Depending on who to ask, the night can be a time of blessings or misfortune. For most Usors, particularly those who have not taken any social responsibility, such as work, and mainly tend to the household, they think night is the time of day when evil rises and wreaks havoc to their community. To them, an evil may come in the form of a stray cat trampling on the front yard garden, or the shrill cry of a passing crow. Both events, as small as they are, get into many jobless Usors' nerves, and their worries became their way to entertain their rather listless, daily routines. Perhaps due to boredom, or pure menace, they use the night and made-up stories of evil lurking in the shadows of the starry sky to plant fear in their children. As much as these tall tales have persisted through culture and tradition, no other people take these superstitions more seriously than the Digma and Dwaharo merchants.
Merchants of CANDEMARO generally prefer to travel across the country during the night as they believe the noises of their carriages earn the ire of townsfolk who may spend the first break of dawn still asleep. This is true for all towns, save for the Western Encanto Capital Hele, where the Heleian Encantos rise even before dawn. As such, they collectively formed a culture of packing goods as late as sundown so that they may hit the road as the first stars appear in the sky. This practice has been popular among fellow merchants from different tribes and many groups bump into each other in the road, which has made CANDEMARO's main roads livelier during the night, until recently, when news of ROEL attacks brought a different fear to these travelers.
The risk of traveling at night has already been great-- road accidents were the common causes of misfortune-- but this fact has given a new fear for merchants, particularly those of older ages, who cannot bear to lose a few artisan goods (and companions) to these vicious creatures. As such, traveling wagons began deliberately hanging strings with a series of thin metals on it to make as much noise as possible during long hauls across the land, as if announcing their presence in the hopes that ROELs and other wild animals may leave them alone.
Catherine takes note of this fact as she rides with the merchant wagon from the Southern Postal House bound to Hele. It was an open carriage, with wooden crates stacked neatly around the perimeter like sturdy walls. Large oil lamps hang by the post on the driver side, as well as on the tail of the wagon, illuminating the trail of disturbed dirt they leave behind. Despite the repetitive melody of the metal strings, Catherine had barely heard it when the merchants she was with; four gentlemen of middle ages in earth-tones overalls, began sharing conversations and singing songs. They apparently do this regularly as a way of entertaining themselves during the trip. Catherine had joined them until they arrived in Mado an hour after daybreak, offering to treat them to a drink at Pacifie as a way of thanks for allowing her to hitchhike.
Pacifie and Ira have been open by dawn preparing hot meals for their town merchants to bring to the road. It's been a long time since anyone has traveled out due to the most recent incident, so most artisans are excited to go out and sell their products across the country. By the time Catherine had convinced the merchants to join her, a few patrons were already lounging in Pacifie, occupying tables and chowing down on energetic conversations and breakfast platters. Catherine slid across the restaurant's floor, taking the second seat by the bar, placing five silver coins on the counter and calling to Ira, whose back is faced to them.
"Greetings! Can I request four orders of Coffee? And... a bundle of savory cookies."
Ira turns as soon as he hears Catherine's order and he beams at the presence of merchants from the East. He acknowledges the order and happily addresses the company as he prepares their beverages, exchanging meaningful conversations about the current status of the markets in the East.
"We have heard of the recent incident." One of the merchants quips behind his cup of brew while hovering a hand to Catherine. "How is Mado coping?"
"It will be almost a week since the incident came to a close." Ira has a visible relieved smile on his face. "All thanks to the Water's Son."
At the mention of Aiden's title, Catherine procures the ring from one of the leather packs strapped to her belt, setting it in front of Ira. "I met him at the Southern Postal House. He wishes to inform you that he is well and is continuing his journey to the Eastern Encanto Capital."
"That is great news!" Ira claps behind teary eyes. "It also means Gayat has been successful in traversing East. I hope they will have a bountiful market in Solferino!"
The merchants exchange warm laughs over Ira's fuss. Catherine hums a smile and spends a good portion of her morning in Pacifie, lounging and basking in the warmth of the place while looking onwards to Mado, which grows livelier as the day passes by. At Ira's recommendation, Catherine takes a brief walk around town to look at the wares of the Digma merchants. She is fascinated at the abundance of awnings stretching from each shop's front porch and stretching to meet halfway through the main street. Open crates features an abundance of products and the air is filled with merry conversations and constant haggling.
"This is a beautiful town!" Catherine chimes as she returns to Pacifie's bar counter. It is now past lunchtime and the last customer just left with a takeaway a few minutes before Catherine returns.
Ira was tending to the newly washed dishes when he heard the Encanto's remark and he smiled amusingly at Catherine's little drunken-like spin before she sat down. "I'm happy that you think so."
"There's so many things I haven't found in Valaz's market." Catherine lets out a soft whine. "If only I can take them all to Hele..."
"Why do you wish to visit Hele, again?" Ira asks as he keeps the dried dish on a crate beside him. "I believe it will be possible to do so if you have the Alk to purchase it."
Catherine shakes her head, now pouting. "I do not wish to be impudent. As a pilgrim seeking employment, my presence must be as humble as possible; especially if I wish to help Agua Carina."
Ira hums in agreement, continuing his task in silence. "You're correct. I suppose it will be a burden to have to carry a lot of things on the way there." He looks out of Pacifie's decorated ceiling, then back to the still sulking Catherine. "However, do come back if you have the chance to do errands! The Encantos of Hele are quite fond of our products, just as some histres are fond of their handmade fabrics."
"I shall keep that in mind, then." Catherine replies with renewed enthusiasm. "It must be time to go soon." She nods at Ira. "I'll be with my companions. I understand Aiden wishes to inform Karine..?" she trails, unsure of whether she has the title correct or not.
Ira nods. "You can count on me to inform her of it."
"Thank you." Catherine slides out of her seat and curtseys in front of Ira then exits the restaurant.
With longing eyes towards the doorway, Ira props an elbow on the counter, sighing as he rests his chin on his hand while relishing the last of the front door bell's echoes. The image of Catherine remains on his mind and he smiles-- rather dreamily--at recounting her enthusiastic expression. It is rare to witness Ira fazed on the job and Lady Pacifica, who happened upon her companion daydreaming, shudders at Ira's strange expression and she loudly calls him out for it, slapping his propped arm away, which surprised the young man.
"That was unnecessary!" Ira exclaims, face and ears red in shock.
Lady Pacifica shakes her thin arms in the air, fretting at Ira's reaction. "It's uncanny to see you making such a face! Oh, for a moment, I thought you had fallen sick from all that meal preparation!"
Ira's face softens at the old lady's concern and he turns away, now more embarrassed than when he was caught. He scratches his nape and purses his lips, wondering if he should reveal the cause of his strange behavior. He notices Lady Pacifica peering at him, her drooping eyes sink even more with worry. Ira sighs in defeat, then looks on to the restaurant's door. "I think I may have been lovesick..." he admits; much to the old lady's relief and excitement.
---
Upon dusk, Catherine has been with the merchants to continue their journey West. They have gotten so used to each other's company that the trip continued to be as smooth sailing as before; sharing anecdotes of their daily lives, improvising songs from well-known melodies, and musing about the future. Like the woods that bordered the path they had taken from the Southern Postal House to Mado, the surrounding forests at this road are almost the same, except Catherine finds the Darkness around them quite unsettling. There has been no change in the oil quality of the merchants' lamps, but it seems that the illumination from each of them does not have the same range as the previous journey. Catherine has leaned a few times from the carriage to peer past the first trees, shivering in realization that she cannot see the next line and the greenery (if there are any) past those. Furthermore, the tinkling of the wagon's metal strings seems to be overpowered by the rustles and noises from the area. This has made Catherine uncomfortable and soon finds herself sitting quietly, hugging her knees close while frantically looking around.
Save for the one driving the wagon, all but one merchant remains awake at the time. He is thought to be the oldest out of the bunch, with a full gray hair beneath the checkered cloth wrapped around his head. He bears the same set of bulky physique as his companions, though he is not as efficient as they are when hauling up goods and serves more as a guide for traveling and bargaining at markets. He notices Catherine's unease and attempts to rekindle a conversation.
"First time among these woods, hm?" he asks.
Catherine flinches at the inquiry, but eventually nods. "How can you tell?"
The merchant turns his head to the right, as if watching the shadows that cast among the crown of the trees above them.
He shrugs. "Your senses are being played at... by something..." he turns to look at Catherine. "I know, for I have been a victim."
"I-I do not like it..." Catherine admits behind a trembling voice. "It feels as if a creature will pounce from the shadows... or worse!"
"All this time trading with the Encantos of Hele, I have come to hear about their legends with regards to the Beda Rainforest..." the merchant begins.
Catherine perks at the topic, scooting closer, which prompts the merchant to continue.
"...they believe that the Rainforest is alive and aware of newcomers, as well as those with hidden intentions, and will play on people's minds in an attempt to drive them away."
"But, we have not even reached the Naga's riverbank..." Catherine peers to the front, watching as the carriage horse tread forward. "... how can the Beda Rainforest's influence reach here?"
"Who knows? Maybe this was originally a part of the Rainforest that just happened to be cleared out to create a road. Either way, it is common to feel this sensation when traveling among these areas."
Catherine tilts her head and squints among the dim light. "You seem unaffected by it, though."
The merchant huffs a sleepy laugh, then shows the hem of his short sleeves. Catherine peers closer and gasps upon realizing that his shirt is inside out. "Back in my hometown, we believe that you can distract..." the merchant trails off as he thinks of the right words. "... spirits..? or the likes from bothering you by wearing your clothes inside out."
Catherine frowns at the strangeness of the act, but the merchant did not waver. He takes Catherine's reaction to explain some more.
"You see, as much as some spirits may be evil, they are also quite stupid. They tend to play with your mind and you mind only--" the merchant gently pokes his left temple with his finger. "-- our most vulnerable spot! Unfair, right?!"
"Unfair as it may be..." Catherine squirms in her seat. "I cannot seem to find the connection between that and flipping your garments inside out."
"That is the thing, young lady!" The merchant's tone has regained its enthusiasm as he waves an explanatory hand. "They think that our identity is encased within our clothes! Therefore, they associate it with our vulnerability. If we wear our clothes differently, they may think that we are already crazy in the head and therefore will leave us alone!" he smugly grins at the seemingly smooth explanation.
The author's tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.
It is evident in Catherine's pursed lips that she is not convinced of this. Sure, she has had her fair share of superstitious beliefs and has made ludicrous purchases on items that promise good fortune, but she was quick to prove that these were useless and had bitterly admitted to being scammed by mercenaries in the past. She questions the veracity of the merchant's explanation, but with his rather vigorous narration, Catherine's expression softens and considers it. Her gaze falls on her family poncho that has been hugging her body since they left Mado. It is not as soft and intricate like Aiden's wool poncho, but it still bears the bright purple color and ribbon motifs of the Nobles Family in its fine woven threads. Then, her senses shift and a shiver runs down her spine upon realizing that the uncomfortable feeling has not subsided. She slowly looks over her shoulder, towards the placid, dark woods; then to the merchant, who shrugs at her.
"Do I have to flip all of my clothing for it to work?" she asks.
The merchant shakes his head. "At least one is enough. Others recommend to flip your outermost garment, as it is the easiest to detect, but it is equally as effective even if you change just your underwear!"
Catherine chuckles at the sentiment, relieved at the fact. At this reassurance, she flicks her arms to change her poncho's orientation, draping the insides across her shoulders and exposing the underside of the fabric. She holds her seat, jaw tight as she waits for the uncanny sensation to slowly... subside.
Upon witnessing the success of such a simple act, Catherine turns to the merchant with a squeal, thanking him for putting her out of her misery. The merchant cackles happily, tipping his head proudly. Their shared excitement at this fact soon subsides as the need for sleep soon wash over them. The driver of the wagon cherishes the progress of Catherine and his fellow merchant's escapades, smiling to himself upon realizing how helpful their practices have been to another person. He briefly looks at his inside out inner shirt. For years traversing the Western roads at night, he too, has been basking at the relief most of his fellow Digma's superstitious beliefs have given. It has made his work easier, though it is moments like these when he ponders about several questions with regards to it: who discovered such a helpful act? and how did they do it? As his eyes shift back to the road, the merchant frowns as another question pops into his mind; this one mildly unsettling. What lurks within these wretched woods that warranted such a strange precaution?
The wagon horse runs past a large rock that momentarily shakes the carriage, making the driver yelp at the sudden change. He looks over his shoulder to check on his fellow merchants, sighing upon hearing no particular complaints from them. He wriggles on his seat and pulls on the reins once, frowning in an attempt to regain focus. Somehow, he regrets thinking about anything about the woods at all.
By the time Catherine awakens, the sun is already up and the wagon is parked by the side of the road. As she rises, she notices that the other merchants are huddled around a small campfire on the clearing by the road, preparing meals for themselves. They greet her happily as she climbs down the carriage to join them.
"Are we not yet in Hele?" she asks.
"If it reassures you, young lady, we are nearing the banks of the Naga River." one of the merchants responds.
"That's wonderful," Catherine beams. "If we follow it, we will soon arrive at the Western Encanto Capital!"
The merchants look at each other with worried frowns on their faces. The oldest, who advised Catherine last night, leans forward.
"To be honest, we will not be taking that route on account of the Naga River's strange behavior." He points to the woods on the right, away from the dirt road. "Merchant wagons typically take a well-trodden path through these woods to avoid any accident at the riverbank. It is a safer way of travel, after all."
Catherine hums as she follows the direction where the merchant is pointing. "Do you traverse through the woods to Hele then?"
Another merchant shakes his head. "Unfortunately, the woods bordering that path and the Encanto Capital are as dark as night. Nobody dared cutting past it to arrive at Hele's borders."
"For safety precautions, most travelers tend to take the path and emerge to the Northern Postal House. From there, it is easier and safer to travel back down to Hele." the old merchant adds.
The last of the merchants procured a map from his leather flannel, unraveling it in front of Catherine. "This is the path we are about to take for the rest of the day. If no accidents occur, we will arrive by the Northern Postal House by late afternoon. We then choose whether to deliver goods to Hele the same day or stop by the Postal House and deliver it by dawn then continue down the northern road to other neighboring towns."
Catherine hums at the merchant's every directive. The map is weathered, with visible tear marks that have been joined together by glue. As much as it was old, it gave her the insight of just how far she is from Hele. If she considers traveling with the merchants to the Northern Postal House, it may take her too long to arrive at Hele. The thought of delivering Aiden's parcel to Agua Carina as soon as possible knocks in her mind and she is now more determined to arrive in Hele soon. She stares at the deep green patches between the landmark on the map and the alternative route. Within the middle of the path, the woods thin and it may be the shortest distance between Hele and the woods. She borrows the map from the merchant and returns to the wagon to think about her options, leaving the other merchants to their meals.
After a good moment, Catherine gathers her belongings from the wagon, straps it to her body, then returns to the merchants.
"Does the other path have any distinguishable markings?" she asks as she returns the map.
The old merchant nods. "It's easy to spot because of its old appearance." he begins flailing his hands in the air. "The alternative route is marked by a small obelisk sculpture, meant to serve as a small altar for protection. The road is also noticeable due to the wheel tracks of carriages, as well as disturbed flora, for the road has not been properly paved."
Catherine smiles at the information and curtseys in front of the merchants. "It has been an honor to travel with you. my apologies if I will be ahead as my task is quite urgent, but I hope to meet you in Hele... or anywhere once again."
Flustered at the gesture, the merchants coo and return their thanks for Catherine's company. Despite their concerns over the young lady's safety, Catherine does not waver. She shows her lasso to them as she turns towards west, waving a hand goodbye before pressing a good amount of Mana on her heels and launches herself dashing through the road, the trail of dust she left startling the merchants and their horse, the ruckus has made the driver jolt awake.
"What immense power!" one merchant exclaims while looking on where Catherine had disappeared.
"I understand she is a Valazian Encanto, but to have such incredible might with an unassuming appearance?" another asks between coughs.
The old merchant laughs at his companions' sentiments. "The young ones of this country sure are energetic!"
His companions stare at him indifferently. They are quite convinced that Catherine's ability isn't just from her enthusiasm.
---
As the greenery disappears past Catherine's enhanced dash, she takes a deep, long inhale of the air, sighing happily at its familiar, fresh taste. Despite being towns away from home, she is delighted to know that it is not so foreign here. She turns to the sky, which was exposed through the rows of trees. There is only one sky among them, after all.
The Nobles Family is one of the well-known Encanto families who defected from the West to escape their strict adherence to ancient traditions. The household believes that the ability to accept change is the best way to evolve in life; and they had hoped this evolution may bring about fortune to future descendants. While time has proven this sentiment true, as the Nobles Family is one of the most influential families in Valaz, Catherine thinks that her relatives' zealous pursuit of elemental combat and knightly training is suffocating.
A small smile forms on Catherine's lips. How ironic, she thought. Her ancestors long ago had traveled East to diverge from the traditional West and here she is; running through the woods, doing the opposite. Perhaps she has the spirit of the Nobles in her all along.
At the sight of a small chiseled obelisk by the fork on the road, Catherine disperses the winds on the soles of her feet and stops in front of the structure with a skid. The obelisk matches the merchants' description: symbols of protection are carved on each of its exposed faces, with the foundation slightly unrecognizable due to the moss and fallen debris littering it. Being a former knight-in-training, Catherine has been taught not to depend on items of protection. Her superiors reiterate that only those who lack faith in their own abilities rely on these things. Catherine purses her lips and hovers a hand on the lasso strapped by her belt. She is not one who lacks training or capability, but something in her is telling her to offer even a little prayer before taking the path. She ponders on the conversations she had with the merchants with regards to the mysteries of the Western Rainforest. In the middle of her mulling, the thought of Aiden pops in Catherine's mind. She unlatches the leather fanny strapped by her hip and stares at the bundle of cloth that the Water's Son has entrusted to her. If she wishes to complete this important task, it is of utmost priority to be safe.
Upon making her mind, Catherine locks her fanny and tips her head to the obelisk, offering a request of guidance quietly before jogging on the path right of the main road.
In the first fifteen minutes since traversing the path, nothing seems to be amiss. The grass beneath Catherine's feet are pressed flat to the ground, indicating how frequent carriages use this way to avoid the banks of the Naga River. At the idea of the Great River, Catherine wonders if the legends she had read in the libraries of Valaz are true. She hopes to witness the rough waves of the south just to confirm the information's credibility, as most of the library's contents were from Usor writers.
At the sight of frequent fruit windfall, Catherine takes notice of the dimming environment, seeing that the crowns of the trees are closing in some more. Peering forward, she confirms that she is still on track, but it may be time to enter the wretched woods soon. Turning to her left, the shadows of the forest envelop the succeeding rows of trees some more, until Catherine cannot see the silhouette of the most distant ones.
Stretching her right palm towards the trees, Catherine focuses her Mana on her palm, and a burst of air appears in front of her, whirling gently and taking a few debris to collect at its core. A light purple glow surrounds her creation and she twirls on her heels before launching the ball of air towards the shadows, watching it hit something. Catherine turns her right ear to the forest, listening to the echo of the impact. Upon confirming she hit the bark of a tree, she immediately launches herself towards it, extending a hand to cling onto the indent left onto the tree. She smiles to herself at the success of her plan. If she continues this tactic, she will be able to exit to the other side with no problem.
Catherine repeats this method two more times, running her hands on the damaged area of each tree to confirm that she had hit something. She has launched her fourth ball of air as soon as she arrives beside the latest tree and Catherine expects to hear the usual crack of the impact, even the loud thud of a falling trunk. This instance however, generates a different sound that has made Catherine's hair stand. A shrill cry of pain echoes in the woods, followed by the violent disturbance of crashing trees and grumbling dirt, as if something is charging towards Catherine's direction. The violent sound grows stronger by the moment and Catherine, now fueled by adrenaline, hops to a higher ground, up to a sturdy branch of a different tree, to avoid whichever it is that is approaching her. Lucky for her to choose a different tree, as something crashes to her initial spot on the ground, toppling the tree in another deafening thud. At her position in the woods, the shadows have become too great to properly distinguish images across the area, save for a few specks of sunlight peering past the foliage's leaves, so Catherine has utilized the subsequent breeze of air generated by both events to get a glimpse of her enemy. Upon witnessing it, Catherine frowns in consideration of her action and had mentally wished she had left whatever it is as unidentified.
But there is no turning back now. Based on the data she had retrieved, she apparently hit something, but it is covered in darkness different from that which surrounds the forest she is in. The silhouette is filled with a static-like darkness that outlines its stout appearance. The front of it is larger than its behind and as much as it charges on four legs, Catherine gasps upon sensing it to hug the base of the tree she was perching on, its front "legs" seems to procure large claws that lock and break into the tree bark. Catherine clicks her tongue after confirming that the creature is trying to climb and reach her, she kicks through the air, sending a few bouts of powerful air balls towards the creature's face. It shrieks once more, but does not waver. It begins to climb up.
Catherine backs a few steps, heart beating quickly. At this point, she is no longer considering fighting the unknown creature (if it is still possible to think of it as one), but instead focusing on escaping the woods and completing her task.
The creature has arrived on the base of the branch where Catherine is and roars violently before it attempts to claw the branch down, making Catherine shriek. She has to gain distance! With boosted heels once more, she hops down to the ground and dashes away. It has taken the creature a few minutes before realizing that its prey has escaped, and it pursues Catherine, the ground shaking beneath it as it goes back on four legs during the chase.
At this point, Catherine doesn't care if she returns to her starting post. More than her safety, the thought of Aiden and the task he entrusted her is her top priority and she will not risk dying in the shadows of the woods before she can even complete it. The creature is nearing her. If she attempts to stay by the branches again, the creature will definitely stop to topple the tree or the branch down, but as soon as it comes back down, it seems to pick up the pace. If that continues, Catherine will eventually lose the stamina to eventually escape. The woods are showing no signs of ending yet and she cannot risk using up all her energy.
The more Catherine mulls about her options, the more her senses falter and she does not notice the large rock blocking her way and crashes to it. Catherine lurches back at the impact and lays on the ground like a hastily thrown rag. Her senses momentarily blacked out even as she tried standing up. Huffing, Catherine unleashes a weak barrier of wind in front of her as she attempts to straighten her senses once more, to no avail. Apart from the stinging pain in her head, the noise of the incoming creature builds upon her despair. Her hand makes it way to her fanny once more and clings to it. If she is to perish here... somebody ought to find her belongings intact..!
In the last streams of her consciousness, Catherine pushes both arms forward, inhaling slowly, filling her lungs to its capacity with the familiar country air. Another loud roar. Now or never, Catherine thinks as she exhales a long string of glowing purple air which accumulated through her arms in two spinning turbines. The glow of her gift has given her a faint image of the approaching silhouette. She flashes a small smile to it as it cocks its head, ready to charge at her.
"Stay still." she whispers as she unleashes a great whirlwind from her arms.
Dust and debris blinds Catherine as her attack bore a hole in the woods, flooding the area with sunlight.
---
Meters away, in Hele, the Ground Council Sikh plants his gloved fists on the conference table, shrieking at the sudden disturbance of the earth not far from camp. Trusting the urgency of Sikh's statement, Loire joins him to investigate the area. The extent of the damage is an extraordinary sight, but the Sequoia Council members are left more stumped to find a Valazian Encanto unconscious on a clearing, their fanny pack strangely emitting a gently white glow.
---
To be Continued...