The evening sun slowly disappeared beyond the distant hills.
Golden light painted the road as Jayant walked beside the carriage in silence.
The journey had been long.
Even the horses appeared exhausted.
Inside the carriage, Veneela's head kept drooping forward before snapping upright again.
Then it happened once more.
Thunk.
Her forehead bumped against the window.
"Oww..."
Meenakshi : "Just sleep."
Veneela : "I wasn't sleeping."
Meenakshi : "You hit the window."
Veneela : "I was inspecting it."
Meenakshi : "The window?"
Meenakshi : "...Yes."
Jayant glanced toward her. "Did it pass inspection?"
Veneela blinked. Then realized he was joking. A small smile appeared on her face. "Acceptable quality."
Meenakshi stared at both of them. "You two are impossible."
Even the middle-aged mage riding behind the carriage looked as though he wanted to laugh.
Fortunately, a village appeared ahead.Warm lanterns illuminated the streets. Smoke drifted from chimneys.The scent of cooked food floated through the evening air. A comfortable village. A peaceful village.After weeks of travel, it felt almost inviting.
"We stay here tonight," Meenakshi said. Nobody objected.The village inn stood near the center of town.It was larger than most roadside inns. The common hall buzzed with life. Traveling merchants shared stories over drinks. Children chased one another between tables. A bard played a cheerful tune near the fireplace.The atmosphere felt warm .Safe. Normal. Jayant had almost forgotten what normal felt like.
The three settled at a table. Food arrived quickly. Then more food arrived. And then even more. The innkeeper slowly stared at the growing stack of empty plates. Then at Jayant. Then back at the plates.
"...Boy."
Jayant looked up.
"Yes?"
"Are you feeding a family inside your stomach?"
The surrounding tables burst into laughter.
Veneela nearly choked on her drink.
Meenakshi covered her mouth.
Jayant frowned.
"I only had seven plates."
"ONLY?"
The innkeeper looked personally offended.
"I've seen mercenaries eat less than that."
Jayant looked at the remaining food.
"There is still more."
The old innkeeper slowly turned toward Meenakshi.
"Miss."
"Yes?"
"Is he human?"
Meenakshi immediately looked away.
"I am beginning to question it myself."
More laughter spread through the hall.
Jayant appeared genuinely confused.
A few minutes later, another plate disappeared.
Meenakshi folded her arms.
"I've been observing you."
Jayant immediately became cautious.
"Why?"
"You never complain."
"About what?"
"The rain." "The cold." "The road." "The blisters." "The fact that you've been walking for weeks."
Jayant thought for a moment. Then shrugged. "Complaining doesn't make the road shorter." The table fell silent.
Even Veneela paused.
Then Jayant added—
"Besides, Master used to throw buckets at me whenever I complained."
Silence.
Veneela slowly lowered her spoon.
"...What?"
"He said if I had enough energy to complain, then I had enough energy to do it"
Meenakshi blinked.
"Your master sounds insane."
Jayant nodded.
"He probably is."
A short while later, Veneela quietly pushed a small dessert across the table.
Jayant looked down.
"What is this?"
"Honey cake."
He stared suspiciously.
"Why is it shiny?"
"...Because it has honey."
"Oh."
Carefully, he took a bite.
The sweet flavor spread through his mouth.
His eyes widened slightly.
Meenakshi immediately noticed.
"You like it."
"I do not."
"You do."
"I merely acknowledge its existence."
Veneela suddenly giggled.
A soft, pleasant sound.
For a brief moment, all three laughed together.
The weariness of the journey faded.
The night felt peaceful.
Almost too peaceful.
Hours later—
The village slept.
Lantern flames burned low.
The bard's music had long since ended.
The roads were empty.
Only silence remained.
Then—
Eight figures entered the village.
Wearing Black cloaks. Black masks. Black gloves. Not a single inch of skin visible. Nobody stopped them. Travelers often concealed their identities. Mercenaries did it. Adventurers did it. Assassins did it.
Yet something felt wrong.
The air around them seemed colder.
The shadows stretched unnaturally.
The village dogs that normally barked at strangers retreated beneath porches with frightened whimpers.
The masked figures walked slowly.
Patiently.
Like predators entering a field of sleeping prey.
They reached the center of the village.
Then stopped.
The leader slowly lifted his head.
His masked face turned toward the inn.
Silence.
A long silence.
Then—
A low laugh escaped from beneath the mask.
The sound was cold.
Sinister.
Wrong.
The others immediately became alert.
"Leader?"
The man inhaled deeply.
As if smelling the night itself.
Then smiled.
"Found them."
One of the others stepped forward.
"Confirmed?"
"Yes."
The leader's voice carried excitement.
"Two."
He paused.
Then—
"Perhaps three."
The atmosphere exploded.
A wave of murderous intent spread through the village.
Nearby lanterns flickered violently.
Several windows cracked.
The horses in nearby stables began kicking nervously.
The village dogs started howling.
Inside the inn—
Jayant's eyes snapped open.
The wind was screaming.
Not blowing.
Not moving.
Screaming.
His instincts roared.
Danger.
Death.
Blood.
Without hesitation, he rolled from bed.
The room window burst open.
Cold air flooded inside.
His heartbeat accelerated.
Someone was outside.
Someone dangerous.
Very dangerous.
Far beyond ordinary bandits.
Far beyond the mercenaries he had encountered during his journey.
The wind battered against the walls.
Warning him.
Urging him.
Move.
Now.
Jayant stepped into the hallway.
At the same moment—
Other doors opened.
Meenakshi.
Veneela.
All awake.
All tense.
Nobody spoke.
They already understood.
Something had arrived.
Then—
A scream echoed from outside.
Followed by another.
And another.
The group rushed downstairs.
The innkeeper had already gathered several villagers outside.
About twelve people stood facing the masked figures.
Some carried farming tools.
Others gripped hunting spears.
One elderly hunter held a bow with trembling hands.
A village guard captain stepped forward.
"Remove your masks and identify yourselves!"
The masked leader tilted his head.
Then—
He vanished.
A blur.
A shadow.
A nightmare.
Blood sprayed across the road.
The guard captain's head rolled through the dirt.
For one heartbeat—
Nobody moved.
Then chaos erupted.
The masked figures descended upon the villagers.
It wasn't battle.
It was slaughter.
A spear shattered.
A hunter fell.
A farmer screamed.
Blood painted the road crimson.
The masked men moved with horrifying precision.
Like butchers processing livestock.
Like monsters wearing human skin.
People died before they understood what was happening.
Veneela's face turned pale.
Meenakshi immediately grabbed her arm.
Then looked toward Jayant.
One glance.
That was enough.
Run.
Jayant instantly understood.
His master's voice echoed inside his mind.
"Survival comes first."
These enemies were not ordinary killers.
Perhaps not even ordinary mages.
Without wasting another second, the three slipped into a side alley.
The middle-aged mage followed silently behind them.
None of them looked back.
Minutes later—
The screams stopped.
The village became silent once more.
The masked figures stood among corpses.
Blood dripped from their blades.
The leader calmly licked a drop of blood from his finger.
Then frowned.
"The prey moved."
The others immediately searched the surroundings.
One returned moments later.
"They escaped."
Silence.
Then the leader smiled.
A horrifying smile hidden beneath black cloth.
"Good."
His eyes gleamed.
"The hunt is more entertaining this way."
He slowly knelt and touched the mud.
A footprint.
Fresh.
Still warm.
The leader closed his eyes.
Then pointed toward the dark forest.
"There."
He stood.
The murderous aura around him intensified.
"Begin the hunt."
The masked figures vanished into the darkness.
Deep within the forest—
Jayant suddenly stopped.
The wind had changed again.
His expression hardened.
They were coming.
Fast.
Very fast.
And for the first time since leaving the mountain—
Jayant felt the cold touch of death approaching from behind.
The dark night had only just begun.