193 CXCIII. The Couple Of Strangers (1/2)

The woman turned in that direction, looking up, when he struck her, releasing a huge amount of energy, which exploded into a cloud of dust and lightning bolts.

Karl and Reidar rose from the ground, aching and retreated to others, fearful of the new enemy, whose strength was out of the ordinary.

Dag, after hitting the old woman, noticed with amazement that some kind of invisible barrier had surrounded her, absorbing any damage.

She moved her arm forward, opening the palm of her hand towards him, which for the second time was thrown away, without even being touched.

”Daaag!” shouted Gridd in panic as she pulled out her two swords, ready to help her brother in danger.

”Stop, you all! Don't attack! The strength of this enemy is far greater than all we have encountered so far!” said Dag, rising from the ground.

The woman kept looking him in the eye and he did the same, trying to identify her.

After focusing on her face, he opened his eyes wide, in disbelief at what he was seeing.

”You... I know you! You offered us soup, hosting us at your house and your husband trapped us in the barn!” he shouted, pointing to the old woman.

”It can't be... she's Kenneth's mother!” said Reidar, continuing to retreat in fear.

The elderly woman was the same kind woman who long before offered them a hearty meal, before turning out to be a cheater.

She stood still, in front of Dag, without looking away from him.

Both of her eyes were of intense purple.

When the magic barrier that enveloped her disintegrated, the earth beneath her feet moved slightly, as dislodged by the wind.

A freezing cold swooped on the adventurers, who rubbed their arms to warm up, as they beat their teeth to the low temperature.

”What... what's going on?!” asked Dag, his voice flickering, both in the cold and in fear.

After about a minute's silence, during which the old woman merely looked at Dag, a second figure appeared behind her, walking slowly in the same direction.

He was her husband, the man who had locked them in the barn with the Thurs rune and had alerted his son Kenneth, allowing him to take possession of Dag's emblem.

”Does anyone explain to me what's going on? Why is it so cold all of a sudden?!” asked Gridd, unaware of what was about to happen.

Karl failed to respond and Reidar grabbed another arrow from the quiver, holding the Failnaught firmly.

”What do you want from me?! I felt very sorry for your son, I offered him a peaceful option! No one would have been hurt if he had accepted!” exclaimed Dag, trying to communicate with the two enemies, who were unmoved by those words.

The man also had purple eyes.

”All right, there's no point in pretending” he continued, stepping forward toward them.