"I've seen them with my own eyes, giant ugly monsters twice the size of humans. They smashed through the caravan guards in but an instant and ripped through the other so quickly I had barely a moment to think before they had killed everyone else. I used to curse the company when their caravaners would force me to fix the carts, wagons, or carriages when they broke down. I used to think that their high brow snooty, pardon, kobald shits were just jokers who forced me to crawl on my ass under the carriages to get paid. Thank the Goddess for snooty practical jokes." - Retired Pioneer Jeremiah Kos, 'Why Avoid the Mistveil: A Caravaner's Tale'

She walked through the aftermath of the siege, passing by destroyed building after destroyed building. The once prosperous town is now nothing more than a name on a list of abandoned ruins lost to war. Grotesque malformed humanoids with far too many extraneous limbs stalked her with their eyes as she passed through the city, their gaze not filled with ill intent but hunger. Their greedy little hands drummed the roof tiles, creating a strange tribalistic rhythm as pus filled eye sockets twitched with every movement and step she took. Strange gurgles and grunts emerged from the rubble below as small creatures skipped around the streets, gorging themselves on whatever scrap was left behind, tearing what little flesh from bone that they could. Scratchy rounded eyes and hides of scaly leathery skins covered in gore, the little creatures possessed far too many teeth and bared their fangs at her as she passed by.

The destruction was absolute. Half consumed corpses lay strew about everywhere, men, women, children, the elderly, none were spared from the unceasing hunger. Mutilated corpses hung limply, impaled into the wall using rudimentary tools and removing all sense of dignity, a warning to the innocent and a celebration of the wicked. Foul odors ran rampant as the death and decay have long settled down to spread since the very beginning and she wrinkled her nose in disgust.

The tower on the hill pulsated a brillant blue and the calming aura beat back the oppressive atmosphere, a small mercy for the already dead. Metal boots echoed loudly as they wadded through the crimson puddles dotted around the area and she could only shudder at the sight of the ruined church. The holy place defiled and left desolate, its inhabitants now decorating the ruined walls as bloodied smears and corpses.

Two of the Chaosbreed turned to face her, their mutated beady reptilian eyes examined her up and down with a hint of annoyance. She shrunk down from their gaze and as their gauntleted hands reached for her a bright flash from the tower froze them in place. She averted her eyes and raised a small hand to shield it before gazing in wonder at the other worldly being that descended from it.

Viscous membrane surrounded a misshapen globule of fleshy mass as veiny dark tentacles and appendages carefully lowered it above the village. Elongated highways of stretchy limbs punctured through the earth, their very presence warping the land around it, reality fracturing at their touch. Unlike the morbid wonder that filled her eyes, the two Chaosbreeds around her trembled in fear, the clanking of their armour plates as they shook creating a small echo that rang out clearing in the decrepit town. The otherworldly creature paused, as if waiting for applause before the folds on its skin shifted back, revealing countless small yellow orbs that jiggled around, moments before black slits formed on them. The eyes were soon drawn to her and as the largest eye opened, the Chaosbreed disintegrated into a gooey puddle of organic material around her.

She gulped down a small breath as the tentacles surrounded her and dragged her up to eye level, uncaring of the dampness running down her leg. She understood now, the fear of the demons as she too trembled in horror, gazing back at an eye the size of her entire being.

Thou will find the dawn

The words burned themselves into her mind, a familiar but haunting feeling as the land around them cracked and exploded. A flurry of teeth like claws burst forth from the ground, impaling and consuming corpses and demons alike, paying no heed to the pained screams of the dead and dying.

What was stolen shall be returned

The tower pulsated once more and as blue light washed back across the landscape, the being lifted itself away from the town, retracting its limbs and leaving behind a scene of utter devastation. She felt herself being flung across the air as the grip around her tightened and winced at the discomforting sensation caused by the pressure.

What was sealed will be free

It embraced the crystal at the top of the tower once again, snuffing out the blue light as it settled in place, holding her suspended in the air just beyond the tower’s edge. In a fit of anger it squeezed and she choked and sputtered as her bones threatened to crack. Smooth yet scaly eyelids blinked as they secreted a crimson membrane onto the tower below.

Seek thine life, unburdened by the stars

Perhaps it was curious, temperamental or this was how it naturally behaved. She did not know, but it promptly wrapped itself around her arms and legs and pulled. A muffled scream escaped her lips as it stretched her to the limit, her limbs nearly popping off of their sockets.

In great heights, will the beacons burn

For a brief moment her mind found clarity. She remembered the last time it had occurred, the last time it held her. She struggled to break free only for its grip to tighten further, now pulling from every angle as two more limbs rose out from around the eye, the dark liquid dripped onto her skin as it lingered above her. In a swift motion the two tentacles pierced through her once more, pained tears streamed down her eyes and with a visceral scream one last phrase etched itself onto her mind.

In nothingness, salvation

And then, quiet.

Sophie cried as she woke up, the tears in an unceasing trickle that ran down her face. Her whole body ached as the feeling of being torn and stabbed drove her muscles into overdrive. For a brief moment she could see Eva as she comforted her, the moments when the older girl patted her head or playfully teased her and found some measure of calm. She tried to stifle her tears as her eyes continued to water her face, and instead tried to take a measure of her surroundings. The last thing she could recall was bleeding out near a tree in the middle of the forest, but now she was tied to a bedroll. Stakes buried in the ground with ropes that held her down.

As she looked around further she found that she was no longer under a tree, she was inside a tent, nor was she alone, there was in fact a very startled dwarf sat staring at her. Clad in chainmail and holding his axe tightly, the dwarf continued staring until his beard itched, and with great reluctance he moved to scratch his beard and sighed dejectedly.

“Lads and lassies, she’s awake!” He barked and jumped to attention as a commotion occurred outside the tent.

Sophie twitched as her nose itched from the tears that tickled it, and wiggled desperately to free her hands to no avail. Thus, by the time the party of five gathered in the room, all they saw was a tear stained elf angrily struggling against her restraints.

The five shared a glance and Gil drew his sword with a shrug. With a sword held in front of her, Sophie finally stopped thrashing about even if her nose was viciously itchy, and tried desperately to maintain a cool demeanor when the other spoke.

“Who are you and why are you dressed like a bandit and a maid? Answer truthfully because we’ve spent long enough here already.” Gil asked coldly, his eyes narrowed as they met her’s.

What should I say? How do I even describe anything? My nose! Sophie blinked as her eyes focused on the tip of the sword, trying in vain to sort through her thoughts as she scrunched her nose up and took in the group in front of her. The dwarf seemed set to behead her, the swordsman seemed to be the captain and ready to kill her, one girl had a quiver strapped to her back, one had her hand gripped on the hilts of her dagger and the last man seemed the most relaxed of all. What a strange bunch, was the only thought that rolled through her head as the answer to his question quickly slipped away.

But as the others tensed up from her silence, casting worried glances amongst themselves, Sophie could only brace herself as she felt a funny feeling welling up inside her. She clenched her eyes shut in fear and embarrassment as her stomach cried out for sustenance with a growl that could be used to wake an entire town. She gingerly opened one eyelid and could see the visible disappointment and annoyance that appeared on everyone’s faces and longed to apologize but held her tongue, afraid to annoy them anymore.

A tepid silence ensued with the group looking back at her, and Sophie shrunk back into the bedroll until the brown haired archer pinched the bridge of her nose and rolled her eyes.

“Alright alright, I brought her here so I’ll feed her. We can interrogate her later.” The archer sighed as she shooed everyone away while flashing an exasperated smile at Sophie. Begrudging nods responded to the archer and as the group warily shuffled back out the dwarf shot Sophie a small scowl and she wondered if he was going to cut her down on the spot. A small shrug from the archer and the dwarf finally followed her out, leaving Sophie just a little less worried.

Am I still in the forest? Is this an adventurer camp? I’m so…tired. I want to go home. Her mood plummeted as she realized she could no longer feel the book in her pocket and fought to hold back another wave of tears. Focus, focus, make it out first, find out where Eva, and then make another plan. Her mind then wandered to the dreams, the nightmares were striking more often and more vivid, something about light and dawn. She shuddered as she tried to imagine the monster again, with its writhing limbs and copious amounts of liquids and pus. How it always tore at her and how it always presided over visions filled with death.

Her heart pounded faster and as she thought more about the creature she could feel her head begin to wail in despair. Sweat replaced tears and she experienced the sensations once again, the blood in the air, the monstrous growls and the menagerie of horrors that stalked the recesses of her mind. And every time she tried to recall the creature's words she felt her mind try to tear itself out of her head, like they weren’t meant for her to know or hear.

She was on the verge of nearly yelling when she felt a nervous hand rest itself on her shoulder and her eyes flickered open. She found herself staring back at warm hazel eyes and for a brief moment she wanted to cry out Eva’s name only to stop herself when she realized she was staring at a stranger.

“Ahh…” Sophie whispered and felt a blush rushing to her cheeks.

The archer pulled back and placed something down nearby before pulling out the stakes and ropes tying her down.

“Alright, alright hold still okay? Don’t make me regret helping you…and there we go. Easy now,” the stranger’s soothing voice reached her ear, “You’ve been…out for a while, you’ll feel a little woozy so watch it.” The adventurer held out a steadying hand and for a minute Sophie just stared before clasping it with her own.

“Ngh!” Sophie whimpered and as she tried to stand up her legs gave way and a sharp pain shot up from her limp. In a panic she latched herself onto the other girl and quietly tried to hide her pain with clenched teeth. “Sorry, sorry, I’m sorry.”

To her surprise after a moment's hesitation the adventurer gently held her in a supportive embrace.

“Hey, hey, it’s okay it’s okay. You alright? Hey easy, take it easy. You’ve been out for a day now, just sit down.”

A day?! The shock hit Sophie like the ground and she managed to disentangle herself from the adventurer, catching a small glance at the look of annoyed disgust that briefly appeared on her face before it was replaced by an understanding smile. Shame and guilt immediately bubbled to the surface of Sophie’s mind and she sat down timidly and brushed off the other girl’s concern.

“I-I’m fine, uhmm thank you. Sorry.” She muttered slowly, sniffling the last of her pain away, “Did you…did you say I’ve been out for a day already?”

“Yeah, so I understand if you're as hungry as kobold. Here, help yourself.” The adventurer brought over a plate containing a small portion of what Sophie assumed was dried meat mixed with some weird herbs and a bowl of lukewarm stew. Nodding her thanks, the smells had barely begun to be taken in when her stomach forced her to devour the meal. Greedily gulping down the stew and shoving the meat into her mouth she barely noticed the other girl’s horrified reaction as she closed her eyes to savour the last little bit of food.

“Uh, wow, uhhh I’ll round up the left overs, just don’t go anywhere alright?” The girl said, casting a weary glance at Sophie before leaving.

Sophie tried her best to hide her blush and distracted herself with thoughts of how angry the Duchess, Hilda and pretty everyone else would be if they just witnessed her horrific display of manners. Though Eva would probably never let her live it down and chuckled at the thought.

She had barely begun organizing her thoughts when the girl returned with what looked like a pot holding the leftover stew with a few bits of herbed meat sprinkled on top. As the pot got placed in front of Sophie she muttered a small prayer for forgiveness and began inhaling the leftovers in its entirety. Though her stomach still growled she had a brief worry of if it would growl from another reason soon enough. Still she recovered enough sanity to immediately dip her head in a reverential half bow to the adventurer.

“Thank you, thank you, sorry for the trouble, I’m really sorry.” Sophie pleaded.

“Alright, alright calm down now, I get it. You’re fine now okay? I’m pretty certain you aren’t with the bandits at least.” The adventurer reassured her, “Just rest up a bit okay? Sorry about the weapons earlier, we’ve been meandering for almost all of yesterday and it’s got us a little jumpy. So just help reassure us a little alright?”

Sophie watched as the adventurer tapped her shortsword and nodded enthusiastically, threats or not, they were her saviors so far, that much she could gather. But they also seemed cagey around her and cooperation could temper their suspicions.

“So uhh, usually Gil does all the talking, he’s the big blond guy and our captain. We’re adventurers if you couldn’t tell. Anyways, I’m Annalise, and you are?”

“Sophie, my name is Sophie. Umm I’m…was a maid.” Sophie replied sheepishly.

“Huh, well saint damned hells you actually were a noble’s servant. Didn’t know what to think when I just stumbled across…ah sorry anyways, do you mind telling me what happened. Actually here, let me help you up, might be best to tell everyone at once anyways if you can move.” Annalise stated, extending another tentative hand.

Sophie reluctantly let her be pulled up but quickly limped forward by herself, making sure to not annoy her savior any further, remembering the subtle look from before.

“Here let me.” Annalise said as she pulled the tent flaps aside.

A chill wind brushed past Sophie’s face and she emerged into the campsite, desperately trying to piece a coherent story together from the past few days' events. Annalise watched the elf’s look of panic and held back a chuckle, this should be interesting.