Present Day

Dragon Realm Cypress

A knock on the door frame echoed in the dim house. Vada walked in slowly. Cobwebs and dust welcomed Vada as she gingerly avoided tripping over overturned furniture and broken glass. She eventually found who she was looking for.

“You're avoiding them,” Vada quietly said to Avalon. Her Blade Sister sat in the corner of a smaller bedroom. Vada folded her arms, waiting for a response despite knowing the conversation was doomed at the start. However, it was her duty as her friend to council Avalon in her time of discomfort.

As expected, Avalon said nothing, only grunted with annoyance. She adjusted her hood to hide her face more.

“I said-” Vada tried again.

“I heard what you said,” snapped Avalon. “I-I am in no condition to lead right now. I need a moment,”

“Take your time, Blade Sister.” Vada slowly paced around the room resting her eyes on a small, wooden fox figurine on a curio shelf.

“Baella loved foxes,” Avalon whispered, “I remember Father bought her a fox doll from a traveling merchant.”

Vada smiled, letting Avalon continue the memory.

“She ran that doll ragged. Muddy puddles, grass stains, soaked in the summer rains. She

loved that damn thing…” Avalon chuckled,” …She even tried to take it with her when we rec-”

Vada knelt down next to Avalon. “When we came to Woadhollow as Rabbits… to recruit…”

Avalon’s lower lip trembled as she struggled to hold back her tears, “We recruited Baella. I

promised my parents no harm would come to her- that being a Rabbit would make us stronger as a whole.”

“Avalon…”

“They cursed me to the deepest reaches of Dahlemar’s underworld. I couldn’t protect her… I wasn’t there for her!”

Vada took her Blade Sister into her arms and held her tightly, “Sister it wasn’t your fault.”

“Yes, it was. How could I return back to Woadhollow with Baella’s blood on my hands?”

“It must have been so hard for you not to tell me this,” Vada cooed. She rested her chin on

top of Avalon’s head and rocked back and forth. It seemed to comfort Avalon.

“I didn’t see my parents among those killed tonight. Maybe they left before all of this happened.”

Vada leaned against the wall as Avalon calmed herself. “It’s possible.”

Avalon joined her Blade Sister against the wall, her sadness had subsided for the moment. “I have never seen a Night curse such as that. It resembled demonic infestation, but it affected the villagers as if they were…I don’t know?”

“Hypnotized. Caught in some trance.” Vada finished Avalon’s trail of thought. “Before I came to fetch you, I was to tell you that the priest has completely emerged from the tumor. It seems his power waned once the villagers were slain.”

Avalon hopped to her feet, “Good, I want answers before I…”

Vada moved to her feet as well. “Do you still plan to burn Woadhollow down?”

Avalon nodded. “Woadhollow has suffered too much misery. It needs to be purged from this realm. A fire to cleanse its affliction.”

Vada moved past Avalon and out to the exit of the cabin. “So be it.”

Avalon followed her Blade Sister out and together they made their way to a circle of Silent Ones who held the enemy priest captive outside the chapel.

The priest was no longer attached to the mass abomination, but black veins still sprawled from his neck, growing to his head, and across his cheeks. His eyes, once a mysterious solid ebony, were now a milky white. His hands were tightly tied behind his back as he recited a prayer over and over again.

“So it is written in the book of Woe

That we will bask in the moon’s soft glow

Then the day will fall prey to the Night

And we will follow without fear nor fight

For the Torn One gives, The Torn One takes

Within our hearts, He stirs, He wakes

He is the Withered, the angel with the shredded wings

Charred feathers, His seething only brings

Love our Hatred's avatar

Walk beside our Dahlemar

For one day his face shall show

So it is written in the book of Woe”

Andros furiously scribbled the words into his journal as the priest spoke them. He glanced up to Avalon and Vada. “We await your leadership, Silver Wing.”

Avalon acknowledged the Gold Wing and lifted the priest to his toes with his collar so that he was forced to face Avalon. “Who are you?” she asked.

“So it is written in the book of-”

Avalon threw down the priest back to the misty ground and unsheathed her Silencer. “Do not make me ask again!”

Andros pulled Avalon’s arm. “Perhaps you are still not emotionally ready for this task.”

Avalon yanked her arm free. “You are her to observe, not to interfere.” She turned her attention back to the priest. “Dahlemar has abandoned you.” She crept closer to the priest with

every word, straining on the god’s name. “Alanna cannot save you and Alue ignores you.”

The priest widened his eyes as the sacred steel of Avalon’s blade grazed his cheek. It seared

his flesh like a cattle brand.

“Tell me who you are,” Avalon repeated.

The priest grit his teeth and then bowed his head, “It doesn’t matter,” he said, “I have already failed to protect the Plague Reach. I was once called ‘Revic’.”

“What is the Plague Reach, Revic?”

“The Darkest Shadow watches me. He will not let me reveal his plans.”

The moon hung at its zenith but its light failed to illuminate Woadhollow as a widespread hand of shadow wrapped its fingers around the Silent Ones, casting the area in an impenetrable cloak of blackness. Avalon circled around, attempting to gain her bearings in the dark fog.

However, even with her blazing Silencer used as a makeshift torch, she still couldn’t even see her own hands.

“What is happening?” Avalon called out, “Vada? Where are you?”

“Avalon, I hear you but you are so distant!” Vada’s voice pierced the shadows but came from all directions.

Avalon reached out for Revic. His laughter seemed miles away, now a faint echo. “What is going on, Revic?”

“He is here! My Master has come for me!”

Is this Dahlemar’s work? Has the Torn One’s magic reached the Mortal Plane? I can’t even see where I am, how am I supposed to fight h-

As quickly as the shadow came, it vanished just as fast. Once again Avalon was surrounded by her peers. Revic lay a mutilated corpse, with only a raspy voice bubbling out through globs of black venom and blood. Avalon slid to his side. “Revic! Who is the Darkest Shadow? Is he Dahlemar? I need a name! Tell me!”

Through labored breathing and gurgling chokes, Revic could only manage a single word, “Win-ter-tide.”