On the way back to the village, Jonn and Petyr listened intently as William shared what little he knew about Hewet. While his knowledge was fragmented and lacked specifics, it was still more than they had previously known.

  As a second-rank mage of the Dayflare Family, William naturally had limited access to detailed information about someone of Hewet’s stature. The specifics—where Hewet had come from, his personal relationship with the king and the Royal Army, the battles he fought, and his progression in magic—were shrouded in secrecy. Those details were known only to a select few, and neither William nor Acelin was part of the circles privileged with such knowledge.

  Still, William and the merchant knew some broad strokes about Hewet’s life. They knew he had fought in the last two mage wars. They knew Hewet was over 200 years old when he died and, as far as anyone could tell, had left no biological family behind. According to William, Hewet had served Eldoria with distinction during the Second and Third Mage Wars, earning renown for his devastating power. However, there was a conspicuous absence of information about his life before the Second Magic War. William speculated that Hewet might have already been a part of Eldoria’s army during this earlier time, though likely as a lower-ranked mage, still growing into his full potential.

  Hewet’s known story reached its abrupt conclusion with the Third Magic War. After the war’s end, he reportedly left the Royal Army and disappeared entirely from public life. News about him ceased, leaving a void that was filled with myths and speculation.

  Some rumors claimed Hewet had died, while others said he had gone into seclusion to pursue the path of becoming a Transcendent.

  Acelin had slightly more context than William. Decades ago, during his trade dealings, he had stumbled upon Hewet’s true identity. Fully aware of the man’s reputation as the Destroyer, Acelin had exercised extreme caution, never daring to speak more than was necessary. Fear and pragmatism compelled him to keep Hewet’s secrets to himself. Only after hearing of General Irondoom’s death years later did Acelin feel comfortable acknowledging what he knew. But even then, his understanding of Hewet’s life after the war was shallow.

  The merchant knew only that Hewet had chosen a simple and secluded existence, living among or aiding a small community. Beyond this vague truth, Hewet remained an enigma, and Acelin had never been foolish enough to probe further. For decades, Hewet’s actions following the war remained known only to him and those closest to him.

  As Jonn and Petyr reflected on these accounts. While the others could only speculate, the two knew the truth about Hewet’s final years. They had seen it firsthand: the man had lived out the rest of his days in quiet exile, leading a humble, almost mortal existence in the Eternal Village.

  Why had Hewet done it? They didn’t know. What they did know was that the Elder had forsaken magic, lived as a mortal, and devoted himself to caring for the village as an ordinary man until his last days.

  As they unraveled more pieces of the truth about the former Elder’s life, their thoughts inevitably drifted back to the day of Hewet’s death—his ascension to the Immortal Realm.

  They had always considered it mysterious that Hewet had passed through the Gates of Dawn, something few could even dream of. But now, understanding just how powerful he had been as a mage, they suspected that his immense magical prowess had made such a passage possible.

  Still, a few minutes of riding back to the village wouldn’t be enough time to discuss everything about Hewet with William and Acelin. Jonn and Petyr knew they’d revisit the topic with them—and with Hank—on other occasions. For now, though, there were more pressing matters to attend to.

  Despite their dominant victory against the enemy forces earlier, it had come at a cost. Two men from the Eternal Village had fallen in the battle, and several others were wounded. Those who had survived would need treatment and, at least temporarily, some rest to recover.

  It was a painful loss for the two who had died—and for their families and friends. But the group couldn’t afford to stop and mourn, not with more threats looming on the horizon.

  As they approached the village, stopping outside the deserted walled area, they split into two groups even before one of the outer watchmen, mounted on horseback, began riding toward them with some beasts stationed nearby in a defensive position.

  The larger group would remain behind. Their task was to tend to the injured, guard the resources salvaged from the enemy forces, and manage the 10 prisoners the group had captured during the night. The smaller group, led by Jonn, would head west to join Eliot and Hank, who should be waiting for them to deal with the beast threat in that region.

  As the watchman, mounted on his horse, stopped a few dozen meters from the bamboo gate at the village’s entrance, Petyr called out, “Did anything happen while we were gone?”

  “No. Everything has been quiet,” the man replied. His expression was serious as his gaze lingered on the tired, bloodied group of men and the prisoners they had brought with them. He didn’t ask for any reports—it was clear enough what had transpired during their mission.

  Jonn nodded, his tone authoritative. “Maintain the defensive formation for now. My group is heading west to assess the beasts’ threat.”

  Acelin, overhearing those words, felt a shiver run down his spine. His interest in the Eternal Village was undeniable. He had assumed that conquering or exploiting this community would be a straightforward challenge. In his mind, he had seen himself as the sole adversary of Jonn’s group. Hearing about the potential beasts’ threat forced him to reassess his assumptions.

  Acelin hadn’t seriously considered the possibility of competing forces!

  As he observed the scene, he realized the Eternal Village wasn’t as simple as he had imagined. The village’s surroundings were dark, dimly lit by the warm glow of torches and fires placed in strategic positions—on the walls, in the towers, and scattered both within and outside the settlement. Among the faintly flickering shadows, Acelin noticed vigilant guards standing in formation, their eyes scanning the periphery, along with various beasts.

  The sight left him uneasy. This was no typical community of farmers. The Eternal Village carried an air of preparedness. Acelin’s earlier confidence faltered, replaced by a quiet, growing unease.

  ‘These are beasts…’ Acelin’s throat went dry as he swallowed hard, his concern mounting. His eyes darted between the worried expressions of the villagers and the men who had captured him. The victory they had achieved earlier over his group had brought neither peace nor relief to these people. Instead, their faces bore the weight of a community under siege.

  The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

  ‘That’s not good… These people are deeply concerned. Whatever beasts are threatening this village must be far worse than anything my group could have done.’ His thoughts spiraled as a cold sweat formed on his brow. He felt a leaden weight settle over him, realizing the precarious position he found himself in. ‘Am I really a prisoner of war in a community that could be wiped out by creatures stronger than my own forces?!’

  A painful sense of urgency gripped Acelin’s chest. His group had inadvertently stepped into a hornet’s nest—one already under threat from something far worse than they had ever imagined.

  Jonn and his companions had no insight into their prisoner’s swirling thoughts. The group moved, quickly splitting up to handle their respective tasks. Only three mounted guards, alongside Roulf, remained by Jonn’s side. The rest of the battle-worn villagers, including William, Petyr, Ice, and the other fighters who had taken part in the earlier skirmish, stayed behind in the village.

  In less than three minutes, Jonn’s newly assembled group had rested and been briefed on the current state of their home. Then, they set off from the village, riding toward the dark and desolate western region!

  The night progressed slowly, reaching its dark zenith before beginning its quiet retreat. The vast, desolate expanse of the Barren Hills of Deepshadow loomed under the faint light of the stars, silent as ever.

  The lifeless black terrain seemed to watch over the world in still, frigid vigilance.

  A biting cold filled the air as night transitioned toward dawn. It was the chill that would send any mortal seeking warmth, wrapping themselves tightly in cloaks or huddling close to flickering fires. Pockets of icy frost clung to the dead earth. On rare occasions, the sweat of the few animals that eked out a life in the region would freeze on their fur during nights like this, forming delicate, crystalline patterns.

  Through the bone-chilling night winds, a small group advanced—a collection of four mounted men accompanied by a bull, all pushing toward the west with singular focus. Their cloaks flapped against the icy wind as they rode, their breath visible in the frigid air.

  It had been a grueling night for Jonn and his party—a night spent in constant motion. Even with their mounts, which were swift and sturdy, the area where the creatures had been sighted lay several hours’ ride west of the village. Factoring in their journey to and from Acelin’s camp earlier that night, Jonn’s group only now neared their destination, approaching the position where Eliot and Hank were waiting, just as the first hints of dawn crept into the sky.

  The pitch-black night was finally loosening its grip. The once oppressive darkness had faded into a softer dark gray, and further east, slivers of pale blue hinted at the coming day.

  Jonn rode ahead of the group, his steely gaze fixed on the endless succession of jagged hilltops that loomed in their path. He remained silent, his eyes narrowed against the stiff wind that stung his face. Behind him, the three villagers huddled tightly in their heavy coats, clutching their abdomens for warmth.

  They had endured hours of relentless cold, their bodies aching from the chill, but they held firm—they had come too far to falter now. The discomfort was temporary, and all of them understood the urgency of their mission.

  “Finally! I thought we’d never make it!” one of Jonn’s men exclaimed with a sigh of relief as they spotted Eliot’s group standing atop the next hill.

  The roosters and horses stood silently beside Hank and Eliot, their ears twitching as they sensed the approach of the village’s reinforcements. Hank and Eliot, their senses attuned to their surroundings, noticed the animals’ peculiar behavior and turned to see their companions arriving.

  Rising from where they had been resting, the two men moved a little away from the hill.

  Jonn and his men halted about ten meters in front of them, dismounted from their horses, and approached with questions.

  “How was the night? Did anything strange happen here?” Jonn asked, fully recovered from the earlier battle against Acelin’s group. He had used [Universal Breath] to restore himself during the long ride.

  Hank replied, “It was peaceful. We didn’t see any other beasts during those hours. But we also didn’t risk investigating the route where the dinosaurs spotted by Eliot passed yesterday.”

  “We didn’t want to take any chances,” Eliot added, eyeing Jonn curiously. “How did that other matter end?”

  “The village won. Acelin brought an army and mages in search of the village, but we neutralized them,” Jonn summarized for his friend and the mage ally. “Anyway, that’s a problem for the future. We’ll discuss it when we get back to the village. For now, we’d better investigate the dinosaurs’ passage in depth.”

  Eliot and Hank had more questions about the northern threat from the previous night, but they held their tongues. Jonn also refrained from elaborating further, signaling for them to remount and head toward the exact location where the dinosaurs had passed.

  Eliot took the lead, guiding the group to the spot where he had seen the dinosaurs the previous morning. It had sent him hurrying back to the village and prompted Veris to leave for Lost Treasures.

  “It was here. They were running north from the south,” Eliot pointed out, showing the exact route the beasts had taken.

  Jonn examined the ground and saw several massive tracks, each large enough for a horse to lie down in. Activating [Arcane Sight], Jonn noticed something unusual about the ground in the area. He dismounted from Windy and pulled out the Celestial Magnifying Glass, ready to investigate further.

  Crouching down next to what he identified as dinosaur droppings, Jonn saw system message boxes appear in his vision. [Analysis] kicked in, mixing with [Essence of Life] to estimate what could be deduced from the remains of Tyrannosaurus Rex feces.

  The creatures Eliot had spotted were at least level 2 beasts. From the amount of mana in their feces, they certainly have formidable magical power.

  Jonn’s expression grew grimmer as he considered the implications of a group of such powerful dinosaurs.

  A group of six beasts capable of destroying small human cities… What are the chances that this isn’t related to the Triceratops horde? He asked himself, already knowing the obvious answer. The likelihood that these dinosaurs were unrelated to his allies was minimal.

  It looks like what those Triceratops warned me about is finally happening… The timing couldn’t be worse!

  He closed his eyes and took a deep breath, looking northwest towards Lost Treasures with a heavy heart. A perfect storm is brewing for the village. We’ll have to face three deadly problems simultaneously.

  He felt a pang of regret, but he couldn’t see any other outcome.

  “We’ll need to send someone to the Triceratops horde. We need to combine our groups to deal with this threat. I also need some of them to handle a matter for us inside Lost Treasures.”

  Eliot and Hank understood the problem. The young archer moved into position, ready to leave for the Lost Treasures.

  Jonn shook his head and said, “No. We have to keep the village mages within the village. Now that we’re facing many threats, we can’t risk our people. We’ll return to the village and send one of the two beasts from the Triceratops group back to the Lost Treasures. The rest of us need to focus on strengthening and protecting the village.”

  Hank understood Jonn’s concern, but he couldn’t help but ask, confusion evident on his face, “I just don’t understand why you consider the threat from the beasts Eliot spotted to be so imminent and important. Haven’t these dinosaurs gone north? Why do you think they’ll be dangerous to the village?”

  He understood that being near creatures as dangerous as dinosaurs was a risk. But the group of dinosaurs didn’t seem to head toward the village.

  “It’s not that simple, unfortunately. Beasts aren’t like mages. They have far superior instincts. While the village might be hidden from mages, our methods aren’t as effective against beasts. All it takes is for one of them to get a little closer to the east, and they’ll sense our community’s mana trail.” Jonn paused, letting Hank imagine the consequences if a group of high-offensive beasts detected the village.

  The old mage paled in horror. He didn’t have the same understanding of beasts as Jonn, but his knowledge of other aspects of magic allowed him to grasp the logic in Jonn’s words.

  “That’s terrible. We’d be dead before we had a chance to fight!” Hank exclaimed, his voice trembling.