"Pieces of Time"

Kai is a man from the city who wants to go hunting

Kai stepped out of the small house inside the city, where he had lived since he was a child. The city was bustling with crowded streets and the cheerful voices of the people. Although he loved this excitement, Kai always felt his heart yearning for the peace of nature outside.

He decided to go hunting, one of his favorite activities that helped him escape from his daily life. Before leaving the city gate, Kai prepared all his hunting tools. He brought along a bow and arrows, a dagger, and a small bag containing the necessary items. His soft leather shoes helped him move lightly and smoothly on all terrains.

As he approached the city gate, Kai was stopped by the guards. They looked at him with wary eyes, but also full of familiarity.

"Where are you going at this time, Kai?" the guard leader asked, his voice low and stern.

"I want to go hunting," Kai replied, keeping his eyes calm. "It's been a while since I've been out, and I feel like I need some time outside the castle."

The captain looked at Kai for a moment, then nodded. "Alright, but be careful and come back before dark. You know that the forest out there isn't always safe."

Kai bowed his head in thanks, then walked through the castle gate. He took a deep breath, feeling the fresh air of nature. Vast fields stretched out before him, and in the distance were dense forests – where he would begin his hunt.

Kai stepped into the dense forest, where sunlight could barely penetrate the dense foliage. The scent of moist soil and grass mixed together, making him feel relaxed and refreshed. He moved gently through the trails, his eyes always following the traces of animals.

The birds chirped in the air, creating a natural symphony that only nature lovers could fully appreciate. Kai stopped by a small stream, drinking some cool water before continuing his journey.

As the sun rose, sunlight filtered through the foliage, creating sparkling spots of light on the ground. Kai suddenly noticed a deer track on the soft soil. He bent down, carefully observing each footprint and determining the direction of the animal. With many years of hunting experience, Kai knew that he had to be careful and patient.

He followed the tracks in silence, walking lightly like a wild cat. After a while, he saw the deer grazing in front of him. Kai slowly raised his bow, aimed carefully, and breathed evenly to keep his hands from shaking. In the quiet moment, there was only the sound of his heartbeat and breathing.

The shot hit the target accurately, the deer fell down. Kai approached, feeling both happy and grateful. He bowed his head, gently touching the deer as a thank you for giving him a meal. Then, he began to clean up and prepare to bring the spoils back to the city.

On the way back, Kai felt his hunger had been dispelled, but more importantly, he had completed a mission of his. He knew that each hunting trip was not only to find food, but also for him to understand and blend in with nature, finding peace and strength from it.

When he returned to the village gate, Kai did not see the gatekeepers and began to feel afraid. When he returned to the village gate, Kai felt that something was wrong. The gatekeepers who usually stood guard here were nowhere to be seen. The village gate was wide open, eerily silent. Kai's heart beat faster, a feeling of fear began to spread in his heart.

He slowed down, his eyes carefully observing every corner, every tree. This silence was not normal, and Kai knew that he had to be alert. He carefully walked inside, each step carried with caution.

Going deeper into the village, Kai noticed the unusual silence. There was no laughter of children, no sound of people working, only the wind blowing through the deserted streets. The feeling of unease grew stronger, he felt like there was a gaze watching him from the darkness.

Kai continued to move, his hand tightly gripping the bow at his waist. He knew he had to find out what had happened to the village and the guards. Questions swirled in his mind, and every step he took was filled with the determination to discover the truth.

Kai tried to calm himself down, thinking that it was probably just a few goblins – the ugly creatures that often harassed the village. They were usually not too dangerous, and the gatekeepers could easily repel them. But this time, things were different. Why were the gatekeepers taken down so quickly and without leaving any traces?

A feeling of fear and unease rose in Kai's heart. He knew that something was wrong, and this time he couldn't underestimate the goblins. Kai tightened his grip on his bow and arrow, deciding to continue deeper into the village to find out what was going on. If something really bad had happened, he had to be ready to face it and protect his beloved village.

Kai stopped when he suddenly noticed a group of people in the distance. They were wearing dark cloaks, like shadows moving silently through the village. The strangest thing was that each cloak had a mysterious symbol on it, a symbol Kai had never seen before.

He frowned, feeling the unease in his heart growing. Who were these people and why were they here at this time? Questions swirled in his mind, and Kai knew he had to be more careful than ever.

Kai watched silently from a distance, trying not to make his presence known. The people moved in an organized manner, as if they had a plan. They went from house to house, checking every nook and cranny carefully.

As they approached the main house in the village, Kai decided to act. He knew he had to find out who these people were and what their purpose was. With caution and skill, Kai began to move closer, keeping himself hidden in the shadows.

Kai hid behind a thick bush, keeping absolutely silent so as not to be discovered. He strained his ears to listen to the conversation of the cloaked group. Their voices rang out clearly in the quiet space, each word sending a chill down Kai's spine.

"We have everything ready for the sacrifice," a deep, authoritative voice said. "Just a little more and we will have enough power to summon the otherworldly entity."

Kai felt his heart beat faster. Sacrifice and summoning? The words conjured up terrifying images in his mind. He knew he had to learn more about their plans and stop them if necessary.

"That's right," another voice replied. "We have gathered the ingredients and prepared the ritual. We just need to wait until the full moon, and everything will be complete."

Kai hid behind a bush, his eyes widening in horror as he took in the scene before him. The men in black were loading the corpses of the villagers onto a large cart. The stench of death filled the air, forcing Kai to hold his breath so as not to be discovered.

He felt his heart pounding, fear and anger filling his heart. Innocent people had been brutally murdered, and now their corpses were being treated like lifeless merchandise.

After the group of men in black finished loading the bodies into the car and left, Kai remained hidden in the shadows, his heart pounding in his chest. He couldn't believe what he had just witnessed, the feeling of panic and fear still lingering in his mind.

He wondered what he should do next. With his strength, Kai knew that he couldn't face the group alone. He needed to find help, but first he had to make sure that the survivors in the village knew about the dangerous situation.

Kai decided to go deeper into the village, looking for survivors to warn them of the situation. He walked in silence, taking every step with caution so as not to be discovered. Even though the situation was dire, he couldn't let fear control his actions.

As he walked through the alleys and quiet houses, Kai felt that there was an eerie silence that enveloped the village. He knew that time was running out, and he had to quickly find those in need before it was too late.

Kai jumped when he heard a voice calling from behind. He turned, his hand clutching his bow, ready to respond. In the dim light of the setting sun, a middle-aged man appeared, his eyes alert but not hostile.

"Who is it?" the man repeated, stepping closer. Kai recognized it as Mr. Shell, an old family friend and the village's only survivor.

"Mr. Shell, it's me, Kai," he replied, trying to keep his voice calm. "What happened to the village? Why were so many people killed?"

Mr. Shell sighed heavily, his eyes filled with fatigue and pain. "Kai, we encountered a group of men in black robes. They attacked the village early this morning and killed many people. They talked about some kind of sacrificial and summoning ritual, I'm not sure."

Kai felt his heart tighten. What he heard from the black-robed group matched what Mr. Shell had just said. "We have to do something, Mr. Shell. We need to alert the survivors and find a way to stop them before it's too late."

Mr. Shell nodded, determination evident on his face. "Yes, we can't let them carry out their evil plan. I'll go with you to find the others and find a way to protect our village."

Kai and Mr. Shell moved quickly and carefully through the narrow and dark alleys of the village. However, suddenly, from the darkness, a cloaked man appeared before them. Kai and Mr. Shell both stopped, their eyes warily following the cloaked man.

"Who are you?" the cloaked man growled, his cold eyes fixed on them. He raised a small stick that emitted a faint light, creating a tense and threatening atmosphere.

Kai did not hesitate, his hand gripped the bow tightly and readied himself. Mr. Shell was no less vigilant, his eyes looking straight at the cloaked man, without a trace of fear.

"We do not need to talk to you," Kai replied, his voice resolute. "Back off now if you do not want to get into trouble."

The cloaked man chuckled, stepping closer. "Do you think you can deal with me? You are so naive."

The confrontation became more tense than ever. Kai knew that if they didn't handle this situation quickly, they would be in danger. He and Mr. Shell prepared for any further action.