Day 4 Continues

  The weight of the previous night lingered in the air as the sun reached its zenith, casting long shadows over the village of Hallowglen. Kalenor paced along the walls, his eyes scanning the dense mist that encased the forest. Every step he took was measured, his sharp amber gaze never resting for long on any one point. He wasn’t searching for something specific he was waiting.

  Below him, villagers worked tirelessly to fortify their defenses. Patrols moved briskly between the walls and the main hall, relaying updates and ensuring everyone knew their role. The fires burned steadily, their crackling a reassuring presence amidst the oppressive silence of the mist.

  As Kalenor made his rounds, the carpenter approached, his steps heavier than usual. Kalenor noticed the change immediately. The man was no longer dressed in his simple work clothes. Instead, he wore a set of tarnished but sturdy armor, its edges nicked and worn from battles long past. A sword hung at his side, its leather-wrapped hilt polished from years of use.

  The carpenter stopped in front of Kalenor and saluted, a gesture of respect from one warrior to another. “Scalesworn,” he said, his voice steady despite the tension in the air, “I’ve done all I can for the shields. I’ll make no more tonight. Instead, I’ll stand with the others in defense of the hall.”

  Kalenor inclined his head, a faint smile breaking through his otherwise grim expression. “You’ve done more for this village than most would in your position. Your work has given these people hope. For that, I thank you.”

  The carpenter shrugged, a small smile tugging at the corner of his lips. “Hope is only as strong as the will to defend it. I’ll stand at the main hall. If the worst comes, that’s where the people will need me most.”

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  “May your blade serve you well,” Kalenor said, his tone sincere.

  “And yours,” the carpenter replied, before turning and heading toward the hall, his armor clinking softly with each step.

  As dusk fell, the village braced itself for another long night. The mist thickened, swallowing the fading light and leaving the torches as the only source of illumination. Kalenor stood on the northern wall, his cloak billowing slightly in the cool breeze. His fingers rested lightly on the hilt of his sword, his body tense and ready.

  Then, he saw her.

  The figure in the ocean-blue cloak emerged from the mist, her movements slow and deliberate. Her horned silhouette cut through the haze like a specter, and Kalenor felt a chill crawl up his spine. This time, she wasn’t alone.

  Behind her, a massive shadow loomed, its form obscured by the swirling fog. Kalenor’s sharp eyes could make out the faintest details a hulking shape, its broad shoulders and elongated limbs giving it an almost otherworldly appearance. It moved with a predatory grace, each step sending faint tremors through the ground.

  Kalenor tightened his grip on his sword, his jaw clenched. “What is this...?” he muttered to himself.

  The patrol nearest to him noticed his sudden stillness and followed his gaze. One of them let out a quiet gasp. “What is that?” the man whispered, his voice shaking.

  Kalenor didn’t answer immediately. His thoughts raced, his mind filled with questions he couldn’t answer. Was this the same shadow he had sensed in Morbitral’s cryptic warning? Was this her protector, her creation, or something far worse?

  As the figure and the shadow lingered at the edge of the forest, Kalenor felt the weight of doubt pressing down on him. For the first time since his arrival, he questioned whether the village could survive what was to come. The defenses they had built, the patrols they had stationed it all felt so small, so fragile, in the face of the corruption that loomed before them.

  Turning to the patrol, he spoke with a quiet intensity. “Sound the alarm. Gather the elders and the villagers. Prepare everyone for an attack.”

  The guard hesitated, his fear clear. “Do you think they’ll come tonight?”

  Kalenor didn’t take his eyes off the figures in the mist. “I don’t know,” he admitted. “But we can’t afford to be unprepared.”

  The guard nodded and hurried off to carry out the order. Kalenor remained on the wall, his gaze locked on the Lady in Blue and her monstrous companion. She didn’t move, but her presence was palpable a suffocating reminder of the corruption that had taken root in Brynshale.

  As the mist thickened and the light faded, Kalenor felt the creeping despair of the villagers echoing in his own heart. But he couldn’t let it consume him. Not yet. Taking a deep breath, he forced himself to focus, his mind already formulating plans for the long night ahead.