Our decision to travel to Elker happened at a time when our most intense adventures had already concluded, and more peaceful times seemed to be just around the corner. We retired to such city with that in mind. My master would study a geological event on the Arus Coast —while still taking sporadic jobs— and I would become a volunteer at the local Healing Center to polish my skills as a healer.
At first, I was excited to visit Elker, just like on any trip. It was common for us to rent discreet houses in large cities, but my master preferred that we settle away from the hustle and bustle of the city. We explored the surrounding lands and decided to settle on the top of a cliff, where I erected a cozy house. Our arrival coincided with the hurricane season, during which violent waves shook the land and intense gales threatened to tear down our walls. It took weeks before I could sleep under those conditions, but soon winter came to pacify the tides. The coasts spat out ice chunks, and the frigid winds froze everything splashed by the water. Then came spring, a beautiful-looking season but quite unsettling due to the creatures that roamed the plains, mating and nesting where we least expected. Of those days, there are two events that still send shivers down my spine when I recall them. The first was the invasion of a parasite plague that corrupted the lands and grew to the size of a human head. The second was the attack of sea creatures with a reptilian appearance that laid their eggs on the walls of the cliff where we lived. Later, thankfully, warm summer arrived. Day, night, sunrise, and sunset, every moment of the day was beautiful during that time, undoubtedly the best of the year, replaced by the terrible autumn and its violent hurricanes.
I thought I was already prepared for that season, but the abrupt change in weather conditions took me by surprise. The onslaught of the first hurricane made itself felt from early morning, darkening us throughout the day to the point where I could barely notice the nightfall. I was reading in my room when an unexpected presence knocked on our door during that stormy dawn, just as the festive lights of the major cities in the center of the kingdom mixed with the lightning and downpour outside my window.
I materialized my combat attire while discarding my pajamas. I went out to greet our visitor, fearing it might be a bounty hunter seeking fortune in our blood or —worse yet— bad news about the few friends we had. I prepared my energy reserve for a potential fight and opened the door. I noticed their figure standing under our roof, undisturbed by the stormy downpour, the blazing lightning in the background, or the powerful thunder that followed. They didn't seem like a messenger, but neither an assassin.
A gust of wind struck our house at that moment, bringing with it that scent of wet earth my master referred to as "petrichor."
—Good evening —our visitor said with a delicate voice trying to overcome the thunderous weather—. I need to speak with L'Asmodeus.
They covered their head with a hood while a cape fell to their mid-back. Two chestnut locks could be seen descending over their shoulders, one veering towards their left arm and the other embedding itself in the contour of their chest over their heavy attire. My master had taught me to interpret that to recognize which side someone dismounted from their mount. Thus, I knew —therefore— that their dominant hand was the left. The strangest part was that they wore the clothes of any adventurer —leather from the most common beasts and fabrics that could be gathered on any hike for their crafting— but under that heavy attire, there must have been some romular fabric preventing me from identifying their energy trace, something an ordinary adventurer could never afford.
—I have no idea what you want —said, standing firm under the door frame—, but you'll understand that we can't attend to you right now."
The lady used her talents to remove any trace of rain on her body. In her gaze reflected an intense desperation struggling to be repressed. I almost regretted my attitude immediately, but I didn't want to rush to conclusions. She smiled after a brief silence and then executed a small bow with a nod of her head.
—I apologize for my untimely presence, but I cannot leave without an answer —she said while rummaging inside her cape—. I hope this is enough to demonstrate my urgency.
On her hand was the seal of a family I recognized instantly. It was a circle of stone with a creature crawling with insect-like skin, anaconda appearance, and a bulging abdomen from which the tails of several offspring emerged. It was an unpleasant image by itself. It didn't bring back good memories, but I knew it was my duty to attend to whoever carried that symbol. I let the girl in, checked with my energy vision that no one else could be hidden under the cloak of rain, and closed the door amidst the roar of thunder.