Free running water under bridges of grey rock, those are the bridges that call the villagers all home in their evening years since their ancestors' days. The bridge is a marvel of engineering, yet of pale beauty by comparison to the river running beneath it.

The river is clean from any filth that one could see the bottom of the water. 

The bridges of the village is hewn from granite in nearby mountains. The bridge has stood strong for generations, linking the folks in these parts, giving the sweetest of spots for romance and reunion. 

Though the seasons change the bridge remains the same, only makes different by the sunlight or the dappling effect of the clouds. The grass wanes in the winter and came back strongly every spring, as does the leaves and the new birds.

The bridge is the pride of the region, great arcs of stone that defy gravity. Seen from over the valley they are a sign of home to all that live and love that dale.

Beneath it the river swells and declines, so shallow in late spring that the local children would wade right across it just to feel the cooling effect of the stream.

The sight of the bridge is a hand upon the old man's shoulder, a sweet palpable relief.

Leaning on the wall under the bridge and sitting at the river's edge, Morgan the old villager is enjoying the beauty of the scenery. The scenery shows the beautiful river and a femme fatale who is swinging her daggers just beside the river. 

"Why are you smiling, old man? It's creepy!" The girl, Tina glared and yelled at Morgan. 

"Just continue your training. I am always here in the evening."

"Then, be gone! You're an eyesore!"

"I'd thought to catch you all some fish for supper, but ....no luck." 

He says while successfully igniting leaves and woods. 

"Hmm. I thought this village is kind of crummy. This deep in the valley. You'd get a half-day sun, at best."

Tina says and walks to the fire. She sits.

"Back at my grandfather's time, the village did really well as a resting point along the major route. But that time is past. We shouldn't die helplessly like this, you know. I have faith in you folks."

Morgan explains while roasting the two sticks with fish on each of them.

Ignoring him, Tina places her palm above the fire to get some heat.

"Girl, why are you traveling with them? You seem to serve that man.

"N..no...noo!" Her face blushes. She immediately stands up and turns around.

"I follow him just to hone my skills. With him, I could gain a lot of experience. This is important to be an assassin."

Morgan smiles kindly and responds,

"You really love that man."

"W..what are you talking about!! I am just using him!"

"I see. Do you have a family?"

"Mm. Who cares about that? It's none of your business. What about you, uncle?"

Morgan's expression turns sour but then smiles again.

"What's that face? I bet your family isn't too keen on you risking your life looking for help...."

Stopping her chat for a while, she then swings her daggers before continuing her words,

"Besides, what's up with this village? After you risked your neck, you are treated like a liar! What heartless bunch. Why don't you abandon this hopeless village?"

The old man only smiles as a response to her harsh words.

"My family's bone rest here."

"Mm. Trolls killed them?"

"No. Long before that, to  famine. Still, I am glad the villagers trusted the fate of this place to me. I loved adventure.." 

She glances at him and smirks,

"You..love adventure? But you had never gone out from this tiny village.."

He smiles painfully and continues,

"I think all men think similarly. As a boy, I loved to imagine adventure. I'd ignore chores to explore the forest and valley, trying to find monsters and elves. Like you said, I dreamed of leaving this small village someday. And going to make my fortune on the wide sea beyond Thedas. That is until my mother fell ill. I found myself wandering the depths of the forest. To find a cure for my mother, I must have sought the forest deity. Then, I met a beautiful woman with green hair who gave me some medicine. The medicine I brought back saved my mother's life. But she aged immensely. That's when I spent most of my times doing chores for her, and stopped my adventure. Without realizing, many years had passed. Now. I am old."

Listening to him, Tina's face shows repugnance.

"With the passage of time, my memory had grown fuzzy. But I really hoped to meet again.."

Unable to stand Morgan's story, Tina finally snaps. She jumps and hit the ground hard with her foot. 

"Stop it! I don't need the story of has-beens when I'm just starting my thrilling life!" 

"Eh." The old man is shocked.

She pointed rudely to him with her index finger.

"You clung to a fairy tail dream, and one day you woke up old. I am pursuing my dream, not like you!" 

"But.."

"Listening to your dull story is going to kill my ambition. Bye!"

She ran along the river bank, leaving the old man.

Suddenly, the old man hears footsteps from above the bridge. He looks up and finds the man, Hiro is standing and pondering about something seriously. 

"Mister. You were listening?"

As Hiro remains silent, Morgan adds,

"The girl seems to hold you in high regard."

***

Cathedral in the center of Enoch Village.

An elven girl is standing and staring at the massive basilica which looks out of place in the village.

"What do you think?" A busty girl behind her asks.

"When the trolls attack, the villagers will seek shelter in this cathedral. There is a very spacious hall in there. We have no choice but to set up defensive spell around this building."

The elven girl knocks the wsge of her cane on the ground in front if the basilica.

Suddenly, a small rock hit her head.

"Ouch!"

"Go away!"

"Leave, witch!" 

The busty girl furiously yells at the boys who are still throwing pebbles at her friend.

"You nasty kids. Why are you doing that?"

The elven girl remains quiet.

"The reverend said witches and trolls are the same!"

Suddenly, footsteps approah them. A red haired muscular girl with a mace and a female knight with a considerably large sword walk past the children. 

The boys are scared and run away.

"Scoping out the battlefield?" The knight asks the elven girl.

"Do you have anything to say? To scold the pastor who spread the hate." The red haired girl asks.

"I hate him, that fox eyes guy!" The busty girl curses while the elven girl looks at the ground.

"It's not just the pastor. Humans are all wrong. Once, a temple for worshipping the spirit of this forest was here. The villagers probably destroyed it to build this cathedral. The spirit of Korcari Wilds might be able to chase away demons like trolls but since the trinity church had spread its influence here, they built churches on sacred land. That weakens the spirit's power and finally demons like trolls go havoc. I can't forgive them!"

Silence envelopes the group.

Until...

The bell rings many times from the tallest brick tower in the village which is at the outskirt of the village. 

"What happens?"

A village man shouts at them,

"Th.. that's... trolls are approaching the walls of the village. The bell is still ringing. The guards must have seen a very large group of trolls!"

"Everyone, escape to the cathedral!"

The villagers suddenly turn chaotic.