This Beast-Tamer is a Little Strange

The dense forest shifted subtly as Kain and the others approached the boundary of the dragon's territory. The air grew heavier, charged with an unnatural stillness, as though the forest itself was holding its breath. Even the Midnight Stag beneath Kain seemed uneasy, its glowing antlers dimming slightly.

Eventually, they reached a point in their journey where any of the mounts borrowed by the Order refused to go further. They bucked and dug their heels in, determined not to take even one more step forward.

Ashen Voril raised a hand and exuded a powerful pressure far stronger than anyone else present, bringing the group's momentary chaos to a halt.

His sharp eyes scanned the treeline ahead, where the faint shimmer of a barrier became visible, stretching like a translucent curtain between the towering trees.

"They must sense the boundary of the dragons' territory. This is where we leave you," Ashen said, his voice steady despite the solemnity of the moment. "The ban will reject anyone of my level of strength or age."

He scanned over the group of over 50 people in their 20s from high above on his Dawnwolf. "Until you return, leadership of this mission will fall to Lieutenant Caelum Ardent of the Celestial Vanguard."

A man in his late twenties stepped forward. He had sharp features, neatly cropped auburn hair, and wore the distinctive armour of the Celestial Vanguard—sleek, polished plates etched with a variety of sigils that had a resonance effect with other soldiers in their cohort. A sword with a glowing hilt hung at his side, and a shield with the Vanguard's crest was slung over his back.

"Thank you, Commander," Caelum said, bowing respectfully. His voice was calm and authoritative, carrying the weight of someone accustomed to leading in high-stakes situations.

Ashen placed a firm hand on Caelum's shoulder. "Remember, your priority is the safety of the Elorian citizens. Of secondary importance is to hopefully establish friendly long-term relations with this dragon colony. Any personal gains made by you all outside of these two objectives are your own and must not conflict with those primary objectives."

Caelum nodded. "Understood."

With a final glance at the group, Ashen stepped back. "Good luck. May the stars guide you."

His Dawnwolf let out a low howl before the two turned and vanished into the forest, leaving the group to face the barrier ahead.

Caelum wasted no time. "Stay close and move carefully. If the dragons have set this barrier, we're likely already being watched."

The group exchanged uneasy glances at that idea but obeyed, following as Caelum stepped through the shimmering boundary. The moment Kain crossed, a wave of energy washed over him—a mix of oppressive heat and chilling cold that left his body tingling.

The forest on the other side of the boundary looked exactly the same. However, the air definitely felt thicker, and more oppressive. It was only faintly noticeable to him, but his contracts who were stronger than him definitely communicated that they were experiencing a greater suppressive feeling.

Kain could only imagine the discomfort of those in their group who were at the peak of blue-grade spiritual power and close to the limits of what this ban would allow.

And indeed, many of the blue-grade spiritual creatures used by some of the other entrants seemed to get more and more irritable as time went on and the occasional small skirmish would break out in their ranks just from two spiritual creatures accidentally brushing up against one another.

The oppressive atmosphere and tension of the group were only heightened by the knowledge that they were likely being watched by being far more powerful than them, that they could not sense.

Every brush of wind, every snap of a twig would cause someone in the group to flinch or launch an attack against an imaginary threat—which in turn only increased the number of fights breaking out when some errant attacks hit allied spiritual creatures.

It took quite a lot of effort for their new leader Caelum to get everyone in line and calmed down.

The oppressive atmosphere inside the boundary seemed to amplify the unease of the group. Even Kain, who usually found curiosity overshadowing fear, felt a gnawing sensation in the back of his mind that they were being watched.

The forest around them was eerily silent. No birdsong, no rustling leaves from scurrying animals—just the rhythmic crunch of boots on the ground and the occasional snort of irritation from a spiritual creature. Every so often, Kain noticed shadows flitting through the trees, their forms too indistinct to make out clearly.

"We're nearing the village," Caelum announced, his voice low but carrying an edge of tension. "Stay together. Do not wander off under any circumstances."

The group murmured their acknowledgment, their formation tightening as they continued forward. After another hour of cautious travel, the forest opened up into a clearing, and the village came into view.

Unlike the doomsday scenes that they'd anticipated, the village looked completely untouched.

The houses, built in the distinctive Elorian style of blending seamlessly with nature, stood perfectly intact. Vines wound up the walls, flowers bloomed in window boxes, and soft green light from hanging lanterns still illuminated the area.

But it was empty.

The group hesitated at the edge of the clearing, their gazes sweeping over the village. There were no signs of destruction and no damage to the buildings or the surrounding forest.

Caelum motioned for them to spread out in small groups. "Search every building. Look for any signs of where they might have gone. Be thorough."

Kain joined a group of four other Pathfinders and cautiously approached one of the larger homes near the center of the village. Pushing open the wooden door, he was hit with the faint scent of burnt food. Inside, the house was neat and orderly, as though the occupants had only just left.

The dining table was set for a meal, with plates of food still sitting in place. However, the food was now cold and shrivelled, some of it burned to a crisp, suggesting it had been left on the stove for far too long. A pot of stew had boiled dry, its bottom charred black.

They moved to another house and found a similar scene. A half-mended garment lay abandoned on a chair, the needle still half-inserted. A child's toy rested in the middle of the floor, its owner nowhere to be found. Find exclusive stories on empire

The pattern repeated in every home they searched. Half-finished tasks, meals left uneaten, tools dropped mid-use. But there was no blood, no signs of a struggle, and no tracks indicating that they'd walked away from here at all.

It was as though the villagers had simply... vanished.