Village (3)

Valerie's heart pounded in her chest as she made her way through the fog-shrouded forest, her lantern casting eerie shadows on the twisted trees. The silhouette of monsters darted in and out of her vision, their guttural growls sending shivers down her spine. She stumbled and almost tripped a few times, her breath coming in ragged gasps as she pushed forward. "Keep moving, Valerie," she whispered to herself, her voice trembling with fear.

As she ventured deeper into the forest, the fog began to clear, revealing a clearing filled with thorns and roses. The sight took her breath away, the beauty of the scene at odds with the terror of the night. She stepped forward, her eyes wide, taking in the details of the clearing, the way the moonlight danced on the petals of the roses, the way the thorns seemed to reach out to her. "What is this place?" she wondered, her voice filled with awe.

A giant antlered statue of petrified wood loomed ahead, its form twisted and ancient, slowly being overtaken by thorny vines of crimson roses. The statue seemed to watch her, its eyes empty and unseeing, yet filled with a strange power. Valerie shivered, feeling a chill run down her spine, the statue a silent sentinel guarding a secret. "Who are you?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper, knowing that there would be no answer.

But the centerpiece of the clearing was what truly captured her attention. The unconscious form of Ravian lay on the ground, directly illuminated by rays of moonlight, his body pale and still. Valerie's breath caught in her throat, her mind racing as she approached him, her steps hesitant and unsure. "Ravian?" she called out, her voice filled with concern.

She reached him, her eyes taking in his corpse-like state, his skin as pale as death, his body unmoving. A memory flashed through her mind, a moment when she had seen him sleeping, looking like a corpse even then. She knelt beside him, her hand reaching out to touch him, her fingers trembling. "What are you?" she whispered, her voice filled with confusion and fear.

Valerie's mind was a whirlwind of thoughts and emotions, the reality of what she was seeing sinking in. Ravian was not a human wizard, that much was clear, but what he was, she had no idea. The clearing, the statue, Ravian's unconscious form, it all seemed to be part of a puzzle, a mystery that she was only beginning to unravel.

Valerie knelt down beside Ravian, her eyes drawn to his handsome features, a mixture of concern and curiosity in her gaze. She reached into her bag, her fingers finding the healing potions she had brought with her, her mind focused on helping him. But as she uncorked the first potion, Ravian's eyes suddenly snapped open, their strange red hue sending a jolt of fear through her. "Ravian?" she whispered, her voice trembling, a foreboding feeling welling within her.

His eyes met hers, and she felt a chill run down her spine, the man looking at her not the Ravian she knew. His smile was different, a twisted version of the one she had come to know, one that sent shivers down her spine and made her feel weak in the knees. She tried to move away, but his intense gaze held her, paralyzing her with feelings of attraction she had kept suppressed as much as possible. "Ravian, what's happening to you?" she asked, her voice filled with confusion and fear.

He slowly rose, his movements graceful and deliberate, his eyes never leaving hers. He reached out and wrapped her in his cape, the action so hypnotic that she could do nothing but blush and enjoy what Ravian was doing. She felt a thrill of excitement, a rush of emotions she had never felt before, all mixed with a sense of dread. "Ravian, please, talk to me," she pleaded, her voice barely above a whisper.

His response was to nibble at her ears and caress her back, his touch both gentle and teasing. But his red eyes held a much more sinister goal than mere teasing, a darkness that sent a chill through her. She tried to pull away, but his grip was firm, his touch both enticing and terrifying. "Ravian, stop," she begged, her voice filled with desperation.

He continued his advances, his touch growing more insistent, his eyes filled with a hunger that she could not understand. Valerie felt trapped, caught in a web of desire and fear, unable to escape his hold. "Ravian, please," she sobbed, tears welling in her eyes, her mind a whirlwind of confusion and terror. The man before her was both familiar and alien, a twisted version of the friend she had come to know.

His lips soon descended on her neck, and she felt him gently pull her closer, letting her feel the contours of his muscles as he breathed on her neck. The sensation was both thrilling and terrifying, a mix of pleasure and fear that left her breathless. "I'm sorry," he whispered, his voice barely above a whisper, filled with a strange aggression that sent a chill down her spine. She felt his teeth against her skin, a gentle bite that drew blood and sent a shock of pleasure through her.

Despite the initial prick, Valerie could easily get lost and addicted to the sensation. The pleasure was intense, a heady mix of pain and ecstasy that threatened to overwhelm her. But those thoughts were tempered by the inconsistency of Ravian's bite, the way he alternated between rough and gentle, as if two forces were fighting for control within him. "Ravian, what are you doing?" she gasped, her voice filled with confusion and fear, her body trembling with the intensity of what she was feeling.

Valerie didn't know how to feel, especially when the sensation was so pleasurable that she had to hold herself back from yelping. Her mind was a whirlwind of conflicting emotions, a mix of pleasure and fear that left her disoriented and confused. That is, until her body gradually went limp, and everything around her felt warm. The world seemed to fade away, and she felt herself slipping into a strange, dreamlike state.

Ravian's eyes suddenly shifted, the strange red hue giving way to his usual gold. He seemed to come to his senses, his expression one of shock and horror as he realized what he was doing. "Valerie!" he cried, his voice filled with panic and fear. He pulled away, his body trembling, his mind reeling from what he had just done.

Valerie looked at him, her eyes wide with shock and confusion, her body still weak and unsteady. "Ravian, what happened?" she whispered, her voice filled with fear and concern. She reached out to touch him, but he pulled away, his eyes filled with a strange, haunted look.

"I'm dreadfully sorry, Valerie," Ravian stammered, his voice filled with genuine remorse, his accent more pronounced in his distress. "I didn't mean to... I truly didn't know what came over me." His golden eyes, filled with a mix of fear and confusion, were set in a face marked by striking features and an elegance that only added to his anguish, knowing that he had crossed a line that could not be uncrossed.

Ravian's eyes glinted violet as he cast a spell to sustain her life, his hands trembling as he touched her, checking her body in hopes that he hadn't killed or harmed her. The magic flowed from his fingertips, a gentle warmth that seemed to breathe life back into her. "Please, forgive me," he whispered, his voice filled with guilt and shame, his refined appearance marred by the horror of what he had done.

Valerie looked up at him, her eyes still weak but filled with understanding. "It's alright, Ravian," she said softly, her voice filled with a strange calm. "I know you didn't mean to hurt me." She reached out to touch his face, her fingers brushing against his chiseled cheek, a gentle reassurance that she was still there, still alive.

Ravian was visibly shaken, his body trembling, his mind reeling from what he had done. Valerie's words were a small comfort, but the guilt still gnawed at him, a relentless reminder of his failure. He picked her up in a bridal carry, his well-toned muscles flexing under the strain, his movements careful and deliberate, his every action a testament to his grace and strength.

With an elegant swing of his cape, Ravian transformed into a cloud of bats, carrying her away from the clearing. The world seemed to blur around them, the forest a dark and foreboding place, filled with shadows and secrets.

Valerie clung to him, her body still weak, her mind still trying to make sense of what had happened. They flew in silence, the night air cool against their skin, the moon a distant pale orb in the black sky. Ravian nor Valerie speaking a word, one too guilty to talk and one too shaken by what just happened.

Sigmund's heart pounded as he saw the familiar form of Ravian emerging from a swarm of bats, the creatures transforming back into his flowing cape. His eyes widened as he took in the sight of Valerie in Ravian's arms, her face pale and her body limp. But what truly caught his attention was the pained look on Ravian's face, a look that spoke of guilt and remorse.

Before Sigmund could ask what had happened, he understood. The sight of Ravian's mouth dripping with fresh blood, his elongated fangs stained red, told a story that words could not. Sigmund's eyes were drawn to Valerie's neck, where two still lightly bleeding fang marks marred her skin. A chill ran down his spine as he realized what had transpired.

Ravian gently lowered Valerie to the ground, his movements filled with a grace and elegance that belied the horror of the situation. "Sigmund, my dear friend," he said, his accented voice soft and filled with regret. "I must ask you to take care of her. I have to go and save the village."

Sigmund looked at Ravian, his mind reeling from what he had seen, his trust in his friend tested. "Ravian, what happened?" he asked, his voice filled with confusion and fear. "Why did you do this?"

Ravian's eyes met Sigmund's, filled with a sadness that seemed to reach into his very soul. "I'm afraid I lost control," he said, his voice filled with shame. Looking outside, he said, "I must go now."

"The village needs me." His words were filled with a sense of duty, a determination to make amends, but there was also a hint of guilt, a subtle implication that he was to some degree responsible for the disaster that had befallen the village.

With a final, lingering look at Valerie, Ravian turned and leaped into the night, leaving Sigmund to grapple with what he had witnessed. Before Sigmund could ask to elaborate further, Ravian swung his cape with a flourish, transforming into a swarm of bats that rushed out the window like a hurricane, leaving behind a chilling silence. Sigmund looked down at the nearly unconscious Valerie, letting her rest on his legs, his mind still reeling from the shock of what had just occurred.

Outside, Ravian's eyes glowed a sinister red, and swarms of bats emerged from the forests, descending upon the monstrous creatures that roamed the village. The bats attacked with a ferocity that was both terrifying and mesmerizing, tearing at the monsters like swarms of piranhas, their sharp teeth ripping through flesh and bone. Ravian's hands moved in intricate patterns, casting a spell that began to alter the weather, generating winds that slowly blew the fog away, revealing the chaos that lay beneath.

Two grotesque monsters leaped from the wooden roofs, their bodies covered in mottled, slimy scales, their jaws filled with razor-sharp teeth that dripped with venom. Their eyes, yellow and soulless, fixed on Ravian, and they lunged at him with a ferocity that spoke of a hunger that could never be sated. But Ravian was ready, his claws extended, and he retaliated with a grace and power that was breathtaking to behold. He drove the monsters to the ground, his movements a deadly dance that left no room for mercy.

Hunters hidden in the shadows watched in awe as Ravian jumped in and out of the fog, his body a blur of motion as he killed monster after monster. They saw the way he moved, the way he fought, and they knew that they were witnessing something extraordinary. But before they could call out to him, before they could offer their thanks or their assistance, he disappeared, leaving behind only the echoes of his battle and the bodies of the slain.

Back in the room, Sigmund looked out the window, his eyes wide with disbelief as he watched Ravian's battle. He looked down at her, her face pale and her breathing shallow, and he knew that he had to be strong for her, to be the friend that she needed in this dark and terrifying time.

The night wore on, the sounds of battle slowly fading as the village was reclaimed from the monstrous horde. Ravian's actions had turned the tide, his body a blur of motion as he moved through the fog, his swords flashing, his spells weaving a deadly tapestry that left no room for escape.

The monsters fell, one by one.

As the opaque fog lifted from the village, the grim aftermath of the battle was revealed. Corpses of both monsters and villagers lay strewn across the streets. The grievously wounded were carefully carried to the various healer shops around the village, their moans of pain a constant reminder of the horror that had unfolded. Those with lighter wounds were placed in inns, their faces pale and their eyes filled with a mix of relief and shock.

Sigmund, after ensuring that Valerie was safely placed in an inn to recover, stumbled to his own room, his body exhausted and his mind reeling from the events of the night. He collapsed onto his bed, his thoughts a whirlwind of confusion and fear, the images of the battle replaying in his mind as he drifted into a fitful sleep.

Outside the village, Ravian sat atop a cliff, his body silhouetted against the night sky, his eyes fixed on the village below. The cool night air brushed against his skin, causing his cape and dark brown hair to flutter gently in the breeze. A smile touched his lips, but it was tinged with guilt, a painful reminder of the destruction his magic had wrought.

He looked out over the village, his heart heavy with the knowledge that he must leave for their sake. His magic had no off button and in retrospect, this disaster would have to happen sooner or later thanks to his very presence.

The moon's rays seemed to reach out to him, a gentle caress that offered comfort and understanding. He watched over the village from his solitary perch, his body a silent sentinel, his mind filled with thoughts of what had been and what might have been. The night wore on, the village slowly returning to a semblance of normality, but Ravian remained watching.

Before the first light of dawn broke the horizon, Ravian moved silently through Valerie's house, tidying his room with deliberate care. Each step was a farewell to a place that had been a temporary home, each object he touched a reminder of the time he had spent there. He left a significant chunk of the money he had earned on the table, a final gesture of gratitude.

At the inn, he entered through the window, his body a shadow in the dimly lit room. He stood beside Valerie's bed, his eyes fixed on her peaceful, sleeping form. Gently, he placed a hand on her forehead, his magic flowing through her, healing her wounds and restoring her strength. The room was filled with a soft, ethereal glow as his power worked its wonders, a tangible manifestation of his care for her.

Valerie's eyes fluttered open, and she looked up to see Ravian's face, a mask of confidence and charm, but his eyes betraying a hint of sadness. "I'm truly sorry for last night, Valerie," he said, his voice soft and filled with genuine remorse. Ravian flashed his "I must thank you for all the hospitality you've given me, but I must leave now."

Valerie's heart pounded in her chest as she tried to find the words to respond. "Wait, Ravian, you can't just leave like this," she stammered, her voice breaking with emotion. But he was already moving towards the window, his movements graceful and determined. "I hope you understand," he said, pausing for a moment to look back at her, his golden eyes filled with a complex mix of emotions. "If you wish to visit me, travel down the river and past the valley."

With those words, he leaped from the window, transforming into a swarm of bats that flew off into the pre-dawn sky. Valerie rushed to the window, her eyes wide with shock and disbelief, her breath catching in her throat. She watched the bats disappear into the distance, her mind reeling from the suddenness of his departure. On the windowsill, she found a note, written in Ravian's elegant handwriting. "Remember, down the river and past the valley," it read, a final farewell from a friend who had vanished into the night.

Meanwhile, Sigmund awoke to the sight of a swarm of bats traveling fast across the sky, the first rays of dawn painting the horizon with shades of pink and orange. He watched them go, a sense of loss in his heart, but also a feeling that this won't be the last time he will meet him.