Chapter 7 - The Town in the Clouds

The wind howled as Ray and Emily trudged through the relentless snowstorm. The cold bit at their exposed skin, and the fast-blowing winds made every step feel like a battle against nature itself. Their cloaks whipped around them, snow clinging to the fabric, their boots sinking deep into the frost-covered path.

"Ray, how much longer?" Emily called out over the howling winds, pulling her hood tighter around her face.

Ray glanced back at her, his expression calm despite the biting cold. "Not much longer. If the map is correct, we should be close."

Emily let out a sigh, watching her breath turn into a thick mist in the freezing air. They had been traveling for days, chasing rumors of ghostly activity, yet all they had encountered so far was this merciless weather.

But soon, as the storm began to settle, the outline of a town emerged through the mist—hidden within the mountains, nestled among the peaks where the sky seemed permanently draped in thick, rolling clouds. From a distance, it looked eerily quiet, but as they drew closer, the town revealed itself to be lively, bustling with movement. Despite the sun being up, the thick clouds above made it feel like an endless twilight, a place where night and day blurred into one.

Ray and Emily stepped onto the town's stone-paved streets, taking in their surroundings. The town was unlike any they had visited before—warm golden lights flickered from the windows of wooden houses, market stalls lined the streets, and people gathered in small groups, chatting and laughing. For a place rumored to be haunted, it was far more welcoming than expected.

"We should find a place to stay," Ray muttered, his sharp crimson eyes scanning the area.

It didn't take long before they arrived at an inn. The building was sturdy, its wooden structure reinforced against the harsh mountain weather. Stepping inside, they were met with the comforting warmth of a large fireplace, the scent of roasted meat lingering in the air.

"We need a room," Ray said to the innkeeper, a plump man with a kind face. "One with two beds."

The innkeeper nodded. "Of course, sir. We have a good room available."

The room itself was simple—two beds, a small table, and some free space. But it was enough.

"Would you like to have your dinner here, or join the other guests downstairs?" the innkeeper asked.

"We'll come down," Ray replied.

Downstairs, the inn's main hall was filled with people. The air buzzed with chatter, laughter, and the clinking of mugs. Emily and Ray sat at a corner table, quietly observing.

At a nearby table, a group of hunters sat, their voices carrying over the crowd.

"Hah! We came all the way here to hunt ghosts, and what do we find? Nothing!" one of them scoffed. "This place is too peaceful. Maybe we're in the wrong town."

Emily leaned toward Ray. "Looks like you were wrong this time, Mr. Ghost Hunter."

Ray didn't reply immediately, his gaze thoughtful. "We'll check again after dinner."

Emily groaned. "Really? This place seems fine."

Ray gave her a strange look. "Ghosts don't always make their presence known immediately."

She sighed, but nodded. "Fine, Mr. Hunter."

A Strange Encounter

Later that night, they ventured out into the streets. The town was eerily quiet now, the earlier warmth of the people gone, replaced by an unsettling stillness.

They searched for any signs of ghostly activity—anything unnatural, anything that didn't belong. Hours passed, yet they found nothing.

Eventually, they wandered to the outskirts of town, standing on the edge of a cliff that overlooked the valley below. The view was breathtaking—endless stretches of forest, illuminated by the faint glow of the moon filtering through the heavy clouds.

"Well, guess you were right," Emily admitted. "No ghosts here."

"I'm always right, Mr. Hunter." She smirked.

Ray turned, ready to leave—when suddenly, a rustling sound came from the bushes behind them.

His body tensed. He raised his hand, signaling Emily to be on guard. Without hesitation, she activated her magic, her body surrounded by a faint green aura, ready for combat.

A figure stumbled out of the bushes—a teenage boy, covered in cuts and bruises.

"Ahh…" he gasped before collapsing onto the ground.

Emily rushed forward. "He's wounded!"

The boy stirred, blinking up at them. "Who… who are you?"

"You're safe," Emily assured him. "I healed your wounds, but what happened to you?"

The boy sat up, wincing. "My name is Kael Veyron. I was being chased by hunters."

Ray narrowed his eyes. "Hunters?"

Kael hesitated. "I don't want to involve you in my problems."

Before Ray could press further, a rustling came from the forest. Kael's eyes widened in alarm.

A group of six men emerged from the darkness, their leader—a tall, bearded man with a heavy voice—spoke first. "Hand over the boy."

Kael tried to slip away, but Ray remained still, waiting.

The tension was thick.

Then, one of the hunters threw a knife—straight toward Emily.

In an instant, Ray moved. His hand shot out, deflecting the blade before it could reach her. The next moment, he dashed forward, his movements too fast for the hunters to react.

With calculated strikes, he took down five of them in mere seconds. The leader barely had time to react before Ray threw his sword straight at him.

The man raised his arm, shattering the incoming weapon with his bare hands.

"You're stronger than I expected," he growled. "But this isn't over." With that, he turned and disappeared into the darkness.

Kael stared at Ray, eyes wide with awe.

"You… you're the legend who will slay the dragon and save us!"

Ray ignored the boy and walked away.

The Orcs of the Silent Quarter

The next day, they resumed their search for ghosts. Once again, they found nothing.

"Guess today's our last day," Emily said.

"Yeah," Ray agreed.

Kael appeared again. "If you're looking for something dangerous, I can help."

Ray raised an eyebrow. "Go on."

"There's a part of town that no one visits. Strange things happen there… but not ghosts. Something else."

"What?"

Kael hesitated. "Orcs."

He led them to a quiet, desolate part of town—a stark contrast to the rest of the lively settlement. The air here felt different, heavier, filled with tension.

Hidden in the shadows, they spotted a group of orcs gathered around a fire, devouring raw meat. Their deep voices rumbled as they spoke in their guttural language, their yellow eyes gleaming in the dim light.

Ray observed them carefully. "This town is isolated. No outside help will come if something happens. If the orcs plan an attack…"

Emily clenched her fists. "Then we have to stop them before it's too late."

Ray's gaze darkened. "Then let's begin."

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