First Step in the new World

After leaving the wagon, James moved forward with heightened caution along the path that seemed safest. His gaze swept over his surroundings constantly, every rustling leaf and whisper of wind reminding him of his vulnerability. After nearly an hour of tense walking, he finally spotted the edge of the forest—a dark line where the shadows of the trees stretched out, promising some semblance of refuge. A sigh of relief escaped his lips, and he allowed the tension in his shoulders to ease a little.

Stopping for a moment, James took in the forest's apparent calm in front of him. Suddenly, a movement caught his attention. A few meters away, a small squirrel leaped out from the tall grass, its reddish fur glistening under the soft afternoon light. The animal trotted, carefree, from the meadow toward the safety of a nearby tree.

James watched, amused, this simple moment of life. But then, the squirrel turned its head, its dark eyes meeting James's. A split second later, the animal abruptly changed direction, alarmed, and dashed toward the tree, its movements becoming faster, almost frantic.

And suddenly, in a sinister twist, pale blue tentacles erupted from the ground, as if the earth itself had awakened with a dark will. The thick, slimy appendages shot up around the squirrel, encircling it within milliseconds. Their surface was coated in a dark mucus that gleamed faintly in the light, emitting a strange smell of damp earth and decay.

Trapped in this monstrous grip, the squirrel let out high-pitched shrieks of panic, its tiny claws frantically scratching against the unyielding hold. James, terrified, remained rooted to the spot, mesmerized by this grotesque scene. He watched helplessly as the tentacles coiled tighter, twisting and intertwining to form an opaque sphere around the animal. The structure took on an almost organic appearance, pulsing with a strange rhythm, as if it had a heart, emitting a soft but sinister throb.

Through the membrane of the sphere, James could just make out the squirrel still struggling, its movements creating small ripples that disturbed the surface of this viscous prison. The dark blue liquid slowly began to fill the inside of the sphere, dripping from the walls to occupy every space around the small, exhausted body of the squirrel. The creature, increasingly weakened, continued to thrash, its claws scraping against the walls of this sinister bubble. Then its movement slowed, its gestures became weaker, until they almost ceased altogether.

James watched every moment, petrified, unable to look away, his heart pounding furiously. He saw the last bubbles of air leave the squirrel's nose, drifting to the surface of the dark bluish liquid before silently popping, leaving fleeting circles on the surface.

Finally, the squirrel's body went still, floating limply in the bluish liquid like a broken puppet. The silence that followed was heavy, oppressive, accentuated by the absolute stillness of the dark sphere. James felt his breath quicken, his skin cold with fear, a shiver running down his spine. This grim spectacle had left an indelible mark on him, and he wondered, terrified, what other horrors this unknown place might yet hold.

The squirrel's fur began to be absorbed by the dark liquid inside the sphere, its once bright reddish coat now fading, dissolving into the viscous substance as if it were being drawn into a black abyss. The sphere itself began to shift, rolling slowly toward James, its surface rippling with unsettling movements as it seemed to seek something, perhaps even him.

A chill ran down James's spine as the sphere drew closer, its dark, pulsating form growing larger in his peripheral vision. His heart raced, and the instinct to flee overwhelmed him.

With a quick breath and a burst of energy, he turned away, making a decisive, panicked "Nope!" under his breath. Without daring to look back, he quickened his pace and pushed forward, entering the meadow. The bright expanse of the field stretched before him, offering a stark contrast to the dark, oppressive presence he had just left behind. He refused to let the fear paralyze him further.

As James continued his hurried trek through the meadow, the unsettling feeling of being pursued slowly started to fade. His mind, still reeling from the horrific sight of the squirrel's fate, clung to the hope that the open expanse would offer some reprieve.

But then, in the distance, through the swaying grass, he spotted something—a break in the monotony of the landscape. A village, small but distinct, stood ahead. It was surrounded by a wooden palisade, tall and sturdy, offering a sense of protection from whatever might lurk beyond. The rough, hand-hewn logs of the walls rose like a barricade against the unknown, the village within looking strangely inviting in comparison to the eerie wilderness he had been navigating.

As James approached the village, the first thing that caught his attention was the steady hum of life that filled the air—voices calling to one another, the clink of metal from a nearby forge, and the rhythmic pounding of a carpenter's hammer. The village, though small, was alive with activity.

The closer he got, the more details became clear: a few buildings huddled together near the gate, and he could just make out figures moving along the walls, perhaps guards keeping watch. Despite the sense of safety the village provided, James couldn't shake the feeling that someone was watching him. Still, there was no turning back now. The village was his only option.

As James approached the guard near the entrance of the village, he noticed the man's indifferent gaze fall on him. The guard's eyes briefly scanned James's unkempt appearance—his clothes, clearly worn and out of place, made him look more like someone who had wandered in from the wilderness rather than a traveler with any real purpose. The guard said nothing about James's appearance, but there was a palpable lack of impression on his face.

James hesitated for a moment before speaking up, his voice steady but laced with the horror he still felt. "I... I saw something strange. A sphere. It... it devoured a squirrel."

The guard's expression didn't shift much at first, but a sigh escaped him as he lowered his spear slightly. "Ah, a Slime," he muttered, almost as if this were a common occurrence. "You've encountered a type of monster known for that kind of behavior. Those creatures are fairly dangerous if left unchecked, especially for civilians."

James, still shaken, watched the guard carefully. "Dangerous?" he asked, his voice faltering.

The guard nodded, his tone more serious now. "Yes. They may appear small and harmless at first, but they're highly unpredictable, highly difficult to damage, and they can grow quickly, swallowing anything in their path. It's fortunate you weren't closer. They tend to get more aggressive when they sense fear or movement. I don't know how close you were to it, but if you hadn't moved when you did, you might've been next."

James felt a shiver run through him at the thought.

"The best thing to do," the guard continued, "is to report it to the guild. They'll handle the request and send someone to clear it out. It's one of those dangers we face here every weeks, so don't worry. It's not uncommon." He offered a small, reassuring nod. "Just make sure you avoid the area for now."

James nodded, still processing the information. "I'll go to the guild then," he said quietly, "but… what else should I watch out for here?"

The guard's expression shifted slightly, becoming more somber. He straightened his posture, scanning the surroundings with a more watchful gaze. 'There are a few other things you'll want to be aware of around here,' he began, his tone more grave now. 'The monsters outside the labyrinth are not the only threats, but as everywhere, they are the most common type of monster. Some of them are even more aggressive than others.' He paused, looking directly at James. 'It's a rough place beyond these walls.'

James listened intently, his unease growing with each word.

"The labyrinth, as you might have guessed, is where most of the more dangerous creatures spawn. But not far from there, you'll find labyrinth monsters that have spawned outside the maze because there aren't enough explorers inside — slimes like the one you saw, but also bigger beasts. There are those who lurk in the woods, like dire wolves, giant spiders, and even creatures that are smarter, more cunning, like goblins or kobolds." The guard's expression darkened as he spoke. "Most of these creatures don't always wait for you to enter the labyrinth to attack. Sometimes they wander too close to the village, especially when the weather shifts and miasma float in the air."

James blinked, trying to digest everything the guard was saying.

The guard continued, his voice tinged with a note of warning. "But the creatures aren't the only problem. There are bandits and thieves who've been known to lurk in the forests as well. They've been raiding travelers, stealing supplies, and causing chaos along the roads. I'd recommend you to stay cautious while you're out there. If you plan on heading toward the labyrinth or anywhere near the woods, be prepared for anything."

James' thoughts flickered back to the wreckage of the wagon he had passed earlier—the bloodstains, the shattered wood. His face paled as he remembered the gruesome sight of the lifeless passengers.

"A-about that, I... I saw something else," James began, his voice shaky but determined. "Back on the road. A destroyed wagon. There were bodies... passengers killed, or at least... I think they were all. There was blood, and the whole thing was a wreck. It looked like... someone attacked."

The guard's eyes narrowed, a hint of concern flashing in his gaze. He glanced around the area before speaking in a quieter tone, almost as if he didn't want others to overhear. "That sounds like the work of bandits," he said softly. "They've been known to ambush travelers, especially if they sense an easy target. It's possible they were responsible for that wreckage. I wouldn't be surprised. Those types are getting bolder lately." he said with a sigh.

James felt his stomach churn at the thought. "Do you think they're still around?"

The guard gave a grim nod. "Most likely. Bandits don't just disappear. If you've seen the wreck, then it's safe to say they're still active in the area. I'm actually surprise you were able to pass there without being surrounded" he said thinking.

The guard's gaze hardened as he looked over at one of his colleagues standing nearby. He raised a hand and gestured for the man to approach. "Gather a small squad for reconnaissance. Four of us, including me, and bring a big cart," he instructed in a low voice. "We're going to check out the wreckage. Make sure we're ready for anything."

He turned back to James, his expression serious. "I need you to come with us. Show us exactly where you saw the wagon."

James hesitated for a moment, uncertainty gnawing at him. He had barely come to grips with everything he had witnessed, and now he was being asked to lead a small group back to the wreck. But as the image of the mangled bodies flashed in his mind, a sense of duty stirred within him. He remembered his silent prayer for safety and help, and his resolve firmed. He couldn't just ignore what had happened.

"I'll come," James said, his voice steady, though his heart still raced with unease, finally realizing the man he was talking to was the captain of the guard. "I'll show you the way."

Before he could move, the guard held up a hand to stop him. There was a brief moment of silence, and the chef's expression grew more intense. "Wait a moment," the guard said, his tone quieter now. "There's two thing I need to ask you before we head out."

James paused, looking at the guard with a mix of curiosity and wariness. The guard studied him for a moment longer before speaking again, his voice serious.

"You said you saw bodies. People... killed. Are you sure of what you saw? Because if there's anything you haven't told me, now's the time. If there's something more to this—something we need to be prepared for—it's better we know before we go into that area."

James felt the weight of the guard's words settle on him. He knew there was more to the wreckage than just bandits; something about it didn't sit right with him. But he also didn't want to seem paranoid, or worse, like he was imagining things. His fingers clenched involuntarily at his sides.

"I—I'm sure," James replied, trying to shake off the unease creeping into his voice. "There was blood, and the bodies—b" He swallowed hard, remembering the gruesome sight. "They were... mangled and some as been eaten. It didn't look like an ordinary attack. I've never seen anything like it. But they left a lot of objects that could be use by them, I don't know why they were so quick to go away that they left a lot behind."

The guard's eyes narrowed, his expression hardening with the seriousness of the situation. "Good, we should hurry, I might have an idea of what could make them hurry like that..." he muttered, but there was a subtle shift in his posture, as if he, too, was beginning to understand that there was more at play here. "If you're sure about it, then we'll be cautious. Also..." the guard said, indicating to follow along.