The wooden floor groaned under the weight of Avar’s feet, charred by a fire long ago further weakened by the vampiric effects of time. He had gathered the courage to open the now unlocked door entering a mirror copy of the small house he was in except it was covered in ash, burnt furniture and collapsed wood beams.

Every now and then Avar thought he could hear the sound of someone walking but never found anyone, “This damn place is trying to drive me insane.” He griped while clearing the rubble around him trying to find more clues to leave this cursed house. After moving several broken beams he finally uncovered a secret hatch with a broken lock, Avar pried open the door hatch peering within seeing the top of a destroyed ladder leading into inky black water. With a frown he stared down at it, looking around briefly then dragged over one of the longer wooden beams almost twice his height he carefully lowered it into the water and discovered that this flooded secret basement was only slightly below his height, the ashy water would top out just below his shoulders.

Avar was debating whether he should descend into the water when he caught a flicker of light in the water surface, he moved around the open hatch trying to find a proper angle. Crouching he was able to catch a better glimpse of the murky light swimming lazily through the water near the charred beam he put there. He stood captivated following the light with his eyes in a daze, staring blank faced he heard faint whispering coming from the water then nodding dumbly and started climbing down onto the broken ladder submerging himself beneath the inky darkness.

——————————————

A wooden stick help up by some small rocks stood in the grass swaying gently with the wind.

-FLASH-

-WHOOSH-

The almost picturesque scene was broken when the stick abruptly combusted with a powerful blue fire causing it to burn and crumble away into bits of charcoal. Vance stood a couple feet away swaying slightly trying to regain his footing, “The Soul Lantern is certainly powerful but without a heartsoul I can only use it 2-3 times before I collapse.” He sighed “This should be enough to survive in the mists and only use it in an emergency.”

Looking up he saw the approaching figure of Juliere looking as stern as ever, “You lived and got your own lantern now.” She paused glaring at Vance before her face softened slightly “Be careful in the Gloamwood, Vance. Do not stray deeper into the forest, stick to the edges, your Soul Lantern will not be able to handle the thicker mists right now.”

Vance nodded, “ Yeah, I only plan to scout into the mists for a couple of minutes at a time. Without my Heartsoul I’m not able to push the lantern to it’s limits but this much should be fine.” He gestured to the bow strapped to his back, “I’ve gone ahead and packed my quiver with as much arrows as possible which will be enough any crazed beasts I run across.”

Juliere considered the young man in front of her, “I’m not able to accompany with you as I’m needed elsewhere but I can give you this for extra protection.” Unlatching the scabbard on her waist she presented it to Vance, “Your skill with swords isn’t impressive, I know, but it would be foolish to rely solely on your bow in the Gloamwood. I’ve kept the blade on me for a while so it will be able to repel a wraith if luck is not on your side.” Vance hummed thoughtfully while latching the scabbard to his waist, “A wraith, huh? I don’t know much about them, I know they’re dangerous though but they usually don’t appear in the outskirts do they?” Juliere nodded, “Normally yes but with how erratic the mists have been this year there have been a few reports of them seen near the edges of the forest, so be cautious Vance.”

After talking for a while Juliere had headed back to the village, Vance started practicing with his sword almost clumsily his swordsmanship a far cry from his skill with the bow. An hour later he headed back home tired and sweaty. The dark house was quiet, his brother Avar in his room still muttering to himself while Vance cleaned his face with a washcloth. He gazed at Avar’s form for a minute but couldn’t bring himself to speak up, a sigh escaped his mouth then he left for his own room.

The sun glared through the window shining on Vance’s face the light burned through his dreams finally waking him. Groaning his limbs stretched shielding his eyes from the strong glare with his hand he yawned then got up to begin his morning ritual of exercise.

On the kitchen table lay all the supplies he thought he might need: dried jerky, a small bundle of rotweed, a few spirit candles, a pouch of tinder, some bandages, the Soul Lantern, his bow and quiver packed with arrows, and the sword Juliere gave him yesterday. Vance scrutinized the items on the table before he nodded in affirmation, “These should be enough I think. It’s about a day’s walk to reach the outskirts of the Gloamwood where I can make camp then start tomorrow and enter the forest proper.”

He stared at the ceiling gathering his focus then headed to his brother’s room making sure Avar had enough candles while he’d be gone. “If you can hear me Avar I’m leaving the village for a couple of days to gather some Wraithchill to cure you, I’ve got my own Soul Lantern so I can do it now. Hold out as long as you can Avar, don’t let the Mark beat you. I will return soon, may your soul burn bright.”

After saying his farewells he headed out into the town and stopped by Saldim’s shop before leaving. At the counter was a lanky teen sporting long and curly black hair that almost blended into his dark skin, “Hello sir, welcome to Saldim’s Alchemical Needs how may I assist you?” Vance glared at the tall teen before him, “Ah, shut up Tholin.” The room was deathly silent until it was broken when they were unable to hold back their grins they both laughed, “Alright I’ll be leaving town for a few days to gather some Wraithchill so let Saldim know. I need him to check in on my brother while I’m gone.” He placed some dark copper coins on the counter, “Payment. Now besides that have you any blood cot ointment?” the teen named Tholin thought for a moment then crouched down below view coming back up and put a small green flask on the counter, “This is the last one we have in stock right now, I’ll give you a discount if you can bring back some Bloodpetal Flowers on your way back.”

They haggled for a bit before Vance left the shop a little poorer and the green bottle tucked safely away. Breathing in the cool air he looked around at the townsfolk going about their day as well as some children out playing, today was an unusually warm sunny day a good omen he hoped.

On his way through the exit gate of the village he saw a garishly dressed foreigner, their robes layered with ruffles and tassels, talking to a Mistwalker guarding the gate who nodded towards Vance giving him permission to leave. Slightly tempted to investigate the oddly dressed foreigner Vance shook his head, he didn’t have time for distractions!

The vilage of Briarhaven resided in the Greater Loam Forest, the name of a large continent of sprawling woods, which contained several mysterious regions including the infamous Gloamwood that lay a day’s walk from the small town. It was one of the few towns around the Gloamwood that were built to contain and repel the cursed mist that threatened to spread each month.

Vance didn’t see much sign of civilization while traveling on the dirt road, occasionally he would pass by patrolling Mistwalkers but no outposts were built around the roads that crisscrossed through the forest as there wasn’t enough manpower for it to be feasible. Every now and then there would be bandit foreigners who thought they could set up shop near the roads thinking it to be an easy job due to the lack of manpower but were quickly culled by the dangerous wildlife or taken by the spreading mists.

A pale blue light swayed forward drifting between tree trunks and large bushes before stopping to reveal its owner Vance who held up his lantern, he had been looking for a while a suitable spot to make camp before finally settling down. He was hesitant to start a fire that would attract any prowling beasts so he reached into his pocket pulling out the pouch of Rotweed, Vance held his breath, opening the pouch released a foul rotting stench that he dipped his finger in pulling out a glob of grey-green slime with black and brown flecks. Marking the surrounding trees with the Rotweed he felt enough confidence in creating a fire without being disturbed. Earlier in the day when the sun was sinking out of view of the forest canopy he had found and killed a small rabbit that he was now skinning and cooking over his fire.

Lighting a spirit candle out of caution since he was near the Gloamwood he put out the campfire having finished the meal laying down on a makeshift bed of leaves, Vance gazed at the night sky lit up by the stars unable to see one of the moons hidden by the towering trees. He sighed thinking of Avar and of venturing into the mists that had cursed him, his vision fading as he drifted off to sleep.