It was a dark night. All the tents had already been built. Lanterns hung at the entrance of each tent, brightening the surroundings. Some soldiers were asleep while others were guarding the area. But sleep did not come easily.

"AHHHH!"

"AHHHH!"

The reason was simple… those dark, shadowy figures screamed from time to time, watching from the same spots, unmoving and creepy.

When Galahad had seen them for the first time, he did something most people would avoid. He attacked them. Not a normal attack, but one strong enough to kill dozens of Amons in a single slash.

The result?

Nothing.

The slash passed straight through them, as if it had no impact at all. They tried magic and other methods as well, but it was useless.

For now, most were resting in their tents, while a few soldiers stood watch.

There was one difference here… the number of those dark beings was far less compared to how many surrounded Amon each night.

The reason?

No one knew.

At the far corner of the camp, there was a soldier sitting guard. He wore silver armor and held a spear in his hand. Beside him stood a lantern.

Yawn~

He was feeling sleepy.

When he had first seen those dark figures, fear had gripped him tightly. But after some time, once he realized they did not come near as long as there was light, his fear lessened. Though he still got goosebumps every time they screamed. For now, however, they were quiet.

The soldier continued to sit there, his spear resting loosely against his shoulder, the lantern casting a warm circle of light around him.

The forest beyond that light remained pitch black.

Too black.

He blinked slowly.

"…Haaah," another yawn escaped his lips.

His eyelids felt heavy, but it wasn't normal sleepiness. It wasn't the kind that came after exhaustion or long hours of duty. This felt different.

Strange.

His thoughts began to slow, like thick mud clogging his mind. Sounds around him felt distant—the crackle of fire, the soft murmurs from other tents, even the night insects seemed far away.

"…What…?" he muttered faintly.

A dull pressure settled behind his eyes.

Then—

A whisper.

At first, it was so faint he thought he had imagined it.

"…Come…"

His brows furrowed.

"Who…?" he whispered, his voice barely audible.

The whisper came again.

Softer. Closer.

"…Come closer…"

His grip on the spear loosened.

The forest ahead seemed to breathe.

Between the trees, beyond the reach of the lantern's light, shapes stirred. The shadowy figures stood there—motionless, watching.

But this time, they didn't scream.

They beckoned.

The soldier's heart should have raced.

But it didn't.

Instead, a strange calm washed over him. His fear dulled. His thoughts faded. His will thinned.

"…I should…" he murmured.

His body moved before his mind could resist.

He stood up.

The lantern beside him swayed slightly, the light flickering as his shadow stretched long behind him. The lantern remained behind.

One step.

Then another.

He walked forward, past the edge of the light.

The darkness welcomed him.

The whispers grew clearer.

"…Yes… come…"

His eyes were unfocused, pupils dilated. His breathing was slow and shallow, like a man walking in a dream.

The shadowy figures ahead remained still—but their presence felt heavier, thicker, as if the air itself was pulling him toward them.

A few more steps—

"Hey!"

A sharp voice cut through the night.

The soldier didn't react.

"HEY! WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!"

Another guard, sitting near the next tent over, had noticed movement where there shouldn't have been any. He jumped to his feet, grabbing his own lantern.

The light flared.

"STOP!" he shouted, panic rising in his voice.

Still, the soldier kept walking.

"…Shit—!"

The second guard broke into a run, the lantern swinging wildly as he closed the distance. He reached the entranced soldier just before he crossed fully into the darkness.

He grabbed him by the shoulder.

"Snap out of it!" he yelled.

No response.

The soldier's eyes were blank.

Cold fear shot through the guard.

He dropped the lantern to the ground, light spilling outward, and grabbed the man with both hands.

"HEY!" He shook him hard. "LOOK AT ME!"

The shadows at the forest's edge recoiled slightly as the light expanded.

The whispering stopped.

The soldier gasped sharply.

"—Hah!"

His body jerked as if waking from a nightmare. His eyes refocused, confusion flooding his face.

"W-What…?" he stammered. "Where…?"

The guard pulled him back toward the camp, breathing hard.

"You idiot!" he hissed. "You were walking straight into the forest!"

The soldier looked behind him.

The shadowy figures stood far away again, motionless and silent, as if nothing had happened.

Cold sweat drenched his back.

"I… I heard something," he whispered shakily. "It was calling me…"

The other guard clenched his jaw.

"…Don't listen to anything out there," he said firmly. "Control yourself."

He dragged the soldier fully back into the light.

"They might be attacking our minds."

Just then, his eyes turned to the other side.

The sight shocked him.

Each tent had one guard watching the night, taking turns.

But right now, more than half of them were in the same condition as the first soldier.

They were walking toward the forest with dazed gazes, as if hypnotized.

He didn't waste any time and started to yell with all his might.

"EVERYONE WAKE UP! IT'S AN EMERGENCY!"

His voice was much louder compared to when he had shouted at the other soldier while trying to stop him from walking into the forest.

Hearing the shout, everyone woke up inside their tents. They immediately took their weapons and came out.

What greeted them was many of their comrades striding toward the shadowy figures, slowly, dazed, without any source of light with them.

Galahad, with his inhuman senses, heard the soldier shouting.

He got up and arrived at the scene instantly. The other leaders came as well.

He observed the situation.

In an instant, he understood what was going on.

"EVERYONE GO AND STOP THEM! SHAKE THEM AND GET THEM OUT OF THE TRANCE!"

Galahad's powerful voice ordered everyone.

All soldiers and knights followed his command.

They rushed to their comrades, stopping them and pulling them out of their dazed state.

The number of soldiers guarding outside was limited, so it didn't take much time to stop them all.

After seeing that everyone was safe, Galahad ordered,

"All of you go inside the tents and remain inside until morning. No one is allowed to come out."

No one questioned him. They obeyed immediately.

"…So that's how it is… If not by the body… then they will use the mind…" Galahad muttered, gazing at the shadowy figures in the dark forest.

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