It came from within. I know it.

The thought circled as he stared at the ring of stones around him. The fire had sunk to embers, its weak light outlining him where he sat, shoulders bowed and head low.

I've been at this too long.

He got to his feet, kicked dirt into the fire, and plucked his torch from the ground.

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

His thoughts were still tangled in the night’s practice as he drifted down the row of tents, until he found himself standing in front of his own. 

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

He crouched down and picked up the thread, studying it as he rolled it between his fingers. He lingered a moment longer, his gaze shifting between the thread and the tent flaps, before slipping it into his pocket and stepping inside for the night.

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

With a sigh, he dressed and headed toward the plume of smoke rising from the camp’s center.

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 streaks of green in the morning glow.

The day slipped by in a haze. 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 placed it into his pocket. Gently, he eased the lid back into place ensuring it looked untouched before heading toward the meal tent.

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.

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," Erith continued, speaking to the barren woods around him, "putting all your faith in that Kaida blade, with what we've seen lately."

Moments later, a figure emerged 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 said, a calm edge to his words as he walked 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 more than just Murasi? 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 Guard—but I think we both know who is taking the risk venturing out here tonight."

"If you wanted to kill me, I suspect it would have happened already." Maeric paused, studying 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 scanned the treeline until he caught sight of a wolf-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 cut in, carrying a weight that made the Vice Captain instinctively step back. "Toss the gem."

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

"Wonder?" Erith's tone hardened. "Has wonder led you to check my tent each night?"

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

A feeble smirk grew across Maeric, lifting his sights back to Erith. "You survived the impossible. Regardless of how you did it, what that can do to someone…but it looks like my curiosity was justified—I must have been a hundred paces behind you this entire time."

He tossed the gem down beside 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 slowly circled.

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.

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