The air was filled with a gentle cool breeze that was just perfect with the warm summer sun that was well overhead and high up as it could possibly go to signal it was around midday. The village called Wakefield and surrounding area was filled with activity as village folk went about their day, some tended to the fields of crops on the outskirts of the village, some were running small stalls out on the streets or had their own little buildings to run their livelihoods.
It wasn't uncommon for all sorts of travelers to pass through on their way to other establishments, villages, towns, other kingdoms. Wakefield wasn't close to other towns however it was close to the secondary capital for the eastern region just shy of the northern region border. It was only a matter of time before Wakefield was caught up some way or another into the raging war up north a few days' ride to the north of the capital of the eastern region.
The area surrounding Wakefield was quite prosperous with its rich mineral soil that made perfect produce to sustain the occupants that reside in its lands as well as the knowledge passed down to each generation to keep the land maintained. As the winters weren't easy but they weren't as harsh as it is in the northern region , the small village managed itself well and that was rare to come by but that also left the place vulnerable for many things for example raids, battles, others in power wanting to greedily take everything they can because it benefits them at the end of the day.
Just east of Wakefield was the main forest that surrounded the village and provided wild game through the different seasons and resources for building, warming the house during the colder months, forage for livestock, different varieties of herbs for medicinal purposes and many more functions. This forest however held deeper things within the deeps that are densely crowded by trees that feel as tall as mountains and wide as a broad boulder sunlight rarely penetrated through the thick forest canopy ━ This forest earned the name Stygian forest back when the eastern kingdom was just being established, the reason it earned that name was because of the creatures that reside deep within it's domain.
It was dangerous to be hunting anywhere near where those thick and tall trees grew, not even the travelling huntsmen dared to step foot there as it was a death wish. Wakefield was never harmed by the things that roam and lurk within the shadows; it was as if someone or something kept them contained or ensured they stayed caged. There have been a few travellers that didn't heed the warnings given to them and never appeared again ..or at least not alive. The residents of Wakefield knew that the moment the tall ominous trees came into view from anywhere to turn back the way they came and forage elsewhere.
Amongst them there was two people that lived quite close to the stygian forest, these two people weren't originally from Wakefield━ if a villager was asked or questioned about these strangers they wouldn't get much information as these two strangers were rarely seen. On the rare occasion the eldest one of the two, an elderly looking woman would be seen coming to the small town square to sell a few herbs or odd trinkets. She was referred to as the crazy hag or witch. There were times where she was very helpful and was able to heal the sickly children one bad winter but everyone in Wakefield was wary of her nevertheless. However not much was known about her companion as her companion was always seen fully cloaked and covered in clothing in all weather and barely whispered a single word which made the residents of Wakefield very wary of the cloaked figure.
Today was a market day and it was unusually busy as there was an abundance of stalls, travelling merchants set up on the outskirts of the market square, farmers with different sorts of varying fresh produce, butchers with cured meats hanging off the sides their stalls with an assortment of cut meat, fabric stalls, trinkets and odd ends ━ The list went on and Wakefield had never been this busy in for who knows how long.
The atmosphere was definitely lively and joyous as children were playing off to the sides out of the way of the milling crowds unaware of a cloaked figure on horseback approaching from the forest treeline as if this stranger appeared out of thin air.