Lady Ymir and Eden returned just as the first blush of dawn touched the rooftops of the village, only to find the plaza brimming with unease.
The soft clatter of hooves on cobblestone slowed as their cart approached. Ymir leaned forward, eyes narrowing. Torchlight danced in the early morning mist, casting elongated shadows across anxious faces. Men paced with restless energy, many still clutching tools from the night's frantic search. Mothers held their children close, some weeping, others whispering words of comfort that did little to hide their fear.
At the heart of it all stood the boy.
The same child who had vanished into the forest the night before.
He clung to his mother's hand, his small fingers curled in a tight, trembling grip, whether from fear, confusion, or both was unclear. His clothes were crumpled, streaked with dirt and flecks of dried leaves, but otherwise, he appeared unharmed. The ragged cloth that had once wrapped his injured leg was gone, replaced with a clean white bandage. A faint smear of dried blood peeked from beneath the edge, but the wound seemed shallow.
Lady Ymir stepped down from the cart, her gaze sweeping across the gathered villagers. Eden remained at her side, eyes drawn to the boy, watching him with quiet, guarded curiosity.
"What happened here?" Ymir asked, her voice low and commanding.
A man turned to face her, his expression haggard, streaked with grime from a sleepless night. "They found him near the old ruins," he said, jerking a thumb toward the woods. "Elise saw him first. But… he wasn't alone."
At the mention of her name, both Ymir and Eden turned toward Elise.
She stood a short distance away, hands clasped tightly, eyes downcast. The dirt on her clothes and the deep shadows beneath her eyes told the story of her night. She didn't meet their gaze, unsure whether she was about to be commended, questioned… or scolded.
Ymir's eyes lingered on her for a long, unreadable moment. She said nothing.
Then another man stepped forward, voice hoarse with tension. "There was something else out there. A creature. Winged. Pale. Nothing like I've ever seen before. Some said it had the head of a bird. Others… said it moved like a beast. Whatever it was, it escaped."
The crowd stirred, murmurs rippling like wind through tall grass.
"We need to find it," someone urged.
"Capture it," another added. "Make sure it can't harm anyone else."
Ymir's expression darkened as she listened. The fear in the air was thick and volatile, like a thunderstorm waiting to break.
She had only been gone a few hours, and already the village felt changed.
Simon moved toward Eden, speaking to her in hushed tones. She listened, then glanced back at Elise, worry flickering in her eyes.
Elise approached hesitantly, bracing for what she knew was coming.
"You followed the men into who-knows-where, chasing who-knows-what," Lady Ymir chastised. "Were you not afraid of what might have happened to you?"
"I only wanted to help find the boy," Elise said quietly, her hand reaching out to gently hold her mentor's arm.
Ymir grimaced but said no more.
As she turned to address the crowd and gather the full story, Eden exhaled, her eyes still on Elise.
"I was afraid something would happen," she murmured. "When we left yesterday, I had this… sinking feeling in my chest."
"Where did you go?" Elise asked softly.
Simon, standing beside them, nodded grimly in agreement.
"Mother and I went to the next town over to finish my dress for tonight," Eden explained, her voice quiet but touched with a hint of excitement.
Tonight marked something extraordinary, the Dance of the Priestess, a sacred rite shrouded in myth and memory. It hadn't been performed in hundreds of years, and for many in the village, it had become more legend than truth. Now, with its long-awaited return, anticipation hung thick in the air like perfume.
Eden reached into her worn sack and carefully unfolded a piece of cloth, holding it out for Elise and Simon to see. The fabric shimmered faintly in the early light, its silvery threads catching the sunrise with an almost ethereal glow.
She ran her fingers gently across the surface, and a soft gasp escaped her lips. The material was cool to the touch, soothing, almost magical. A soft tingle spread through her fingertips, easing the lingering soreness from a long night.
"It's beautiful," Elise whispered, reaching out as if afraid to disturb its perfection.
"It's silk," Eden nodded, "but woven with threads blessed by the temple. They say it's meant to carry the energy of the dance… to help the priestess connect to the old ways."
Simon smiled. "You're going to look beautiful in it."
Eden blinked, startled, then quickly cleared her throat, a faint blush coloring her cheeks. "T-Thank you," she mumbled, quickly tucking the cloth back into her sack. She straightened and gestured toward the plaza, where the murmurs of the villagers were beginning to rise again. "Come on, we should see what the crowd is planning next."
The three of them moved through the thinning mist, returning to where the villagers had gathered once more. Voices rose in heated conversation, hands gesturing, faces marked by fear and determination.
A group of hunters and townsfolk stood at the center, forming a loose circle as they laid out a plan, search teams, weapons, lanterns, and protective charms were hastily discussed. They were going after the creature. Whatever it was that had emerged from the forest, it had left a mark, and the villagers weren't willing to wait for it to return.
Lady Ymir stood quietly at the edge of the group, her arms crossed, listening intently. Though she was known to most simply as the medicine woman, there was a quiet reverence in how the others deferred to her presence. She spoke rarely, but when she did, people listened.
After all, she wasn't just a healer.
She was one of the few who knew about the creatures that slipped between worlds, those that weren't born of this realm. It was expected, in a way. Her family's lineage traced all the way back to the Great Priestess, a bloodline whispered about in temple halls and old songs, now nearly forgotten.
Elise's gaze drifted to Lady Ymir, her breath catching in her throat.
Though her demeanor was composed, elegant even, there was something in her eyes that unsettled Elise. A depth of calculation, or perhaps remembrance, that didn't match the calm expression on her face. It wasn't fear or confusion in those eyes. It was something sharper. Intentional.
And Elise had seen it before.
It was the same expression Lady Ymir wore that day when Elise had stumbled into finding the key while cleaning her room. The key had no name, no lock, and yet it carried a weight, an invisible gravity that Elise couldn't quite explain.
It was as though Ymir knew everything… and yet hid it all behind silence.
The murmurs from the villagers grew louder, and Eden's attention shifted back to the group. She listened carefully as men began to organize, readying themselves to search the forest.
"The hunters will go," one of the older men said. His voice was rough from the previous night's shouting, but there was a fire in his eyes. "We'll find the thing, wherever it's hiding."
"Some of us should stay behind to guard the village," another man added, his hand resting on a spear. "We can't leave the others unprotected, especially with the festival tonight. We don't know what this thing might do."
There was a murmur of agreement. Several of the men nodded, breaking off into groups, some heading into the trees, others staying behind to guard the square. The women and children gathered in clusters near the central plaza, some speaking softly, others still in quiet fear.
Simon approached the group, his brow furrowed. He turned to Eden with a serious look. "I'll keep searching. I'll do my best to return before the festival begins."
Eden nodded, the weight of his words sinking in. "I hope you find it," she said, offering him a soft smile. "Be careful."
Simon offered a tight smile in return. "I will. Stay safe." With that, he turned and joined the others heading toward the forest, his figure soon lost in the mist.
Elise glanced at Eden, a small sigh escaping her lips. "I can't help but worry about him," she muttered.
Eden gave her a reassuring smile, squeezing her shoulder. "He'll be fine. They all will."
As the villagers dispersed, Lady Ymir turned her gaze to Eden and Elise, her eyes sharp as she approached them.
"Come, it's time to prepare," Ymir said softly, her voice carrying an undertone of command. "Eden, we have much to do before the festivities."
Elise raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean? We've already prepared the dress."
Ymir smiled faintly, but there was something that sent a chill down Elise's spine. "It's not just the dress that needs preparing."
Elise blinked, her confusion growing. Before she could ask further, Lady Ymir turned and gestured for them to follow.
The next several hours were a blur of activity. Elise worked quickly and efficiently, bathing Eden in the warm herbal waters, scrubbing her skin gently with the fragrant roses and lavender. It was a long and grueling process; each step required meticulous attention to detail, and the heat of the water made it all the more exhausting. The smell of rosemary, lavender, and thyme filled the air, the scents mixing to create an almost intoxicating aroma that seemed to cleanse not just the body but the spirit.
Once Eden was thoroughly bathed, Elise began applying the oils, massaging them into Eden's skin, careful not to leave any part of her untouched. She worked with a practiced hand, ensuring every part of Eden's body was ready for the ritual. The oils were rich and thick, their scent adding to the already heady atmosphere, and the texture left Eden's skin glowing, soft to the touch.
Elise could see the toll it was taking on Eden, the long hours, the effort of remaining still, but she also saw the transformation happening. The priestess was becoming what she was meant to be, and it was something Elise couldn't help but admire.
When the time came to put on the white dress, Eden stood still, her body already cleansed and prepared. Elise took great care in lifting the dress over her head, the delicate fabric flowing around Eden's frame. The dress shimmered as it settled into place, its pure white color glowing in the soft light of the room.
Eden looked different now, there was a quiet grace to her, a stillness that seemed to fill the room. But Elise could sense something else beneath it all. The tension. The weight of the role she was about to step into. Elise wondered if Eden truly understood what it all meant.
"Elise," Eden said quietly, her voice breaking through the stillness of the moment. "Do you think I'm ready?"
Elise paused, her hands hovering over the final touches of Eden's dress. She looked into Eden's eyes, seeing the vulnerability there.
"I think you're more than ready," Elise replied softly. "But just remember, no matter what happens tonight, you're not alone."
Eden smiled faintly, the expression filled with gratitude. She didn't respond, but the quiet understanding between them spoke volumes.
Eden smiled faintly, the expression filled with gratitude. She didn't respond, but the quiet understanding between them spoke volumes.
Elise picked up the ivory-handled comb and began to run it gently through Eden's hair, the scent of rose water and herbs still clinging faintly to her fingers. But just as she started the first stroke, another commotion rose from the central plaza outside, the muffled sound of shouting and hurried footsteps echoing through the stone walls.
"What is it now?" Lady Ymir groaned from the hallway, her voice sharp with irritation.
Before anyone could answer, the door burst open. Simon rushed in, his face flushed from the cold air and whatever news he carried. He barely made it three steps inside before Lady Ymir turned on him.
"You're not allowed in here while the Priestess is being prepared!" she snapped.
Simon froze, but his eyes shifted, landing on Eden, then blinked and seemed to remember himself. "We… we caught it. The creature. We have it."
Lady Ymir's expression shifted instantly. Her entire body snapped to attention as if a string had been pulled taut. "Where?" she asked sharply. "Take me to it. Now."
Elise blinked. She had never seen Lady Ymir like that, so quick, so fierce. Eden and Elise exchanged a look of mutual surprise.
"Go," Eden said softly, urging her. "I'll finish my hair. Just… find out what's going on."
Elise hesitated. "Are you sure?"
Eden nodded, giving her a gentle smile. "Go."
Elise set down the comb, heart quickening. She hurried after Lady Ymir and Simon, slipping into her boots and pulling her cloak tight as they moved quickly down the narrow street. The sky above had deepened into indigo, stars winking to life as the last of the sun faded.
By the time they reached the center of town, torches blazed high. The hunters stood in a tense circle, their faces flickering in firelight, their eyes trained on something in the middle.
And the air, it was different now. Thick with smoke, sweat, and something else.
Anticipation. Or fear.
Elise stepped closer, her breath catching in her throat. Whatever waited ahead… it was no longer just a rumor in the dark.
By the time they reached the center of town, torches blazed high. The hunters stood in a tense circle, their faces flickering in firelight, their eyes trained on something in the middle.
And the air, it was different now. Thick with smoke, sweat, and something else.
Anticipation. Or fear.
In the very center of the plaza stood a thick iron cage, hastily welded together and secured with heavy chains. Inside it crouched the creature.
Elise's breath caught.
Its face was like an owl's, round, with wide amber eyes that didn't blink, a sharp hooked beak catching the light. But its wings, leathery and dark, were more like those of a bat, half-unfurled and twitching with every sound. Its body was hunched and sinewy, the limbs long and eerily human in shape, though covered in coarse, patchy fur like that of a monkey. It hissed and shrieked, flinging itself against the bars whenever someone moved too close.
A hunter jabbed a long stake toward the cage. "Careful with that thing, it nearly took off Aron's hand!"
"We should just kill it now," someone else muttered, glancing uneasily around. "Monsters like that don't come here without reason."
"I say we burn it!" another man barked. "Before more of its kind show up!"
A group of villagers had gathered near the edge of the square, whispering nervously. Mothers held their children close, and older men gripped walking sticks or farming tools with white knuckles.
Lady Ymir pushed past the crowd, her cloak billowing behind her. She raised a hand, and with just that single motion, the crowd began to quiet.
"No one touches it," she said firmly.
The hunters exchanged glances.
"But Lady Ymir, it's dangerous. We saw what it did, "
"I said no one touches it." Her voice had the kind of weight that silenced further protest. She stepped closer to the cage, her eyes narrowing as she studied the creature, her expression unreadable.
At first, the monster reacted the same way it had to the others, thrashing, hissing, its wings twitching and claws scraping against the cage. But the moment Lady Ymir's eyes met its own… everything changed.
Its shrieks softened into low, fearful clicks.
It recoiled, shrinking back into the far corner of the cage like a frightened animal, golden eyes wide with something Elise couldn't quite name, recognition? Dread?
The hunters hesitated, visibly unsettled.
"Is it… afraid of her?" one of them whispered.
Elise took a slow step forward, watching in awe as the creature continued to cower. Its body trembled, wings half-folded against its sides, and its gaze never left Lady Ymir.
Elise's chest tightened. This wasn't the reaction of a beast. This was something else.
Lady Ymir stood still, her face carved from stone. She said nothing, but Elise noticed how tightly her hands were clenched beneath the folds of her sleeves.
It was as though she knew exactly what this creature was.
Lady Ymir stood in silence, her gaze still locked on the creature cowering in the cage. For a long moment, no one dared to speak.
Then she turned to the gathered crowd, her voice ringing out clear and sharp.
"He will be the main spectacle for tonight's coronation."
A ripple of confusion swept through the villagers.
Lady Ymir's expression remained cold and resolute. "She will begin her service to the gods by ridding our village of this nightmare," Ymir continued. "Tonight, the Priestess will rise, not in ritual alone, but in deed."
The crowd stirred, voices rising in murmurs and startled gasps. Even the hunters, hardened and grim, looked at one another in surprise.
Elise's heart pounded. She instinctively turned to look over her shoulder, back in the direction of their small hut.
How would Eden feel if she heard this?
Elise could picture the quiet determination in her friend's eyes, alongside the fear she'd tried so hard to hide. The weight of a hundred expectations had just doubled. And she didn't even know it yet.
She turned her eyes to Simon.
He had gone pale.
His jaw was tight, his expression stiff, as though he had just witnessed something horrible. The same realization stirring in Elise's chest was clearly carved into his face.
He was probably thinking the same thing she was.
Elise swallowed hard and faced forward again. The creature shivered in its cage, eyes still locked on Lady Ymir, who hadn't moved an inch.
Whatever tonight was supposed to be… it had already changed
Elise made her way back home, her heart weighed down with the heavy silence of the plaza and the strange urgency that had clouded the air. Lady Ymir had instructed her to stay close to Eden and not let her out of sight. Tonight's spectacle had become even greater, with Eden performing the ultimate task of judgment. Lady Ymir will remain in the plaza, leading the preparations for the rituals of the evening, while Elise is to bring her once everything was ready.
But Lady Ymir had made it clear, Elise was not to say a word to Eden about any of this. Elise had tried to argue, to express her concerns, but Ymir had hushed her with a cold finality. Reluctantly, Elise had left and made her way back home.
Before she'd left, she had noticed that Simon was already gone.
Where could he be? Elise couldn't help but wonder.
Her mind was a storm of thoughts. One question kept haunting her: How can someone like Eden do such a thing? How can she kill another being, even if it is a monster from another dimension? The thought gnawed at her, and a tight knot of worry formed in her stomach. She wasn't sure what Eden would be asked to do tonight, but whatever it was, it would change her.
As Elise neared the hut, the night air felt still and thick, as if the world itself was holding its breath. Then, a small clattering from inside broke the silence. Elise froze, her pulse quickening, and her eyes darted to the door.
She hurried inside.
The hut was empty.
Her chest tightened as she scanned the room. Where was Eden? The place seemed colder than usual, and something about it felt off, like a missing piece of a puzzle she couldn't find.
And then, through the dimness, she saw them, two dark figures moving swiftly in the distance, darting towards the forest.