Fenra and Cora arrived at Nerei Town, navigating its winding streets in search of a witch's shop. The town itself was alive with subtle magic, its uneven medieval adjoined architecture giving it a mystical charm. At last, they stood in front of a peculiar store. The building, conjoined with others in an asymmetrical fashion, lacked any discernible signage or company markings. Still, its lights were on, a rare beacon amidst the shuttered shops around it.
A soft chime rang out as they opened the door, and a melodic voice greeted them warmly.
Before them stood a woman with her back turned. She wore a purple pointed hat adorned with white floral patterns, a pink ribbon tied at its tip. Her light brown hair flowed down to her collarbone, and her skin was pale and smooth. When she turned, her crystal-green eyes locked onto theirs, and her red lips curved into a knowing smile.
Fenra couldn't help but note, as she had before, how much the witch's eyes resembled Kelson's.
The witch was strikingly buxom, clad in a purple dress with a daring window that exposed part of her chest. The garment flowed downward in a curtain-like fashion, paired with brown leggings and black high heels. Around her, potions, charms, and grimoires floated lazily in the air, some spinning in place or flitting from one shelf to another.
As they entered, a stray book brushed past Cora's shoulder, causing her to flinch. Whatever power was animating this shop, it was both fascinating and unsettling.
The witch smiled wider when their gazes met but said nothing further, clearly waiting for them to speak.
"Misha, the Witch of Blue Gulch," Fenra began, addressing her with formality. "We're here on request for something,"
Misha quickly raised a hand to her lips, feigning shock. "Oh my, Fenra, must you be so formal? Drop the honorifics and just call me Misha. We've known each other long enough, haven't we?"
Fenra managed a small smile, though her tone quickly turned serious as she explained. "We're here for a Moaning Eye. We're hoping you have one in stock, and can name your price."
Misha fell silent, her expression unreadable as she considered the request. After a long pause, she finally spoke. "A Moaning Eye is a high-grade tool, Fenra. Do you know how much effort and rare materials go into crafting even one of them?"
Cora, feeling uneasy, shifted on her feet. "We understand, but it's critical to our investigation."
Misha's green eyes narrowed slightly. "And what exactly do you need it for? The city shouldn't be facing a problem serious enough to warrant such a tool… should it?"
Fenra hesitated but decided it was best to be honest. "A Shadow Dweller has wormed its way into Skyrail."
At the mention of the creature, Misha visibly tensed. Cora could see a flicker of fear in her usually calm demeanor. The witch placed a hand on her forehead, muttering, "Not even Skyrail is infallible, is it?"
"That's exactly why we need the Eye," Fenra pressed, her tone urgent. "You understand the stakes. Name your price quickly so we can move before more lives are lost."
But to their surprise, Misha shook her head, her lips curling into a sly smile. "I'm afraid I'm not really in the mood."
"What?" Cora blurted out, incredulous. "Why not? People's lives are at stake!"
Misha's tone remained cool, even playful. "Oh, my heart goes out to them, truly. But I'm running a business here. And if things go south… well, I have other places to retreat to. This shop is hardly my only sanctuary."
Before Fenra could argue, Misha raised a hand to stop her. "However, I'm willing to strike a deal… if you, Fenra, handle the exchange."
Cora frowned, confused. "What does that mean?"
Fenra's face darkened slightly as she seemed to understand.
Misha clarified with a smirk. "Bring me a fairy whose essence I can extract, and the Moaning Eye is yours. Oh, and just to be clear, it must be a male fairy."
Cora was outraged. "A male fairy? Do you know how impossible that is? Where the hell are we supposed to find one of those? That's not even an equivalent exchange!"
Turning to Fenra, she demanded, "You're not seriously considering this, are you?"
Fenra said nothing, her expression unreadable as she appeared lost in thought. After a moment, she muttered, "An adjacent trade… figures."
Misha's smile widened at Fenra's response. With a slow, deliberate motion, she extended her hand, and something began to materialize above her palm.
It was a small, round gem, dark as midnight, with a vivid green pupil-like slit at its center. It radiated an eerie, otherworldly energy.
Cora gasped softly, recognizing it as potentially the Moaning Eye they'd been sent to retrieve.
As Fenra stepped forward to take it, she leaned in close to Misha and whispered, "How did you know?"
Misha's response was cryptic, her smile never wavering. "I have my ways."
With the Eye in hand, Fenra and Cora exited the shop. Misha waved them off cheerfully, as if the entire exchange had been nothing more than a pleasant conversation.
Once outside, Cora turned to Fenra, her frustration evident. "What was all that about? What's going on?"
Fenra simply sighed, her expression tired. "It's a headache I'll have to deal with later. Let's go."
Despite Cora's protests, Fenra said nothing more, leaving her partner with more questions than answers as they hurried back to their investigation.
---
Cora and Fenra backtracked at the location they once were, now that they had the means to advance.
Cora who was unsure asked Fenra, "Are you sure this will work?"
"I have fate in him!" Fenra responded with full confidence that it would.
At that moment Fenra lifted her right hand and opened up the palm of her hand to reveal the moaning eye.
"!"
As if without any notice, the eye trembled and slowly levitated into the air. Its pupils began showing evidence of light and it hiss as it floated
As the light glanced over the area, purple haze slowly started to come into their view, only for Fenra it was a lot more clearer due to her heightened senses at its initial stage.
And without notice that moaning eye began following the trail that appeared before it.
Cora and Fenra followed the hovering Moaning Eye deeper into the city's quieter outskirts, its faint green light pulsing with rhythmic intensity. The hazy purple trails emitted swirled more thickly with every passing step, like ghostly smoke marking the invisible path of something sinister. The hum accompanying the eye grew louder, faintly resonating in their ears, and each sound felt heavier than the last.
Cora glanced around uneasily. The streets had grown eerily desolate, the air damp and cold. The buildings around them stood like forgotten shells, their facades crumbling and windows shattered or boarded up. "This place is giving me the creeps," she muttered. "Are we even still on Skyrail?"
Fenra's gaze was focused on the Moaning Eye. "It knows where to go. Just keep up," she replied tersely. After a pause, she added, "And let HQ know what's happening. We're officially in uncharted territory."
Cora nodded, her communicator already in hand. "HQ, this is Cora. The Moaning Eye is guiding us through increasingly remote areas. We're moving into less populated zones, most of these streets look abandoned. Stand by for further updates." Her voice was steady, but her grip on the device betrayed her unease.
The pair turned a corner, and the Moaning Eye suddenly shifted its path, floating toward the side of the road where it illuminated the inside of a shattered window. As they moved closer, the faint green glow revealed a disturbing sight: a body slumped in the corner of the room, its face obscured by shadows.
Fenra stepped forward, carefully peering through the window. The body looked as the one surveyed earlier today, untouched by physical violence, but dreamed of every essence that the room carried a sense of unnatural stillness. "The Shadow Dweller's influence," Fenra muttered. "It's getting stronger." not of this, but feels like she can feel it being blown past her.
Cora backed away, pulling out her communicator again. "HQ, we've found a body inside a nearby structure. Another victim that had been drained of all life, and the energy here is more oppressive. We believe the Shadow Dweller isn't too far away." She swallowed hard, glancing at Fenra. "another body found… how many more?"
The Moaning Eye floated back into the air and resumed its journey, leading them through winding alleys and deserted streets. As they followed, it occasionally stopped to hover near houses, shining its light into broken windows or doorways. Each time, it revealed more bodies, scattered and lifeless, some in collapsed positions as though they were performing casual activities before they had their life drained.
Cora's breath grew shallow as she updated HQ with every discovery. "Another body… and another. It's not just the streets. The houses, too. There are victims scattered everywhere," she said, her voice tense. "This thing has left a trail of devastation."
Fenra remained stoic, her eyes locked on the glowing Moaning Eye. "It's only confirming what we already know," she said quietly. "We're dealing with something that's left its mark across this entire area."
Their surroundings became more alien the farther they walked. The remnants of city life faded entirely, replaced by overgrown moss and slick, marshy ground. Puddles of stagnant water dotted the path ahead, and the air carried a damp, earthy smell. The Moaning Eye continued forward, unwavering, its light now brighter as if sensing the culmination of its purpose.
Finally, it stopped, hovering motionlessly before them. In the distance, shrouded in mist and overgrowth, stood a tall, dilapidated apartment building. The structure's walls were cracked and stained, vines twisting around its broken windows like veins. It loomed over the landscape, the only structure visible in an otherwise featureless expanse.
Fenra's eyes narrowed as she observed the building. "This is it," she said firmly. "The Moaning Eye is pointing directly at that place. According to it, this is the source."
Cora hugged her arms tightly, shivering slightly in the cold air. "It looks like something straight out of a horror movie," she whispered, her eyes darting to the dark windows that seemed to stare back at them. "You sure this is where it's leading us?"
Fenra adjusted her gloves, her gaze unwavering. "It's the only lead we've got. Whatever is behind all this is in that building."
Cora hesitated, glancing back at the path they'd come from. It was silent, save for the faint hum of the Moaning Eye. She pulled out her communicator one last time. "HQ, we've reached the source. The Moaning Eye has stopped at a dilapidated apartment building, surrounded by marshland. No other structures nearby. Requesting backup."
Fenra gave her a nod. "We'll monitor until help arrives. Today we will end this stupid charade."