The dirt path leading to the eastern farmland was uneven, lined with wild grass that swayed gently in the evening breeze. The sun had begun its descent, casting an orange glow over the land, stretching the shadows long across the ground.
Leon walked with steady steps, his mind already shifting into analysis mode.
Livestock disappearing without a trace. No tracks. No signs of struggle. That wasn't normal.
There were a few possibilities.
A predator? Unlikely—wolves or other beasts would leave clear evidence. Claw marks, blood, trails leading away. A thief? More plausible, but stealing multiple animals in a single night without leaving tracks? That required skill, magic, or something else entirely.
What am I dealing with here?
His thoughts were interrupted as he approached the farmlands. Wooden fences stretched along the perimeter, enclosing large grazing fields. A few simple barns stood nearby, their doors slightly ajar, revealing stacks of hay and farm tools within.
Leon spotted a middle-aged man leaning against a post, chewing on a stalk of wheat. His clothes were dusty, his face lined with years of hard labor.
The farmer noticed him and straightened up.
"You must be the one Elric sent," he said, his voice carrying a slight drawl. "Name's Harwin."
Leon nodded. "Leon. I heard you've been losing livestock."
Harwin let out a tired sigh. "Aye. First, it was just one or two. Figured maybe they wandered off. But last night? Three of my best goats, gone without a trace."
Leon glanced at the fenced-in field. "You check for tracks?"
"'Course I did," Harwin grunted. "Nothing. Not a damn thing. Just… gone."
Leon's eyes narrowed. He stepped forward, scanning the area with trained precision.
The fence was intact. No signs of breakage. No claw marks, no dragged dirt. The ground was firm—not soft enough to completely erase footprints, yet nothing stood out.
Something doesn't add up.
"Did you hear anything last night?" Leon asked.
Harwin shook his head. "Not a sound. That's the strangest part. Usually, if a wolf or a thief comes sniffing around, the animals make a fuss. But last night? Dead silent."
Leon frowned. Silence wasn't normal.
He crouched down, running his fingers along the ground near the fence. It was dry, compact. If something heavy had moved here, it would have left an impression.
But there was nothing.
No tracks. No signs of entry or exit. Just an empty field.
A chill crept up Leon's spine.
This wasn't natural.
He stood up. "I'll need to stay here tonight," he said.
Harwin raised an eyebrow. "You think whatever's doing this will come back?"
Leon met his gaze. "If it's taken this many already, it won't stop now."
Harwin hesitated, then nodded. "Fine. But if you see anything, don't be a hero. We don't know what we're dealing with."
Leon allowed himself a small smile.
"I'll be careful," he said.
But in truth, he wasn't worried.
He had faced far worse in his past life.
And whatever was lurking in these fields—he was going to find out.
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