[Bonus chapter] Beneath the Village Chief’s Compound (2)

"Before the stronghold's warriors could arrive, our numbers had dwindled from thousands to mere hundreds. Some warriors fell in battle, overwhelmed by the relentless onslaught." the Village Chief continued, the weight of the tragedy evident in his tone. "The morning brought piles of dead Vylkr vines and the lifeless bodies of our fellow villagers, their fate worse than that of a corpse."

We arrived in front of another door, and as he opened it, the chief instructed, "Wait here." The door closed behind us, leaving me in suspense. He walked toward the lanterns hanging on the wall, his own lantern illuminating them. Mesmerized, I observed as the flames danced, intertwining and setting the peculiar stones within ablaze. After rekindling the lantern and securing it back in its position, he proceeded to the next one, seamlessly maintaining his narrative unfolding alongside the flickering light.