„In an hour of despair, when the False Gods almost destroyed the humanity, the Maker came and said The Word. He opened the Rift and crossed it with those He had chosen. For three days He looked for a place to build Lusephra, the city from which He ruled over our ancestors.

Years passed before the Maker decided to leave, choosing his firstborn son to rule in his stead. Before returning to the place where He governs the faithful who had departed, He spoke those words:

“Thou wilt know,

That in the world I gave thee

live those who hath not come with me,

who arth not like thee, yet wilteth try to deceive ye.

Thine enemy they shalleth be.”

We listened to his warning when we first encountered humans from elsewhere; they had not come with the Maker, yet claimed to be like us. We refused to trade with them and kept to ourselves.

Then ships of elves arrived; they were not like us, yet they never pretended to be. We foolishly trusted them, blinded by their gifts.

And so the ages passed, until they betrayed us; murdered the last of the Maker’s blood. On that day Rifts tore the skies as He showed us his might and fury for we had gone astray.

We waged the war against the traitors and continue it until this day, hoping to atone for our sins. Even if his temples are silent and He is only willing to grant his powers to paladins fighting in his name, we hope that one day He forgives us.”

- Lorastil Theocracy records

The Meld took much longer than they expected. By the time they made it back to the proximity of the waystation, it was already dawning, yet their tiredness after a whole night without sleep was currently pushed away by excitement.

“…and the mana, being able to see it so clearly, it was unbelievable…” Reria was still talking contently even if Ion was only nodding in an answer since some minutes.

After euphoric effects of Myconid’s spores started to wear off, Ion began to pay less and less attention to the conversation with Reria, concerned by the experience he had – the young wizard was sure that the voice naming a city was not his own…

‘Maybe this happened only because it was an almost dream-like state? Or was it just a subconscious memory, part of a dream I had forgotten…’

“I still can’t reproduce the tune I imagined earlier…” Aren was tuning his lute once again, trying to recreate the masterpiece they’ve heard.

“I knew that in the area around Trolloc Mountains some old castles could be found, but an underground city? You are from this country, had you any idea?” Sae’s eyes were literally sparkling. “And some of the other places, I wonder what they were? Maybe one of them was a city that Essae destroyed? But the descriptions I heard were different…Oh, it looks like the guards I was talking with earlier are still there, perfect!”

Sae talked with the soldiers protecting one of the town’s side gates for a moment and gave them a few silver coins after which they let them in.

Inside, people were already on the streets, some were preparing their stalls, few lumberjacks were heading towards the gate they have just entered.

“I heard that wizard’s guild’s representative was already informed. They are going to take care of her…” lumbers were talking among themselves.

“I saw the orphanage, almost half of it burned before fires were extinguished. It’s a miracle only two people died…”

“I envy the girl, she’s going to be powerful wizard… her father would surely be proud if he still lived.”

“But would you really leave your child to those bastards’ care? I could never let them take my sweet Lily…”

Soon later they returned to the area where the caravan stopped for the night.

“Where have you been?” Aren paled as soon as he heard a sweet voice that greeted them.

“A..Adre, we just took a walk around on the morning.”

“You were gone for the whole night!” Adre was now shouting, gaining attention from some other caravan members. “Do you know how afraid I was?”

“I was just looking for inspiration for a new song. And I almost made it! Do you want to hear it?” He began to play.

“Better to leave them alone.”

Reria whispered and pushed Ion to the side. Sae was already nowhere to be seen.

“You went to the swamps, for the whole night? When demons lurk outside? Are you an idiot?” Adre was shaking the bard, who desperately struggled to protect his instrument.

“Yes, better to let them settle this between themselves,” Ion decided.

****

Next days of travel were rather uneventful; on the second-day scouts found tracks of a rather big group moving through the woods so everyone became more vigilant, yet apart from few monsters that tried to attack a rear-guard nothing happened. By the third day they arrived at another waystation; much smaller than the previous one, but a walled area to set up a camp was always welcome.

During those days Ion learned a little more about some of his teammates. One night, sitting by the fire they listened to Ciros’ story.

“…I was born into a poor family. My parents were labourers willing to take any job in the town just to earn something more… yet my father was always telling me stories… He told me that we have noble ancestors, as he was a half-elf like myself... I dreamed about reclaiming that position, aimed to become a knight someday. I joined the city guards, wanting to work my way up there via merit to eventually attain knighthood.

Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

At first, it worked and I attained higher positions, yet at some point, I noticed, that no matter how I struggle, how I perform, I am passed over time and again.

The first few times I trained harder, believing my time would come, yet seeing many less reliable and less talented people becoming my superiors or even knighted because of their connections or upbringing, I eventually decided that chasing that dream is not my way.

It is why I started to work as a mercenary. Here you are valued by your strength in a battle, by your merits.”

Thaleus laughed.

“Sorry, but you know, I can’t imagine you as a knight, wearing a heavy armour, sitting in the town, acting like a noble...”

“Perhaps it was for the best,” Ciros continued. “Thanks to this, I discovered the beauty of nature, of the forests. Now, I could never live in a big city again for too long.”

“Forests… Trees… they are almost as bad as horses. Yet for my clan, I will endure them…”

“For your clan?” Ion asked.

“Of course, do you think that I would leave my sweet mountain home without any greater purpose?”

“You surely didn't just wanted to find some riches?” Dorian joked.

“Maybe you desired a thrill of an adventure?” Sae guessed.

“…” the dwarf bought some time by taking a sip. “Well… those are just small bonuses. Yet the main reason for my travels is simple; I was sent. My clan wishes to expand, find mountain ranges rich in rare ores, and many are searching for suitable areas… and we are not like those delusional fools wishing to dig in the Hakzokh’s Spine. I’ve already checked a few mountain ranges between Vrolan and Phenyth, but the best regions had been already claimed…”

****

Recently a terrain was becoming densely populated again; after all their caravan should be able to reach Leisha’s Crossroads in two days, if they maintain their current speed. It was decided that Ion’s group would scout forward, looking for a suitable place for a camp.

The more time passed since Ion heard Vision-he during the Meld, the more he was willing to believe that it was just a side effect from the hallucinogen. Yet there were also those fleeting moments when the young wizard had a strange feeling as if something or someone was observing him. It wasn’t happening often or lasted long, but those were certainly disturbing occurrences.

The scouting party was closing into a small village. It was not even walled, just a bunch of buildings build close to each other. No more than thirty of them, fields on the one side, forest on another.

“It’s too quiet,” Thaleus said, unable to hear or spot anyone around nearby houses. Only sounds of horseshoes hitting the pavement accompanied them.

Yet as they ushered their mounts deeper into the town, they heard voices of an agitated crowd. More than a hundred people gathered in the little marketplace, a small metal cage at the centre.

“Burn the abomination!”

“Kill the monster!”

Farmers were shouting, some of them were laying branches around the cage. Others were spitting, throwing rocks or poking inside with sticks. There seemed to be a battered, crying child inside.

“What’s going on here?” Lyssa was shocked. “That boy isn’t even twelve, what could he have done? We must stop them!”

“Move on outsiders,” a well-built villager standing close to them spoke. “It’s none of your business.”

Along with a second one he was holding hands of a sobbing woman. Hearing him speaking she turned her head to look at them, a spark of hope in her eyes when she saw strangers. Her sudden struggle seemed to surprise the men as she managed to release herself and ran in their direction.

“Please Knight, you have to help my son, I beg you!” she grabbed Dorian’s knee. “They are mad, they want to kill my little Larry!”

Ion really had no idea what is going on there.

“Lady, I see you are wearing Uther’s symbol,” she approached Lyssa and fell on her knees. “They must be under the effect of some evil spell! Please!”

The cleric whispered a short incantation. Seeing hostile gazes of some nearby villagers Ciros and Sae placed their hands on their weapons.

‘At least most of them are still not paying attention to us… yet’.

Ion unlocked his spear from a saddle with Mage Hand so he could easily grab it if necessary.

After focusing for a few seconds Lyssa spoke: “I can’t sense any presence of magic from them.”

One of the men was about to say something when a thunder sounded. Then Lyssa rode slowly towards the cage, each step of her horse causing small tremors.

“In the name of Uther, tell me what are you doing, so that He may judge all of you!” her voice boomed loudly, a fury barely controlled.

As the group ushered their horses to follow her lead, despite the situation Ion couldn’t help but watch with glee Lyssa’s use of spells.

He observed the peasants, hurrying out of their way, fear visible on their faces. Just a few moments ago they were viciously shouting insults against the boy, brandishing their farm forks and torches, yet now they were scurrying away like a tidal wave.

“If they have wished, they could have crashed us now,” Vision-he spoke, and for a moment Ion saw himself riding with a small group of wizards and soldiers through a recently conquered city. Some of them visibly concerned, seeing hostile gazes of numerous townsfolk they shoved out of the way. One was so daring to even try throwing a stone in their direction; one of the wizards immediately immolated the culprit, eliciting panic from nearby people. “Yet they won’t, as most of them are lacking something that always stops a crowd from attacking those who wield power and weapons. They lack determination, motivation. For deep down, they know that we would have killed hundreds before we would fell, and they are unwilling to be those that start rioting, those that would be the first to die. As long as they won’t grow desperate, most will stay calm. And after they start believing that they could really become a part of the Empire now, they would no longer have any reason to riot...”

The voice trailed off as Ion focused on what was happening now; recently Ion learned to subdue ‘visions’ that were happening while being awake.

They make it to the cage undisturbed, the woman hurried towards and hugged her child through bars of the cage.

“Mom, mom, why they are so mean, it hurts so much…”

“Larry, it’s going to be okay, they will release you, we will move to a different city…”

Ion felt anger seeing wounds the boy suffered, one of his legs bent in a strange direction.

“So, is any of you willing to say something in your defence?” as Lyssa shifted her gaze through the crowd her eyes were burning like two small suns.

The uneasy silence fell. After a while, one of the men that were holding Larry’s mother earlier gathered his courage to speak.

“That thing is an abomination,” he pointed towards the cage, causing another loud weep from the child and few supporting murmurs from other villagers. “This isn’t Larry, he’s…”

“LIARS!” the woman shouted, interrupting him. “The mother will always recognise her child!”

“We have found Larry’s body in the forest this morning,” a hunter-like man from the crowd said. “The body was partially eaten by animals, but we were still able to recognise him. He must have been dead for at least a week.”

“And the boy has been behaving oddly recently, unable to recognise most of the people…”

“He promised to gather flowers by the brook with me some time ago but didn’t come,” a little girl was saying with a teary voice. “Larry would have never forgotten about his promise!”

“He was attacked by the wolves last week, he’s just in shock!” Larry’s mother shouted, still crying.

Sae asked the hunter to show her the body and they left together.

“...and the chores, he suddenly forgot how to do even basic leatherworking…”

Ion observed the boy for a time; for him, he looked like a normal, wounded child. He was unable to spot any traces of magic from him. Even a small ritual designed for detecting the presence of magic that he learned recently from one of his dreams gave no answer.

Both Ion and Lyssa proceeded with casting Dispel Magic, also without results.

'Well, not that it could be used reliably if we are unable to guess the spell in effect. If there is any at all,' Ion doubted.

Soon Sae returned and whispered something to Dorian.

“Look at me, Larry,” she said approaching the cage.

When the boy looked at the rogue his eyes suddenly widened in fear. “No, no, go away, leave me alone!”

He let go of his mother just to move to the far end of the cage, as far away from Sae as he could.

Suddenly a sword engulfed with light pierced his chest from behind. For a moment the boy seemed as surprised as everybody around.

“Nooo!” the woman screamed, struggling against Sae who was holding her now.

“Are you crazy?” Lyssa shouted to Dorian, who thrust the boy from behind. She started an incantation for a healing spell.

“Just watch it,” the paladin said. Ion instinctively closed his eyes seeing him thrusting Larry again.

Seconds passed in silence only interrupted by Larry’s mother cries and curses. Everyone seemed to hold breath when Larry’s corpse, still pierced by the sword, started twitching. His eyes suddenly turned completely white, hair started to fall from his head, ears were elongating. After a moment the boy’s skin started to darken. When Dorian removed his sword the only thing reminding that moments ago inside the cage was a boy were clothes that a dark-grey skinned creature still wore.

Larry’s mother fell on the ground no longer struggling against Sae, devoid of all energy. “My boy… where is my boy?”

“What was that?” Ion asked.

“A doppelganger,” Ciros said.

“How did you know?” Lyssa’s voice was shaking.

“Hunters brought the body back; it was too similar to be only a coincidence given that boy didn’t have any siblings,” Sae answered. “If not for its carelessness with disposing of the body, it would probably live here unnoticed.”

“How can you detect them?” Ion asked. A possibility of encountering monsters able to assume someone’s shape, seemingly without even using magic which could be revealed by the spells really disturbed him.

“If they are clever and careful then you can’t, kid,” Thaleus’ voice was gloomy. “There are monsters lurking in this world, about which you’d better forget if you’d like to sleep well at night.”