LOVE IN THE SHADOWS OF TIME l LINGORM

CHAPTER 6

 The evening at Aon and Pohn's home was filled with warmth and laughter. They had been invited by Aon's longtime friend, Chuen, who had cooked up a simple yet hearty meal. Stews simmered over the fire, filling the air with the scent of herbs and earthy roots. 

LingLing took in the scene, feeling a comforting sense of belonging. Yet even amidst the laughter and companionship, she couldn't quite shake the unease that lingered beneath the surface—a feeling she couldn't name but couldn't ignore. 

She pushed it aside, forcing a smile as Chuen refilled her bowl, teasing her about how she seemed too skinny to win any fights . LingLing chuckled, making a show of flexing her arm, even as her mind remained elsewhere.

 As dinner ended and stories were shared, LingLing decided to step outside, longing for a bit of fresh air and a quiet moment. The night was peaceful, the sky a blanket of stars that seemed to stretch endlessly, and for a moment, she allowed herself to relax. 

She breathed deeply, letting the cool air fill her lungs. But then her peace was shattered.From the corner of her eye, she noticed a sudden burst of orange light in the distance. 

At first, she thought it was just someone's hearth fire, perhaps stoked a bit too high, but then she saw it again, brighter, fiercer. A thick plume of smoke curled into the night sky, followed by the faint but unmistakable sounds of shouting. 

Alarmed, LingLing took a step forward, her eyes fixed on the smoke rising beyond the treetops."Bandits?" The word shot through her mind, and without thinking, she spun on her heel, ready to alert Aon and the others. 

But then she caught sight of a familiar figure sprinting down the path, barely visible in the dim moonlight. LingLing squinted, her heart skipping a beat as she recognized Orm. 

The person was clad in a dark cloak, the hood pulled low to conceal their face, "But you can still tell that it's a woman behind those clothes."The body shape, the familiar stance—she recognized Orm, even in disguise.Orm? she thought, her mind racing with a mix of confusion and wonder. What is she doing here, dressed like that? 

 Orm was running, her pace swift and determined, moving straight toward the part of the village where the fire and chaos seemed to have erupted. 

LingLing was about to call out to her, but then she stopped, noticing something odd. Orm wasn't alone. A small group of guards trailed closely behind her, each one armed and looking unusually alert. 

 LingLing's heart pounded, confusion swirling in her mind. Guards? Why would Orm have guards? 

She'd always known Orm as a simple villager, no different from the others in Aveloria. Yet here she was, surrounded by guards as though she were someone...important. 

The pieces didn't fit, and LingLing couldn't shake the unsettling feeling that she had been missing something about her friend all along.

 Before she could dwell on it further, a loud crash erupted in the distance, followed by a chorus of terrified screams. She clenched her fists, the urgency of the situation snapping her back to the present. Orm's mysterious identity would have to wait. For now, people were in danger. 

 LingLing rushed back inside, alerting Aon, Pohn, and the few others gathered at Chuen's house. "There's an attack in the village!" she said, her voice urgent. "Bandits are setting fire to the houses and hurting people. We have to help."