As the group journeyed on, they passed through a series of human villages, each one nestled in the rolling hills and verdant valleys of the countryside. But as they approached one particular village, they noticed that something was amiss.
The village was eerily quiet, with no signs of life or activity. The doors were open, and the windows were broken. A faint smell of smoke hung in the air, and the group could see a haze of ash and dust rising from the village.
Ares frowned, his eyes scanning the village. "Something's not right here," he said, his voice low and cautious.
Eris nodded, her eyes gleaming with interest. "Let's go take a look."
The group dismounted their horses and approached the village, their senses on high alert. As they walked through the village, they saw that the homes had been ransacked, and belongings were scattered everywhere.
Haphestus cursed under his breath.
"This looks like the work of dark magic," he said, his eyes scanning the village for any signs of danger.
Isabelle's eyes were wide with concern. "What could have caused this?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
Crimson's face was grim. "I don't know, but we need to be careful.Whatever did this could still be around."
The group moved cautiously through the village, searching for any signs of life or clues to what had happened.
As they reached the center of the village, they saw a figure huddled on the ground, muttering to themselves.
The figure looked up, and the group saw that it was an old woman, her eyes wild with fear. "Please," she begged, "you have to help us. They're coming for us. They're going to destroy us all."
The old woman's words sent a shiver down Eris's spine. She felt a familiar sense of unease, a feeling she hadn't experienced in a long time. Demons.
The word echoed in her mind, and she knew that she was right.
"Demons?" Eris repeated, her voice low and serious. "What makes you think it's demons?"
The old woman's eyes darted around the group, her fear evident. "We've had... visitors. Dark creatures, with eyes that glow like embers. They've been terrorizing our village, burning our homes and crops. We've tried to defend ourselves, but they're too powerful."
Ares's face was grim. "We'll do what we can to help you. But first, we need to know more about these demons. Can you tell us more about them?" The old woman nodded, her voice shaking. "They seem to be searching for something. They've been asking questions, looking for someone or something. We've tried to hide our children, but I'm afraid they'll find them."
Eris's eyes narrowed. Demons. She knew that they were ruthless and heartless.She also knew that she had to protect these people.
"We'll do everything we can to help you," Eris promised, her voice firm.
"But first, we need to make sure that we're prepared. Demons are not to be trifled with."
The group nodded in agreement, their faces set with determination.
They knew that they had a long journey ahead of them, and now they had to face the threat of demons. But they were ready. Bring it on.
Eris's eyes seemed to glaze over as she stared into the distance, her mind consumed by memories of the past. Zarin, her loyal cat who could transform into anything, was one of the few constants in her life. She missed him dearly, and the pain of his loss still lingered.
As she thought about Zarin, she couldn't help but think about the people who had taken care of her after she was lost for ten years. Mr. and Mrs. Davis had been like parents to her, providing her with a sense of stability and love. She remembered the warmth of their smiles, the comfort of their hugs, and the sound of their laughter.
But even those happy memories were tinged with sadness. Eris's eyes dropped, and she felt a familiar ache in her chest. She had lost so much in her life, and the pain of those losses still lingered.
Ares's voice brought her back to the present, his words a gentle reminder of the task at hand. Eris took a deep breath, pushing aside her emotions and focusing on the challenge ahead.
"We have to prepare ourselves,the demons will return at dawn" Ares told them.