Chapter 115: Twelve Villages
The village was quiet again by morning.
The bodies of the creatures had been moved away from the houses, and the wounded had been treated by the village healer.
Kael stood near the road while his soldiers prepared the horses.
The old man from yesterday approached him.
"You are leaving."
Kael nodded.
"We have to."
The man’s eyes lowered.
"There are other villages beyond the hills."
"I know."
"Will you help them?"
Kael looked toward the distant mountains.
"I don’t know."
The old man looked surprised.
Kael continued.
"I won’t promise something I cannot guarantee."
The old man nodded slowly.
"At least you speak honestly."
Kael looked toward the village.
"How often have the creatures appeared?"
The man’s expression became serious.
"Three times this month."
Kael frowned.
"Only here?"
"No."
He pointed toward the road.
"The village east of here saw them first."
Kael looked at Torren.
"How far?"
"Half a day’s ride."
Kael nodded.
"And the others?"
The old man pointed toward the mountains.
"Some have seen them."
"Some haven’t."
Kael’s eyes narrowed.
"Which villages haven’t?"
The old man thought.
"The ones closest to the river."
Kael immediately remembered the chamber beneath the water.
The strange disturbances.
The dead fish.
The missing people.
The seal.
His expression hardened.
"Torren."
"Yes?"
"Bring me the map."
The map was spread across the hood of a wagon.
Kael studied it carefully.
Twelve villages were marked along the road.
He placed a finger on the first.
"Monster attack."
Then another.
"Attack."
Another.
"Nothing."
Torren watched him.
"You’re looking for a pattern."
Kael nodded.
He moved his finger across the map.
The attacks formed a rough line.
But there was something strange.
They weren’t moving toward the villages.
They were moving away from the river.
Kael looked at the map again.
"How far is this village from the dam?"
Torren measured the distance.
"About two days."
Kael moved to another location.
"And this one?"
"Three."
Another.
"Four."
Kael slowly stepped back.
The pattern became clearer.
The farther the attacks traveled...
The farther they moved from the river.
Lyra looked at him.
"Are you thinking what I’m thinking?"
Kael shook his head.
"I hope you’re not thinking what I’m thinking."
Torren gave them both a confused look.
"What are you thinking?"
Kael pointed at the map.
"The creatures aren’t spreading toward the villages."
"They’re fleeing."
Silence.
Torren’s expression changed.
"From what?"
Kael looked toward the distant mountains.
"I don’t know."
The decision was made.
They would visit the two nearest villages before continuing to the capital.
Not because Kael believed they could solve the entire problem.
Because he needed more information.
The first village was nearly empty.
Only a handful of people remained.
The village headman, a thin man named Edrin, met Kael at the gate.
He wore a faded green tunic and carried a walking staff.
His face looked exhausted.
"You came from the western village."
Kael nodded.
"How did you know?"
"We saw the smoke."
Edrin looked toward the soldiers.
"Did you kill them?"
"Three."
The man’s shoulders lowered with relief.
"Then you are the first."
"The first what?"
"The first people to kill one."
Kael frowned.
"What happened to the others?"
"They ran."
"Where?"
"North."
Kael looked at the mountains.
"How many creatures attacked?"
"Six."
"When?"
"Four days ago."
Kael’s eyes narrowed.
"Did anything strange happen before the attack?"
Edrin hesitated.
"The wells."
"What about them?"
"The water became warm."
Kael went still.
"Warm?"
"Yes."
"How long?"
"One night."
"And then?"
"The creatures came."
Kael exchanged a glance with Lyra.
Another connection.
The river.
The creatures.
The water.
But it still wasn’t enough.
Kael looked toward the well.
"Show me."
The well stood in the center of the village.
Kael leaned over the stone wall.
The water below looked clear.
He touched it.
Warm.
Not hot.
But warmer than it should have been.
Kael pulled his hand away.
The system appeared.
[Unusual energy detected.]
Kael’s eyes narrowed.
The message disappeared almost immediately.
He looked at the villagers.
"Has anyone else tested the water?"
Edrin shook his head.
"We were afraid."
Kael looked toward the soldiers.
"Nobody drinks from this well."
"Yes."
"Seal it."
The soldiers immediately began gathering wood.
Edrin looked worried.
"Then where will we get water?"
Kael pointed toward the road.
"The river."
Edrin’s face tightened.
"The river?"
"Your well is contaminated."
"We’ve used it for generations."
"And now something has changed."
Kael didn’t explain the system.
He couldn’t.
Instead, he ordered the soldiers to collect water from another source.
The villagers obeyed.
Some reluctantly.
Others gratefully.
Kael looked toward the mountains again.
Something was driving the creatures away from the river.
And whatever it was...
The water was carrying traces of it.
They reached the second village before sunset.
There were no signs of an attack.
That was what worried Kael.
The village looked normal.
Too normal.
Children played near the houses.
Farmers returned from the fields.
Smoke rose from chimneys.
Kael dismounted.
A young woman approached.
She wore a simple brown dress with a blue shawl wrapped around her shoulders.
"You are travelers?"
"Passing through."
She smiled.
"Then you came at a good time. The harvest festival is tomorrow."
Kael looked around.
"Have there been any monster attacks?"
Her smile disappeared.
"No."
"Any strange changes in the water?"
She hesitated.
"Our well has been warm."
Kael’s expression hardened.
"How long?"
"Three days."
Kael looked at Lyra.
Three days.
The attacks in the previous village had come four days after the water changed.
Kael turned toward the well.
"Keep everyone away from it."
The woman stared at him.
"Why?"
Kael looked toward the northern hills.
"Because I don’t think you have much time."
The woman’s face went pale.
"Time for what?"
Kael didn’t answer.
A distant sound rolled across the hills.
A low roar.
Every person in the village stopped moving.
The horses became restless.
Kael slowly drew his sword.
The roar came again.
Closer.
This time, several birds exploded from the trees.
Kael looked toward the soldiers.
"Get the villagers inside."
The soldiers moved.
Lyra drew her weapon.
Torren grabbed his staff.
Kael stared toward the darkening hills.
The creatures weren’t supposed to be here yet.
Not according to the pattern.
Something had changed.
Then a shadow appeared on the ridge.
One creature.
Then another.
Then another.
Kael counted them.
Eight.
His hand tightened around his sword.
"That’s more than before."
Torren swallowed.
"Much more."
Kael stepped forward.
The village bell began ringing.
People screamed.
The creatures started down the hill.
Kael raised his sword.
"I suppose we’re not reaching the capital tomorrow."