Dawn broke over the southern woods, golden light spilling through the dense canopy. Birds sang, but there was an eerie undertone — a soft, lilting melody carried on the wind, drifting unnaturally between the trees.
Kael strode ahead, cloak flaring, one hand resting on his sword hilt, the other dramatically extended as though feeling the forest's pulse. "Behold," he announced, voice echoing through the silent woods, "the domain where darkness and mystery intertwine!"
Sequoia clutched her cloak, eyes wide. "Oh, why does he always have to talk like that?"
"I like it," Pallas said from her perch on a low branch, wings folded. "It makes everything more theatrical."
"Kael," Brown said, exasperated but patient, "focus on what's important. The village men are missing. This is not a stage for drama."
"Of course," Kael replied, voice dropping to a grave whisper, "but even in darkness, the soul cries for recognition!"
Vex muttered, "I swear if he starts monologuing again, I'm making a potion to knock him out."
Lyra hid a smile behind her hand. "He's entertaining. You should enjoy it while you can."
Sequoia, however, refused to be outdone. "Entertaining? I'm terrified! Every shadow here looks like a monster ready to eat me!"
"Which they probably are," Brown said dryly, scanning the forest with his keen senses.
The melody grew louder as they advanced, soft and hypnotic. It was beautiful, almost mournful, curling around the trees like smoke. Pallas lowered herself to inspect the source. "It's magical," she whispered, wings bristling. "The mana traces are strong. Someone — or something — is calling to the men."
Kael nodded solemnly. "A Hulder's song. Subtle, yet deadly. It lures the weak, the unaware, into the shadows."
Sequoia dramatically dropped to her knees. "I am weak. I am unaware. I shall die first, mark my words!"
Brown pinched the bridge of his nose. "Please, no theatrics during actual danger."
"Too late," Kael said, staring into the thick foliage. "The forest itself conspires! The shadows shift. The leaves whisper! We approach… the truth!"
Vex sighed. "I need a potion for my sanity."
They followed the song deeper, through winding paths, thick undergrowth, and pools of faintly glowing water that pulsed with mana. The air grew heavier with every step. Something watched them, waiting.
Finally, they reached a small clearing. There, amidst broken branches and discarded weapons, lay signs of a struggle. Broken shields, splintered wood — the remnants of what could only be the missing men's last moments.
Pallas sniffed the air. "The scent… it's mixed with blood and… something else. Something unnatural."
Kael crouched beside the ground, examining the tracks. "They were taken, not killed. Carefully. Whoever… or whatever did this had skill and control over the environment."
Sequoia staggered back, waving her arms. "Skill and control? Unnatural scent? That's it! We're all going to die! This forest is evil!"
"Relax," Kael said, placing a hand on her shoulder. "We are trained warriors. Fear is only a shadow that weakens the mind. Courage will guide us."
Sequoia gasped. "Shadow? Weakens the mind? My heart is already broken!"
Brown, shaking his head, stood at the clearing's edge. "Kael is right. Focus, everyone. The men did not vanish on their own."
Kael took a deep breath. "Then we find them. Follow me."
As they ventured further, the song grew clearer. Now, it carried a voice, soft and melodic, almost heartbreakingly sweet. It wove around their senses, pulling at memories, stirring emotions. The group slowed, mesmerized despite themselves.
Sequoia groaned. "I feel… sleepy. I feel… woozy… I'm going to—"
"Sequoia!" Pallas snapped, gripping her shoulders and shaking her. "Stay awake! This is a lure!"
Vex muttered, "I should have bottled a wake-up potion."
The clearing opened to a small, abandoned palace deep in the forest. Its walls were crumbling, vines curling around shattered windows, yet the air pulsed with a strange, hypnotic power.
"There," Kael whispered. "The source of the song."
Brown nodded. "And what lies beyond that door may explain the missing men."
They approached cautiously, weapons ready. Kael pushed the broken door open. Inside, the air shimmered with enchantment and decay. Candles burned without flame, floating in midair. The faint scent of something sweet yet bitter filled their nostrils.
And there she was.
A figure crouched on the floor, delicate features twisted by rage and pain. Once a queen of a nearby region, she had been reported missing months ago. Now… her lower body had transformed into the sinuous form of a lamia. Her eyes, filled with sorrow and fury, glimmered with predatory hunger.
"Who dares enter my domain?" she hissed, voice melodic yet dangerous.
Sequoia stumbled backward, clutching Kael's arm. "I told you! Evil forest things!"
Kael stepped forward, placing himself between the lamia and his companions. "We mean no harm. We're here to understand why men have vanished."
The lamia's gaze flicked to him. "Men? They were tools. Pawns for a world that took everything from me." Her voice trembled with bitter emotion. "They came to me… and I…" She paused, claws curling. "I was forced. They… they killed me. They left me to rot in the dark. And now… I live only to take back what I lost."
Brown's eyes narrowed. "A victim turned predator. Their suffering twisted her soul."
Pallas whispered, "She's… human in pain, but monster in form."
Kael tightened his grip on his sword, voice low but firm. "We will stop the deaths, and we will give you a choice — to surrender or be contained. No more suffering will spill into the world."
The lamia hissed, coiling her body, eyes flickering with hunger. "Then you will join them, hero…"
Sequoia screamed, flailing dramatically behind Kael. "I knew it! I knew I'd die first!"
Vex sighed. "Why do I get the feeling we're going to need more than courage and theatrics this time?"
Lyra stepped forward, placing a gentle hand on Kael's shoulder. "Focus on her, Kael. She's not beyond reason — only pain."
Kael nodded, breathing deeply. "We will do this… together."
The forest echoed the lamia's song, and the shadows twisted. But the party, however dramatic and chaotic, prepared to face the truth — a monster born of pain, a queen turned predator, and the missing men who awaited salvation.