Atell gasped as his eyes opened wide. He greedily inhaled the thin air of the mines as his chest heaved up and down. Surprisingly, his mind was clear. He clearly remembered all that happened, but that did little to prevent his host of fears from swelling like a tidal wave. As they crashed, his eyes darted around frantically to check out the situation.

Rather than rejoicing for having survived the abysmal cold that had assailed him, Atell began imaging every possible outcome of his current situation — and none of them were positive. His most immediate worry was that he had no idea how much time had passed while he was unconscious. Looking over at the sizeable lump of Heartstone lying next to him, Atell hesitated.

If the guards were awake now and he tried to exit with it... he assumed he’d be executed on the spot at worst, apprehended and imprisoned at best. It was in his best interest to just leave it behind, but either way, he couldn’t conjure any reasonable explanation as to why he went foraging in the mines late at night.

‘Idiot!’ Atell cursed himself. In the back of his mind, he’d known that whatever he could gain from stealing the Heartstone was not worth the price he’d have to pay for getting caught. Everything had simply gone too smoothly up until the very last moment, so he’d grown overconfident. Regardless, the entire plan was ill-advised from the start. Tenshi and Irth had urged him repeatedly to only place importance on the words of those he held dear, yet he still insisted on striking back against the Aurelians in this manner after the slightest provocation. It was beyond foolish.

The Coven had likely already caught wind of the Heartstone vein and were en route to seize the mine anyway. In the end, his actions had only damaged himself… and potentially his entire tribe as well.

Atell groaned as he pulled at his hair. Salty tears slid down his cheeks. He decided to vent his frustrations for a short while. A few minutes lost wouldn’t make a difference now since he was already screwed. Growls emerged from his lips in succession as he slammed his pickaxe into the wall like a crazed beast. It wasn’t until his arms hung limply at his sides that he finally noticed the cold energy circulating through his body. Atell closed his eyes, focusing internally, and what he found truly sunk him into the depths of despair...

Every pulse of his blood pushed back against a tide of coiling dark strands that seemed eager to drill into his heart. Atell dropped his pickaxe in a panic. Something was wrong, very wrong.

His mind blanked as he clutched at his chest where the dark energy was slowly gathering. Atell threw off his shirt to take a look at his body, a stifled breath caught in his throat.

“No… Please, no…” Atell muttered out softly. Black ink suffused his veins, clearly visible beneath his pale grey skin. It should have been impossible, but… he was being corrupted, slowly becoming one of the Depraved due to Nether Energy running rampant in his body.

Stories of Ghouls and other terrifying beings of the Lower Realm often circulated through the tribes. Atell believed they were largely just tales fabricated to scare the children, but he also knew that these stories stemmed from a seed of truth more often than not.

‘But how…!’ He nearly screamed. According to what he knew — no living being of the Ancestral Races could turn into a Ghoul. Only Mana Beasts and the deceased would transform into monsters when exposed to Nether Energy. Clearly, the Aurelians and other tribes hadn’t been overly worried about the presence of the Shard for that very reason. ‘So how did this happen!’ Atell questioned again.

He needed answers and his grandfather was the first person who came to mind. Atell put his shirt back on and scrambled over towards the exit; however, just as he reached the steep slope, his instincts screamed out that he was leaving something important behind. The only items remaining behind him were the Heartstone and his burlap sack. Atell took a step back…

***

A small humpbacked shadow raced through the trees at the base of Mount Stormpeak. The world was tinged in soft hues of blue and yellow as Syren and Nerys peeked through the gaps in the scattering clouds.

Fortunately, the night was still young. Atell had been able to sneak back past the sleeping guards on his way out of the mine, which should have been the end of worries... But now he was confronting a completely different concern — even direr than the previous. He was afraid because he understood that corruption didn’t end upon death; rather, it was just the beginning. The souls of the Depraved would have their connection to the World Tree severed, destined to an eternity of suffering in the frozen depths of the Nether...

Atell slowed his pace, trying his utmost to calm his frantic heart and mind as he spotted dark figures moving in the distance. Closer inspection revealed them to be stragglers returning from the banquet. The men and women tottered around drunkenly as they filtered into the caves ahead of Atell. Under normal circumstances, he would have waited for an opening to enter undetected, but his impending doom currently dictated otherwise. Indignant shouts and curses entered Atell’s ears as he hastily maneuvered his way to the forefront of the crowd, pushing and sliding between the large bodies.

Continuing his sprint, Atell arrived at his dwelling in a flash. Tenshi was seated at the table, concern, and anger already etched deeply into his face when Atell burst into the room.

“Atell! Where have you been?” The Patriarchs tone was laced with disapproval.

“I-I… Grandpa, just look!” Atell didn’t know where to start, so he just ripped off his shirt.

Tenshi’s face drained of color as he stared blankly at the boy. A spider web of dark veins spread across his Atell’s chest, extending down his legs and arms. The network throbbed ominously in the dim light.

“I-It c-can’t be…” Tenshi uttered, his voice quivering. “...Atell, h-how did this…?”

Atell inhaled a deep breath and got right out with it. He wouldn’t be able to hide anything in this situation. “I went into the mine to steal Heartstone and exposed some sort of cavern or new tunnel when I dug out a piece. I-It must have been too close to the shard, a lot of Nether Energy was leaking out and I collapsed. When I woke back up… it was already like this…”

An indiscernible flurry of emotion passed through Tenshi’s eyes. Atell waited, but the old man offered no immediate solution.

“Grandpa, i-isn’t there something we can do…?” Fresh tears flooded Atell’s eyes.

“T-This… I didn’t know such a thing was even possible…” Tenshi spoke absentmindedly.

A lump formed in Atell’s throat as despair churned in his stomach. He was desperate for something, anything.

For a short while, Tenshi was lost in his thoughts. When his head finally rose to face Atell, determination flared in the old man’s eyes.

“Wh-What is it Grandpa?”

“Not long before you were born, the Matriarch fell ill. None of the Aurelians were able to diagnose her and they even exhausted the Stag Tribe’s supply herbal remedies to no avail. Eventually, they decided to ask for outside help. Through their contacts in the Dynasty, they located a woman who resides somewhere near the center of the Severed Spine. They paid a steep price to purchase her services, and not long after she arrived — the Matriarch made a full recovery.” Tenshi sighed. “She’s the only one I can think of who may have the knowledge to assist you.”

“The Severed Spine is days away. W-Will we be able to make it?”

“You should be able to make it through the southern forest and reach the mountains in three… maybe two days, if you travel with minimal rest. We must pray that’s enough time.”

“Grandpa…? Will you not be coming with me?” Atell’s voice quaked as fear and doubt gripped his heart.

“I can’t, Atell. I’ll have Irth accompany you. I must stay here and manage the tribe’s migration. Regardless, my old body wouldn’t be able to keep up.”

“Ev-Everyone’s leaving?”

“Of course, if something like this has happened, we are no longer safe anywhere near the mines.” Tenshi rubbed his temple. “It’s only a matter of time until the Coven arrives. We’ll take advantage of the chaos and search for new land to settle.”

“But how will I find you when I come back?”

“I urge you not to return for a time, Atell. It will be too dangerous here. I’ll try and coordinate a means of communication with Irth. ”

“B-But grandpa…”

“Atell!” Tenshi cut him off with a shout. “There are no other options. Do you think the Aurelians won’t find out what you’ve done!? All it would take is a simple investigation, so we must hope that their attention is focused elsewhere...”

Atell flinched back. He’d never heard his grandfather raise his voice before.

Tenshi breathed deeply to calm himself down.

“You need to focus on your own survival, little one. It’s as Irth always preaches, face your immediate problem before you worry about the one on the horizon. Once you make it through this trial, it will only be a matter of time until we reunite in the future. Understand?”

Atell nodded, meekly.

Tenshi crouched next to him and wrapped him in a tight embrace. The old man’s thin limbs carried only a vestige of their former strength and warmth.

“Prepare quickly, you must depart right away."

***

“Where to, Uncle?” Atell asked.

Irth paused his steps to double-check the map Tenshi had hastily drawn for him.

“First, we need to bypass the village and continue southeast towards the river. Once we reach its bank, we’ll continue following it south — through the forest — until we reach the Severed Spine. There, our task will truly begin. I’ve only heard the rumors of this mysterious medicine woman. Our best bet will be to find a town or village and ask around.”

“Got it.” Atell nodded. All his fears seemed to wither away with his stalwart uncle by his side. The stout Troll was a picture of peace amidst the turbulent storm.

Atell saw everything when the Patriarch had gone to solicit the man earlier. Irth simply listened to everything Tenshi had to say and then packed his bags without a word. It amazed the boy to no end. When everything was crumbling apart, how could someone remain so calm? He’d always thought his uncle to be a simple man… but he realized now what kind of tremendous willpower accompanied that straightforward attitude.

Resolution flashed across Atell’s eyes as the two of them crept around the outskirts of the village. Their luck was good, the patrolling guards outside the palisades were few and far between thanks to the celebration. After putting the town behind them, they increased their pace to a steady jog. It wouldn’t be easy to hide their tracks in the field of snow, best to just put as much distance between themselves and any potential pursuers as possible before morning arrived.

Atell hoped the Aurelians would be too disorganized to immediately pursue, potentially providing them with at least a days head start. Making it to the forest was of utmost priority before then.

The Direwolf mounts of the Auric Guard possessed incredible speed, but their large frames made it difficult for them to maneuver through the dense pine trees. At that point, the Aurelians would be more likely to pursue on foot, giving Atell and Irth an advantage. The Wolf-Bloods were agile but the Trolls had bottomless stamina.

Yet all the stamina in the world couldn't save him if his body deteriorated beyond hope. Atell could already feel the Nether Energy weakening his body. It was a strange feeling. Sweat dripped down his skin, yet he felt like all the heat in his body was gradually being driven out. The contrasting warm fatigue and chill made him feel light-headed and nauseous. But he could only grit his teeth and continue on. Irth had already limited their speed to accommodate him.

It took them a few hours to finally reach the bank of the Emerald Tributary. True to its name, the churning water appeared a crystalline green under the light of the moons. Atell was only able to pause and admire its beauty for a brief moment before Irth finished filling their waterskins and they continued on their way.

The pace was relentless and it quickly took its toll on Atell. He was outraged with himself. Normally considered the strongest and hardest worker among his peers, his steps were now scarcely more than a brisk walk. His uncle had already taken it upon himself to carry all their supplies, and even the large chunk of Heartstone, yet he was still the one holding the man back.

Atell had initially taken responsibility for lugging the massive crystal, but during their momentary break at the tributary’s bank — Irth had snatched the final burden from his back and slung it over his own shoulders. It may have been better to just dump the hefty stone altogether, but Tenshi encouraged them to bring it along despite its weight because it might be useful as a payment to the medicine woman. The Trolls possessed little of any value otherwise.

“Gahhh!” Atell groaned as his frustrations mounted. “U-Uncle, I don’t think I can continue much longer.”

Irth glanced back over his shoulder but didn’t slow down.

“Take it one step at a time, Atell. We’ll reach the edge of the southern woods soon and take a short rest there, alright?”

Atell gazed at the dark treeline on the horizon and nodded his head. Every minute that passed brought him closer to a fate worse than death, he couldn’t afford to waste a single second…

***

The first rays of sunlight scattered through the branches as Atell collapsed against a tree trunk. His breath came in short, ragged gasps as Irth kneeled by his side and passed him some water.

“You’ve done great so far. Drink, eat, and rest to regain your strength. I’ll wake you up in a few hours.”

Atell tried to thank the man in between sips, but he couldn’t find the energy to produce any words.

Irth smiled, understanding the boy’s intentions. However, his face grew solemn as soon as his nephew drifted off to sleep. It had slipped his notice during the night, but now he could clearly see the dark veins already extending up to the child’s neck. He felt anxious every moment they weren’t moving forward, despite knowing that Atell needed rest more than anything else. All he could do was pray the boy would make it through another day.

***

Water dripped down like light rain from the branches overhead as Atell stumbled over another slippery rock. The ground was slick due to the rapidly melting snow. It was already a miracle that he hadn’t twisted an ankle or injured himself more severely. He could clearly see the protruding roots and obstacles in his path, but his legs felt heavy and unresponsive. They just wouldn’t move as he desired.

In the next moment, his body was lifted into the air. Irth grunted as he slung the boy over his shoulder. Their speed in the woods had slowed significantly. The sun was already past its peak, yet they’d made little progress. It was unfortunate, but Atell would just have to suffer some scrapes and bumps as he carried him.

***

Lying on his back in the mud, Atell whimpered in pain. The chill in his body had crept deep into his bones, locking up his joints and muscles. At this point, he was practically paralyzed and this feeling of powerlessness scared him more than anything else. When he could move — there was still a trace of hope. Now, the suffocating stress and pain pressed their entire weight down on him.

A hand that seemed to blaze with a fever pressed against his forehead. Atell could sense Irth rummaging through their packs next to him, but he couldn’t even muster the energy to turn his head to look. He wanted to scream… to yell… to stomp his feet or pound his fists. The frustration was far more agonizing than the cold, but he had no way to vent...

“Shit!” Irth cursed as the Heartstone slid out of its sack, rolling across the ground. His eyes were bloodshot and rimmed by dark circles as he scrambled to retrieve it. He wasn’t sure if the fluctuations of energy it emitted would attract any nearby Mana Beasts.

However, just as he reached out, Irth noticed that Atell’s eyes were suddenly glued to the stone. Yearning suffused the boy’s passionate gaze. Irth hesitated, ‘Could he… want the Heartstone for something?’ The man had little knowledge of the stone’s uses outside its value, but Atell clearly wanted something from it.

Irth rolled the stone closer, eliciting a muffled grunt from the boy. Atell’s eyes flickered back and forth between the dull knife hanging from Irth’s waist and the Heartstone. Picking up on the cue, Irth raised his knife above the amber and waited for a sign. The very slight nod from Atell was all the indication he needed to act.

Striking down with his knife repeatedly, Irth carved a path towards the boiling energy inside as Atell looked on fervently. Finally, at the expense of his only weapon, Irth managed to reach the Heartstone’s core.

Irth’s arms trembled as he brought the stone towards the boy’s parched lips. Intense heat exploded all around them, but it was already far too late to worry about any trouble it would attract.

***

Agonizing pleasure surged through Atell’s core as he lapped up the blazing Flux Essence. Not all of the precious nectar managed to make it into his mouth, inflicting burns as it dribbled across his face. He saw the conflict in Irth’s eyes as the man struggled to hold the amber steady, but Atell didn’t mind the pain.

The volume of liquid contained in this Heartstone was nearly three times the amount he’d absorbed previously. Atell wasn’t sure if his body would be able to contain the massive influx of energy to begin with, so some wastage was the least of his concerns. Placing all of his faith in some volatile and invasive substance was dangerous. Still, he had to try something...

When Atell had felt the Heartstone roll free from the pack, clarity had pierced through his chaotic thoughts. The Flux Essence was calling out to him just like it had the other night. Even if the attempt failed, he thought it was better than slowly sinking into despair in this pit of mud. The Heartstone may have been their only means of potentially paying the woman, but prolonged survival was worth any price.

It wasn’t long before agony consumed his entire being and Atell was unable to consider the consequences of his actions any further. Fire and ice clashed in his veins, shredding his Origin Channels in the process. It felt like tiny explosions were rupturing his insides wherever the two forms of energy met. Atell clenched his teeth as he lifted his head, coughing steaming blood onto his chest in the process. The constant torment was worse than anything he could imagine, but at least he felt something.

Atell slowly crawled to his feet.

“I can keep going,” he muttered.