. "Show yourself!"
For a moment, everything was silent. Then, the darkness erupted into action. Hooded figures emerged from the shadows, moving with speed and precision. Castian barely had time to react before one of the attackers lunged at him with a curved blade. He blocked the strike instinctively, the sound of steel ringing in the cold air.
"Ambush!" shouted Joren, retreating as another attacker advanced on him.
Chaos ensued. The young warriors tried to fight back, but the assailants were fast and well-trained. Castian found himself surrounded by two figures, their swords spinning in fluid and deadly motions. He dodged a strike and countered with force, his blade meeting resistance as it struck the armor of one of the enemies.
"Ring the bell! Sound the alarm!" Castian yelled, trying to maintain his composure as he fought.
One of the warriors, a boy named Tevan, dropped his spear and ran toward the alarm bell in a nearby tower. But before he could reach it, an arrow whistled through the air, striking him in the leg. Tevan fell with a cry of pain, clutching the wound as blood stained the ground.
Castian gritted his teeth, feeling anger rise within him. He knew they were outmatched but couldn’t let panic take hold. With a roar of determination, he lunged at one of the attackers, delivering a series of quick strikes that finally broke through the enemy's defense. His sword cut the man’s arm, forcing him to retreat with a scream of pain.
"Don’t give up!" Castian shouted to the others. "Fight!"
But the situation grew increasingly desperate. Two of the young warriors were already down, injured, and the others struggled to fend off their attackers. Castian began to feel fatigue in his arms, each swing of his sword growing heavier.
Then, he heard the familiar whisper in his mind again. The entity.
"Use the Pearl…" the voice echoed, cold and insistent.
Castian hesitated, dodging another strike as he processed the words. He knew the Celestial Pearl held immense power, but he also knew using it could have unpredictable consequences. He didn’t want to resort to it, but the circumstances were becoming dire.
"I can’t!" he muttered to himself, blocking another attack.
"You have no choice…" the entity insisted. "If you don’t use the power now, everyone will die."
Castian clenched his teeth, feeling the pressure mount. He dodged another blow and, with a quick movement, brought down one of the attackers. But more were coming. There were too many, and time was running out.
Finally, he made a decision. With a cry of anger and determination, he reached into his pouch for the Celestial Pearl. The artifact's soft glow radiated, illuminating the darkness around him. The attackers momentarily recoiled, seemingly startled by the Pearl’s power.
Castian felt energy course through him, an intense heat that seemed to invade every fiber of his being. He didn’t know how to control the power, but he followed his instincts. With a swift motion, he pointed the Pearl at the assailants. A wave of light erupted, sweeping across the area with immense force.
The attackers screamed, many thrown back by the energy’s force. Some fled, disappearing once more into the forest's shadows. When the light finally faded, the field was silent again.
Castian fell to his knees, gasping for air. He looked around, seeing the other young warriors slowly rising to their feet. Tevan was still on the ground, but Joren was tending to his wounds.
"What… what was that?" Joren asked, staring at Castian with wide eyes.
Castian held the Pearl in his hand, feeling its weight more than ever.
"It’s what saved us," he replied in a low voice. "But it was also a warning. Feng is close, closer than we thought."
He stood, feeling exhaustion in every muscle but also a renewed determination. He knew the battle was just beginning, but now he was more certain than ever that he had to fight. The village depended on him.