CHAPTER 218: UNWELCOME

Luna was given a straightforward task—or at least, that’s what she thought when she accepted it. She was to inspect the western region of the continent, a small, remote village near the borders of Argon’s territory but officially governed by Aethernox.

The report she received was brief but concerning. People had been falling sick for weeks now, and many weren’t surviving.

The illness spread quietly, taking its victims one by one, and those who didn’t have strong bodies or high magical resistance rarely lasted beyond a few days. Even those who endured were said to be left weak and trembling, their bodies pale and their eyes sunken as if something had been drained from within them.

The older ones—those who had lived through wars and famines—were the first to fall. It wasn’t just death that troubled the locals, though; it was how silent and quick the sickness seemed to move, like a shadow whispering from house to house.

Luna’s role was simple: survey the situation, speak with the villagers, gather possible explanations, and finally, report to the governor of the area before returning.

If her instincts pointed toward anything abnormal—especially magic-related—she was to inform Avalin immediately.

She traveled alone, on foot, as per usual. With her enhanced speed, it took her half a day to reach the village.

The road wound through thick trees and wild grasslands, the breeze occasionally brushing past her silver hair. Though she didn’t show it, she always preferred traveling like this—no noise, no chatter, just her thoughts and the rhythm of her steps.

The task had a strict limit: two days. If she didn’t return or establish contact within that time, a battalion would be dispatched to find her. It wasn’t meant as punishment, but a precaution. Still, Luna doubted she’d need so long. Her plan was to finish the investigation today and depart by dawn.

The sun was still high, with at least two hours before it would dip into the horizon. That was enough time to get a good grasp of things.

When she finally arrived at the entrance of the village, two guards stood before a tall wooden gate. They looked exhausted, as though they hadn’t slept well in days. One of them raised a hand to stop her.

"I have a pass," Luna said, her tone steady. She reached into her satchel and presented an insignia carved into a silver badge.

The soldier’s eyes widened the moment he saw it. His posture straightened instantly, and he gave a quick salute. "Y-you may pass!" he stammered, quickly pulling the gate open for her.

The insignia was proof of direct connection to Aethernox’s central government—a sign that she wasn’t to be questioned. The reaction was expected. Luna simply nodded and walked past, stepping into the village.

The first thing she noticed was how ordinary it looked. Wooden houses lined the muddy path, smoke rising from the chimneys. Children played near the well, and old women sat by their doorsteps, weaving baskets. A few men carried firewood or pushed carts of hay.

The soft, cool breeze brushed against her face, carrying the smell of earth and freshly chopped wood. The scene looked peaceful—too peaceful for a place supposedly cursed by sickness.

She took a slow breath, letting her gaze wander. Something about the air felt... different. It wasn’t foul or heavy, but rather muted, like the life of the place was quietly fading.

The wind was fresh, but it carried no warmth. The laughter of the children didn’t reach far before being swallowed by silence.

Still, she moved deeper into the heart of the village.

After a while, she spotted a young man struggling to balance several blocks of firewood on his shoulder. He looked to be in his twenties, with calloused hands and tired eyes. Luna decided he might be a good starting point.

"Excuse me," she called softly. "Can I have a moment?"

The young man stopped in his tracks and turned. Like most others, his eyes widened slightly at the sight of Luna’s silver hair and calm expression. "Yes?" he asked cautiously.

Luna smiled politely. "I’m a student from the academy," she said smoothly, "and I’m working on a project that requires me to record the problems faced by village residents. Could you tell me a bit about what troubles people here?"

It was a harmless excuse—believable enough. Revealing her true purpose would only cause panic, and she couldn’t afford chaos before understanding the situation.

The young man stared at her for a few seconds, then his gaze hardened. The friendliness in his eyes vanished, replaced by a flicker of fear—or perhaps resentment.

"You shouldn’t be here," he muttered. "This village is cursed. You’ve chosen the wrong place to study."

Luna blinked. "Cursed? By who?"

The man adjusted the firewood on his shoulder, his face turning grim. He took a cautious step backward, as if saying too much would invite misfortune. "By the great deity—the most vicious Primordial of all," he said flatly, before walking away without looking back.

Luna stood still for a moment, his words echoing in her mind.

A Primordial? Here?

Her brows furrowed. Primordials were ancient beings of immense power—entities that existed long before humanity understood magic.

To claim one’s influence lingered in a quiet border village sounded absurd. And yet, the conviction in the young man’s tone hadn’t been born from superstition; it came from fear.

Could it be true? Or was it the desperate imagination of villagers looking for someone—or something—to blame?

Luna sighed softly, brushing her hair back as she glanced around again. Nothing looked out of place, yet the longer she stayed, the heavier the silence became.

She decided to go straight to the governor’s residence. He would surely have records or at least more grounded explanations.

The report had mentioned his name—Governor Renold, a man known for being practical and level-headed.

But as she made her way through the narrow lanes, Luna couldn’t shake off a growing unease. Some of the villagers she passed turned their heads quickly, whispering to each other.

A child ran across the road, tripping over his own feet, and his mother pulled him back so fast it almost looked like she feared Luna’s shadow itself.

She slowed her steps. The air was colder here, the kind that seeped into your bones. Even the sky above seemed dimmer, the light filtered through thin clouds that hadn’t been there earlier.

’There’s something very unwelcoming about this place,’ she thought, her eyes scanning the rooftops and alleyways.

The wind blew again, rustling the trees, but even that sound felt distant—hollow. Somewhere in the background, a wooden door creaked open, followed by a cough that sounded too dry to belong to someone healthy.

Luna’s instinctively turned towards the person, her inner medic wanting to help them. But the door has been closed immediately.

She was starting to understand why the report felt so incomplete. It wasn’t because the information was missing—it was because no one dared to write what they really saw.

And as she walked toward the governor’s home, the last rays of sunlight began to fade behind the hills, painting the village in an eerie orange glow.

For the first time since her arrival, Luna felt it—a faint, almost unnoticeable tug at her senses. It wasn’t strong, but it was there.

Something ancient.

Something that didn’t belong.

Her expression turned serious as she whispered to herself, "A Primordial, huh...?"

Whatever it was, this village wasn’t just sick—it was cursed. And tonight, she was going to find out why.

°°°°°°°°

"Despite how confident you sounded," Peri said as she served him some more vegetables, "You are still worried, aren’t you?"

Hades sighed, his spoon resting on the plate. He hadn’t eaten as much as he normally does and that was very much a sign showing how worried he was about Luna.

Although he never objected when she said she was going on a quest, someone who has faced unexpected threats during his own quest, Hades knew that Luna might be in a danger worse than she might have anticipated

A quest means no backup. He has experienced it himself.

Even Marilyn, who was his shadow guard at that time, was strictly forbidden from participating in this.

Peri smiled helplessly, "Well, I won’t say that I am not worried but just like you, I decided to trust Luna and her abilities. I have seen closer than anyone how strong she has grown in these few weeks."

Hades nodded, "I know...and if something actually comes up, Luna isn’t the one to stay silent. She would ask our help if she really needs it."

The blond one nodded before she sat beside Hades and watched him eat; a smile of contentment never leaving her lips.

Hades then asked, "So? What’s today’s plan?"

Peri shrugged, "Whatever you wish to do."

Hades hummed before asking, "Then show me around the place...I want to see where my wife grew up."

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A/N:- Thank you for reading. Drop a comment.