Chapter 18: A Knife in the Dark

The moon hung high in the sky, its cold light casting long shadows across the forest. The village lay still, shrouded in an uneasy quiet. A light breeze rustled through the trees, whispering secrets only the wind could understand. Atsushi stood near the eastern wall, his arms crossed and his breath visible in the chill air. He wasn’t on patrol tonight, but sleep had eluded him. The weight of the past days hung heavy on his shoulders.

A faint crunch of footsteps in the distance made him turn sharply. Ana emerged from the darkness, her bow slung across her back and a quiver of arrows at her hip. She moved with purpose, though her face was unreadable.

“Couldn’t sleep either?” Atsushi asked.

She shook her head. “Too quiet.”

He gestured to the wall. “You think they’ll come tonight?”

“Not likely,” she said, scanning the tree line. “But they want us to think they might. Keep us on edge.”

Atsushi leaned against the wooden barricade, his gaze distant. “It’s working.”

Ana didn’t reply immediately. Instead, she pulled an arrow from her quiver and began inspecting the fletching, her movements precise and methodical. “Fear is a weapon,” she said finally. “One of the most effective. But only if you let it control you.”

Atsushi let out a quiet laugh, though there was little humor in it. “You sound like you’ve done this before.”

Ana’s eyes flicked to him, her expression sharp. “I’ve learned what it takes to survive.”

The stillness of the night was broken by the sound of hurried footsteps. A young scout, Emiko, appeared from the shadows, her face pale and her breathing ragged.

“They’re here,” she said, her voice trembling. “On the northern trail.”

Ana’s posture stiffened immediately. “How many?”

“I didn’t stay to count,” Emiko admitted. “But I saw at least three. They’re moving toward the village.”

Ana cursed under her breath, already moving. “Get to the elder. Tell him to gather the hunters.”

Emiko nodded and darted off toward the center of the village. Atsushi followed Ana as she made her way toward the northern trail, her steps swift and silent.

“Are we going after them?” he asked, his pulse quickening.

“Not yet,” Ana said. “We’re going to see what they’re up to.”

The forest was a labyrinth of shadows and whispers. Every step felt like a risk, every sound like a potential threat. Ana moved ahead, her eyes sharp and her bow at the ready. Atsushi followed closely, his senses on high alert.

They reached the northern trail and crouched behind a dense thicket. Ahead, the faint glow of a torch cut through the darkness. Three figures moved in the distance, their painted faces catching the flickering light. They carried crude weapons—spears and knives—and their movements were deliberate, as though they were searching for something.

“They’re scouts,” Ana whispered. “Testing our defenses.”

“What do we do?” Atsushi asked.

Ana considered for a moment before pulling an arrow from her quiver. “We make sure they don’t get what they came for.”

She drew her bowstring back, the wood creaking faintly. The first arrow flew silently, striking one of the scouts in the leg. The man cried out, dropping his torch as he fell to the ground. The other two spun around, their weapons raised, but the forest swallowed them in shadow.

Ana nocked another arrow, her movements swift and practiced. The second arrow struck the arm of another scout, disarming him. Before the third could react, Ana stepped out from the thicket, her bow aimed squarely at his chest.

“Don’t move,” she said coldly.

The man froze, his wide eyes darting between Ana and Atsushi, who had stepped out beside her.

“Drop your weapon,” Ana commanded.

The man hesitated, his grip tightening on his spear. Ana’s gaze hardened. “I won’t ask again.”

Slowly, reluctantly, the scout lowered his weapon to the ground. Ana kept her bow trained on him as she gestured for Atsushi to search the other two. One was unconscious from his injuries, while the other was groaning in pain but otherwise incapacitated.

“These aren’t warriors,” Atsushi said as he inspected their crude weapons. “They’re not here to fight.”

Ana’s jaw tightened. “Doesn’t mean they’re not dangerous.”

They brought the captured scout back to the village, his hands bound with strips of cloth. The other two were left where they fell, their injuries severe enough to ensure they wouldn’t pose an immediate threat. The village was already awake when they returned, the elder waiting by the fire pit with a group of hunters.

Ana pushed the scout forward, her expression grim. “We found him on the northern trail. He and two others were testing our defenses.”

The elder’s gaze fell on the captive, his face unreadable. “Did they say why they were here?”

“They didn’t have the chance,” Ana said. “But it’s clear they’re getting bolder.”

Daichi stepped forward, his hand on the hilt of his blade. “We should deal with him now. Send a message to the others.”

“No,” the elder said firmly. “We need information. If we act rashly, we risk escalating the situation.”

Daichi’s eyes narrowed, but he said nothing. The elder turned to Atsushi. “You’re good with people. See if he’ll talk.”

Atsushi hesitated, the weight of the task settling over him. Finally, he nodded. “I’ll try.”

The scout was taken to a small hut near the edge of the village, guarded by two hunters. Atsushi entered alone, his heart pounding as he faced the man. The scout glared at him, his hands still bound and his painted face streaked with sweat.

“I’m not here to hurt you,” Atsushi said, keeping his voice calm. “I just want to talk.”

The scout said nothing, his jaw clenched tightly.

Atsushi sighed, sitting down across from him. “Look, I know you’re just following orders. But this doesn’t have to get worse for you. If you tell me why you’re here, I can help you.”

The man’s eyes flickered with something—doubt, perhaps—but he remained silent.

“What’s your name?” Atsushi asked.

The scout’s gaze hardened. “Why do you care?”

“Because I want to understand,” Atsushi said. “You’re not so different from us. You’re just trying to survive.”

For a moment, the man seemed to consider his words. Then he leaned forward, his voice low and venomous. “You don’t understand anything. You take what isn’t yours and call it survival. The river belongs to us.”

Atsushi’s stomach sank, but he kept his expression steady. “We can share it. There’s enough for both of us.”

The scout laughed bitterly. “You think they’ll listen to that? You think this ends with words?”

Before Atsushi could respond, the door opened, and Ana stepped inside. She glanced between them, her expression sharp. “Anything?”

Atsushi shook his head. “Not yet.”

Ana stepped closer, her gaze locking onto the scout. “Then we try another approach.”

The night dragged on, the tension in the village as thick as the fog that rolled in from the river. Atsushi sat outside the infirmary, his thoughts heavy as he stared at the faint glow of the fractured device in his hands. It was a symbol of everything he didn’t understand—of the life he had left behind and the one he was struggling to navigate.

Ana joined him, her footsteps soft but deliberate. She sat down beside him, her expression unreadable.

“You’re not giving up, are you?” she asked.

“No,” Atsushi said quietly. “But I’m starting to wonder if we’re just delaying the inevitable.”

Ana didn’t reply immediately. When she did, her voice was steady. “Inevitable doesn’t mean unchangeable.”