"Evelyn!"

The boy joyously greeted the girl who had been caring for him for weeks.

She walked into the tent, a bucket of water and a washcloth in her hands. "Good morning," she greeted back, her lips forming a soft smile. "Let's get you washed up first before I go fetch you some food."

The boy let out an exasperated sigh. "Ohh, come on! I'm so hungry here. It's been at least three days since I've last eaten. I'm starving here!"

Evelyn rolled her eyes. "Uh-huh. It's been more like a day. No one outside has eaten either, y'know. Don't be too greedy. Everyone needs food."

Sitting down next to the boy, the girl had him turn around so his back faced her. She lifted his shirt, exposing a back with deep cuts etched into the skin. Evelyn carefully began pressing the warm, wet cloth against those cuts.

The boy's body tensed for a moment before calming back down. "Good god, that burns," he complained. Evelyn noticed that his fists were tightly clenched. She pitied him for the pain he was going through. He didn't deserve the lashes he had received.

Once she was done pressing the cloth against each cut, she had the boy turn back around so she could scrub the dirt from his face. His pure white hair, something that had initially shocked Evelyn when she first saw it, was clumped with chunks of mud. It made him look like a stag in the process of shedding its winter coat.

At this thought, Evelyn chuckled to herself. He was far from being as graceful as a deer or elk. The boy noticed quickly. "What are you laughing at? My pain? Is that it?"

Evelyn began laughing even louder. "You're so dramatic, you know that?"

"Am not!" The boy joined her. He had such a sweet laugh, one that Evelyn would do anything to protect.

The tent door opened, and a new person walked in. All laughter ceased, and Evelyn felt a terrible feeling wash over her. "What is this, Evelyn?"

I snapped awake. Sweat beaded my forehead, and I felt my heart pounding.

The dream I just had was one I hadn't experienced in a while. As to why he suddenly decided to show up again, I had no idea.

Even then, I wanted his presence to remain for longer. It almost felt like he was right beside me, in a way...

No. Now wasn't the time to linger on these thoughts. I had other things I needed to do.

I began my morning routine of cleaning myself up with all available items and casting a concealment spell on my eyes. They transformed from deep violet to a shade of sky blue. Sky blue was their original color before I became a Holder. Sure, most people in town knew who I was, but I didn't want to wander around with this brand of shame.

I changed from a nightgown I had found in a nearby wardrobe and back into my purple dress. This dress was one of the only things I could truly pride myself in creating; everything else usually ended in disaster.

After putting on my gloves and boots and leaving with the letter I had written the previous night, I knelt down and prayed to Lune, the East's goddess. When in the East or West, it was expected of you to pray to the respective gods of each area.

I prayed my thanks to the goddess for allowing me to visit the East. I also asked her for guidance, which was something I often did.

I have a special connection with the gods. Maybe it was because of my relationship with the boy who was so loved by them as well, but I couldn't be sure why they communicated with me.

When they commune with me, they guide me to where I should go. They'd whisper soothingly where I was needed most, and in response, I would travel there and resolve any problem that place was having.

At least, that's how it was supposed to go. Today, they didn't tell me anything, and they always had something to say. That could only mean one thing.

There was a hostile worshipped being in the area.

When there's another worshipped being, communication with the gods comes to a standstill. This phenomenon happens due to there being two worshipped individuals when there can only be one present. 

Deities were allowed to be worshipped only because Lune and Soless allowed them to be. Most lesser gods are considered deities and are protected and valued by the gods as well as given their own land to protect and rule over. If someone's not a deity, they were never meant to be one because of the malice in their hearts. Once a malicious being has settled somewhere, it blocks communication with the gods so they can't hear the people's cries for help.

At that moment, something clicked in my brain: a worshipped being was in the area. The spiders' hostility. These two had to be connected. It wasn't every day that a worshipped being showed up out of nowhere. This would also explain why my friend Selena, the deity who had given me the map, told me to come here, knowing that something was brewing. As a deity, she can detect other deity-level beings, and she must've noticed this one and brought it to my attention. She knew of my connection with the gods, so she also knew that I wouldn't be able to contact them.

Selena... I had a few choice words for her being so quiet about all of this, but I'd save them for later. She was wise, far wiser than me, and she couldn't just tell me a bit of what was really going on? Thanks, Selena. So helpful.

I ignored my annoyance at this fact and grabbed my letter.

This letter was addressed to the City of Soless, the capital of the West. Since I mainly worked for the Order, this letter would go to them instead of the East's capital, Misteline. I wasn't a member of the Grand Library, so I didn't have the means to contact them easily.

I exited my room, walked down the stairs, and was relieved to be greeted by no people on the main floor. With it being so early in the morning, I doubted a search party would be waiting for me outside.

And I was right! Upon entering the town center, I was met with complete silence. I breathed in the fresh morning air before looking around for a post office. I soon found one and slipped my letter into the drop box. Once I was done, I turned to the gates leading to the town outskirts. Today was already shaping up to be a pretty good day.

"Hey, Evelyn!" Spoke too soon.

I stopped and watched as Bowe, in all his glory, ran up to me. He came through the outskirts gate, meaning he lived out there somewhere. At least he got home safe. That made me feel more relieved than it should've. "Where are you going?" he panted. He must've run quite some distance to get here.

"Into the forest. That is where you're experiencing these problems, correct?"

Nodding slowly, he said, "Well, yeah, but you can't go alone! We've sent some of our strongest men out there, and they have yet to return, and that's if they do. What's to guarantee that the same won't happen to you?"

"I'm strong."

"All you can do is ride a broom. A broom which you don't even have right now."

I pursed my lips. Well, time to admit it. "That was a lie."

Bowe went quiet. When I looked at him, he was practically sparkling. "So you can practice magic! That's so-" Realizing his child-like awe, he cleared his throat. "Anyway, why would you lie about something like that? Nobody here has anything against witches. Haven't since the Holders were vanquished."

"I lied to protect myself. You saw how the townspeople reacted to my identity. I didn't know you had no clue who I was."

"Yeah, but-"

I pushed past him and walked through the outskirts. I heard footsteps behind me. "Wait! Let me come with you! I could be your guide! I know the forest like the back of my hand. When I was little, my older sister and I would go on our own little adventures through Arachnid's Grove all the time. I've even been around the nest, which is where you wanna go, right?"

Sighing, I said, "Fine. Just... stay behind me the whole time, understood?"

Bowe sounded relieved. "Of course."