The atmosphere in the village hall courtyard slowly returned to calm. They were still gathered outside, surrounding the torch whose light was fading. The night breeze blew gently, causing the fire to flicker and their shadows to lengthen on the ground. No one really spoke. Each was lost in their own thoughts, whether tired, anxious, or not yet fully understanding what they were actually facing.
Suddenly, the sound of hurried footsteps was heard from outside the village hall. A resident ran in, breathing heavily, sweat dripping from his forehead.
"E-elder! I have something important to tell you!" he exclaimed in a panicked tone.
The village chief, who had been sitting quietly observing the situation, immediately turned his head, his eyebrows furrowed. "What is it? Calm down first, then speak."
"Ah... okay, sorry, Elder," said the guard, taking a deep breath before continuing.
"There is someone at the gate who wants to enter. It seems he is one of the guests. Several guards also recognize his face because he came with the five people earlier."
The village chief stared at him with a sharp gaze. "In that case, why not just let him in?"
The guard looked hesitant, rubbing the back of his neck before answering,
"Actually, we intended to, but... that person reeks of the smell of blood. And there are bloodstains on his clothes. So, we thought it would be better to wait for your decision first."
The atmosphere in the village hall suddenly fell silent. The village chief was silent for a moment, his eyes narrowed, then he walked slowly towards Riana and spoke in a low but serious tone. Riana listened carefully, then nodded and turned to William and the other students.
"He said..." Riana took a breath before continuing, her voice soft but clear,
"Raven is already at the gate."
The shock spread instantly throughout the room. Theo, who had been sitting near the door, suddenly stood up, his face tense.
"He... really came back?"
"Yes," Riana replied slowly.
"It seems like he just arrived."
Several students looked at each other. Some looked relieved, while others looked nervous, not knowing whether they should be happy or scared to hear that name again.
The village chief smoothed his robe and signaled to several guards. "We can't keep him waiting. Come on, take some people with me to the gate. Let's see for ourselves what kind of person slaughtered those bandits."
Riana nodded, then signaled William, Theo, Kyle, Erik, and Leo to follow. They immediately moved to follow the village chief and the guards to the gate.
Hana reflexively stepped forward to follow, but Kyle turned quickly. His gaze was full of concern.
"Hana, just wait here," he said softly but firmly. "I'll pick up Raven."
Hana stopped in her tracks. She stared at their backs for a few seconds before finally nodding slowly. She couldn't hide the worry on her face.
Kevin, who was still sitting with his body covered in bandages, watched the group leave. A faint smile appeared on his lips, accompanied by a soft murmur.
"So... he really is back."
The night felt even darker as they walked away from the village hall. The smell of damp earth and the lingering smoke from the torches mixed in the air, clinging to their clothes and breath. The village, which had been gloomy earlier, was now silent with an unspoken tension. Every step toward the gate seemed to bring them closer to an answer they might not want to know.
The night air felt colder than usual. A thin fog hung over the ground, and from a distance, the faint sound of night insects could be heard, as if they too were holding their breath.
The torches in the guards' hands trembled slightly in the wind as they arrived at the village gate. In the dim light, a figure stood motionless outside the tall wooden fence, standing tall and not moving an inch.
"He's... there," whispered one of the guards, his voice barely audible.
When the gate slowly opened, the pungent smell of blood immediately wafted in. Several people spontaneously covered their noses, and even Theo, who was usually the most resolute, swallowed slowly.
The figure stepped inside slowly, his steps heavy but calm. The torchlight illuminated his face. Raven.
His clothes were slightly torn in places, most of them stained with dried blood. There were splashes of dark red on the ends of his hair, and his black eyes stared straight ahead as if devoid of emotion.
William, who was standing in front, opened his mouth, but no words came out. Riana could only stare, her body stiff.
Raven stopped in front of them. Her eyes scanned the surroundings with a flat gaze, her face cold under the light of the torches swaying in the night breeze. The blood staining her clothes had dried, but a faint fishy smell still lingered in the air.
"Hey, y'all, " she said softly. Her voice was calm, but somehow it felt oppressive to anyone who heard it.
"I'm back. Sorry if it's a little... messy."
A faint smile appeared on his face, but it wasn't a friendly smile. It was an empty smile that made Kyle's hair stand on end.
"R-Raven... you..." Kyle's voice caught in his throat, and he took half a step back.
Theo just stared at him for a moment, then slowly looked down without saying anything. Meanwhile, Erik and Leon stood stiffly in place, as if they had lost their words. Their eyes shifted between disbelief and fear.
Raven looked at them for a moment, then looked away, as if she didn't care about their expressions. "Where are the others?" she asked flatly.
Theo swallowed before answering. "Most of them are at the village hall. They... are waiting for you."
"Waiting for me?" Raven raised her eyebrows slightly, her tone ambiguous, either surprised or just confirming.
"Yes," Kyle continued nervously.
"Hana, Lisa, Karin, they're worried about you. They've been asking about you since earlier."
Raven was silent for a moment, then sighed briefly. "I see." She stared at the dark night sky before continuing,
"Well then, let's go inside. It's quite cold outside."
But before they could move, the village chief, who was standing not far away, raised his hand to signal them to stop. His gaze was sharp but cautious, like someone weighing something. He then spoke quickly, his voice calm but clear.
Riana, who was standing beside him, turned to Raven. "Raven," she said cautiously,
"The village chief is asking... what exactly happened to the remaining bandits?"
"The remaining bandits?" Raven turned slightly, glancing at them with deep, dark eyes.
"So... the village chief has heard the whole story, huh?"
Riana nodded slowly. "Yes. I'm sorry, Raven, about you—"
"No need to apologize," Raven interrupted quickly, her voice still calm but sharp.
"I think they have a right to know what happened. Just say... I've taken care of it. Tell the village chief that the village is safe now. For further explanation, wait until things have calmed down."
Her tone was flat but firm. There was no pride, no emotion, only a cold certainty that made the guards look at each other anxiously.
Riana stared at Raven for a few seconds before nodding and beginning to translate his words to the village chief. Her voice was soft, but her heart was trembling. The village chief listened carefully, then sighed deeply and nodded slowly. He looked at the guards around him and gave them a signal with his hand.
The guards lowered their weapons, their spears slowly dropping to the ground. The tension in the air eased slightly.
Raven glanced at them, then walked ahead, his steps calm but heavy. The light of the torches around him cast a long shadow on the ground, like a stranger returning from the darkness.
They followed Raven, accompanied by the village chief, Riana, and several guards. Behind them, the night wind blew, carrying the scent of damp earth and dried blood, a sign that the night was not yet over.
And at the end of the road, in the village hall lit by torchlight, the other students were waiting in silence.