Nert blinked in confusion, taken aback by her words. 

He exchanged a glance with Gargeal, who remained silent but alert. 

"What are you talking about?" Nert asked, his voice cautious. 

"What is going on here? Why are the villagers acting like this? Why are you speaking like you're used to this?"

The woman took a deep breath, her gaze flicking nervously around them. 

"The village has been like this ever since Haerak and Aina left," she began, her voice barely above a whisper. 

"We don't know how to tell Haerak now that he has returned. We didn't even know how to bring it up when he was here, so we've just... learned to live with it. We make sure his close friends, Micah, Killian, Seraphina, and Lyra doesn't know about this, ensuring that we don't have them involved in this... whatever this is."

Gargeal's eyes narrowed, his stoic expression barely masking the spark of realization dawning in his mind. 

"Learned to live with it?" he repeated, his voice low and cold. 

"What exactly have you learned to live with?"

The woman looked around again, her fear palpable. 

"They're not human," she whispered, her face contorted in a mix of fear and frustration. 

"Not anymore, at least. They look human, they act human during the day, but come dusk... they change. And anyone who looks suspicious enough, anyone who doesn't fit in, they see as a threat."

Nert's eyes widened, his mind racing as he processed her words. 

"You're saying... the villagers are aware of this?" he asked, his voice shaking slightly.

"They know what's happening to them, and they're just... okay with it?"

The woman's face twisted in a grimace. 

"Not exactly," she said. 

"Most of them don't realize it until it's too late. It's like they're in a trance during the day, acting normal because they think everything is fine. But at night... something else takes over. They become these... things. I don't know what they are, but they're not human. And they hunt. They watch. They're looking for anyone who doesn't belong."

Nert felt a cold sweat break out on his forehead. 

He glanced around at the darkened houses, the shadowy figures lurking in the alleyways. 

"How are you still... you?" he asked, his voice barely more than a whisper. 

"How are you not like them?"

The woman's eyes flashed with a mixture of fear and determination. 

"I've learned to blend in," she said. 

"I keep my head down, I don't act out of the ordinary. I pretend. It's the only way to survive."

Gargeal stepped forward, his expression unreadable but his voice laced with an edge of urgency. 

"You've seen something, haven't you? Something that made you realize what's happening here."

The woman's face paled, her eyes dropping to the ground. She took a shuddering breath, her hands trembling. 

"Yes," she said, her voice hoarse. 

"Last month, I saw a man... from our village. He didn't know. He acted suspicious, asking questions. And then..."

She swallowed hard, her eyes glazing over as if she were reliving the memory. 

"I saw it happen in an alley. They cornered him, these... villagers. At first, they looked normal, but their faces... they twisted into these horrible, inhuman expressions. And then they—" 

Her voice broke, and she looked up at Nert and Gargeal, her eyes wide with terror. 

"They dismembered him. Tore him apart like he was nothing. And they ate him. Right there in the alley. I barely managed to slip away without being seen."

Nert's stomach churned, the gruesome image painted by her words making him feel sick. 

He tried to imagine the scene she described, but his mind refused to fully grasp the horror of it. 

"And no one saw this?" he asked, his voice cracking. 

"No one else noticed?"

The woman shook her head, a bitter smile twisting her lips. 

"No. Only I saw it. The rest of the villagers went on with their lives, as if nothing had happened. They don't see it. They don't see what happens at night. It's like they're blind to it, trapped in some kind of illusion."

Gargeal's expression darkened, his hands balling into fists at his sides. 

"You're telling us that this entire village is under some kind of curse," he said, his voice a low growl. 

"That these people are being controlled, turned into monsters after dark?"

The woman nodded, her eyes brimming with unshed tears. 

"Yes," she whispered. 

"And it's worse now that Haerak and Aina are here. We're all just pretending it's normal, hoping we don't end up like that man I saw."

Nert's breath came in quick. 

He scanned the area again, his paranoia now justified. 

He could see the figures in the distance, standing still, their eyes glinting in the darkness. 

It felt like the entire village was watching them—

Waiting for them to make a wrong move.

"And what happens now?" he asked, his voice barely a whisper. 

"What do we do?"

The woman looked at him, her expression one of resigned despair. 

"You can't fight them," she said. 

"Not like this. During the day, they'll look human again. But tonight... you need to stay hidden. Find somewhere to hide until morning. If they see you as a threat, they'll come for you."

Gargeal nodded, his mind already calculating their next move. 

"We'll find a way," he said, his voice firm. 

"We'll regroup with our comrades, figure out a plan. But thank you... for warning us."

The woman gave a shaky nod, stepping back into the shadows. 

"Just be careful," she whispered. 

"And don't trust anyone. Not even if they look human. Not until dawn."

With that, she disappeared into the darkness, leaving Nert and Gargeal alone once more. 

They stood there for a moment—

The weight of her words sinking in—

The horror of what they had learned pressing down on them like a physical force.

Nert looked at Gargeal, his face pale, his eyes wide with fear. 

"Master," he said, his voice trembling. 

"What the hell are we dealing with here?"

Gargeal's expression was grim, his jaw set in a hard line. 

"Something old," he replied. 

"Something dark. And it's already taken root in this village."

Nert swallowed hard, trying to steady his breathing. 

"We need to find the others," he said. 

"We can't leave them out here alone."

Gargeal nodded, his eyes scanning the shadows around them. 

"Let's go," he said quietly. 

"And pray we make it until morning."

The two moved swiftly, the oppressive darkness of the village closing in around them, the eerie silence punctuated only by the faint, echoing sounds of footsteps— 

Not theirs, but something else lurking in the night— 

Watching— 

Waiting.

△▼△▼△▼△

Yzavynne, Jiighual, and Leeani were finally done handing out the last batch of food to the villagers. 

The trio stood together, wiping the sweat from their brows as they watched the last few villagers head off, clutching their bags of bread, dried fish, and fruits.

Jiighual stretched his arms with a big grin. 

"Andddd, that's the last one!" 

He looked at the young man who had just received his share and playfully added.

"Thank you, young fellow man, like me!"

The young man chuckled awkwardly. 

"Uh... you're welcome?" he replied, looking a bit confused but grateful. 

He gave a small wave to Jiighual, Leeani, and Yzavynne as he walked away.

Yzavynne and Leeani said in unison, smiling. 

"You're welcome!" 

They exchanged a glance, both amused by their accidental synchronization.

Jiighual let out a sigh of relief, wiping his brow dramatically. 

He laughed.

"Phew, never thought handing out food would feel like such a workout."

As they began cleaning up the crates and bags they had used, Haerak stood nearby, observing them with a fond smile. 

He watched them interact so seamlessly with his villagers, bringing a sense of normalcy and lightness despite the undercurrent of unease in the village. 

He muttered quietly to himself, a twinge of worry in his voice.

"Where did Lyra and Seraphina go? They left without a word... Lyra was acting strange, and then Seraphina just followed her. Did they sense something?"

Leeani, catching Haerak's muttering, looked up from tying a bundle of empty sacks. 

She asked, dusting off her hands.

"You mentioned Lyra, right? She's a hunter?" 

Haerak nodded, his expression thoughtful.

"Yes, she is a hunter."

Leeani nodded knowingly. 

"It's normal for hunters to act weird out of nowhere. It's instinct for them when they sense something off, something not right. Lyra probably felt something in the air that made her uneasy. We've experienced that plenty of times with our own."

She explained. 

"Nert especially. He's like the ears of our band, always the first to pick up on trouble before any of us even realize it."

"Yeah," Jiighual chimed in.

"Nert's got this crazy sixth sense for danger. It's like he's always one step ahead, three ears ahead, even when he's half asleep."

Haerak's tense shoulders seemed to relax a bit at their words. 

He let out a deep breath. 

"You think so? I guess... I should trust Lyra's instincts then." 

Yzavynne offered a reassuring smile, placing a hand on his shoulder. 

"You should. Lyra knows what she's doing. And Seraphina wouldn't go along if she didn't trust Lyra's judgment. Whatever it is, I'm sure they can handle it."

Haerak nodded, visibly comforted by Yzavynne's words. 

He murmured. 

"Thank you."

His gaze shifted to Jiighual, who was scanning the village as if looking for the rest of their group.

Haerak asked with a light smile.

"Wondering where the others are?" 

Jiighual chuckled sheepishly. 

"Yeah, kinda. I was just thinking about what they might be up to. Maybe they're out there having a blast while we're busy handing out food." 

He grinned, imagining Andhur and Kazaks causing some kind of ruckus or Qarek quietly enjoying a drink by himself.

"They're probably enjoying the village," Haerak agreed, his voice tinged with an apologetic tone. 

"I just... I'm sorry about all this."

He began, rubbing the back of his neck. 

"I speak on behalf of my village since I am its chief, after all. The timing just hit you all bad. I didn't know the village's condition would be like this when you arrived. It's just that... I didn't really expect this."

Before he could continue, Yzavynne cut him off with a kind smile. 

"Don't worry about it, Haerak. We're here to help, after all. On behalf of our captain, Zach, I assure you, it's fine. We'll figure this out together."

Haerak's eyes softened with gratitude. 

He said, his voice barely above a whisper.

"Thank you," 

Leeani, sensing a chance to lighten the mood, asked.

"Hey, by the way, where's Aina? I haven't seen her around since we got here."

Haerak let out a small laugh, clearly relieved by the change in topic. 

"Aina? She's exhausted from the journey. Eleven days and ten nights on the ship, non-stop. She's back at the house, getting some well-deserved rest. Knowing her, she's probably still sleeping soundly while we're out here talking."

The group shared a laugh, the sound light and easy, easing the lingering tension in the air.

"That's a relief," Yzavynne chuckled. 

"I was worried we had missed her somewhere."

Jiighual raised an eyebrow playfully. 

"I mean, if I had the choice, I'd probably be napping too after all that traveling. Maybe I'll challenge her to a nap-off later. See who's the real nap champion."

Leeani smirked.

"You'd lose that challenge for sure, Jiighual. I've seen you doze off in the middle of a meal. Aina's a deep sleeper back at the ship, but you're on a whole other level."

The laughter that followed was genuine, lifting the spirits of the small group. 

They began reminiscing about their time on the ship.

Yzavynne laughed, shaking her head at the memory.

"Do you remember when Andhur almost fell overboard trying to catch a fish?"

Jiighual grinned widely. 

"Oh yeah! He swore it was the biggest fish he'd ever seen. I think he was more upset about losing his fishing rod than almost falling into the water!"

"Andhur was yelling at the sea like it personally betrayed him," Leeani added, giggling. 

"The best part was when Kazaks tried to help and ended up pulling up nothing but seaweed."

Haerak smiled warmly, listening to their stories. 

It was comforting to see these new allies find humor in even the small, mundane moments. 

It reminded him of simpler times in the village—

Before everything had gone so awry.

"I'm glad you all seem to be adjusting well to the village," Haerak said. 

"Even with everything going on, you've brought some light here today. I've seen smiles on faces, alot this day."

Yzavynne gave him a soft, encouraging look. 

"We're here to help, Haerak. We'll get to the bottom of this. Together."

Haerak nodded, feeling a renewed sense of hope. 

"Together."

Yzavynne, Leeani, Jiighual, and Haerak were caught up in their lighthearted conversation, laughter filling the air. 

But the tranquility of the moment shattered like glass as they spotted Qarek, Lyra, and Seraphina sprinting towards them from one side of the village.

On the opposite side, Nert and Gargeal were swiftly making their way, their expressions tense and filled with an urgency that the four had rarely seen before.

Jiighual was the first to notice. 

He asked, his usual playful tone replaced by confusion.

"Hey, what's up with them?" 

Haerak's smile faded instantly, replaced by a look of concern. 

He took a step forward, his eyes narrowing as he caught sight of Lyra's pale face, her breaths coming in quick gasps, and Seraphina clutching her potion bag tightly. 

Qarek's face was a mixture of panic and fury.

"Lyra!" Haerak called out as she reached them first. 

"What happened? Why did you run off like that without saying a word?"

Lyra, still panting, didn't waste a second. 

Her eyes were wide, filled with a horror that Haerak had never seen in her before. 

"The witch!" she blurted out. 

"Evelori! She took Andhur and Kazaks!"

The words hit them like a punch to the gut. Yzavynne's face drained of color, her eyes going wide in shock. 

Leeani's hand instinctively flew to her mouth as she gasped, her eyes darting between Lyra and the horizon, as if hoping to see Andhur and Kazaks come running back to them, safe and sound. 

Jiighual's usual jovial expression was replaced by a look of pure disbelief.

Qarek, fists clenched and body trembling, shouted.

"We need to get them back! Now!"

Seraphina, her face pale and her eyes brimming with a mixture of fear and guilt, added.

"We have to help them! If we don't... Evelori will turn them into her test subjects. I saw what she did to those bodies earlier... those poor souls! We can't let her do that to Andhur and Kazaks!"

Haerak's jaw tightened as he absorbed the horrifying news. 

He glanced at Lyra, whose eyes were filled with regret and fear, then at Seraphina, who was visibly shaken, clutching her bag of potions as if it were the only thing keeping her grounded.

Just then, Nert and Gargeal reached them. 

Nert looked uncharacteristically frazzled, his usual calm demeanor replaced by a look of grim urgency. 

Gargeal, in contrast, remained as stoic and silent as ever, but there was a dark, unreadable expression in his eyes.

Yzavynne stepped forward, her voice shaky. 

"Nert, Gargeal, what's going on? What did you find out?"

Nert took a deep breath, his eyes flickering to Gargeal as if seeking confirmation before speaking. 

"We encountered a woman, a villager. She stopped us when we were trying to catch up with you all. At first, she seemed normal, but then she started whispering to us," he said, his voice growing quieter as he continued. 

"She said that the villagers have been like this ever since Haerak and Aina left. They act normal during the day, but around dusk... they become something else. Something not human."

Haerak's eyes widened in disbelief, his mouth opening as if to say something, but no words came out.

Nert continued, his voice filled with an unease that made everyone shiver. 

"The woman told us she saw one of these... these things dismember a man and eat him alive in an alley last month. She said it was horrifying, and no one else saw it happen. She barely escaped with her life, and she's been living in fear ever since."

Leeani clutched Yzavynne's arm, her face a mask of horror. 

"But... but why would she keep quiet about something like that? Why wouldn't she tell Haerak?"

Gargeal, still expressionless, finally spoke, his voice low and steady. 

"She's terrified. She said anyone who acts suspicious or looks like they know too much becomes a target. The villagers... or whatever they've become... see them as threats."

Yzavynne's face contorted in shock and disbelief. 

"This can't be happening," she whispered, shaking her head slowly. 

"I thought the village was just... I thought it was just a bit strange, but this?"

Jiighual's fists clenched tightly, his knuckles turning white. 

"Andhur and Kazaks... they're in the hands of that witch right now, right?!" he muttered, his voice filled with a rare, cold fury. 

"We can't waste any more time. We have to go after them!"

Haerak looked between the faces of his comrades, his mind racing. 

His expression twisted into one of deep, personal guilt. 

"I... I had no idea. My own village, and I didn't see it," he muttered, his voice cracking. 

"I let this happen right under my nose..."

Yzavynne grabbed his arm, forcing him to look at her. 

"Hey, Haerak, this isn't your fault. You couldn't have known. But now we do, and we have to act."

Before anyone could speak again, it was Nert who interjected, his voice calm but heavy with an uncharacteristic tension. 

"We need to inform our captain, Zach, about this immediately. Our band relies on his strategy and quick thinking. If we're going to get Andhur and Kazaks back, we need his command."

The gravity in Nert's tone made everyone pause, the realization settling like a cold weight in their chests. 

The members of the Renaissance Band knew Zach well—his calculated mind, his ability to form plans out of chaos. 

Gargeal gave a slight nod, his usual stoicism masking whatever concern he might have felt, while Jiighual clenched his fists, clearly battling an inner turmoil.

Lyra hesitated, exchanging a quick, worried glance with Seraphina. 

"But... what about the others?" she stammered, her voice wavering. 

"The people of this village... if Evelori's controlling them or if there's something darker going on—"

Seraphina's face mirrored Lyra's uncertainty. 

"They might be in danger too. We can't just leave them without any protection. What if something happens while we're away?"

Haerak stepped forward, placing a reassuring hand on Lyra's shoulder. 

"We need to trust Zach. He's our best chance to form a plan that can save both our people and your comrades. He will know what to do once we inform him. Trust him, just as we do."

Lyra and Seraphina exchanged a glance before nodding, albeit reluctantly. 

There was no time to lose—

They all knew it.

Jiighual said, his voice strained but resolute.

"Then let's go." 

The group, now consisting of Yzavynne, Leeani, Jiighual, Haerak, Nert, Gargeal, Qarek, Lyra, and Seraphina, moved quickly through the village, their collective dread mounting. 

△▼△▼△▼△

They arrived at the cabin Zach and Ruby shared. 

Qarek knocked firmly on the door. 

He called out.

"Captain! It's urgent!" 

There was no answer. 

The silence from within the cabin was deafening, unsettling every one of them.

Qarek knocked harder, this time with a sense of growing impatience and fear. 

"Captain! Ruby! Are you in there?"

No response.

Leeani glanced at Haerak, her face filled with a deepening worry. 

 She whispered.

"Something's wrong."

Jiighual's voice boomed, his usual cheerfulness replaced by pure urgency. 

"Captain! Ruby!" 

He pounded on the door. 

Still nothing.

Haerak's expression tightened. 

He took a deep breath, his hand on the doorknob. 

"Pardon me, Zach, but we need you. We're coming in!" 

With that, he pushed the door open.

The sight that greeted them made time itself seem to slow down.

There, sprawled on the ground, were Zach and Ruby. Both of them lay motionless, their faces contorted in pain. 

Blood trickled from the corners of their mouths, pooling on the wooden floor. 

The room was eerily quiet except for the faint sound of their labored, rattling breaths.

"ZACH!" Yzavynne screamed, rushing to his side, her voice breaking with a fear she had never felt before. 

Leeani was already kneeling beside Ruby, shaking her gently but desperately.

"Ruby! Wake up!" 

Gargeal's eyes scanned the room, sharp and calculating despite the horror of the scene. 

"Wh—What in the—?"

His gaze landed on the shards of broken glass scattered near Zach's hand—a vial, its shattered pieces glinting in the dying light. 

His hand moved to pick up one of the larger fragments. 

The glass was stained with a green, viscous liquid, its surface glistening ominously.

Qarek's eyes darted to the open window, where a faint greenish mist was dissipating into the air. 

"The window..." he muttered, his mind piecing together the puzzle. 

"Someone was here. They poisoned them!"

Seraphina's eyes widened as she took in the sight of the lingering green gas. 

She recoiled, her hand instinctively covering her mouth and nose. 

"This... I've seen this before," she whispered in horror. 

"It's the same toxin Evelori used on Andhur and Kazaks when she fled!"

The realization struck them all like a physical blow. 

Their captain, their trusted leader, and Ruby had been targeted. 

They had been attacked, just as Andhur and Kazaks were taken. 

A wave of fear and anger coursed through the room.

Nert's voice was a low, trembling growl. 

"We need to get them out of here, now. We can't stay. The toxin might still be in the air."

Jiighual, his face twisted in rage, slammed his fist against the wall. 

"Damn her! That witch knew exactly what she was doing. She's playing with us!"

Lyra, tears welling in her eyes, clutched Seraphina's arm. 

"What do we do now? Zach... he can't give us orders like this. He's... he's dying!"

Haerak's face was etched with grim determination as he looked at the others. 

"We need to get them help, immediately. Seraphina, do you have anything in your bag that can slow the toxin's effects?"

Seraphina's hands were shaking as she rummaged through her potion bag. 

"I-I might have something... an antidote for general toxins, but I don't know if it will work on this specific one. I've never seen a toxin like Evelori's before..."

As she frantically pulled out vials and powders, Qarek turned to the rest of the group. 

"We can't just stand here. We need to secure this area. If Evelori was here, she might still be nearby, watching us."

Gargeal nodded, his face set in a grim line. 

"If Evelori is targeting us one by one, we're all in danger. Nert, Jiighual, stay with Haerak to guard Zach and Ruby. Qarek, Lyra, Seraphina, Yzavynne, Leeani, you're with me. We need to find the others and regroup."

The group exchanged tense, hurried nods, splitting up in a flurry of movement. 

Somewhere in the darkness—

Evelori was out there—

Her twisted game far from over.

Seraphina's hands worked quickly, her face a mask of concentration and fear as she administered the antidote to Zach and Ruby. 

She whispered, tears streaming down her cheeks.

"Please work... please, you have to work."

And as the antidote began to take effect, slowly, ever so slowly, the rattling in Zach's chest eased just a fraction. 

But his eyes remained shut, and Ruby's hand lay limp in Leeani's grasp.

The room was filled with a tense, suffocating silence, broken only by the distant howl of the wind outside.

Evelori's sinister game had only just begun, and the Renaissance Band was caught in its deadly grip.

The hunt for Evelori had begun—

And there would be no turning back.

═════ ◆ TO BE CONTINUED ◆ ═════