Morning arrived with a soft hush over the land, the golden rays of dawn filtering through the wisps of mist still clinging to the dewy grass. Birds chirped in scattered chorus as the wind gently stirred the tall blades of wild grass around the sleeping camp. Toby stirred with a grunt, his limbs heavy and sore.
He sat up slowly, rubbing the sleep from his eyes, then stretched his arms out wide, letting out a long, exaggerated yawn. "Ugh... my body aches all over," he mumbled, rolling his shoulders and cracking his neck. "Yesterday's fight with that paladin captain really messed me up. Felt like I got hit by a stampede of oxen."
Toby looked around and saw the dying embers of their fire smoldering in the pit, sending up lazy curls of smoke. The air was still crisp with morning chill. Not far away, Reu sat on a flat rock, already wide awake and sipping from the small bottle of ale Brea had gifted him the night before. His sword lay across his lap, and his eyes were lost in the distant horizon.
"You're awake early," Toby said, his voice still groggy.
Reu glanced at him, his voice dry. "You heartstone bearers are supposed to be invincible. Figured you'd be up doing flips or something."
"AHAHAH, OUCH!" Toby laughed, then winced, clutching his side. "We're still human, you know! We get tired. We get hungry. Speaking of hungry—Brea! Is breakfast ready yet?"
From the other side of the camp, Brea, who was crouched near the fire pit stirring a pot of stew, narrowed her eyes at him. With uncanny precision, she hurled a wooden spoon. It spun through the air and THWACK!—smacked Toby squarely on the forehead.
"OW!" Toby shouted, falling backward in exaggerated agony.
Reu burst out laughing. "Nice shot. Do that more often."
"You guys are so hard on me," Toby groaned, rubbing his head.
Brea just smirked. "Because you're an easy target."
Toby slumped to the ground with a pout, but his stomach growled audibly, breaking the tension. The three companions shared a laugh, the warmth of camaraderie chasing away the last vestiges of sleep and worry.
Once the food was ready, they gathered around to eat. The warmth of the stew filled them with renewed energy. Afterward, they packed up and resumed their journey, continuing across the winding paths of Prenia's wilderness. Toby, as usual, rode behind Reu on the same horse, arms lazily draped.
Reu stared at his sword as they rode, lost in thought.
"Still thinking about your blade?" Brea asked from her own horse. "You keep staring at it like it holds your soul."
Reu didn't look at her. "It's not something I want to talk about."
"Hmmph. I was just trying to have a conversation with someone sane for once."
Toby leaned around Reu. "Hey! You can talk to me!"
"Nah," Brea replied, rolling her eyes. "Forget it."
A lull of silence followed until Brea perked up, pointing to the horizon. "Hey! There's a house over there. Looks like a farmstead."
Reu nodded. "Let's stop by. Maybe they have water."
They approached the small property, which sat nestled beside tall cornfields. Chickens wandered freely across the yard, pecking at the dirt. An old man was scattering seeds from a burlap sack.
"Good day, gramps!" Reu called out.
The old man didn't reply. He glanced at them, then turned back to his chickens.
"Gramps! We're travelers. Can we get some water?" Reu repeated.
Still no response. The old man walked away silently.
"What's his problem?" Reu muttered.
Toby stepped forward confidently. "Let me try." He cupped his hands and shouted, "Hey! OLD MAN! We're ashkins! Surrender your water to us, or else!"
Before the sentence ended, Brea's palm WHACKED him on the head again.
"OWWW!" he cried.
Brea stepped up beside him. "Are you a complete idiot?"
She turned to the old man. "Sorry about them, gramps. Really."
The old man walked past her with a quiet grumble.
"This old man..." Brea muttered, clenching her fists.
Then the old man suddenly stopped and said, "I got a name, and it's not 'gramps' or 'old man.' So I assume you weren't talking to me."
"Then why not tell us your name?" Brea snapped.
"You didn't ask," he answered simply.
Just then, rustling came from the nearby corn fields.
The old man turned toward the noise. "They're back. And during daylight?!."
"What are?" Toby asked, recovering.
"Beasts," the man answered. "They've been stealing my chickens."
Reu unsheathed his sword. "I'll deal with them."
The old man looked at Reu's worn blade. "What are you going to do with that? Ticklish them into submission?"
Reu tensed, but didn't respond.
Brea stepped behind Reu, wary. The rustling suddenly stopped.
"They're gone now," the old man muttered.
"Who are you, really?" Reu asked, lowering his sword.
"Name's Dido. This is my farm."
They followed him to his house. The farmhouse looked ancient and rickety from the outside, but was clean, orderly, and brightly lit within. The scent of fresh bread and herbs lingered in the air.
An old woman stepped out from another room. "Oh! Visitors?"
"This is my wife, Celia," Dido said.
"Please, make yourselves at home," Celia said warmly. "Sit, eat something."
They were served warm bread, fresh goat's milk, and herbal tea.
"Dido," Reu asked after a few bites. "Aren't you worried we might be dangerous?"
Celia laughed softly. "If you were, you wouldn't have made it through the field. Dido has his ways."
Brea choked a little on her bread.
Toby beamed. "Old man's got strength in him."
Dido raised a brow. "What's your business out here anyway?"
Reu replied calmly. "Just traveling through. We needed water."
Then, Toby blurted, "Actually, we're ashkins."
Dido's expression changed instantly. He stood up and lunged, swinging his cane. Reu blocked it with his sword in a clanging clash.
"OUT!" Dido roared.
"DIDO!" Celia snapped, stepping between them. Her voice cut through the tension like a whip.
Dido backed off, lowering his cane.
"Sorry, dear," he muttered.
Celia sighed and turned to the guests. "He's an ex-paladin. And still gets temperamental around ashkins."
"AHAHAHA," Toby chuckled. "You've got to cool down, old man."
"You're lucky that strike was blocked," Dido grumbled.
Time passed, and the sun dipped lower. Dido stood and grabbed his cane.
"Gotta check the chicken coup. Be back soon."
"Don't take long," Celia called.
As soon as Dido left, Celia sat with the three.
"So," she said kindly. "Who are you three, really? You're too well-fed to be runaways."
Brea smiled. "We're forming our own ashkin group. The Vesper Knights."
Celia laughed. "You? Ashkins? My goodness. You all look so young."
"Youth is power," Toby said proudly.
Celia nodded. "Well, you have good hearts. I can see that."
Night fell. Lamps were lit. Dido hadn't returned.
Celia frowned. "He should be back by now. I'll go check on him."
"I'm coming with you," Reu said.
She nodded. "Bring a lamp."
Toby and Brea remained.
"Toby," Brea said sternly. "Watch your mouth. Seriously."
"Why? I was just—"
"Shhh! Just shut it."
Toby pouted. "Okay..."
Suddenly, a door creaked from one of the inner rooms. A woman stepped out. It was Celia. Again.
"What... the...?" Brea whispered.
Back outside, Reu walked beside the other Celia.
"Why is your house so far from the fields?" he asked casually.
Celia chuckled darkly. "Because it's easier... to catch prey alone."
Her body began to morph, stretching unnaturally. Claws sprouted. Skin turned to scales.
"Now that you're alone, I can finally eat you," she said, voice inhuman.
Reu stepped back in horror. "You're a mimaran!"
"I am Rusuk," she hissed. "And it's been so long since I tasted human warrior blood."
Reu reached for his sword—only to realize he'd left it in the house.
"Damn it."
Rusuk lunged.
Reu dodged the first swipe, but the mimaran was fast—unnaturally fast. A blur of motion slashed past him, razor-sharp claws grazing his shoulder and tearing through fabric and skin alike. Blood beaded instantly, and Reu hissed through gritted teeth as pain flared across his upper arm.
Rolling to the side, he narrowly avoided a second strike and came up with a sharp grunt, grabbing a thick branch from the ground. Though it was no sword, it would have to do. He gripped it tightly, eyes narrowing as Rusuk's twisted smile spread.
"You're agile," the creature purred, circling. "But sticks don't win wars."
Reu didn't reply. He took a defensive stance, watching every shift in Rusuk's body. The mimaran lunged again, claws slashing downward. Reu raised the stick and blocked, wood splintering as the blow landed with enough force to send tremors down his arms.
He retaliated with a wide swing, forcing the creature to backstep. Rusuk laughed, flicking her claw to send droplets of Reu's blood flying. "You bleed beautifully. I wonder how your heart tastes."
Breathing heavily, Reu circled, sweat beginning to bead on his brow. He was weaponless, injured, and far from help—but his eyes burned with the fire of a man who refused to fall easily.
"You're quick," Rusuk said, licking blood from her claw. "But I'm starving."
Back inside, the real Celia staggered out, clutching her head.
"Where is Dido? and the man with you?" she asked.
Brea stood. "Reu went with you. Didn't he?"
"No... something hit me in that room. When I woke up, I was locked in..."
Toby and Brea exchanged glances, their confusion turning to dread.
"We've been tricked," Brea whispered.
Toby grabbed his satchel. "We've got to find Reu."