Petty villagers

As I made my way through the village, the simmering tension thickened. Villagers clustered together in tight, wary groups, eyes darting toward me and then flicking away with guarded expressions.

They clearly recognized me as an outsider, and their whispers of distrust were as audible as the shifting autumn breeze. For a village asking for assistance, they certainly didn't seem welcoming.

A middle-aged woman with a lined face and arms crossed over her chest was the first to approach, her gaze sharp as flint.

"Another one of those adventurers, eh?" she scoffed, looking me up and down. "Can't say the last one helped much."

"Actually, I'm here to help you with your bandit problem," I replied, forcing a smile despite her unfriendly tone. "So... any idea where they're coming from or what they want?"

The woman pursed her lips and let out a huff. "If I knew that, I'd have fixed it myself, wouldn't I?"