In a small cottage was dimly lit by flickering candles, their warm light barely penetrating the gloom. Aria sat hunched at the rough-hewn table, her face gaunt and pale, eyes sunken with grief. The hunters faced Aria solemnly - Drias, Rey, and Lea, her arm still bandaged.
Ever since losing Rushia, Aria had been inconsolable. She barely slept or ate, just waited desperately for any news of her daughter. But as days turned to weeks, her hope slowly drained away, leaving behind a hollow shell.
When Drias finally broke the news she had always wanted to avoid, Aria seemed to fold in on herself. A wounded, keening sound escaped her lips. Her body began to tremble uncontrollably, tears spilling down her ashen cheeks.
"No...not my little girl," Aria choked out between sobs. "She can't be gone! Rushia is still alive, she must!" Her voice broke as she repeated it like a frantic mantra.
Drias reached out a comforting hand, his usual gruffness softened with pity. "I'm sorry, but she couldn't even have survived that fall. You have to prepare for the worst."
His blunt words only made Aria wail louder. She collapsed forward, head in her hands. "You don't understand! Rushia is all I have left! I can't...I can't..." She dissolved into incoherent weeping.
Lea's eyes brimmed with tears, grief, and guilt gnawing at her heart. Unable to hold back any longer, she rushed forward and embraced Aria tightly.
"I'm so sorry...this is all my fault," Lea choked out between sobs. "If only I had been more cautious." She shook as Aria's wails mingled with her own.
Nearby, Drias' usual stoic face was creased with pain, his knuckles white as he clenched a wooden stick tightly in his belt.
In the corner, Rey radiated barely contained fury and shame. Head down, fists clenched, shoulders tensed. He was supposed to be the strongest in this group, yet could do nothing against the beast.
Each of them felt the sting of responsibility - if only they had been faster, more cautious, better prepared.
They could only watch helplessly as the grieving mother unraveled before them. In the silence punctuated only by her anguished sobs, the unbearable finality of loss sank in. Rushia was gone. And she had taken her mother's heart with her.
***
After hours of anguished cries, Aria finally gave way to utter exhaustion of inconsolable weeping. She slumped in her chair, tears still staining her hollow cheeks as she finally drifted into a fitful sleep.
In the heavy silence that followed, Drias spoke solemnly. "I must go. Rodoro has called an expedition to deal with...whatever caused this." His face darkened.
At the mention of the Hunter's Guild, Rey's jaw tightened, eyes flashing with resentment. In his mind, their failure was still unforgivable.
Noticing his reaction, Lea touched his arm gently. "Let it go for now. There are more important things." She glanced sadly at Aria's sleeping form.
Turning to Drias, Lea said "I'll stay here for a while. She shouldn't be left alone." Drias nodded, clapping her shoulder.
Rey took a deep breath, anger dissipating. "I'll remain as well."
Drias gazed at them both with solemn appreciation. "Take care of her. I'll be back once it's done." He pulled his cloak tight and headed out into the chill night air.
Alone now, Lea and Rey kept a silent vigil over the grieving mother. Their own sorrow was not gone, but they must put it aside for now. Aria needed them. They would stay until she could find a way to heal.
***
The sturdy walls of the hunters' guild hall enclosed a gathered group. Inside the rustic office, Guildmaster Rodoro stood with arms crossed, his bearded face creased in thought.
Before him were arrayed the expedition members - Cyrus and Nora in their sleek, rune-marked uniforms, representing the knight. John, the priest, wearing simple black and gold vestments, with a satchel holding holy instruments. The skilled hunter Drias in his leather armor, checking his weapon.
"Welcome all," Rodoro rumbled in his deep voice. "Thank you for accepting my invitation. You are here because each of you has the knowledge or skills needed in this expedition."
He nodded to the knights. "We can count the protection and manpower from the knights."
His gaze moved to John. "The knowledge and the way to handle the spectral matters."
Finally settling on Drias. "And our best hunter, whose tracking skills and experience are unmatched."
The group sat around the heavy oak table in the guild hall, poring over reports and disturbing sketches of mutated creatures.
Guildmaster Rodoro shook his head grimly. "The mutation is spreading rapidly based on reports. More twisted bodies found, closer to the forest's edge."
He tapped the scattered documents. "The mutations seem to have no cause. It's as if some malevolent force is warping the very essence of the body itself."
Cyrus and Nora shared an uneasy glance. Nora leaned forward, brow furrowed. "Is there any pattern, anything linking the victims? We need more details to identify the source."
Rodoro carefully opened a dusty chronicler's journal. "In the old tales, there are stories of a shepherd that could twist a living body at will. An entity that people used to say originated from the spectral world."
He turned the book, showing faded illustrations of a shadowy, antlered figure surrounded by contorted beasts. Nora's eyes gleamed, academic curiosity piqued.
"A being that can corrupt the fundamental nature of body..." she murmured. "That would explain these aberrations. Perhaps we're dealing with some kind of otherworldly force." Cyrus nodded grimly, hand on his hilt.
The priest John finally spoke up. "As a servant of the divine mother, we do have some knowledge of spectral matters - but only on the matters of the lingering spirits of premature dead."
"Our duties involve guiding the vengent souls to the next life. We also perform cleansing for those who are hunted by this spirit. Those spirits usually can cause mild sickness or unnatural emotion to the people but that's about it."
John's expression darkened. "But there are also records of creatures that are born as spectral from the beginning. Things which defy nature's order, with strange abilities and twisted desire."
His finger traced an ominous illustration from the dusty chronicler. "It is said that they live separated from our world but somehow still connected."
Looking up gravely, John met each person's eyes in turn. "If such an entity reaches this world, I can't imagine the danger. We cannot approach this as any common beast or ghost."
Clasping his holy symbol, John continued. "The old scripture mentions ancient civilizations who battled these forces, though their methods are unclear. But one thing is certain - these creatures do not follow our natural world, so conventional means alone may not suffice."
In this heavy atmosphere, Drias finally spoke up. "I don't know about the mutation but I think I have some suggestions about what the creature might be. This is from my recent mission, I think Rodoro knows what I mean."
The group listened intently as Drias recounted his disturbing encounter in the woods.
"When I first spotted it, the creature seemed unremarkable - perhaps a bit larger than a bear, but nothing supernatural or spectral," he described.
"Its appearance was innocuous, almost like any other beast. But there was something deeply unsettling about it, setting my instincts on edge."
Drias' expression darkened as he recalled the strange details. "I could not sense it until it was right behind me. And this is something that I just also realized recently. When the creature was nearby, I could barely focus on it, as if my gaze kept sliding away against my will. When it fixed its eyes upon me, an unnatural fear gripped my heart."
"It was as if in its presence, I was reduced from hunter to prey in an instant." Drias shook his head. "But the strangest part was how it dampened arcane power. My companion failed to conjure his fire arc while the other got heavily injured despite activating a protective arc. It was as if our own arcane power meant nothing before it."
Cyrus spoke solemnly. "Impossible...such thing..."
Nora began to speak her opinion. "If what you say is true, we must observe more carefully the secrets of its abilities, or no one stands a chance fighting it."
Her grim words hung in the air, casting a shadow over the room. After a pause, Rodoro broke the silence. "Nevertheless," he said, his voice steady, "there must exist a solution. Our purpose here is not to engage in battle but rather to gather information. Let us proceed with utmost caution on this expedition."
United by purpose, the group set out with weapons and tools in hand, ready to look for the creature with whatever they had.
***
The night was tranquil in the secluded forest glade where Rushia had made mini camp. A cheerful fire crackled, sending tongues of amber light flickering across her bright features. Despite being lost for over a week now, the childlike wonder in her eyes never dimmed.
"What an exciting adventure this has become, Sir Berry!" Rushia exclaimed merrily, poking at the flames with a long stick. "Who knows what other marvels await us out here in the wild woods?"
"Affirmative," came Berry's flat response in her mind. "However, being unable to locate the town remains problematic."
Rushia waved her hand airily. "Oh pish posh, what's the rush? We have maps and knowledge to guide us. And those misty monsters provide such fun challenges!"
It was true - thanks to Berry's extensive database, Rushia avoided any true hazards. The only "dangers" she encountered were the strange spectral entities she gleefully battled. Though lately, they seemed to have fled this area, leaving Rushia a touch melancholic.
"I do hope we find more opponents to cross our blades soon," she said wistfully.
Berry's voice chimed an alert. "New capacity unlocked - Spirit Essence Analysis."
Rushia brightened. "Ooh, do tell, Sir Berry!"
"Affirmative. I can now trace the fundamental essences comprising those entities. They seem bound by their own laws of nature completely detached from ours."
Rushia clapped excitedly. "How marvelous! So we may uncover the secrets behind these monster's existence?"
"Perhaps," Berry intoned. "With deeper analysis, I may discern their overall nature and origins."
His voice took on an unusually somber tone. "But tread carefully. We may be straying dangerously beyond boundaries..."
Rushia laughed airily, already scanning the treeline for anything out of the ordinary. "Boundaries shmboundaries! You worry too much, Sir Berry. Now, where are those misty rascals hiding..."
***
In the dim bedroom, Lea kept watch over the fitfully sleeping Aria. Across from her, Rey stood with arms crossed, steadfastly ignoring the weight of Lea's contemplative gaze upon him.
Finally, Lea spoke softly. "You've changed so much since we first met, Rey. Back then, you were so dismissive and rude. But now..." She trailed off meaningfully.
Rey shifted, avoiding her eyes. "Don't be foolish. I'm the same as always." But the slight reddening of his ears belied his words.
Rey or Reynold Graezel, is an heir to an esteemed noble family that had produced master arcanists for generations. From childhood, he was groomed to continue their legacy of arcane study and research.
Rigorous effort and his natural intelligence shaped him into a prodigy - driven, and ambitious. But it also fostered a severe arrogance in the young Rey. He saw those ungifted with arcane as beneath him, useful only as tools to further his academic pursuits.
As a young man in his 20th, Rey earned a position at the empire's most prestigious arcane research institute. He rapidly rose to become one of the top researchers, known for his brusque demeanor and exacting standards.
When complex new research required rare ingredients, Rey decided to come to the border town of Twilight Gate. There he hired the hunter Drias, known to be the best of the best in this town.
Drias suggested bringing a promising young hunter named Leonara or Lea to assist them. But Rey immediately dismissed the idea of some backwater girl slowing him down. When they first met, he made his contempt obvious, scolding Lea for the slightest misstep.
Lea, looking at Rey's cute reaction persists further. "Is that so? Because the Rey I remember just a few weeks ago would never have stayed to comfort anyone. Or partner with a 'simple country girl' like me." A hint of a smile ghosted her lips.
Rey cleared his throat, flustered. "Circumstances alter perspectives. My research required a competent guide, nothing more."
Lea's smile widened knowingly. "Uh-huh. So you accompanying me on a food hunt, making me remedies when I was injured in our quest...just part of the research?"
"Obviously. Can't have an incapacitated guide," Rey said gruffly. But Lea could tell her words had struck home.
"If you say so," she replied mildly. All of a sudden, her smile took on a teasing lilt. "You know, you already collected all your research specimens over a week ago. No need to stick around this backwater town any longer."
Rey bristled, crossing his arms defensively. "I simply want to ensure the samples remain properly preserved during transport."
"For a whole 2 extra weeks?" Lea's eyes glinted with barely concealed mirth.
"Don't be absurd," Rey blustered unconvincingly. "I am merely being thorough in my research practices."
Lea laughed brightly, enjoying flustering her hard-headed companion. Though five years his senior, she often felt like an older sister gently teasing a stubborn younger brother.
Her smile faded suddenly as she grew serious. "Well, I'm afraid you'll have to find new guides next time. I won't be hunting after this."
Rey looked shocked, concern breaking through his usual stern expression. "Why ever not? You're more skilled than most of the hunters here." He pressed her for an explanation.
Lea hesitated before finally relenting with a sad sigh. "It's my arm. The healer said there was permanent damage. I'll never properly wield a weapon again." She gingerly rotated her bandaged arm, wincing.
Rey was stunned into silence. His usual angry complexion faltered, seeing the quietly resigned sadness in Lea's eyes.
"But…what about becoming a world-traveling hunter?" He finally said. "Visiting distant lands, recording rare beasts, sampling exotic cuisines...And what about the promise that you'd brag about your incredible adventures to me later?"
Lea gave a bittersweet smile, gaze distant. "Just a foolish young girl's fantasy, I suppose." She tried to sound casual, but Rey could hear the regret in her tone.
Brow furrowing, Rey grasped her shoulder firmly. "There must be solutions. Have you consulted expert healers? There are treatments in the capital—"
Lea gently patted his hand, halting his intense suggestions. "It's okay, Rey. Really. I know my own condition." She took a bracing breath and met his concerned eyes.
"Even if it was short-lived, I got to live my dream because of you. I mean, adventuring with the great Reynold Graezel? I'll dine out on those stories for years!" Her grin didn't quite reach her dimmed eyes.
Rey opened his mouth to object, but Lea squeezed his hand harder, not wanting to continue this conversation. "Rey, please...Things could be worse. Focus on helping Aria now. She needs us."
Reluctantly, Rey nodded, delaying his swirling thoughts for later. But secretly, he vowed to find a way to reignite Lea's extinguished dreams. Without realizing it, Lea has become an existence that he cherishes as much as his research.
***
The crackling campfire cast flickering shadows as Rushia started peppering Berry with questions about their strange foes.
"So these misty creatures, what do they eat? Do they have a society? Rules?" Rushia pressed eagerly.
Berry replied in his usual even tone. "Their sustenance appears to come from absorbing the life essence of other entities, even their own kind at times."
Rushia's eyes widened. "You mean they eat each other? How barbaric!"
"It seems a natural part of their existence," Berry explained patiently. "The strong devour the weak to grow in power."
Rushia glanced at the white wooden stick resting across her lap. "Like Murakan II feasting on those beasts we defeated?"
"Precisely." Berry continued his analytical breakdown. "That root appears to metabolize their spectral energy as nutrients. The more essences absorbed, the greater it develops into a..." He paused briefly. "...conduit of some kind."
Rushia grinned triumphantly. "You see? Clear proof that I possess an innate, secret power! Otherwise, Murakan II could not feed on those foul creatures so freely."
Berry's response was as dry as ever. "Evidence suggests no such ability within you. Murakan II's power independently binds random spirits indiscriminately."
"Pish posh!" Rushia waved him off airily. "You simply refuse to acknowledge the wondrous depths of my hidden power." She struck a dramatic pose, brandishing the sword. "But they shall reveal themselves in time!"
As Rushia enthusiastically recounted her latest "exploits" against the unseen beasts, Berry monitored Murakan II warily. The more spiritual energies it devoured, the harder it became to predict its growth accurately.
What began as a mere wooden twig was rapidly evolving into something else entirely. And Berry wasn't certain that he truly understood the implications of that transformation.