Evening slowly descended upon the village of Oryn.
The sky, which usually carried a gentle hue, now looked like an ocean of orange sinking slowly into shades of grayish purple. Mountain winds drifted through the narrow dirt roads, carrying with them the warm scent of firewood burning in the kitchens of the villagers' homes.
Yet that evening, the atmosphere of the village was not the same as usual.
News about the arrival of a strange man carrying a massive sword on his back had already spread from the village gate to the houses at the very edges of Oryn.
Villagers began stepping out of their homes.
Some stood at their doorways whispering with their neighbors. Others slowly made their way toward the main road. The more cautious ones only peeked through their windows, unwilling to come closer but too curious to ignore the rumor.
One name kept repeating.
Augustus Kael'dorn.
A wandering swordsman.
A living legend.
A name usually heard only in the stories of knights or in the tales of travelers who came from distant cities.
For a small village like Oryn, the presence of someone like that felt like a legend suddenly stepping out from the pages of a storybook.
On the other side of the village, two small figures were running as fast as they could.
Dust rose behind their feet.
"Hurry, Millo!" Kael shouted while struggling to catch his breath. "Master Augustus has come to the village!"
Millo ran behind him with a flushed face and ragged breathing.
"Kael… wait… a moment…"
He grabbed his knee briefly before forcing himself to keep running.
"Can you slow down a little?!"
But Kael did not slow his pace.
His eyes shone like a child who had just seen the hero of his favorite legend.
"I can't!" Kael answered. "If we're late we'll only see his back!"
Millo grumbled.
"I've seen the backs of plenty of people… nothing special about them."
Kael stopped suddenly and turned around sharply.
"This is Augustus!"
He pointed toward the center of the village.
"The man who killed a basilisk with a single strike!"
"The man who fought the Sword Saint three times!"
"The man who..."
"The man you were named after," Millo interrupted while sighing.
Kael smiled widely.
"That's right!"
He began running again.
"My name is Kael because it was taken from Master Augustus's legend."
Millo shook his head.
"I think your name happened because someone ran out of ideas."
Yet despite his complaints, Millo kept chasing after him.
Neither of them wanted to miss the chance to see the living legend with their own eyes.
Oryn Village Hall
At the center of the village, a crowd had begun to form.
The village hall of Oryn was not a grand building.
It was simply a wooden structure with a tall roof and floorboards that creaked with age.
Yet that day it felt more crowded than ever before.
People stood in the doorway.
Some leaned against the windows.
Others even climbed the wooden fence just to see more clearly.
At the center of the room stood a tall man wearing a dark cloak.
A massive sword rested across his back.
His expression was calm.
That man was Augustus Kael'dorn.
He had not come to command anyone.
He had not arrived with soldiers.
He carried no banner of a kingdom or order.
Yet simply by standing there, he made the entire room feel heavier.
And for that reason, the village bell was rung.
For the first time in twelve years, the bell of Oryn rang before the sun had fully set.
And not because someone had died.
Its deep sound echoed throughout the entire village.
All citizens were summoned.
The village chief arrived wearing his ceremonial cloak.
The old priest walked slowly while carrying an ancient book whose color had almost faded with age.
The hunters stood along the sides of the room.
The farmers gathered toward the back.
Children climbed benches to see.
Everyone understood one thing.
If someone like Augustus Kael'dorn came and declared he intended to enter Irinthal Forest…
then something significant was about to happen.
Village Chief Teren
The village chief, an elderly man named Teren Malov, stood before Augustus.
His hair had long turned white, yet his voice remained firm.
"Master Kael'dorn," he said slowly.
"This village is not a place that usually receives… someone of your stature."
Several villagers nodded in agreement.
Augustus looked at him without expression.
"I am not looking for a welcome," he replied calmly.
He took a step toward the window.
In the distance the dark line of Irinthal Forest could be seen.
"But that forest…" he said quietly.
"Irinthal."
Teren took a long breath.
"Many people never return after entering that place."
An old hunter from the back of the room shouted.
"Including my brother!"
Several villagers turned toward him.
Teren nodded slowly.
"That forest may indeed contain something that does not wish to be disturbed."
Augustus continued staring toward the forest.
"I will not awaken anything."
He turned back.
"I am only searching for… the truth."
Teren frowned.
"The truth about what?"
Augustus answered briefly.
"The legend your village created."
The room immediately filled with whispers.
Priest Yrund – The Voice of the Church
The elderly priest in white robes stepped forward.
Priest Yrund.
His eyes were sharp despite his fragile body.
"That forest is not merely a collection of trees," he said.
"If it were only trees, we would not forbid anyone from entering."
He stared directly at Augustus.
"We do not oppose it because we are afraid."
"We oppose it because we know."
The room fell silent.
"There are sounds on certain nights."
"There is the scent of metal rising from the roots of the soil."
"And there are children who are born without voices after their mothers walk too close to the forest's edge."
A young woman at the back clutched her child tightly.
Priest Yrund continued.
"Some hunters also claim they have seen massive shadows moving between the trees… even when there is no wind."
He looked at Augustus again.
"It is not a place anyone wishes to visit."
"Especially someone with a reputation like yours."
Augustus raised an eyebrow.
"Would I stain the forest if I entered it?"
The priest did not answer.
Augustus inhaled slowly.
"I know you fear that if something happens inside that forest, this village will be dragged into it."
He looked across the entire room.
"I will protect you."
A farmer from the back shouted,
"What if that creature comes to the village?!"
Augustus answered without hesitation.
"Then I will stand at the village gate."
Another hunter spoke.
"What if you lose?"
Augustus looked at him.
"If I lose… you will no longer have a problem."
The room fell silent.
He continued calmly.
"My purpose in Irinthal is not to create trouble."
"I only want to confirm what truly exists inside that forest."
He paused briefly.
"If the situation becomes complicated… I will return."
His eyes became more serious.
"I will take responsibility."
"And I will ensure nothing touches this village."
He bowed his head slightly.
"Even if I must… sacrifice my life."
Whispers of the Villagers
The villagers began murmuring among themselves.
"He will awaken something…"
"Maybe he came to drive the creature away."
"Or bring it out of the forest…"
One hunter said,
"I heard the man in the forest can explode monsters with his bare hands."
A woman replied,
"Then maybe they will fight."
An old man said quietly,
"Or maybe they are old friends."
"Fool!" someone shouted from the back.
"The Church doesn't care about small villages like this!"
The whispers grew louder.
Two Sources of the Problem
Behind the crowd, two boys stood frozen.
Kael and Millo glanced at each other.
Kael swallowed.
"This… is getting too big."
Millo nodded slowly.
"We only wanted to say he was amazing."
He looked at the increasingly tense crowd.
"Not… start a war."
Augustus Ends the Debate
At last Augustus stepped forward.
Valdryss touched the wooden floor.
The sound of metal was soft, yet the vibration seemed to reach the ears of everyone present.
"I did not come here to steal."
"I did not come here to kill."
He paused briefly.
"And I did not come here to seal anything."
He looked at the villagers.
"I only want to see the truth."
"If the man you call the destroyer of Sil'turah is only a legend… I merely wish to speak with him."
His eyes sharpened.
"And if he is a threat…"
His hand rested on the hilt of Valdryss.
"…then I will be the answer."
He looked toward the village chief.
Then toward the priest.
Teren lowered his head.
Priest Yrund slowly closed his ancient book.
No one spoke again.
Because everyone knew one thing.
Irinhthal Forest would not remain silent much longer.
The step that would enter Irinthal was not merely pushing through thorns and mist.
That step would also open the door to wounds of the world long abandoned.
And beyond those ancient, shadowed trees…
something might already be waiting.