by The Ranger
Eren stared at his friend while he held the pot in place, and the others did too; however, he paid them no mind as he kept his attention on the mixture. Khora was the first to take her attention from him and turned to face Richard.
"I didn't know you had an affinity for botany," she poked.
"I— I don't. Not really," he replied. "It's just… I had an education on poisons when I was younger."
"Oh," she whispered.
Eren felt everyone's eyes turn away from Richard and cast off into other directions. It was an uncomfortable moment for him, and he was sure the rest were just as uneasy. He thought of saying something to fill the silence but knew better than to speak up. Instead, he turned his gaze back to his oldest friend, who was sitting across from him.
He watched as Richard stared into the flames and spared a glance at it himself. The fire seemed angry and alive as it tore through the dry kindling— cracking the bark and popping the twigs within its grasp. Richard closed his eyes as a heavy snap sounded through the flames.
"I wanted to ask all of you if you might forgive me," he mumbled.
"What?" Edmund croaked, his soft voice cracking.
"Everything that's happened, everything we've had to face, it's all my-," he began.
"No, Richard," Khora interrupted. "You cannot blame yourself. When we left Azra, none of us could have foreseen what would happen."
"I'm not talking about then," he whispered.
Eren felt a chill as the winds seemed to grow aggressive, battering their shelter and the trees around them.
"After Azra… in Solton," he said quietly. "I had a dream."
"What kind of dream?" Edmund asked, leaning closer.
Richard took a breath, his face contorted as he searched his thoughts.
"Our first night there, I— I saw my father again," he stammered. "During that whole mess with the magic sickness, I dreamt of him, an-and we spoke to each other. With everything we've seen, I really… I really want to believe it was somehow him."
There was silence and stares as he took another breath and wiped at his eyes.
"What did the captain say, Rich?" Eren gently questioned, his eyes on his friend's trembling hands.
Richard shook his head for a moment and took another shaky breath.
"He warned me against going forward. H-he said we'd die if we continued on our path," he stumbled. "He told me that revenge would lead me astray, and my refusal to acknowledge that would doom us. Had I listened to him, had I taken Lu— had I persuaded the Prince to go back to Azra from that point, we wouldn't be here now. H-he would be-"
Richard's head snapped upwards as he shut his eyes and clenched his fists. After his admission, the wind seemed to calm, and there was a quiet peace as his chest heaved.
Eren leaned forward and placed a hand on his knee. Richard looked down for a moment and swatted away Torfir's limb.
"You can't feel guilty for that, Rich. Father or not, I probably wouldn't have trusted a dream either. And you heard what that 'Gormungandi' worm said about finding the peace within or whatever. It's all we can do," he smiled.
"Thank you," Richard mumbled, a forced smile on his face.
Edmund cleared his throat slightly and sat forward.
"I- I don't know if this is the right time, but… I had a dream in Solton, too," he revealed.
"What kind of dream?" Aven inquired.
The boy smiled for a moment and almost seemed to laugh.
"I don't really know how to explain it," he strained. "I… I was sitting in the woods around my family's cabin, and this old man just… appeared in front of me. He asked if he could rest from his travels there, and he sat on this log nearby me. He was dressed in these elegant robes and— and I could tell something was weird about him. He seemed so… young for being so old. Even his hair was more blonde than gray. And he had this… this presence to him. This… calm, uplifting energy."
"What did this old man want?" Khora prodded.
"Nothing. He just asked me about my day and my parents. He mentioned he had known my grandfather and my father as a child," Edmund replied. "We just talked about the forest and about fate. Then he got up and turned to leave. He wished me luck in all the days to come before taking a flower from his belt and handing it to me. Then he was gone."
Eren nodded as Edmund finished speaking.
"Now, I don't mean to sound rude, but was there a point to that story?" he criticized.
The young boy frowned and began searching through his pockets.
"The point is I woke up and found this pinned to my belt," he snapped.
Edmund produced a small, yellow flower from his pocket. It seemed to shimmer in the light.
Eren sat there, dumbfounded and gawking at the flower like all the others were.
"And you didn't have it before?" Richard pried. "Or could Eilon have maybe given it to you?"
"No, and no— I asked him," he confirmed. "It was just there, and it looked exactly like the one the old man had in the dream."
"Well, does it do anything special?" Eren interjected.
Edmund shrugged his shoulders.
"I… I didn't think so, at first," he muttered. "But then…"
He trailed off, but Khora quickly reached towards him.
"Then what, Ed?" she asked, laying her hand on his shoulder.
"I— I think it's been keeping me safe," he spat out.
"Safe?" she repeated. "What do you mean?"
Edmund sighed slightly, tucking the flower back into his pocket.
"When we confronted the golem, a rock the size of my head flew in my direction and missed me by an inch. Then, I got some of the dreamweaver's poison on my skin, but nothing happened. When we fought the Soul Seekers, and I stopped the big one from overwhelming Richard, my arms were about to give in when suddenly I was able to hold it back," he recounted. "I started thinking that maybe it wasn't luck anymore. But it wasn't until Torfir that I knew for sure."
He held his hand out, and Ranger approached him with a lowered head. Edmund scratched the dog's ear as he turned to continue.
"It wasn't Richard who saved me," he admitted. "Ranger's eyes were still green until Torfir escaped. I-I felt his fangs scratch my throat; he killed me, but nothing happened. That was when I knew for sure that something… something else was keeping me from harm."
"While I'm glad you're alive and well, Ed," Eren started. "This magic dream flower business was not something I was expecting to hear about… much less expecting to have to wrap my head around…"
"Are you sure it wasn't someone we know?" Richard reached. "By presence, do you mean like… a sorcerer? Although… I suppose we don't know many of those…"
"I've got no clue, Rich, but I'm grateful for whoever it was," Edmund mumbled. "I'm not sure where I'd be without his help; maybe once this is over, I can find him and… thank him."
"I'm not sure," Khora added. "I watched over all of you that first night in Solton. While the Prince never mentioned a dream, I heard him call out to his mother a few times while he slept. If both he and Richard dreamt of the deceased, your old man is likely among them."
There was a mournful silence as her words fell upon them. Eren had learned about magic sickness when he was first assigned to the Dawn Tower's regiment. However, it hadn't been much of an issue as their prisoner's powers had been dampened for years before Eren's arrival. He had experienced headaches intermittently his first year there, but nothing close to whatever mysterious connection it seemed the others had encountered. It made Eren wonder what he might have seen in a dream of his own, or if what happened with his friends was something less than ordinary.
The woeful silence was broken as Aven poured some of his concoction into a small cup. He began to take a deep sip from it before placing the pot aside. The others watched in subtle horror and curiosity, but none made a move to stop him. He brought the cup back down and took a long breath.
"I told all of you this was normal for me," he sighed. "I'd appreciate it i
f we could get rid of the nervous stares."
Richard laughed for a moment before clearing his throat. Eren glanced up at him, smiling slightly, before returning his eyes to the fire between them.
"You know," he started. "If any of you were set on checking in with that Rahm gentleman, I wouldn't oppose it."
"How kind," Edmund laughed.
"Yes, well, don't expect too much more of that," Eren smirked.
Khora seemed to laugh for a moment before sighing and shaking her head.
"At least we're nearly there already," she said. "If we're lucky, perhaps the snows will begin to calm by the time we arrive."
Aven finished pouring the rest of his medicine into his canteen and set in the stopper.
"I'm ready to move on," he told them. "I appreciate everyone's patience."
Eren had thought he might make a snappy remark, but a sharp crack behind him forced his attention elsewhere. He jumped to his feet and reached for his sword as he scanned the bright, white woods ahead.
Richard slowly rose from the ground and stared off into the same direction.
"It's nothing, just the wind," he assured them.
"And how do you know that?" Eren questioned.
Richard gave him a sly look as he began walking away.
"Oh, that's right," he remembered.
Eren watched as the others started to pack their things and put out the fire.
"Has anyone else wondered why we haven't seen a Seeker in some time?" he asked.
"I've considered it a blessing," Khora remarked, helping Edmund slide on his pack.
"Well, I consider it strange," Eren returned. "Rich?"
Richard shrugged his shoulders as he began to withdraw the vines.
"I don't know what you're expecting to hear from me," he commented. "I know just as much as you do when it comes to these Soul Seekers. The darkness that surrounds them is still lingering, but I can't discern any of them here."
Eren let his head fall back and stare at the sky.
"Why can't things be as simple as they were two weeks ago," he muttered, snow spotting his hair.
He closed his eyes for a moment and took a breath as the wind whipped around him. It almost felt peaceful for a moment, regardless of the harsh frost. He was back home at the Dawn Tower, drinking mead with Gerald while they sat by the fire and talked about life— a quiet life.
"Were you hoping to stay here, Eren?" Aven called out.
He snapped back to the present as he heard his name and saw his companions had already started back on the road. He took Torfir's arm, slipping the vine over his shoulder and under his arm, allowing the limb to hang on his back.
"I'm going," he murmured, his mind far beyond his feet.
The wind managed to hold onto its fury as they made their way closer to Rahm's cottage, and closer to the Ashlands. It almost felt comedic to Eren— just how disastrous their circumstances had become since leaving Azra; although he admitted to himself, things had gone awry slightly before then.
He had been thinking about their journey and everything Richard had told them as he walked. He was trying to pinpoint exactly when things had gone from uncomfortable to ugly when Aven appeared at his side.
"How are you doing?" he inquired.
Eren turned towards him and allowed a bright smile.
"As well as can be expected, Av," he grinned.
Aven stifled a smile of his own and turned his eyes ahead.
"You've been very quiet for some time," he mentioned. "Very strange coming from you, I think."
Eren raised his hands innocently.
"There's a lot to think about, and a lot I'm trying not to think about," he explained. "I'll be honest with you— I'm a bit tired. I was taught and trained to excel in unexpected situations, but this is all beyond me. Beyond anything I ever imagined."
"I understand," his friend whispered. "But we have to be ready. Things will get worse before they get better."
Eren chuckled awkwardly, somewhat startling him.
"Truer and more tragic words have yet to be said," he grumbled. "I think I'll be ready to hang up this job once we're done with this. Maybe take a trip, see some sights; not worry about black, soul-sucking skeletons."
Aven allowed a slight laugh.
"If Azra doesn't need me when this is over, I might do the same," he claimed. "I'm starting to believe I haven't done enough with the time I've had. This is the first time in years I've left my home, and it's the longest time I've been away."
Eren set his hand on Aven's shoulder.
"Sounds like an excellent thought," he smiled. "We'll take a trip far from here— as long as it's nowhere too warm."
Aven opened his mouth to reply but froze when he saw the rest had stopped walking.
Eren peered ahead of them and saw a small cottage nestled between the trees. It seemed cozy to him, but he felt disquieted by it for a reason he could not precisely put into words.
"Is this the place?" he asked, pushing past Edmund and Khora.
"Yes, but…" Richard hesitated. "Something's not right."
Eren scanned the cottage one more time and realized why it looked so wrong to him.
"There's no smoke," he pointed out. "No fire. How could anyone be in there without a fire?"
"That's it," Richard returned. "Rahm's not here. It's the middle of a snowstorm, and he's abandoned his home."
He moved towards the steps and looked back towards the rest of them.
"Why do I feel I'd rather stay out here?" Eren muttered.
"There's no time for cowardice," Khora taunted, pushing past him. "We'll have time for fear soon enough."
"Fine," he sighed, drawing his sword. "But be warned— I'm swinging at anything that moves."
He inched closer to the darkened cottage as he and the rest moved to investigate.
Chapter Ten
Khora
Khora and Richard had gone through the door first, with Eren just behind them and Aven holding the rear with Edmund and Ranger. It took only a moment for Khora to realize just how different Rahm's cottage was now compared to how it had been before.
While she had not found it as comfortable as Solton's healing house, she had appreciated the tender aura of Rahm's home. The quiet fire that had kept away the darkness and the cold was absent now— allowing the numbing air free reign over the cottage. Even the shadows seemed joyful for their reprieve as they danced along the walls and around the curious visitors.
Richard knelt near the fireplace to examine the cinders within.
"Cold," he announced. "Nothing's burned here for a day— at least."
"How can you tell?" Edmund asked him.
"Even when fires are extinguished, it takes a long time for the embers to cool," he explained. "And these remains are completely absent of warmth."
"I don't like this," Khora whispered. "I don't see any signs of a struggle or an intruder… why would he leave?"
"Would a Seeker even leave traces behind?" Aven offered.
"They might not, but a corpse would," Eren answered. "At least a few splatters of blood… some sort of trail. But I don't see anything like that."
Khora glanced at him and saw he was still waving his sword around while he walked the empty house. She wondered if he genuinely could have been so intimidated by an abandoned cottage.
"Why haven't you sheathed your blade?" she questioned.
"The real question is: why are we still he-" he began.
There was a light crack behind them, and Eren spun around, swinging his sword in the direction of the noise. He cleaved through one of Rahm's birch chairs and looked around wildly for whatever might have caused the sound. Edmund held Ranger closer to himself as he stared at Eren.
"Did you hear that?" he exclaimed. "What was that?"
Khora saw something dart beneath the table from the corner of her eye and dash out of her sight before she could say anything.
Eren raised his sword, ready to strike at anything that came his way when
Richard gripped his wrists.
"Don't be scared; it's just Cake," he reassured.
"Cake?" Eren repeated. "Oh, you've finally lost your mind, haven't you, Richard? Tell me, what kind of cake are you seeing? Fruit cake? Honeyed? What else do you think you're-"
Eren yelped as the cat moved between his legs and made her way to another chair.
"The cat is named Cake, fool," Khora revealed. "Come here, little one."
She set her spear on the table and cautiously approached Cake with her arms open. The cat looked at her lazily but quickly leapt into Khora's arms when the opportunity presented itself.
"Where did your master go?" she cooed into the cat's ear.
Cake looked back at her, and Khora thought she could almost see a glint of understanding in the cat's deep, green eyes. However, she did nothing besides nestle into her muscular arms and purr softly.
"I hope he's fine," Richard murmured. "He seemed quite attached to that cat; I don't see why he'd leave without-"
Richard stopped abruptly and snapped his attention towards the entrance of the cottage. He stared at the door for a few seconds before taking a long breath and moving his gaze back to his companions.
"Seven men are approaching," he told them. "All of them are armed, but one is injured."
"Are you sure they're coming here?" Aven questioned.
Richard nodded, his eyes closed as he concentrated.
"Cal mentioned fighting in the Ashlands, right?" Edmund remembered. "It might be some bandits sweeping the area."
Eren swished his sword around the air in front of him.
"Seven of them — sorry, six of them — against us is no struggle. Add in a few magic vines from our esteemed friend here, and it should be quick and easy," he claimed.
Khora turned to look at Richard and shrugged slightly.
"He isn't wrong," she added.
Richard hesitated with his reply, his lip twitching slightly.
"I'd rather we not involve ourselves if we don't need to," he finally answered. "If these are Minatir's men, I don't want us dragged into another brawl. We should hide around the house and only fight if we're pushed to it."
"But we could-" Eren attempted.
