The cold sea breeze blew Silica's hair as she sat atop the cliffside. The sun had long set, and the cloudless night allowed the twin moons to reflect on the ocean below. Silica had no idea how long she had sat fixed on the ocean. The sun was beginning to go down when she arrived at her spot at the cliff.

All she did was blankly stare out at the vast expanse of the ocean, lost in thought. It seemed her life-long goal, the promise she made on this spot was further from her reach. She was no longer an adventurer, lost it due to some crazy whim she had. She knew full well that avenue was long closed to her. Even if she left the island to retry joining in another town, the guild has a well-informed network so they’d know about her. Her only hope was a pardon, and that was not likely to happen.

She was angry, of course. Furious at what had happened. But reflecting on it, she knows full well she has only herself to blame. She knew full well what would happen if anyone caught her with Jil. It was on a whim to try and smuggle Jil back without telling anyone, and she certainly paid for it.

“What do I do now?” Silica sighed as she casually tossed a rock into the ocean. Her mind was a complex web, trying to piece together something out of the mess she had found herself in.

“You’re family said you’d be here,”

Silica turned and saw Jil flying towards her. “Oh hey Jil,” She greeted half-heartedly as Jil landed on the ground next to her. “Did they… did they tell you to come get me?”

“Your sister was about to come and get you,” Jil replied. “But I insisted to come in her stead.” She fidgeted as she spoke, keeping her sad eyes glued to the ground. “I… Feel like I owe you an apology.”

“You do?”

“You’re family told me how important being an adventurer is to you. What’s more… I feel responsible for how things have transpired. I’m… I’m truly sorry for what has happened.”

“… Na, I totally brought this on myself,” Silica said with a sigh. If anything, she was the one who was in the wrong. “Don’t worry. It’s not like this is the end of my life or anything,” She said to Jil with a forced smile. “Just means I need to think of something else to get off this rock.”

Jil looked perplexed by Silica’s behavior. “What do you mean?” She asked with an inquisitive glint in her eye.

“Well… Being an adventurer was… more of a means to an end for me,” Silica replied after a pause. “Adventurer’s get to explore the entire world, cross borders, ignore all the crap with the Empire, Gao, and Mahama and make a name for themselves. For me… I just wanna see the world. See what’s out there beyond the ocean. Heck, actually see Reichsherz myself, or even Jushing or Bar Nakkar. Maybe even… the dark continent, or even the very top of Serendipity.”

Jil said nothing while Silica continued.

“Being kicked out of the guild doesn’t mean my dreams over. Though… it certainly makes it harder.”

“….. There’s more to it then that, isn’t there?” Jil said. “I can feel a deep sadness within you, as though you're craving something you’ve lost or never had. It was strong when we first passed by this hill earlier, a powerful emotion deep within your heart. When that man provoked you on what I’d imagine was the issue, you exploded in a burst of anger, yet you also felt great pain and sorrow, like a wound that has yet to close.”

Silica was speechless. “H-How did you…?”

Jil shook her head, “… I’m not certain myself. But for some reason, I can feel the emotions of other mortals if I concentrate hard enough.” She said looking back up to Silica. “Although it seems strongest with you. Even before I saw you tonight, I could tell exactly where you were because of the emotions radiating from you.”

Silica didn’t know how best to respond. It was strange, but the fairy was completely right. She hesitated, but she felt she owed the fairy that much.

“You meet my family right,” Silica asked, keeping her head down as she spoke, “…. How much did they tell you?”

“Well… I didn’t pry too much about you specifically. Although the reactions from your sister and mother were that this is something you are known for. You’re farther on the other hand couldn’t stop crying like an infant.”

Silica laughed a little.

“They all care about you a great deal, and they are very concerned about you because of what has happened.”

“….. and, have you noticed anything about them and me?”

“What do you mean?”

“Like… anything that sets me apart from them?

Jil crocked her head as she eyed Silica from head to toe, paying close attention to her eyes and hair. “Now that you mention it, I am under the impression that mortals pass on their physical traits to the succeeding generations in order to preserve their species. Yet…. You deviate from your family completely. Even putting your hair and eye apart, you do not resemble your father or mother.”

Silica sighed a little. “Yeah…. That’s cause I was adopted by them when I was still a baby. They aren’t my biological family.”

“I-I’m sorry… I didn’t mean to pry,” Jil apologized.

“Hey, don’t worry. It doesn’t bug me or anything and everyone knows about it.” Silica said patting Jil on the head like a small pet. She leaned back, taking in the breeze. “Growing up, I always found this spot calm. Whenever something pissed me off, I’d just find myself coming here. I never understood why. It was about seven years ago when I finally understood why.”

With a sigh, Silica got back to her feet and approached the cliff. Jil followed her to the edge where she peered over the side. “People are born from their moms,” Silica pointed to the jagged rocks below. “I came from down there.”

While Jil studied the crashing waves, Silica sat back down, curling her legs up as she watched the twin moons before being obscured by clouds.

“I see,” Jil fluttered away from the cliff edge. “That does explain the conflicting emotions I’m sensing from you.”

Silica chuckled. “Believe it or not, Liana was the one who found me. Fifteen years ago…. would make her about three I think. Island got hit by a horrible storm, the likes of which actually flooded the catacombs below. Liana had gone to Grans just before the storm had hit. She was walking back to our home when she spotted a light out there in the waves.

“Even back then, her eyesight was next to none. Even in the storm, she could see it was a boat adrift, and in that boat was a person. She ran to the lighthouse and rang the alarm bell, running all over town to gather help. Nearly half the village, including dad, Garo and mom gathered here where the boat had crashed into the coastline. The woman’s cloak had blown off and everyone could see her silver hair and golden eyes.

“Both dad and Garo climbed down to try and save her, got right to the rocks. A giant wave was coming fast. The woman shoved a baby into my dad’s arms seconds before the sea claimed her.”

“And that child… Was you?” Jil asked, getting a weak nod from Silica.

“Couse, I didn’t know any of that growing up. I always assumed I was born on this island and those people were my family. Heck, I still do. Even though I wasn’t their real daughter, they still treated me like part of the family.”

“You never suspected that they weren’t.” Jil pressed, folding her arms.

“….. It’s not that I didn’t. I mean… You said it yourself, I look nothing like mom, dad, or even Liana. I may be reckless but I’m not dumb.

“I asked them about it but they’d always brush it off. Even going into town, everyone said the same thing, ‘of course they’re your mom and dad. Don’t think of such dumb things.’ Closest I got was the dwarf Torbrun who told me about how dwarves see family and how nothing would change how mom and dad felt about me. Then there was gran who gave me more cryptic mumbo jumbo.

“I think I was…. Eight. I overheard mom arguing with that bastard Doal.”

“Doal… the man who took away your status as an adventurer?”

“Yeah that’s him.” Silica let out a dry laugh. “He always hated me. Although… he did keep the secret as well. Anyway…. I overheard something I shouldn’t have, about me and where I came from. It was only after they found out I was listening that they stopped. After that, I confronted mom and dad. Reluctantly they told me that story about how they found me.”

Jil landed back on the ground as Silica blankly stared off into the distance. Up ahead clouds had parted way, allowing the moons to shine there light down onto the world.

“I got so mad. Like… my entire life felt like it was a complete lie. Didn’t speak for them for about a week. Then… Liana slapped me out of my slump. Said that the color of my hair, or eyes didn’t mean anything. To her, I was her sister the moment she held me as a baby. It was… kinda weird hearing her say stuff like that but in a way… I believed her. Even now, even though I know the truth, Liana, and my mom and dad… they are my family.”

Jil followed Silica’s gaze into the distance. Clouds were beginning to roll, slowly covering the twin moons with another. “Your mother… your real one. She’s the reason why you wanted to become an adventurer?”

“.... Yeah.” Silica nodded. “You’re still curious about your missing memories right?”

“I… suppose.”

“Well… that’s what it was like for me. Even though my family’s here, didn’t change the fact that I knew nothing about myself. Where do I come from? Who was my mom? Why was I brought here? Was I a refugee from the wars? Did monsters destroy my home? Was my mom running from something? Coming here I always think about that stuff. Sometimes… I just feel so outta place here, like I really belong somewhere out there. And it… it really scares me sometimes, not knowing where I really belong.” She said with a sad look.

“So I… I want to go out there. Beyond the sea, to the far corners of the world. I’ll even climb Serendipity if I had to. I just… I need to know where I’m from.” She chuckled, leaning back as the wind picked up. “Sorry. I really talked your ear off, huh?”

“Not at all.” Jil shook her head with a smile. “I suppose I can relate in some ways. I don’t know who I am at all.”

“Ha, maybe it was fate I found you in the catacombs after all, huh?” Silica jokes. “Although… if I hadn't I might still be an adventurer too.”

“.....Fate?” Jil muttered, putting a hand to her chest.

“Jil?”

Jil closed her eyes, her wings fluttering in the wind. She then opened them once more gazing out towards the tower.

The momentary silence was then broken by a bell ringing in the distance. Silica turned and looked towards the town where the ringing was coming from.

“What is that?” Jil asked while taking flight.

“It’s… its the alarm?” Silica jumped back to her feet, looking back towards Holbourgh.

The Husks

Liana whittled down the piece of wood with her dagger until it was nothing but a thin pole to make arrows. With a sigh, she placed it next to the others while continuing to drone on whittling the next arrow shaft. She sat at her suburb overlooking the rest of the island. Darkness had long shrouded the rocky fields, with the jagged rocks painting an almost otherworldly Vistage.

Right now she was at home alone. Her parents had gone down to town to meet up with the rest of the guild and the local militia and island guard. Van Jorhan had only just departed, yet Doal was preparing for an imminent attack from the monsters she had encountered in the catacombs just hours before, reinforcing the barricades at the towns entrances. Liana stayed behind while passing it off that she would look after the fairy, Jil, but the truth was she was waiting for Silica to return home.

But she never did. She was about to go get her, but Jil insisted to go instead, clearly blaming herself for what had happened. And so Liana remained, whittling new arrows hoping her sister would return soon.

“Ah, Liana!”

Her momentary calm was interrupted by Hal, dressed in his usual island guard armor. Following close by was Torburn carrying a long sword over his ridged back.

“Oh, good evening.” Liana greeted.

“To you to lass. Silica wouldn’t happen to be in, would she? Got her sword ready.” Torburn asked, to which Liana shook her head.

“She’s uh… by the shore.”

“Ah,” Torburn stroked his beard. “How’s she doin’?”

Liana didn’t say. By now Silica’s expulsion from the guild had circulated around the village.

“Isn’t there anything the guild can do?” Hal asked. “I mean, come on, this was her dream to be an adventurer! The mayor can’t just take it away cause he feels like it!”

Liana shook her head. “Unfortunately, the mayor does have the right to make that decision.” It stung her to even say that. Mayor Doal’s hatred for Silica was well known. Even when she was first found, Doal insisted she be banished, taken to Gormott and off the island. While their relationship was cordial, Liana hated the man for how he treated her sister., now more than ever.

“Can see why she would wanna keep such a prize hidden. Seen many a dwarven brethren doin’ the same.” Torburn said. “Know it’s not much of a consultation, but I can’t help but respect ya sister. Always thinkin’ on her feet rather than her head.”

“I’m sure it’ll all work out somehow.” Hal said. “Come on, this is Silica we’re talking about here. She’ll find a way outta this and be right back to causing mayhem!”

Liana smiles and nods. While she failed to find the silver lining, it was heartwarming to see people coming together in support of her sister. “Thanks guys.”

“..... What in blazes?” Torburn suddenly spoiled the mood, walking past Liana and Hal to look over the fields. “Something’s moven’.”

“What is?” Liana asked.

“Hmmm…. can’t say but… there’s a lot of them.”

“Goblins?” Hal drew his sword as he and Liana took position alongside the dwarf. “Damn, don’t tell me it's another goblin raid.

Liana squinted, instinctively holding her bow and an arrow in her hand. She could make out something moving in the distance, emerging from passageways that would lead to the catacombs. Yet whatever they were, Liana could tell they weren't either goblins or orcs. They were far too small, and quite to be that. The clouds covering the moon parted ways, letting Liana make out an outline of what was out there.

What she saw made her blood go cold.

*****

The alarm bell was attached to the lighthouse by the dock. A large belfry that could wither any storm and make the loudest racket if rung. The only time it was rung was to alert incoming ships coming into port during a storm or when the village was under attack.

The seas were calm, which meant it was the latter.

“Don’t tell me the orcs are attacking again?” Silica asked herself. The last time there was an orc raid they almost broke into the center of town. Fortunately, van Jorhan and Garo lead the guard and adventurers to repel them without a single death (though suffered a few casualties in the process).

“Orcs?” Jil blinked.

“Uh, big green monsters. You’ll know when you see them.” Silica answered. Yet, something about this didn’t feel right. She couldn’t describe it, but there was something sinister in the air, an invisible shroud that covered the island.

“?!!” Jil suddenly gasped, clutching her chest while breathing heavily. She looked pale, almost as though she had seen a ghost.

“What is it?” Silica asked.

“S-Somethings… Somethings out there…” Jil muttered, looking ready to throw up, “I-I can feel it… that chill… the corruption and despair.”

Silica had no idea what the fairy was muttering, but her reaction did conform something; there was something very wrong.

“S-Silica!” Jil suddenly shouted and pointed.

In the distance, illuminated by the light of the moons was something that Silica had never seen before and was enough to make her want to gag in disgust. Wadling towards her was a milk-white, naked and horrifically deformed man, soulless black eyes, genitals missing, the sickly skin boiling with horrible grows of boils and what looked like hands and a face hidden beneath the skin.

“Th-The hell!” Silica instinctively reached for her sword- Crap! -only to remember that she had given it to Torburn that morning for maintenance and never got round to getting it back.

The creature let out an inhuman shriek before lunging at Silica, grabbing at her snapping its horrible pointed teeth trying to bite her throat out. “Get… offf!” Silica wrestled with the monster, throwing it off the cliff.

She walked back. “Wh-What was that?”

“There’s more!” Jil alerted her.

Behind her, more of the white husks walked seemingly out of nowhere, slowly staggering towards Silica. “Oh come on…”

“What now?” Jil said hovering close to Silica.

“What else. We gotta get back to the town.”

“Th-Through all of them? You’ll never make it through all of them!”

Silica grinned. “Did spend my life dodging orcs and goblins. What’re a few mutant assholes!” She charged forwards, ducking under a wide swing from one of the husks, elbowing another and shoving it to the ground. Jil followed, floating a few feet above the combat, shouting out warnings to Silica as she ran down the coastal path, raming through any husk she came across. Her progress was good until something caught her leg, pulling her to the ground.

“Silica!”

Silica turned to her back as a husk began to crawl on top of her. She freed her leg, kicking the abomination in the face before another took its place. She struggled, holding the monster back with her elbow as its inhuman jaws snapped, trying to knaw her face off.

An arrow then pierced its neck, killing it instantly. Silica shoved the corpses off her as another charged her. “Take this!” Hal suddenly came into view, beheading the creature. Torburn was next, leaping off a nearby rock, bringing a hammer down on a nearby husk cracking its skull in one blow.

“In the nick of time, huh lass!” The dwarf said.

“Wh-what are you two-”

“Silica! Jil!”

Behind her, Liana fired another arrow into a nearby husk before helping her sister back to her feet. “Thank the goddess you’re alright.”

“Liana? Wh-Whats going on?” Silica asked. Jil remained hovering above her head.

“I’ll explain later,” Liana said, drawing and firing another arrow. “We need to get back to the town, now!”

“Catch!”

Torburn tossed Silica’s sword at her. “You’re gonna need that, I think!” He bellowed before swinging his hammer at a husk, breaking its shin, allowing it to drop to one knee before smashing it in the head.

“Thanks!” Silica drew her sword and threw away the scabbard, quickly slicing the arm off an incoming husk before cutting into its back, standing back to back with Liana. “Let's do this, Liana!”

“Right!” Liana nodded, firing two arrow volleys into incoming husks before drawing her dagger, stabbing a third in the throat. Silica stuck to her sister defiant to the incoming horde. Her quick footwork outmaneuvered the lumbering monstrosities that lunged for her, occasionally tripping the monsters before impaling them on the ground.

Torburn and Hal fought back to back as well, the guardsman putting his training to good use, swinging his sword in concentrated, yet clumsy arcs trying to remember the discipline of imperial swordsmanship under the heat of battle. Torburn, despite only coming up to Hal’s chest, proved the martial prowess of the dwarves was nothing to scoff at, taking full advantage of the enemies slow movement as well as his size and strength to batter the enemy to his level with his hammer, delivering a powerful killing blow to the skulls.

All Jil could do was watch, seeing the mortals desperately fighting against the incoming horde, the white husks littering the battlefield, some beginning to turn ashen gray before disintegrating.

“Dammit… there’s no end to them!” Silica said, retreating to her sister’s side. She had stowed her bow away in favor of her dagger, not wanting to waste arrows on the incoming fodder.

“Die you damn freaks!” Hal yelled as he cut his way through the hoard, pulling further and further away from Torburn and the girls. “You’re gonna regret ever setting foot in Holbour-GHA?!”

A black blade erupted from his chest, renting his armor.

“HALLL!!!” Silica cried, seeing the guardsman drop to his feet, the blade withdrawing from his chest before a swing decapitated him. The killer was an armored man wearing a skull mask, holding its blade steady as it walked over the boy’s corpse, stamping on the head of a wounded husk. Its soulless eyes glared at Silica.

“You… YOU SON A BITCH!” Silica erupted in rage, charging towards the knight. She skidded, avoiding a decapitating swing from the knight’s black sword, jumping to her feet before stabbing it through the chest, her blade piercing the armor (in no small part due to Torburns smithing skills). The skull knight grabbed Silica with its freehand and lifted her off the ground. An arrow struck it in the back of the neck. It dropped Silica, who then freed her blade and beheaded the knight.

“There’s more!” Jil yelled.

Coming from the island, accompanied by more of the husks were two more skull knights, one armed with a sword and shield while the other wielded a two-handed mace. Both walked in silence through the onslaught of husks, the mace wielder taking a swing, catching a husk with its spiked head.

“What in the blazes…” Torburn muttered, taking a step back. “Who are they?”

“Who cares?” Silica said, feeling her blood coming to a boil. “I’ll kill them!”

Liana fired her arrow at them, only for it to be blocked by the shield warrior. The mace charged forwards towards Silica, leaping off the ground before bringing its weapon down. Silica dodged by rolling right as the weapon crashed into the ocean path.

Silica recovered, ducking and moving right while avoiding a large swing from the skull knight’s mace. While it was recovering, Silica attacked, slashing into the knight twice, retreating while the knight took another swing, grabbing a rock on the ground before slamming it into the knight’s face. She had struck hard enough to knock the skull vestige off its face and was about to follow up her attack. She stopped and gasped when she saw the enemy’s face. It could barely be called human, a shriveled face locked in agony, red skin as though the skin had been flayed off with empty eye sockets.

“Silica look out!” Jil suddenly called.

Silica turned and stumbled as a husk lurched at her. The skull knight had recovered from its stagger, raising its mace once more. Silica kicked the husk towards the knight as it swung its weapon down crushing the husk. Silica shook off her feelings of unease and ran towards the knight, white mist seeping from her weapon as she readied her art.

Dimension slash!

The art staggered the skull knight while renting through its armor. Silica followed up before the monster could retrieve its weapon, plunging her sword into the monster’s chest before kicking it away.

****

Meanwhile, the sword and shield skull knight was taking a few swings at Liana, who was dodging while avoiding the husks. Torburn himself was busy with the swarm to assist, so Liana was forced to deal with a knight at close quarters. She had one arrow at the ready. Steadying her breathing she charged forwards, leaping on the skull knight who raised its shield. Landing atop of the kite-shaped metal, Liana fired into the small opening presented, the arrow burrowing into the knight’s left eye socket.

Liana leaped backward, astonished the knight was still alive, wildly swinging its weapon at her. Liana ducked and rolled to the knights right, firing another arrow at point-blank range, hitting the knights back. This time the knight staggered, dropping its shield. Liana drew her dagger and plunged it into the nape of the skull knight before backing off, watching the creature finally fall.

Liana took a step back, jabbing her dagger into a charging husk, lowering herself to one knee, drawing and firing an arrow at another before retrieving her weapon.

****

Following the death of the Skull knights, the onslaught of husks began to dry up until finally all of them were laying on the ground. The bodies, including those of the skull knights, began to disintegrate slowly.

“Is… Is that the last of them?” Silica said, gasping for breath. She had never fought such an onslaught before.

“I… I think so.” Jil said floating to Silica’s side.

“Hal!” With the respite, Silica ran to Hal. Unfortunately, it was far too late. The boy was dead, his armor pierced from the dark blade and his head struck clean off his shoulders.

“Oh no…”

“Bloody Hel… the poor lad.”

Both Torburn and Liana approached in disbelief.

Hal van Jorhan; a nineteen-year-old boy who dreamt of one day being in the imperial army, to fight for his country with ambitions to show the continent that the colonies were citizens of the Empire as they were, now lay dead, killed by an enemy whose body was being reduced to powder along with the weapon that slew him.

“What the hell are these things?” Silica muttered, her mind still struggling to accept Hal was dead. “Dammit!” With a roar she kicked a hearby husk, her boot passing through the body as it broke down into gray powder.

“I don’t know,” Liana shook her head, gently kicking a husk. Her foot went right through the body as it disintegrated. “... But I remember seeing them in the catacombs. I saw them lay waste to an orc camp.”

“Seriously?” Silica gasped as Torburn ruffled his beard.

“Even the bloody urk’s. Damn creatures must’ve crawled from the very depts of-”

“The void…” Jil said, her voice distant and monotone.

“The… void?” Silica crocked her head.

“.... I know- or I think I know- where they came from… but…”

“Can’t remember that either?”

Jil shook her head.

“Intrestin’ as this is. We should probably make headways back to town.” Torburn said resting his hammer on his shoulder. “Bell’s still toiling so I’m guessin we haven’t seen the last of them.”

Silica looked back to the town. Smoke could be seen rising from the outskirts. The town was under attack, and it was safe to assume that it was the husks and skull knights that were responsible.

“Right,” Tightening her grip, Silica looked up to Jil. “Get yourself to Grans. You’ll be safe there.”

“G-Grans?”

“She’s right.” Liana nodded. “Gran may not look like it, but she’s still a sage.”

“Trust me, safest place you could be right now is there.”

“O-Okay…” Jil nodded. “What will you do,”

“Ain’t it obvious,” Silica looked back to the town. “I’m protecting my home.” She ran, followed by Liana and Torburn, dragging behind due to his stubby legs.

****

Hovering in place, Jil didn’t take her eyes away from the boy who had been killed. With her hand on heart, she turned back towards the town. She could feel it to her core that more deaths, more sadness will follow.

Yet there was more. She couldn’t quite describe it, but there was something… sinister coming from the town. She closed her eyes, focused on that feeling-

“HA!” Jil gasped, clutching her chest tightly. The second she tried, a torrent of emotions flooded into her being, the most prevalent of them being a burning, all-consuming rage.

“It seems a Lost One is making its way towards the town,”

Jil turned. Gran was struggling up the path stopping by Hal’s body. “Poor boy. This was Van Jorhan’s only son. The lad will be devastated.” Gran muttered, bowing her head in respect.

“.... Lost one?” Jil fluttered to the old woman as she offered a silent prayer to Hal. “Do you know what they are?”

“I do,” Gran said slowly getting back to her feet. “As do you,”

“M-Me?”

“It’s alright if you cannot remember,” Gran chuckled as she began walking towards the town.

“W-wait! Don’t go that way!” Jil tried to stop gran.

“Do not fret, little fairy,”

Something flew past Jil and floated in place before her. It was a small creature, no bigger than Jil with a blooby, shimmering blue body and a pointed antena head. It made a noise, like a child laughing before flying towards Gran. Jil had to blink a few times to make sure she wasn’t seeing things as the old lady was now surrounded by dozens of the same shimmering creatures, some blue while others glowed orange, green and yellow.

“There is something I must do now,” Gran said softly. “As there is something you must do,”

“....” Jil placed a hand on her chest. She felt there was indeed something she had to do, something very important. Yet her mind was still clouded to it, the fog still so thick it was impossible to see. “Something…. I must do…? What… what is it? What must I do?” She asked frustrated.

Gran smiled and turned, slowly walking to the town. Jil watched her walk away. She looked towards the town, seeing the smoke rising in the distance.

“....”

Stealing her determination she flew after Gran. Whatever it was she had to do, she somehow knew she’d discover it within the village.