The morning air was thick with laden humidity, a testimony to last night’s heavy rain. The sky was overcast, a blanket of gray clouds that seemed to press down on the world.

Vre led the way toward the path that led from the mansion to Demure. It was a narrow and winding path, flanked by twisted trees whose bare branches reached out like skeletal hands. Few trees still had leaves remaining, especially after last night. The ground was damp from the recent rains, and the scent of earth and decay lingered in the air.

“You know,” Vre said, thinking of what had happened. “I’ve never actually seen a rain man.”

“You don’t want to, if you can help it.” Drake muttered sourly. “They’re disgusting. Gray and putrid and rotting, their flesh dripping off their bodies. Like something out of the pits of hell, if you ask me.”

Drake was behind her, carrying a shoulder bag he had packed for the trip. Behind him trailed Xerith, whose presence was a reminder of the otherworldly nature of the journey they were about to set out on. According to Xerith, if they kept a steady pace, it would be about a two-day walk from Demure to the next encampment and then another day or so to the Cathedral.

Vre had packed a sack too. She’d been able to fit a loaf of bread, a lamplight, and a small rolled-up blanket. Drake had a canteen—they’d have to share drinks. She was uncertain if Xerith needed to eat or drink at all.

She called back over her shoulder. “Do you know much about the rain men, Xerith?”

“They are a unique phenomenon only found in the World Between. They are those who have been lost here, who have died not in their own world. A trace of spirit remains in their discarded matter, but it is trapped here. I mentioned this world can be a prison for your kind, did I not?”

“You did.” Vre frowned and shuddered at the thought. “So if we die here…that’s what we become, is that right?”

“That is correct, Vre.”

She shuddered.

It did not take long to arrive at the village. It was still fairly early, and Demure seemed fairly abandoned when they arrived. The small houses held no lights, and the streets were empty. The only sound was the soft rustle of the wind through the trees. Vre could see the chapel up ahead, its steeple rising above the rooftops.

Vre took a deep breath and steadied herself. She stole a glance at Xerith, who had walked up beside her now that they’d stopped outside the village boundaries. He stood out like a sore thumb.

“What would you like to do about…traveling together, Xerith? I’ve seen you disappear and appear before, but you’re here now. Are you wanting to accompany us on foot?”

“Are you concerned about what the other villagers will think of me?” He smiled slightly, looking down at her. “I don’t think you need to be that concerned. This is the World Between. Different beings pass through all the time. I am just one of them. Unless, of course, you’re saying that you don’t want me to travel with you? Just to appear when it is convenient for you?”

She frowned deeply, shaking her head. “That’s not what I mean at all. I…” She hesitated, watching his face. “I would be happy if you’d travel with us. I want to learn more about you.”

Drake nodded in agreement. “He should not pose a problem, as long as he behaves himself.”

“Well, that settles it, then.” Xerith grinned, his unnatural smile splitting his face. “Shall we?”

Leading once more, Vre began walking towards the chapel. The three of them walked through the quiet streets of Demure, the village seemingly asleep under the heavy sky. The houses, with their weathered wood and sagging roofs, looked as though they had been abandoned for centuries, though Vre knew the villagers were likely inside, waiting out the dreariness of the morning. The only sound was the soft rustle of the wind through the trees, accompanied by the distant cawing of crows.

As they got closer, the heavy wooden doors of the chapel creaked open to reveal Jonah himself standing in the doorway. His curly brown hair was particularly frizzy today, likely from the humidity, and his face looked tired. Deep lines etched his face, and there was a weariness in his eyes that spoke of long nights and constant vigilance. There was a small commotion happening behind him. Two men were lifting a homemade stretcher with a body on top, preparing to carry it outside to where Vre and the others stood in the street. The body was covered in a white sheet, but a faint splatter of blood was bleeding through, adding to the somber atmosphere.

But Jonah was not concerned with the body—his attention was locked onto them.

“Saw you coming,” he called out to them. “You made it through the night then. But didn’t expect you to come back with company. I know Drake, but who’s your friend?” He jammed his thumb towards Xerith. “Is he going to be a problem?”

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"Morning, Jonah," Vre called out, trying to keep her voice steady. “This is Xerith. It’s a long story, but we were hoping to talk to you. Are you alright? What happened here?” She asked, watching as the men carried the body past.

“Somebody got caught last night by the rain men. The militia wasn’t around to help them,” he said bitterly, his eyes flickering with a mix of anger and sadness.

“That’s terrible.” Vre’s heart clenched in her chest. “I’m sorry, Jonah.”

“It happens. Wish it didn’t, but it does.” Jonah's voice was heavy with resignation. “The guys will still be checking the rest of the town to make sure we got everyone else. Glad to see you’re alright, though. You said you needed to talk to me about something?”

Vre nodded. “It’s about the Silver Cathedral.”

Jonah's eyes widened slightly at the mention of the cathedral. He glanced around, then nodded. "Let's talk inside."

They followed Jonah into the chapel, the wooden door creaking as it closed behind them. The interior was dimly lit, the only light coming from a few candles flickering on the altar. A few men moved around still, around the area that had become a makeshift hospital with no shortage of blood left on the floor. The air was cool and filled with the faint scent of incense. The chapel was small but well-kept, with rows of wooden pews and a simple wooden cross hanging on the wall behind the altar. The flickering candlelight cast long shadows, giving the room an ethereal glow.

Jonah led them to a side room, where they could speak in private. The room was cozy but sparse, with a small table and a few chairs. Shelves lined the walls, filled with old, leather-bound books and religious artifacts. He closed the door behind them and turned to face the group, his expression serious.

"Tell me what this is about," he said, folding his arms and leaning against the table. His eyes moved from Vre to Drake and then to Xerith, lingering on the latter with a mixture of curiosity and wariness.

Vre took a deep breath, quickly summarizing the events of the previous night. She explained how she had made it back to Drake’s mansion just before the rain men arrived, hiding in the basement while Drake secured the house. She described hearing Xerith calling to her from the darkness, meeting him, and the revelation that he might have answers about the increasing taint and a possible way out of the World Between. She mentioned that Xerith had spoken of finding solutions not just for her, but potentially for others trapped in this liminal realm as well.

She left out the details about being lured into a pitch-black room and Xerith’s visit to her bedroom afterward. She also chose not to mention his claim of having known her for a long time or the possibility of reclaiming memories. Those were private matters, and she didn’t feel ready to share them yet.

Throughout her recounting, Xerith’s gold eyes flickered with a strange, almost ethereal light, but he gave nothing away as to what he was thinking. He remained silent, his expression inscrutable, adding to the air of mystery surrounding him.

Jonah listened intently, his brow furrowing as he absorbed Vre’s words. When she finished, he straightened up, glancing between Vre and Xerith.

“You know, I’ve been to the Cathedral myself before, a couple of times. It ain’t a place for the faint of heart. It ain’t just some building you walk into. It’s a supernatural superhighway…all sorts of beings coming and going. But they’re all regulated by the Vizier. Is that who you’re going to see?” Jonah’s voice was measured, thoughtful.

“Ah…” Vre looked to Xerith, hoping he’d chime in.

“Yes.” Xerith nodded. “The Vizier…or rather, his assistant, can grant keys to those deemed worthy of possessing them. This is the first step in investigating the taint further.”

“And why, exactly, do you need Vre and Drake to do this? To get these keys? I thought that was your job, guardian...Why is it you need two humans to help you?”

Xerith met Jonah’s gaze evenly. “Maintaining the balance between light and darkness is my duty. The spread of taint threatens that balance. We maintain the balance, but we cannot turn back the tide of it. Humans have the uncanny ability to both sniff out the origin of darkness and go headlong into it. They also have the ability to turn the tides of it.”

Flippantly, he added, “Technically I do not need Drake’s help nor your help nor any other human for that matter. I offered my allegiance to Vre alone, but she sees the need to involve others. That’s typical for her. No man left behind, after all.”

Flustered, Vre blushed deeply. “How can you say that? I just met you. You don’t know what’s typical for me or not!”

He grinned wickedly, leaning closer to her. “Oh, you’d be surprised how many times this same situation has played out, Vre. You can never just let a poor soul go or do things alone. Oh, the things I could tell you…”

“Will you stop talking!?” She glared at him, her embarrassment quickly turning to frustration.

Xerith snickered, and Jonah and Drake exchanged an uncomfortable look.

“Well,” Jonah cleared his throat, “it’s obvious that you got yourself in over your head with this…alliance you have formed, but I can see where you’re coming from. If this guardian says that he has knowledge that might help us escape this forsaken place, then you’re right—we’ve got to act on it. But you can’t go alone. The World Between is dangerous, especially for someone who doesn’t know how to fight. If the rain men come again, they might catch you. I can come with you and at least escort you to the Cathedral.”

“You’ll come, too?” Vre looked hopeful. “That’d be much appreciated. I am admittedly nervous to get caught in the rain on the way.”

Xerith looked annoyed, but Jonah nodded in response to Vre’s question. “Yeah. Give me just a few minutes and I’ll get ready. If you want to wait in the front foyer, I’ll be just a bit then we can get going.”

Vre nodded, feeling a sense of relief wash over her. She turned to Xerith, who was still watching her intently. “Are you ready?”

His expression softened slightly, though the intensity in his golden eyes remained. “You have no idea. Lead the way.”

With that, they moved to the front foyer, where the dim light filtered through stained glass windows, casting colorful patterns on the stone floor. The adventure to the Silver Cathedral was about to begin, and she could only hope they would find the answers they sought.