“Rot?”

“Yes. It was discovered a few days ago all the way down in Sùith but traces of it are being found further south of the city and all the way up here. As for what the Rot is, well I’d love to explain it in detail but I’d have to kindly ask that you help me get my things. I left them by the pier when that monster began its chase.” Dill said but Fea droned in response.

“Wait here.” He said before closing the gate.

He then made his way back home where Àlainn and Dahlia stood in waiting.

Fea explained everything that happened before joining Dahlia and Àlainn in contemplating what to do next.

“I don’t think it’s a trap by the Numbers.” Àlainn said.

“True. They are too straightforward of a sort. Chances are he is telling the truth but I would prefer if we still acted cautiously. This is also hammering down the fact that you will need to begin your training as soon as possible. Have you been to the barracks?” Fea asked with a raised brow.

“Yes, I visited the building this morning.”

“Did you find any weapons that you felt you could possibly use?”

“Well, there was a sword but I don’t think I’d be able to pick it up even if I trained. The crossbows looked promising but… our enemies are those who survived the night and others that were born in it so I don’t think simple bolts would do. Mmm… how about I become a spearwoman?” Àlainn asked with a weak smile.

“That… might work. With those you could protect yourself all while being able to support me if I ever find myself in a perilous situation.” Fea said while tapping his chin.

“Alright, now-“

Fea stopped as a knock came from the door.

“Hey! Are you in here! Could you please let me in? This place is making the hairs on my knuckles stand.” Dill cried from outside.

Fea droned while walking towards the door and opening it.

“I told you to wait for me at the gate.” Fea hissed but Dill rubbed the sides of his arms as though he was cold.

“I’m sorry but I don’t think I can stand being alone out here.”

“Then how did you make it this far on your own in the first place?” Fea yelled.

“Things aren’t so bad further south, ok!” Dill cried.

Fea pinched the bridge of his nose.

“Alright, let us retrieve your things but after that, you are on your own.”

“But why?” Dill cried.

“Because you are a stranger and we are not obligated to help you beyond base altruism.” Fea said while using Dill’s shoulders to push him towards the Gate.

“Wait! What if I die out there?”

“That would be a shame.” Fea said as they got closer to the gate.

“How much would it take for you to let me operate from here?” Dill cried as Fea opened the gate.

“and what kind if operation do you plan on running, exactly?” Fea asked as he closed the gate with he and Dill on the outside.

Strangely enough, it stopped raining just as they left the town.

“Oh yeah, I didn’t get to finish my explanation. Well, to put it simply, the Rot is in high demand. Everyone wants it. Doctors, generals, inventers and even shamans. Some are trying to create weapons and poisons from it, others want it for possible medicinal uses and other just want to collect it. All anyone knows for sure is that it’s always hot and it eats away at almost anything it touches. A few exceptions are lead and coal but those are the only two I’ve heard of.”

“Why those two specifically?” Fea asked as he and Dill made their way towards the group of buildings that stood by the pier.

“I don’t know. So… have you considered letting me stay?” Dill asked prompting Fea to stop.

He then looked out into the afternoon sky and sighed.

“While conducting your business, I assume you will be making trips to Anvil?”

“The Rot won’t take itself to my clients, no?” Dill laughed nervously.

“Mmm… I would consider letting you stay if, whenever you left, you returned with supplies. Medicine, food and the like-“

“Consider it done!” Dill yelled while standing as upright as he could.

Fea scoffed before leading Dill to the pier where a small boat was moored.

Among a few small to medium sized bags and boxes, were two dark and cylindrical containers that measured at about half a meter tall each.

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“I got attacked by that thing here. I panicked and ran away but thanks to you, this man will live to see another day.” Dill said but Fea did not respond as he reached down to grab some of Dill’s things.

The two then spent the following moments taking Dill’s things back to Dachaigh Gual where Fea allocated to Dill the empty house that was closest to the gate.

Dill complained and asked for a house closer to the fountain but Fea remained steadfast in his decision.

The house in question was a single roomed place which, from what Fea could tell, once belonged to a few of Dachaigh Gual’s guards, although they were long gone.

Fea had cleaned up the place so all Dill had to do was pick a spot to place his things in.

After ensuring that all his things were accounted for, Dill followed Fea outside.

They took shelter from the light rain by standing beneath the cover offered by the stable.

“My name is Feannag McAllister. This is Dachaigh Gual, our home. The two in there are my family and as for the other residents of this place… well, what I tell you next depends on how much you know about what happened during that dreaded night.”

Dill nodded before looking up in thought.

“I was in Anvil when everything went to shit. People started eating and killing each other. Some turned into monstrous beasts and it seemed as though time itself stopped. Anvil was placed on lockdown while the Imperial Guard eliminated all the beasts within and around the capital. Fortunately for me and my slippery self, I was able to come and go as I pleased. What felt like days, if not a few weeks passed then suddenly the night ended and day broke. I heard that possible tens of thousands were killed and hundreds were missing. And as for what caused that night or who? Well, no one in the capital seems to agree on one answer. Some say it was an ancient curse brought about by cursed old blood. Others say it was divine punishment from god while others deny that anything really happened. That it was just an abnormally long night and that it caused man and beast alike to go mad. What? Do you know what caused it?” Dill asked with a raised brow.

“No. Although I cannot help but feel that it was all tragically pointless.”

Dill nodded in agreement.

A moment passed as the two stood in the shade.

Fea noticed that Dill kept sneaking glances at his daggers but he never spoke out about them.

“If you need me, I spend most of my time either in the main house, the library over there or here.” Fea said as he walked back home.

“Alright!”

Fea returned home to find Dahlia sitting in the kitchen by himself.

“She’s in the dining room making something.” The boy said flatly.

Fea nodded before making his way into the dining room where Àlainn was hard at work.

It looked like she was making something out of leather but Fea did not want to disturb her and so he quietly left the room before returning to a bored looking Dahlia.

“I assume you did all of your chores while I was busy?” Fea asked but Dahlia looked away in response.

“Mmm… if you did not manage to get anything done, then begin now and do not allow this to become a habit, alright?” Fea asked.

“Alright.” Dahlia sighed but just as he hopped off his chair, a series of knocks came from the door prompting Fea to loudly groan.

Dahlia softly giggled and that alone was enough to wash away all of his frustrations.

Fea opened the door to find a nervous looking Dill.

“Err… Mr. McAllister, I was just about to leave to search for some Rot pools and I couldn’t help but realize that we have no way of locking the gate from outside.”

“I know.” Fea said with crossed arms.

“You know, if you ever need some grunts who’ll look watch over this place, I know a few men who’d do it for cheap.”

“I will keep that in mind.” Fea said as the orange light cast by the setting sun filled his eyes.

Dill nodded before making his way toward the gate.

He left Dachaigh Gual all while Fea digested what he had heard.

He looked at the top of Dachaigh Gual’s walls.

For as much as the town was a fortified keep of sorts, it also cornered any who hid behind its walls.

Fea's gaze fell onto the gate.

At least one person would have to stay in Dachaigh Gual to protect it at all times.

But he would not let Dahlia and Àlainn go anywhere alone and they would never leave him behind.

Locks were a plausible solution, but they would need several stop someone from just breaking in.

Fea decided that he would speak with Dill about this matter in length when he returned but, in the meantime, he made his way towards the town’s northwestern corner where a small door could be seen in the town’s walls.

He opened the little door, revealing a flight of stairs that led to the top of the wall which he quickly reached.

He stood atop the wall and beheld the lands beyond Dachaigh Gual as the sun sunk into the horizon.

He turned to the northwest and placed his heart above his heart.

He then sat down on the edge of the wall and watched as deep, dark shadows crept over the land but he did not fear them.

.

..

A few hours passed as Fea sat on the wall.

The remnants of his wings ached in pain but the wounds had long since closed.

He sighed upon realizing that he would never again be able to fly but this made him cherish the limbs he had even more.

His ears perked up upon hearing something coming from within Dachaigh Gual.

He turned to face the town and although he could no longer hear the sound, he felt it.

He climbed down the wall and made his way to the center of town but nothing was there.

Or, more accurately, nothing was plainly visible.

He walked over to the steps in front of his new home, took a few deep breaths and closed his eyes.

.

..

Fea opened his eyes to find Àlainn sitting by the edge of the fountain.

Her body swayed gently from side to side as she hummed a sweet song.

Fea hopped onto his feet before chuckling rather loudly.

“I am beginning to think that you really like fountains.”

Àlainn raised her half open eyes to look at an approaching Fea but they fell back into the fountain shortly after.

Fea frowned upon seeing a baby sleeping within the fountain’s waters.

It slept soundly and even had its thumb in its mouth. Adorning the baby boy’s face was a look of comfort and possibly peace.

Fea glanced at Àlainn who had not stopped humming.

Her song, although lacking lyrics, sounded sweet.

“I guess you do not know how he got all the way here?”

“No.” Àlainn said without looking away from the baby.

“Mmm… in any case I suggest that you keep your distance.”

Àlainn nodded.

“Mmm… Oh- I forgot to ask, after all this time, but… what is your real name?” Fea asked while awkwardly trying to scratch at the binds that covered his back beneath his shirt and vest.

Àlainn looked at him before weakly smiling.

“My name is and has always been Àlainn.”

“Really? I was under the impression that Dahlia was the one who gave it to you.”

“When we spoke, every word uttered was the mere… cementation of what was always meant to be.” Àlainn said but this made Fea chuckle a little.

“What?” Àlainn asked with a pained frown.

Fea dismissively waved his hands and placed them on his waist.

“Worry not, my dear. I just realized that you have a habit of being enigmatic like a certain someone. Anyway, does the mean that Dahlia correctly guessed your name?”

“Yes.” Àlainn said.

“Alright.” Fea said before looking up into the Moonless sky.

“They are here.” She said while looking at the gate.

“Who?”

“Those who he once watched over. The residents of Ceàird Gaoil.”

“Go back to sleep.” Fea instructed before closing his eyes.