Recap: “Hello, young lady! My names Alexander Lav, call me Alex, might I ask yours?” Alexander asked, smiling gently as he held his hands to her, much to her surprise and confusion.

----

Hesitantly and cautiously, she decided to speak up, her arm raising up to hold his. “Wisteria Goldwell. Just Wis is fine, what are you doing here?” Well, beating around the bush was never part of her personality.

“Ah ha, you see, I might be a bit lost.” Alex said sheepishly. Letting her hand go in favor of scratching the back of his head.

Wisteria snorted, ‘a bit’ was an understatement, this side of the valley was miles away from civilization.

This valley-- called Grim’s-- was not really a favored location, as it is far and dangerous. It’s generally avoided and a miracle he even found it as this valley was-- not only far, but also left alone for its dangerous Lurkers and difficult path, though, the biggest reason was probably the ‘legend’.

Wisteria told him as much, she shook her head, “it would take half a day for you to return from where you came from, and that is by carriage, which is unlikely enough to come. If you walk by foot it would take approximately 3 days-- and that is of you managed to not come across Lurkers.”

“What?” Alex blinked in surprise, “why wouldn’t a carriage come? And Lurkers? I was not told they even had Lurkers here!” Really, all that information wasn't really told to him. Wisteria felt pity, but continued on. “Yes, Lurkers, they usually come at night, though. While you're not perfectly safe, the moonlight will help you avoid them.”

“Ah yes,” Alex said, nodding and giving a relieved look, “thank Zeus it's moonlight hour.”

Lurkers, from what she knew-- and she knew them well, are creatures of the dark, made by the god of the underworld, Hades to cause destruction and calamity and suck the humans souls, making them lifeless-- nothing but a doll. They were avoided because use of that, and were weak to moon's, and sun's light, as it makes them vulnerable and open for people to see.

Lurkers did not look like an animal, monster, or human. Lurkers are pure darkness, though they could change shape-- human or monster or even animals, the drawback was that they would look colorless, no face and blank. But their general appearance was darkness, found in shadows and dark- small places. They were mostly found in forest filled with darkness and dark energy, they were rarely ever seen in cities and villages filled with light and light magic.

While they were safe in the out, with the moon shining brightly here in the valley where she sat, Wis was sure that other places were not so lucky.

“You are very lucky, coming here at this time, and that you did not cross paths with them,” she acknowledge, dipping her head. “But I would like to know how you came here. This is not a place that just anyone can come, after all. As I told you, this place is generally avoided.”

Let it not be said that Wisteria was not curious.

“Ah, that.” Alex said, wincing. “Well, like I said. I did, in fact, get lost, but I was chased around by a group of people who were after me, and before I knew it-- I was here and met you, beautiful young lady.”

She ignored the compliment, she was sure it was only because he was being polite- and besides, compliments mattered not to her. Wisteria absent mindedly hummed, “if you leave now, you could arrive to the village in two days, but the Lurkers will be out by now, as well as some of the dangerous monsters. But if you leave tomorrow, it would take 3 or so days-- and while there will be no Lurkers, you will be sure to encounter Monsters.”

Alex contemplated it, his smile gone in place of a thoughtful frown and his cerulean eyes narrowed, and eyebrows arched. He tapped his chin, “either way I get to meet monsters, huh?”

“Yes,” she said, confirming his thoughts, tilting her head, observing him. “You are quite unlucky, coming to this path.”

He shrugged, giving a helpless smile, “well, unlucky is my middle name, they say!”

Wisteria blinked, looking at him thoughtfully, “what a peculiar name you have then, I could never remember what mine was.”

Alex smile faltered, his face taken aback, “it's not- it's not really my middle name, it was a joke,”

“A joke,” she slowly repeated, “ah yes, a joke is the means to make someone laugh yes?”

“Well, yes,” he said, looking at her with a strange face, “have you never heard of one before? And what do you mean not remembering your middle name?” He decided to add, curiosity rearing its head.

Shaking her head, Wisteria stood up, patting off the leaves that stuck on her dress. “No, I have heard some, but I forget what it was- it was a long time ago anyway.” Walking passed him, she headed towards the path full of leaves and where roots seemed to be everywhere. She stopped for a moment, and looked at Alex, her piercing golden eyes staring at his SOUL. After a moment, she smiled, revealing her sharp teeth. “It is like I said. I do not remember my middle name. How I forgot, well, it will be a story of another time. That is, if you are still here.”

“Now then,” she said, now looking forward as she started to slowly walk down the path, “come. Follow me if you wish to stay here for the day.”

With her words, she was consumed by the darkness.

And for some reason or another, Alexander followed.