I drew it from somewhere within at the Narrows. I know it.

The thought echoed as he stared at the stones around him.

The flames barely reached beyond their embers, casting a faint shadow of Erith against the trees.

I've been at this too long.

He got to his feet, kicked dirt into the fire, and grabbed his torch. The night pressed on him heavier than usual.

For weeks now, these late-night treks had become his routine once again. There had been comfort in the hush of the late hours, in the solitude they offered, but lately, even that solace felt unreachable.

Extinguishing his torch and he crept from the forest, slipping back into the encampment.

His mind remained on the night’s practice, silently stepping toward his tent at the end of the row. Erith's steps faltered, his attention drawn first to the closed flaps, then to the ground beneath them.

A thin thread was tangled in the grass near the tent’s opening, barely visible in the dim moonlight.

Crouching low, he freed the thread, studying it as he rolled it between his fingers. The night air pressed against his back as his attention drifted to the fold of the canvas. He lingered a moment longer, then slipped the thread into his pocket and stepped inside.

The scent wafting from the meal tent stirred Erith awake. He lay still for a moment, staring aimlessly at the faint lines of the fabric above.

With a sigh, he dressed and left toward the rising smoke billowing from the meal tent.

The brisk air clung to him under the overcast morning sky. To the west, tall pine and oak trees towered over the nearby tents, their needles and bare branches catching faint streaks of green in the morning glow.

The day slipped by in a haze from Erith. Time felt stretched, his mind occupied while he moved through the motions around the fire pits.

As dusk deepened and the camp shifted its attention toward the meal tent, Erith slipped away from the fire pits toward the camp's refinery.

He snuck between rows of gem-like containers filled with Kaida shards.

Above the containers, mirrored panels caught the light and scattered shifting patterns across the ground.

At the center of the refinery atop crates of tools, sat a box with its lid slightly ajar. Erith crouched low, glancing over his shoulder to ensure he was alone before carefully easing the lid further open.

Inside, small gemstones lay scattered across the bottom—filling only half the box. Thicker and duller than Kaida shards, the gemstones had rough, clouded surfaces that stood in stark contrast to the radiant glow of the nearby containers.

Without a moment's hesitation, he plucked one of the gemstones from the box and slipped it into his pocket. Gently, he eased the lid back into place ensuring it looked untouched before heading toward the meal ten.

As the camp settled for the night, Erith sat in his tent with his eyes closed listening for the faintest hum of activity to fade entirely.

He rolled the thread he had found in the grass between his fingers, and when silence finally fell amongst the camp, he tucked the thread into his vest pocket and reached for his boots.

Erith stepped into the night, walking more cautiously than usual. He moved with purpose through the dark, deep into the forest before he lit his torch.

Watching the glow dance across the nearby trees, Erith lingered a moment before pressing forward.

After only a few paces, his steps halted.

He didn't turn. His voice, low and steady, broke the still air.

"It's dangerous to wander alone. Even more so, this late at night."

Only the wind replied, hollow as it pressed through the trees.

"It must be an uneasy feeling," he continued, speaking to the barren woods around him, "putting your faith in that Kaida blade, with what we've seen lately."

Moments later, a figure stepped out from the forest shadows, their silhouette gradually taking shape.

"I've not known many to leave camp at night and return without incident," The Vice Captain's words had a calm edge to them as he walked with steady caution toward Erith, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword.

"Especially when we're this far from any city, but with the Morvathi camped so close, I'll admit—curiosity has its way of pulling me out, too. Even if it means stepping beyond the safety of the barrier cart."

The Vice Captain stopped a few steps away, the torchlight revealing a weary, yet sharp focus etched into Erith's face.

"Curiosity can be a dangerous thing," Maeric said, his voice measured. "Out here, makes a man wonder what might be worth the risk."

The glint of steel in Maeric’s hand drew Erith’s attention. "That sword doesn't look like something they'd hand out to sifters. Keeps you safe from Murasi, sure, but fit for something sharper, wouldn't you say? Morvathi spies, perhaps?"

Maeric's lips curved into a cautious smirk. "A thought which crossed my mind, though you don't seem the type to sneak out for a chat with the Morvathi—but I think we both know who is taking the risk venturing out this night."

His tone grew measured, yet calm. "If you wanted to kill me, I suspect it would have happened already." Maeric paused, looking inquisitive at Erith. "Yet, I can't help but wonder—what is this danger that I am already in?"

Their eyes locked in a charged silence, the forest around them almost unnervingly still.

Erith's gaze flicked toward the trees. Maeric followed his line of sight until he caught sight of a fox-like Murasi slipping through the shadows, its muted glow bending the air around it.

"Ah," Maeric murmured, his voice tinged with quiet wonder. "Perhaps curiosity is the danger after all. Still... I must be a fool, because I can't seem to stop myself from wanting to understand more."

Slowly, the Vice Captain unstrapped his sword and let it fall between them with a muted thud. He motioned for Erith to take the sword. "Please, allow me to learn—"

"Stop." Erith's sharp voice cut Maeric off, his tone carried a weight that made the Vice Captain instinctively step back. "Toss the gem."

Maeric’s demeanor shifted ever so slightly. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small, dark gem. "I wasn't wrong to wonder about you after the Narrows, it seems."

"Wonder?" Erith's tone hardened. "Did wonder lead you to check my tent at night?"

Maeric's eyes dropped to the gem between his fingers. "Wonder... Wariness... Worry..."

A faint smirk grew across Maeric, lifting his sights back to Erith. "What you survived defies odds, and it looks like my curiosity was justified. I must have been a hundred paces behind you this entire time."

He tossed the gem aside the sword. “I suspect it doesn't matter whether I'm holding the gem or not—it won't protect me from them, will it?"

The Murasi edged closer, its dim glow shifting as it circled slowly.

Erith crouched, picking up the gem first. It was well-polished, smooth in his grip, and about the size of his palm. He turned it briefly in his fingers, the dim light of the Murasi catching on its surface.

"This gem is much nicer than the one I've had to work with," Erith murmured. "But I suppose the Surelians don't mind handing over a small fortune to keep their sifting captains safe."

He'd never needed such protection himself, but that was not something Maeric could know.

Then, without a word, Erith reached for the sword, never taking his eyes off Maeric.

"Go ahead," he said, tilting his head. "You can walk in front of me."

For a moment, Maeric stood frozen, his unease barely masked. With a resigned nod, he stepped forward along the only path Erith had left him.

✦☽✧❖⨁☼✺☼⨁❖✧☽✦