A different darkness greeted Delilah, one that yawned wide, and stared back at her unnervingly. Huffing in dissatisfaction, as she pulled back from the well.

"That's.. it?" Her over active imagination had pictured nightmarish creatures, clawing their way up the cylinder walls. But instead, it was just a small underwhelming pile of stone bricks in the town square, not even a glint of gold could be seen. Stranger still for a well that granted wishes, there wasn't a line as far as the eye could see, if anything, people seemed to give it a wide berth as they walked around it.

Mavrik nodded, "We should ask some of the town, something seems off".

"Well, worth a try!" The tiefling smiled, striding forward, before stopping after a moment with a sheepish grin, as she realised Mavrik had started moving in the opposite direction.

"I knew it was this way, I was just making sure I gave you a head start. I know how important it is for you to be our fearless leader" she teased.

"Right" was all the man huffed, a ghost of a smile in his voice. Not that Delilah could see his face, obscured under the sleek helmet he always wore.

Delilah often revelled at how someone could command such confidence, and authority in their step, while sounding like a kitchen drawer being slammed open when he ran. Shaking away her thoughts, as they tried to approach a few of the towns people milling around. Turning up very little information, if they could even extract a response.

"You should speak to Maree."

Finally, their breakthrough came from a little boy, who lightly tugged on Delilah's cloak. She carefully crouched down in front of the child, looking around in confusion. Where was the little boys parents? He seemed to be clean, and relatively well dress which eased her fears slightly.

He held out his palm expectantly, as Delilah grinned at his ploy.

"Next time, take the coin before handing over your intel" chuckling as she reached around and retrieved a few silver coins, holding them between her fingers in front of the boy's face.

"Now. Where do we find Maree?" Turning the tables playfully, as the boy grinned, easily hearing her light tone.

"Over there" he pointed towards a cottage, nestled almost out of view of the street, a short way past the tavern. Delilah dropped the coins into his hand, "keep out of trouble" knowing her words likely fell on deaf ears, as he scampered away.

Dusting herself off as she stood, she could feel Mavrik's gaze on her "what?"

"It's nothing."

Shrugging lightly, it was something, but it was useless to push Mavrik who was more stubborn than his horse. As they reached the home, Delilah noticed the thriving garden that unfurled around them, shrubs, flowers, and shoots pushed through every surface. Realising how odd the sight was, some of the flowers weren't in season or shouldn't thrive in this part of the continent. Lichen daringly scaled the walls of the gate that they stepped through, following the narrow path forward, as Mavrik landed a few knocks on the wooden door.

A young woman cradling a new born opened the door, looking alarmed at the large armoured man and mysterious woman concealed in cloth "y-yes?"

"We're here to buy some flowers." Delilah interjected, realising they likely looked intimidating, forcing her tone to be bright and eager.

The woman's face broke into a relieved smile, "why yes, of course! What ones were you after, as you can see I have many!"

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"Indeed.. How did you acquire some of these?" Now Mavrik spoke.

"The magic well of course! I know, as silly as it sounds! My darling Daniel wished for my flower business to be saved and threw a coin in, and the next day my garden looked like this!" She spread her free arm wide, gesturing to the explosion of colour.

"Wow! Isn't that truly amazing?" She nudged her companion enthusiastically. "Has anyone else experienced such miracles? Forgive me, I can hardly believe such a thing" Delilah beamed back, clasping her hands together and playing along with the wonder, while her heart sank at their confirmed suspicions, this garden was the work of what they were hunting.

"Oh yes! Many people have... although bad things have been happening too.."

Mavrik silently pointed to a single orchid stem, as he waited for her to continue. The one he had gestured to was a deep sunset yellow, with large purple dots flecked across its wavy edged petals.

"10 silver" the lady chimed, as she scooped up the stem and handed it to him, he exchanged the coins, and then passed the flower to Delilah.

"What bad things?" She pressed, taking the Orchid with a shy smile, holding it delicately between her fingers and admiring its splotchy patterns.

"Oh, well poor Randal was mauled by his dog just the other day, and Mrs Jenkin's daughter fell gravely ill. And a few people have gone missing, it's awful. For a quiet town, we're not so quiet any more." She frowned in thought, pulling her child a little closer absently, appearing to grow uncomfortable with the turn in conversation. Seeming to remember the people standing on her door step, she smiled once again "I'm sorry I really must get back to work, we've had so much business we're not used to it, especially with the little one".

"Thank you for your time." Mavrik nodded, as the lady ducked back in and closed the door, making his way back out of the small gated garden.

"Something very strange is going on.." Delilah observed softly, squinting as she looked closer at the flower, which relinquished none of its secrets to her.

Mavrik was hardly paying attention to her words, following his gaze, she realised they were being watched by a man. He was leaning on a makeshift cane, in the shade of a tree across the street. One arm missing from the elbow down, and wicked scars muddled his facial features. Delilah followed her companion over once the unknown man gestured for them.

"Randal, I presume?" Mavrik greeted, tone guarded "Why were you watching us?"

"You're here to investigate the supposed wishing well, right? Its all lies, no matter what Maree says! Same night her magical flowers grow, my Pipper who wouldn't hurt no one turns rabid!" Unlike the bartender, with his outrageous words and wild eyes, Randal's bore into them with fierce clarity.

Delilah felt her heart ache in empathy for the man, who could hardly keep himself standing stable with how much he was shaking with sheer fury. His clothing was tired, even with his cane his leg didn't straighten completely. One of his eyebrows sagged, giving him a squint likely from the ugly wounds that didn't heal properly. A stark contrast to the blossoming life a few meters away. Was he alone now? Written off as a dithering old man, who had lost his mind along with his pet to the other townsfolk? Knowing the feeling well, she hoped her fears weren't the case, not wanting to wish loneliness on her worst enemy. They would get to the bottom of this, they had to, so no more people would feel loneliness like Randal, or suffer loss like Ms Jenkins. At least not by this creature.

"Do you know who is the most recent miracle receiver?" Mavrik questioned.

Randal nodded "That'd be Bennet, our black smith. Couldn't make steel for shit, until a few days ago" he snorted "Bit too convenient, I'm sure you'd agree".

Mavrik glanced at Delilah, "I guess we'd better go and check it out." Leaving the broken man to his mutterings.

"What do you think we'll find?" Delilah asked once they were alone.

Mavrik carefully drew a small dagger, holding it out for her.

"There's a few creatures who like gold, such as Kobolds, and Aurumvorax"

"Do you think this is driven by gold?" She admired the simple blade for a moment, tracing the cross guard, before looping the weapon onto her belt.

"I'm not so sure."

Mavrik's unease was a foreign emotion for Delilah to witness, they had faced bandits, aberrations, and a few rabid beasts over the last few months. But, this was their first time going in blind, unless the blacksmith could shed some light.

Pushing aside her fear, she light skipped in front of him, pivoting to face Mavrik, as she jumped back dramatically with raised fists.

"What ever it is, we can take it! They don't call us the dream team for nothing!"

Her antics chipped at and fractured the tension, as Mavrik huffed and shook his head, folding his arms.

"Last I knew they called us meddlesome, or was it menace?" he countered in mild amusement.

"In our defence," She waggled her finger at him, "that was what the bad guys called us! So, that basically proves my point!" Almost tripping over her feet as her boot rolled over a loose stone, concluding it was time to walk forward again.