Enigmas

A few minutes away from their village, Hilia felt an uncomfortable feeling clutching at her heart and she looked at Yoan, opening her mouth to tell him about it. Until she noticed the same look on his face and she knew he was feeling the same dreadful she had.

It was night time and the night didn't have the same serene atmosphere she experienced every night, instead, the atmosphere around the area felt…unsettling. Almost murderous, like sinister shadows creeping in the dark, waiting for its opportune moment.

"Hilia, let's hurry up."

Hilia nodded, matching with his hurried pace as they jogged to the village. The closer Hilia got, the more apprehensive she felt. When they saw smoke rising from the village upon closer inspection, both of them broke out into a sprint. Now Hilia knew the unease she was feeling, it was the life force; the life force of everyone.

Their life force was slowly depleting away and it terrified Hilia to no end.

"Yoan! The people, they are--!"

"I know!" Yoan said and a strangled scream rang through the air. Hilia gasped, feeling that person's life force disappearing immediately.

Yoan clicked his tongue, unsheathing his sword as he charged forward.

"Hilia! Go look for any survivors and get them out of here!" Yoan yelled and Hilia nodded firmly, both of them dashing into the village, going separate ways.

The moment she entered the village, she saw splashes and trails of blood on the floor, along with dead bodies strewn across the ground. She let out a horrified gasp, cupping her mouth as she transferred her spiritual energy to her eyes, tracking the life force of everyone.

What she saw made her tear up.

Everyone's…life force.

One by one, they are disappearing, one by one they are growing smaller and smaller.

Hilia thought to herself as she panted, feeling a stray tear roll down her cheeks. She frantically searched for any survivors and she landed on one, near a house, a house that she was awfully familiar with.

Grandmother!

She rushed to the house, her eyes tracking for any survivors near here but alas, the closest one to her was only her grandmother. The number of survivors were dwindling away rapidly, making Hilia let out a pained sob.

"Oh, god. Everyone...grandmother, please…"

Please be safe until I get there!

Hilia continued running straight for her house, only to be stopped when she saw a burly figure standing in her way and she made a move to dash past him. Unfortunately, she was stopped by the figure grabbing tightly onto her wrist and she stumbled back, turning around.

"Hold up there, where do you think you are going, little girl?"

"Let me go!" Hilia shouted, pulling at her wrist but he only tightened it further, making her wince in pain.

"Sorry, little girl. I was ordered to kill everyone I see in this village." The burly man answered her, his words filled with menace. She glanced up at him, noticing an axe descending onto her.