Preparation

Night settled slowly over Ravenhill.Lanterns flickered to life along the narrow dirt roads, casting soft golden circles of light across the village. The smell of cooked food drifted through the evening air as families gathered inside their homes.To the villagers, it was just another peaceful night.But at the edge of the forest—Ivan stood alone.The wind rustled gently through the tall grass as he studied the claw marks in the soil again.Something about them bothered him.Too clean.Too precise.Most low-class demons were chaotic creatures. When they attacked livestock, they left destruction everywhere.These tracks were different.Controlled.Purposeful.Ivan crouched and brushed his fingers across the earth.“…Scouting,” he muttered.Behind him, footsteps approached quietly.Elen.She stopped beside him, her violet eyes scanning the dark forest.“You’re worried,” she said.Ivan stood.“A little.”“That wasn’t wolves.”“No.”Elen folded her arms.“How many?”Ivan looked toward the treeline.“Hard to say. But if they’re scouting…”“…then more will come,” Elen finished.Ivan nodded.The two of them stood in silence.The forest was quiet.Too quiet.Even the insects had stopped.Then Ivan suddenly clapped his hands together.“Well.”Elen blinked.“Well?”“We should reinforce the fences.”Elen stared at him.“That’s your response?”Ivan smiled.“If demons show up, I’ll handle them.”Elen watched him for a long moment.Sometimes she wondered if Ivan understood how dangerous the world truly was.But at the same time—That calm confidence was exactly what made people trust him.Ivan turned toward the village.“Come on. Let’s get everyone ready.”Preparing the VillageWithin the hour, the villagers had gathered near the central square.Lantern light illuminated anxious faces.The farmer who lost his goats stood near the front.“You think demons will attack tonight?” he asked nervously.Ivan raised a hand.“Maybe. Maybe not.”That didn’t help.Ivan continued calmly.“But if they do, we’ll be ready.”The village elder nodded slowly.“What should we do?”Ivan pointed toward the outer fences.“Reinforce them. Bring carts and barrels to block the main road.”The villagers immediately began moving.Men hammered wooden planks into the fences.Others dragged carts into defensive positions.Women carried lanterns and supplies.Even the children helped move smaller objects.Lina ran up to Ivan, eyes wide with excitement.“Are we fighting demons tonight?!”Ivan crouched beside her.“No.”Her shoulders slumped.“You’re staying inside.”“That’s boring.”Elen placed a hand on Lina’s head.“Heroes protect the village by staying safe too.”Lina considered this.“…Okay.”Then she ran back toward the houses.Ivan watched the preparations for a moment.Then he quietly unsheathed the sword strapped across his back.Elen raised an eyebrow.“You brought that?”Ivan shrugged.“I like being prepared.”She studied the blade.It wasn’t fancy.Just a simple steel sword.But the edge was sharp.And Ivan handled it like someone who knew how to fight.“…You never told me where you learned to use that,” Elen said.Ivan looked toward the dark forest again.“I had a teacher once.”“Where is he now?”Ivan was quiet for a moment.“…Gone.”Elen didn’t ask more.The First GrowlMidnight approached.The village had grown silent again.Most villagers waited inside their homes, watching through cracks in their windows.Only Ivan stood outside the gates.Waiting.The moon hung high above Ravenhill.Silver light spilled across the fields.And then—A sound.Low.Deep.A growl.Ivan’s eyes sharpened.The grass beyond the fences moved.Then another growl answered.And another.From the darkness of the forest—Shapes began to emerge.Small.Twisted.Humanoid.Gray-green skin.Jagged horns.Glowing yellow eyes.Low-class demons.Ivan exhaled slowly.“…So it begins.”Behind him, Elen stepped out from the shadows.“You’re not fighting them alone.”Ivan glanced back.“I told you to stay inside.”Elen crossed her arms.“You also told Lina demons weren’t coming.”Ivan sighed.“…Fair.”More demons crawled out of the forest.Ten.Fifteen.Twenty.They hissed and clawed at the wooden fence.One of them leaped onto the barrier—Ivan moved.Steel flashed.SHK!The demon’s head separated cleanly from its body.The creature collapsed into black smoke.The others shrieked.Ivan stepped forward calmly.“Well.”He raised his sword.“Let’s get this over with.”The demons charged.