Chapter 61: Chapter 61 - The First Demon General ( Part 5)
Silence filled the air.
On the ridges above the village of Gray Hollow, everyone was still as statues.
The village was... quiet.
Too quiet.
Golden wheat waved under the gentle evening breeze.
Wooden fences stood perfectly around the small cottages.
Clothes were hanging from the laundry lines, moving lazily with the wind.
Kettle was left on the window sill of one cottage.
Child’s wagon was left overturned near one well.
Everything was as usual...
Except...
There were no people.
No laughter.
No barking of dogs.
No smoke from the chimneys.
No sounds of insects.
It was such a complete silence that it seemed unnatural.
Almost...
Like as if the whole village forgot how to breathe.
Slowly, Headmaster Orion put down his telescope.
"...Formation."
His calm voice echoed among the group.
Instantly, the Royal Knights formed the formation.
Hunters lined up on the sides.
Academy instructors gathered the students.
Lucas took out his sword.
Polished steel reflected the crimson light of the setting sun.
"No one wanders alone."
"If you see anything unusual..."
"Report it immediately."
Old hunter next to Lucas added,
"And if you hear someone calling your name..."
"Then ignore it."
Some students looked confused.
"...Why?"
Weathered expression of the hunter did not change.
"Because if your friends didn’t call you..."
Then...
Something else did.
Shudder went through the group.
Slowly, the convoy began to descend into the Gray Hollow.
Wooden gates of the village were wide open.
There were no traces of forced entrance here.
No walls broken.
No scorch marks.
Nothing.
Jennie walked by Lilia quietly, carrying just a small shoulder bag.
For all the others...
She was nothing but princess’ personal maid.
Exactly as she liked.
The moment her feet touched the village roads...
All the wind spirits surrounding her suddenly hid behind her back.
Jennie frowned.
"They are scared."
Echoing voice of Excalibur sounded in her mind.
"This village is drenched in the miasma of demons."
"Enough for humans to notice..."
"But enough for the spirits to be afraid."
Jennie quietly nodded.
The expedition divided into smaller groups.
Lucas was leading one of them to the western cottages.
Headmaster Orion examined the church.
The hunters searched in the nearby fields.
Jennie and Lilia walked with some of the instructors in the village square.
Village square was strangely beautiful.
All the flower beds were in perfect condition.
Fresh bread still stood on the display of the bakery.
Coins rested in the market stall exactly in the place where they were left.
No thief took them.
It was as if everyone disappeared in the middle of an ordinary day.
Lilia whispered,
"...This is creepy."
Jennie quietly agreed with her.
"Yes."
One instructor entered the house next to them.
In just a few moments...
He called everyone inside.
Table was fully prepared for the meal.
Five wooden bowls.
Five spoons.
Freshly baked bread.
Pot of stew.
Unchanged.
Stew...
Did not rot in some way.
One hunter touched the pot slowly.
"It is still warm."
Silence instantly covered the room.
"Impossible..."
The village was abandoned over a week ago.
The food should have rotted days ago.
Jennie looked at the fireplace.
There was no fire.
But...
The warmth was still there.
Excalibur suddenly spoke.
"Time."
Jennie blinked in surprise.
"What?"
"Temporal distortion remains."
"Somebody manipulated the time in this village."
Jennie’s expression became serious.
"...Demon?"
"Perhaps."
"Or connected with one."
Outside...
Scream resounded through the village streets.
Everyone rushed towards the sound.
Young Academy student was standing petrified before the well.
His face had become completely pale.
"W-What..."
He could not finish his sentence.
Jennie stepped nearer to the student.
She looked into the well.
Her crimson eyes narrowed.
There was...
Nothing.
No water.
No corpses.
Just endless darkness.
Far deeper than any ordinary well should have been.
One hunter dropped a torch into the well.
Everyone watched.
Five seconds passed.
Ten.
Twenty.
Thirty.
The torch did not reach the bottom.
"...That’s impossible."
The atmosphere suddenly became heavier.
Even the experienced hunters tightened the grip on their weapons.
Instantly, Lucas ordered,
"No one approaches the well alone."
Students quickly nodded.
No one wanted that.
Lilia slowly approached Jennie.
Very closely.
"So..."
Jennie glanced at her sidelong.
"...Scared?"
Lilia answered instantly,
"No."
Short pause passed.
"...Maybe a little."
Jennie smiled gently.
"It is okay."
Lilia looked at her.
"...You are not laughing?"
"I laugh only when you exaggerate."
"...I am always exaggerating."
"...Good point."
Despite everything...
Lilia giggled.
Some of the students near her relaxed as well.
Jennie had the unusual talent.
She made frightening situation seem just a little bit less frightening.
When night slowly descended...
The temporary camp was set up in the church of the village.
Holy barriers were placed around the building.
Knights were guarding the area.
Hunters silently sharpened their weapons.
Academy students gathered together, whispering to each other to calm down.
Jennie helped to prepare the dinner.
Simple vegetable soup.
Fresh bread.
Warm tea.
Even in such places...
People still had to eat.
According to Martha...
"No one makes intelligent decisions when hungry."
Jennie found this philosophy surprisingly true.
Later...
When everyone had calmed down...
Jennie quietly left the church alone.
Endless night sky was spreading over her.
No stars.
Just dark clouds.
Silent streets of the village.
Too silent.
She closed her eyes.
Wind did not bring any smell.
No sounds of birds.
No insects.
Nothing.
It was...
Dead.
Suddenly...
Small wind spirit appeared before her.
Unlike others...
This spirit was crying.
He pointed to the old cemetery of the church.
Again.
And again.
As if desperately wanted to warn her about something.
Jennie slowly opened her eyes.
Her hand instinctively reached the dragon-shaped hairpin in her silver hair.
Excalibur said only one sentence.
His voice had become cold.
"Master..."
"We are not alone anymore."
At that exact moment...
Far beyond the holy barriers around the church...
Two crimson eyes slowly opened in the darkness between the graves.
They did not blink.
Just watching.
Waiting.
Smiling.
