"Why shouldn't I go out at night, Mommy? I like the fireflies, and the stars are so beautiful..." The little girl, Katty, repeated. Her mother smiled, but the warmth didn't reach her eyes as she began to retell the story.
"Ah, that's because..." Her voice dropped to a low whisper. "In the darkness dwell the demons, and they love to eat those children who don't go to bed when they're told."
"Like little Angust?" the girl asked.
"Yes, exactly like him..." the mother replied. "He didn't listen to his mother. Always stubborn and disobedient. He went to see the bird of the lake, the crystal bird that sleeps in the depths and comes out during the full moon. Nobody knows what he found, but his screams haunted our town for generations. That's why we close our doors and stay inside the moment the sun sets."
"Mommy... aren't you afraid of the Cardinal?" the little girl asked.
The mother went pale. She swallowed hard. "He... He is our protector... The beacon of the Sun Lords in Silver Harbor... We love him..." She said the words, but she was looking around at the shadows in the room as if they could gain life and lunge at her. "Blessed be the Cardinal."
"Blessed may he be," the girl replied.
"So people are going missing?" Aria asks.
I watch through the carriage window as the old woman studies Aria from head to toe. Lilith is slumped against me, eyes closed, while I subtly scan the area. There is something off with that old woman—a structural anomaly in her presence I don't want to investigate yet. To do so would require a deeper scan, potentially revealing my own capabilities to whoever is watching. I must remain patient.
"Last night, a woman and her daughter went missing," the old woman warns, her voice a dry rattle. "We found clothes, all shredded into rags and covered in blood. You would do better to continue your path instead of stopping in Silver Harbor. For your own sake, hehehe."
Aria looks back at the carriage, swallows her ego, and nods. "Thank you for the recommendation. We won't stay long."
"Godspeed," the old woman says, melting back into the fog.
The mist is dense, clinging to the town unnaturally. My Perception picks up the faint hum of Essence—this isn't weather; it's a veil designed to keep the sun at bay. Whatever is hunting here is the reason of this fog.
Aria returns to the carriage, the door clicking shut against the damp air. "The woman told me the hostel is two blocks ahead. Are we going there?"
I nod. Aria instructs the driver to move forward before turning to me. "Master Vance, are you going to let her sleep this much?"
I look at Lilith. She hasn't been sleeping since the moment Aria stepped out, but she is committed to the act. "She is a delicate rose who deserves all the sleep she needs," I reply.
Aria's jaw drops. "I—"
"Oh, my darling... so sweet..." Lilith stirs, stretching like a cat before planting a lingering kiss on my cheek. "You shouldn't be so jealous, sister. One day you'll find a man for yourself."
Aria is frozen, completely bewildered. She cannot sense what we do: the consciousness expanded over us like a net, studying every breath, every pulse, every word. Lilith is playing her role to perfection. She knows the danger is watching, and she is giving it exactly what it expects—a decadent noble and his infatuated lover.
"Not in front of your sister, honey," I tell Lilith.
"Why hide our love, darling?" she counters, her fingers tracing the edge of my mask. I sigh internally; she is taking advantage of the play to move further.
"Behave..." I whisper before she can venture toward my lips. "Your sister is not used to such behavior."
Lilith grins. "Fufufu."
"Sister..." Aria repeats the word, her brain finally catching up to the theater. "You have to show more decency!"
The carriage stops abruptly.
"Did we reach the hostel?" Lilith asks, opening the window.
"No, my Lady. There are... people on the road. Blocking it," the driver calls back. "They're just standing there. They don't look ready to move."
"In the name of the Sun Lords, let us pass!" the escort cries out, raising the sigil.
"Sun Lords... Sun Lords..." the crowd begins to chant in a hollow, rhythmic drone. They part slowly, like a curtain.
"Is this some sort of festival?" I ask, projecting the voice of a bored, nonchalant traveler.
"I don't know," Aria replies.
"Oh, I know nothing, dear," Lilith mutters, leaning in until her lips almost brush my ear. "I just know I'm eager to be alone in our bedroom. No sister to interrupt..."
"And you'll complain tomorrow that you can't walk because of me," I whisper back.
The oppressive consciousness that was weighing on the carriage suddenly withdraws. It leaves, satisfied with the image of a lustful, arrogant lord and his vapid companions. The "Cardinal" or whatever entity is watching has deemed us a non-threat.
"I'm curious about the folklore of this place. Any stories either of you want to share? This place must be famous for its fog, isn't it?" I ask, my voice projecting a superficial boredom that belies my active Perception.
"Fufufu... It actually is a very popular beach, but I doubt people are enjoying the place right now with no sun and a lot of mist. Who would like it? It's damp, it's cold, and it ruins the hair," Lilith replies, smoothing her violet silks. "But it should get better tomorrow. The weather is a living thing, some books say."
"I just want to know if there is anything worth seeing in this place," I add, watching the gray silhouettes of the buildings passing by. "Perhaps a restaurant, or a museum... Anything..."
Lilith sighs, a melodramatic sound that fits her "Lady" persona perfectly. "If you must know, the folklore talks about the 'Crystal Bird'—a millenary spirit of the lake that supposedly grants wishes but usually just takes lives. This is a very religious town; normally, they would have hunted and killed the bird, but it is very smart and elusive, appearing only when it is certain there is no danger. In general, this is a nice place. People are said to be kind and respectful; they love their town, and the port should be full of life regardless of the fog. Most of the sea products the capital consumes come from here."
"Interesting," I mutter. "I would have loved to go out and see that port myself. Fish is one of my favorite meals, especially when it's fresh... but with all this fog, I feel like staying in the bedroom."
"Fufufufu... Yes. To me, the bedroom is better with or without sun," Lilith adds, her eyes gleaming as she leans into the opportunity.
"You said there's a lake..." I continue, ignoring her provocation.
"On the other side of the mountain," Lilith explains. "It's connected to the sea by a river. That's the other face of Silver Harbor. They fish trout and other freshwater species there. We are supposed to travel by boat to reach it. It's said to be safer than the roads because of the thieves and raiders living nearby."
"And why isn't it two towns then?" I ask.
"Because it would take just half an hour to get there by boat," Aria replies, her voice regaining its royal authority. "And my father didn't like the idea of another city hall in there."
"Makes sense."
I close my eyes. I have no intention of interrupting whatever entity controls this mist, nor do I wish to face it prematurely. But I will not allow it to devour my assets. The journey has just begun; losing my escorts or my companions now is something I cannot permit.
The hostel is a monument to expensive, heavy-handed taste. It is draped in red velvet and floored with black marble. Most striking, however, are the statues: snarling gargoyles on the left, serene angels on the right.
I find myself wondering about the "Angels" in this world. Lilith and I have much to discuss regarding the higher echelons of this realm's mythology.
We enter the lobby, the scent of expensive incense masking the damp smell of the sea. I step toward the owner, a squalid, thin old man peering through thick glasses.
"We want rooms for all of us," I tell him after a short, cold introduction. "They must be together. If it's not possible, make it possible. I'll pay for any relocations if needed, but I want my staff and sister very close to me and my fiancée."
The old man looks at me, then at the "Lady" Lilith, then at the "Sister" Aria.
"Of course, Excellence," he says, his voice kind and respectful.
But using my Perception, I can tell that just like that old woman on the road, there is something off with this man. He feels empty, as if his essence has been stolen and only a shell remains—a hollow vessel, a puppet.
"One gold coin per room," he wheezes.
I nod and place three heavy gold coins on the counter. He slides three brass keys toward me, his movements stiff and mechanical. We head toward the stairs, the red carpet swallowing the sound of our footsteps. The fog presses against the windows, a white wall that seems alive and wants to get in.