The group walked, four across, to the far edge of the meadow. There was more visibility than earlier—most of the meadow could be seen—but it was as if a fade filter had been applied to the entire landscape. Matt couldn’t see the mountains but knew they were there.

Everything just felt damp and the lighting had changed. Sun streamed through the mist in diffuse beams and set fire to the wisping higher edges. It glinted softly against the huge metal chains. They looked dauntingly heavy, like chains Matt had seen once on a wharf.

He reached down to test it, the metal a shock of ice against his fingertips. He thought about looting—envisioned it zooming away—but it didn’t work. He gripped a link with both hands and strained against its weight. It made a soft clink and barely moved. The chain wouldn’t loot to his inventory.

“Ideas?” Matt asked. He rubbed his hands together and blew on them.

Kurtis tried lifting the chain in a few different places. Val pulled on one end and leaned back with all her weight. She bared her teeth and grunted. Nothing seemed to work. Fallyn walked the chain’s perimeter, tapping a finger against her lips.

“What happens if we all pull on the same link together?” Matt tried to organize.

Kurtis shrugged and they soon learned that eight hands didn’t fit. So, they tried lifting from two side-by-side links. Matt counted down and… It moved!

A few of the segments snaked to the side with a clink. It didn’t move nearly enough. They set it back down, careful not to pinch anyone’s frozen fingers. Then Fallyn resumed her walk around the long chain. Matt rubbed his hands together and tried to think. There had to be a way.

“Hey, move to the side?” Fallyn requested. “I want to try something.”

Matt stepped to the side and blew on his fists. Then Fallyn Slapchopped and the chain inched forward, clinking.

It took them an hour to get the massive chain to the cottage—but they did it, one Slapchop at a time. Sister Mary was sitting out front on her rocking chair and didn’t seem to notice them until they were a few feet away. She stood, like she had that first evening, and smoothed the front of her black skirt.

“Excellent work, travelers.” Sister Mary stepped towards them. “We will attach it right here.” Then the nun lifted the chain like it was as light as her jars. She fed it through an iron hoop attached to the stone of her house.

Then she produced two manacles. Sister Mary laid them beside the ends of the chain, then she crossed her hands atop one. The items fused with a deep green glow. She proceeded to fuse the second, and then reported, “There, all set.”

‘109,500 XP’ floated up and away.

All set for what? was all Matt could think.

“Come now travelers,” Sister Mary said, leading them through the cottage door. “We have some time. I must tell you about my work.”

“I am not drinking that leaf-water,” Val muttered.

“Me neither,” said Kurtis, holding his tail.

Down in the cottage, the large table had been cleared except for a small glass jar. It was the size of a jam jar, but it didn’t have jam inside. What was inside didn’t even look solid. It looked more like smoke—bright green—and, as Matt focused on it, it seemed to swirl.

“I am not sure how much Septimus Flower has told you,” Sister Mary began, “but I suppose I should start from the beginning.” She picked up the green-filled jar and held it at eye level. “This is gravemist. It has been spreading across the land from the west. Here.” She handed the jar to Fallyn. “Look, but do not—DO NOT—open.”

Fallyn brought it close to her face and peered in thoughtfully, before handing it off to Kurtis.

“We don’t yet know a lot about it,” the nun continued, “but it is imperative that we learn all we can—especially how to stop it. That has been the focus of my work.”

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Kurtis passed the jar to Matt. He held it close to his face and watched the swirls as Sister Mary continued speaking.

“We first learned of the gravemist one year ago,” she explained. “Although we didn’t know it was gravemist at first. It was a dead farmer’s field—the entire crop wiped out unexpectedly. But then the birds… They were grotesque. You see, sometimes gravemist kills, and other times it corrupts. I have not been able to determine why or predict the outcome.”

Val poked at Matt’s arm to request the jar and he handed it over.

“There continued to be more reports, and eventually my order sent me here. Here because it’s far from the affected lands. And here because I’d found something in an old text.”

She paused and frowned. “The last message I received from the abbey was over a month ago. The gravemist was getting dangerously close. They were planning to try and seal themselves inside.”

Val set the jar back on the table, and Sister Mary nodded her thanks.

“I must stay close to my lab today, but you can investigate something for me. As I had hoped, when venturing here, I have come to believe that the text refers to the lake to our north. There is a passage in the book that describes a powerful object. It doesn’t translate perfectly, so I’m not quite sure of the details, but if it is a weapon that could help us against this evil, we must acquire it. Will you help me?”

“Yes!” Val cheered, and that was that.

The lake was fairly easy to find, an hour’s hike north along the stream. They had trekked the same way in the morning but with far less visibility. It looked like a different world. Matt shook his head when they passed the obelisk that he’d almost walked into.

While they hiked, Val entertained the group with stories of her pet plants. Apparently, her parents were allergic to animals, and she had a thing for googly eyes. She was very animated—especially for describing unmoving things—but then the princess fell silent when they finally arrived.

“Woah,” Kurtis whispered, taking in the rocky shore.

Woah is right.

The lake was beautiful, serene and monochrome. Dark rock walls lined its sides, striking against the white fog. The water was perfectly calm and extended infinitely back, merging with mist and rock and sky.

Matt turned around, looking for some indication of whatever they were supposed to be doing here. Kurtis's ears swiveled.

“What now?” Fallyn whispered.

Matt checked his map. This was the right location. “I don’t know,” he admitted softly.

“Hey, guardian!” Val yelled, making Matt jump. Her voice echoed against the dark rock surround. “Yoo-hoo! Echo!”

Kurtis flattened his ears and swished his tail, pointedly looking at Val.

“Echo!” Princess Valkyrie yelled again.

As Val continued to holler, tiny bubbles formed on the surface of the lake. Stones clicked together each other as Matt stepped closer for a better look. Then Matt jumped back as the bubbles turned to a boil. An area, about two meters wide, churned and gurgled, generating pale foam. Val slunk back from the water, with an apologetic smile.

The group drew their weapons as the water roiled. And then a head slowly rose from the bubbles, followed by a shirtless torso—a man. His darker skin showed off rippling muscles; all he wore were crisp white pants. He sat atop a horse, equally white, which stood on the lake as if it were solid. The water calmed and then the man flashed a toothy grin.

“I’m on a horse!” the man announced with bravado. The words ‘Man of the Lake’ appeared in white above his head.

Matt relaxed his mace, letting the tip clunk against the rocks at his feet.

“Why do you disturb my lake?” the Man of the Lake demanded, raising one eyebrow.

“We were sent to find a guardian?” Matt replied.

“That’s you, right?” said Val.

“Ah, royalty,” the Man said, bowing his head with a rolling hand gesture. “I am honored by your presence, Lady.”

Val attempted a curtsy. “Why thank you.”

“Yes, yes, I am this guardian.” The Man sighed. “As long as it’s the northeastern guardian you seek. I’m the only one of me up here. You are looking for me, right?” He raised an eyebrow.

“Yes, I believe we are,” Fallyn said.

“Another fair maiden! Welcome to my lake!” He spread his arms wide, then added, “I’m on a horse.” He grinned.

“Uh huh,” said Fallyn. “We were told to ask you for an object. It’s a powerful item that could help us against something called gravemist?”

“Gravemist, you say? I do not know of this thing.”

“It’s an evil spreading across the land, neon green, gaseous,” Fallyn explained. “Sister Mary said it kills or corrupts.”

“Hmm,” the Man of the Lake said and then patted the neck of his horse. “There is an object I have been storing for a friend. I honestly think he’s forgotten about it at this point. It could be what you seek, but I could not say.”

“Can we have it, please?” Kurtis asked.

“Perhaps.” The Man rubbed his chin. “I hate to just give things away. So, what shall I have in return?”

Matt tightened his grip on his mace but did not raise it.

“Ah ha!” the Man exclaimed, pointing to the sky. “You will each regale me with a poem about my manliness. The one I like best will earn the prize.”

Matt’s hand relaxed and he and Fallyn exchanged a glance. Then Matt turned to look at Val and Kurtis. Val was beaming, yet Kurtis held his tail. The Man of the Lake stared down at them all expectantly.

“Okay?” said Matt.

“Excellent!” the Man of the Lake boomed. “Horse and I will wait here. Oh, what’s that, Horse?” He leaned close to the white steed’s head. “They need some supplies?”

The horse actually whinnied.

“Fine.” The Man of the Lake rolled his eyes and then gestured at the shore where a box materialized from a splash of water. “Go prepare. Approach when ready.”

White text, ‘Recite poem: 0/1’, appeared, melding with the mist and sky.