Chapter 14: The Village of Shadows

The settlement came into clearer view as the group descended the rocky path. A small village nestled between towering cliffs and thick forest, its wooden buildings huddled close together as though seeking safety from the vast wilderness around them. Smoke curled lazily from chimneys, and faint sounds of life drifted through the crisp air. Yet, something felt off. The air seemed heavier here, as if the shadows from the ruins had seeped into this place.

Fei hesitated as they reached the outskirts, his eyes scanning the narrow dirt paths that wound through the village. "Master, are you sure about this? Something… feels wrong."

"It always does," Ishar replied coldly, his skeletal warriors flanking him like silent sentinels. "Stay alert."

Lin Yao stepped forward, her staff glowing faintly as she observed the village. "These people don't look like ordinary villagers. They're watching us."

She was right. Though the streets appeared empty, shadows shifted behind windows, and faint movements betrayed the presence of hidden onlookers. The village seemed alive with unspoken tension, as if it knew of the group's arrival long before they had appeared.

The Keeper's Warning

As they approached the center of the village, an older man stepped into the street. His gray hair was tied back, and his face was weathered with deep lines, but his eyes burned with sharp intelligence. He wore simple robes, but the faint aura of qi around him marked him as someone with cultivation experience.

"Travelers," the man said, his voice firm yet cautious. "You bring trouble with you."

Ishar stopped, his pale eyes fixed on the man. "Who are you?"

"My name is Yan Hui," the man replied. "I am the keeper of this village. And I know what you are, necromancer."

Lin Yao stiffened, her gaze darting between Ishar and Yan Hui. "Seems your reputation precedes you," she muttered.

Yan Hui's eyes flicked to the skeletal warriors. "Your kind is not welcome here. The dead belong in the ground, not walking among the living. Leave now, and I will ensure the villagers do not act against you."

Fei's hand went to his dagger, his voice shaking. "Master, should we—"

"No," Ishar interrupted, his voice cold and unyielding. "I've come for answers. And I will have them."

Yan Hui's expression darkened. "Answers? About what?"

"The ambush," Ishar said. "Men in crimson cloaks attacked us outside the ruins. They spoke of powers greater than me. Tell me who sent them."

For a moment, Yan Hui was silent, his gaze heavy with something between fear and pity. "You do not know what forces you've angered. If they've marked you, your death is certain. No throne or ruin will protect you from them."

"Try me," Ishar said, his tone sharp. "Who are they?"

Yan Hui sighed, his shoulders sagging slightly. "The Crimson Shadow Sect. They are not of this village, but their reach is long. They have eyes everywhere—even here. If they attacked you, it means you've drawn their attention. That is not a fate I would wish on anyone."

Lin Yao's expression grew grim. "The Crimson Shadow Sect. I've heard of them. Assassins, spies, enforcers. They deal in secrets and blood. Once they've set their sights on someone, they don't stop until the target is dead."

Fei's face paled. "What do we do?"

Ishar turned to Yan Hui, his eyes cold. "Where is their base?"

The older man hesitated. "You can't be serious. To face them head-on is suicide."

"Where?" Ishar demanded, his voice like ice.

Yan Hui sighed heavily. "To the east, in the Shadowed Peaks. But if you go there, you will not return."

"We'll see," Ishar said, turning away.

A Sudden Attack

Before the group could leave the square, a sharp whistle cut through the air. Yan Hui's eyes widened, and he shouted, "Get down!"

Ishar raised a hand as a volley of arrows rained down from the rooftops. A barrier of shadows erupted around the group, deflecting the projectiles. From the buildings, figures in dark cloaks emerged, their faces obscured by masks. The Crimson Shadow Sect had arrived.

"They're here already?" Lin Yao hissed, spinning her staff as she prepared to fight.

"Stay together," Ishar commanded. His skeletal warriors surged forward, clashing with the masked attackers. The sound of metal on metal filled the air as the two forces collided.

One of the assassins leapt toward Fei, twin daggers flashing. Fei barely managed to parry the strike, stumbling backward. The assassin pressed the attack, but before they could land a fatal blow, Lin Yao's staff struck them from the side, sending them sprawling.

"Watch your footing, kid," Lin Yao said sharply. "These aren't amateurs."

Ishar faced off against three attackers, their blades glowing with crimson qi. They moved with blinding speed, their strikes coordinated and precise. But Ishar was faster. Shadows coiled around him, deflecting their blows as he countered with devastating blasts of dark energy. One by one, the assassins fell, their bodies crumpling to the ground.

Yan Hui joined the fray, his movements surprisingly agile for his age. With a flick of his wrist, he unleashed a burst of qi that sent two attackers flying. "You've brought death to this village, necromancer," he said through gritted teeth. "I hope your answers are worth it."

"They will be," Ishar replied, his voice cold.

The Message

As the last of the attackers fell, the square fell silent. The villagers, who had watched from the shadows, began to emerge cautiously, their faces filled with fear and awe.

Yan Hui approached one of the fallen assassins and retrieved a small scroll from their belt. He unrolled it, his expression darkening as he read.

"What is it?" Ishar asked.

Yan Hui handed him the scroll. "A message. For you."

Ishar read the words, his expression unchanging.

"Ishar the Necromancer,

You have taken what does not belong to you. The throne's power is not yours to wield. Return to the ruins and await judgment, or we will come for you.

The Crimson Shadow Sect."

Lin Yao peered over his shoulder, her brow furrowing. "They want you to return to the ruins? Why?"

"It doesn't matter," Ishar said, crumpling the scroll. "They want a fight. I'll give them one."

Yan Hui shook his head. "You're walking into a trap. They won't fight you openly. They'll wear you down, strike when you least expect it."

Ishar's cold gaze met his. "Let them try."

The Road to the Shadowed Peaks

With the village behind them, the group set out toward the Shadowed Peaks. The path was treacherous, winding through dense forests and narrow mountain passes. Ishar's skeletal warriors scouted ahead, their glowing eyes scanning for threats. Fei walked close to Lin Yao, his nerves fraying with every step.

"Do you think we can really face them?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

Lin Yao glanced at him, her expression unreadable. "We don't have a choice. Either we face them, or they hunt us down. At least this way, we control the battlefield."

Ishar walked ahead, his focus unshaken. The throne's power pulsed within him, a cold and unrelenting force that demanded to be tested. The Crimson Shadow Sect thought they could intimidate him, but they had no idea what they were dealing with.

As they neared the peaks, the air grew colder, and the shadows deepened. The battle was coming, and Ishar would ensure it ended in his favor.