The Paladin

Chapter 2: A Town of Fear and Oddities

The morning sun rose as Aric made his way down the winding path to the town of Lockehaven. Nestled between rolling hills and guarded by a tall, ancient wall, the town was bustling with activity even at dawn. But as soon as he approached, the noise dwindled. People stopped in mid-conversation, vendors paused their sales, and all eyes were drawn to the tall, armored figure walking through the gates.

Aric kept his gaze down, pretending not to notice the sideways glances or the way children hid behind their parents’ legs. It was the same in every town. His stature, his armor, his sword strapped across his back—all of it made him seem like a figure out of a dark legend rather than the protector he wished to be.

As he passed through the narrow streets, he took note of the peculiar creatures that inhabited Lockehaven. There was a tall, gentle creature with elongated limbs called a Latchbeak tethered near the baker’s shop. It had a long beak that could reach into the highest cupboards to pull down flour sacks and retrieve fresh bread from the ovens without ever burning its feathers. The baker, an older woman with thick arms and a warm smile, was handing it a loaf in thanks for its help. The creature’s beak clicked softly as it ate, looking content.

Further down the street, a small flock of Bouncers—plump, rubbery animals that looked like tiny, wingless dragons—bounded down the road in lazy hops. Each wore a harness and carried bags filled with mail or fresh vegetables. The shopkeepers called out to them by name, reaching out to take parcels as the Bouncers continued their rounds with lazy, springy hops.

Despite the strange, otherworldly creatures scattered throughout the town, the people gave them warm smiles and welcoming pats, a friendliness Aric himself rarely received. As he moved through the crowd, people parted, pressing against buildings or pulling their carts out of his way. It was as if he carried a cold wind with him, an unspoken aura that kept others at bay.

He eventually found his way to the Adventurers' Guild, a bustling hall of warriors, mages, and mercenaries. As he entered, conversations died down, and those closest to the entrance turned to stare. It was always the same. Though they shared his line of work, the adventurers eyed him with the same wary expressions as the townsfolk.

Ignoring the stares, he walked over to the request board. He scanned the posters, looking for something that would take him far from the town, where he wouldn’t need to worry about disturbing anyone. His gaze fell on a single parchment with bold lettering: Urgent: Investigation Requested by Elven Scouts. Reports of Strange Shadows on the Borders.

The words caught his attention immediately. It was rare for the elves to ask for human aid, and even rarer for them to permit humans near their territory at all. Relations between the two peoples were fraught with tension and misunderstandings, each blaming the other for old grievances. But if the elves were issuing warnings… it meant that something serious was happening.

As he reached out to pull down the notice, a voice came from behind him.

“Not many would be brave enough to take that one,” said a young woman with wild curls and a faint smirk. She leaned casually against a nearby table, looking at him with a mixture of curiosity and defiance. “The elves don’t exactly… welcome our kind.”

Aric nodded, folding the parchment and tucking it into a pouch on his belt. “Maybe they’ll be more welcoming if they see I’m there to help.”

The woman’s smirk widened, though her eyes betrayed a hint of unease. “And maybe they’ll skewer you on sight. But hey, that’s your choice.” She shrugged and returned to her conversation, leaving Aric with a sense of lingering unease.

He left the guild and made his way back through the town, his mind turning over the mission ahead. As he walked, a creature scuttled across his path, drawing his attention. It was a Flitterrat, a small, rodent-like creature with wings that allowed it to hover a few feet above the ground. It darted between stalls, snatching up crumbs and scraps that fell from vendor carts, darting away before anyone could shoo it off. Even the pests here were strange.

With the mission ahead looming in his mind, Aric made his way to the town’s edge. The shadows lengthened, and he could almost feel the weight of the elves' warning. This quest would be unlike the others; he could sense it in his bones.

Whatever awaited him near the elven border was bound to be dangerous, and yet… he felt drawn to it.