18 Chapter 18: A village deep in the woods

After boarding the boat that they got on harbor they hurriedly went towards the peninsula of Fernia City and arrived at land in a few hours.

Before disembarking their boat when they decided to travel on foot as they want to know about the situation on the Black Market.

But as the bridge was cut off from this side all of the communications and interactions on the other side of the bridge was lost.

While Malek was still insistently inquiring about the outcome that happened in his Black Market as he was hoping to caught wind of some useful information.

With Ziv's recent battle that almost killed him the injuries that he receives slowly recovers from resting alone without using his skill that much or wasting any Energy Crystal in his possession.

"There is no way we can get some information on what happened there for the time being." Malek helplessly gives up on his plan to get some information after asking many people.

"It was better to avoid interacting with those people as we can keep our lives longer that way." Ziv that was seated on top of the car trunk said with weary tone.

"After having your CQC training you still receive this much injuries." Reynold shook his head as he looked at Ziv's condition.

A lot of his injuries came from the dagger that he receives on his thigh and shoulder while there were some bruises on his abdomen and back from being beaten by the chains that made it swollen before it eventually turn black.

"That's only a few hours of CQC training dumbass. Thankfully, I have already closed all the wounds that I receive or else you will see much worse." Ziv replied at him when he mentions his injuries that he receives.

"Serves you right." Reynold mocked him.

"That's also convenient because it let us have no choice, but to comply with your request on staying here." Malek complained while staring at his scars and wounds in his body.

"Then go without us." Ziv said while getting annoyed by these two people as Malek just snorted in response.

As they were talking there is suddenly a brightly lit lantern that appeared near the woods while they could see the lantern in their current position whenever it was swaying back and forth.

When the lantern appeared it was noticeable and eye catching, especially they are currently staying in the environment where it was pitch black that no lights could be seen anywhere.

"Hey! You saw that?"

When Ziv was staring blankly at the woods nearby, he notices this strange thing that appeared just now as he pointed at the lantern while he called out his companion.

"What do you mean 'saw that'? Reynold asked him in confusion as he looked towards the direction he was pointing at.

"Oh! What is that? A lantern?" Malek exclaimed when he looked at the lantern that was lit up in the dark woods.

"Would you like to check it out?" Reynold asked Malek before they both looked at Ziv that was seated on the car trunk.

"F*ck you! I'm not crippled just injured. Injured!" Ziv was pissed off when they looked at him like that.

After standing up from his seat he immediately walks forwards as he kicks Reynold's leg before slowly limping towards the direction of the woods.

"Let's go!" Ziv urged them as he walks first.

Through the support that they give to him the speed they arrive in the woods to search for that lantern they saw earlier hasten.

"I'll take the front in case it's a bait or something." Reynold warned them as he moves forward to protect and scout ahead.

"Okay." Both of them nodded as they followed behind Reynold who was leading the group.

After walking for a while without seeing activity nor sound he suddenly heard Malek asking him about their reason for travelling towards Fernia City.

"What's your story?" Malek asked him.

"There's nothing special. I'm just travelling home to check out my stepfather in Franklin City." Ziv lightly said while proceeding on walking in the dark woods.

"Is that so? Why are you sticking with this moron then?" Malek curiously asked him while pointing at Reynold.

"I heard that." Reynold exclaimed could be heard in their front.

"I got dragged by this crazy fella a few days ago. He just popped up out of nowhere before saying 'You don't have anywhere to go? Come with me' then he immediately dragged me around without my consent." Ziv kept sighing as he recounted his story.

"In summary you are abducted." Malek concluded from his story.

"Exactly. What's your story except for being an annoying luggage?" Ziv asked him back after saying all of that.

"I was planning on going to Franklin City because there's another Black Market there that my friend built. We are going to split up there don't worry." Malek explained as he revealed his destination on where he was going.

"Oh! That's convenient considering that we will stay near that area, at least we know where we will collect your debts." Reynold voice could be heard again in the front as he mocked him when he heard that.

"Don't start with me." Malek hands started emitting with green gas when he started to get annoyed at Reynold.

"Hu.. I'm scared.. Help me.." Reynold wriggles his hands as he acted 'scared'.

"You-!" When Malek was about to snap they a small village that consist out of wooden houses while it was brightly lit by lanterns.

"How far are we walking now?" Ziv asked in dazed when he saw the scene in front of him.

"At least far from the road and deep in the woods." Reynold replied at him as he stares at the small village they discovered in the woods.

The residences in this small village can be counted with their two hands or so.

The people living around this area were housed in wooden houses, shacks and log cabin while they could see some firewood that was neatly placed in one area, a bonfire in the center, a stable at the entrance and a small well that was far from the houses here.

"How backwards their living here for them to use a well?" Reynold asked when he saw the living condition of these people.

"Maybe they are a member of the Neo-Luddism group?" Ziv thoughtfully said when he observed their living conditions here.

As they are standing at the entrance of the village, the people on this village started to notice them as they curiously stare at their faces, attire and items.

An old man that was around 78 years old went outside of his house when he heard a commotion from his neighbors.

The old man bravely approached them with his rusty shotgun on his hand as he warily looked at them while requesting to know their intentions of coming here.

"Who are you!? What are you doing in our village?" the old man requested to know their intention while asking them with an hostile tone in his voice.

"That's a warm welcome there. I would say." Reynold whispers silently to his companion.

"Shut up." Ziv silently rebuked him as he focuses his attention to this old man to try to negotiate with him.

"We are here with friendly intention. As we are travelling around this area we got injured and lost." Ziv patiently explained at the old man with a kind smile.

"Ah.. I see. You are all travelers that lost in the woods that was unfortunate indeed."

"Recently there were a lot of travelers that got lost around these woods with the same reason as you. They were not familiar with this area and accidentally stumbled upon our village." the old man sighed in pity while lowering his hostility when he heard that their story.

"Uhm.. Can we stay in your village for a while since it's dark outside?" Ziv hesitantly said while his face was full of pity.

'A great actor.' Both of his companions thought.

"Well, If you don't really have anywhere to stay for the night I can let you stay in my guest rooms." the old man thinks for a while when he saw his face before speaking.

"See that works, isn't?" Ziv whispers at Reynold when the negotiation works as they follow behind the old man under the gazes of the people that living here.

When they are following behind the old man towards a log cabin in the deeper part of this village the gazes that was directed at them has a hint of fear, curiosity and panic, but under its pretense there was a hint of delight?

'Maybe that was just my imagination at least we got a place we can stay to recuperate from my injury before continuing on our journey. But I need to be wary at all times.' Ziv remember what he saw while they were walking towards a log cabin.

"Here's my house that I'm talking about. Dear! I brought some guests at our house."

The old man leads them to a medium size log cabin that was located near the well in the village.

When they enter the cabin they were amazed at the atmosphere inside as it was cozy and comfortable.

The set up of the furniture of the cabin was clean and neat to look at while in the first floor they have living room with wooden chair that facing a fireplace that warming up the whole place.

While in the dining room it has a wooden dining table with a roasted chicken that was served on the plate and there was a long corridor that has a wooden doors that lead to other places.

Before going to the second floor there was a wooden staircase that leads to the guest room of this cabin and a door that lead to the balcony.

"How do you think of my cabin?" the old man proudly boasts his cabin as he laughed heartily when he saw their reaction.

"We're surprised at how beautiful your cabin was." Ziv complimented earnestly.

"Oh is that so! Oh yeah, I totally forgot, I haven't known your name?" the old man was beaming with a smile as ask for their names.

"I'm Ziv. This was my friend Reynold and Malek we are on our way to the nearest city, but the car that we used suddenly broke while we suddenly got lost in the woods when we tried to find some help." Ziv introduced themselves before explaining their situation.

"I'm Gereth and this is my wife Fissha we have lived in these woods for decades now and trust me we know this area like a back of our hands, we can guide you anywhere around this area if you want to leave here." Gereth introduced himself and his wife that comes from the kitchen.

"We apologize for our disturbance Mr. Gereth." Ziv earnestly said as he slightly bowed his head to show his sincerity.

"No. It's okay our village were used to travelers that got lost around here while asking our village for the direction or help on something." Gereth waved his hand as he dismissed their disturbance on his cabin.

"Oh my! I'm sure you guys are tired and hungry from your travelling. Why don't you come join us on our dinner before sleeping later?" Fissha said with concern as she smiles warmly while looking at their ragged state.

After eating a rather sumptuous dinner that was served on the table while the initial awkward atmosphere suddenly vanished when they started laughing and talking happily while eating.

They were lead to look around the first floor before they went upstairs to their rooms after eating dinner.

"This was the available room we have here. But, we apologize early on if it makes you uncomfortable." Gereth smile apologetically as while he looked at the dusty room.

"Ah! It's no big deal we just need a place we can stay for the night, that's all." Ziv replied at him while looking around the room.

"Hmm.. Well, I better get going as we know you lots are tired."

"Oh, I almost forgot! Don't go outside your room when it was midnight, even if you heard some loud noises as there was some creatures running amok around this area." Gereth strongly reminded him before he slowly close the door.

When Ziv heard that he suspiciously stare at the departing back of Gereth before walking towards the window of this room that overlooking the whole village at this angle while he deeply thinking about this strange village in the woods.

'Now that I observed it carefully. How could this small village not affected or tainted by the situation that humanity experiencing right now?'

'Especially when I ask about it earlier, they seem to not know or they are too ignorant about that topic as this village was isolated on the outside world?'

'Also, I don't mind them being kind at us and I really appreciate it, but their overenthusiastic attitude on a complete stranger they just met is kinda fishy while the warning he mentions makes this thing more complicated.'

The more deeply he thinks about this small village the more it become strange and mysterious it was.

"We just want to rest quietly why do you need to make it complicated for us? Give me a break already!"

After complaining for a while as he scratches his head in confusion, he eventually decided to just sleep for the night without forgetting to lock his door while putting his gun under his pillow to defend himself for possible ambush.

'I hope it was not that troublesome.'

That was his last thought before he fell into a deep slumber soon after he lay down the bed.