After confirming that everyone was fine, the team leader Red glanced at the team members with sharp eyes and said solemnly, "Everyone, follow me closely. No unauthorized actions are allowed without my order." His voice echoed unmistakably in the empty and dilapidated teleportation hall.
He was the first to push open the rusty, heavy and creaking iron door. The dazzling afternoon sunlight instantly poured into the dim hall, bringing with it a complex smell of scorched earth, rotting plants and dust. Everyone followed closely and stepped out of the teleportation hall.
The scene in front of them instantly cast a shadow over the words "Medium Difficulty Mission". They seemed to be in a forgotten battlefield. As far as they could see, there were ruins and broken walls. Blackened wooden beams protruded from the collapsed stone walls, like the bones of giant beasts. Weeds grew wildly among the rubble, almost submerging the former road. In the silence, the only sound was the whine of the wind blowing through the broken walls.
On the edge of this desolate ruin, in a small, relatively flat open space, several farmers with shabby clothes and weathered faces were warming themselves around a weak bonfire. Seeing such a group of well-dressed and extraordinary people walking out of the teleportation hall, they immediately stood up like frightened birds. The leader, a middle-aged man in his fifties with frost-white temples, had an almost flattering smile on his face, and he led a few others to trot up to meet them.
"Distinguished adults! Distinguished lords of warlocks!" The middle-aged man stopped a few steps away and bent down deeply, his voice trembling with excitement and awe, "You... you must be sent by the Aretuza Academy to rescue us, right? I am the village chief of Saize Village, Brand Gray Beard. We... we have been guarding here these past few days, hoping for the stars and the moon, and finally we have you here!" He rubbed his rough hands and bent even lower. His words were full of humble flattery and desire for a savior, "The village is in trouble, and we are all counting on you adults to show your power!"
Red frowned slightly, as if he was a little impatient with this excessive humility, but he still maintained the basic etiquette and nodded slightly in greeting. "Brand Village Chief, thank you for meeting us. We are representatives of Aretuza Academy of Sorcery, and on orders from the college, we are here to investigate the recent abnormal events of Saize Village." He looked around at the desolate scene and said in a calm tone, "This is not a place to stay for a long time, let alone a conversation. Please ask the village chief to lead the way. Let's go to the village to settle down first, and then learn more about the situation."
"Ah! Yes, yes! You are so right! Look at me, an old fool, for neglecting all the adults!" Brand The village chief nodded and bowed repeatedly, with a smile of relief and fear on his face, "The village is not far ahead, please come with me! Please come with me!"
Brand turned around and led the way with his rickets on his back. His steps seemed a little staggering, but he walked very fast. Red followed without hesitation. The other apprentices also quickly adjusted their state, following closely behind with the vigilance and curiosity of arriving in a strange place for the first time. Yavi walked in the team Standing at the back, his eyes sharply scanned the surrounding ruins and the villagers leading the way, and Yennefer subconsciously moved closer to him. The figures of ten people, on this broken land shrouded in disaster, seemed small but shouldered a heavy responsibility, walking towards the unknown depths of Saize Village.
Red led his team of warlocks, followed the village chief Brand and several taciturn villagers, walking through the deserted paths leading to the village. Along the way, Red briefly understood the current situation from Brand.
Brand's voice was heavy and tired, with the numbness of a life-long disaster. "Just half a month ago... disaster struck without warning. A group... a group of unspeakable things attacked the village." His chapped lips Trembling, "Most of the house collapsed, and a lot of people... also died. Those of us who survived wanted to grit our teeth and clean up the mess and bury our relatives..." His voice was choked, and tears filled his muddy eyes. He took a deep breath before continuing, "But Just a few days ago, something more terrifying happened! A large group of Ghoul appeared out of nowhere! There were several... several monsters as big as hills! They... they destroyed the place we finally cleared out! Many more people... disappeared..." He closed his eyes in pain, "Those... poor people who could not be buried... are... still lying on the road in the village..."
Brand's words hit everyone's hearts like cold stones, painting a picture of despair.
Red frowned and asked, "Then where do you live now?"
Brand pointed to the hillside not far away. "The village cannot return for the time being. We can only set up a temporary camp on the high ground outside the village and fence it with wood. Everyone huddles together, taking turns to be vigilant during the day, and fearful at night... just hoping that adults can come to save lives!" His tone was full of helplessness and final hope.
As they spoke, everyone turned a corner. The ruins of a ruined village suddenly appeared below the field of vision. The broken walls cast long, twisted shadows under the afterglow of the setting sun. There was no sound except the whimpering of the wind through the broken windows. Brand and Several villagers stopped and looked at their former home, with complex eyes showing sadness, fear, and a hint of indescribable nostalgia. But they did not stay for long, they just sighed heavily and led the team up to the simple shelter on the hillside.
The camp was barely fenced by rough logs, which were crooked or even broken in some places. It was obvious that the defense was limited. At the entrance, several haggard villagers holding simple pitchforks or wooden sticks were nervously guarding the camp. When they saw the village chief appearing with a group of people with extraordinary temperament wearing gorgeous warlock robes, their sallow faces instantly burst into incredible surprise!
"Village Chief! Are... are they the Warlocks?!" A young man on duty shouted excitedly, his voice hoarse.
With this shout, the camp quickly became commotion as if it were thrown into the water of stones. The villagers in ragged clothes and sallow faces - mostly the elderly, women and children - came out of the simple shacks and gathered around. Their eyes were shining with an almost burning light of hope that burst out from extreme exhaustion, and they stared at this group of warlocks who represented "salvation".
Brand The village chief straightened his stooped back and loudly announced with all his strength, "Folks! Aretuza's warlocks are here! We are saved! We are just around the corner to go home!"
"Oh--!"
The long-suppressed emotions burst out in an instant! Deafening cheers, cries, and thanksgiving mixed with prayers rang out in the camp. Surrounded by this fervent gratitude and expectation, several young warlock apprentices subconsciously straightened their backs, with expressions of pride and a little embarrassment on their faces.
Yavi's eyes crossed the cheering crowd and landed on the refugees. They were skinny and skinny, with sunken eye sockets. Many of them had untreated wounds and stains on their bodies. The air was filled with a faint smell of sweat, herbs and despair. This scene can explain what they have experienced far better than any words.