A torch twisted shadows across the room; they marred Julia Ebonhearth's light-starved eyes. Her bare feet met the cold ground and a thick rope coiled itself around her wrists, fastening her to a wooden pillar at the back of the chambre.

Harsh and bitter, the stench of cheap beer lingered in the air as two guards argued outside her makeshift cell.

Footsteps approached the door and tears welled in her eyes.

She blinked them away and her stomach churned.

'Again…'

The outer latch rolled as bright light exploded into the room.

Eyes burning, Julia forced them down…

A heavy boot stomped the floor twice, before her gaze crawled back to the entrance, where a young guardsman stood.

The sight drained the colours from her face as his feral eyes met her drenched stare.

Mouth dry as a forsaken watering hole, his name ground itself in her throat. It escaped her lips in a twisted, broken whimper.

"David…?"

<><><> 

Valmeri forest, a few days prior.

Julia peered her eyes open when something tugged at her hair.

Sunlight shone through the dense foliage of the treetops, and hit her in the face as she rested in the shade of an oak, back pressed against its trunk.

She gazed up when she received another tug and met the small body of a hummingbird.

It hovered around her head, the thumps of its tiny wings moving her cherry blossom hair as it delved its beak into the roses of her flower crown.

"Aren't you silly?" Said Julia as she held her index before the bird…

The little one perched itself on it.

She beamed and lowered it to eye-level. "Those are decorative."

It danced on her finger, gave her a soft peck and flew away.

"Thanks for the company!" She waved her new friend goodbye.

Brushing her messy hair, Ebonhearth tilted her crooked crown back into place. She picked up her leather satchel off the ground, groaned, and rose to her feet.

'I better get going—'

Ebonhearth then slung her bag over her shoulder.

'—still have some ingredients that need collecting.'

Journal open, she strolled through the woods with her eyes glued to its pages.

"Let's see" — her fingers traced the sketch of two flowers — "I need to restock on Vale Flowers and Kindled Orchids."

She closed her notebook and stowed it away…

"Vale Flowers generally grow in the shade of trees and are easier to find—"

"—should probably start with those…"

And as soon as she said that, she spotted said flowers rooted under another tree. The shade of its foliage concealed them from the harsh rays of sunlight.

"Speak of demons and they're bound to appear!"

She approached the patch of flowers and stooped before them.

Her fingers closed around their stems, Julia plucked them from their roots.

While she stowed the flowers inside her satchel, she suddenly heard something move through the bushes behind her.

Ebonhearth froze…

'A rabbit—'

She thought, eyes fixated on the shrubs…

'—perhaps a wolf?'

It moved again.

She picked a stone off the ground and her throat bobbed with a gulp.

Surely enough, the leaves rustled once more and she hurled the rock straight into the bushes.

"Ouch!!!" Cried a voice.

"Damn it, lass! Should've said something if ya knew that I was there, rather than lobbing me a damn rock!"

Shoulders sagged, Julia winced at the young man who stepped from behind the shrubs.

It was her friend, David Brocksteel.

With a sword tied to his waist and a bow and quiver on his back, he rubbed his wound.

"Oops!" She uttered, hand over her mouth…

"Sorry David—"

"—thought I was being stalked by a wolf!"

"Well you weren't all wrong, I guess…"

"I'm sorry, what?"

"Never mind" — he dismissed her with a wave — "it's no big deal…"

A droplet of blood slithered down his forehead.

"You're bleeding! I can tend to that if you—"

"It's fine." The blond shook his head and wiped the blood off his face.

"What are you doing out here, anyway?"

"Four years and you don't know" — she crossed her arms — "David, I live here!"

"I see—"

"—so you're picking flowers again…"

Ebonhearth smiled. "To brew remedies for Solseed, where you live."

"Never once needed any of your curatives." David snickered.

"Just means you're as healthy as an ox—"

And Julia tapped him on the shoulder with a giggle.

"—try to keep it that way!"

He chuckled again, and a moment of silence befell them.

A rabbit hopped through various bushes, and she fought the urge to rub at the back of her neck, when Brocksteel arched her an eyebrow.

"And you" — she asked through heated cheeks — "what are you doing in Valmeri?"

"You serious!?" He pointed to the gear on his back.

"Can't you tell by the bow and quiver?!"

"Oh, you're out hunting again!"

"Why else would I be in these godforsaken woods?" David shrugged and offered a crooked grin as he walked away.

"Oh, ya know" — Julia pouted at his back — "maybe to keep me company since I don't get all that many visitors!?"

"Wanna tag along, then?"

Her lips stretched into an enormous smirk and she straightened her back, closed her eyes, and marched right past him.

"Thought you'd never ask!"

<><><> 

Later that day, the young pair crouched behind a boulder with their sights locked on a lone deer.

It twirled its tail as it ate away at a patch of grass, occasionally rearing its head to look around the meadow.

A finger pressed against his lips, David made eye contact with Julia before he drew an arrow from his quiver, notched it to the string of his bow and pulled it back. 

His lungs filled with a deep breath as he aimed for the jugular… 

A beat of his heart…

Two…

And the animal rose its head once more as David let fly.

The arrow whistled through the air, to which the stag let out an anguished bleat as the steel tip pierced deep into its flesh.

He winced. 'Why'd it have to move!?'

It tried hopping away, but its legs gave into the pain and it tumbled onto the ground.

Julia bounced up and down at the corner of his eye. "Nice shot!"

"It wasn't!" He vaulted over the boulder and ran towards the deer.

"W-what do you mean!?"

Eyes zeroed onto the fallen stag, he ran faster and almost tripped on his own two feet.

"David!"

He knelt before the animal and its large, glazed eyes met with his as a shallow breath escaped its snout.

Leaves crushed and scrunched behind him, but David paid them no mind as he pat the deer's head.

"I'm sorry for this…" His fingers traced its muzzle.

The leaves stopped their protest just as the animal unleashed a shallow breath, and he drew his hunting knife from his belt.

"In the name of Terra, Divine Matron of Earth and Death, I thank you for your sacrifice…"

He recited while pressing the tip of his blade to its gut…

"May your remnants nourish the seeds of today, so they might flourish into a brighter tomorrow."

He averted his gaze and stabbed it in the stomach, its howls echoing throughout the meadow. 

The spark of life soon left the deer's eyes, and the thrashing stopped.

"That was a verse from the Terra religion…" Julia muttered.

He peered to his right—where she also knelt and pulled the weapon from the animal's belly.

"Yeah… What about it?"

Julia's head lowered until her eyes met the hollow husk of the deer…

He followed them with his own.

"Didn't know you were a follower of the Earth Goddess…"

David chuckled, his smirk strained against his cheek as he wiped the blood off his knife using the dark fabric of his cloak.

"Me and the divines don't really go hand in hand."

"What do you mean?"

"I believe in certain holy verses from all four religions, the hunter's oath being one of them…"

He sheathed his knife. "The rest is superstitious nonsense."

A gust of wind descended upon them, its soft clashes with the blades of grasses the only sound they heard…

Julia hummed. "Guess you don't plan on being a man of faith, huh?"

The corner of his lips twisted up, and David arched her an eyebrow.

"And lock myself away from society to cast a few spells—"

The blond chuckled as he stowed his knife back into its sheath.

"—yeah, right!"

He tied his bow onto his back and stretched his arms.

With a grunt, David took hold of the deer and hauled its carcass over his shoulder while rising to his feet.

"What about Blood Magic?" Julia's muttered words trembled as they reached his ears.

"You should know better than to speak of witchcraft…"

The blond shot her a bone chilling glare.

He caught the way her teeth pierced her lower lip—deep enough for blood to roll off its cracks—and how her hands tightened and shook at her sides.

David froze into place…

When had she gotten so close to him?

"A-anyways" — Brocksteel backed away — "I should get going…"

Julia offered him a timid nod.

"But it was nice seeing you, lass!"

Wincing at his own words, David rubbed his neck and veered away.

No deer had ever felt so heavy on his shoulders…

But before he could leave, however, a small tug at his sleeve stopped him in his tracks.

He looked back at Julia's down-turned face.

"Something the matter, lass?"

She hummed and fumbled with the hem of her dress. 

"Actually—"

A beat past through them before she continued with a single breath.

"—would you mind walking me to my house…?"

That gave him pause…

In four years, they had never spoken of visits.

Something in his expression gave her the wrong idea, and Julia withdrew her hand.

"I-I'm sorry!" She said beneath flustered cheeks.

"There's just something I'd like to show you…"

"No, no" — Brocksteel shook his head — "I mean sure, I guess…?"

Her eyes lit up with a bright spark and Julia shifted from foot to foot. 

"Great" — she skipped on ahead of him — "then follow me!"

Brocksteel shook his head at her back and battled against the beam, that sought to conquer his face.

Ebonhearth then turned around. "You coming or what!?"

"I'm coming, I'm coming!"

If he didn't know her any better, he'd probably think that he had just made her day, perhaps even her week…

<><><> 

It wasn't long until they arrived at the heart of Valmeri forest, where Julia's home resided.

It laid near a pond with a waterfall cascading from a rocky ridge.

Its waters mist the air whilst a majestic rainbow shimmered at their collision, the sun beaming them in its rays.

"Wow!"

Ebonhearth smiled at his slack-jawed expression.

"Beautiful, isn't it?"

"Beautiful" — Brocksteel shook his head — "it's breathtaking!"

"Then consider yourself lucky—"

She tapped him on the shoulder whilst holding back her laughter.

"—because you're the second to see this place!"

"Who's the first?"

"The mayor, for reasons I'm sure you understand."

"Figures…"

He said it like an afterthought, his sights mesmerized by the waters.

Ebonhearth followed his eyes with her own and took a deep breath.

"Where does the water go?"

"Huh?"

"The pond isn't linked to any streams—"

His finger circled around the outer rim.

"—so how doesn't it overflow?"

"There are some tiny fissures at the bottom that connect to a system of underground caves below the forest."

David's widened eyes glinted. "They must be just as beautiful!"

"Couldn't say—"

 Julia rubbed at the back of her neck…

"—but my mother mentioned their beauty more than once!"

"You live here with her, then?"

"That's—"

She dared a glimpse into the blond's eyes…

"—come with me…"

With a stiff nod, David settled the deer onto her front porch and motioned her to lead.

She led him towards a modest garden enclosed by a square of white picket fences, on the western edge of her house.

Facing the water, patches of flowers broke into four meticulous sections, where a stone slab rested under the shade of a cherry blossom tree, at the end of the path.

"My mother's garden—"

She uttered, heart heavier with every word…

"—she always said that each of these flowers represented one of her greatest achievements…"

"And" — David looked to the grave-like stone — "where's she now?"

"She's" — her voice faltered — "in a better place…"

A tranquil silence befell them, the wind and waterfall the only things they heard.

David placed his hand on her shoulder. "I'm sorry for your loss…"

"It's fine" — her breath hitched — "been some time since she passed away…"

"A loss is still a loss and that's something I can relate to."

"Did" — Julia cleared her throat and met his eyes — "you lose someone close as well?"

The blond crossed his arms and averted his gaze before a scowl took hold of his face.

"I'd rather not talk about it…" He hissed.

Ebonhearth paused but soon forced a smile to her face. 

He wasn't the most disclosing person in Solseed.

There was no need to take his harshness personally.

"So…" His voice reclaimed its soft tone.

"Is this what you wanted to show me?"

Her eyes widened.

"Uhmm… Actually… N-no—"

Rubbing at the fabric of her dress, heat suddenly spread through her cheeks, and she bit her lower lip.

"—I just wanted you to walk me home…"

He arched an eyebrow and rolled his eyes.

"You're a strange woman, ya know that…"

"Give me a break" — Ebonhearth frowned — "I'm not that strange!"

"Sure you aren't, lass." David started towards her front porch as sarcasm dripped from his tongue.

She pouted and huffed at his retreating back. 

After a shake of her head, Julia offered a beam to her mother's grave.

"See you later, mom…" She whispered. 

David had already hauled the deer's carcass over his shoulder when she got to her porch and if he noticed her linger, he did not comment about it.

"Sure you don't need help hauling that back—"

"—I can get a pole and some ropes, so we can bring it together?"

"Nah, I'm good—"

"—gotta keep in shape, you know?"

Ebonhearth rolled her eyes. "Suit yourself…"

He moved towards the trees, yet stopped when he heard her call out his name from afar.

"Hey, David!"

He peered over his shoulder.

"What's up, lass?"

"Thanks for walking me back" — Julia cleared her throat — "I really enjoyed your company today…"

"Same—"

He offered her a pleasant smile.

"—we should do this more often, don't you think?"

"Y-yeah" — she answered with a tremulous voice — "w-we should!"

"That's the spirit!"

The blond then gestured to the deer with a thumbs up.

"I better get going, though—"

 "—don't wanna be caught here after dark."

Julia blinked. "Oh! Of course! Didn't notice it was already that late…"

He winked and waved her a silent goodbye, as he took the dusty trail leading to the forest, to which Ebonhearth returned him the gesture before entering her home.

<><><> 

The following day.

It was already morning, and Julia still rested within the solace of her bed, head buried beneath her sheets.

Though it wasn't the rays of sunlight that entered her bedroom window that prompted her awake.

The whimsical birds that chirped outside did.

"Morning already…?" Lashes fluttering, she sat up and stretched her arms over her head with a loud groan.

"Hummmmm-uhmm!!!"

With that out of her system, Ebonhearth glanced at the overwhelming sunlight beyond her window.

She hopped out of bed and went for her dresser…

'That walk with David yesterday must've tired me out—'

And opening the third to top drawer, Julia retrieved a bathing towel from within the cupboard.

'—hopefully a nice dip in the pond will wake me up…'

Only a few minutes later, Ebonhearth stood at the water's edge, her nightclothes and towel folded in a neat pile on the shore.

The morning breeze chilled her breasts and she dipped her toes into the water until she was engulfed from feet to shoulders…

"So warm…" 

She cracked a smile, took a deep breath and dove below the surface.

<><><> 

David shielded his face from the harsh sun as he prepared to knock on Julia's door, the heat already quite uncomfortable for his liking…

Before he did so, however, a loud splash reached his ears.

He frowned and reached for his weapon, yet let go of its handle once the adrenaline left his system.

"Probably a rodent" — he muttered — "but just to be sure…"

David veered away from the porch and approached the pond, intent on scaring the critters off her land—

Only to be met by Julia's naked body.

She parted her drenched hair and flipped it over her shoulders, and he eyed how the little droplets snaked around her inverted nipples, to run down her ribs.

With his heart drumming in his ears, David gasped as her wide-eyed stare found his…

Her face burnt a vivid red, as she covered her breasts and sunk back into the water.

"Kyaaaaaaaaaaaa" — she screamed — "David, you damn pervert!!!"

He immediately blocked his eyes.

"I-I swear I saw nothing! J-just get your clothes—"

"—I promise I won't look!"

"You better not, you damn ogler! Turn around!"

He complied. 

The sounds of rustling fabrics mingled with her groans and muffled swears.

Brocksteel bit his lip…

He waited and waited, and just as it appeared that Julia would never get dressed, all the noise stopped.

"Is it" — his voice broke mid-sentence — "is it okay to look now…?"

"Shut up, David!"

"I'm just asking if it's—"

"Shut…! Up…!"

They spent the remainder of the ordeal in complete silence, and David began to regret visiting her in the first place.

"You can look now…" Ebonhearth said through gritted teeth.

"Are you sure, lass?"

"Ya think I'd be telling you to look, if I was still naked!?"

He turned around and took a massive breath, before uncovering his eyes, only to have her leap towards him and strike him on the head.

Squatting, he placed his hands where a lump started to form. 

"The bloody hell was that for!?"

"You know exactly what!"

"And how was I meant to know that you were skinny-dipping in the pond!?"

Her cheeks flushed. "S-shut up, you perv!"

An awkward silence befell them as she glared daggers at him.

"What are you even doing here—"

"—came all the way to my home to get a glance at my naked body!?"

David sneered at her words.

"Oh-hardy-har-har! I'll have you know there are way more interesting things to look at than your tiny boobs!"

"Knew it" — she exclaimed — "you did see them!"

"Can we change the subject!?" Scratching at his sore head, the blond backed away, to which Ebonhearth crossed her arms with a fat pout.

He then let out a sigh…

"The village is holding its first ever summer solstice this year, and I wanted to know if you felt like joining us for the event…"

"A summer solstice!? Didn't know the citizens of Solseed celebrated events tied to the Terra religion."

"You see, they—"

"Wait a minute" — Julia arched an eyebrow and smirked — "are you by any chance asking me on a date?"

"No" — he denied, his cheeks a heated mess — "I'm merely delivering the message on behalf of the villagers!"

"Sure you aren't making excuses to save that; Manly Pride of yours?"

He shook his head with vengeance. "Of course not!"

"Oh?"

Her grin grew wider.

"Yeah! Figured I may as well tell you myself, since no one else knows where you live and—"

And her eyes crinkled.

"—I just don't see how you'd jump to that crazy conclusion!"

Julia concealed her mouth so her giggles wouldn't escape, but failed, and it put an end to David's rant.

"What's so funny, lass?"

"Oh, nothing" — she dismissed him with a wave — "I'd be more then happy to attend!"

He blinked. "Wait…? Really!?"

"Yeah, why not? Could be fun."

"Great" — he smiled and marched towards the woods — "I'll let the villagers know that you'll be joining us!"

The blond then went silent for but a moment…

"I should be going, anyway—"

"—gotta help with the preparations, but I'll see you at the festival!"

"Hold up a moment!"

"What is it this time, lass?"

"Stay right there while I get dressed—"

"—I promise I won't be long!"

He replied with a half-nod, and she smiled before rushing inside, her front door banging against its wooden frame.

A few minutes had passed since she entered her property and David waited for her against a nearby tree.

Suddenly, the door swung open, and Julia set foot onto her porch. 

"Alrighty" — she stated — "let's be on our way!"

He snickered at her expression and started ahead. 

"Don't forget to lock the door."

At the corner of his eyes, David spotted the lass stick out her tongue, but she did as he said before catching up with him.

"So, what made you want to tag along?"

"I have some errands to run in Solseed, and I figured that I might as well walk with you there."

"Well, the company is always welcome—"

"—just don't expect me to hang around with you for too long."

"Of course" — Ebonhearth grinned — "whatever you say, boss!"

<><><> 

The sun shone bright in the sky when they reached the village gates, where their massive wooden doors remained closed.

A lone guardsman stood above the rampart that surrounded the settlement, his helmet glinting in the sunlight.

"Yo, Johnathan" — David hollered — "open the gates for us!"

The guard jumped and glanced down at them both.

"Ah, David! You're back—"

"—and I see you brought Madame Julia with you!"

She beamed and offered him a wave.

"Gimme a minute!"

He stepped away from the bulwark and made his way down a flight of stairs. 

They heard him groan and fiddle from beyond the gates, the sounds of lumber scratching against the wooden doors…

A few tugs later, he pulled them back to let them in.

"How are things with you, David!?"

Johnathan welcomed him with a hug and handshake.

"Not bad" — he reciprocated his greeting — "mayor stuff, ya know?"

"And you, Madame Julia—"

"—how's life in the forest treating you?"

Unsure on how to reply, Ebonhearth scratched the back of her head.

"Pleasant as always, I suppose…"

"Good to hear!" Said Johnathan while closing the doors behind them.

"Speaking of the mayor" — he changed their topic — "Mr. Braithway was looking for you, David."

"Great" — the blond hissed — "what does the old kook want now?"

"Don't know, but I wouldn't keep him waiting if I were you…"

"And where can I find him?"

"He was overseeing the preparations in the bazar, last I saw him…"

"Thanks, Johnathan" — David beamed — "I'll go see what he wants."

"Guess I'll catch up with you later" — uttered Julia — "gonna go take care of that business I mentioned."

"Suit yourself…"

And with a wave of his hand, Brocksteel bid her farewell and started towards the market. 

She then saluted Johnathan with a courteous bow and he tipped his helmet in response as she too began taking her leave.

<><><> 

The streets bustled with life around her as Julia strolled through the village. Folks of all ages lent a hand with the preparations, smiles on their faces and laughter in their mouths.

It took some effort, but she spotted an elderly man in the crowd.

"Mr. Clovelly!"

Ebonhearth hollered as he turned around to meet her…

"Ah! Madame Julia! how nice to see you here today!"

"Likewise" — she approached him — "and here's that ointment you ordered last week!"

Julia reached within her satchel, retrieved a small flask containing a hazel liquid and handed it to him.

"Thank you" — he beamed — "I'll have a basket of the usual supplies ready by this afternoon."

"Thanks" — she courteously bowed — "I'll pick it up on my way out of the village!"

"No, no" — the man shook his head — "it is we that should be thanking you for tending to our community all these years."

Heat spread up her neck, and Julia averted her gaze with a giggle.

"You're too kind, Mr. Clovelly…"

"I only speak the truth, young lady!"

The moment passed as they smiled at each other.

"Anyways" — uttered Ebonhearth — "I better get going—"

"—still have a few deliveries to make…"

"Of course—"

"—don't let this old man take up any more of your time…"

Bowing her head, she bid him farewell and took her leave.

<><><> 

With her deliveries complete, Julia took a moment to sit on the edge of the fountain within the market.

Kicking her feet back and forth, Ebonhearth hummed a melody from her childhood until a voice startled her out of the memory.

"Greetings, Julia!"

She darted her eyes to its owner, where an elegant, grey-haired man of fair height and weight greeted her with a wave from afar.

It was none other then the mayor of Solseed.

"Hello there" — Julia strained a smile to her face — "Mr. Braithway!"

"No need for formalities" — he shook his head — "we've known one another since you were but a child—"

"—so please, just call me Edgar."

"My apologies" — she winced — "force of habit…"

Beaming, he pressed the tip of his cane against her torso, and almost pushed her into the water before she grabbed hold of it.

"Just means that your mother raised you well."

She fumbled as he pulled her back onto the rim.

"So" — he continued — "to what honour do we owe your visit?"

"Business as usual—"

She replied while rubbing the dust off her dress.

"—David also mentioned that Solseed will be hosting a summer solstice this year as well."

"I see" — he sneered — "so young Brocksteel told you about that…?"

She ignored his bitter tone. 

"Didn't know folks around here celebrated such an event…"

"Well, Verdantvale is home to the Earth Chantry and those that worship the divine matriarch, Terra."

Edgar twirled the hairs of his moustache.

"Hosting a summer solstice has been a popular request from the villagers for quite a while—"

She nod along to his words.

"—thus, this shall be our humble first."

"Let's hope it goes well, then!"

"I have no qualms that it shan't but alas" — he bowed his head — "I must now return to my duties—"

"—there's still so much to do with such little time before the event."

"Oh" — Ebonhearth blinked — "I understand…"

"I bid you a good day, Madame…"

She drew her mouth into a straight line. "Likewise…"

It was only after he vanished amidst the crowd that she bit her nails.

'I don't know' — Julia thought — 'something about him is just—'

With her guard lowered, a loud voice thundered at her side.

"Hey, lass!!!"

She leapt out of her skin and smacked the individual across the face, the sheer power of her slap sending whoever it was that crept up on her into the fountain.

And once Julia realized what she had done, she dared a glimpse over her shoulder and found David doused from head to toes, a thousand daggers in his glare as a bright handprint marked his cheek.

"Don't scare me like that" — she stated with her hand over her heart — "what if I had—"

He splashed her with a handful of water, and she wailed like a frightened child.

"There" — he grumbled — "now we're even!"

Julia pouted as she smoothed her dress. 

Her gut beseeched her to teach him a lesson, but she refrained from stooping to his level.

The entire mess was her fault, after all…

Minutes had flown since their exchange and they sat on the fountain while drying themselves with some old rags the villagers gave them.

"So" — David uttered — "did you finish your errands, lass?"

"Yeah" — she tugged at her coif — "even got some spare time before having to collect my payments, too…"

He hummed in response, and they kept silent until they were as dry as could be. 

"Ya done?" The blond asked for her cloth. 

With a nod, she placed it in his hand, to which David reared upwards and lobbed them into a nearby barrel. 

He cracked a grin as they landed inside. 

"Why do the villagers never pay you with money, anyway?"

Julia frowned. "What do you mean?"

"I've heard that you don't charge a single copper for your remedies."

"I thought you were already aware of the arrangement between the villagers and I!?"

"What arrangement?"

She tapped the tip of her index against her chin…

"Guess a little of my family history is in order."

"All ears…" Brocksteel reclaimed his seat alongside her.

"My family settled down in Valmeri nearly ten generations ago, long before Solseed was ever founded."

"Wait, wait, wait" — he shook his head with disbelief — "you're telling me that your family has lived in that small lodge for almost two-hundred and fifty years!?"

"As unbelievable as it might sound…"

"Wow…!"

"Anyway, construction on the village began during my great-grandmother's time, and the agreement between us and the villagers happened later, with my grandmother."

"So being the village alchemist runs in the family?"

"Exactly!"

"But that still doesn't answer my question—"

David crossed his arms and tapped his foot.

"—why do folks here not pay you properly?"

Her palms pressed against the inner rim of the fountain, Ebonhearth leaned back and looked to the clouds and birds above.

"Living in the forest isn't easy you know…"

Julia closed her eyes and took a deep breath.

"If they compensate me in supplies" — she found the emerald of his attentive stare — "I'll never have trouble finding all the essentials…"

"Ever thought of moving into the village—"

"—I'm sure that folks around here would be thrilled to have you as a member of the community."

"I'm sure they would—"

She lowered her eyes to the stone pavement.

"—but I have my reasons for living the way I do…"

A warm summer gale blew through them as they sad in utter silence for but a moment, to which David then broke it as he rose to his feet.

"I should probably get to work now—"

"—wouldn't want the mayor to scold me for slacking off, ya know?"

Ebonhearth then stood up as well. "Of course—"

"—guess I'll see you either tomorrow, or at the festival?"

"If our paths don't cross before that, you mean?"

He wiggled his eyebrows, a clear tease on his behalf or perhaps even a hint at something.

"See you around" — she snorted a giggle — "ya big goof!"

He offered her an exaggerated bow, and hurried off before she could mock him for it.

The softness of a sigh left her lips, and she shook her head at his silly antics she'd grown accustomed to…

'Well' — she thought — 'I better go collect those supplies!'

<><><> 

The purple-pink hues of the looming dusk basked the skies as Julia returned home, supply baskets in tow.

She reached within her satchel.

As her keys met the lock, she heard a twig break around the garden, and she almost dropped them in response.

Teeth gritted, a vein bulged on her forehead.

'Those damn rabbits eating my flowers again!?'

With a scowl, Julia stowed her keys back in her bag, placed her baskets onto her porch and went to investigate.

Yet her feet rooted to the ground as she turned the corner.

Before her mother's grave knelt a gloomy figure, cloaked in long lavender robes, a set of horns protruding from the sides of its head.

"E-excuse me…?" Her voice broke while she pried open the gate and entered the garden.

"Can I help you?"

The figure turned its head, the empty white of its blinded eyes meeting the blue of hers.

It froze Julia's very soul, to which it then exuded an old female voice.

"My, my—"

"—haven't you grown since last I've seen you."

The stranger rose to her feet. 

"The family semblance between you and Carmela is quite; Striking."

She removed her horned hood and lowered her crimson cowl. 

Before Julia, stood a foreboding old woman of short silvery hair, and skin so pale it might as well belong to a corpse. 

A strange insignia laid drawn upon her forehead—a sketch made of ominous cursives.

"Y-your eyes…" Ebonhearth muttered.

The old crone chuckled at her remark. "Is it not uncouth to comment on a person's eyesight, before even asking for their name?"

"Then who the hell are you and how do you know my mother!?" Julia stated, venom dripping from her tongue.

The hag peered back at the grave with a stiff, unnatural movement. 

"You wrote her name on this tomb, did you not?"

"However" — she cracked her neck back in place — "it appears that time has erased what was once written here…"

Ebonhearth clenched her hands. "Answer my damn question!"

The sinister woman split her lips into an eerie smirk and secreted a giggle-like scoff that assaulted her ears.

"My names are many, but Beatrice Ravencroft, shall suffice…"

Hands behind her back, the woman stepped forward…

"Carmela and I share a little history—"

"—thus, it is only fair that I'd pay her my respects…"

Julia quaffed her own saliva, breath quickening with each stride that vanished between them.

"After all this time?" She uttered, forcing a bile down her throat…

Beatrice snickered, her grin stretched unusually wide.

"Well, it does not matter where she is currently, now does it?"

Julia opened her mouth to bite back at the hag's words, but her eyes locked with her corpse-like stare, and her throat caved in on itself…

Her legs trembled and her eyes stung, but she ground herself by biting her lips and clenching her fists tighter…

The woman stopped but a few feet away, the ghastly stench of death assaulting her nostrils.

Beatrice did not lower her head, but rather slanted it to the side and ogled her with what felt like morbid curiosity; an insufferable smirk upon her face.

"Do enjoy the festival—"

Uttered the crone as she straightened her neck and began taking her leave, leaves crunching beneath her heels as she marched past Julia.

"—I've heard events like the Summer Solstice are utterly to die for!"

Her breath hitched as she veered to face the hag. "I-Is that a threat?"

"Silly child…"

Ravencroft stilled her steps, turned around and slowly approached her once again…

"If that were a threat, and I truly wanted to hurt you—"

She lowered and bent her frame so that the tips of their noses nearly touched and their eyes saw nothing but each other's reflections.

And waging war against her own feet, Ebonhearth frantically sought to escape—but the near-intoxicating aura the hag emitted froze her very core, as if a paralysing poison filled her lungs…

"—I would have already done so…" Her soft spoken words skimmed Julia's ears, while her soul-searching stare sent tremors up her back.

But before she could do something—anything—to try and get away, the crone snapped herself into a proper stance and backed off of her own volition.

She raised her hood over her head and veiled her face with her cowl.

"Until we meet again, Julia Ebonhearth…" 

Veering away, the old hag exited the garden and started towards the woods, but not without backhandedly waving her goodbye.

It took seconds of standing alone by her mother's grave, for Julia to recover the breath she did not know was gone…

And when the realization struck her like a ton of bricks, Ebonhearth fell to her knees and clenched at her heart.

"What the" — she gulped, as if freed from a strangling grasp — "hell was that!?"

Her heart slowly ceased its wild thumps and she forced herself back onto her feet…

And once she regained her composure, Julia veered her sights to her mother's grave. 

She frowned…

The stone had been wilted; a bloody handprint smeared where she had engraved her name.

"What in the world…?"

She approached the tomb with wobbly steps, and a chunk of it crumbled at her touch. 

The markings were indecipherable, and if she did not know any better, she'd think the grave had been erected for centuries!

But time hadn't withered this stone…

Blood magic did!

<><><> 

Valmeri forest, that same night.

A lunar glow illuminated the night sky, the stars twinkling alongside the moon as Julia found herself surrounded by a plethora of alchemical tools within her basement.

"A pinch of this—"

She tossed a Vale Flower head into a cauldron.

"—and a dash of that…" 

Then added a Kindled Orchid petal into her mixture.

A tiny explosion ensued, and the green liquid turned red.

Ebonhearth coughed as she expelled the fumes from her lungs.

"Did I do it correctly…?" She queried as she took an empty phial, and dipped it into the mixture, before holding it up to her eyes.

'Only one way to find out…'

She took a quaff and swallowed it in a single gulp; her face twitching into a grimace as the harsh liquid hit her pallet.

"Yuck" — Julia wiped her mouth — "that's a healing potion, alright!"

With the proper concoction prepared, Ebonhearth started towards a nearby cabinet and retrieved a crate of empty flasks stored within.

She placed it on the table alongside the cauldron, and filled the vials with her freshly brewed medicine…

It wasn't long before her cauldron laid empty and the phials full.

"Alright—"

She picked up the wooden container and carried it within her arms.

"—now to put these with the others!"

With prudent steps, Julia ascended the stairs out of the cellar, before placing the crate on the floor and closing the hatch behind her.

A groan later, she picked up the container once more and brought it to a nearby cupboard.

Julia opened its doors and began loading her brews within, until she overestimated her moving space, and banged her head on the upper shelf…

"Ouch!" She wabbled backwards, hands on her aching head.

Before she could recover, a tiny box fell from the top of the cabinet…

It cracked open as it met the floor, a golden blade dropping but mere inches from her feet.

"Huh?"

Having just regained her composure, she peered at the shiny object.

"Isn't this" — she picked it off the floor — "my mother's dagger!?"

Julia traced her finger from the flat surface of its golden blade, to its round ruby hilt.

"Wasn't there something more to this weapon—"

She pressed her index against its pointed tip; barely hard enough so that blood wouldn't spill.

"—something about; A Painless Cut?"

Pale eyes scraped the inner depths of her mind, and she grasped the dagger harder before storing it in her satchel.

'I should probably hang on to this…'

<><><> 

Valmeri Forest, the next day.

The morning sun already beamed through the greenery of the trees when Ebonhearth stood before her bedroom's mirror.

Hairbrush in hand, she stroked it through the rat's nest that was her hair.

"That should do it!"

Julia set the brush on her wardrobe and ran her fingers through her locks, before taking her rose crown and placing it on her head. 

Daring one final glimpse into the looking glass, she moved out of her bedroom and entered the main chamber.

"Let's see—"

She picked her journal off the dining table and skimmed through its pages.

"—still have a few herbs that need restocking…"

She traced a finger through her notes.

'Might as well take care of that before the festival tomorrow.'

Making her way towards the main entrance, she took her satchel off a wooden coat-rack and stowed her notebook inside it.

With a turn of the handle, Ebonhearth opened the door and stepped out of her house.

'Wonder if I'll run into David again today?' She thought as she locked the door behind her and started towards the woods.

<><><> 

Julia's attention shifted between her surroundings and the pages of her journal, while she looked for the proper ingredients.

Glancing down at her memoir, she traced a finger against the sketch of a worm-shaped root.

"Running a little low on Worm Roots" — Julia skimmed through her notebook — "but those are rather hard to find around these parts…"

As she stowed away her journal, a tiny, distant sob reached her ears.

"Is that" — Ebonhearth froze in her steps — "a child!?"

A frown formed itself upon her face.

"What would a kid be doing in Valmeri?"

Her curiosity peeked, she navigated through the foliage; seeking out the source behind the whimpers.

They grew louder with each step, until she came across a boy seated beneath a tree, his knees pressed against his face and arms wrapped around his legs. 

And by the looks of it, he appeared no older than eight years of age…

"Hey, kiddo—"

The boy's head shot upwards, the hazel of his eyes meeting the blue of hers.

"—are you okay?"

He said nothing, but his wide, glistered eyes kept staring at hers.

Lips between her teeth, Julia took a wager and approached the boy. 

Offering a smile, she knelt before him.

"You live in the forest, too?"

With visible reluctance, the kid shook his head.

"In a cave, maybe?"

He arched an eyebrow, and the tears in his eyes halted.

But his response remained the same…

Julia frowned, tapping at her chin as she feigned thinking hard about her next guess.

"The trees, then!"

Her playfulness finally broke his armour, as he giggled at her words.

"Heck no" — he stated — "I'm from the village!"

"Solseed?"

The boy answered her with a silent nod.

"And what are you doing in a place like this?"

"I" — he tapped the tip of his indexes — "got lost…"

"In that case…" Julia rose to her feet and offered him a hand.

"I could always use a courageous young warrior to escort me there."

"So you know the way back!?"

His entire face lit up brighter than the night sky on a harvest moon…

"Of course!"

The young boy puffed his chest and got up from where he sat, all the while drying away his tears.

He didn't even bother taking her hand.

"Don't worry" — he boasted — "I'll protect you from those evil monsters of the forest!"

Julia giggled at his childish antics.

How could she not humour such adorableness!?

"Then lead the way, brave warrior!"

Minutes later, a sudden realization dawned upon her as they walked through the woods, and Julia gasped…

"I never asked your name!"

"Benjamin" — the boy smiled — "but everyone calls me Ben…"

"That's a nice name!"

The boy then pointed his finger at her.

"And you're Madame Julia!"

Wide-eyed, she took a moment to gather her thoughts.

"How do you know that?" 

"David talks about you a lot!"

"You know David, then?"

He jumped in front of her and she stopped dead in her tracks, before she could crash into his frame.

His eyes sparkled like a kindled torch, and his grin took hold of most of his face.

"Of course I do" — Ben hopped from foot to foot — "he's my hero!"

"How come?"

Julia queried, his admiration towards her friend a complete mystery in her eyes…

"David saved the village from a pack of wolves two years ago!"

"Wasn't it the guards who dealt with them, though?"

"No" — he crossed his arms and pouted — "it was David!"

With a hum, Ebonhearth pat him on the head and smiled at his cuteness.

"I'm sure that David helped out in his own way—"

She took his hand…

"—and you can tell me all about it on the way back."

"Okay!"

Once Benjamin had finished sharing his piece regarding David's feat with the wolves, a pendant escaped from beneath his shirt. 

The small burgundy stone tied to it caught Julia's attention, its weird carvings something she had never seen before.

"That's a beautiful pendant you have there!"

"It's not a pendant…"

"What is it, then?"

"It's a warding gem!"

"A what now…?"

"A warding gem" — Ben flailed his arms — "you know, those stones monsters don't like!?"

At a loss for words, Julia could only frown and stare at the gemstone.

'Odd' — Ebonhearth thought — 'I spent my whole life venturing these woods, and never once encountered any monster…'

"Daddy always wears one when he comes out here—"

Ben continued, utterly unaware of her absent-minded state.

"—he says they keep the monsters away…"

'Mother never mentioned any to me, either…?'

"Miss Julia…?"

'No, no' — she shook her head — 'Ben is just saying childish things…'

"Miss Julia!"

Ebonhearth tugged away at his voice, and it took her a few blinks to ground herself back to reality.

"Are you okay" — uttered Benjamin with a confused look in his eyes — "you look worried…"

"I-it's nothing" — her voice faltered — "come, we're almost there…"

Ben gave her a hesitant nod, as they continued on with their route…

<><><> 

The first thing they saw upon their arrival at Solseed, was a woman talking with Johnathan before the open gates of the village, her arms in a frenzy as she paced back and forth. 

"Mommy" — Ben hollered as he left Julia to speed ahead — "daddy!"

"Benjamin!!!"

His parents simultaneously exclaimed as they rushed down the trail that linked the forest to the village.

His mother met him half-way, and she knelt to her son's level to grab him into a loving embrace.

"Where did you go" — inquired the woman — "we were so worried about you…!"

"I'm sorry" — he lowered his head — "I went out to the forest…"

"You what!?"

"But Miss Julia helped me find my way back!"

Caught between the parent's gaze, Ebonhearth drew a blank on how to respond to them…

In the end, she accosted them with a half-grin stretched on her face.

Yet before she could shame herself, Johnathan trudged towards her and cupped his hands around hers.

"Thank you so much—"

"—words can't express how grateful both me and Abigail are for our son's safe return!"

"It's nothing" — she eased her lips into a smile — "anyone would've done the same…"

Johnathan tightened his grip, then released her.

"Thank you again, Madame!"

"I-it's okay—"

"—Ben's fine now…"

He nodded one last time, before darting his sights back to Benjamin.

"As for you, young man—"

Johnathan soft-smacked him behind the head.

"—we told you never to go out to the forest!"

"I'm sorry, daddy…"

"Scaring your mother and I sick like that—"

"—you should be ashamed!"

"I-it's just…"

Benjamin glanced at his father with big eyes and a quivering mouth.

"Oh no" — he crossed his arms and gave his son a stark look — "you ain't puppy-eyeing your way out of this one!"

"But—"

"Listen to your father" — exclaimed Abigail — "young man!"

He shrunk under the harshness of his mother's voice and glanced to Julia for help.

She smiled at his cuteness, but didn't intervene…

"I-I wanted to be like David—"

The boy then looked at his parents…

"—he's so cool when he goes out hunting…"

"Benjamin…"

Abigail rolled the last syllables of his name, as his father sighed with a sense of hopelessness.

"Typical" — uttered his dad — "you're grounded—"

"—no festival for you tomorrow!"

"But daddy!"

"Ain't no; Buts about it—"

"—this will teach you not to disobey us again!"

"O-okay…"

Tears welling in his eyes, Ben lowered his head in shame.

"I'll handle it from here, darling…"

Uttered his spouse as she rose to her feet and took Benjamin's hand.

"Thanks, sweetie…" Johnathan kissed her on the cheek.

Ebonhearth shifted from foot to foot when both mother and son entered the village and bid her farewell.

"Sorry if my son was any trouble…"

Julia shook her head at his apology.

"None at all…"

They shared a brief moment of silence, the awkwardness grating on her nerves as she cleared her throat…

"I-I should probably get going…"

"Oh" — he blinked — "of course!"

Yet before taking her leave, she averted her eyes to the ground, then looked back to Johnathan to ask the following.

"Do you know where David is?"

"Think Mr. Braithway sent him on an errand out of town, though he should be back before twilight, if you're willing to wait?"

"Nah" — Ebonhearth answered — "I must now return to the forest."

"As you wish—"

"—see you at the festival, Madame!"

"Likewise!"

And bidding him farewell, she bowed her head and started back towards the woods.

<><><> 

Valmeri forest, a few hours before midnight.

Later that evening, Julia sat before the lit fireplace in the comfort of her home, her finger tracing the pages of a yellowed book titled; The Essence And Studies Of Warding Gems.

'So what Ben said is true…'

Julia reached for the cup of tea on the side table next to her chair. Its citrus warmth slithered its way down her throat, and she closed her eyes to savour the feeling.

'But—'

She veered her sights towards the window…

Darkness swallowed the world, the adjacent trees beyond the glass the only things she could make out in the night.

Wind blew through the foliage as it tore the leaves off their branches and carried them into the darken depths of the woods.

Twin white eyes flickered in her head again, and shivers crawled up her neck.

'—what's keeping them from me?'

The heat seeping off her tea burned her hand, and Ebonhearth sat it back on the table with a hiss.

It ground her back to reality…

Julia took a moment to regain her composure, before peering down at the book on her lap and flipping to the next page.

Retrieving her brew, she had it halfway to her mouth until she heard something bash at her window.

'It's probably just a bran—'

It hit the glass harder then before.

Sweat soaked her palms as she put down her cup for the umpteenth time. Julia then shut her book and settled it on the table at a sluggish pace, and with a deep breath, she dragged her eyes back to the glass.

A crow stood perched outside her window…

It hopped and cawed on the sill, flapped its wings and began pecking at the glass.

"Hey" — Julia bellowed while rising from her seat — "cut that out!"

She waited for it to do so, and when it did, Ebonhearth threw herself back into her chair.

Her heart slowed to a bearable beat as she let out a sigh.

She then glanced at the book…

"Maybe reading you at night wasn't such a good—"

The glass of her window cracked as the crow continued its insufferable pecking.

Julia's nostrils flared, and she soared out of her seat to pace towards the bird.

"You little fuck" — she growled in all her frustration — "do you have any idea how long it will take to get that replaced!?"

She bared her teeth and opened the screens with considerably more force then required, expecting the crow to fly away in fear.

But when she met her reflection surrounded by scarlet veins within the coal of its eyes, the bird shot itself at her face and sunk its talons into her hair.

"Fuck! Fuck!! Fuck!!!" 

She squirmed under its hold and attempted to slap it off her head.

It avoided her hands and flew back to the sill, but not before yanking her hair with all of its furious might.

"That hurt!" Pressing her hand upon her head, Julia felt a warm fluid stain her fingers. She glanced at her palm and noticed that the damn thing had caused her to bleed.

She then glared at the crow and saw the strand of hair caught within its talons.

The bird shook its tail as they locked eyes again.

And with a shriek, Ebonhearth lashed at the pest with her hands out.

Yet the crow flew off its perch and disappeared amidst the darkness, before she could even reach it.

"You damn vulture" — Julia shouted from the top of her lungs — "I'll make roasted crow out of you if I ever see your stupid mug again!!!"

With that out of her system, she put out all the lights within the main chamber and marched towards her bedroom, not even bothering to close the flaps of her damaged window.

<><><> 

Valmeri forest, the day of the festival.

The late morning sun shone through the forest as David knocked on Julia's door.

He been doing so for several minutes now, and the harsh sun caused him to sweat as the forest cicadas sang.

"Wake up" — he knocked with a little more thunder — "we're gonna miss the opening ceremony!"

He waited with bated breath, yet was met with nothing but silence…

"Damn it, lass—"

"—of all the mornings you decided to sleep in, it had to be this one!"

With a sigh, he looked down and spotted a loose stone on her porch.

He picked it up and mimicked hurling it at one of her windows. 

'Bet she'd wake up if I tossed this little guy in…'

As tempting as it felt, the simple thought of the aftermath made him shudder…

She'd skin him alive if he even dared!

He chucked the rock aside. 'Where's her bedroom window, anyway?'

He began with the garden, his efforts paying off almost immediately, as he saw an open window with a fairly sizable crack upon its glass…

'Talk about convenient—'

Thought the blond as he entered her house through the open frame.

'—but not very wise, though…'

Loud snores assaulted his ears as soon as he set foot inside.

Irritated, he inched towards the sounds, almost knocking over some furniture on his way to their source.

They came from behind a closed door.

Forehead wrinkled, he turned the handle and pushed it open to peer within…

Julia laid tucked beneath her sheets, her silky features unperturbed by the atrocity of her snores.

'Seriously' — his eyebrows twitched — 'are you a kid or something!?'

David knelt before her bed, his hand hovering over her shoulder, as her sealed eyes faced his narrowed ones.

'Here goes nothing…' The blond gently tried shaking her awake.

"Time to wake up, lass…"

"Hummm" — Julia groaned and fluttered her eyes open — "what…?"

They met with the green of his…

David opened his mouth to respond, but screamed and jumped back as an iron fist thwacked him on the head.

"Why…?" He moaned while massaging his newfound lump…

"Couldn't you have knocked!?"

"What the hell do you think I've been doing this past hour!?"

"And that gives you permission to enter like some damn thief!?"

She snarled. "How did you even get in here?"

"Next time, close your window if you don't want folks breaking and entering like that!"

Ebonhearth recoiled and tightened her fists. "Damn that crow…!"

"Crow…?" He rose to his feet and crossed his arms.

"Whatever, that ain't the only thing you forgot!"

She arched him an eyebrow. "And what else did I forget!?"

He frowned for a second before throwing his arms up in defeat.

"The festival, lass!"

"Wha—" Ebonhearth gasped…

"It's today!"

"Shit!"

In a flash, Julia shot off her bed and drove him out of the chamber at breakneck speed.

"Wait for me outside!"

David nearly fell flat on his face upon being violently shoved out, but he managed to regain his balance.

"Hold up, lass" — he turned around — "your front door is still—"

She slammed the door in his face, and the entire house stirred at the raw strength of the impact.

"—locked…"

Eyes twitching, he fought the urge to force it back open and give her a piece of his mind.

'Why I oughta…!'

He shook his head and took a moment to regain his composure.

'The window it is, then…'

Several minutes later, the blond remained seated on her porch, face scrunched under the sun as he waited for the lass to exit her house.

About to yell for her, he halted mid-shout when she opened the door and stepped out into her usual attire; the gentle breeze fondling the strands of her hair.

His eyes twitched…

'Couldn't be any slower, huh!?' David thought to himself.

Yet before he could scorn her, the pleasant aroma of peach and cherries caressed his nostrils. It triggered the distant memory of a motherly smile.

And lost in his thoughts, the blond took a deep breath. 

'How long has it been since—'

"David…?"

Julia's voice cut through his fogged brain, and he shook himself back to reality.

"Sorry, lass—"

The blond uttered, his voice stiff with feelings he believed long gone.

"—you just smell nice…"

However, her flustered expression sent guilt to his stomach, and David forced himself not to wince.

"Oh" — her cheeks suddenly went red — "t-thank you…"

"So" — Brocksteel pushed himself onto his feet — "ready to go yet?"

"O-of course" — answered Ebonhearth — "let's get moving!"

<><><> 

A fair amount of time later.

They soon arrived at a Solseed that looked nothing like the one Julia knew. Colourful flag garlands swayed amidst the rooftops, as people poured confetti from the second-story windows, and handmade paper lanterns soared towards the heavens.

Beautiful wasn't enough to describe it!

David sighed. "Seems we missed the opening ceremony…"

"Who cares" — Julia looked at him with widened eyes — "the day is still young, and look at this place!"

"You act as if this was your first festival." He said with a half-chuckle.

"That's because it is!"

"Wait, really!?"

"Come on" — she snatched his arm and dragged him deeper into the village streets — "I don't wanna miss a thing!"

As they went about their day, browsing the booths and playing random games, Julia noticed a lone stand beside a cul-de-sac alley, with three neatly aligned dummies at its end. 

The village fletcher stood at the kiosk; several masks hung upon the makeshift wall behind him.

"That looks fun!" She pointed to the stall.

"The shooting range" — David scratched his head — "have you ever used a bow before?"

"Nope—"

"—but I'm positive that the best archer in Solseed will teach me how it's done!"

He rubbed the underside of his chin and chuckled…

If her goal was to inflate his ego, then she did so with flying colours!

"Guess I can show you a thing or two—"

"—but I'll have to see how you fare first."

"Alright!" Julia beamed as she strolled towards the stall.

"Fair warning, though—"

"—I've no idea how to do this!"

The blond followed in her steps. 

"Then we'll see if you're a natural or not!"

The man behind the counter welcomed them with open arms and a massive smile when they arrived at his booth.

"Well, if it isn't young Brocksteel and Miss Julia" — said the fletcher — "here to woo the lady with your skills?"

Ebonhearth averted her gaze, but not before David's cheeks flushed a vibrant red.

"Nah" — answered the blond — "the lass would like to give it a go…"

The fletcher then looked at her and hummed with his arms crossed.

"Is that so…?"

She awkwardly smirked and brushed her arm.

"I'm not all that good, though…"

"Nonsense" — he peered to David and winked — "our local pro here will show you the ropes!"

Reaching under his stall, he retrieved a bow and quiver and handed them to her.

Her fingers tingled as Julia held the weapon in her sweaty palms and fumbled with the quiver, but eventually managed to still the bloody thing onto her back.

The fletcher cleared his throat once she was done.

"See those dummies over there—"

"—your objective is to land as many shots as you can, in under three minutes."

'That doesn't sound so hard…'

Thought Ebonhearth as she eyed the dummies.

"Bodies are worth one point, limbs five and the heads ten."

The man showed the numbers with his fingers.

"Score twenty-five points and you win a prize—"

"—any questions?"

"Don't think so…?"

"In that case…"

The fletcher recovered a pocket watch from his vest.

"On your mark…"

"Get set…"

"Shoot!"

And shoot she did, firing arrows as fast as her hands could manage. 

Yet not a single one hit their mark.

At the corner of her eyes, David's pained expression grew more and more exaggerated per every shot she missed.

Her frown deepened as she prepared to fire again, but her hand met thin air, rather than an arrow's feathery tail.

"Finished!" The fletcher announced as he stopped the timer.

"Sorry Madame—"

"—better luck next time!"

She then let loose a frustrated sigh and lowered her arms in defeat…

David placed his hand on her shoulder, but Julia refused to meet the smirk she knew was on his face.

"You weren't joking when you said you were bad at this!"

Ebonhearth then sneered through gritted teeth.

"Surely you didn't expect me to be near perfect on my first try!?"

"Relax—"

With a half-hearted grin, the blond pressed the air with his hands.

"—I'm just playing with you…"

An awkward silence befell them, in which she crossed her arms and shifted her weight.

"I-I'll go retrieve the arrows…"

Uttered the fletcher who was already on his way.

He was out of earshot when Julia let her shoulders fall and eyed David with a smirk.

"You going to show me how it's done, then?"

"Eh, sure" — he crossed his arms behind his head — "why not?"

Julia handed him the bow and quiver, and David had them prepared as the fletcher returned.

"Here you are…"

The man offered him the arrows, to which Brocksteel then slung the quiver beneath his arm, took the projectiles and inserted them all at once.

And after having straightened the holder onto his back, he gave him a thumbs up.

The fletcher nod in response, as David notched an arrow to the bow and took a deep breath.

"On your mark…"

"Get set…"

"Shoot!"

He let the first arrow loose and fired the rest in quick succession.

His first shot landed straight in the head of a dummy.

The second shot hit its mark with a little less grace.

The third and fourth tottered in the air, though didn't miss their targets either.

The blond eventually ran out of arrows, same as her. Yet unlike Julia, he had managed to reduce the dummies into oversized pincushions and never missed his mark.

David landed two shots in the heads, six in the bodies and five in the limbs.

Her jaw dropped, and Ebonhearth eyed him like a fish out of water…

"How!?"

"Years of practice" — he smirked — "years of practice…"

"Sixty-five points!"

The man roundup his score with his fingers.

"Not bad, but nowhere near your best."

David snickered as he settled the bow and quiver onto the counter…

"One hundred and twenty-nine was dumb luck, and you know that!"

"You still set the bar relatively high, and nobody has ever come close to beating it!"

Brocksteel rolled his eyes. "Yeah, yeah…"

"Oh, before I forget—"

The fletcher turned to the prize wall behind him and recovered two carnival masks from their display.

"—your rewards!" He presented them to the young pair.

The first resembled a ferocious wolf and the second a cunning fox…

"Why two—"

Julia tilted her head with a puzzled expression marring her face…

"—I didn't score a single point!"

"The boy did double the work, so he earned himself twice the prize."

Ebonhearth then glanced at her friend and he shrugged in response.

"Go ahead" — said the blond — "I only have a single face to adorn…"

"In that case" — she hovered her hand between the masks — " think I'll take the fox!"

"An excellent choice!" Stated the fletcher with a big smile.

David accepted his own mask with a gracious nod, and they both bid him farewell with a wave—laughter bursting off their chests as they continued about their day.

<><><> 

Solseed village, later that evening.

As night fell upon Solseed and the festivities reached their end, both David and Julia sat on a bench in the streets, feasting upon caramel-coated apples together.

"So" — uttered Brocksteel — "did you enjoy yourself, lass?"

Ebonhearth answered him with several nods.

But her beam soon disappeared from her face, so a frown could mar it instead…

"What is it?"

"I just wish it lasted longer…"

"There's always next year, ya know!?"

Stated the blond in an attempt to cheer her up, and it renewed Julia's pleasant smile.

"Absolutely!"

A deep silence befell them as a warm nightly breeze swept through the streets. It tousled their hairs before it played with the hang signs of the makeshift booths.

"Hey David…?" Her voice almost broke at his name.

"Something on your mind, lass?"

"Well" — Julia bit her lower lip and twirled her hair — "that incident with the wolves a few years back…"

"Yeah" — the blond rolled his syllables — "what about it?"

"What actually happened?"

He crossed his arms and arched an eyebrow.

"Ben's been telling stories again, hasn't he…?"

"I-I'm sorry" — she propped back with a wince and flailed her hands — "you don't need to talk about it if you don't want to!"

"It's fine" — Brocksteel shook his head — "that kid looks up to me a lot, though I don't understand why…"

He let out a sigh…

"I'll tell you what happened—"

"—but you must promise that you won't utter a thing to anyone, especially not Edgar…"

She stuck out her pinkie. "I won't tell a soul!"

Despite her childish gesture, David rolled with it and shook her little finger with his own.

"Some wolves found their way in the village that year, seven of them in fact—"

"—turned out one of the guards hadn't sealed the gates to the forest that day…"

The blond left pause…

"They crept in after dark and" — he lowered his eyes — "killed three civilians…"

"That's horrible!"

"Trust me, it gets worse: none of the guards had been trained to deal with wolves, let alone a pack—"

The blond hunched forwards in his seat and glanced at the ground…

"—I fended them off, butchered five and sent the other two running with their tails between their legs…"

He shook his head.

"Got zero credit for it too, as the mayor told everyone that it was all the guards' doing…"

"But why—"

"—why wouldn't he give you some recognition, at least?"

"Because it makes the local guard look weak and unfit to protect the villagers—"

David leaned his back against the bench…

"—only the witnesses know what transpired, and Braithway swore them to secrecy with a heavy purse, on top of threats of eviction and banishment if they ever spoke up."

"I always felt something was off about him, but I never imagined Mr. Braithway would be that type of man…"

Brocksteel scoffed at her words.

"You don't even know the half of it…"

"What do you—"

Music rumbled from the market before she could complete her sentence and they both jumped at its whimsical sounds.

"What's that?"

Said Ebonhearth, eyes straining from how much they bulged.

All signs of bitterness left David's face before he put on his mask and smiled at her.

"Put yours on and I'll show you!"

They arrived at the bazaar to find the entire village gathered there, their faces covered with masks as they drank and danced to the festive tunes performed by the local band.

The troupe stood on a makeshift stage, playing drums, tambourines and fiddles.

Julia took in the scene with parted lips and lifted brows, and all but went around the marketplace to check every nook and cranny of the event.

"Should we join them, lass?"

Brocksteel smiled at the corner of her eyes.

"You bet!"

She beamed, fingers tingling as she snatched his arm and pulled him towards the dancing mass.

"H-hold up a moment" — he choked a cough — "I meant a drink!"

Yet she paid his pleads no mind as she dragged him into the thick of the crowd, her lips split into a grin as she tittered loudly in the night.

Couples danced around them as they reached the stage, their movements slow and teasing, like the entire world was at their feet—and perhaps it was.

With a twirl, Julia looked into David's eyes and smiled. 

She slid her fingers from his arm to his wrist and guided his hand to her waist.

A cute flush took hold of his face as he fumbled with his other hand. 

David's palm sweated against Julia's, and his eyes rebuffed from settling in one place for a second too long.

Her lips softened into a smile. "That goes in my hand, David…"

"Sorry, lass" — he winced — "I'm a man of many talents, but dancing ain't one of them…"

"Then I guess I'll have to show you how it's done!"

Ebonhearth beamed and coquettishly winked.

A spark lit the blond's eyes as their gazes met again, and he returned her the smile.

<><><> 

Meanwhile, in the streets near the west gate.

The moon shone bright in the night sky, where the streets of Solseed laid desolate as the village either slept or danced at the bazaar. 

The jubilant tunes emitting from the marketplace echoed from afar, and it made the guard Philip bitter with envy.

It soured the atmosphere as the feeling twisted his heart whenever William—his partner for the night—tapped their unlit torch against the walls.

The more they drew from the market, the fainter the music became.

"Of all the nights we got stuck with guard duty—"

Philip snarled out of frustration.

"—it had to be during our very first summer solstice!"

"Put a damn cork in it, will ya—"

His partner cut him off with a growl.

"—the faster we finish our run, the faster we can go join the others!"

"Whatever" — he scoffed — "let's just get this over with!"

Without the slightest care in the world, William paid him no heed as he resumed his game of; Let's-Bash-Our-Only-Burning-Stick-Against-The-Damn-Wall.

Philip closed his eyes and drew a deep breath, his face twisting into a sneer as he shook his head.

'Of all the partners—'

An icy gust blew through the streets, and it licked at his cheeks. William then sneezed, and it sent a smirk to Philip's face.

'—thank Terra for small miracles.'

The melodies from the marketplace twisted and turned, as if something ripped the instruments to shreds mid-play—a trickery of their distance, but a frightening one still.

For a moment, the effect made a nearly animalistic growl in his ears, and it wasn't until they reached the next street corner did he realize, that his mind wasn't playing tricks on him.

Philip's eyes burst wide as he sprung ahead, and snatched William's right shoulder.

"You hear that?"

"Hear what?"

He held his finger to his lips, to which William frowned and tried his best to focus on anything but himself.

They heard nothing at first: no tune, no laughter, no wind—not even the beating of their own hearts.

Sweat trickled down the side of Philip's head, and he licked his lips…

Could he have misheard it?

Perhaps his mind was playing tricks on him after—

No…!

He dug his fingers into William's shoulder.

The sound hit him like a stack of bricks—a slobbery, subdued growl emanating from the alley at their left…

"Remember what David said about wolves?"

William gulped, yet managed to muster up a response nonetheless…

"Stomach and throat, while guarding your own."

Philip then took the lead, their swords hissing out of their scabbards as they unsheathed them.

Step after painful step, they reached the alleyway and peered within its blackened corridor.

A rust-like stench assaulted his nostrils, and he glanced to William…

His partner nod, and they worked together to ignite their one torch. 

It kindled to life like a beacon in the darkness, its heat licking at both their chilled faces.

Philip gave the torch back to William, and he raised it high above his head to peer into the shadows.

What they saw was an enormous figure resembling a man, his back hunched forward into an animalistic style as he faced the cul-de-sac wall ahead.

He bobbed his head as he wrenched at something the torch couldn't reach.

"H-hey" — said William with a trembling voice — "what are you doing there!?"

Philip rolled his eyes at his feeble effort to catch the man's attention, and wasn't surprised when his partner's voice fell on deaf ears.

He frowned at the disgusting sounds the bloke made…

It was as if the individual feasted on something full of a liquid he just couldn't swallow—perhaps trash left over from the butcher's shop?

The place was right next door, after all…

"Yo—"

Phillip focused all his frustration into a single shout.

"—the fuck are you doing here!?"

His bitterness boomed into the alley, yet he refrained from shaming the drunkard any further.

The person stopped, and Philip fought the urge to grin his victory at William.

However, their expressions twisted into disgust when whatever the bloke had in his mouth splashed onto the ground…

With a vicious growl, the man bent his neck upwards in an impossible fashion, his limbs cracking throughout the alleyway as he turned around to face the guards.

Adrenaline surged through Philip's veins, and it sent him into a state of panic…

"Stay back" — he leveled his sword with both hands — "I mean it!"

His partner hurled the torch at the fiend, and Philip's world came to a standstill as the flame revealed the man's actual nature: a massive, eyeless beast with razor sharp teeth and flayed skin of crimson.

Roughly six feet tall on all fours, its muscles protruded out of its own arms as they supported its massive upper body.

Behind it laid the mangled corpse of Johnathan, half of his head covered in teeth marks so big they seemed like extra eyes, his intestines scattered across the ground.

A scream lodged itself within Philip's throat, but he lost the strength to unleash it and choked on it instead.

And William was the first to find his voice.

"W-w-w-w-w-what the hell is that thing!?!"

The monster excreted a guttural roar, its tongue sprawling out of its blood-soaked mouth as its head swerved from side to side.

"Forget about that" — Philip jerked him back by the arm — "run!!!"

And it caused William to drop his weapon. 

The loud clang ground him back to reality, and he didn't think twice to bolt away from there.

They had just rounded the corner out of the alley when the monster slammed itself against the opposite brick wall, its weight crushing a dent into the building's side.

"It's gaining on us!" Shouted William from behind.

Adrenaline coursed through Philip's veins as his heart raced at what felt like a thousand miles an hour, and soon, William caught up with him and outmatched his speed.

"How the hell is it so fucking fast!?!" He bellowed between breaths.

They ran as quick as they possibly could but to no avail, the creature outpacing them by two steps for each one they took…

And, when the ground stopped vibrating below their feet, Philip felt a wave of hope wash over him.

Had they done it?

Had the creature gone back to its meal?

Philip looked down…

An enormous shadow grew ever bigger under his feet.

His eyes enlarged; his throat collapsed, and he screamed.

The weight of a hundred bricks hurtled against his back, and his face hit the pavement so hard his vision flashed.

Pain surged within his brain, and Philip met the black, clouded skies he had grown to hate throughout his early years.

When had he turned around?

Dragging his eyes down, his entire body trembled.

Philip had not turned himself around—the creature had rolled him on his back.

The monster stood but an inch from his face, its sightless gaze somehow glaring at him.

He threw a punch at its ugly head, and its gore-filled mouth split into a nightmarish grin, like something straight out of hell.

His eyes bulged…

It caught his arm with its mouth and chewed through his bones like wet paper, and with a nauseating crack, the beast ripped it clean off.

He let loose a bloodcurdling scream as unmatched anguish coursed through his veins.

Before he could thrash his remaining arm in a futile effort to escape, however, the monster head-butted him to the ground.

His forehead cracked with the impact and his eyes threatened to roll up his skull.

Amidst the black and white of his haze, he found William's panicked stare.

His partner stood fear-stricken at the street's end, his hands a trembling mess.

Philip waged war against his own mauled corpse but found his voice through the taste of crimson iron that drenched his throat.

"Help" — he bellowed — "please!!!"

They locked eyes.

For a hopeful moment, it appeared as if William would charge at the beast and free him of its grasp—take him home to his disgusting old couch and his famished cat.

But William averted his gaze instead and turned his back on him…

Still, Philip mustered the last of his strength and held out his hand.

"Help…!"

But his pleads fell on deaf ears as his partner fled the vicinity, taking all hopes of salvation along with him.

William's betrayal wounded him like daggers to the heart as his outstretched arm hit the ground. 

He felt his shoulder tear and braced for the torment that came—but as red swallowed the black around his vision, it was numbness that took hold of his corpse.

And when Philip slowly closed his eyes, he knew that it would be for the last time.

<><><> 

Back at the marketplace.

Julia and David danced amidst the villagers, the rhythm of the music guiding their every movement.

With a renewed boost in confidence, Brocksteel had no problem following her lead and even dared to take it at times.

"Not bad; Mr. Big Bad Wolf!" Julia playfully commented on his mask.

"Good thing this cunning fox is a decent trainer, and that this shabby mutt is a quick learner."

She giggled, then pressed her head against his chest.

"It'd be a shame if everyone knew that the mighty David didn't know how to dance with a lady…"

"Then I'm glad you spared me such humiliation" — the blond chuckled — "because the villagers would never let me live it down!"

Her eyes shutting with cozy glee, Ebonhearth beamed at his words…

"You're welc—"

A bloodcurdling scream swiftly cut through her words, and the band all stopped playing their instruments in unison.

An eerie stillness befell the market, as everyone glanced around and spoke to each other in hushed, quavering tones.

David let go of her and swept his eyes throughout the bazaar. 

"The hell was that?"

"M-maybe we misheard it" — she bit her lip — "could have been just the—"

"Monster!!!"

The voice boomed again, and it stole the air straight out of her lungs.

Before anyone could voice their concerns, however, a lone guardsman appeared from one of the many alleys that encircled the plaza. 

He crashed through several stalls on his way to the mayor, who hurried forward to help the man before he hit the ground.

Edgar missed him by an inch, and the guard tore his helmet from his own head as he fell to his knees and clenched at his chest.

"Calm down, William—"

Stated Edgar as he helped him onto his feet…

"—what's going on?"

"Monster" — he tightly gripped the mayor's shoulders — "there's a monster in the village!!!"

Julia's breath hitched, and she firmly grasped David's arm as the villagers simultaneously gasped.

Flashes of white eyes and a blood-tainted grave assaulted her mind, and her heart threatened to burst out of her chest.

She tightened her grip harder…

Her throat shut in on itself, as if an unseen hand suffocated her, and she would have missed David's voice, had he not shaken her back to her senses.

"Lass" — he exclaimed — "calm down!"

Ebonhearth then wetted her lips. "I'm alright…"

He narrowed his eyes, but didn't withdraw his arm from her grasp…

David parted his lips to speak, but the mayor's words sliced through whatever it was he wanted to say.

"Come—"

Braithway led him toward the makeshift stage, and helped him take a seat upon it…

"—take a deep breath and explain yourself…"

The poor guardsman hyperventilated so much, that Julia could hear it from where she stood.

"I-it had no eyes—"

William uttered with a tremulous voice…

"—Philip and I found it in an alleyway close to the butcher's shop, t-thinking it was a wolf…"

"And where's Philip now?"

He lowered his face to his hands. "Dead…!"

A new round of gasps wailed through out the market, and Julia spotted David's hand reaching for his sword.

"It killed him! Pinned him down and—"

The mayor rested a hand on William's shoulder.

"—I wanted to help him!"

The guard then looked up at the mayor…

"But I was afraid to go back" — he heaved on his own spit — "scared that it would eat me, too…!"

Julia's knees trembled, and her heart raced at what felt like a million miles an hour.

"By the goddesses" — someone amidst the crowd stated — "there's a monster in the village!"

"We're all gonna die!"

"My daughter! She's at home! What if it got her too!?"

"Screw this, it's every man for themselves!"

David tugged Julia closer…

Yet Before the panic could worsen, Braithway drew a flintlock pistol from his jacket, aimed skyward and fired.

Julia jumped at the sound, and the loud noise startled the crowd into silence.

"You all know what to do when under attack—"

The mayor stated…

"—go to your homes in groups, extinguish your lights and barricade your doors and windows until told otherwise!"

Nobody moved…

"Now!!!"

The mayor shouted from the top of his lungs, and it snapped everyone from their daze.

The frightened villagers began to leave, their food, masks and jewels abandoned in their wake, as they hurried out of the bazaar.

"As for the guards" — Braithway instructed — "ready your swords, find that monster and kill it!"

A low, almost imperceptible growl hit Julia's ears, and she glimpsed in its general direction, to the nearest rooftop.

She froze…

There stood the beast, a ghastly piece of flesh dangling from the corner of its mouth.

Shivers raced up her arms as the beast noshed on what appeared to be Philip's remains, and crushed them with its abnormal teeth.

It raised its head and snuff the air, and its eyeless sight met with her widened gaze.

The monster unleashed a fierce, powerful roar as it lowered its body and stretched its limbs, to which David then unsheathed his weapon and jumped in front of her.

"Stand back, lass" — he exclaimed — "that thing is about to pounce!"

And pounce it did!

It sprung off the rooftop into a crowd of fleeing villagers and landed on a woman, which sent her face to the ground with an eerie crack.

Julia's vision hazed as her eyes locked on the gory mess.

'I' — she gulped — 'could have saved her…'

The mob erupted into total chaos, but the beast paid no mind to the villagers as it crashed through stalls and crates in a beeline to where Julia stood.

David let out a cry as he freed himself from her grip and rushed forward, his sword aimed at the monster's chest.

But it leapt over his frame and kicked him behind the head… 

The sheer force of the blow sent him to the ground with a loud thud, his weapon a far distance from his reach.

"David!" Julia cried, her eyes wide as the creature landed but an inch from her friend's face.

Yet before she could rush to his help, the monster pawed the ground and charged, its eyeless sight once more locked on her.

She crossed her arms and braced for impact, but nothing could have prepared her for the excruciating agony that shot through her body, when the beast rammed her and sent her flying.

Her mask flew off her face and her satchel strap broke, but it all escaped her mind when she hit the pavement.

A golden glimmer caught her eyes, as Julia coughed blood out of her throat and rolled face-down on the ground. 

She sought to stand on her feet—to rush forward, grab her mother's dagger and thrust it into that monster's face.

But all she managed was to crawl towards the blade…

Julia heard the beast getting closer, its claws grinding the hard stone as the ground trembled beneath its weight, but she braved onwards despite her collapsing lungs.

Her fingers quaked as they finally reached the hilt of the dagger, and for but an instant, Ebonhearth felt triumph.

Yet when she saw the creature's looming shadow cast on the ground beneath her, all she felt was pure, ghastly fear.

This was it…

She was going to die!