Rivaril's poisonous sky was swallowing the last crumbs of summer, leaving behind the grey cold of the approaching winter. The wind passing through the forest whistled among the rotten branches, freezing one's soul.
Clad in a tight outfit woven from snow-white mountain wolf wool, the Eyeless Hunter glided like a ghost hidden within the wind. He left no crunch where he stepped, no trace where he passed. Ahead of him was a group of five prey, fleeing while emitting the scent of fear, sweat, and fresh blood.
"Did we... lose him?" gasped the one at the very back, wheezing as if his lungs were about to burst. "Shut your mouth and run! He... he is a monster! The bastard threw a knife at my leg!" "Calm down, we'll cauterize the bleed once we reach the cave."
When the group plunged into the cave resembling a dark mouth, Aiden was right on their necks with a silence even shadows couldn't detect. The damp air of the cave combined with the freezing cold outside to create a deadly silence.
One of the thieves whispered with a trembling voice: "This brat named Aiden... Isn't he only sixteen? How can a human be this... terrifying?" "Could he be an evolved half-beast? Or a Curse, like in the rumors?" "Quiet, you fools! Look at this gold; it's worth all the fear."
The sooty torch on the cave wall bathed the pile of gold on the table in a trembling orange light. But at that moment, the wind rushing into the mouth of the cave extinguished the torch with a strange, faint hum.
Pitch darkness fell.
Immediately after, the only sounds heard were the nauseating crunches of flesh tearing from bone and muffled screams. The noises echoed and rose in the cave like a symphony, then suddenly cut off.
In the middle of the darkness, the sound of a match striking was heard.
The flame flared up and revived the torch. The flickering light illuminated the scene on the ground. The bodies of four thieves were scattered about as if torn apart by a wild animal. Broken ribs had pierced through their leather jackets, protruding outward, painting the cave floor crimson.
The last survivor was trying to crawl toward the exit, his left kneecap twisted backward. Digging his fingernails into the dirt, he groaned in agony. Aiden approached him with heavy steps. With ruthless calm, he pressed his right foot onto the man's already broken leg.
The thief's scream echoed off the cave walls. Aiden tilted his expressionless face slightly, resting his elbow on his right knee as he leaned toward the man.
"I was gentle this time; I didn't rip it off," Aiden said, his voice resembling the timbre of cold metal. "So we can have a long chat."
His lips curled slightly. "Hello, sinner..."
"YOU BASTARD! YOU HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH RELIGION! CUT THE PRIEST CRAP!"
Aiden didn't answer. He simply increased the pressure on his foot. The sound of broken bones grinding against each other drowned out the man's screams. With a wet tearing sound, the leg was completely severed from the body.
"Who are you taking these gold coins to?" Aiden asked, his tone unchanging.
"AAAHHH!!! I DON'T KNOW!!!" screamed the thief. Tears streamed down his face, mixing with blood and mud.
Aiden straightened up and placed the tip of his white boot on the man's other, intact leg.
"FATHER AIDEN!!! I SWEAR TO THE GODS, I DON'T KNOW! WE WERE TOLD WE WERE JUST CARRIERS! I SWEAR I HAVE NO OTHER INFORMATION!" The man was on the verge of madness from pain and fear, helplessly pounding his fists on the ground.
At that exact moment, Aiden froze. His right ear twitched slightly, as if catching a vibration impossible to hear amidst the sound of the wind.