She woke to stillness, a stillness she had never known, as if it had been forever. A burden of purpose sat upon her, comforted and daunting, not unlike a heavy cloak that warmed against the cold uncertainty. But with the release of Ariston the sanctuary burst forth into something more magnificent: it now became a place of solace and of learning, drawing people from distant villages and lands to take refuge, learn, and sometimes, solve the mysteries of the universe.
There was Elysia, more mentor than anything to Lily, sitting there with her in the pale morning light over a cup of herbal tea as the sun streamed golden through the arched windows of the sanctuary. The great silent, nearly empty hall of the sanctuary was now filled with quiet conversation and footsteps shuffling along and the comforting clinking of tools being readied for healing rituals. It was a habit, Elysia thought, as she watched Lily's thoughtful gaze rest on the latest arrivals—each with his or her own burdens and secrets.
"Do you ever feel overwhelmed?" Elysia asked softly, scrutinizing Lily's face.
In a way, yes. But not in the same way as before. This weight… it's different." She thought for a moment, trying to fit exactly the right words to what she needed to say. "It feels like I have something to give now. Like I can offer them something beyond protection. It's a little terrifying.".
Elysia's eyes softened with an understanding. "It is the weight of responsibility, of growth. You have seen darkness and, therefore, can help others see it within themselves. This gift is rare, Lily. Don't undervalue it.".
But before he could continue his conversation, a newcomer approached. There was something worn about his eyes, gray hair sprinkling at his temples. He entered just beyond the doorway, as if not quite sure he should have come in. His stance was hesitant; he had, perhaps, debated entering at all. He looked around, fidgeting enough that Lily noticed him, and then his eyes settled upon her.
"Are you… the protector?" he asked, his voice shaking. "They said here is someone who can… understand. That you know of light and darkness."
Lily looked at Elysia, who gave a little nod of her head, encouraging. "I am," Lily said, standing up and taking one step into the room. "Please, come in. You're safe here.".
The man took a deeper breath and stepped into the hall, casting his glance about as though he expected something in the shadows to spring on him from every corner. Lily motioned for him to sit, and they settled on one of the benches beneath the tall arched windows that let through the sun drenching the space with warm light. Its ethereal glow would illuminate the anxiety that now seemed to verge on his face.
After a moment he began speaking. "My name is Roran," he said quietly, as though he feared being overheard. "I come from a village beyond the Shadowwood. Strange things have been happening there. The crops are withered overnight, children have nightmares so real they dare not sleep again, and there is. a presence, dark and restless.".
Lily listened attentively, realizing at once that she was hearing the familiar markers of unbalanced energy, like she had sensed when in the presence of the Harbinger. Still, this felt different, as if it was not a spirit, isolated, but a festering darkness seeping into the land itself.
"Do you sense this?" she asked softly.
Roran shook his head. "Not directly. But I've felt it. And sometimes, at night, there's a shadow moving through the fields, something that doesn't quite seem. human. It's as though the land itself is rejecting us, turning against us." He looks up at Lily, pleading. "Please. They say you can help. Understand.".
Lily took a deep breath, her sympathy muttering over her determination. She looked at Elysia who nodded silently, for she knew that it was something the girl needed to do.
"I will go with you," she said. "Together, we shall discover and try to understand what is troubling your village."
It was vivid how relieved Roran was and as he murmured a couple of words of thanks. Elysia seemed lost in thoughts too, with a quiet pride and concern filled behind her eyes. "You be careful, Lily," she said as her tone became serious. "This darkness. feels ancient, entrenched. You might be dealing with something that's far older than you think it is.".
Lily nodded, accepting the words of Elysia as both a warning and a promise to support her. She was togethering her belongings and preparing for the journey, which was the first such onslaught that would actually send her into the fray as a real protector-not only going out to fight some shadows but to start comprehending the mysteries hidden in them.