Shadows and Silence

The Tower loomed over them as Aria led Evan and Cedric into the dimly lit halls. The sound of their boots against the polished stone echoed in the quiet space. This wasn't Evan's first time here, but the purpose of his visits had always been different—seeking knowledge, borrowing tomes, immersing himself in research. Now, it felt heavier, as if the air itself carried the weight of the Murkwalkers they had left outside.

Aria stopped in a small, secluded chamber just off the main corridor. Shelves lined the walls, filled with scrolls and books, though the space seemed more functional than decorative. A single desk sat in the center, with chairs arranged neatly around it. Aria gestured for them to sit.

Cedric plopped down without hesitation, his casual demeanor undiminished by the intimidating atmosphere. Evan, on the other hand, sat carefully, his posture straight and his expression calm. Aria remained standing, her sharp eyes scanning both of them before she spoke.

"Start from the beginning," she said simply.

Evan didn't hesitate. He recounted the mission from the moment they left the camp—how they had moved cautiously through the forest, the initial skepticism of the group, and the first Murkwalker's attack. He described the second's arrival and their surprise at its strength, as well as the final ambush by the third.

Aria listened intently, her expression unreadable. When Evan described the Murkwalker burrowing through the ground and the strategy he had used to counter it, her eyes flicked briefly to Cedric, who was grinning.

"Did I mention how amazing that was?" Cedric said, leaning forward. "That thing was coming for his head, and bam! One move, and it's gone. The head, I mean. Just gone."

Aria raised a hand, silencing him gently but firmly. "And the others? How did you defeat them?"

Evan explained his use of Fire Wave and Flame Sparkle, how the second Murkwalker's mud armor had initially caught him off guard, but he had adapted. Cedric added his own account, detailing how he had used conjured shields to deflect attacks and the final strike with his scythe.

When they finished, Aria crossed her arms, her gaze lingering on Evan.

"You anticipated the ambush," she said.

Evan nodded. "I've been practicing awareness techniques," he said carefully, avoiding any mention of Simulate. "The signs were there if you knew where to look."

Aria's lips pressed into a thin line, but she didn't push further. Instead, she turned her attention to Cedric.

"And you? You've improved significantly since I last saw you. Those conjurations aren't basic. They're deliberate, efficient."

Cedric shrugged, his grin widening. "Well, you know. Got a good teacher." He glanced at Evan, who gave him a faint smirk.

Aria's gaze flicked between them before she exhaled softly. "You two are an unusual pair. Novices, yet you handled something most intermediates would struggle with."

Aria leaned over the table, her sharp eyes fixed on Evan and Cedric. The soft glow of the room only made her expression seem more severe.

"You've done well to survive," she began, her voice even but cutting. "But don't let this inflate your ego. The Murkwalkers you faced are just one part of a much larger puzzle."

Evan raised an eyebrow. "Larger puzzle?"

Aria nodded. "The camp has been struggling to understand what's happening. Murkwalkers don't leave the Violet Lagoon without reason. And now, they're attacking farther out, closer to the camp. That's not normal behavior. Something is pushing them, something we don't fully understand yet."

"Then what's the plan?" Cedric asked, his voice steady.

Aria's gaze shifted to him. "The plan is to learn. The Tower has ordered every Murkwalker encountered to be studied. We need to understand what's driving this change and—more importantly—how to stop it. The bodies you brought back will help, but capturing one alive would be far more valuable."

"Alive?" Evan said, frowning.

Aria nodded. "We need to observe them up close. Study their behavior, their connection to the Lagoon. But make no mistake—attempting to capture one is dangerous. Suicidal, even." She paused, her gaze sharpening. "You two have shown promise, but don't think for a moment that this makes you invincible. You're not. The Murkwalkers are adapting, and so must you."

Evan and Cedric exchanged glances.

"You've made yourselves valuable," Aria continued, her tone almost cold. "And in the absence of intermediates, the camp needs valuable people. But valuable doesn't mean immortal. If you're reckless, if you're careless, you won't just get yourselves killed—you'll leave the camp even more vulnerable."

As they stepped out of the Tower, the cool night air washed over them. Cedric exhaled, breaking the silence. "Well, that was uplifting."

Evan didn't respond immediately, his thoughts elsewhere. Finally, he spoke. "Why was she there?"

Cedric glanced at him. "What do you mean?"

"I mean, Aria," Evan said, his voice tinged with frustration. "If the camp is stretched thin, if intermediates are missing, why is an advanced apprentice like her staying in the Tower?"

Cedric frowned, considering the question. "I've been wondering the same thing. If things are as bad as she says, why isn't she out there? Why is she sitting in the Tower, analyzing corpses?"

Evan nodded. "Exactly. It doesn't add up."

They walked in silence for a moment, the question hanging heavily between them.

Finally, Cedric sighed. "Look, maybe she's just following orders. Or maybe there's something going on we don't know about. Either way, we've got bigger problems to worry about."

Evan smirked faintly. "True. Like figuring out how to survive the next mission."

Cedric laughed. "You mean the next suicide mission? Don't worry, I've got your back."

They stopped at the edge of the camp, where their paths diverged. Cedric clapped Evan on the shoulder. "Get some rest. You deserve it."

"You too," Evan replied.

After a long, hot bath, Evan returned to his cabin, the tension from the day slowly ebbing away. He changed into fresh clothes, feeling more like himself as he sat down at his desk, pulling out a notebook to jot down thoughts from the meeting with Aria.

The quiet of the night was a welcome reprieve, but it didn't last.

A faint rustling caught Evan's attention, and before he could react, a shadow shifted near the entrance of his cabin.

A figure stepped inside, moving with an unnerving grace. Evan's hand instinctively moved, but he froze as the figure emerged fully into the light.

"Theron Vayner," Evan breathed, his pulse quickening.

The leader of The Gilded Shade stood before him, his dark cloak blending with the shadows as though he had materialized from them. His sharp eyes scanned the room briefly before settling on Evan.

"We need to talk," Theron said, his voice low and commanding.

Evan's hand remained on the table, his mind racing as he tried to steady his breathing. "About what?"

Theron stepped closer, his presence suffocating. "About what's coming. And about your place in it."

The weight of the moment pressed down on Evan as the realization set in—this conversation was going to change everything.

The moment Theron Vayner raised his hand, the air in the cabin shifted. A soft ripple spread outward, and the dim light within the room seemed to take on a muted, otherworldly hue. Evan's ears felt strange, as though sound itself had been swallowed by the spell.

Theron's lips moved, his deep voice cutting through the unnatural silence. "Silencing Ward. No one can hear us now, no matter how hard they try."

Evan sat rigid, his senses heightened despite the eerie quiet that surrounded them.