Stranger's?

Wispy smoke ascended into the sky, twisting and curling in a slow, hypnotic dance. It spiraled upward, its delicate movements almost meditative, as if it were in no rush. The air was warm, soft, carrying with it a faint, soothing scent that seemed to calm the very earth beneath it. The red foliage of the surrounding trees swayed gently in the breeze, their leaves brushing against each other like a lullaby sung by the wind. The scene was peaceful, too peaceful.

The hot, sweet scent of luxury chocolate hung in the air—intoxicating in its sweetness. It was inviting, refreshing, and for a moment, it felt like stepping into a dream. Unlike the foul, decaying smells that had clung to their journey until now, this was pure, without any trace of rot. The kind of smell that promised comfort.

It was pleasant. Too pleasant.

Cypher and his temporary companion, despite their usual wariness, found themselves unable to ignore the serene atmosphere surrounding them. Cypher's posture softened. He instinctively relaxed his shoulders, the tension in his body slowly unwinding. It was as though the very land itself exhaled a calming aura, and for a brief moment, the world seemed to hold its breath.

Elie was the first to step over the now-still mound, his boots crunching softly against the dry earth. He stopped, taking in the full breadth of the view below them. His breath caught, and for a fleeting moment, a smile flickered across his face—genuine, unguarded joy. He turned to Cypher, eyes wide with disbelief and excitement.

"I think we just found some normal people in this damn place!" he exclaimed, his voice laced with an optimism Cypher hadn't heard from him before.

He stretched out his arm in invitation, his hand open and expectant.

Cypher squinted slightly, eyeing the landscape with suspicion. But, despite himself, he found his hand reaching for Elie's. With a firm pull, he was yanked to the top of the hill, his gaze falling upon the scene ahead.

Below them, a vast, golden field of wheat stretched endlessly, rolling in a perfect, uniform sea of pale gold. The stalks swayed gently, almost in rhythm with the breeze, as if the land itself were breathing. The field's perfection was unnerving, though. It seemed almost too precise, too symmetrical, as if it had been meticulously arranged. And yet, despite its unnatural order, it was magnetic, drawing the eye in and creating an odd sense of familiarity.

In the distance, a two-story house stood proudly, its white plank walls gleaming against the dim, diffused light. The building appeared pristine, untouched by the ravages of time. Its edges were sharp, the lines flawless, as if no seasons had ever passed to wear it down. A long cobblestone road stretched from the house's entrance, winding off into the horizon, disappearing into the distance like a road that led nowhere.

Near the edge of the wheat field, two children ran and tumbled, their laughter echoing through the air. They darted between the stalks with youthful energy, their small bodies quick and nimble. They tugged at each other's clothes, pulling on their blonde hair in an innocent, playful scuffle. The sound of their joy was so natural that, for a moment, it seemed like the entire world had softened around them.

Watching from a distance, an old, gray-haired man sat on a creaky wooden chair on the porch of the house. His eyes were cast downward, as though absorbed in a book, but his body rocked in the chair, slow and rhythmic. A plate of freshly baked cookies, untouched and still steaming, rested beside him on a small wooden table. A cup of coffee sat next to it, the warm scent of the brew curling into the air. It was as if time had slowed here, or perhaps stopped altogether.

Cypher's sharp eyes caught the faintest glimpse of the book's title. The cover was old, its yellowed pages worn, but a few words stood out clearly:

Hastur ∆mutabilis §caligo.

Cypher's gaze flickered from the book to the idyllic scene below. His eyes narrowed slightly, an unfamiliar unease settling in his chest. The peacefulness of it all felt… wrong. Something about it didn't add up. He turned to Elie.

"I don't think we should move any further," Cypher said, his voice low, though firm. "This is all too... ordinance."

The word hung in the air for a moment, and even Elie, for all his usual optimism, seemed to hesitate.

The golden field stretched before them, impossibly perfect. The house stood in the distance, an anomaly against the strange backdrop of a landscape that seemed to defy logic. How could such a field exist without any sunlight? There was no sun in the sky, no moon, nothing to account for the wheat's growth. And yet, it thrived. Plants needed light, water… and yet there was none here. The nearest liquid, the dark sea, was far beyond their reach, the tar-like substance that it was.

Elie stepped forward, the wheat brushing against his legs as he walked. He didn't look back as he raised a hand to wave toward the children, his voice carrying across the field.

"Hey there, kids!" he called out, a smile spreading across his face despite the oddities. "It's been a while since we've seen any visitors!"

Cypher's gaze flickered over the horizon one more time, his eyes scanning the distance. He could almost feel the weight of the pull, the magnetic force of the scene below. Despite his better judgment, a part of him found himself stepping forward as well.

"Impulsive idiot," Cypher muttered under his breath, but it was too late. Elie was already heading down the hill toward the children, who had stopped their play and were now staring back at them with curious, unblinking eyes.

Cypher followed reluctantly, his boots crunching softly against the earth as he descended. With each step into the field, the wheat seemed to grow more insistent, the way it pressed against him almost like hands reaching for him, unwilling to let go. There was something wrong with the field, something off. But he kept moving. He had no choice now.

When Cypher finally reached Elie, the two children had already surrounded him. They stood too close, their small hands gripping his arms with strange eagerness.

"Wow, mister! It's been so long since we've had any visitors here!" The younger of the two, a small boy no taller than Elie's waist, spoke first. His voice was light and carefree, his laughter carrying through the field. His clothes were spotless, not a trace of dirt or dust from the surrounding wheat. It was as if he had never stepped out of this field, untouched by time or toil.

The older boy, slightly taller and with similar features, tilted his head and smiled toward Cypher.

"Ohh! Is this your son, mister?" he asked, his voice dripping with innocence, his eyes sparkling with curiosity.

Elie quickly stepped in. "Ahem, no. This is Cypher… my companion." His voice held a note of awkwardness as he coughed to cover the brief silence.

Cypher forced a smile, though it didn't quite reach his eyes. "Yes, and it seems we're a little lost. Is there a map of any kind around here?"

The children giggled, their laughter blending into the wind like a strange melody. It was unsettling, and Cypher's grip on the dagger at his side tightened just slightly.

One of the children stopped, as if listening to something beyond the visible. His eyes flickered, the briefest hint of something unnerving passing over his face before he returned to the conversation.

"Our grandfather says he has a map," the older child said, his voice bright with enthusiasm. "Why don't you go talk to him?"

Cypher's brows furrowed. "How did you know that?" His hand remained close to his dagger, instinct pushing him to be wary.

"You're silly, mister Cypher," the younger child replied, laughing, his hands covering his mouth in amusement. "We use the map all the time to explore!"

Elie nodded as if the logic made sense. "That… that makes sense." He gave Cypher a reassuring pat on the shoulder.

Cypher, however, was less convinced. "Your grandfather, huh? Alright. Let's speak to him."

The two children waved at them in unison, their smiles never faltering.

"Goodbye, newcomers," they chimed together, their voices harmonious. The wheat around them swayed, brushing against their small figures as they disappeared into the field, their forms fading into the golden sea.

Elie watched them for a moment, then whispered, "Creepy."

Cypher shot him a glance. "We need to leave. We shouldn't have come here, but you just had to be impulsive."

The house loomed ahead, growing larger as they walked toward it. The air felt thick, almost too still. There was no turning back now. They had no choice but to continue forward.

They reached a small clearing, the land opening up directly in front of the house. The old man on the porch was still seated in his rocking chair, his hands resting on the book, his eyes lifting slowly as they approached. He seemed to have been waiting for them all along.

"Well, hello there, fellas," the old man rasped in a voice filled with warmth and wisdom. He set his book down slowly, then stretched, a deep, lingering breath escaping his lips. "What brings two fine folks like you to an old place like this?"