8: The Village Report (I)

As the group advanced through the dense forest, hours passed by in the embrace of nature's lush beauty. Barry cleared his throat, a hint of nervousness blending with his determination.

"Listen up, everyone," he called out. "I have been thinking about leadership and what it takes to keep this team together, focused, and strong. I believe that to succeed, we need someone who can make quick decisions, inspire confidence, and lead us through any challenge that comes our way. He will have to be strong, powerful, and with an extremely firm hand. That's why I believe that this person should be none other than myself."

Barry said that, exuding confidence, but no one really cared about what he was saying and just continued to walk. Except, obviously, for Leonard, who crossed his arms as his competitive spirit awakened.

"Not so fast, Barry. I've got charisma, wit, and a unique ability to think on my feet, and manage to make sure people always come out of difficult situations unscathed, always thinking about the best way to deal with things. I am a direct action commander prepared to call you into combat. Therefore, I think there is nothing fairer than me being the leader!"

Barry chuckled, not backing down.

"You really believe you have the qualities required for this role? You, extinguished flint? You're just a mere buffoon! This is about leadership. We can't afford to treat our missions like a game, putting them in the hands of a madman like you!"

But Leonard did not flinch from the insults of his "adversary" and ferociously continued his rebuttal.

"Stop saying nonsense, goldilocks, we all know who is the better and the best-fitting among us to this post."

The rest of the group continued talking among themselves about the possibilities of what they might be getting in the village, but no one seemed to take their little dispute very seriously.

He was going to propose a vote for the leader of the group, but as no one was even understanding what they were talking about or even interested in it, the plan went down the drain. Barry scoffed at the fact, and the two returned to the personal field, until Charlotte Chloe decided to intervene.

"Why don't we approach this logically?" she suggested, hoping to steer the conversation in a more constructive direction. "Instead of competing against each other, let's consider what qualities we value in a leader and how we can work together to complement each other's strengths."

The two fell silent and exchanged glances for a while, thinking about what they had just heard. But after a while of looking at each other, the two burst out in laughs, laughing out loud like two hyenas. It wasn't known if they were laughing at the proposal of a more logical approach, or if they just got real about all the antics they were discussing. The only thing that was right was the expression of discontent in Chloe's smile.

"You guys have no salvation," Charlotte sighed, seeing that her reasoning was falling on deaf ears.

As they finally reached the outskirts of the village, the enchanting aura of the forest trail dissipated, leaving behind a sense of normalcy and quietude. The sky became gray. The streets that should have been bustling with activity were eerily deserted, and the usually vibrant houses seemed shuttered and withdrawn. The once vivid colors of the wildflowers and blooming gardens now appeared muted and faded.

People seemed to be hiding in their closed houses, which at that moment became their only refuge against the uncertainty of the situation.

As they wandered through the deserted streets, a feeling of unease settled over them. Something was amiss in the usually cheerful village of Cerez. They spotted a lone figure, an exasperated-looking villager, seemingly out of place in the otherwise empty street. Hesitant but determined to find answers, Leonard approached the villager.

"Excuse me!" he called out, trying to sound friendly. "We are the beast hunters. The mission was telling us about something odd happening here, so, could you please tell us where we can find the mayor's house? If there is a mayor, a representative or something like this."

The villager's expression turned sour as he looked them over.

"The mayor's house?" he retorted, his irritation evident. "Why do you adventurers always come poking around when things are bad?"

Charlotte stepped in, trying to defuse the tension.

"We're not just ordinary and reckless adventurers," she assured him. "We heard there have been troubles in the village, and we want to offer our assistance."

But even with Chloe's words, the villager's eyes remained guarded.

"Very serious troubles, if you ask me," he muttered. "Well, the mayor's house is just down that road." He pointed with a wave of his hand. "But don't expect a warm welcome or a thank you for coming, the damn mayor has gone crazy! That damn selfish hasn't been himself lately. Only when the water hits his ass does he do something."

As the group members ran and exchanged puzzled looks after the villager's irritated response, Leonard couldn't help but comment:

"Well, that was a hotheaded welcome rather than a warm one."

Adam's brow furrowed as he pondered the situation.

"It's strange to see such an empty village. Things must be very serious here," he said, with his instincts kicking in.

Barry shrugged, trying to lighten the mood:

"Maybe they just need a few adventurers to liven things up!"

Leonard smiled.

"Yes, because that villager definitely looked thrilled to see us."

As they reached the mayor's house, Alice interrupted:

"Whatever is going on here, we need to be cautious. Let's stay focused on our mission and keep an eye out for any leads."

As they approached the entrance, they couldn't help but wonder what could be behind the strange emptiness that seemed to have gripped the once lively place. With cautious determination, they knocked on the door, ready to face the mysteries that awaited them within the mayor's residence.