The morning air was crisp as Leon adjusted the straps of his pack, his gaze sweeping across the forest clearing. His Steel Fang Wolf stretched beside him, while his Phantom Stalker remained perched in the shadows, its eyes glowing faintly.
Jarek, their unexpected companion, stood a few feet away, leaning against a tree as he chewed on a strip of dried meat.
"You're up early," Jarek commented, glancing at Leon.
Leon tightened his gauntlets. "We leave at first light. I meant it."
Jarek chuckled. "Efficient. I like it."
Leon ignored the remark and focused on the road ahead. They were one day's travel from the western territories, where the noble's request had originated.
But something still bothered him.
The way Jarek had spoken the night before—something's wrong in the west. It didn't sit well with him.
Leon had seen first-hand how the world of Devia operated. The game had mechanics, but it also had events—things that happened naturally, regardless of player intervention.
He had a gut feeling this was one of those moments.
---
A Troubled Road
The dirt path wound through the forest, narrowing as they traveled deeper into the western region. By midday, they reached a fork in the road. One path led toward Korrin Town, a small settlement under the noble's jurisdiction. The other veered toward the Black Hollow Hills—a stretch of untamed wilderness known for its aggressive beast population.
Leon pulled out the scroll Elric had given him, rereading the noble's request.
"Strange occurrences. Livestock vanishing. Beasts growing restless."
He exhaled, rolling it back up. "We take the road to Korrin."
Jarek nodded. "Smart. No point rushing into the unknown without gathering information first."
Leon didn't reply. His mind was already running through possibilities.
If beasts were acting strangely, there were a few possible reasons:
1. A powerful beast had moved into the area.
2. A relic or artifact was disturbing the natural order.
3. Someone was behind it.
None of those options were good.
---
Signs of Disturbance
As they continued, Leon noticed subtle signs of trouble.
The usual sounds of the wild—birds, insects, rustling leaves—were muted. The deeper they went, the more unnatural the silence became.
The Phantom Stalker had already faded into the shadows, taking a more cautious stance. The Steel Fang Wolf, usually relaxed, was tense, ears flicking back and forth.
Even Jarek seemed to sense it. "Feels… wrong, doesn't it?"
Leon nodded.
Then—they found the first sign.
A carcass.
Lying in the middle of the road was a dead horse, its body torn open with deep, jagged wounds.
Leon crouched beside it, inspecting the injuries. The cuts were uneven, as if made by claws… but something was off.
Jarek knelt next to him. "What do you think?"
Leon traced a claw mark with his fingers. "These wounds are fresh. Maybe a few hours old."
Jarek frowned. "Bandits?"
Leon shook his head. "No. Bandits don't leave kills behind. And look—no bite marks. Whatever did this… wasn't hunting for food."
Jarek exhaled. "That's not good."
Leon stood. "We need to move."
They quickened their pace toward Korrin Town. Whatever was happening here, it was escalating.
And Leon intended to find out why.
---
Arrival at Korrin Town
By late afternoon, they reached Korrin Town's outskirts.
It was a small settlement, surrounded by wooden palisades. Fields of wheat and barley stretched beyond the town's walls, though Leon noticed several empty plots of land—as if the farmers had abandoned their work.
The guards at the entrance looked wary, their grips tight on their spears. As Leon and Jarek approached, one of them stepped forward.
"Halt. State your business."
Leon pulled out the noble's request scroll and handed it over. "I'm here to investigate the disturbances."
The guard's eyes widened slightly. He looked between Leon and Jarek before nodding. "The lord has been waiting. Go inside—but be careful. The town is… uneasy."
Leon exchanged a glance with Jarek.
Then they stepped through the gates.
Inside Korrin Town, something was very wrong.
---