Threats On Milano

Fionella and Kairon finished their rounds around Milano Village, unaware of the dark pact being forged within its depths. The villagers' pleas for help weighed heavily on their minds, fueling their determination to bring about change. Little did they know, a more insidious threat was emerging from within.

As they made their way back to the castle, the setting sun cast long shadows over the cobblestone streets. Fionella turned to Kairon, her eyes reflecting her concern. "We need to act swiftly. The people of Milano Village cannot wait any longer."

Kairon nodded in agreement, his expression equally serious. "We must mobilize resources and ensure the villagers receive the support they need immediately. And we must keep a close eye on the village chief. Something about this situation feels... wrong."

"I will report this to my mother," Fionella said, turning to Cassandra. "It might be best to place some disciples in the village to guide them in case anything happens."

"I'll inform Master Uriel," Cassandra replied and went off to carry out her task. Kairon, who had been given a guest room in the castle, was ushered away by some of the maids while Fionella headed to her mother's office.

The castle corridors were quiet, the soft glow of candlelight casting flickering shadows on the stone walls. Fortunately, her mother was still in her office despite the late hour. Upon entering, Fionella explained everything she had heard from the villagers and observed in their situation. Germaine listened intently, her brow furrowing with concern, and then summoned the Head of Finance.

"My liege, I am aware of the repercussions of my actions, but given the circumstances and our accountants' calculations, what we have been providing them is sufficient," the Head of Finance began. "However, we have noticed low remittances from their village. We turned a blind eye because we understood their situation and chose not to pressure them."

"They were paying low remittances because their village chief is hoarding the money, neglecting renovations or economic enhancements," Fionella interjected, her voice steady and resolute.

Germaine sighed, her expression a mix of frustration and determination. "Return to Milano Village tomorrow with the Head of Finance and reprimand the village chief immediately."

Both Fionella and the Head of Finance bowed their heads in response to the order. Fionella felt relieved she had decided to visit the village; if she had postponed it, the consequences could have been dire. She couldn't abandon her people.

The next day, dawn broke with a crisp, cool breeze. Fionella departed for Milano with the Head of Finance. To her surprise, Kairon also tagged along. Despite her training schedule, Master Diana had granted her permission due to the pressing nature of the situation. They brought food and medical supplies for the villagers to recuperate while they dealt with the village chief.

The journey through the portal was swift, and they arrived at the village with a sense of urgency. The supplies were a lot, but they managed to deliver them efficiently. After ensuring the supplies passed the gate, Fionella gave instructions to the assigned disciples.

Announcing their presence to everyone, Fionella, Kairon, and the Head of Finance made their way to the village chief's residence while Cassandra helped heal the sick and injured villagers.

As they entered the residence, Fionella immediately sensed an eerie atmosphere. The air was thick with an unnatural chill, and shadows seemed to writhe in the corners of the room. While it might have gone unnoticed by ordinary people, the three of them felt the dark energy permeating the place. A maid, trembling with fear, called out to the village chief.

The door to the office creaked open, revealing a room filled with gold, jewels, and coins. The Head of Finance gasped in horror, his eyes wide with disbelief. In the center sat the village chief, Preston, with a crazed smile, clutching a gold coin and diamond in his hands.

"W-What is all this?!" the Head of Finance exclaimed, his voice trembling.

Preston laughed maniacally, his eyes wild and unfocused. "Welcome to my paradise," he sneered, his laughter echoing through the room.

"Where did you get all this money?" Fionella demanded, her voice firm and unwavering.Preston tilted his head, his eyes slowly turning red. The three of them tensed, readying themselves. Kairon unsheathed his sword, while Fionella drew her dagger.

"He's possessed, likely by a dark mage," Kairon said grimly, his grip tightening on his weapon.Fionella held her dagger steady, her eyes never leaving Preston. As Kairon stepped on one of the jewels, Preston growled in anger, his voice a guttural snarl.

"HOW DARE YOU! DON'T TOUCH MY PRECIOUS JEWELS!"

Dark energy began to swirl around Preston, enveloping the room in a thick, oppressive darkness. It was as if the shadows themselves were alive, twisting and writhing with malevolent intent. The temperature dropped, and a chilling silence fell over the room, broken only by the faint, eerie whispers of the dark magic.

Fionella and Kairon launched a coordinated attack, their movements fluid and precise. Fionella darted to the left, her dagger flashing in the dim light, while Kairon charged straight at Preston, his sword gleaming with a golden aura. Despite only having basic sword skills, Preston's newfound power made him a formidable opponent. He parried Fionella's strike with unnatural speed, his eyes glowing with a sinister red light. Kairon's powerful swing was met with an equally strong block, the clash of their weapons reverberating through the room.

Preston's movements were erratic, his body twitching and convulsing as if possessed by an unseen force. Fionella, quick on her feet, managed to get behind him. She pressed her foot against his back, attempting to pin him down. Kairon took advantage of the opening, his sword poised to deliver a decisive blow. But Preston twisted violently, slipping out of Fionella's hold and avoiding Kairon's strike with inhuman agility.

Kairon, undeterred, grabbed Preston's arm, trying to restrain him. Preston snarled, his strength amplified by the dark energy coursing through him. With a swift motion, Fionella threw her dagger, aiming for Preston's heart. The blade found its mark, embedding itself in his chest. Preston let out a guttural scream, the sound echoing with a mixture of pain and fury.

The Head of Finance, who had been watching in stunned silence, finally drew his sword and pointed it at Preston, who lay on the ground, grimacing in pain. But before they could react, thick, black smoke began to pour from Preston's body, quickly filling the room and obscuring their vision. The smoke was suffocating, a tangible manifestation of the dark magic.

Fionella and Kairon coughed, their eyes stinging as they tried to see through the dense haze. "Stay alert!" Fionella shouted, her voice muffled by the smoke. She strained to see any sign of Preston, but the darkness was impenetrable.

Kairon, his eyes narrowed, used his golden aura to cast a faint light, pushing back the smoke just enough to catch a glimpse of movement. "He's not getting away!" he growled, his determination unwavering. He unleashed a powerful golden energy blast, aiming in the direction of the movement. The blast illuminated the room for a brief moment, revealing Preston's silhouette as he tried to flee.

The golden energy struck Preston's legs, causing him to stumble and fall. But the dark energy around him was relentless, beginning to regenerate his wounds at an alarming rate. "Be careful, he's regenerating," Fionella warned, her voice filled with urgency.

The ground beneath them began to shake, starting as a weak tremble and quickly growing into a violent quake. Everyone froze, their instincts screaming danger. Despite the continuous shaking, they forced themselves outside, the oppressive darkness following them like a shroud.

The sky above had darkened, blotting out the morning sun. It could only mean one thing—Specters. The air was thick with the malevolent presence of these dark entities, drawn by the surge of dark energy.

Kairon used his power to dispel some of the miasma surrounding them, his golden aura pushing back the darkness. "That's a massive dark energy. A lot of Specters are coming," he said, his voice grim.

"Where are the villagers?" the Head of Finance asked one of the disciples, his voice strained with urgency.

"They are in the village hall. The young mage is protecting everyone, my lady and my lords," the disciple replied, his face pale with fear.

With the threat of Specters looming, Fionella knew they had to act quickly. She couldn't allow the dark forces to harm the villagers. 

"We need to hold off the Specters until we can find a way to break the dark magic," Fionella said, her voice steady. "Kairon, focus on keeping the miasma at bay. Head Finance, coordinate with the disciples to protect the villagers. I'll try to find Preston and end this once and for all."

Kairon unleashed another golden blast, dispersing more of the dark energy. "Understood," he replied, his voice resolute. The Head of Finance quickly relayed orders to the disciples, who formed a protective perimeter around the village hall.

Fionella took a deep breath, her grip tightening on her dagger. After Kairon assured her that the miasma was finally gone, he reached into his dimensional storage and drew out another sword. It was a finely crafted blade, glowing faintly with enchantments. He handed it to Fionella.

"You can use this," he said.

She gladly accepted it, feeling the weight and balance of the sword. "Thanks."

Kairon glanced up at the sky, filled with hundreds of swirling Specters. "It's a lot," he commented, his voice carrying a mix of awe and concern.

"Probably a good exercise," Fionella replied with a smirk. She removed her golden energy seal, allowing her power to flow freely. Her hair slowly turned gold, and her eyes began to shine with a radiant light. She felt a surge of energy coursing through her. 

To be continued