Chapter 25: Trouble in Hillfar Village

The road to Hillfar Village had been long and winding, but as the sun began to dip below the horizon, the trio finally reached their destination. Hillfar lay nestled in a valley, surrounded by rolling hills blanketed with thick, twisted trees that cast shadows across the village. Despite the golden hour's warm glow, the air felt tense, like a storm waiting to break.

Azazel, Kaela, and Shadow stepped into the village square, where cobblestone paths met and the market stalls stood quiet. It was supposed to be bustling, alive with the chatter of merchants and customers. Instead, the villagers were huddled in small groups, their faces pale and fearful.

"This place feels... off," Kaela murmured, her brows knitting together in concern. Shadow let out a low growl, sensing the unease that hung over the village.

Azazel frowned, his hand instinctively going to the hilt of his Sword. "Yeah. Something's definitely wrong here."

Before they could investigate further, a sudden crash echoed through the square. A wooden fruit cart tipped over, spilling apples everywhere as a burly man in dark armor shoved a terrified merchant to the ground.

"Didn't I tell you, old man?" the armored warrior sneered, his voice cold and menacing. He loomed over the trembling merchant. "Taxes are due. Pay up, or things get ugly."

Azazel's eyes narrowed. The warrior's armor bore the mark of one of the Nine Beast Lords—a stylized, menacing claw. He knew that symbol all too well. This was no ordinary warrior; he was one of Noah's enforcers, under the command of the Beast Lord who ruled with power and fear.

Kaela put a hand on Azazel's arm, her voice low. "Azazel, be careful. We don't know how many of them are here."

Azazel clenched his jaw. "I know. But I can't stand by and watch this."

---

With a determined stride, Azazel approached the scene, Shadow following close behind. The villagers watched with a mixture of hope and dread, whispering among themselves.

"Hey," Azazel called out, his voice steady but loud enough to carry across the square. The warrior turned, his eyes narrowing as he took in Azazel's lean figure and the wolf by his side. "Why don't you pick on someone your own size?"

The armored man smirked. "And who might you be, boy? Another idiot looking for trouble?"

Azazel flashed a cocky grin. "Not an idiot, but definitely ready to show you what trouble looks like."

Kaela sighed behind him, mumbling, "Oh great. Here we go again. Why can't we ever do things quietly?"

The warrior let out a bark of laughter. "You think you can take me on?" He glanced around at the villagers, who shrank back even further. "Fine. Let's teach this hero a lesson."

Azazel's hand tightened around his sword as the warrior charged, his heavy boots pounding against the cobblestones. Shadow sprang forward, a blur of black fur and teeth, aiming for the warrior's exposed side. The enforcer barely had time to react, stumbling back as Shadow's jaws snapped at his armor.

Azazel used the opening. He sidestepped the warrior's wild swing, his movements fluid and precise. "You really should've listened when I said to pick on someone your own size," he quipped.

The warrior snarled, swinging his armored fist at Azazel. Azazel ducked, spinning away with a grin. "Missed me! Are you sure you're not the one who's an idiot here?"

Kaela couldn't help but laugh, even as she prepared a spell just in case things went south. "Azazel, stop taunting him and finish this quickly!"

---

The warrior roared, clearly infuriated. He swung his massive sword in an arc, aiming to cleave Azazel in two. But Azazel was faster. He called upon the mark of Valhalla, feeling the familiar surge of energy as he dashed forward, delivering a quick, powerful strike to the warrior's exposed leg.

The enforcer stumbled, but he wasn't done yet. He raised his sword, glaring at Azazel. "You're going to regret this, you little—"

Before he could finish, Shadow lunged again, clamping his teeth around the warrior's gauntlet and yanking him off balance. The warrior flailed, trying to shake the wolf off.

Azazel chuckled, his eyes gleaming. "Looks like you're the one regretting things now."

Kaela groaned, rolling her eyes. "You're enjoying this way too much."

"Gotta have some fun, right?" Azazel replied, dodging another wild swing. But he knew they couldn't drag this out. The longer the fight went on, the more danger they were in.

Kaela stepped forward, her staff glowing with blue light. "Hold him steady, Shadow!"

Shadow barked in response, tightening his grip on the warrior's arm. Kaela whispered an incantation, and a surge of icy wind erupted from her staff, encasing the warrior's legs in frost. The enforcer struggled, his movements slowing as the ice crept upward.

Azazel seized the opportunity, delivering a final, well-placed blow that sent the warrior crashing to the ground, his sword clattering away. The villagers erupted in a mix of cheers and relieved sighs.

---

The merchant Azazel had saved scrambled to his feet, tears of gratitude in his eyes. "Thank you, brave ones. We've been tormented by these warriors for weeks."

Azazel helped the man up, his expression softening. "No one deserves to be treated like that. We're just glad we could help."

Kaela stepped closer, wiping sweat from her brow. "Is it always like this in Hillfar? Or has it gotten worse recently?"

The merchant hesitated, glancing around as if afraid of unseen eyes. "It's been worse... ever since Noah, the Beast Lord, started sending his enforcers. They demand more and more from us, claiming it's for our protection."

Azazel's smile faded. He'd heard whispers of Noah, one of the Nine Beast Lords, known for his brutal rule and twisted sense of justice. The enforcer they'd just fought was likely a small taste of the true power they would face.

Shadow, sensing the change in Azazel's mood, nuzzled his hand. Azazel patted the wolf's head, his jaw set. "We'll do what we can to help. But first, we need to learn more about this Noah."

---

As the villagers began to gather around, offering thanks and even small gifts of food, one elderly woman stepped forward with a basket of freshly baked bread. "For our saviors," she said, her voice quivering. "It's not much, but it's all we have."

Azazel took the bread with a grateful smile. "Thank you. This means more to us than you know."

Kaela peeked into the basket and made a face. "Bread again? Azazel, do you think we'll ever eat something that's not... well, bread?"

Azazel grinned, breaking off a piece and handing it to her. "Hey, bread is the food of champions. Or, in our case, very hungry travelers."

Kaela accepted the piece with a sigh. "I suppose. But one of these days, I'd like a feast. With real food. Maybe a roasted boar or—"

She was interrupted by a small child tugging at her cloak. "Miss, did you see how brave you were?" the boy said, his eyes wide with admiration.

Kaela's expression softened, and she crouched down to his level. "Brave? Oh no, I was terrified the whole time! But thank you for thinking otherwise."

Azazel snorted, and Shadow let out a huff that sounded suspiciously like laughter. "You? Terrified?" Azazel teased. "You looked like you were having the time of your life."

Kaela shot him a mock glare. "Says the guy who was grinning like a lunatic the entire fight."

---

Despite the light-hearted moment, the reality of their situation loomed over them. The villagers' relief was palpable, but the fear had not completely vanished. Azazel could see it in their eyes—the knowledge that even with the enforcer defeated, Noah's power remained a shadow over their lives.

As they prepared to leave the square, an elderly man stepped forward, leaning heavily on a walking stick. His voice was frail but steady. "Young warrior," he called to Azazel, "you fight well, but be wary. Noah is no ordinary Beast Lord. They say his power is that of storms and shadows, and he has eyes everywhere."

Azazel's hand tightened into a fist. "Thank you for the warning. We'll be careful."

Kaela leaned in, her voice barely above a whisper. "Noah... another Beast Lord. Azazel, this is getting more dangerous by the minute."

Azazel glanced at her, determination flashing in his eyes. "We knew this wouldn't be easy. But we'll face whatever comes."

Shadow growled softly, as if to agree, and Azazel felt a flicker of hope. They had each other, and they had the will to fight. As they walked away from Hillfar's frightened but grateful villagers, Azazel knew one thing for certain: the real battle was only just beginning.

And somewhere in the distance, the storm clouds of Noah's power gathered

, promising that their journey was far from over.