Half an hour passed but the tea never ca.
Berry drumd his fingers against the table impatiently, while Mira’s wolves shifted restlessly by the door. The silence dragged on, each tick of ti pressing heavier into the room.
Finally, Lucian stood. His golden eyes swept toward the door, calm but sharp.
"The drug should’ve worked by now."
He said.
Mira blinked.
"Drug?"
Lucian adjusted his cloak and gave a small nod.
"I slipped a sleeping agent into the tea leaves. By now, the chief should be unconscious. We’ll check on the situation outside."
The room fell silent.
Berry’s mouth dropped open.
"So you did drug soone again."
Verus shifted nervously, his hands curling into fists. His voice wavered.
"Lucian... y-you wouldn’t use that sort of trick on us too, would you? Not if you were... angry?"
The others looked at him sharply. Mira frowned, Luna rolled her eyes, but Verus’s question lingered.
Lucian’s lips curled into a faint, amused smile.
"Well... if you don’t make angry, you won’t have to worry about that."
Everyone stiffened. Even Berry’s expression hardened, his usual grin fading. Mira gave him a glare that could pierce stone.
Lucian tilted his head, clearly noticing their faces. Almost horrified, every one of them.
He sighed, lifting his hand dismissively.
"Relax. It was a joke. I’ve no intention of harming my companions. You are mine. I protect what’s mine."
His gaze sharpened.
"The only reason I used the drug here is because I knew the chief was dangerous. He reeked of foreign influence. Leaving him conscious would’ve risked all of us."
That eased the tension—slightly. Mira gave a short nod, though her frown lingered.
"Alright. Then let’s see what your little trick revealed."
She said.
The group stepped outside.
The air of the village was unnaturally still. No sound of chatter, no footsteps, only the faint crackling of the communal fire still burning at the center.
Mira and Luna split off first, checking the luggage they’d brought. Mira knelt, her wolves sniffing around the bags. Luna ran her fingers over the straps.
"It’s untouched."
Luna reported.
"Everything’s in place. Not a thing missing."
Mira added.
Lucian gave a short nod, then gestured for the others.
"Good. Then Berry, Verus—co with ."
The three of them walked toward the center of the village.
What they found there made Berry’s eyes widen.
Dozens of bodies lay slumped on the ground around the fire, as though they’d simply collapsed mid-step. n, won, even children. All breathing, but unnaturally still, their chests rising and falling in shallow, sluggish rhythm.
But their appearances had changed.
Where once they had looked like weary villagers, their true forms were exposed by the sleeping agent.
Their skin was ashy-gray, veins faintly pulsing with black mana. Horn-like ridges curled against their temples, and their nails were sharp and dark. So had tails. Others had twisted features half-hidden beneath their hair.
Demonic. All of them.
Berry froze, taking a step back.
"These... these are demons?"
Verus’s hand shook as he adjusted the grip on his weapon.
Lucian’s gaze swept over them coldly.
"Not pure demons. Maybe half-demons or humans turned into demons by soone."
Berry’s throat tightened. He crouched beside a woman slumped against the wall of a house. Her face, though marked with horns, still carried faint lines of exhaustion. Her arms, clutching a ragged shawl, were trembling even in sleep.
"They... they look desperate. Not like enemies. More like people who were cursed, or suffering. Should we do sothing to help them out? They remind of ourselves before I t you, Lucian.
He whispered.
Lucian’s gaze cut sharply toward him.
"Berry, do not waste your pity. Sympathy is aningless when you’re not in a position to help. Compassion won’t shield you from their claws.
He said flatly.
Berry’s jaw tightened.
"But still...Aren’t we in a position to help-"
"No. We don’t know who they serve. Or why they pretended to welco us. They could be scouts. Spies. Or bait. Until we know the truth, treat them as enemies."
Lucian’s voice was ice.
Berry bit back the words on his tongue. His shoulders slumped, and he finally exhaled.
"... I understand. I guess I did not take all that into consideration. "
Lucian gave a sharp nod.
"Good. Then for now, we restrain them. Once they wake, we’ll question them."
Without further delay, Berry grabbed a coil of rope from the nearby supplies. One by one, he began tying the unconscious villagers, his movents rough but efficient.
By the ti he finished, sweat dotted his forehead. He straightened, throwing the rope aside with a frustrated sigh.
"They’re secured. What next?"
Hhe asked, glancing at Lucian.
Lucian looked over the scene, then turned to his companions.
"Berry, Mira, Luna—search the village. Look for signs of who they serve. Notes. Symbols. Anything."
Berry frowned, displeasure flashing across his face.
"And what about you?"
Lucian’s golden eyes glead faintly in the firelight.
"Verus and I will interrogate them when they wake. We need answers, and I’d rather not waste ti with half-asures."
Berry’s expression darkened. His gaze flicked toward Verus, who looked like he wanted to vanish into the snow.
"You’re really pairing yourself with him?"
Berry asked bluntly.
Lucian’s tone didn’t waver.
"Yes. I trust you more to look around and find clues. Your strength would co in handy for that."
The silence stretched for a mont, tension sharp between Berry and Verus.
But in the end, Berry only clicked his tongue and turned away.
"Tch. Whatever you say, boss. Just don’t trust the wrong people. It can leave you angry and frustrated."
Berry’s voice sounded almost annoyed when he spoke, and his eyes also flashed sharply when he looked at Verus. Thankfully, Verus did not notice, or if he did, he did not show it.
Lucian didn’t react. His gaze had already shifted back to the bound figures, his mind several steps ahead, calculating the questions to ask and the traps to set.
The night was far from over.
And soon, the truth behind this village would be laid bare.
______
I don’t think i am able to write this story as well as i want to, so i will take a small break from it.
Reviews
All reviews (0)