Chapter 4: The Old Man's Revelation

As Harsh and Emilie entered the village, they had expected a welcoming and vibrant community, but what they found was far from it. The streets were eerily empty, and the few villagers they saw wore expressions of fear and lifelessness. Harsh couldn't ignore the growing unease that clawed at his chest.

Approaching a small group of villagers, he attempted to engage them with a simple greeting, but they remained silent, their eyes filled with trepidation. It was as if a shroud of fear had fallen over the entire village, rendering its people mute and paralyzed.

Just when Harsh was beginning to despair, an elderly man, with the wisdom etched in the lines on his face, slowly made his way toward them. His gaze pierced Harsh, and he spoke with a demeanor of authority, "Oh, my, who are you?" I haven't seen your faces in this village before. Why have you come to this desolate place?

Harsh, caught off guard by the man's directness, hesitated for a moment. Then, he decided to give a vague response, "Well, we found ourselves here from afar." It was the truth, but it left out the details of their otherworldly arrival.

The old man's lips curled into a knowing smile, and he leaned in closer, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial tone. "Don't try to fool me. I can see it in your eyes. You're not from this world, are you? You were brought here by those damned gods."

The words hung in the air, and Harsh felt a chill creeping up his spine. How did this stranger know about their mysterious arrival? A sense of paranoia began to consume him. He considered the possibility of silencing the old man; after all, if he revealed their origin to others, who knew what might transpire?

Taking a deep breath, Harsh mustered the courage to confront the old man directly. His voice was laced with a hint of menace, "Who are you, or should I ask, what are you?"

The old man's smile only widened, his eyes filled with a peculiar mix of amusement and something darker. He replied cryptically, "Oh, young man, the answers you seek are far more complex than you can imagine. Perhaps, if you listen closely, you might learn more than you ever expected."

With those enigmatic words, the old man turned and began walking away, leaving Harsh and Emilie standing in the desolate village, their curiosity and apprehension deepening. There was much more to this place and its inhabitants than met the eye, and the old man had just opened a door to a realm of secrets and mysteries that Harsh and Emilie had yet to fathom.

As they watched the old man disappear into the shadows of the village, Harsh couldn't help but wonder about the implications of the man's words. What did he mean by "those damned gods"? And what was the significance of their presence in this enigmatic world? As the last light of the day dimmed, they knew they were on the cusp of a journey filled with unknown challenges and revelations, all stemming from the secrets hidden within this quiet, yet unsettling village.

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***