The air inside Korrin Town was heavy with tension.
As Leon and Jarek walked through the streets, he felt it—eyes peering from behind shuttered windows, whispers slipping through the cracks of doors. The usual bustle of a town this size was absent. Instead, the few people outside moved hurriedly, avoiding unnecessary conversation.
The Steel Fang Wolf at Leon's side drew several uneasy glances. His Phantom Stalker remained unseen, lurking in the shadows as always.
Jarek let out a low whistle. "This place feels cursed."
Leon didn't respond. He was already analyzing.
Something had the townsfolk spooked.
---
A Silent Market
They passed by what should have been the market square, but the stalls were half-empty. A handful of merchants remained, their eyes darting around as if expecting something to lunge at them from the darkness.
One older merchant, a man with deep lines on his face, spotted them and hesitated before stepping forward. "You're… travelers?"
Leon nodded. "Something like that."
The merchant looked him up and down, his gaze lingering on the beast at Leon's side. "You're the one the lord sent for, aren't you?"
Leon narrowed his eyes. "How do you know?"
The merchant scoffed. "Everyone knows. Ever since the letter was sent, we've been waiting. Thought you'd never show up."
Leon folded his arms. "Tell me what's been happening."
The merchant glanced around, then lowered his voice. "People are vanishing. First it was livestock, then hunters, then farmers. The lord sent out search parties, but they never came back."
Leon's expression remained unreadable, but inside, his thoughts raced.
Jarek scratched his chin. "Any witnesses?"
The merchant hesitated. "There was one. Young man. Barely made it back alive. Said he saw… something."
Leon's eyes sharpened. "Where is he?"
The merchant gestured toward a side street. "His family took him home, but… I doubt he'll be much help. He hasn't spoken a word since he got back."
Leon nodded. "We'll see for ourselves."
---
The Survivor
Leon and Jarek arrived at a small house, its windows dark. The door was slightly ajar, as if no one had the energy to close it fully.
Leon knocked once before stepping inside.
The scent of herbs and damp cloth filled the air. An older woman sat near a cot, wringing a rag in her hands. On the cot lay a young man, pale and unmoving. His eyes were open, staring blankly at the ceiling.
The woman looked up sharply. "Who are you?"
Leon answered calmly. "The lord sent for me to investigate the disappearances."
The woman hesitated, then sighed. "Then you're too late. My son is already lost."
Leon approached the cot. The young man's hands trembled slightly, his breathing shallow.
Leon knelt beside him. "What did you see?"
No response. The young man didn't even blink.
Jarek muttered, "Looks like his soul's already left him."
Leon wasn't so sure. He recognized this kind of fear. It wasn't just shock—it was trauma born from seeing something beyond understanding.
He placed a hand on the young man's arm. "You're still here. I know you can hear me."
The young man's fingers twitched.
The mother gasped. "He—he hasn't reacted to anything in days!"
Leon's voice remained steady. "You saw something, didn't you?"
A shudder ran through the young man's body. His breathing quickened. His eyes slowly shifted toward Leon—the first movement he had made.
Then—he whispered.
"The… moon… moved."
Leon's brows furrowed. "The moon?"
The young man swallowed hard. His voice was raw, barely audible. "I saw… a shadow… crawling through the sky. It swallowed the stars. And when it looked at me… I couldn't move."
Leon felt a chill.
That description…
He turned to Jarek. The older man's usual smirk was gone. "That's not normal."
Leon nodded. He had a bad feeling about this.
But first, he needed more answers.
He stood, facing the young man's mother. "Where did this happen?"
She hesitated before whispering, "The Black Hollow Hills."
Leon exhaled. He had been hoping to avoid that place.
It seemed fate had other plans.
---
A Decision Made
Outside, the town was as tense as ever.
Jarek exhaled loudly. "So. Black Hollow Hills, huh?"
Leon nodded. "That's where we'll find our answers."
Jarek gave a dry chuckle. "Of course it is. Nothing's ever easy, is it?"
Leon didn't respond. His mind was already focused ahead.
Something unnatural was lurking in the west.
And whatever it was…
Leon would find it.
---