Atell spent the remainder of the day rolling around in bed, trying his best to process everything Sivelle had said. He yearned for more answers about the Bloodline Awakening, the situation in the Hinterlands, and so much more; unfortunately, the woman didn’t seem keen to provide them. Granted that she had such knowledge in the first place.

Otherwise, the majority of Atell’s distress stemmed from Irth’s absence. The man seemingly vanished from his side. But he could imagine how anxious his uncle was to return north, especially considering the tribe’s impending danger. Furthermore, Tenshi had intended for Atell to stay behind or find shelter in the Dynasty in some capacity to begin with, so all was in line with the old Patriarch’s original plan.

While tossing and turning, Atell fought back the urge to scour through the room. There was a tremendous amount of wealth on display. A dull yellow crystal was socketed into a sconce above a nearby desk and there was a large dresser beneath some shelves occupying the corner of the room. Not even considering the heavenly mattress he laid on, just the woodworking on these goods alone was more intricate than anything he’d seen in the shops and homes of the Aurelian village.

Atell was convinced that Sivelle was either a noble or extremely affluent through other means. Assuming this was the mysterious medicine woman they’d set out to find, it was most likely the latter, but maybe even both. He quickly became more apprehensive about this woman’s character. Although considering that she saved his life, he tried his best to dismiss those feelings.

The sparse light creeping through the curtains gradually faded as Atell exhausted his mind. Sleep ultimately crept up on the boy unnoticed…

***

“Get up. Time to earn your keep.”

Atell jolted awake as he was sent tumbling out of bed by an unknown force. His breathing was heavy and he discovered his body was covered in a slimy layer of cold sweat.

As the tall and willowy Sivelle looked down on him, he noticed a trace of pity in her gaze. Something about this look caused Atell’s blood to boil as he shot to his feet.

“What’s that for?” Sivelle snorted at the boy’s defiant glare. “Grab a spare set of clothes from the dresser. They may be a little big for you, but that’s the best you’re going to get for now.”

Admittedly, Atell was a little surprised himself by his sudden outburst, but the feeling quickly faded. After taking a deep breath to calm himself down, he spun around to march over to the dresser.

‘Huh?’ Atell found himself splayed out on the ground halfway across the room. He had barely made it a step before tripping over his own feet. With a more concentrated effort, he pushed himself back up and moved forward while focusing carefully.

It was strange, but he suddenly felt awkward, almost unfamiliar with his own body. When he’d sprung up in anger just a moment ago the movement was instinctual. Now, he had to pay close attention to each and every step, careful not to lose his balance. Whether this lack of coordination was simply due to the extended period he was bedridden or was a more profound change caused by the Awakening... he couldn’t tell. Whatever the case, he finally made it to his destination and began rummaging around for clothes.

Inside the drawers, he discovered multiple sets of the same linen outfit he currently found himself wearing — an oversized grey tunic and brown trousers. Satisfied with the comfort of the loose fit, Atell exited the room. He arrived in a narrow wooden hallway. Multiple windows decorated the opposite wall, providing a view of what looked to be a neat garden of sorts.

“This way,” A voice called out, providing him with direction.

Atell turned right, shuffling slowly across the smooth floors. The hallway soon opened up to a wide kitchen area. There was a long counter with stools stretched across the room, just like the bar in the cave’s dining hall. He took a second to carefully observe his host now that they weren’t meeting in the dark bedroom.

Sivelle was standing behind the counter, sipping leisurely from a mug that filled the air with a fragrant aroma. Her grey hair was darkened by sweat and tied back in a loose bun, exposing her distinct ears. They were narrow and pointed, almost sharp, just like the rest of her facial features.

“You’re a Fae?!” Atell exclaimed as he finally got a clear look at the woman.

“I’ll never understand why you northern Demons are always so surprised to see those of another race.” Sivelle rolled her eyes. “You are aware that our existence is more than just rumor, correct?”

“Y-Yea, but you’re old. All of the stories tell of the Fae’s eternal youth.”

Sivelle nearly choked on her sip of tea. She had to gather herself for a few moments before she could reply.

“No one is immune to the passage of time, kid.”

“That’s true, I guess. Sorry...” Atell apologized. He realized what he said was probably pretty offensive.

“Don’t worry, I’m not upset. If you’ve got something to say, say it. I’m not one for empty talk.” Sivelle put down her mug and placed a plate of food on the counter. “Eat up, then meet me in the garden.”

Atell hopped up onto a stool at the counter as Sivelle swept out of the room. The plate in front of him was stacked high with steaming meat. It was certainly an unusual meal, but Atell realized just how famished he was when the scent drifted into his nose.

Tides of energy rushed through his body as he devoured the food. It wasn’t the most flavorful but it was satisfying nonetheless. Weeks of lying in bed had left him more feeble and malnutritioned than he already was previously. After finishing, Atell ran back down the hallway. He was left feeling a little confused as he had trouble discovering any door connected to the garden. Sivelle eventually noticed his struggle and paused her work to reveal the sliding panel leading outside.

The woman sported a wry smile as she looked Atell up and down. She wore a pine-colored apron over her clothes and thick dirt-stained gloves. Despite her messy appearance, she exuded a calm and focused aura like everything was within her grasp.

Atell felt a bit flustered during her intense inspection, so his eyes wandered around trying to avoid her gaze. There wasn’t much to be seen in the immediate area. The garden was large and well-organized, much like the fields back home that were cultivated by the Stags. However, something did end up drawing his attention. Past the courtyard was a bizarre construction pressed up against a cliff face.

The structure of the building was a bit odd. Half of it was completely exposed under a dome of glass, much like a greenhouse. While the other section was simply a large cube of black stone, so dark it resembled onyx.

“Good enough. We’ll start with the herbs out here, and then I’ll show you my workshop,” Sivelle spoke up, drawing the boy’s attention away from the alien construction.

‘That’s it?’ Atell questioned internally. He didn’t know what her probe revealed, but apparently, he’d gained approval.

Sivelle soon knelt down in front of a bed of plants. Some were planted in pots, while the rest sprouted from the soil. None of them left much of an impression. It was a plethora of simple green sprouts and leaves.

“So… you practice medicine, right? Is that what all these are for?” Atell questioned.

“Medicine? No.” Sivelle scoffed. I’m not one of those swindlers who pokes around in people's bodies before charging a fortune for simple remedies anyone with half a brain could mix together.”

The Fae wiped her gloves across the apron and stood up. “Let me make this clear. I’m a Concocter. I brew specialized potions, elixirs, and poisons.”

Atell was a little taken aback by Sivelle’s proud declaration. Although, his respect for her grew immensely. Even in the Aurelian Clan potions were a rare treasure that only the Matriarch and her elite soldiers could get their hands on.

“...Y-You make poisons too?”

“What’s wrong with that, kid? Poison is what saved your life,” Sivelle shot back.

“Really!?” Atell exclaimed.

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“Yea, really. In order to extract the Nether Energy I had to clog your Origin Channels with a potent Mana Poison to prevent it from moving around. Your Awakening already had it locked down pretty tight but the poison was still necessary to finish the job.”

“Ah! S-So are my Channels still…” Sweat started to drip down Atell’s forehead as panic set in. Any hope he had of becoming a Warlock in the future was ruined if there was still poison lingering in his body.

“Of course I had the antidote,” Sivelle interrupted. “That’s enough questions. Just listen for now and if anything is still bothering you at the end of the day, you can ask me then.

Atell nodded and paid close attention as Sivelle knelt back down and started labeling the ordinary-looking herbs one by one, carefully detailing their identifying features and uses. According to her, most of the herbs in this garden could be found relatively easy in the surrounding mountain range. Time flew by as Atell concentrated on her instruction.

After finishing up in the garden, Sivelle guided Atell over to the detached building.

“Here…” Sivelle opened her arms as they stepped inside the glass dome. “...Is where most of my work gets done.”

Atell gazed in awe at the astounding variety of colorful plants.

Thorny, scarlet vines clung to lattices hanging on the walls...

Prickly cacti hung upside down from wooden blocks stuck to the ceiling, dripping golden liquid from their buds into a trough below…

Dark bushels of lilac pulsated with a faint light in the corner…

Every time Atell shifted his eyes the bizarre nature of each plant was topped by the next.

In the center of the room, a collection of tubular glass apparatus were scattered atop a low table. The devices were surrounded by rows of neatly prepared stalks, roots, and flowers.

“Don’t worry about too many of these plants for now. I’ll slowly teach you how to prepare and extract each one as they are needed.” Sivelle instructed.

“Ok. But what about that?” Atell asked, pointing to a thin bronze door that sealed the ominous dark box.

Sivelle’s voice grew serious, “Never enter that room without my permission. It’s extremely cold inside — enough to freeze you instantly, and the plants growing in there require constant darkness until they reach maturity. Even a small disruption could ruin them completely.”

“Ok!” Atell nodded, trying his best to appear solemn and serious.

“Good...” Sivelle laughed at the Demon’s enthusiastic response. “Now, let’s get started…”

***

Atell rubbed his hair dry with a towel before stepping out of his room. He’d just finished washing off in a miraculous invention that Sivelle referred to as a shower. There was a narrow tiled chamber attached to his bedroom with a metal tube hanging from the ceiling. All he had to do was turn a knob on the wall and lukewarm water rained down for his use.

His skin was all wrinkled and dry because he’d gone a little overboard enjoying the sensation, but it was well worth it in his opinion. However, now that he was dry and cooled off, intense exhaustion from the long day set back in.

Sivelle had spent the remainder of the morning and the entire afternoon lecturing him inside the greenhouse. His brain was overloaded with information he knew he’d forget by morning, and if he hadn’t nearly passed out from standing in place too long, the enthusiastic Fae may have continued through the night.

Still, Atell was impressed by her wealth of knowledge and a lot of what she shared sparked his curiosity. Concocting was both simple and highly advanced. There weren’t many steps when preparing a potion or elixir, but each one required a fine level of dexterity and perception. Additionally, a lot of time was spent researching and experimenting with different combinations.

Bits of knowledge about plants and processes were still passing through his mind as he stepped into the kitchen.

“Took you long enough.”

“Sorry…” Atell mumbled.

“It’s alright,” Sivelle laughed at the pruned and downcast Demon. “Just try to keep it brief in the future. The showers exhaust Charge Crystals pretty quickly and I don’t have time to take a trip into Kobi to replenish my stock.”

“Ok…” Atell acceded, then asked, “What’s a Charge Crystal?”

Sivelle responded to his question with a demonstration. She reached into a small pouch hanging at her waist and procured a small translucent crystal that was carved into an almost perfect cylindrical shape. Inside of the crystal, there was a murky blue cloud swirling around that reminded Atell a lot of the energy inside a Heartstone. Sivelle held it up briefly for him to inspect, then moved over to a steel basin that was embedded in the kitchen counter.

Next, she slotted the Charge Crystal into an indentation in the basin. Strange glowing lines and shapes suddenly lit up on the basin’s surface. Atell looked on, mesmerized as Sivelle turned a handle and water began pouring out in a steady stream from another tube inside the small tub.

“Ah!” Atell exclaimed. “Another shower!”

Laughter carried through the room following his shout. “Not a shower, Atell. This is a sink. Both devices are Inscribed Apparatus, or InCaps for short — luxury goods developed by Runesmiths and Formations Masters.”

“Wow…” Atell still couldn’t hide his shock. How could that tiny crystal produce water out of thin air. It seemed to defy everything he knew of the world.

Sivelle retrieved the Charge Crystal, cutting off the flow of water and the boy’s questions. “Enough of that, for now. I can show you some of the other Apparatus in the house later, but I need to head out for a few hours. Help yourself to some food and feel free to look around. Just try and stay close to the house and don’t go wandering into town, ok?”

“W-Where are you going?”

“Out to do an inspection of the Whispering Gorge. There’s a Shard located in its depths and I’m in charge of reporting and hunting down any ghouls or monsters that may emerge in the area.”

“That name sounds familiar,” Atell mumbled, absentmindedly.

“Not surprising, it’s where I came across you and your Uncle after all.”

Atell was still lost in his thoughts as Sivelle opened a closet near the front door and slung a bow over her shoulder. “See you later, kid. Try and stay out of trouble.”

Silenced followed the Fae’s departure as Atell suddenly felt exposed and vulnerable in the large home. He nervously searched through the kitchen and managed to find a few fruits he was familiar with. Another plate of meat didn’t sound too appetizing, so he made do with the meager dinner.

Warmth receded from the room in the waning daylight as dark shadows slowly crept across the walls up into the vaulted ceiling. Atell clutched his chest as the strangling, claustrophobic atmosphere that he often experienced in the mines pressed down on him from all sides. He ran out the front door in a panic.

He wasn’t chasing after Sivelle, for she was long gone already. Rather, Atell just felt an overwhelming desire to breathe in some fresh air. The boy greedily sucked oxygen into his lungs as he stood on the front porch. It was his first time outside the home or the back garden, so he took in the sights to distract himself from the repressed fears struggling to resurface.

A carefully manicured lawn stretched out from the porch to the edge of the ridge Sivelle’s manor occupied. The dense, low-trimmed grass looked unnatural in the mountainous terrain, but it complemented the refined and ornate appearance of the home’s exterior.

Below the ridge was a bustling town built into the mountainside. Lanterns hanging from the eaves of the jade-tiled roofs already shed their lights in the alleys and streets. The townsfolk were hard to make out from this distance, but Atell was able to observe a fair mix of young and old. It even seemed like multiple races coexisted in the area. Demons, Fae, and maybe even a few Humans.

Faint sounds of laughter and loud greetings drifted into Atell’s ears. He smiled at the harmonious sight but was unable to suppress the deep sobs that roiled through his chest to afflict his body. They emerged from somewhere deep within his heart and sent shivers through his soul.

‘C’mon…!’ Atell growled in his mind. ‘No more of this! I promised.’

He slumped down onto the porch steps, grasping bunches of his hair as he clenched his teeth. Atell didn’t want to cry anymore. He was tired of the pain, anxiety, and helplessness. But he felt so… hollow, so alone. Even Sivelle’s presence didn’t do much to alleviate the feeling. There were plenty of distractions during the day, but the encroaching night seemed to ignite the shadows hanging over his heart.

He wanted to see his grandfather and uncle Irth, the Foreman’s crew who teased and joked with him… even Raiden’s face didn’t feel so disgusting in his mind.

He wanted to run away from this town and back to the Hinterlands, even if it meant death. reason and impulse warred in his mind...

Rationality prevailed in the end, largely due to the overwhelming guilt he knew he would experience if he abandoned Sivelle’s kindness.

Atell gazed at the reddish and orange hues staining the sparse clouds as Helios ducked below the mountains in the distance. He wondered if the Sun God ever felt lonely guarding the Heavens day in and day out. At least the twin moons could share the burden together, but Helios had to bear the responsibility alone.

Dusk passed swiftly, and as the stars twinkled merrily in the Divine Realm, a soft question entered Atell’s ears.

“What are you looking for?” Sivelle asked, appearing silently at Atell’s side like an apparition.

“My father…”

“Oh?”

Atell gestured up at the stars to clarify. “He’s up there. Although... I’m not sure which one yet. My grandfather said I’ll be able to feel it when I find the right one.”

“So, this is a belief of your tribe?”

“Mhm, when our loved ones receive the approval of the guardians of heaven, they appear as a star and watch over us from above.”

“Hmm, I’ve never heard this theory before…” Sivelle mused.

“Well, what do you believe?” Atell glanced at the woman by his side.

“I’m still trying to discover that myself.” A low sigh escaped Sivelle’s lips. “There are many different ideas, but the most commonly accepted one in the Dynasty is that each star represents a different world’s portal to the divine realm.”

“Other worlds...?” Atell trailed off. It was phrased more as a question to himself than directed towards Sivelle. “Then which one is ours?”

“That one right there.” Sivelle pointed to a particularly bright star in the northern sky.

Atell pondered for a moment before he replied, “I like my idea better.”

“Me too,” Sivelle laughed as a cool breeze washed over them. “C’mon, it’s getting late. Let’s head back inside.”

“Alright.”

Atell’s eyes blazed with a renewed light as he stood up and took one final look at the horizon.