As they walked through past the walls they saw dead grass skeletons with swords in they're ribs broken village buildings and they saw an old lady
Sweeping guts off her porch "uh miss?, you ok?" Aurelia asked
Her the women had barely working dentures with a ripped coat and old flip-flops
And worn out pants.
Ash walked in front of the house And saw a village of people they looked tired
Malnourished and dehydrated and they was walls in front of an all red castle
"The rot king castles, alder" Aurelia said everyone shushed her "whats the problem?" Noah said the old women walked up to him "around here that word is cursed" she said her voice raspy her movements slow.
The group looked at her "ok" seris said "how have you guys been surviving so long?" Noah asked feeling one of the buildings unsteady structure
Ash looked around "well someone comes everyone night giving us food but we've never seen his face, he wears a-a uhm a grey hoodie and blue jacket i think blue shorts and uhm" she thought long and hard trying to remember.
"Navy blue crocs" she said "or atleast Thats what I remember-my old brain eheh" she continued on walking away but Aurelia stopped her "why do you guys love like this" Aurelia asked "well because the king thinks the best way to control us is fear and by fearing will die by running out of food we become obedient" she said.
As they walked around the village "it's shame to see what the three kings have turned this place into" she said shaking her head slowly in disappointment
They're gazed laid rest on the red castle and it's decaying features
Even the crows steered clear of the castle as the old women came to a pause
In front of a house.
Then walked inside to see a sick pregnant women she had blonde hair blue eyes scar on his arm and a gu with brown hair pale skin grey ripped shirt and black worn out pants holding her in his arms "the toxins is getting worse?" He said to a girl in a mask holding a bottle with some concoction.
"I'm sorry but she won't make it past winter in this condition" the girl in the mask said slowly sitting up and pouring a mix of things In to another bottle
Then slowly poured it into the women's mouth before standing up
And walking Away.
"The toxins is killing us and if we don't find a way to stop it we'll all be dead by winter" the old lady said as they walked away from the scene "I promise we will help you guys" Aurelia said clutching her blade sheath "no no we can't have you young people dying for us" she said "no we will do this ok"
Aurelia said determinedly.
"Well first you'd have to get into his castle" The old lady said her wrinkled hands slowly moving up to point to the red castle before putting her hands back down
"It's so heavly gaured that you can't even make it to the front door but he's the youngest so he's the less experienced king" the old lady said.
"So all we have to do it make it up there" seris said "I could spawn a grappler but it wouldn't make it that far" she said then she turned around towards the group
"Ok first I'll help out these people you guys make a plan to get in that castle"
Seris said before running in the building with the masked women.
The old signaled them to follow her to her house
As they made it to her rigid house she walked inside the dim fire light
Illuminating the room just enough "make yourselves at home"
She happily said sitting down slowly.
"You guys talk I'll make food" the old lady then walked into her makeshift kitchen
"Ok guys if we wanna get into the castle we're gonna need a plan and it won't be easy but the lady said he's youngest so he's less experienced so we just needs to find out what works" Aurelia said ash and noah nodded.
"But even if he's less experienced isn't still strong?" Noah said
"Well he wouldn't be king ig he wasn't" ash said to noah
"Ok guys we just need a way to fool the king or storm in there" Aurelia said to them.
"Foods ready" the lady said bringing a big pot of stew it looked like into the main room and sitting above the fire to keep it hot and tied some rope to the edges to keep it up "first we pray then dig in" the lady said so they all folded they're hands together and prayed then after a Minute they finally finished and
The lady prepared they're plates "were taking food from the nice lady who's is also a stranger but why are we accepting to so easily?" ash thought to himself.
Then he grabbed hisnplate and sniffed the food "I'm not trying to posion you ahahahah" the lady laughed at his suspicion "but I understand after all you been through I'd be suspicious too" she said.
Then they ate "this is actually really good" noah said his face stuffed
"I'm happy it's good" the lady said "so how long have you guysblived in these conditions?" ash asked "Well as long as the three kings have ruled which was 2 years ago the princess was supposed to rule but her father was killed by the three kings" she looked up at them.
"Then the princess disappeared without a trace and no one knows wheres she's at" she continued "so if we can find her she might be able to help you guys and bring peace to this village once and for all" the lady finished
"A princess?" Ash said "yes a princess" the lady confirmed.
"I'm finished, the food was great" noah said placing his bowl down and wiping his mouth "tomorrow we'll get started and try to get in the castle" Aurelia said finishing her plate same for ash.
As the lady made beds for them "good night everyone" the lady said before walking to her bed and everyone went to sleep.