Chapter 29 Killing the Star of Doom
(Gabriel’s Memory.)
Gabriel rode into the village with his men, their horses moving slowly through the narrow path between the houses. There was no smoke, no fire, only silence. The kind of silence that didn’t feel peaceful. It felt strange like something had happened, but there was no trace left.
The houses were all still standing; Their doors were shut and the windows were dark, with not a single sign of life.
Gabriel tightened his grip on the reins.
There were no bodies and no signs of a struggle. Not even a single drop of blood. It felt like the whole place had vanished without a fight.
"There," one of the scouts said, pointing ahead. "I saw someone in that house."
It was the last house at the edge of the village. It was smaller than the rest. The wood looked old, and one of the shutters swung lightly in the breeze.
Gabriel dismounted. His boots crunched softly against the dirt as he walked forward, sword already in his hand. He pushed the door open. It gave a loud creak, almost like it didn’t want them to come in.
Inside, the air was thick. It was warm, but not in a comforting way. It smelled like smoke, herbs, and something faintly metallic, like dried blood.
A woman crouched in the far corner of the room, holding a baby around the age of one tightly in her arms. Her dress was torn near the bottom, but it wasn’t filthy. Her face was pale, and her dark hair clung to her skin. She looked exhausted, but her eyes were sharp.
"Stay back," she said, her voice shaking slightly. "You’re not taking him; he is not the one you are looking for."