Ep. 73 Frozen in Time

The next few days blended together and went by pretty fast. Finally, we were almost upon Eldor, with only an hour or so separating us from the town. We were walking on the same old road, tired and sore, but also filled with anticipation as we were finally going to reach the next stop in our journey.

Eldor was a small town about the size of Rublesville. It wasn't as big and prosperous as Dawnscross, but it had food, inns, and an adventurers' guild, so that's all that mattered to us at this point. After a week of sleeping on the hard ground and eating nothing but dried rations and whatever we could forage, even a small town like Eldor seemed like luxury.

While walking, Rowan peered at me from my left before asking in a questioning tone, "So what's the plan when we get there?"

I thought for a second before responding, "Well, we're pretty much out of money, so I say we take an easy job and get enough money to rent a room for the night. After that, I say we spend about a week there gathering supplies and stocking up on money from jobs."

Rowan nodded. "Sounds good. Gosh, I can't wait to lay down in a real bed and take a nice bath," he said, stretching his arms upward. His normally neat appearance had grown disheveled during our journey, his hair matted with dust from the road.

Maya giggled and agreed enthusiastically. "And real food! Something that isn't wolf meat or those weird berries Rowan keeps finding." She patted her stomach dramatically. "I'm dreaming of fresh bread and some quality meat."

I smiled at her excitement. The simple pleasures seemed so much more valuable after what we've been through. I was looking forward to those things too, though I'd never admit it with the same enthusiasm as Maya.

The road began to widen slightly, a sure sign we were approaching civilization. In the distance, we could make out the first buildings of Eldor rising above the plains beading under the afternoon light. But for some reason, as we got closer, something didn't feel right.

My gut started to turn, and I began sweating, but I didn't know why. The hairs on the back of my neck stood up, and a familiar sense of danger crept up my spine—the same feeling I'd had before trouble found us in the past. I just had the unsettling feeling that I was about to find out what was wrong.

"Hey, do you two notice anything... strange?" I asked, slowing my pace slightly.

Maya looked at me with concern. "Like what?"

"I'm not sure yet," I admitted. "Just keep your eyes open."

After a little longer, we made it to the edge of the small town. We stopped for a moment, exchanged glances, and then made our way into Eldor. Just like the previous towns I'd visited, the buildings were much the same—made of stone with wooden frames, some of the less prosperous shops being more wood than stone. Signs hung from posts advertising various goods and services: a blacksmith, a tailor, an apothecary.

But something was missing.

As we got deeper into town, following the main street toward what should be the central square, I realized what didn't sit right with me. "Where is everyone? It's mid-day; the town should be bustling right about now."

Rowan gulped nervously, his hand instinctively moving to the hilt of his sword. "You're right. There should be merchants, customers, children playing..."

"Maybe there's a festival or something? Everyone gathered somewhere else?" Maya suggested, but her voice lacked conviction.

Then she spoke again, her voice small and concerned. "Something feels off, Kai. I don't like this."

We kept walking a little more, our footsteps echoing loudly on the cobblestones. The silence was oppressive, broken only by the occasional creak of a sign swinging in the light breeze. It felt as though the town was holding its breath.

Finally, on the side of the cobblestone road stood a vendor behind a small stall of fruits and vegetables. Relief washed over me at the sight of another person. Without a second thought, we ran up to the man and I asked hurriedly, "Sir, w-where is everyone?"

But he did not respond. He didn't even move or acknowledge my presence. He just stood there, blankly staring into the distance, his hands frozen in the act of arranging apples on his display. After waiting a couple of moments for a response, Maya poked the man lightly.

"Sir? Hello?" she tried again, waving her hand in front of his face, but again there was no response.

Rowan leaned in closer, examining the man with growing concern. "He's breathing, but it's slow... too slow." He looked around at the empty streets. "Somethings wrong with him…really wrong."

The vendor remained completely still, like a statue in the middle of what should have been a lively marketplace. His eyes were open but unseeing, fixed on some invisible point in the distance. The apples in his display looked fresh, as if they'd been set out that very morning. A half-filled ledger lay open on the counter, the quill beside it still wet with ink.

A chill ran down my spine as I realized that something was very, very wrong in Eldor. Whatever had happened here had occurred suddenly, without warning, freezing this man in place as he went about his ordinary business.

"We should check the rest of the town," I said, trying to keep my voice steady despite the growing dread in my stomach. "Maybe not everyone is... like this."

Maya nodded, her eyes wide with fear. "What if whatever did this is still here?"

It was a question none of us wanted to contemplate, but as we turned to continue down the empty street, it hung in the air between us, impossible to ignore.