Saldim squinted through his magnified specticles looking quite odd with his wild hair and large pointed nose.

“Hmm, it is indeed as you feared, boy, your brother has been Marked”. The short man sighed scratching the stubble on his chin.

“Unlucky this one for his candle to burn out before the mist retreated, hmm, I can put up a notice for someone to gather some Wraithchill leaves but with how recent the mists came the forest is going to be frightfully dangerous, it’ll likely take a couple of weeks before anyone responds.”

Straightening up from his hunched posture Saldim handed some candles from his coat pockets to Vance. He was quiet for a moment before Vance looked up at the doctor.

“I can’t afford to wait that long with how erratic the mists have been this year, they could return before anyone responds” he hesitated slightly. “Ma-Maybe, I know my Soul Level is a little low but-“

Saldim looked up sharply.

“No ‘buts’ Vance! The village can’t risk losing you to the mists. You are not yet ready, boy, to face the Gloamwood not until you obtain your Heartsoul and I reckon with the pace you are going you will not have it for at least 2 to 3 months.” his face softened.

“I know it is tough, boy, with your brother being your only kin left… hmm, but out of respect for your late father I can try to convince Harrul to let you make your Soul Lantern early.”

Grabbing his cane he hobbled over towards the door while Vance was mulling over this new information.

“Be ready, boy, creating your Lantern will not be an easy ordeal especially before your baptism. May your soul burn bright.” Saldim said shaking his head before leaving.

Vance stared at the closed door for a moment still deep in thought before turning around towards his brother's room. Avar, Vance's younger brother of 14, was laying in his cot staring at the ceiling with his milky white eyes muttering to himself unintelligibly the signs of being Marked very much being evident now. Placing some of the candles around the cot that Saldim gave him Vance looked at his brother with pained eyes.

"I don't know if you can hear me Avar but I promise I won't let the mists take you like they did father."

A pale blue flame flickered on his finger as Vance carefully lit the surrounding candles before leaving the room towards his own. Once he was in his room Vance paced around briefly before retrieving an assortment of incenses and dried Gloomberries from a secret compartment in the floor. He hesitated slightly then sat down in the middle of the room cross-legged placing six incense sticks around himself and placing one of the dried berries under his tongue before closing his eyes. Moments passed in the quiet room as Vance breathed out a small ball of blue fire hovering in the air in front of his face revealing his concentrated face as the flame slowly circled around him lighting the surrounding incense before settling on his chest above Vance's heart.

"Six flames to light the way" he breathed in deeply "Burn the Soul forevermore" exhaling a chilled breath as the blue flame deepened in color Vance quickly flicked 3 dried Gloomberries into the hovering ball of fire.

"Soul Infusion!" Vance yelled then slammed his open palms on the floor in front of him. The burning incense sticks around him stilled for a moment before disintegrating into pale blue smoke that condensed then were pulled toward the flame above his heart causing it to become smaller and ethereal before sinking into his skin.

"Urgh!" He grunted in pain as the fire burned his heart before spreading throughout his body. From the outside Vance's skin was covered in glowing blue veins that slowly faded away before he passed out and collapsed.

.................

A dark room filled with floating blue orbs greeted Saldim as he stepped in to the large house on the edge of the village. Scratching his stubbled chin he glanced around the room smithing tools lined the walls and scattered bits of scrap metal lined the tables of the room.

"Hmm, Harrul you've been busy haven't you?"

In the middle of the room on a smithing bench sat a towering one-armed muscle-bound man who seemed to be deep in meditation. This man, Harrul, was the town's blacksmith and spirit forger. Adorning his face was a thick scraggly beard and thick slightly crooked nose topped off with bushy eyebrows that had the unfortunate effect of making him look like he was always in a foul mood. Atop his bald head lay a small bronze turtle who sleepily stared at Saldim yawning before taking a nip at a passing blue orb that floated nearby.

"Preperations for the upcoming ceremony." Intoned Harrul in a deep voice. "The Gloamwood will not wait for us." He reached down picking up a smithing hammer then started hammering a broad piece of metal on the anvil to his side.

"The young Melier boy has been Marked, hmm, like his father before him." Saldim said leaning on his cane while scrutinising the large man. Harrul paused briefly before continuing to hammer. "Vance will turn 20 soon, talented with the bow that one, hmm-" sighing Saldim readjusted his spectacles before speaking, "I wish to use the favor you owe me to help him create his Soul Lantern early."

Harrul opened his eyes revealing a glowing blue eye and a milky white eye, "Dangerous before the baptism..." he layed down his hammer and palmed the metal in his hand checking for deficiencies glancing at the old doctor, "Very well; I will send for the boy within the week. His fa-" he paused gazing at the wall in the direction of Vance's hut, "Seems a fire has been lit in his heart. Good, a soul must be firm before creating a Lantern." Harrul closed his eyes once more nodding towards Saldim. "Now go, your favor has been used."

Saldim sighed as he prepared to leave, "May your soul burn bright, Harrul." The sound of hammer upon metal resounded throughout the room once more as the old doctor hobbled away.