The chief led them to a small, humble dwelling on the outskirts of the village, offering them shelter.
"You can stay for as long as you want... I hope it's not too small."
Though Elijah appreciated the chief's kindness, he couldn't shake off the unease that settled in his stomach. He wasn't comfortable with the suspicious and fearful looks the villagers gave them, simply because of their nature.
Meanwhile, Elias, ever the optimist, was in high spirits. He had taken a liking to the village, excited by the prospect of seeing new people and, most importantly, making a new friend in Adrian.
One day, Elijah sought solitude in the sprawling fields surrounding the village, hoping to clear his troubled mind. He sat beneath the shade of a large oak tree, his thoughts swirling, when Adrian approached and sat down beside him.
Elijah barely gave the kid a cursory glance before turning away, his expression closed off. "Could you quit that 'I understand you' kinda look?" he said, his voice curt, a hint of irritation lacing his tone.
"Hehe, I expected you'd say that," the kid chuckled. "What if I said we were actually alike?"
Elijah's irritation deepened. He turned to Adrian, his eyes narrowing. "Aren't you just playing nice because you were asked to?"
"Actually,"Adrian said, his tone suddenly serious, his usual smile vanishing, replaced by a chilling intensity and sorrow. "It'd be nice if you guys just wiped out the entire village,"
"Huh," Elijah blinked, taken aback by the sudden shift. He stared at Adrian, trying to decipher if he was serious.
"Hehe, just kidding… Forget what I just said," Adrian said, his cheerful smile returning as if nothing had happened. He stood up and casually walked away, leaving Elijah sitting there, a bewildered look on his face.
Elijah looked at the kid, a chilling realization dawning on him. "That guy really meant what he just said,"
Back at their temporary dwelling, Elijah's unease grew. He noticed that they weren't the only ones subjected to the villagers' disdain. Adrian was often left out by the other children playing in the yard, excluded from their games. The villagers would cast him the same disgusted and disdainful looks they gave Elijah's family. That day, Elijah's perspective shifted. He realized the village was indeed messed up, its prejudice running deep.
So Elijah gathered Elias and Lilith and proposed that they include Adrian in everything they did. He wanted to offer Adrian the same acceptance and belonging that he craved.
Elias, overjoyed at the prospect of spending even more time with his brother and his new friend, readily agreed. Lilith, too, was happy, her small face brightening at the thought of having Adrian join their little group.
A year passed, and Elijah gradually grew accustomed to the village. He, Elias, Adrian, and Lilith became inseparable. They shared laughter, secrets, and adventures, their bond growing stronger with each passing day. They did almost everything together, particularly enjoying their shared pastime of pranking the other kids and even the villagers. They became notorious pranksters, their antics a source of both amusement and exasperation. Their connection deepened, and even some of the villagers began to accept them as part of their community, their initial hostility softening over time. Others, however, still harbored their malicious gaze, but Elijah, hardened by their initial treatment, paid them no mind.
Then, a shadow fell over the village. A devastating famine struck the land. All the crops they had planted withered and died, leaving the villagers facing starvation. A heavy cloud of worry settled over the community as they desperately sought a solution.
"This is because of your foolish idea to stop doing the ritual," the village advisor said to the king, his voice filled with accusation. "The gods have been so merciful these past few years, but it looks like they've reached their limit." His words dripped with bitterness.
The kids, drawn by the commotion, eavesdropped on the conversation through a small opening in the door of the room where the king and the advisor were meeting.
"There is no way we're going back to that. Not while I'm still on the throne at least," the king declared, his voice firm and resolute. "We'll find a way to provide food for the villagers. We'll find another way."
"You can't possibly be thinking of going to loan from that damned king of the north," the advisor sputtered, his face turning red with rage. "That's out of the question!"
"That's what we're going to be doing, and that's final. We'll inspect the cause of the famine next week," the king stated, his decision unwavering.
The advisor, his face tight with anger, nodded curtly and left the room, his eyes burning with resentment. The kids quickly scattered, not wanting to be caught eavesdropping. The advisor stormed out of the room, his anger barely contained.
Some weeks later, Elijah, Elias, Lilith, and Adrian were supposed to meet in their usual spot in the field for their "prankster meeting," but for some reason, Adrian was running late. A sense of unease settled over the group.
"We're gonna punish him for being late to the meeting," Elijah smirked, trying to lighten the mood, but his eyes betrayed a hint of worry.
So, they all agreed to go and find him.
When they arrived at the village, however, what met their eyes shook them to their core, shattering the fragile peace they had found.
In the center of the village square, Adrian was tied to a tall wooden pole, surrounded by a pile of dry wood. The village chief was bound and gagged on the ground nearby, his face contorted in anguish, utterly helpless to do anything. He was screaming muffled pleas, his eyes filled with terror and despair as he watched his son's impending fate. Some villagers were also restrained by the village guards, their faces etched with horror and revulsion, while others stood in grim silence, their expressions resolute and chillingly united in their purpose.