Chapter 46: The Village That Forgot Itself
The village of Redhollow had no color left.
Its wooden houses leaned inward like they were whispering secrets. Doors hung crooked. Smoke rose from none of the chimneys. No laughter. No livestock.
Just silence.
Elric and the group stood at the edge of the main path. The trees of Shadeland Grove still loomed in the distance behind them, watching.
Neera dismounted first. "This is where we lost them," she said quietly. "Two healers. We sent them ahead. No word since."
Marin clutched her satchel tighter. "The people here were storytellers. Every home had a wall of carvings—family histories. Now..."
She didn't finish.
Elric stepped forward.
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Within the Village
Cai walked slowly down the main path, one hand running over the fence posts.