Rumors

The villagers, usually busy with their daily tasks, appeared more nervous than usual. Some hastened down the narrow alleys, casting furtive glances over their shoulders, while others formed small groups, whispering in frightened tones.

The village leader approached the knights, who had just arrived. The messenger, a young knight in training stationed in the village, was present.

"Messires... thank you for coming. We have been attacked by these apparitions, and we fear they will return tonight. Other villages have already disappeared, and I fear we are next. You are our last hope."

"Don't worry. We will investigate and see what's going on. We have the experience to handle this kind of situation."

"Thank you for coming, messires. It's... it's the second time this week we've seen these... these apparitions. Soldiers like you, but their armor... it seems... ancient. And they whisper words we don't understand."

"Show us the place where you last saw these apparitions."

They followed the leader through the narrow alleys until they reached a small field outside the village, where the air felt strangely colder. Jorh hoped to reassure himself and figure out what was happening here. If it was beyond their capabilities, he thought he might need to report it and request the help of the church. He truly hoped it was just bandits playing tricks.

The village leader stood before the knights, his face marked by anxiety. He seemed relieved to see them, but fear still lingered in his eyes. He looked at them for a moment before nodding and motioning for them to follow.

"Follow me, messires," he said in a trembling voice, his gaze avoiding that of the knights.

"I'll show you where they first appeared."

The knights began to move, their armor clinking in the heavy silence. The village leader led them through the narrow streets of the village, the worn cobblestones under their feet. The villagers watched from a distance, their fearful and curious looks revealing they were waiting for answers but dared not ask.

"Are you sure? These apparitions, they return regularly?" asked Jorh, keeping his gaze fixed on the villagers. Their evident discomfort did not escape him.

The village leader nodded slowly, his face drawn with the weight of guilt. "Yes... it's the second time this week. And I fear tonight will be the next." He stopped for a moment to catch his breath before continuing. "They always come when the night is well advanced. We hear murmurs... voices that seem to come from nowhere."

A woman, her arms crossed tightly over her chest, approached the knights timidly. Her face was marked by fear, but also uncertainty. She spoke in a low voice, almost a whisper.

"I saw them... They walked between the trees, like living shadows. Soldiers, yes, but they wore armor like yours... only darker, heavier."

Another villager, a man in his forties, joined the conversation, his face twisted in terror.

"We heard murmurs too. Words in a language I don't understand. It... it sends chills down your spine."

Kryan stopped for a moment and turned his head toward them, his piercing gaze fixed. "What you're describing could be an illusion, some kind of phenomenon created by collective fear. The tension in the village can play tricks on your mind."

The villager nodded, but it was clear this wasn't the first time he had faced such a situation. "I don't know, knight... But it's only getting worse. We've even lost animals. There's nothing normal about this."

The knights exchanged glances, and Jorh gestured for Garven to lead them further. "Show us the place where it happened. We need to see this with our own eyes."

The village leader complied and led them beyond the last buildings of the village, where the fields stretched out into a sea of yellow grass and turned earth. The wind blew fiercely, carrying with it the scent of damp earth and a chilling shiver. The villagers followed at a distance, whispering to each other, but no one ventured too close.

They reached a small field outside the village, at the edge of a dense forest. The air was noticeably colder here, as though the temperature had suddenly dropped. The daylight struggled to pierce the thick canopy of trees, casting eerie shadows. Garven stopped, raising a trembling hand to point to a spot in the field.

"This is it, messires. This is where they first appeared. And it's here that we heard the murmurs."

The knights observed carefully. The grass was high, but there were no obvious signs of any presence. The ground was dry, nothing seemed disturbed.

"I don't see anything here," Kryan muttered, scanning every corner. "Perhaps the darkness and the wind are playing tricks on your minds."

But Garven didn't seem convinced. He glanced nervously around, as if he feared something might suddenly emerge from the shadows. "We're not mad, knight. You may not understand... but those voices... they're real."

At that moment, an eerie silence descended upon the group. The villagers stayed back, a few watching furtively from behind trees and buildings. The wind blew harder, but it wasn't the usual breeze of the countryside. It carried something inexplicable, a chill that made the knights' hair stand on end.

"I don't like this," Jorh said in a grave voice, tightening his grip on his sword. "Kryan, stay alert. Anything could happen here."

"Yes, Captain," Kryan replied, his eyes scanning the area, searching for any movement.

Suddenly, the murmurs returned. A soft breath, almost imperceptible, followed by an incomprehensible whisper. The knights froze, their hands on their swords.

"Get ready," Jorh whispered. "It's starting here."

The knights, more aware than ever of the danger, positioned themselves, their hands on their swords, their eyes fixed on the growing darkness around them.

"This is it. This is where they first appeared... and it's here that we hear their voices."

Kryan looked around: "I see nothing. Perhaps all this is an illusion caused by the darkness."

At that moment, a faint sound was heard in the air, like a breath, followed by an incomprehensible murmur. All the knights froze, their hands on their swords.

"Prepare yourselves, it's starting here."

Suddenly, a figure appeared before them, vague and ethereal, clad in armor that seemed to glow in the dark. A murmur rose, almost inaudible, but loud enough for everyone to hear.