Maryse's smile slowly faded.
With a gentle wave of her hand, the image of Lorin dissolved into darkness.
The orb shimmered once before another image slowly emerged.
Three cloaked figures stood motionless.
The Order.
Maryse's violet eyes swept across them one by one.
Maelrin stood beside her, studying the three figures.
"So, what do we do about them?" Maelrin asked.
Maryse remained silent for a moment, her gaze fixed on the orb.
"We've spent so much time trying to understand them," she began, "yet we still haven't found a way to put an end to them."
Maelrin turned towards her.
Maryse's expression changed as a thought occurred to her.
"Perhaps we've been looking in the wrong direction," Maryse said.
"What do you mean?" Maelrin asked.
"Maybe the only way to end them is to understand how they began."
Maelrin glanced back at the three figures.
"Their origins?"
Maryse nodded.
"We know what they are now, but we know so little about what brought them into existence. There may be something in their beginnings that could help us destroy them."
"And how do you intend to find that out?" Maelrin asked.
Maryse turned towards the crystal orb.
"The same way we were able to call forth Varion's incarnation, Maelrin. We chant."
Maryse and Maelrin began chanting.
The orb trembled beneath their voices. Its surface rippled, and the three cloaked figures slowly faded from view.
Another image took shape.
Trees stretched across the land, their branches swaying gently above a winding path. Beyond them stood a collection of houses, their rooftops peeking through the morning mist.
A village.
Silvaris.
---
Beyond the vast stretch of Mistwood Forest lay Silvaris, an old settlement whose history had been passed down through generations.
Its houses stood along narrow paths that led towards the village square, where merchants displayed their goods and villagers gathered to exchange news. Children ran between the buildings while older residents went about their daily activities.
The people of Silvaris had their customs, many of which had been preserved for as long as anyone could remember.
Among them was the annual Spring Ritual.
It was the only occasion on which the villagers were permitted to draw water from the Silent Well, an ancient source hidden deep within Mistwood Forest.
The well had existed long before Silvaris became a settlement. According to the elders, it had been there before the first houses were built, though no one could say who had discovered it or how long its waters had remained untouched.
Its stone walls were covered in moss, and thick vines curled around its edges. The water beneath them was clear and still.
For generations, the villagers had respected the rule that forbade anyone from drinking from it outside the Spring Ritual.
It was a tradition that had survived even as the details of its earliest history faded.
That afternoon, four young men sat beneath the shade of an enormous tree near the village square.
Aldric, the eldest of the four, rested his back against the trunk, examining a small hunting knife. Dependable and protective by nature, he had a habit of keeping an eye on his friends, even when they were doing nothing more dangerous than sitting beneath a tree.
Beside him sat Evander, the quietest of the group. Thoughtful and observant, he often noticed things the others overlooked. At that moment, he was cleaning the leather straps of his hunting gear, paying little attention to the commotion around him.
Across from them sat Dorian, a cheerful young man whose mischievous nature often landed him in trouble. He was occupied with a piece of fruit, eating it as though he had nowhere else to be.
Leoric, the youngest of the four, leaned against the tree and watched the people moving through the square. Fearless and fiercely loyal to his friends, he was also known for his enormous appetite. Keeping him away from food was a challenge none of the others had ever managed to win.
"Are we going to spend the entire afternoon sitting here?" Leoric asked.
Dorian glanced at him. "You were the one complaining about being tired earlier."
"I said my feet hurt. I didn't say I wanted to spend the rest of my life under this tree," Leoric replied.
Aldric looked up from his knife.
"Then stop walking as though you're racing everyone you meet."
Leoric opened his mouth to respond, but Evander spoke before he could.
"The Spring Ritual is approaching."
The others turned towards him.
Dorian took another bite of his fruit. "And?"
Evander fastened the strap he had been working on.
"The elders will be preparing for it soon. I heard them discussing the arrangements this morning."
Leoric straightened slightly.
"I wonder why they make such a ceremony out of drawing water."
"Because it's the Silent Well," Aldric replied.
"Yes, I know that. I'm asking why it matters so much," Leoric said.
Aldric put his knife away.
"Because it isn't an ordinary well. You know the rules."
"I know the rules," Leoric said. "I just don't know why they're so strict about them."
Dorian chuckled.
"Maybe the water is too precious for you to waste."
"Then they should tell us that instead of making it sound like the well will swallow anyone who goes near it," Leoric replied.
An elderly voice interrupted them.
"That's because you boys have never bothered to listen properly."
All four friends turned towards the speaker.
An elder stood a short distance away, holding a wooden walking stick. His gaze moved across their faces before settling on Leoric.
"Have you forgotten what you were taught about the Silent Well?" the elder asked.
Leoric shook his head.
"No, Elder. We were just talking about it."
The old man approached and lowered himself onto a nearby bench.
"Then listen again."
The friends exchanged glances.
Dorian tossed the remaining piece of fruit aside and leaned forward.
"Is there something special about the water?" he asked.
The elder looked at him.
"Special is one way to describe it. Dangerous is another."
Evander's attention sharpened.
"Is that why nobody is allowed to drink from it outside the Spring Ritual?" he asked.
The elder nodded.
"The restriction was not created without reason. The Silent Well has existed longer than this village. Our ancestors placed that rule on it, and every generation after them has respected it."
Evander leaned forward slightly.
"Was there a particular reason they made that rule?"
The elder rested both hands on his walking stick.
"There are stories. Some say people who drank from the well outside the Spring Ritual suffered dire consequences. Others speak of misfortunes that followed those who ignored the restriction. But the details have been washed away by time. What happened to those people, and why, is no longer known to us."
"So nobody really knows what happens?" Leoric asked.
"Not with certainty," the elder replied.
Dorian looked towards the forest.
"Then how do we know it's dangerous?" he asked.
The elder turned his attention to him.
"Because the warnings have survived, even when the stories behind them have not. Sometimes, knowing that something should be avoided is enough."
Evander considered this for a moment.
"The people who first made the rule must have known something we no longer understand."
"It's possible," the elder replied.
Dorian leaned back, looking unimpressed.
"Or our ancestors simply didn't want people drinking from their well whenever they pleased."
Leoric laughed.
"Then you should be grateful they made the rule before you were born."
"Why?" Dorian asked.
"Because you would probably have drunk the whole thing."
The others laughed, and even the elder smiled.
"Whatever the reason," the elder said, rising from his seat, "the Silent Well has been left undisturbed for generations. I see no reason why that should change now."
He gave them a brief nod before making his way towards the village square.
The four friends watched him leave.
Evander's gaze drifted towards the forest.
"Strange, isn't it? A tradition everyone follows, yet nobody knows exactly how it began."
Aldric stood and brushed the dust from his clothes.
"Some things are better left alone."
Leoric got to his feet.
"Come on. I'm hungry."
Dorian shook his head as he followed Leoric.
"You're always hungry."
---
The four friends left the shade of the tree and made their way through the village, their conversation drifting towards lighter matters.
Leoric led the way until the aroma coming from a nearby food stall caught his attention. He slowed, then stopped altogether.
Aldric noticed immediately.
"Oh no. He's found it."
Leoric glanced back at him. "I never said anything."
"You didn't have to," Evander replied. "Your feet stopped moving the moment you smelled food."
Dorian laughed as Leoric turned towards the stall.
"Come on," Leoric called. "You can talk about me while we eat."
"Your generosity is touching," Dorian said, following him.
They bought a few pastries and settled on a low wooden bench nearby. Leoric had barely finished his first bite when Dorian reached towards his food.
Leoric pulled the remaining pastry away.
"Get your own."
"I was only checking whether yours tasted different."
"And?"
Dorian grinned. "It tastes like mine."
Evander shook his head, while Aldric laughed quietly. Leoric continued eating, ignoring their amusement.
Once they had finished, the friends continued through the village. They passed a small workshop where an elderly craftsman was arranging wooden carvings outside his door. Several animals had been carefully shaped from wood, their surfaces smoothed and polished.
Evander paused to examine them.
One of the smaller figures had a loose leg. He picked it up carefully and pointed out the problem to the craftsman, who handed him a small tool. Evander worked quietly while Aldric held the carving steady.
Dorian watched, offering suggestions that were more distracting than helpful, while Leoric leaned against the doorway, waiting for them to finish.
By the time Evander was done, the little wooden animal stood firmly on all four legs.
The craftsman examined the repair and thanked them, giving each friend a small treat for their trouble.
Leoric accepted his with particular enthusiasm.
"We should visit this place more often," he said.
"Why? So you can collect more food?" Aldric asked.
"That's one reason."
Dorian laughed so hard that he nearly dropped his treat.
They left the workshop still teasing one another, their laughter carrying down the narrow street.
As they reached a quieter path beyond the busiest part of the village, Dorian noticed Leoric had fallen behind.
He slowed until they were walking side by side.
"You've gone quiet," Dorian observed.
"Must I talk every moment of the day?"
"No. But when you're quiet, it usually means you're thinking about something. And when you think too much, you become unbearable."
Leoric gave him a sideways look. "You say that as though you aren't unbearable every day, too."
"I'm naturally gifted."
Leoric snorted, and Dorian smiled. This time, however, he didn't immediately return to his usual teasing. He waited, giving his friend the chance to speak if he wanted to.
Leoric glanced towards the others. Aldric was walking ahead with Evander, the two of them discussing the carving they had repaired. They hadn't noticed the pair falling behind.
"Sometimes, I wonder what things will be like when we're older," Leoric admitted.
Dorian looked at him, surprised by the seriousness in his voice.
"What makes you wonder about that?"
"Everything seems so simple now. We meet here, find something to do, and somehow end up getting into trouble." Leoric smiled faintly. "But one day, things will change. We might not always have time to spend an entire afternoon together."
Dorian was quiet for a moment.
He had never considered how easily the things they took for granted could become memories.
"Things might change," he admitted. "But that doesn't mean we'll stop being friends."
Leoric looked at him.
"And if we end up living far apart, we'll find a way to see each other. If one of us needs help, the others will come. That's what we've always done, isn't it?"
Leoric's expression softened.
"You make it sound easy."
"I'm sure it won't always be easy," Dorian replied with a shrug. "But you won't have to figure everything out alone."
For once, Leoric had no joke ready.
He gave Dorian a small, grateful smile before looking ahead at their friends.
"Come on. They're getting too far away."
Dorian nodded, and they hurried to catch up with Aldric and Evander.
Within moments, Leoric was arguing with Dorian again over who had eaten more pastries. Aldric told them both to stop behaving like children, while Evander quietly pointed out that neither of them had any intention of listening.
Their laughter returned as they continued towards home.