Twilight poured into the room; Mira was awoken by a knock at her door. She wiped the sleep from her eyes, dragging herself across the room. With a yawn, she opened the door to a blue-skinned Brimborne. Accompanying him were two elven women. One seemed to be younger. Standing half a foot shorter than the other. All three of them were garbed in tanned leathers, swords at their hips. Embroidered upon their chests was the mark of the Syndicate. It was the Brimborne who spoke up first. Taking Mira’s hand with a bow, gently pressing his lips to it, “I am Tibius, pleased to meet you, sister.” Before she could ask questions, he presented her with his signet ring. A sun interlocked with a crown. The mark of the Mother. He shared in her patron.
Tibius turned to his two compatriots, “These are Suna and Mizu.” Neither elf spoke a word. Mira examined the curves and edges of their faces. Unlike her, they were full-blooded elves. She wondered if they might have been sisters. Tibius cast a smirk, “We’ve been sent to collect you. Under orders of Jorn, so please. Come with us.”
Mira grabbed the staff by the door. Her eyes darted between the three at the door, “Why does he want to see me? Vermilion Wing is hunting the Eye.”
“Do not question our master, feculent whelp,” barked Suna, taller of the elven women. “You will listen if you wish to leave, unscathed.”
“No need to be so cruel,” Mizu said. A giggle to her words. “She can’t help what she is.” The shorter elf pushed passed Tibius. Extending a hand out for Mira. When the half-elf priest hesitated, Mizu reached out to snatch her hand anyway. She had a firmer grip than her physique portrayed. “You come from Tir’Ava, don’t you?” Mira silently answered; her nod hesitant, unsure. Weren’t all elves from there? As she thought back, Mira realized these were the first elves she’d encountered since reaching Valstrom.
“Did you hear that, Suna?” Mizu asked. Her giggle was contagious, forcing Mira to follow suit. “An actual Tir’Ava elf! So be nice to her.”
“Whatever,” Suna started for the stairs.
Tibius cleared his throat, “Again, Jorn has summoned you. Please, make this as simple as possible. Come with us.” Outnumbered—and likely outclassed—Mira agreed. Taking the staff in hand, she followed the three out. Tibius took the lead, Mira right behind, and the two elves stood side-by-side trailing her. Marching her out of the inn like a common criminal. Eyes fell on her. Causing her to flush red as she tried to hide her face. Even at such a late hour, the streets were crowded.
People whispered about their procession. So many talking at once, Mira was unable to focus on any one conversation. All of it blended together.
“Why does Jorn want me?” Mira asked. Tears fighting to fall. She’d done nothing but was being treated like a common thug. “We haven’t abandoned his request. The others,” she sniffled, “they went to find the Eye.”
“Quiet!,” the taller elf barked. Making Mira’s heart jump into her throat. “And have some dignity. You represent our people, even if you barely count as one of us.”
“Don’t mind her,” Mizu followed up. “She takes her job too seriously. Jorn just wants to have a word with you. Answer them swiftly, and you’ll be back in bed before you know it.” Mizu’s gentle nature helped quell the storm inside of Mira. Far from calm, she had at least managed to stop the tears.
Mira’s attention once more fell on Tibius. Brimborne were the last people she ever dreamed to see under the Mother’s blessings. People from every walk of life were free to worship the Mother; demonic origins or not, but Brimborne tended to swear fealty to the other gods. Bright Mother, guide me, she folded her hands before her chest. Let your divine light break the lies.
Warmth grew within her chest. Silver and gold glittered at the edges of her vision. A simple trick. Channeling the blessings of the Mother would allow her to see which, if any, deity Tibius truly devoted himself to. That same glitter that lined her field of vision outlined the demonic man before her. Yet, the light of the Mother was overshadowed by a glittering bluish-purple. His faith in the Mother had been true, but it was dwindling. Concern and relief fought within her heart. Those of mixed faith were a curious bunch. But ones Mira knew to be cautious around. The Brimborne turned to her. Murderous intent in his eyes. Had he felt her spell upon him?
Tibius paused. Hand held up to make the others do the same. “Something…something is following us.”
“And what could be following us?” Suna groaned. “We’re on an open street. Nowhere for anything to hide from us. Don’t be para—” Suna choked. Viscus black ooze spilled from her lips.
“That’s not right,” Mizu jumped back from her companion. Drawing her short sword. “Tibius,” the elf extended the point toward Suna; keeping her sword held low, pommel aligned with her hips.
“I don’t—” Tibius leaped forward. Diving beneath a shadow that jumped from Suna. As the thing left her body, the tall elf gasped as if releasing a held breath. The last of the ooze pushed from her lungs. “Be careful,” he instructed. Sword in hand, Tibius stepped close to Mira. “Any suggestions?”
“No,” Mira said. Eyes wide—arms and legs rattling as a chill overtook her. Breath coalescing into a mist before her face. Her body froze as the shadow rounded back. Aiming for her this time.
Sky filled her eyes. Tibius had pushed her to the ground. Saving her from the shadow attacking them. Unfortunately, in doing so he doomed Suna once more. Ooze once more leaked from her lips. “Kill her,” Tibius ordered Mizu. Before the shorter elf could make a move, the creature burst free. Looming toward her with a blood-curdling scream. Out of instinct, Mizu thrusted. Steel passed through their assailant. Intangible and formless.
Suna collapsed to the ground as Mizu began sputtering; eyes rolled back as limbs twisted with a sickening pop. Mira let out a scream. Unsure whether the woman had died or simply fell unconscious. Tibius turned his gaze to the priest beneath him, “Do anything!” The Brimborne stood to his feet. Charging his ally with an intent to kill. Mira heard the clashing of steel.
She regained the strength to stand. Leaning on her staff for support. Tibius and Mizu fought. The thing inside her puppeteering her well. Under its influence, her body was able to move in unnatural ways. Allowing for unpredictable parries and attacks.
“Mira!” Tibius cried. Blood soaked his leathers; Mizu’s blade wedged deep into his thigh. “Now,” he tried to strike the elf. But that shadow managed to evade.
“Mother of light and life,” Mira snapped out of her fear. He raised the staff overhead. “Banish the darkness, and shield us from its influence.” The sound of bells chimed as she slammed her staff to the ground. Gold mists spiraled before the priest. Hardening into a shell of translucent light. Faster than one could snap, the orb of light expanded. Concealing Mira and her three companions. Whatever had invaded Mizu was pushed out. Trapped beyond the light.
Mizu collapsed to her knees, at the same time Suna regained consciousness. Neither seemed troubled by the lingering effects of that shadow. Relief washed over Mira when she saw Suna had survived the shadow’s possession. Tibius ripped the sword from his flesh. The power of the Mother slowly worked to close his wound. “Good work,” the Brimborne tossed away the bloodied tool. The four of them watched the thing beyond the wall. Raking its claws against Mira’s barrier. “Damn that thing.”
“And neither of you know what it is?” Suna refused to look at the shadow.
“I’ve never seen anything like it,” Mira said.
“Likewise,” Tibius confirmed. He allowed himself a moment of rest, sitting on the cobblestones. “This barrier won’t hold forever. And they seem immune to physical attacks.”
“Then we need to use magic,” Mizu looked from Mira to Tibius, then back to Mira. “There’s only one of it and two mages.”
“The Bright Mother only offers healing and defensive spells,” Mira spoke. “I have no way to hurt it.”
“Tibius?” Suna pushed.
“I’m a follower of the Light Mother. Which is just the Valstrom name for the same goddess. Sadly, I never visited any other temples. So, I hold no blessings from other gods.”
“Then we’re doomed,” Mizu and Suna simultaneously sighed.
“There’s one thing we can do,” Tibius looked to Mizu. “Let it take you over. And we’ll kill it. By killing you.”
Mira gasped, “You can’t—”
“No,” Mizu said. “Our job is to get you back to Jorn. If that means I have to die.” She was willing to sacrifice herself to complete the mission. Mira turned to see the shadow still looming.
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“You weren’t able to hit it,” Mira reminded Tibius. “If you let it take over Mizu, you’ll only give it a way to kill us.”
“Last time,” Suna said, “he was fighting alone. With my help, we will kill it. How much longer until this barrier falls?”
“A few minutes,” Mira replied. “I can drop it at any moment, but if we wait it out, a few minutes.” Chills once more overtook Mira. A shadow slipped into her barrier; floating through the cracks in the street. Ghastly sounds escaped it as it burned to embers. Unable to survive within the Mother’s light.
“There’s more of them,” Suna scoffed. “But why did that one die, while the other was pushed away?” Mira turned to the one outside her barrier. Wondering the same thing. Each time it scraped claws against the surface, the creature let out an ear-piecing scream. The light was hurting it, but not killing it.
There wasn’t much time to consider this. More of the shadows began to rise from the ground. Including the one that had initially attacked, the total count ended at eight. People ran in a panic as these creatures swarmed. Taking what hosts they could, forcing them to kill. Mira watched children murder parents; spouses turn against one another. Shop owners slaughtered customers, only to find themselves slaughtered. Jorn’s men seemed indifferent to the mindless slaughter happening.
“We,” Mira pulled her staff into her chest, “we have to find a way to save them.”
“One caused enough trouble,” Tibius said. From a pouch at his hip, he produced a pipe and matches. Smoke puffed from his mouth as he became lost in thought. Was he going to suggest killing those uninvolved just to get rid of all the shadows? Mira turned from him. Unable to believe someone who devoted themselves to the Mother could do such a thing. She watched the horrors just beyond their shield.
A possessed baker hunted down his target. Tackling his victim, the shadow was expelled as the two tumbled through the door of a home. Into a place that is well-lit, Mira noted. She then watched the other shadows. They would pause just outside any location with adequate lighting. Light was their weakness.
“I know how to stop them,” Mira turned to her three companions. Mira had them watch how the shadows acted. Pointing out how they avoided light or how intense light could expel them from their host.
“And how does this help?” Suna asked. “We can keep them away from us, and know how to force them out.”
“The one that died!” Mizu blurted out. “It died because it was inside the barrier. Light kills them.”
Mira nodded. “Torches and lanterns, maybe they could be used as weapons against them. Can you try and herd them all toward me?”
“Toward you?” Tibius was confused. Smoke rolled from his lips. “You’ll die for sure.”
“No,” Mira shook her head. “I can cast a light spell. The range is small, but if I can get them all close at once.”
“You can turn them all to ash,” Tibius smiled. “Or rather, we can turn them to ash. By our Mother, we can survive this.” They now had a plan. Cracks began to form in Mira’s barrier. The time to act was soon upon them. Shards of light rained down as the barrier collapsed inward. Like glittering glass, except harmless to those caught in the shower. Suna and Mizu vaulted over the remainder of the wall. Putting their plan into action.
Mira and Tibius stood back-to-back. Channeling their magical abilities. Their timing would need to be perfect. “Don’t hold back,” Tibius laughed.
“You too,” Mira took a deep breath. The elves had managed to remove the shadows from their hosts. Forcing any possible victims inside. Leaving the shadows with no other options for host than the elves, or the two priests of the Mother. And thanks to the torches the elves had acquired, they were now dangerous to attempt to take over.
They moved faster than expected. It was now or never. “Shit!” Tibius spat. Mira looked over her shoulder. His magic was failing. Not even a spark of light formed within his palm. He was losing the blessing of the Bright Mother. “It’s up to you,” chuckled.
Mira gathered her magic. Using her staff to focus the spell. She was still not used to using tools with her spell work, something pushed her to do so. Screams filled the air as the shadows twisted and burned away; the rays of light released eclipsed an entire block of Karo. Far exceeding the usual range of only five feet. In doing so, she had exhausted her body and spirit. Falling from consciousness before the light fizzled out.
Night had fully fallen by the time Mira awoke. Solemn expressions upon the faces of her companions. In the time she had laid unconscious, they had gathered all those who had died. One thing connected each of the victims. They bore the marking of Aranea. Proving one fact; this had been a planned attack. These creatures had been sent by someone or something. Whatever the source, it had wanted to bring an end to the Syndicate.
“Come on,” Tibius noticed Mira had awoken. “We need to get back to Jorn and report this, sister.” Mira refused. “You don’t have a choice I’m afraid. Your team is working for Jorn. At this moment, you must do as he says. And he requests you visit him at his estate.”
“I can’t,” Mira said sternly. “Kai was forced to wear the Aranea Syndicate’s branding. Which means these things could be attacking my friends. I have to make my way to the ruins. I have to save them.” What rest she’d managed at least allowed her to stand. But if the three of them tried to stop her, Mira would fail. There was no fight left in her. It would be a miracle if she even managed to catch up to her friends.
“There’s no time for this,” Suna said. She drew her sword. Hastily approaching Mira. “Enough people died tonight, one more can easily be explained.” Tibius grabbed the elven woman by the wrist. Forcing her to lower her weapon. “Tibius, don’t tell me you actually plan to let her go? That’s not our order.”
“Jorn desires the Eye more than anything else,” Tibius said. “If her group is killed off by these shadows, then he doesn’t get his prize.”
“I think we should go with her,” chimed in Mizu. “Monsters live in the surrounding woods. She’ll need us to make it to her group.”
“We are not abandoning our mission,” snapped Suna. Yanking her arm from Tibius’ grip. Her blade now pointed toward the Brimborne. “I will stop you both if I have to. Jorn told us to bring the whelp to him. I am taking this abomination to him, with or without you.”
“I told you,” Mizu tried to make light of the situation, “she takes her duties too seriously.” That pushed Suna, causing the taller elf to try and strike down the shorter one. Agile; Mizu managed to escape the range. One second later on her reaction and her head would have been rolling. “You need to calm down.”
Suna readied herself for another attack, “I will not let you—” Tibius knocked her out with a sneak attack.
“Take her back,” Tibius ordered. “Tell Jorn about the shadows. How to fight them, and who they target. I’ll get Mira to the temple safely. Mizu heeded his warning. Once she had gained a decent distance from the two of them, Tibius turned to Mira, “I know a safer route to the ruins than what your friends did.”
“How do you—” Mira began. Stopping her words as Tibius glowered at her. “Please, take me to them.”
They hadn’t needed to wander far to reach the secret pathway he’d told her about. An abandoned well tucked away in the poorer part of Karo. Tibius secured a rope to use for their descent. Taking the lead into the ink-blank abyss. Mira waited until he vanished from sight before following him down.
Stagnant water pooled at her feet. Cold to the touch. Mira created an orb of light, illuminating their surroundings. Toppled stone blocked what had once been the channel that fed the well. At least now she knew why it had fallen out of use. With no way to restore what they had used, the well had been retired. Leaving one question in Mira’s mind. How were they supposed to reach the ruins from there? No tunnels led from where they stood.
“Is this the wrong well?” Mira wanted to believe Tibius hadn’t chosen to betray her. Not when she was his only defense against the shadows hunting his kind. “Should we climb back up?” The Brimborne turned to her with a smile. Falling back into a wall, literally. Tibius faded through the stone, causing Mira to let out a cry of surprise.
His horned head slipped from behind the stone, “Come now. The wall is illusionary.” An uneasy hand reached out. Phasing through the stone as promised. Torches lined the walls. Illuminating stone beneath their icy blue glow. Mira dropped her light spell. No need to waste what energy she had if their way was already lit. Tibius waited against a solid wall this time, “The well was put out of commission on purpose. So that this pathway could be built for followers of the Weaver.” From under his leathers, Tibius produced a necklace. From it hung a raven skewered by knitting needles. “I’ve used tunnels like this all my life.”
“Then the ruins,” Mira mused, “they belong to the Painter?”
“They do,” Tibius answered. “Long before the Aranea took over; even before worship of the Deep-Watcher, this island was the domain of the Weaver. But her influence faded over time. Weakening her claim to the island. Until only the ruins to the north belong to her.” He then flashes a devilish smile, “Until my family became the sole keepers of her faith on the island.”
Mira was confused. Tibius was an enigma to her. His loyalties were divided in ways she just could not comprehend. Devotion to the Mother, the Painter, and the Aranea. “Why?” Mira asked, needing to find closure. “If you knew about this tunnel, why not retrieve the eye for Jorn yourself? Why get others involved?”
Tibius frowned, “My loyalty to the Weaver outweighs my loyalty to the Aranea.” From the pouch at his side, he handed Mira a vile of what appeared to be a strange blue liquid. Though it was difficult to tell if that was its true color, or just due to the lighting. “Drink it,” he said. “It’ll restore some of your lost power.” Mira looked the vial over, unsure if she should trust it. Not drinking it until she saw Tibius drink a vial of his own. Caution still filled her heart. Drinking only half of what he gave her. If it turned out to hold poison, the smaller dosage would be easier to heal.
It was sweet, like berries, but had a spice like cinnamon. She could feel tiredness leave her body. Magical energy grew within her core. “What is this?” she tucked away the vial.
“The Night Weaver teaches many things,” Tibius smiled. The two began to make their way through the tunnel. Along the way, he explained to her the secrets of that liquid. An alchemical concoction made through various plants and monsters, the worshipers of the Weaver would use it to fight off fatigue and death. When Mira questioned its use for immortality, he quickly reassured her such a thing was impossible.
“What it does is speed up your natural healing processes,” the Brimborne explained. “Fighting back death by allowing your body to recover at unnatural rates. But the body can only heal so many times before breaking forever. Your cells can only restore themselves a limited number of times in life.”
Mira panicked, “Does this mean drinking this will make me die faster?”
Tibius laughed, “Not quite. Even as only half elf, you still have longevity many cannot dream of reaching. But also, you only used it to restore your stamina and magical power. You healed no wounds, thus you never sped up your healing process.” Mira let out a sigh of relief. Tibius laughed at her reaction. “Once we reach the ruins, we will have to part ways.”
“You won’t help?” questioned Mira.
“You won’t need my help. There’s another Brimborne you’ll meet. My brother, Lucian. He acts as the guardian of the ruins. He’ll help you and your friends should those shadows show up. I must return to Jorn. To ensure his safety.”
“Thank you,” Mira smiled.
As they ventured closer to the ruins, Mira could feel a shift in the air. While they were still under the city, the tunnel was the domain of the Painter. And even within the mortal plane, she was able to sense the anger of the deity. Something had happened in the ruins. Her expression faded to one of melancholy, I hope we’re not too late.