Something must be lost for something to be gained. That’s the normal rule of the world, equivalent exchange, of course that is thrown out of the window with the deities. But for the Stranger it still applies to a certain degree. While she can come back from any condition, hastened regeneration without proper material intake is more than just taxing.

When she opens her eyes again, night has fallen and there Michael is, trying to take care of her. Bruno also comes with some fresh water, a commodity with Scy’lla influence still lingers. The youth refuses to let him near, however and takes the bowl himself.

‘Still so childish’, Bruno wonders what a kid like that is doing here. Nevertheless, he leaves without saying anything. Gazing back, he can see the woman lying there. She was the one to kill seven of his friends. They were affected by the deity of the depth but it wasn’t too late. But now, none remains to make that journey of recovery. Strangely, Bruno doesn’t seem to mind her at all. There is a feeling of relief when he thinks back about their death.

Is it because the raider’s training is fading away? Ever since being inducted, they underwent rigorous regiments, learning the spear, being forced fed human flesh. But now, after having time to himself, memories of who he once was started to come back.

They were all too far gone, including him. Could he make his way back? The man doubts it.

“Ah, you are awake!” The youth exclaimed. Bruno turns back, anxious of what he will feel, seeing straight at her.

“No I’m not” The Stranger replied.

“Yes you are!”

“I guess I am awake then” The woman sits up “Thank you for taking care of me” She pats the youth in the head then turns to Bruno “And you too”

There is such confidence in her voice, her smile and yet it isn’t arrogant. Bruno sighs with a smile, he wonders when will the others will be back from their patrol. The man makes his way to get some food for the waking woman but is interrupted by Michael. Backing off, he lets the youth to deliver the goods.

Leaving to stand guard, Bruno meets up with Father Walker.

“What’s wrong?” The priest asked “Why are you here”

“I’m not welcomed in there, what about here?” The man answered.

He is given a nod, an approval to stay. He sits there silently, stomach grumbling, the youth didn’t give him any of the food. Doesn’t matter, he will chew on some rations later.

“Is there something on your mind?” The priest wondered.

“Does it matter, a deity is invading our world, what I am thinking is insignificant”

“Not for me” Father Walker said “It’s a priest job to hear and calm the people’s heart”

That’s certainly rich, coming from an acolyte. Bruno wonders if this is a ploy to get inside his head, to manipulate him into taking the path of pain. The man realises he don’t care about that at all.

“This past day, trying to survive… I’ve forgotten that I am supposed to be a raider, this is my, our first mission” Bruno said “But the way that kid looks at me, guess I shouldn’t be surprised”

“You don’t want to be a raider?”

“It’s not like I had a choice, none of us did” The man can remember that fateful day as clear as day, when everything crumbled “We were all mages in training. But then, a new headmaster was elected then…”

Someone wasn’t particularly happy about that, someone else wanted that position. But he couldn’t challenge the decision and so he concocted a plan. The ambitious man would have the headmaster eliminated through another mean, like an angry mob for example. Without a charger, a mage is just like any ordinary human.

Bruno sighed and continued.

“We were betrayed, the townsfolk stormed the place and there were no chargers around to protect ourselves. The plan was to get rid of one person, but the mob was impossible to contain” The imaged of torches and pitchforks still burn in his mind “All of us were dragged out, the senior mages all slaughtered. Then us trainees were strung up, crucified and left there in the sun while they decided on what to do with us”

All of them were raised in the wall of the academy, safe and well taken care of. None of the young ones could survive the harsh torture. Bruno could see it, the horror in the townsfolks’ eyes as they realised what they had done, the bodies of children mounting. They decided to bury it all, ended all witnesses and lived on in shame. But that wasn’t to pass.

“Fortunate, or maybe unfortunately, the rest were saved” Not by Knights in shinning armour but something else “The Fisherman, without the barrier they stormed the town and took over the place. They gave us a choice, to join them or die… None of us choose the later, we were naïve, we wanted to live. But maybe we should have just chosen to end it then and there”

They were forced fed the flesh of the still alive townsfolks and were ordered to execute the survivors. None of them hesitated, including Bruno, they loved it! To inflict pains on those people that abused them, that tried to murder them. Afterward, some continued to relish the killing, some showed remorse but there was no way back.

They were all Fisherman, servants of Scy’lla.

“You said earlier that you didn’t have a choice, but now, I see one” Father Walker said “There is no such a thing as a sinful existent, nothing is wrong with wanting to live. In this world it is so easy to die, especially for an ideal or a cause” The priest can still remember a history long lost, the Holy Wars, those who died for what they believed in. It is so easy to die, not having to deal with the fallout.

Bruno can’t tell if the priest is trying to make him feel better or not. Nevertheless, he decides to start doing something, maybe filling his empty stomach. Now that the Stranger is up, they will set out soon. There is something Bruno needs to do before then.

As he chews on the piece of Blind ration, the others return as well.

“How are you feeling now~” Siobhan is all over the Stranger, fawning over her. Something she had wanted to do but was restricted by the need to kill “Let me feed you, say ah”

The old hunter sits down, watching the scene. It doesn’t concern a monstrosity that needs to be put down, so he doesn’t mind what his co-worker up to in her free time. Her obsession isn’t his problem, although he doesn’t exactly find anything is wrong with the fellow veteran.

Finishing his ration, Bruno tells the story that should have been told. One that he wants to forget, of his friend Mark and the stone ring.

“There are many layers to the deities’ influence. Some are easy to spot, horrible mutations, miasma in the air. But most are unseen to the normal eyes, much by a vacuous mind. That ring, you can think of it as a keyhole, it shows the Truth of the world through its many layers. Does it show all? I don’t know” The Stranger said putting on her hat “But gazing through it means seeing the deities for what they are, eldritch gods”

Being so powerful and incomprehensible a mere look was enough to drive Mark insane. Even being under the influence of Scy’lla didn’t stop his transformation. It reminds Bruno of what he saw in the spiral temple. That creature covered in black stones, was that Father Walker’s true form as an acolyte.

“There are things the magical muted like me cannot see. And if I can’t see it, I can’t shoot it” The Stranger points her finger at Bruno “Bang!” She continues “But you who was trained to be a mage should be sensitive to its, and yet, here you are still standing with us”

Was that a neutral comment or actually a compliment. Bruno doesn’t know and neither does the youth who is staring dagger at him.

He looks at the two Blind, also magically muted, they won’t be to see this mysterious influence or even be affected by this. Bruno wondered if the Siobhan saw the same sight as him back at the spiral temple.

“The sky today is certainly starry”

Father Walker suddenly commented, his voice filled with caution. He squints his eyes still gazing upward. Bruno looks up to find nothing is wrong.

“You are aware that there are layers to this world, knowing is a part of understanding” The Stranger walks up next to him.

And as an acolyte, he is more attuned that most. Hearing those words finally clears the mist within his mind. The priest can see through the veil, laid his eyes on the children of the cosmos. [Ib] He whispered, a description not of the human tongue. But it can still be understood to a certain degree.

It is Bruno’s turn to see them. Hulking creatures tall as the hills, their body covered in the night, the stars sparkle creating an enchanting sight. But their shape is most uncomfortable, resemble the human baby, walking on both legs. Finally let loose, the creatures wander the forest with child-like curiosity, leaving nothing behind. Emerging from the raider’s camp, they pace slowly but menacingly, their footsteps light as day. But it leaves behind a toxic reminder.

“Runesland!” Father Walker exclaimed “Everywhere they tread become Runesland!”

“I didn’t expect to cut this close” The Stranger said, turning to the youth while pointing into the wood “Mr. Knight, I have a very important mission for you. Please run this way, you will encounter a settlement. Tell them to evacuate in that direction, immediately, do not bring any belonging. Tell them it’s order from the Blind” She turns to the two hunters with a smile “You guys don’t mind, right?”

“Not at all!” Siobhan answered enthusiastically for both of them.

Just like that, Michael is sent away with nothing on him. He is even asked to leave his sword and shield behind. The youth displays reluctant, “Please” the Stranger speaks, and he complies dutifully.

She then turns to Bruno “You can also leave too, if you want to”

The man points at his exposed patch of skull with spiral pattern “I am already mutated like those Divers, this won’t be a problem” Besides, he has to see to it, the death of his friends.

Father Walker still seem disturbed, Bruno is sure his sight is far more detailed and vivid. What do those monstrosities look like in the priest’s eyes? Would it be their truest form or just a layer? The man guess is correct, but Father Walker is bothered by something else.

“This feeling, it can’t be right?” He said, his eyes looking around “No, it can’t be right!”

“What are you talking about, you lunatic bastard?” The Smiling Hunter asked.

“You all know how Runeslands are created” Runes etched upon an item, whether alive or not, exerting its influence on the world “We have been wrong all this time” The priest said “No, they start out as gateways, then from there the deities plant their knowledge, their runes! This feeling, it’s the same as that day when the world felt. It’s the feeling I had a moment before Azu dawned on me!”

Father Walker pauses and looks down, he whispers with bated breath “It’s the cosmos”

It’s the cosmos that reached out a century ago, it’s the cosmos that created the Runelands. The other deities only hear and respond through the door that the cosmos opens. This deity that is seemingly invading this world, it has always been here, it has always been the only one here.

“We need to move” The old hunter said. The revelation is significant, but it doesn’t change one bit what has to be done. All monstrosities, whatever they are, wherever or whenever they come from, they must all be purged.

The priest has also regained his composure continues on. Bruno follows behind him, wondering what will it be like, entering a Runeland.

The Stranger walks along them. This has taken way more time than she had expected, only less than one day remains. She can tell and so have everyone, by now the sun should have risen right now. This is the beginning of the long dark.

The woman wonders if they are so powerful, could or more like would the deity decided to bend fate itself. Helping the settlement with their plight, encountering and protecting Michael. She knew it would cost her time, but she did it anyway. Were those events placed there by the cosmos? Is the end of this journey predetermined?

“Whatever” The Stranger answered those questions vacuously. She continues on with a smile on her face and two bullets in the chamber.