The lantern intensified, a luminous radiance akin to a miniature star blazing in their midst. The darkness receded, though not entirely - pitch-black spectral remnants remained, undaunted by the light, forever doomed to repeat their last moments over and over again. Engelbert felt their influence trying to worm into his mind, only for it to find no purchase to latch to as it splashed powerlessly away.

A pair of pale-blue orbs lit within his helmet, the night taking a different tone as his perception expand. The miasma was... everywhere. It hung around them, dark mist that obscured and pressed down on the sphere of his sixth sense, rendering it considerably smaller than usual. The phantoms were the greatest concentration of all, their hazy shapes turning into disturbingly clear pitch-black creatures that, as if aware of his sudden perception, turned to stare back.

Engelbert cuts off the sixth sense then and there, the knight not curious enough to find out what will happen if he kept it up. At least they seemed to lose their interest once his senses receded back to mortal limit. An important thing that he noticed, however, was how black tendrils of miasma extended from the creatures and insidiously slithered into some of the party members.

"Hmm. Gentlemen? I'm afraid the warning was a bit too late." He said, voice lower than usual. Only the first real actions and they've met a significant hurdle already. Now this was a pickle... just because he's aware of what's going on didn't mean Engelbert was in any position to do something about it. "Some of us seems to have lost all senses. What do we do? Shake them awake? Carry them away?"

Still, it was easier said than done. Fortunately, honing her mind into one singular focus was something that Master Tokimune had taught her. A 'Zen Meditation' he had called it. She typically employed it in combat to hone her mind into focusing on a singular vital spot of her opponent, but here, she applied it to focus on the light of Vesermir's lantern. The phantoms' existence, meanwhile, she treated as excess that would be discarded as she delved into the zen state.

Doing her best to ignore the phantoms, Carnatia kept her attention focused on the light of Vesemir's lantern, hoping to avoid being captured in their illusory trap. And so, she trudged forward.

As Carnathia rushed toward the white light, the whispering from the phantoms intensified, yet they did a little to slow her down.

When she was already behind those five soldiers, her steps were suddenly halted by the presence of a rider wearing decorated plates and winged helmets. The faceless captain stopped to scan his surroundings, yet he appeared unaware of Carnathia's presence.
Red were the eyes of his black horse, and as the raider commanded his steed to walk away slowly, it sniffed the night air like a vicious hound.

Towed behind the raider were two elven civilians, dead now, with bodies disfigured beyond recognition, dragged along with knots on their necks and the ropes attached to the raider's wild mare.

Her eyes widened with the realization that.. The illusion had grabbed at her mind and now she was stuck staring at the five men who very likely had just killed that elven man. She could feel her blood run cold at the thought. She could feel her blood run cold at the thought. Her hand already moved to grab at her bow, the other grabbing an arrow from her quiver to notch.

When Roxas stood there unmoving, one of the soldiers threw another rope over the branches and fitted another noose on the dead elf's neck. His partner behind him held the other end and yanked the rope, jerking the corpse and causing blood and brain matter to splatter about as the corpse hoisted upward.

The elven civilian tied to the tree was still alive, weeping in pain. Her executioner had left her for now, to look for another toy to play with.

"Hmm. Gentlemen? I'm afraid the warning was a bit too late." He said, voice lower than usual. Only the first real actions and they've met a significant hurdle already. Now this was a pickle... just because he's aware of what's going on didn't mean Engelbert was in any position to do something about it. "Some of us seems to have lost all senses. What do we do? Shake them awake? Carry them away?"

Meanwhile, on the other side of the dark, Gray Flame acknowledged the situation quickly, only to frown a bit at Engelbert's suggestion. "No, don't touch them, or worse carry them away." He asked Vesemir to have him handle the lamp instead and let it shine closer to the rest of the party. "The best way to get them back is to let them back on their own. All we can do now is provide them a beacon and wait while I think of the alternative."

---

As Carnathia rushed toward the white light, the whispering from the phantoms intensified, yet they did a little to slow her down.

When she was already behind those five soldiers, her steps were suddenly halted by the presence of a rider wearing decorated plates and winged helmets. The faceless captain stopped to scan his surroundings, yet he appeared unaware of Carnathia's presence.
Red were the eyes of his black horse, and as the raider commanded his steed to walk away slowly, it sniffed the night air like a vicious hound.

Towed behind the raider were two elven civilians, dead now, with bodies disfigured beyond recognition, dragged along with knots on their necks and the ropes attached to the raider's wild mare.

Looking at the rider with a winged helmet towing behind two elves, Carnatia wondered if she had unknowingly caught in the phantoms' illusion despite her best effort. She was sure that she had discarded the whispers of the phantoms as excess, and had focused solely on the lantern's light, and yet...

Neither Gray Flame nor Vesemir had given any more warnings regarding the phantoms aside from 'do not look or touch' and Carnatia was sure she had avoided either, so was this rider...a real non-illusory existence then? Or had she been unknowingly caught in their illusions through methods she was not aware of?

'...If Sir Gray knew of other methods the phantoms would ensnare us into their illusions and fail to warn us, I swear—'

She shook her head and calmed herself down. Now was not the time. With the mass of phantoms just at the periphery of her visions and the darkness all around, it was a bit hard to quite make out where the others were. And trying to listen for any signs of the others was an exercise in futility, as the whispers of the phantoms drowned every other sound. Only the light of the lantern remained, acting as a beacon.

And so Carnatia drew her rapier, as she continued forward toward the lantern's light. If the rider was an illusion, then he should prove no real danger to her. If it was real, then she would be ready to fight.

Nanashi was concentrated on reaching the light as the time became darker and more haunted. He was trained to be a shinobi, able to go alone across the fabled mist realm, which is home to yokais and other mythical dwellers. The determined man's fixation on something caused him to ignore the tricks and illusions. The black-haired man in a kimono rushed silently towards the light, bypassing obstacles and anything that could slow him down using ki sensing and keeping his guard hard and ready to counter an initiative attack. He had nothing to do with the surrounding events as he kept his mind the masked elven advice, reaching the light as could seen from far distance.

Looking at the rider with a winged helmet towing behind two elves, Carnatia wondered if she had unknowingly caught in the phantoms' illusion despite her best effort. She was sure that she had discarded the whispers of the phantoms as excess, and had focused solely on the lantern's light, and yet...

Neither Gray Flame nor Vesemir had given any more warnings regarding the phantoms aside from 'do not look or touch' and Carnatia was sure she had avoided either, so was this rider...a real non-illusory existence then? Or had she been unknowingly caught in their illusions through methods she was not aware of?

'...If Sir Gray knew of other methods the phantoms would ensnare us into their illusions and fail to warn us, I swear—'

She shook her head and calmed herself down. Now was not the time. With the mass of phantoms just at the periphery of her visions and the darkness all around, it was a bit hard to quite make out where the others were. And trying to listen for any signs of the others was an exercise in futility, as the whispers of the phantoms drowned every other sound. Only the light of the lantern remained, acting as a beacon.

And so Carnatia drew her rapier, as she continued forward toward the lantern's light. If the rider was an illusion, then he should prove no real danger to her. If it was real, then she would be ready to fight.

The redhead fencer kept moving forward, and so did the captain of the cruel soldiers, who remained unaware of Carnathia's presence, even after having that silent standoff.

As the two moved toward their own opposite directions, the beacon shone trecherously brighter, and all was white for a while in Carnathia's vision until the world suddenly turned dim again. She finally walked back to the realm of the living at last, but because she didn't time her stop, it got her bumped into one familiar masked elf, who was kneeling waiting for her arrival.

@Randomguy

Nanashi was concentrated on reaching the light as the time became darker and more haunted. He was trained to be a shinobi, able to go alone across the fabled mist realm, which is home to yokais and other mythical dwellers. The determined man's fixation on something caused him to ignore the tricks and illusions. The black-haired man in a kimono rushed silently towards the light, bypassing obstacles and anything that could slow him down using ki sensing and keeping his guard hard and ready to counter an initiative attack. He had nothing to do with the surrounding events as he kept his mind the masked elven advice, reaching the light as could seen from far distance.

It seemed both Nanashi and Carnathia could see each other or perhaps everyone else if they wanted to, and thus why the communication between them was lacking was anyone's guess.

The samurai's return was even more clamorous. His mortal body, suddenly moved by the momentum from the other side, leaped forth and crashed into Engelbert in the process. But at least that was two people already returned to their senses.

Not entirely good news for Gray Mask, who immediately returned to Carnathia, checking her condition, that if she saw it, still emanating a faint mist from her body.

“Carnathia, can you hear me?” he inquired with a heavy voice, both hands clutching her shoulders. “Where are the others? Tell me what happened.”

Behind her, the others, from the tallest Forbann to their healer Roxas, stood at their places, unmoving as if freezing in time.
Carnathia was returned with her rapier drawn, and that was worrying.

"Did you fight those phantoms?"

Bumping to the metal wall he cross shield arm his head and torso for the impact receiving minimal damage from it as he bounced himself a little away from the incased tin can knight. As he dropped into the ground, he fixed his balance with a single roll recovering himself with a kneeling posture. The black haired man in kimono rose up and checked his ninjato and gears. Tapping off the dust from his clothes and then looked on the rest of the party under the light for checking the party's situation.

"Oh. What happened to the rest of party, especially the healer elf?" Nanashi said to the three other party members.

---

Eight hours of rest seemed good, though that meant they were messing with their circadian rhythm, and night march was a more serious than many would initially imagine. But fine, it's nothing this group shouldn't be able to take. Tillius once was reassured, he would retreat back to the newly-built camp to rest.

---

Time passed, the clock hit the top, the group went ahead with the Lasse exploration as planned, the floating lantern in the distance the only anchor from the abyss. Quite literally. The abyss took the form of the relics of a bloodied past looking to smear the group with it. It's even worse for anyone who only glazed past the embellished version of history, one whose rough edges had been smoothened out for a nicer viewing for the more ignorant masses who were unwilling to put themselves in discomfort. The atrocities at its rawest form began to assault Tillius's mind.

'Stay vigilant.'

If not for Gray Flame and Vesemir's advice, he might have reacted differently and worse. But knowing that these were phantoms and not to be interacted with anyway, Tillius continued going, a foot ahead of the other. Scenes of mass deaths did little to phase him anymore, and one more screaming elf hanging on a tree wasn't going to stop him from rejoining the group.

But a frozen and scared elf does. The real one.

Tillius bumped into Roxas as he kept his head down. He flinched, having thought that the phantoms had manifested, but it turned out it was just her, frozen in place.

"Tch." The orc growled, looking around if anyone too was also caught in this. He could simply side-step the elf and continued moving towards the light, but what is to happen to them if he just ignored them. One was clearly ensnared by the phantom, many more could have as well. But how could he get them to break off? His quick-thinking, pressured by the current situation, fired off one solution.

"Heads down, fall in." Tillius gave as short and concise of an instruction as possible for Roxas and anyone in view. He squeezed past the elf and stepped in front of her, hoping to cover her vision of the five butcher-soldiers, his shield raised above his face, hoping to cover even the vision of the people behind him who might be tempted to have a staredown with the abyss.

@Visyn

Engelbert couldn't fully shed his worry, but once again the Gray Flame's wisdom shone through not unlike the blazing lantern that illuminated the immediate surrounding. It didn't take long for the first party member to break free of the phantom's grasp, and more soon followed. One of them even bumped at him before exaggeratedly rolling back, fully alert and clearly high-strung from the experience. The knight waved, trying to diffuse the tension and maaaybe stop the foreigner from touching the others.

He wasn't sure why, but he trusted their guide.

"Welcome back. How are you feeling?" He greeted, gesturing noncommitally to the rest. "As you can see, not everyone's out of it yet. They should come back soon though."

If not, well, hopefully there's an alternative method to wake them up. Until then, all Engelbert can do is to be an anchor to ground them to reality and maybe keep the morale up. He's pretty good at that.

---

“Carnathia, can you hear me?” he inquired with a heavy voice, both hands clutching her shoulders. “Where are the others? Tell me what happened.”

Behind her, the others, from the tallest Forbann to their healer Roxas, stood at their places, unmoving as if freezing in time.
Carnathia was returned with her rapier drawn, and that was worrying.

"Did you fight those phantoms?"

As Carnatia came to, she sheathed her rapier back and massaged her temple, as she replied, "What did you mean where are the others?"

She glanced back at the rest who were frozen in their place, before continuing, "I presume they are still ensnared in the phantoms' illusions. As for what happened...I possess an ability that acts as a forewarning against 'attacks', warning me that the phantoms would trap me in an illusion of sorts, were I to pay too much attention to them—as you have warned us, something that I would like to get back to later—therefore, I did my best to avoid them. Though perhaps in the end I was still caught in it. There was a rider with decorated plates and winged helmets towing elves. At that point, I was unsure of what was real or illusory, so I drew my rapier just in case. It ended up ignoring me completely, though."

She then sighed, "Speaking of, Sir Gray, you warned us to not look at the phantoms too much nor to touch them. It couldn't be that you were also aware doing so would have us be ensnared in their illusion and simply opted not to tell us, could it? Because if so, I have to say you are a highly unprofessional guide...though I suppose now is not the time.

Turning to the rest of the group who were still frozen in place, Carnatia wondered about their next course of action, before turning back to the rest.

"What are we to do with those unable to escape the illusion? Is there any way to have the phantoms disperse? Would it be wise to engage them? If they were beings created from magical phenomenon, perhaps their construction is similar enough to magical constructs that I could attempt to unravel it."
@Mas Bagus

As Carnatia came to, she sheathed her rapier back and massaged her temple, as she replied, "What did you mean where are the others?"

She glanced back at the rest who were frozen in their place, before continuing, "I presume they are still ensnared in the phantoms' illusions. As for what happened...I possess an ability that acts as a forewarning against 'attacks', warning me that the phantoms would trap me in an illusion of sorts, were I to pay too much attention to them—as you have warned us, something that I would like to get back to later—therefore, I did my best to avoid them. Though perhaps in the end I was still caught in it. There was a rider with decorated plates and winged helmets towing elves. At that point, I was unsure of what was real or illusory, so I drew my rapier just in case. It ended up ignoring me completely, though."

She then sighed, "Speaking of, Sir Gray, you warned us to not look at the phantoms too much nor to touch them. It couldn't be that you were also aware doing so would have us be ensnared in their illusion and simply opted not to tell us, could it? Because if so, I have to say you are a highly unprofessional guide...though I suppose now is not the time.

Misty breath escaped from Gray Flame's white mask as he squared his shoulder, and two pale dots of light glinted in his eyes when he faced Carnathia. There was a pause, and ominous was the wait before the elf gave her his answer.

"Darkness misleads in many ways, miss Carnathia," he said. There was no casualness anymore in his voice; it was cold like the frigid air of the night itself, and shadow suddenly crept upon his hooded head. With him standing there facing away their guiding lantern, Gray Flame looked like he was one of the animated phantoms himself.

"And because of that, I cannot predict the treachery they may inflict upon you or others. Remember to always follow the light, and do not touch or stare too much. Those were my advice, and I deemed them sufficient. For in a world of darkness and shadow, excessive instructions and hypothetical knowledge could lead to disastrous consequences for those with less understanding."

Then that shadow receded and his voice softened again.

"I am glad you returned safely, it was very wise of you to avoid them."

"What are we to do with those unable to escape the illusion? Is there any way to have the phantoms disperse? Would it be wise to engage them? If they were beings created from magical phenomenon, perhaps their construction is similar enough to magical constructs that I could attempt to unravel it."

"These are not a magical phenomenon, neither was an illusion or something constructed." he shook his head and walked beside her, facing their frozen teammates. There was another eerie pause like he was refraining himself from explaining the very nature of the mystical phenomenon they were experiencing.

"These are the remnants of those who perished here, who were trapped in the realm of the living and distorting it. Fated to relive their past tragedies over and over. Those who are unfortunate enough to be caught in that past, should either ignore it or take a riskier approach; to fight that past and interrupt the loop. Those who succeed will return, and those who are not... well, they might join that past."

---

When Roxas stood there unmoving, one of the soldiers threw another rope over the branches and fitted another noose on the dead elf's neck. His partner behind him held the other end and yanked the rope, jerking the corpse and causing blood and brain matter to splatter about as the corpse hoisted upward.

The elven civilian tied to the tree was still alive, weeping in pain. Her executioner had left her for now, to look for another toy to play with.

Her bow came up easily, arrow notched and ready to fire at the phantom if it even attempted to approach her. Her eyes only widening at the sight of the dead elf swinging from the tree. She wasn't about to me added to the tree; she would rather kill herself with her own dagger. She even tried to step back, but whatever or whoever was behind her, prevented her from fleeing.

"Tch." The orc growled, looking around if anyone too was also caught in this. He could simply side-step the elf and continued moving towards the light, but what is to happen to them if he just ignored them. One was clearly ensnared by the phantom, many more could have as well. But how could he get them to break off? His quick-thinking, pressured by the current situation, fired off one solution.

"Heads down, fall in." Tillius gave as short and concise of an instruction as possible for Roxas and anyone in view. He squeezed past the elf and stepped in front of her, hoping to cover her vision of the five butcher-soldiers, his shield raised above his face, hoping to cover even the vision of the people behind him who might be tempted to have a staredown with the abyss.

The poor woman heard Tilli's voice and seemed to watch him come into view, but it didn't stop her from keeping her bow notched and pulled. Her arm trembled lightly as she stood there. Her eyes were still wide as she stared forward, looking at the shield and orc in her way, but not actually seeing him. Softly mumbled words escaped her as she trembled in spot, arms straining to keep the bow and arrow up and ready to fire.

"I can't.. I can't.. I'd rather kill myself.. Stay away.." Her breath had picked up after her words, likely an indication she was about to have a panic attack. In her panic, her hand let the arrow loose. Thankfully, with Tilli in the way, it seemed to just hit the shield, but being so close.. It bounced back; embedding itself in her arm.

A soft yell startled her out of her stupor, bow clattering to the ground as her hand moved to the arrow in her arm, which she looked to. Breath heavy as she looked around and up at Tili. She'd been entranced and thrown into a panic by the phantoms; but the pain pulled her out of it. "Apologies, Tilli.." She held a small face of pain, quickly breaking the arrow so it was shorter and then picking up her bow.

@Conscripts

The poor woman heard Tilli's voice and seemed to watch him come into view, but it didn't stop her from keeping her bow notched and pulled. Her arm trembled lightly as she stood there. Her eyes were still wide as she stared forward, looking at the shield and orc in her way, but not actually seeing him. Softly mumbled words escaped her as she trembled in spot, arms straining to keep the bow and arrow up and ready to fire.

"I can't.. I can't.. I'd rather kill myself.. Stay away.." Her breath had picked up after her words, likely an indication she was about to have a panic attack. In her panic, her hand let the arrow loose. Thankfully, with Tilli in the way, it seemed to just hit the shield, but being so close.. It bounced back; embedding itself in her arm.

A soft yell startled her out of her stupor, bow clattering to the ground as her hand moved to the arrow in her arm, which she looked to. Breath heavy as she looked around and up at Tili. She'd been entranced and thrown into a panic by the phantoms; but the pain pulled her out of it. "Apologies, Tilli.." She held a small face of pain, quickly breaking the arrow so it was shorter and then picking up her bow.

The pain she felt was sharp and real, jolting her out of her daze, but it didn't bring her back from this nightmarish landscape. The butchering soldiers were still there, with their captain and their gruesome handiworks, unbothered by Roxas' groan. Tillius was still there too, shielding her, and everyone else, and he too was ignored, as if the entire group was hidden in an invisible veil to them.

There was still some distance between Tillius and those massacring soldiers, who were now busying themselves with two mangled bodies their captain brought. The bodies were quickly disemboweled, their entrails were thrown into fire and the bodies became the additional decorations that adorned the tree.

The captain, who now had already dismounted from his horse, brandished his hatched as he approached the dying elven woman. Then he mercilessly hacked her, starting with her face, then slightly down to her neck. Only a short-pitched voice could be heard when the elf woman met her bloody demise.

Meanwhile, the pain in Roxas' wound intensified, and a series of agonizing whispers echoed inside her head, one of them inquired: "Help me! Help me! O' the Fair one! Why have you forsaken me?"

The elven healer felt the strength in her wounded arm gradually drained, and it wasn't because of just a panic attack this time.

___

Meanwhile, on the other side of the dark, The Gray Flame hurriedly approached Roxas upon sensing an increased shadow activity around her, and it was already upon one of her limbs, assuming the form of an elongated hand. It was already gripping her upper arm, that now red with blood dribbling out from a deep laceration on her bicep.

The moment the Gray Flame reached out to stop the bleeding, an incision appeared in his gloved palm as well, as if there was a very sharp scalpel made of pure shadow that lingered to harm anyone or anything that dared to interfere.

---

It was as much as Fia expected when the talking chestnut tree remained silent. Still, Fia had some hopes it would speak again. Fia waited for Carnatia to leave before the sorceress finished collected the remaining ingredients the ent graciously allowed her to gather. A couple small pouches and a vial of sap were safely tucked away in her bag before she trotted over to the others. Despite half listening to the others, Fia was able to pick up on part of the mission. There was a library and a vault some other caster had processed. That probably contained the artifact Vesemir was after. When that was done, Fia rested by the fire in camp, awaiting to leave for Lasse later that evening.

What exactly the phantom was never came up. And the only information they received was to not look at it. Do not touch it. The vagueness of the fate of Lasse and the ominous tone of the advice made for a sinister image in Fia’s mind. The outcome of that war over a millennia ago would have normally been erased by now. Eaten by the forest and the earth. If its past still haunted those ruins still today, Fia could not imagine further.

As the darkness fell over the expedition, there was some shadows that poked through the light. Like a haze, the horrible aura of a war long ended crept up on Fia. Don’t look at the phantom. A warning that was unlikely to succeed. The light from the lantern was ever present, but the ruin of Lasse and the phantom that beckoned was overbearing. Fia’s eyes could not help but wander. Even if her gaze were to graze these phantoms, her mind was pulled. Images of brutal acts done upon those still trapped in the city assaulted Fia’s eyes. This was more than just looting, warmongers taking their share. The soldiers took great pleasure in the carnage they wrought.

“How cruel.” Fia whispered. The sorceress was losing sight of the lantern. Not purely because she stopped paying attention to it, but because she grew ever curious as to the events unfolding before her. “So this is the darkness that masked elf was warning about. A window into the fate of Lasse, and a display of the atrocities these people endured. Fia stopped moving, fixated on the scene. Gleeful soldiers hoisting up the dead, and the yet living in an obscene show of brutality.

Fia’s hands clenched. These images. They were more than illusions. If these were the shadows of the people who actually lived through the time, they’ve been suffering endlessly for centuries. Souls unable to escape their torment, and their captors still relishing in their barbarity. A dark mist started to condense around her fists. Maybe there was a way to free them. As far as Fia could fathom, the only reason no one else has was because of how secluded the twilight lands became after that war. It was almost like the elves just planned to forget Lasse existed, damning their kin. Fia’s eyes gazed over to where the light still pierced through the darkness, shining the way out of the reliving nightmare. Then again, maybe they did try, and were unable to end the torment. Gray Flame, as enigmatic as he, was familiar of twilight lands. This probably was not his first venture into the land. Optimistically, Fia thought that perhaps that elf also considered a means to dispelling this nightmare.

Fia was brought out of her thoughts when Tillius shouted out. His voice boomed with short and concise instruction. Fia remembered that there were others. Tillius was probably aware of what was going on as well. Fia also saw Roxas who seemed to be taking in the sight worse than either of them. Fia watched as the arrow the elven healer had was loosed, ricocheting back into its agent. Fia immediately sprinted over, the dark magic dissipating from her hands.

“Are you alright, darling?” Fia asked. As the sorceress approached, Roxas was tossing away the fletched end of her arrow. Fia stood next to Roxas, one arm reached around the elf’s back. Both her hands gripped Roxas’ shoulders. “We should get you out of here.” Fia looked up at the tree. As much as Tillius’ blocked the view in front of him, he couldn't block it all. Everywhere they looked had evidence of horrors long past. “We should all get out of here. Where is that light? We need to get to Vesemir’s light.” Fia swiveled her head to look about. She didn’t see Carnatia or Nanashi. Hopefully that was a sign they made it out and were with the other elves.

---

"Darkness misleads in many ways, miss Carnathia," he said. There was no casualness anymore in his voice; it was cold like the frigid air of the night itself, and shadow suddenly crept upon his hooded head. With him standing there facing away their guiding lantern, Gray Flame looked like he was one of the animated phantoms himself.

"And because of that, I cannot predict the treachery they may inflict upon you or others. Remember to always follow the light, and do not touch or stare too much. Those were my advice, and I deemed them sufficient. For in a world of darkness and shadow, excessive instructions and hypothetical knowledge could lead to disastrous consequences for those with less understanding."

Then that shadow receded and his voice softened again.

"I am glad you returned safely, it was very wise of you to avoid them."

"These are not a magical phenomenon, neither was an illusion or something constructed." he shook his head and walked beside her, facing their frozen teammates. There was another eerie pause like he was refraining himself from explaining the very nature of the mystical phenomenon they were experiencing.

"These are the remnants of those who perished here, who were trapped in the realm of the living and distorting it. Fated to relive their past tragedies over and over. Those who are unfortunate enough to be caught in that past, should either ignore it or take a riskier approach; to fight that past and interrupt the loop. Those who succeed will return, and those who are not... well, they might join that past."

If the softening of Gray Flame's voice and his remark about Carnatia's success in avoiding the phantoms gain him any sympathy, Carnatia did not show it, "And at no point during the camp even when I asked you what else should we expect you could have warned us about this 'world of darkness and shadow' as you put it? And told us the effective methods to deal with it? I do not think that warning would be counted as excessive instruction, on the contrary, perhaps had you warned us, fewer people would be trapped on that side instead," Carnatia insisted, as she gestured towards the rest of the group who were still frozen among the phantoms.

Before they could argue further, however, an increased activity of the shadows around Roxas caught their attention, as Gray Flame hurriedly moved toward the elf at the sight of a spectral hand gripping her arms, causing lacerations.

Carnatia watched an incision appear in his gloved hands as he approached, clearly an attempt to keep him away.

Carnatia sighed as she called out, "Sir Gray, since you appear to be the most knowledgeable on this matter, is there anything we could do to assist from this side?

@Mas Bagus

Gray Flame just stood there. He uttered no word nor spared a glance, not even when Carnathia asked for a solution. If one could figure out an emotion from his white mask, that should be of a man who is deep in thought, and troubled, not because he had no answer but because he had a lot, but all were his secrets, and he now pondered which one of it that he would share.

"Dear Carnathia, would you be so kind as you let me talk with Mr. Gray, thank you?" said Vesemir, who arrived behind her, smiling as he patted her shoulder and gently urged her to move aside.

None of them dared to move their lantern from its original position, which was now placed on the cold pavement, guarded by Engelbert.

Roxas had his eyes closed, like sleeping, but her breath was unsteady, the shadow was still clutching her arm, blood dripping steadily from her wound.

"Aim Mae! Séyan hûm urdagor anat ar faemor."

Said Vesemir. The Gray Flame shook his masked head and sighed.

"Im alat yakin," he said, glancing at the white lantern behind him in anticipation before taking out a bandage from his inventory and trying to apply it on Roxas's arm. It refused to be in contact with the healer's skin like there was an invisible barrier blocking it from setting in, and when Gray tried to force his attempt to have the gauze wrap around her arm, his hands got cut again. "Faya hûm alat órënya, im istamat."

"Haimanan, Nár'elda, séyan emme har feriap an falunn gorthob." The monocled elf shrugged. "Istama ada mala-alwë lyen difa, mal ada eith alwë dalam mestatië attima vare ḥayāt?"

Giving up, Gray Flame removed his glove and patched up his injury instead, tucking the rest of the gauze in his pocket when he was done.

Looking back at what he said earlier, his instructions were clear, follow the light and do not touch and stare too long. As demonstrated by Carnathia and that Samurai Guy, who easily escaped the phantom's treachery, the advice was proven sufficient, so why the rest hasn't returned?

Or, was it like Vesemir concluded? They were lured into a trap and deceived into fighting on enemy's turf. Roxas' injury seemed to reinforce that conclusion.

Fighting those phantoms was a solid option, true, but he didn't reveal that as a solution because the risk was too big, and their parties seemed full of hotheads who itched for a fight. Not to mention injuries received in the phantom realm damage not only the body but also the soul, and one will be powerless to do anything about your physical injury until the phantoms have been vanquished.

Unless...

Now he was thinking about what Vesemir said. Knowledge to safe life.

He approached Carnathia once more and spoke with a heavy heart. "If you believe I deserve those words of blame, then I accept it. However, there is a reason for my caution. We are not supposed to speak about the shadows in detail, especially not in this Land of Twilight. Discussing what they can do and how to counter them is like declaring an open challenge that might be answered by even more perilous treachery. And for that reason, I preferred to keep them away from everyone's mind by not telling, letting them not be engraved too deep in everyone's mind, forgotten and ignored."

Carried by the howling wind that suddenly blew around them, both could hear the whispering intensified into pugnacious curses and loathsome wailing.

"But my dear Carnathia, since we have opened Pandora's box and you asked if there is something we can do from our side..."

He beckoned the noblewoman to follow and offered his hand.

"Before we go further, A fair warning! This... what I am about to do will be very taxing for those who are untrained, and we don't know what's ahead of us after we escape from this darkness. Sieze my hand if you would not heed my warning, and repeat what I say."

Im liuth difyn anan Ar Malik faldirian
Uin sharri nan Së eän
Adh uin sharri ghāsiqin húrun
Adh uin sharri húnas caran núlëd
Adh uin sharri ḥāsidan malam ḥāsad

From Gray Flame's right palm, a small fire kindled, then started from its base, it changed color. White was the flame until it condensed into a dot of light, akin to a star that gradually grew brighter. The night became silent again, and the shadow writhed and slithered away before the dawning light as Gray Flame clutched Roxas' cold hand. For a brief second, the place was as bright as the day, and then the light waned again and the masked elf let go of his grip.

The light on Gray Flame's palm was still shining, but it was carefully adjusted so that it wouldn't be too bright and outshine the guiding lantern. It could also have been done to conserve energy, as everyone could see vaporized breath emanating from his mask and hear the sound of his breath up close.

A faint trace of light now surrounds the unconscious elven healer. The bleeding in her wound had stopped.
____
Meanwhile, inside the land of the dead, Roxas' injured hand regained its strength again, but the radiant light that surrounded her had somehow negated the veil that kept their presence invisible to the phantoms of the past.

Immediately, the soldiers abandoned their current blood sport. Their vicious eyes glared at a newfound opponent, eager for carnage.

"Lads! We find them!" one of the soldiers cried, his voice was unusually cruel, coarse, and amplified. Their weapons were drawn, sword and poleaxes, and soon they would initiate the skirmish by making a flanking move toward the party's frontline.

As everyone's attention seemed to be distracted by what was happening in front of Tillius, the captain had already galloped toward Rezello and Forbann, brandishing his bloodied hatched.

@Randomguy@Randomness@Conscripts
@Valkon

---

Carnatia watched as Vesemir and Gray Flame conversed in old elvish. As the former daughter of a Duke Household Carnatia was familiar with modern Elvish used in Varenheim, but as was the case when Gray Flame beckoned her to speak with the Ent earlier, she couldn't quite decipher the old elvish they were using.

It appeared that the two were arguing, until eventually, Gray Flame relented, retracting his hand before turning back to Carnatia.

"If you believe I deserve those words of blame, then I accept it. However, there is a reason for my caution. We are not supposed to speak about the shadows in detail, especially not in this Land of Twilight. Discussing what they can do and how to counter them is like declaring an open challenge that might be answered by even more perilous treachery. And for that reason, I preferred to keep them away from everyone's mind by not telling, letting them not be engraved too deep in everyone's mind, forgotten and ignored."

Carried by the howling wind that suddenly blew around them, both could hear the whispering intensified into pugnacious curses and loathsome wailing.

"But my dear Carnathia, since we have opened Pandora's box and you asked if there is something we can do from our side..."

He beckoned the noblewoman to follow and offered his hand.

"Before we go further, A fair warning! This... what I am about to do will be very taxing for those who are untrained, and we don't know what's ahead of us after we escape from this darkness. Sieze my hand if you would not heed my warning, and repeat what I say."

Carnatia wanted to ask in more detail what exactly they were doing, but given the situation of the phantoms' activity rising into a crescendo, she decided not to. Despite all her misgivings with Gray Flame, Carnatia realized that the mysterious elf was trying to help in his own convoluted and cryptic way, and so she did believe that what he was offering was an attempt to help.

To be honest, having just met, Carnatia did not care enough about any of these people on a personal level to risk herself to save them, however...for one, in terms of pragmatism, losing party members this early into the expedition is not ideal, but more than that, as a party...to Carnatia they were bound by unspoken social contract that was integral for any party to function. Just as how to her, Gray Flame had broken that contract by withholding vital information, helping each other in peril was integral to trust between party members, which in turn, was paramount for an effective party on an expedition.

Indeed, fulfilling that unspoken social contract as a 'party' was the duty of each and every single one of the members, and so...

Carnatia seized Gray Flame's extended hand.

"I'll follow your lead on this...for the time being, at least."

She then repeated the words after Gray Flame.

"Im liuth difyn anan Ar Malik faldirian
Uin sharri nan Së eän
Adh uin sharri ghāsiqin húrun
Adh uin sharri húnas caran núlëd
Adh uin sharri ḥāsidan malam ḥāsad"

@Mas Bagus

Another light appeared in Carnathia's hand after she uttered the verses. But unlike what appeared in Gray Flame's hand, in Carnathia's the flame engulfed her entire palm. It was warm for a moment before the blaze stung her with a fiery heat.

"Steady," murmured the masked elf as she squeezed her left hand. The fire was warm again like there was a translucent barrier insulating her palm from the burning flame. However, true to his warning earlier, the mysterious power quickly drained her and the longer the fire remained, the more she felt like she was steaming from the inside.

"You are trying to invoke the power of those you never knew before," warned Gray Flame. "And without my barrier, that might hurt you. But my power can only bargain, not to repel this grace. So while the grace still tolerates you, you must pick those you deem worthy and give them the light. That would help them defeat the phantoms."

After saying that, the fire on Carnathia's hand swirled and concentrated on her palm before refining itself into a radiant glow. Gray Flame released his grip on her other hand and exclaimed.

"Go! Before you burn yourself!"
@Randomguy

---

“Are you alright, darling?” Fia asked. As the sorceress approached, Roxas was tossing away the fletched end of her arrow. Fia stood next to Roxas, one arm reached around the elf’s back. Both her hands gripped Roxas’ shoulders. “We should get you out of here.” Fia looked up at the tree. As much as Tillius’ blocked the view in front of him, he couldn't block it all. Everywhere they looked had evidence of horrors long past. “We should all get out of here. Where is that light? We need to get to Vesemir’s light.” Fia swiveled her head to look about. She didn’t see Carnatia or Nanashi. Hopefully that was a sign they made it out and were with the other elves.

Her gaze moved to Fia as she grabbed onto Roxas. She didn't have any time to say anything though as she looked to her arm, groaning as she seemed to feel the strength just.. leave it. What the hell..? She looked back to Fia, and pointed with her non hurt arm. "Further down the road."

"Lads! We found them!" one of the soldiers cried, his voice was unusually cruel, coarse, and amplified. Their weapons were drawn, sword and poleaxes, and soon they would initiate the skirmish by making a flanking move toward the party's frontline.

As everyone's attention seemed to be distracted by what was happening in front of Tillius, the captain had already galloped toward Rezello and Forbann, brandishing his bloodied hatched.

Her head snapped up to the yell of the phantoms finding them. First it was hurting herself, next it was them being found out!? What else was going to go wrong? She clicked her tongue to herself, and looked to her arm. It had gotten it's strength back, but the arrow was going to be troublesome. In a split minute decision, she wretched the arrow from her arm with a groan, and pressed her hand to it, whispering softly to herself as she healed the arm. Hopefully her magic would work in this realm. If not, she'd do a quick bandage.

"Don't worry about me! They've seen us! Get ready to fight!" She yelled, pushing Fia's hands off her and taking a single step back. Her gaze moved up to the man on the horse. "Aim for the horse!" They needed to act fast, or they weren't going to get out of this.. and if they did, it would be with injuries.

---

As Carnatia recited the verses Gray Flame uttered, fire appeared in her right hand. It was a pleasant feeling—at least at first—what was a warm and comforting sensation upon her palm turned to blazing agony soon enough as the fire burned wildly, engulfing her palm. She flinched and gritted her teeth.

'Sir Gray did at least give out a warning this time...' she thought sardonically.

"Steady," murmured the masked elf as she squeezed her left hand. The fire was warm again like there was a translucent barrier insulating her palm from the burning flame. However, true to his warning earlier, the mysterious power quickly drained her and the longer the fire remained, the more she felt like she was steaming from the inside.

"You are trying to invoke the power of those you never knew before," warned Gray Flame. "And without my barrier, that might hurt you. But my power can only bargain, not to repel this grace. So while the grace still tolerates you, you must pick those you deem worthy and give them the light. That would help them defeat the phantoms."

After saying that, the fire on Carnathia's hand swirled and concentrated on her palm before refining itself into a radiant glow. Gray Flame released his grip on her other hand and exclaimed.

"Go! Before you burn yourself!"

As the pain receded she nodded. She would rather him explain a bit more about exactly what this would do so she could make a correct judgment of who 'the worthy one' was. But she supposed she had no choice now.

Gray Flame bestowed it to Roxas, as for the rest...

Carnatia briefly remembered the flashes of image her skill briefly showed her as a warning. Images of a horrific battlefield. Most of the people still trapped had either a military background or the bearings of one who had served in the army she often found on knights who had served formally in Westernant's army. And thus, hopefully, would be more used to the sight. The one who had the highest chance of being affected the most by such sights were...

She ran toward Fia, and following what Gray Flame had done, she grasped Fia's hand with her right, now glowing with radiant white light. As it was with Roxas, the light enveloped Fia, clinging to her.

@Mas Bagus@Randomness

Rezello

---

With the purpose of their detour into Lasse revealed, Rezello took some time to remove his armor and prepare his weapons for the coming venture. Combat was something they'd be looking to avoid, but it was always pragmatic to be ready for it. When his work on his equipment was complete, he lied down to rest, getting what sleep he could before night arrived.

Rezello awoke to another dinner cooked by Engelbert, consuming his share of the meal before donning his armor as the others completed whatever preparations they had left before their excursion into Lasse. Soon, the party set out onto the main road once more, this time on foot; Vesemir took the lead, wielding a lantern carrying a flame that seemed just barely bright enough to light the pathways underneath them. The night was quiet as they walked, the silence broken only by the sounds of their footsteps, the metal plates and rings of armor gliding against each other, the occasional rustling of loose equipment; the ambience of a march typically drowned out by background noise, accentuated by the cold air that surrounded them.

Some time passed before the silence was broken by Vesemir, the light of his lantern intensifying as it illuminated the ruins they had just arrived in. As its aura repelled the darkness around them, silhouettes of shadow remained, forms twisted in agony as they faintly cried out. Heeding the warnings of Gray Flame and Vesemir, Rezello tried to maintain his focus on the lantern the latter carried, though his attention was ultimately taken when its light revealed a massive tree before them with several corpses - or phantoms of corpses - hanging from its branches.

Realizing too late what he was looking upon, his vision was filled with a flash of white as he tried to avert his gaze. As it faded and his sight returned to him, what was once silent darkness surrounding the party had become engulfed in the mixed crimson and scarlet of fire and blood. A group of men stood beneath the tree, cackling as they admired the carnage. Gray Flame and Vesemir had vanished, but the light of the torch remained, the path between it and those who had been pulled into this illusory reality barred by the corpse-makers.

Nanashi and Carnatia were the first to act, the former rushing past the soldiers and into the light at incredible speed while the latter moved more cautiously, drawing her rapier in preparation for an attack that never came. Another figure had also appeared, a horse-riding captain, who seemed not to notice her as she slipped past him and into the light. Those remaining, however, were not so lucky.

While making her way around the soldiers along with Tillius and Fia, it seemed Roxas had become injured. Some form of healing magic had been used on her in response to the wound, though it didn't appear to be her doing. The work of one of the party members outside the illusion, perhaps? Regardless of the cause, the light that had engulfed her as a result of the spell had drawn the attention of the captain and his soldiers; while the soldiers moved to attack Roxas, Tillius, and Fia, the captain charged on his horse towards Rezello and Forbann, wielding a blood-stained hatchet. Rezello held out a hand, a long line of silver light manifesting in his grasp before changing into his bec de corbin, the knight lowering himself into a defensive stance as he readied to counter the captain's assault, streaks of lightning magic running down his arms and into his weapon.