The sun was setting.
Everyone ate, laughed, and chatted, trying to enjoy what might be their last quiet day before leaving the fog village.
Chief Lyra stood behind a tree, watching the crowd.
For a moment, her past slipped back into her mind—her adventures with humans, the happiest days of her life.
The leaves rustled.
Her smile faded.
She looked up.
"So…?" she asked.
A vial dropped from the branches.
Black. Liquid. Almost like water.
"I took it from their secret chambers," a male voice said.
She caught the vial, turning it in her hand.
"Have you found out where they got this?" she asked.
"They said someone in a robe brought it here a few days ago," he replied.
Her face darkened, full of worry.
"You realize we can't match their power.. And if the kingdom gets involved…" the man said flatly.
"I know." She glanced back at the crowd, a faint smile tugging at her lips. "But I made a promise."
The man sighed. "This might be the last day you can do this."
"Yea… that's why I'm going all out.." she replied with a smile.
He dropped down from the tree, landing beside her.
"You're such a pain… Fine. I'll help."
He started walking toward the village. Slowly vanishing into the dark.
Then paused.
"Oh, before I head back… those farmers killed seven humans already. Since this could be our last day here… what do you want me to do?"
Lyra's eyes turned cold.
"...Kill them all."
"Got it." He stuffed his hands in his pockets and walked on.
Lyra exhaled, forcing her voice steady as she told the crowd to set up their tents.
Once everyone was asleep, she called the healer to keep watch.
"Okieee," the healer answered.
Then Lyra slipped away into the village.
She and the mysterious figure slaughtered every last villager… and burned the place to the ground.
The day broke.
Half-asleep, the crowd stirred—only to find themselves in an unfamiliar forest.
The fog village was gone, and their last day had ended far too soon.
Murmurs spread.
"Are we… outside?"
A man, far too energetic for the morning, shouted—
"Everyone! Those who went to the library, did you get a map?"
A few nodded.
"They said the closest kingdom is… let's see… here. The Kingdom of Greenveil," one replied.
"Yes, yes!" the high-spirited man said, grinning wide.
"I suggest we all stay together and head there. It'll be safer."
Ahrie muttered under his breath.
"...Ho. Look at that fake smile."
Daiki frowned. "Who? Him? He looks kinda genuine."
Ahrie shot him a look. Leaned at him then whispered.
"If you've played enough games… or watched certain shit… you'd know.
The ones who chase leadership in times like this—
They don't give a fuck about helping.
They want authority.
The power to decide who gets tossed aside when monsters show up…"
Daiki tilted his head. "...Since when were you this fucking smart?"
WHAM.
Ahrie dropped a fist straight onto Daiki's skull.
"Ever heard of common sense, you muscle-brain?"
Ahrie and Daiki broke into a minute-long fist fight…
After the fist fight, Ahrie asked. "Didn't you always want to be the leader, Daiki?"
Daiki rubbed his head, groaning.
"Fuck it. Let him lead.. I don't want all that responsibility."
After hours of walking, the crowd started grumbling.
"We've been walking for hours… how long till we get there?" someone asked.
"Why does this forest feel so empty?" another muttered.
"Yeah… I haven't even seen a single monster," someone else realized.
Ahrie and Daiki exchanged a look. Something was off.
Hours later, a massive wall came into view.
"We finally made it!" The crowd cheered, some rushing ahead.
Ahrie froze. He felt it—a familiar gaze.
His eyes scanned the trees… and there she was.
Chief Lyra.
Perched high above a tree, bleeding.
Her eyes widened—shocked he'd spotted her.
Ahrie only smiled and gave a thumbs up.
She couldn't hear him, but she read his lips.
"Thank you, Chief."
Chief Lyra smiled… and waved goodbye.
"Lyra… it's time to go," the man beside her whispered.
They vanished into thin air.
The crowd rushed toward the massive gates, relief bursting out in cheers—
Until a voice thundered down from the walls.
"STOOOP!"
Steel scraped. The guards at the gate drew their blades. Archers aimed down from the towers above.
The crowd froze.
Ahrie and Daiki arrived late… guards already had their blades drawn.
Both of them grabbed the hilts of their swords, ready to strike.
Until people rushed in, blocking their path.
"Stoop… stooop!"
Ahrie stopped.
But Daiki barreled straight into the crowd, ignoring their hands shoving him back.
"Wanna go? Huh? Wanna go?" he barked.
Arrows thudded into the dirt at his feet.
Daiki froze. "On second thought…" he backed toward Ahrie.
"You see those fuckers? Using long-range weapons…"
He turned back, yelling at the archers.
"Come back here, you cowards!"
An arrow sliced past his face.
People tackled Daiki into the crowd, holding him down.
Ahrie just laughed.
"State your business here," a guard barked.
The self-appointed leader stepped forward, raising his hands.
"We've come from the forest. We entered Sylvaren only a few days ago."
"Hm…" a slow voice drifted down from the wall. "Quite intriguing."
An elderly man stepped into view, leaning on a cane. A lively sprout at the top of his head, swaying with the wind. His presence silenced even the guards.
"Usually," he said, eyes narrowing, "humans try to kill us on sight."
"Elder…" a guard whispered under his breath.
The old man raised his hand.
"Let them in.. Lead them to the guest chambers."
The gates creaked open.
As the humans were escorted through the city, countless eyes followed them. Civilians and guards alike—each bearing the same strange lively sprout. Shifting, swaying, greener than the ones from the fog village.
At the chambers, the Elder sat at the center, guards forming a ring around him.
"Sit comfortably there," he ordered.
The humans obeyed, unease creeping into their bones.
The Elder leaned forward.
"Now… remind me, where did you say you came from?"
One of the humans answered, "a village inside the forest. The Fog Village."
The chamber stirred. Guards stiffened. Even the Elder's eyes widened.
"That's why I find it intriguing…" the elder said.
A few might survive… but this many of you?"
"The forest alone is dangerous. But the fog village…" he paused, brushing his beard.
"You shouldn't have survived."
The crowd of humans glanced at each other… confused.