[The village of Elderstone]
The blue text box displays as I look around the village clings to the edge of the forest like a stubborn weed, its rough wooden buildings hunched together under the weight of thick moss and creeping vines.
A worn dirt path leads through the center, splitting off into smaller trails that snake around crooked fences and haphazard gardens. It's quiet, but not peaceful—more like the kind of quiet that holds its breath, waiting for something to go wrong.
Hayle walks behind me, barely keeping pace, her head bowed, and shoulders hunched. I glance over my shoulder to make sure she's still following. Even in her worn, battered state, the villagers give her curious looks, eyes narrowing with suspicion and distrust. A few murmurs to each other, too low for me to catch.
I wondered to myself if I can really protect another person let alone myself in this situation.
[Insight: Elderstone is a small village on the outskirts of Syltharis. It is inhabited primarily by Elves, known for their isolationist tendencies and suspicion of outsiders. The village has limited trade and relies on hunting and foraging. Recent tensions have made them even more distrustful of strangers.]
Great. So we're already on thin ice just by being here. I try to keep my head down and lead Hayle toward the largest building near the center of the village. It looks like an inn—two stories, with a faded sign hanging by a single rusty nail. A place to rest and take a minute to evaluate what's next.
Inside, the place is cramped and dimly lit. A handful of patrons sit scattered at mismatched tables, muttering among themselves. The air smells faintly of ale and damp wood. I feel eyes on us as we step inside, but I force myself to move forward and approach the counter.
The innkeeper, a wiry elf with sunken cheeks and sharp eyes, barely glances at me before wiping his hands on a stained rag. "You lost?" he grunts.
"No," I reply. "Just looking for a place to stay the night."
He eyes me up and down, taking in my armor before shifting his gaze to Hayle. Something unreadable passes through his expression.
"We don't get many strangers here," he mutters. "Especially not armored ones. You not planning on bring any trouble are you?"
"No trouble," I assure him. "Just passing through and want to find a nice place to rest for the night."
He grunts and jerks his head toward the stairs at the back. "One room left. Coin up front."
I fish a few coins from the pouch on my belt and drop them on the counter. He scoops them up without a word and tosses me a tarnished key.
"Thanks" I scoff as I snatch the key out of the air.
As I turn to head up to the rooms, I notice a group of rough-looking men entering the inn. Their clothes are worn and patched, and they carry an air of aggression that makes my shoulders tense. They don't seem to notice us at first, too busy shoving each other and barking crude jokes.
One thing that stands out that they all have the same insignia on their clothes. A singular blood droplet with a skull inside.
The blue text appears quicky in a flash.
[Insight: Blood Takers - A notorious group of thugs known for terrorizing villages and extorting locals. They operate in small packs and are feared for their unpredictable violence. Few dare to stand against them.]
My jaw tightens. Just what we needed they hopefully are not looking for Hayle. I nudge Hayle toward the stairs, trying to avoid their attention. We almost make it when one of them spots us, his sneer widening as he steps in our path.
"Oi," he drawls, breath heavy with ale. "Ain't seen you two before. Fancy armor. You some kinda knight?"
I keep my voice even. "Just a traveler. Looking to rest for the night."
He snorts, glancing over his shoulder at his companions. "Hear that? Fancy boy thinks he can just walk in like he owns the place."
My grip tightens on the key. I could try to crush him with a single strike, but that would just make things worse. Hayle tenses beside me, her breathing shallow. I subtly shift my stance to put myself between her and them.
Looking around some of the patrons look nervous.
The leader steps closer, his sneer turning predatory. "Y'know, travelers like you should show some respect. Maybe pay a little toll for using our village."
A smaller man at his side pipes up with a grin. "Yeah. Or we could just take that armor off your corpse. Bet it'd sell real nice."
Before I can respond, a scream cuts through the room. A woman near the corner table is cowering, clutching a young boy to her chest as one of the thugs grabs her arm, sneering down at her.
"Hey," I say, barely keeping the edge out of my voice but still firm in tone.
The leader turns back to me with a smirk. "What? You gonna do somethin', shiny knight?"
I hesitate, weighing my options. I could fight, but that might make us outlaws in this place if I caused trouble. Then again, letting them hurt people I don't think I can just avoid this after seeing it—
The little boy starts crying, and as he does something snaps inside me. I take a slow breath and square my shoulders.
"I said... leave her alone." glaring into the eyes of the leader.
The leader's face twists with annoyance. "You think you can talk to us like that?"
Without another word, I take a step forward, straightening to my full height. The room seems to shrink, and for the first time, the leader's confidence wavers. I see it in his eyes—the flicker of doubt, the sudden awareness of just how much bigger I am than him.
"Get. Out." I say this time I say while reaching down hand resting my hand on the hilt of my sword.
For a moment, they hesitate, clearly unused to being challenged. One of them glances nervously between me and his leader. The tension in the room pulls tighter, like a bowstring ready to snap.
The leader scoffs, trying to mask his fear. "Tch. Ain't worth our time. Come on, boys."
Reluctantly, they back away, still muttering insults under their breath as they shove their way out of the inn. The woman sobs quietly, hugging her child, and the room slowly returns to its uneasy calm.
I let out a breath I didn't realize I was holding and glance down at Hayle behind me. She's staring at me, wide-eyed and uncertain.
"Are you... always like that?" she murmurs.
I shrug, feeling the adrenaline drain from my veins. "Honestly? I don't know."
The innkeeper gives me a wary nod, not quite gratitude, but at least not hostility. We move to our room without another word, and I lock the door behind us, letting out a shaky breath.
I look at Hayle, trying to find some semblance of comfort in this cramped space. But all I can see is the fear still lingering in her eyes, and the way she keeps her distance—like she's waiting for me to snap, too.
I sink onto the edge of the bed, letting my sword rest against the wall. "Get some sleep," I mutter. "I'll keep watch."
Hayle hesitates, then curls up on the floor, pulling her knees to her chest. I don't push her to use the bed. If that's where she feels safest, I won't take it from her.
The room settles into silence, and I try to ignore the knot in my stomach—the lingering feeling that I just made things even more complicated.