C6 - Embers of Fate
The first light of dawn spread quietly across Green Willow Village, painting the rooftops in soft shades of gold. A cool breeze carried the fragrance of damp earth through the valley, and for a fleeting moment, the village seemed untouched by the troubles of the outside world.
Ye Chen awoke before his parents, a habit he had developed over the years. He stepped outside with a wooden bucket and walked toward the river that wound through the eastern edge of the village.
The morning air was crisp, and the water reflected the sky so clearly that it seemed as though another world lay beneath its surface.
He knelt by the riverbank and filled the bucket, pausing when he noticed something unusual.
The fish were gone.
This stretch of the river was always alive with small silver fish darting through the reeds. Yet today, the water was strangely still. Even the frogs that usually croaked from the banks had vanished.
Ye Chen frowned.
His father had often told him that nature sensed danger long before humans did.
He remained there for several moments, scanning the surrounding forest. The towering trees swayed gently in the wind, revealing nothing except endless shades of green.
Perhaps he was imagining things.
With the bucket balanced across his shoulders, he returned to the village.
As he entered the courtyard, he found his father repairing the wooden fence while his mother prepared breakfast over the clay stove.
Lin Yue smiled warmly.
"You're back early."
"The river was quiet today," Ye Chen replied as he set down the bucket.
Ye Shan looked up.
"Too quiet?"
Ye Chen nodded.
His father's expression became thoughtful, though he said nothing further.
After breakfast, the villagers gathered in the fields as usual. Children laughed while chasing butterflies between rows of crops, and farmers discussed the coming harvest with cautious optimism. Despite another year of hard work, the fields promised a generous yield.
For people who owned little, such a harvest meant everything.
It meant enough grain to survive the winter.
Enough food to trade for medicine and clothing.
Enough hope to believe the following year might be even better.
Near noon, a cloud of dust appeared along the northern road.
Several villagers stopped their work and shaded their eyes.
A lone horse approached at a slow pace.
Its rider was a middle-aged merchant wearing faded blue robes. His horse looked exhausted, its flanks covered in sweat despite the cool weather.
The village chief welcomed him with a polite smile.
"Traveler, what brings you to Green Willow Village?"
The merchant accepted a cup of water before speaking.
"I seek only a place to rest before continuing south."
The chief nodded.
"You are welcome here."
As the merchant drank, his eyes wandered toward the northern mountains.
"Have you seen anyone pass this way recently?"
The chief shook his head.
"No one besides a few traders."
The merchant hesitated.
"I would advise everyone to remain cautious."
The cheerful atmosphere gradually faded.
"Cautious?" the chief asked.
The merchant lowered his voice.
"Three villages north of here were attacked within the last month."
A murmur spread among the gathered villagers.
"Bandits?"
"So the rumors are true..."
The merchant nodded grimly.
"They strike without warning. They steal grain, livestock, weapons—anything valuable. Those who resist..." He paused before finishing quietly. "Few survive."
Silence settled over the crowd.
Ye Chen watched the merchant carefully.
There was no exaggeration in his eyes.
Only fatigue.
Only fear.
The village chief forced a reassuring smile.
"Our village owns nothing worth stealing."
The merchant looked at the modest houses surrounding them.
"I hope you're right."
That evening, the village held an emergency meeting beneath the ancient banyan tree.
The elders decided to strengthen the wooden gate, assign night watches, and store part of the harvest in hidden pits outside the village.
Most believed these precautions would never be needed.
Green Willow Village had enjoyed peace for decades.
Surely misfortune would pass them by.
Ye Chen sat quietly beside his father throughout the meeting.
As the discussions ended, Ye Shan placed a reassuring hand upon his son's shoulder.
"Don't worry."
His voice was calm, yet not entirely convincing.
"We've faced difficult years before."
Ye Chen looked toward the northern mountains, where darkness had already begun swallowing the forest.
"I know."
But deep within his heart, the uneasiness that had haunted him for days had only grown stronger.
...
Several kilometers away, hidden among towering pines, dozens of mounted figures waited in complete silence.
No campfire burned.
No one spoke.
Only the occasional snort of a restless horse disturbed the stillness.
The scar-faced leader unfolded a rough map scratched onto a piece of animal hide.
His finger stopped upon a single mark.
Green Willow Village.
A burly man beside him frowned.
"Chief... it's only a farming village. Is it really worth the journey?"
The scar-faced man slowly rolled up the map.
"The order didn't come from me."
"Then from whom?"
For the first time that night, a trace of caution appeared in the leader's eyes.
"Someone far above our station."
The others exchanged uneasy glances.
They had followed their leader for years and knew he feared almost nothing.
Seeing even a hint of hesitation on his face chilled them more than the night wind.
He mounted his horse and looked toward the valley hidden beyond the forest.
"At dawn..."
His voice carried no emotion.
"We leave no witnesses."
Far above the silent forest, thick clouds drifted across the moon, plunging the mountains into darkness.
The valley slept peacefully, unaware that fate had already begun its descent.