Townspeople

The group emerged from the dense forest, their eyes wide with astonishment. Before them, at the distance lay a quaint village, nestled amidst rolling hills and bathed in the golden light of the setting sun.

The sight of the town would have been a welcome relief if a new complication hadn't unveiled itself.

The surrounding grassland appeared strangely barren and discolored. Patches of brown and yellow dotted the landscape, and an unnatural silence hung over the fields.

Vergil, his gaze fixed on the unusual terrain, raised an eyebrow. "Is that the so-called Haven's End?" he asked.

Darius, who had visited Haven's End many times before, was struck by the stark contrast between its current state and the bustling town he remembered.

"It is, yes..." he replied, his voice filled with uncertainty. "Though, I... don't remember it looking this way."

"Good to know," Vergil said, his eyes narrowed. The serious expression that had been etched on his face was replaced by a look of deep contemplation as if he were piecing together a puzzle.

Vergil and Darius rode side by side, their eyes scanning the landscape for any signs of danger. As they drew closer to the discolored area of the grassland, Vergil urged the others to stop and then dismounted from his horse.

He crouched, his gaze raking over the scarred earth. His fingers danced across the soil as if reading a secret map. The others stood in hushed anticipation, awaiting his revelation.

A silent storm raged within him, yet outwardly, he was a statue. Then, with a resolute movement, he ascended.

"Shadowvine," he muttered, his voice barely audible. "Didn't recognize it for a second."

"Shadowvine?" Darius repeated, confused.

"It's a parasitic fungus," Vergil explained. "it thrives on fear and despair. It must have spread throughout the village, infecting both the living and the dead,"

The others exchanged worried glances. The realization that the entire village had been infected by this deadly fungus was a devastating blow.

Vergil's shoulders lifted in a nonchalant shrug, his face a mask of indifference. "Ah, well," he drawled, "looks like we'll need to chart a new course." With a flick of his wrist, he guided his horse back.

"We can't!" Kailo retorted, his voice laced with fury. He couldn't fathom Vergil's callous disregard. "We can't simply abandon them."

"Oh yes, we can,"

"They need our help."

"Unless you're eager to join the ranks of the infected... or the departed, I propose we reverse our course and discover a different route,"

A hush decended upon the group when a flick of movement caught their attention; At the desolate expanse's furthest edge, a humanoid figure was seen wandering. At first glance, it appeared to be a person. However, the creature they beheld was a grotesque hybrid of human and plant, a monstrous chimera that defied the natural order. Its skin, a sickly greenish-brown, was adorned with gnarled, bark-like growths. Tendrils of fungi erupted from its head, writhing and pulsating like a living mass of mold. Its eyes, once human, were now lifeless voids, replaced by gaping holes that seemed to peer into the abyss.

Kailo gasped, recognizing the creature for what it was: an infected. The creature, oblivious to their presence, continued its aimless wandering, its movements sluggish.

Then, as if sensing their fear, the creature turned its head and fixed its gaze upon them. Its eyes, devoid of any hint of intelligence or compassion, seemed to bore into their souls.

The creature, which had appeared so lethargic moments ago, sprang forward, its limbs contorting in an unnatural, jerky dance. Kailo, unprepared for the sudden onslaught, was frozen in place.

However, with a swift and precise movement, Darius drew his sword and slashed at the creature's head. The blade sank deep, severing its skull in two. Its body fell to the ground with a sickening thud, its lifeless form twitching once or twice before going still.

Kailo, his breath ragged, collapsed to his knees. He had come within a hair's breadth of death, and the realization filled him with a profound sense of gratitude. He looked up at Darius, his eyes filled with tears. "Thank you," he whispered.

"That's just a preview of the main event," Vergil's words snapped them out of their stupor.

"The people?" Darius murmured, his voice heavy with sorrow.

"Yes... you just killed one of them," Vergil replied, his tone devoid of any warmth. "Now, can we leave? We've still got a long way ahead of us."

"No," Darius said, his voice firm. "We must free these people from their plague... It's our duty."

"Duty?" Vergil snorted. "You are no hero. Stop acting like one."

"The Shadowvine is spreading," Zephyr said, her expression that of worry. "If we don't do something, it could engulf the entire region."

"And how long will that take?" Vergil retorted. "Surely you can attend to this matter once we've resolved our primary concern."

Vergil could already sense that his words were falling on deaf ears, save for Darius, who appeared to be pondering the implications.

Darius had spent much of his youth here, growing up alongside its people and forging lifelong bonds. The village was more than just a place; it was a part of him.

He remembered the carefree days of his childhood, playing in the fields, swimming in the river, and exploring the surrounding woods. He had witnessed the village's celebrations, its sorrows, and its triumphs. He had seen it prosper and endure hardships, and had always been proud to call it home.

He visited several times over the years, always finding solace and comfort in the familiar faces and the comforting embrace of the village.

Standing at the precipice of the infected land, his heart throbbed with anguish, a pain concealed beneath his stoic facade.

Darius gazed at the young warriors. Kailo was clearly the most eager to save the village. Zephyr, though hesitant, shared Darius's desire to help. Bain, however, seemed more cautious, his face etched with a look of worry.

He then shifted his attention to Vergil, who was leaning against a tree, his arms folded, his face a blank slate. It was evident that Vergil held no regard for the villagers, his sole focus being their mission to Solaris.

Vergil is right, and Darius laothes it.

He understood that their mission was crucial, yet he couldn't overlook the plight of Haven's End's inhabitants.

"Mount your steeds, everyone!" Darius bellowed, his voice carried by the wind. "We'll chart a different course to Solaris."

The wind watched as the riders exchanged puzzled glances. It could almost feel their confusion, their disbelief. But Darius, with his piercing gaze and unwavering conviction, silenced their doubts. "Don't give me that look," he said, his voice a chilling reminder of the danger that lurked ahead. "Winter is coming, and we must have our affairs in order before its arrival."

As they turned their horses and rode, the wind followed, a silent witness to the unfolding drama, a harbinger of the storm that was yet to come. Kailo, his young heart burdened by a mix of grief and determination, lingered for a moment. With a final look, he mounted his horse and joined the others.

Just as they had covered several meters away from the infected land, a flicker of light caught Vergil's eye. It emanated from the inscribed metal band – The Halo of Merit.

The sight of it seemed to jolt Vergil from his stoic demeanor. He abruptly halted his horse, his hand instinctively reaching towards the engraved metal. The others, startled by his sudden change of pace, turned back to him with questioning looks.

Darius was the first to break the silence. "Corvus? What is it?" he asked, a note of concern lacing his voice.

Vergil hesitated for a moment, his eyes flitting between the others and his wrist. Then, with a voice that surprised even himself, he spoke. "Perhaps," he started, "saving these townspeople wouldn't be such a bad idea after all."

Vergil's sudden change of heart was as inexplicable as it was welcome. Just moments ago, he had been vehemently opposed to assisting the infected villagers. Now, he seemed to be suggesting the opposite.

"What game are you playing, Corvus?" Darius boomed. "Is this some kind of trick?"

A flicker of something akin to defiance crossed Vergil's face before he spurred his horse onward, heading back towards the infected land. His expression remained unreadable, a mask hiding the truth behind his sudden shift in stance.