Chapter 18: A week too late

The village was already starting to get busy. People were coming out of their houses, while guards were moving around the streets.

After asking around, Ethan soon found the place where the elder’s daughter, Mira, usually stayed when she was in the village.

A guard was standing outside.

"I’m here to deliver something to Mira."

The guard looked at Ethan.

"You’re looking for Mira?"

"Yes."

"She’s not here."

"Where did she go?"

The guard pointed toward the western side of the village.

"She went outside to check on the outer watchposts."

"Why?"

"Some of the people stationed there haven’t reported back."

Ethan thought for a moment.

"How long ago did she leave?"

"Maybe twenty minutes ago."

"Did she go alone?"

"No. A few guards went with her."

Ethan looked toward the western gate.

The Laughing Fiends had been sent to stop anyone from reaching this village. If people at the outer watchposts had already stopped reporting, something might have happened there.

He took the Letter from the elder out of his inventory and put it away again.

"I’ll go find her."

The guard looked at him with some surprise.

"You?"

Ethan didn’t bother explaining. He turned toward the western gate and soon left the village behind

The village slowly disappeared behind him as he entered the forest. The Shadow Wraiths spread out around him, moving ahead and checking the area.

After some time, Ethan reached the first watchpost.

It was quiet.

There was no one outside, but a few weapons had been left on the ground. One of the wooden posts was damaged, and there was blood near the entrance.

Ethan searched around the watchpost and soon found several injured guards hiding nearby

One of them immediately reached for his weapon.

"Who are you?"

"I’m looking for Mira."

The guard hesitated before lowering his weapon slightly.

"Do you know her?"

"Yes."

The guard glanced toward the watchpost.

"Then you’re too late. We were attacked."

"What happened?"

"We don’t know. They came suddenly, and we had no choice but to retreat."

Ethan looked at the injured guards.

"Where’s Mira?"

"She came after we stopped reporting. Then she found out another watchpost farther ahead had also gone silent."

The guard took a breath.

"Some Laughing Fiends attacked us. Mira went ahead with a few guards to check the next watchpost."

"How long ago?"

"About half an hour."

"Which way?"

The guard pointed into the forest.

"That way."

Ethan nodded and turned toward the road.

"Wait."

One of the guards called after him.

"Are you going alone?"

"I’m fine."

Ethan looked at the injured guards.

"You should return to the village and report what happened here."

The guards hesitated.

"What about Mira?"

"I’ll find her."

The guard wanted to say something, but Ethan had already started walking.

The Shadow Wraiths moved ahead through the forest, silently checking the road.

It didn’t take long before Ethan noticed several people farther ahead. Mira and a few guards were walking toward the next watchpost, so Ethan increased his pace. One of the guards soon noticed him.

"Someone’s coming."

Mira turned around and stopped when she saw Ethan approaching.

"Who are you?"

Ethan reached into his inventory and took out the Letter the elder had given him.

"I’m here to deliver something."

Mira looked at the Letter in his hand. She recognized the elder’s signature almost immediately.

"You’re from the other village?"

"Yes."

She took it from him and checked the signature again.

"My father sent you?"

"Yes."

Mira frowned slightly.

"Then why are you only here now?"

Ethan paused.

"What do you mean?"

"We’ve been waiting for a response from your village for a week."

"A week?"

"Yes. We already sent three groups there to find out what happened."

"We’ve been waiting for a response from your village for a week."

"A week?"

"Yes. We already sent three groups there to find out what happened."

Mira glanced back at the road Ethan had come from.

"None of them returned."

Ethan was quiet for a moment.

"They’re probably dead."

Mira froze.

"What?"

"They were probably killed before they could reach the village."

Her expression changed. She looked at Ethan for a few seconds before asking, "How do you know?"

"Because I was attacked on the way here."

"Attacked?"

"By Laughing Fiends."

Mira’s face became serious.

"There were quite a few of them. They weren’t just wandering around either. They were waiting on the road and stopping anyone who tried to reach your village."

He paused before continuing.

"I think they’ve already surrounded both villages. They don’t want anyone from here to reach the other village and tell them what’s happening."

Mira didn’t say anything for a moment.

Her grip tightened around the Letter in her hand.

"If that’s true..." She looked back toward the village. "Then the three groups we sent..."

"They probably ran into the same people."

"They were supposed to come back."

Ethan didn’t say anything.

Mira took a breath before asking, "How many Laughing Fiends did you meet on the way here?"

"Sixteen."

Her eyes widened.

"Sixteen?"

"Yes."

Mira stared at him for a moment.

"Then how did you get here?"

"I killed them."

The guards behind her also looked at Ethan in surprise.

"You killed all sixteen?"

"Yes."

She looked at Ethan again, this time more carefully.

Sixteen Laughing Fiends had been waiting outside the village, and he had killed all of them by himself?

"Don’t think that’s all of them," Ethan added. "Those were only the ones I met on the way here. There are probably more."

"So they really are trying to keep the two villages separated."

"Yes."

Mira looked toward the road ahead.

"If there are more of them, then this is worse than we thought."

She stopped and glanced at the guards beside her. They had heard everything.

"Let’s go back first. We need to tell them what happened here."

The guards nodded.

A notification suddenly appeared in front of Ethan.

[Quest Completed: The Elder’s Letter]

Objective:

Deliver the Village Elder’s letter to his daughter in Ashbrook Village.

Reward:

• 100 EXP

• 5 Silver Coins

• Reputation with Novice Village

Ethan glanced at the notification before dismissing it.

Mira looked at Ethan with an expectant look.

"You’re coming with us?"

Ethan nodded. "Yes."

Mira seemed relieved. She turned around and started walking back toward the village, while Ethan followed with the guards.