The Mark of the Village

Morning light seeped through the wooden shutters of the cabin, bathing the room in a soft glow. The embers in the hearth had long since cooled, leaving only a faint trace of smoke in the air. Kenric stirred first, stretching his arms above his head and letting out a deep yawn.

Elara remained curled beneath the blankets, her breathing steady. The weight of their journey and the unease from the night before had taken its toll on her, and she needed every moment of rest she could get.

Kenric rose quietly, stepping outside to take in the crisp morning air. As he opened the door, he nearly tripped over a basket placed on the doorstep. His brow furrowed as he knelt to inspect it.

The basket was similar to the one from the night before, filled with bread, fruit, and a bundle of herbs. But this time, there was a folded note tucked among the items. Kenric opened it, his eyes scanning the neat handwriting.

"For your continued health and comfort. – Maris"

Kenric glanced around the village. The square was quiet, save for a few villagers beginning their morning chores. He couldn't shake the feeling that they were being watched.

He carried the basket inside, setting it on the table. As he did, Elara stirred, rubbing the sleep from her eyes.

"What's that?" she asked, her voice groggy.

"Another basket," Kenric replied. "From Maris. There was a note."

Elara sat up, swinging her legs over the side of the bed. "They're keeping tabs on us."

Kenric sighed. "Or they're just being hospitable."

Elara shot him a look. "You really believe that?"

Kenric rubbed the back of his neck. "I don't know what to believe. Everything I've seen here seems… normal. The people are kind, the village is peaceful. It doesn't match what you're saying."

Elara stood, her expression determined. "That's because they're hiding something. And I'm going to prove it to you."

Kenric crossed his arms. "And how do you plan to do that?"

"By finding more answers," Elara said firmly. "This village isn't what it seems. I'm certain it's tied to the veil somehow. We need to know the truth."

Kenric hesitated before nodding. "Alright. But we need to be careful. If they suspect we're prying, it could put us in danger."

Elara agreed, and after a quick breakfast, they set out into the village.

---

The village was more lively now, with villagers going about their daily routines. Children played near the river, while elders sat on porches, weaving baskets or repairing tools. It all looked so ordinary, yet Elara couldn't shake the feeling of something lurking beneath the surface.

As they wandered through the village, Elara and Kenric stopped to speak with various villagers, making small talk before steering the conversation toward the veil.

Elara approached a woman tending to her garden. "The village is beautiful," she said, with a warm smile. "We've traveled far, but I don't think I've ever seen a place quite like this."

The woman smiled back. "It is a special place. We're blessed to live here."

Kenric nodded. "We're heard stories about the veil that lies beyond the forest. Do you know much about it?"

The woman's hands stilled, her expression shifting slightly. "The veil?" she repeated, her tone cautious. "Not much to say about it. Just an old legend."

Elara pressed gently. "We're traveling in search of it. We've heard it holds great power."

The woman's gaze flickered with something Elara couldn't quite place – fear, perhaps. "Power isn't always a blessing," she said quietly. "Be careful what you seek."

Before Elara could ask more, the woman excused herself and hurried inside her cottage, shutting the door firmly behind her.

Kenric frowned. "That was… strange."

"They know something," Elara said. "They're hiding it."

They continued their questioning throughout the day, but every time they brought up the veil, the villagers became evasive, changing the subject of walking away. The pattern was too consistent to be a coincidence.

As the sun dipped lower in the sky, Elara and Kenric found themselves near a small, overgrown path leading away from the village square.

"Let's see where this leads," Elara suggested.

Kenric glanced around before nodding. "Alright. But stay alert."

---

The path wound through a dense grove of trees, the air growing cooler and darker the further they walked. Eventually, they came upon a small clearing where an old stone building stood, half-ridden by ivy and moss.

Elara's heart quickened as they approached. The building had an air of abandonment, yet it felt significant, as if it held secrets waiting to be uncovered.

They pushed open the heavy wooden door, the hinges groaning in protest. Inside, the air was thick with dust and the scent of old parchment.

Shelves lined the walls, filled with ancient tomes and scrolls. At the center of the room stood a stone pedestal, atop which rested a large, leather-bound book.

Elara approached the pedestal, her fingers tracing the intricate symbols carved into the stone. Her eyes widened as she recognized one of the symbols – the same mark that adorned the villagers.

"Kenric," she whispered. "Look."

Kenric joined her, his gaze falling on the symbol. "It's the same mark the villagers have."

Elara nodded, her mind racing. "This has to mean something."

She carefully opened the book, the pages yellowed with age. The text was written in an ancient script, but there were illustrations scattered throughout. One drawing depicted a hooded figure standing before a shimmering veil, their hands raised in supplication.

Another showed a village much like the one they were in, surrounded by twisted, blackened trees. At the center of the village stood a stone alter, with the same mark carved into it.

Elara's fingers traced the drawing. "This village has been tied to the veil for centuries."

Kenric flipped to another page, his expression growing more troubled. "Look at this."

The page depicted a ritual – villagers standing in a circle around the altar, their arms raised toward the sky. The next image showed them kneeling before the hooded figure, their wrists marked with the same symbol.

Elara's stomach churned. "They're bond to the veil. It's not a legend – it's a pact."

Suddenly, a noise outside made them both freeze. Footsteps.

"We have to go," Kenric whispered.

Elara grabbed the book, tucking it under her arm. They slipped out the back door just as the front door creaked open, voiced echoing through the stone building.

They ran through the trees, their footsteps silent on the moss-covered ground. Only when they reached the cabin did they finally stop, both of them panting for breath.

Elara locked the door behind them, her hands shaking. "We almost got caught."

Kenric nodded, his expression grim. "But we found something. This changes everything."

Elara set the book on the table, her gaze burning with determination. "Let's see what other secrets this village is hiding."