The Missing Spiritweavers
June 11th, 2025

The year is 266 in the First Era within Su-Lânn, it bears the scars of a recent conflict with the Kreiz-Bòdad. The war lasted a long time and left a deep wound on the land that will last for ages to come, but it saw the three great territories united under the singular banner of the powerful Karneth Clan. During these troubled times lies the flourishing and lively settlement of Durnovaria. This is where two young spiritweavers prepare to start their journey and head towards the highly respected institution on these lands dedicated to mastering the art of spiritweaving, Aeloria College.

One of the young girls, Arlia Eldaran, would hear whispers from a young age within the nearby forests as she played. They would guide her through the dense trees and foliage, ensuring her safety. Even when she found herself within the deepest and darkest parts of the forest, she would emerge unscathed and carefree. Concerned for her safety, her parents would inquire, but Arlia’s only ever responded with an innocent smile, saying that the “whispers” kept her safe.

Her closest friend, Brina Talanor, also began to hear similar whispers, but they were a few years older and were distinctly different from the ones Arlia heard. They were especially potent around the waters of the region. The day had finally arrived for them to enter the halls of Aeloria College; their excitement was evident, but as they approached, they were filled with nervousness as they looked up at the magnificent, stone, cathedral-like structure that stood proudly within the thriving settlement. Though the college was built more recently, its strength was unparalleled and teeming with Spirits.

The two young girls approached the large but beautifully crafted doors. As they pushed the doors open and entered, they were amazed by the vast hallway and corridors in front of them. There was a buzz in the air as it was filled with other spiritweavers, clad in finely crafted robes with the colours and symbols that represented the pathways chosen for them by the Spirits.

The robes worn by Shamans were earthy greens and browns, decorated with small white wisp-like shapes, representing Nature Spirits. Aquakin robes flowed with silvery blues and glistening teals, adorned with bubbles and wave-like patterns to symbolise the Water Spirits. The Pyroartisans wore robes of rich reds and oranges with molten rocks and fiery motifs woven into the fabric, implying their connection to Fire Spirits.

The main hall appeared as though its size was far greater than the building suggests on the outside, the stone walls and pillars that held the college together towered over them as they noticed a few artefacts that lined some of the walls. As they gazed around them in awe, they drew attention to themselves as newcomers in their ordinary attire and unfamiliar faces to the passing spiritweavers.

It wasn’t long before they were approached by a woman who gave off an aura of experience and wisdom, but her appearance hid her true age. She stood there dressed in elegant white robes with green edges, cloaked over simple grain miller’s clothing, conveying modesty within the nobility. She approached them with a gentle authority and spoke softly. “Arlia and Brina, I presume? I am Ysolde Mellan. The Spirits spoke of your arrival, and I welcome you to the college. But before I continue, know this: the path to becoming a spiritweaver is not just a journey, but a lifelong dedication to the art. Come, follow me.”

They glanced at each other with a silent agreement as Ysolde gestured them to follow her. As they walked the corridors, they noticed and were stunned by the simplicity of the stonework design. It was intricate in places, but for the most part, it was modest.

It wasn’t long before Ysolde had guided them to a chamber hidden away from the bustle of the main hallway and the various-sized courtyards. The chamber was dark, with no natural light, highlighting its secluded nature. Directly in the heart of the room stood a font and from it a ball of light floated on top of it, lightly illuminating the room in a soft blue glow.

She turned to the two girls, whose faces were beaming with anticipation, and with a calm authority said to them. “This room is called the Zarotur and is where every initiate comes to uncover their path with the Spirits. It is our sacred chamber, and where your potential will be revealed through communion with the Spirits, the process will light your pathway. I shall guide you through the rites to prepare you as best I can, but it is to be noted that not everyone who wishes to become a spiritweaver can achieve the state of communion with the Spirits.”

Ysolde allowed them to take a moment to process the information before swiftly continuing. “You will enter a meditative position, but do not be deceived, the communion process is far more exhausting than you think; however, once rested, you will notice the initial benefits. Though you have never achieved communion, this will be your first step in understanding how to as the Zarotur was built specifically to facilitate contact with the Spirits. The ones that reach out will reveal your path and destiny.”

Arlia glanced at Brina before turning once more to Ysolde and queried. But you know, how do you like, talk to the Spirits when you are in like communion with them?” A small but reflective smile appeared on Ysolde’s lips as she remembered posing the very same question when she was young. She replied. “The answer lies in your communion; only you know how to speak to the Spirits. Every spiritweaver communicates differently with them, and you will sense the way forward in the moment. I shall be leaving you both alone and ensuring that you will not be disturbed during this process, and the risk is greater if you are interrupted.”

They look at each other, take a deep breath and let it out again as their expressions show a great deal of nervousness within their quiet resolve. They both quickly settle into a meditative position that is most comfortable to them. Arlia settles her feet flat on the ground, knees pointed upwards, her arms resting gently on them, and her hands extended forward, fingers interlinked. Brina assumed a crouching position with her hands pressed firmly on her legs.

Within the magical environment of the Zarotur, the two quickly entered a state of communion. Arlia was seemingly at ease with this new experience, her body and mind relaxed as she drifted into a place within her mind that felt tangible and real. The space surrounding her was a pitch-black darkness, with only wisps of white light breaking through the dark shroud. As she settled and became used to this new environment, she began to navigate it with greater ease. She noticed that her body had taken on a subtle ghostly form.

Though she found herself moving around with ease now, she wasn’t sure of her next steps, so she began watching the white wisps around her and noticed that their movement was purposeful. She decided to join them and followed their movement closely. It wasn’t long before she was gliding in harmony with the Spirits and following a flowing dance together as one with them.

Then, all of a sudden, the dark shroud that cloaked the space began to dissipate, giving way to a bright white light that merged itself within a beautiful meadow that was immersed in golden sunlight. The flowers stretched for miles as the myriad of colours sparkled in the sunlight. In the heart stood a magnificent oak tree that towered above the meadow.

Arlia continued to flow with the wisps as they danced across the meadow, gathering as they moved forward towards the great oak tree in harmony with each other. The tree reminded her of the trees in the forests she used to play in when she was a child. The nostalgia brought clarity to her mind, and she began guiding the wisps with greater purpose towards the tree.

Arlia and the wisps continued their flowing dance around the tree until she decided to descend slowly until her feet touched the ground beside the base of the tree. At that moment, she felt the need to reach out and place her hand flat on the sturdy trunk, feeling a strange energy surge through her. Arlia felt a sudden connection to the meadow.

She began to hear strange airy whispers as she stood with her hand on the tree, but they were faint as though spectral voices were attempting to contact her; however, she was unable to understand what they were trying to say. As they grew more persistent in their attempts, evident from the wisps that were increasingly agitated.

Arlia began to concentrate further on the sounds, trying to get through to her, but was unable to perceive their meaning. A sudden gust of wind blew through the meadow, lifting leaves and petals in the air, swirling them around her before the wind stopped, and they fell to the ground. The wisps began to return from their agitated state to flowing around the meadow peacefully once again.

She looked around, and the faint whispers grew quieter as they calmed despite attempts by Arlia to communicate with them again; she was unable. Suddenly, she felt that the meadow was drifting away from her, getting further away and blurry, slowly fading from her senses, she suddenly felt herself drift from this realm and like it was a dream she could remember so vividly, she slowly opened her eyes to see that she was on her own in the Zarotur.

Once Arlia had gathered herself together, she glanced around the chamber searching for Brina, but she was alone. Eventually, she decided to step outside the room and found Ysolde waiting for her with two other spiritweavers. One of them was a man in his early 40s, called Kelan Branek; his presence was dignified yet less imposing than Ysolde's. The other was an older man in his early 60s called Galen Talmaris, who radiated an aura of profound authority, as though the Spirits were perpetually interconnected with him.

They were discussing something, but Galen interrupted the conversation as Arlia emerged from the Zarotur. He approached her with a measured grace, his steps soft but commanding. He looked upon her with intrigue as he could perceive what others could not; the Spirits were still embracing her. He spoke with a gentle, yet knowing smile. “You had us quite concerned, you know. You've been within those trials for an extraordinary span—five days, to be precise. Such a lengthy period is most unusual for an initiate discerning their Spirit path. Ysolde will continue to guide you through this process, and I daresay you will wish to reconnect with your friend as well.”

A small crowd had gathered to inspect the commotion, but Ysolde swiftly dispersed them shortly after Galen and Kelan left. Ysolde approached Arlia; her aura was commanding yet calming, though Ysolde could imagine that it could be intimidating if she wished, and she asked her to recount as much as she could about her communion. Arlia began to explain what happened as best as she could; however, it felt like she was trying to recall a dream, and although she remembered much of it, she couldn’t remember it all.

Ysolde was astonished that she could recount as much as she did; initiates seldom manage to remember more than fragments. Arlia was guided to her shared quarters within the college, although these are provided, it is an option and initiates and spiritweavers can choose to live within the walls or in their own homes.

The quarters are modest and large enough for two people. As she entered, she found Brina waiting for her, and with excitement, Arlia rushed towards her friend, spending the next few hours engrossed in a conversation about their experiences. Brina was astonished by Arlia’s endurance within communion; she exclaimed excitedly. “I have no idea how you managed to stay in that state for so long! I was totally wiped out after just a few hours! The seniors and elders were starting to freak out about you, but I just knew you’d pull through! You always do, no matter what!”

The ever-excitable Brina struggled to focus on any single topic for too long; she promptly moved on to talking about the college as a whole and their futures. Arlia sighed. Although she shared an element of that excitement, she always maintained calmer composure, balancing her friend perfectly. They spent the rest of the evening telling stories of their communions, reminiscing and talking of their future, deciding to rest at the college that night and return to see their families in the morning.

Dawn broke, and both of them woke earlier than normal, feeling unusually invigorated, then they remembered how Ysolde had described that communion with the Spirits leaves spiritweavers feeling more refreshed once rested. They quickly readied themselves to go home, but as they were getting ready, a gentle knock at the door echoed throughout the room. Alia moved over to the door, opened it for Ysolde and allowed her entry.

She greeted them with a smirk. “Good morning, initiates. I require your presence at the Elder Hall, where we will assign you each a Spirit Guide—an essential step in your journey. Rest assured, once these formalities are completed, you may return to inform your families of your progress. Now, come along; time waits for no one.”

The two young girls gazed at Ysolde with surprise as she anticipated their thoughts with startling precision, their expressions vivid with detail. Ysolde spoke again with rich wisdom and understanding, but with an amused smile: “Amused that I could read your thoughts? Oh, please. I was once a young woman myself, and I assure you, I faced the very same quandaries. Some things never change.”

Arlia and Brina glanced towards each other and, with a silent understanding, they followed Ysolde as she left the room and made their way towards the Elder Hall. They felt a mixture of excitement and trepidation as they stepped into the unknown. It was clear that their pathways as spiritweavers were about to be laid out in front of them, and their childhood dreams were on the cusp of reality.

Once they reached the Elder Hall, they were astonished by the majestic doors that were adorned with stunning carvings that depicted the Gods and their domains of nature, water and fire. The craftsmanship was elegant and perfectly encapsulated the power, reverence and ancient nature of the Gods and with a push, Ysolde heaved the grand doors open, and as they creaked and groaned, they revealed a beautiful and unexpected sight.

The hall looked like a beautiful garden with stunning plants and towering trees. An elegant stream flowed through the room, leading to a large pond at the other end. At the other end, thick steam poured from the pond, similar to a geothermal spring. The water bubbled softly as heat radiated from the pond, adding a spiritual atmosphere to the hall.

In the centre stood a grand table, crafted from timber and seemingly nurtured to grow in that shape. At its head stood an elegant chair, its design was elaborate and intricate, and, like the table, naturally formed. The other chairs around the table weren’t as elaborate, but they still retained a stunning charm in their simpler designs.

Galen stood next to the elegant chair with a commanding aura, while Kelan lingered at the side of the table. The two men seemed to be engrossed deep in a conversation, their expressions hinted that it was about something of importance. They stopped after noticing Ysolde with Arlia and Brina. He turned to the three of them and spoke softly but with great clarity across the room as the door closed behind them. "Thank you for bringing them, Ysolde. I would be most grateful if you would remain here as well, for this matter concerns you as well."

Galen was adorned with stunning, flowing white robes with golden and green designs woven into the fabric. He spoke at length about the serenity of communion with the Spirits, the importance of maintaining the connection with the Divines and not allowing regret to cloud your thoughts. However, he continued to explain that with the power that comes with spiritweaving, there is a responsibility that those who walk this path must face dangerous challenges to safeguard the people and the realm.

Galen continued to speak to them with a seriousness that he hadn’t seen before. “Ah, my dear initiates, as spiritweavers, our sacred duty is to cultivate the strength required to shield and aid those in need. Yet, beware, for there are those who, in their lust for dominion, fall prey to corruption, seeking not only to subjugate others but to control the very Spirits themselves”. Galen paused for a moment. “Such individuals are perilous, and as you grow ever more adept in the art of spiritweaving, you shall find yourselves called upon to aid the helpless when confronted with these dark forces. It is our solemn responsibility, as the vigilant guardians of the Spirits and the divine powers bestowed upon us, to stand firm and safeguard the balance.”

Arlia and Brina were absorbed in what Galen had to say; his words only emboldened the two youngsters, and they spoke of their unwavering commitment to spiritweaving and their desire to become a force for good. Arlia’s eyes lit up with desire, and the normally calm personality was overcome with excitement that took Brina by surprise. Her determination was written on her face as she replied. “There’s nothing I desire more than to gain the skill and power to support my friends and family!”

Galen looked on as Arlia’s resolve was clear for those present to see. His experience as a spiritweaver noticed the Spirits encircling her as she spoke, they seemed to awaken and gather around her, responding to the impassioned energy she radiated. Galen had paused for a moment, and there was a short silence before he promptly turned to the formalities he had called them here for. “Ah, I am confident you both grasp the paths that lie before you, yet I shall elucidate them nonetheless. Brina, you have demonstrated a remarkable connection with the Water Spirits. For now, Kelan shall serve as your guide in the art of spiritweaving as an Aquakin, though I must note, this arrangement is but a temporary measure, for your most adept mentor is presently away on important matters.”

After addressing Brina, he turned to Arlia. “And Arlia, your bond with the Nature Spirits has been nothing short of extraordinary. Thus, it is only fitting that Ysolde, with her profound understanding, shall guide you in the ways of spiritweaving as a Shaman. Trust in this path, for it is designed to nurture your unique gifts.”

He spoke further of the primary pathways for spiritweavers and the most common Spirits of Nature, Water and Fire, reflecting the impact the Divines who shaped the world still have and how mortals communicate with them. Through communion, mortals become vessels for the Divines and are granted powers through the Spirits; however, not everyone who can perceive the Spirits can make this connection.

Those who connect with Nature Spirits are known as Shamans, the seekers of Water Spirits are called Aquakins, and the people who embrace Fire Spirits are dubbed Pyroartisans. There are five levels of mastery: Novice, Acolyte, Spirit Medium, Ascendant and Arch-Spiritualist, and as the connection with the Spirits becomes more profound, the unique abilities of the spiritweaver grow and reveal the extraordinary potential that lies within those individuals, but everyone has their limits.

They spent all morning in the Elder Hall learning much about what to expect on their journey as spiritweavers began. Eventually, they both emerge from the Elder Hall visibly excited and chattering away with each other, deciding at that moment to live within the walls of the college, but first, they wished to return to their family homes to share their excitement and news with their families.

Six months passed, and Arlia and Brina dedicated themselves with determination. Their progress was notable as they were able to achieve communion regularly with the Spirits but were unable to establish a true connection with them; the first major milestone, and when they would be officially recognised as novice spiritweavers.

Achieving this milestone as initiates is very rare, only a few in a generation are able, and even then, their strength isn’t comparable to those who achieve a true connection much later, however, those few who do manage this feat as initiates tend to be those who go onto attain previously unimaginable heights.

Only once they achieve recognition as a novice spiritweaver does the college entrust them with tasks, quests and requests from the populace and local leaders. During these six months, Arlia would find that during communion, the Spirits were unsettled but unable to fully communicate with them, and she couldn’t understand the reason.

One evening as she slept, she had a vivid dream and found herself in a forest that felt familiar, she made her way through coming across a clearing that was occupied by a group of people, some of them wore cloaks over light leather armour, whilst the others donned what was the distinctive attire of the college. All she could do was watch when, all of a sudden, one of the guys who wore the college robes turned and looked right at her. She noticed the eyes of man were an unnatural yellow, and at that moment, she suddenly awoke.

It took a few moments for Arlia to compose herself, but suddenly it occurred to her, this was the forest she used to wander and play in as a child. After telling Brina about the dream, they both quickly found and explained the dream to Ysolde, whose eyes showed a deep interest in what they were saying and promised that the information would be conveyed to the elder council of the college.

Several weeks passed, and Arlia would have the same recurring dream and each time, something felt different; it was as though she was seeing moments as they were happening, and everything felt real. She had noticed more detail on the cloaks of the unknown people, symbols of significance embroidered on them.

After a while, Galen had decided that he must speak with Arlia, as something was troubling him over the visions. He approached her one day and queried. “I have been informed by Ysolde that you have had dreams, specific dreams of the forest and members of the college. Recently, we had a few novices go missing, so I reached out to the Spirits for guidance. The answers I sought eluded me; perhaps you could recount details of your dream and childhood experiences.”

Arlia told Galen of the dreams she had and the childhood she spent wandering and playing within those forests, always feeling a comfortable presence and being guided through without any harm. Galen, an arch-spiritualist, immediately understood why the guidance he sought had been met with no answers despite his experience, strength and vast knowledge; even arch-spiritualists don’t have the full cooperation of the Spirits.

He spoke softly to Arlia. “Ah, I see. The Spirits within those forests have formed a connection with you, one that you scarcely realised was forming. When you were present with your innocence and the genuine kindness you showed all life in the forests, it helped create a level of trust between yourself and the Spirits. It was through this bond that they sought you to relay such vital information. I shall leave you now, you should rest, you have been pushing yourself too hard recently.”

Arlia was surprised as she hadn’t had any idea that it was the Spirits all this time guiding her through the forests as a child, but now she thinks about it, there could be nothing else to explain it. Her love of nature drove her to spend all that time within those forests, which was subconsciously forming a bond that takes Shamans years to form; some never succeed.

Galen and Ysolde leave the girls to discuss recent events with the elder council to seek counsel and decide their next action. During this time, Arlia took the advice from Galen and, with Brina, took a breather from their spiritweavers training, socialising with fellow initiates and spiritweavers. During this, they met a young man, a boy who was passionate and fiery; he had a fierce resolve, even if he was very hot-headed, and he introduced himself as Taran Karneth.

During their social gatherings, Arlia would delight everyone every one with her talents with the crwth, a simple wooden, rectangular, flat-bodied instrument with six strings stretched across a slightly elevated bridge, either played with a bow or fingers. Known for its resonant sound, in the hands of Arlia, it would create beautiful melodies.

The culture of Durnovaria was rich with music, and it was a tradition that children would learn an instrument from a young age. Arlia was no different, she would often carry her crwth everywhere, including into the forests she spent much of her childhood within, spending time composing beautiful melodies where she felt a connection with nature around her when playing them.

The young spiritweavers and initiates that had joined them would just listen and enjoy the soothing nature of her music, the Spirits would dance through the air, creating an atmosphere that brought joy to all their faces, especially the Shamans amongst them. Taran queried with an excitable awe. “Wow! I had no idea you could play the crwth!”

Arlia replied with a laugh. “I learned from my father, but it was, like, the forests that seemed to enjoy my practice more than my parents! I used to wake them up all the time!”

She turned her attention back to the crwth and began playing using the bow, the sounds of a new melody flowed from the strings, starting in a minor key, the mournful resonance settling on a nostalgic tone. The music carried on simple ascending and descending patterns, with the open strings amplifying the subtle and spiritual quality of the music. The piece peaked in a gentle and enduring flow that faded softly. The piece was rich with textures that soothed the Spirits and those around them.

Everyone who had gathered was enthralled by the piece, including Galen and Ysolde, who had come to talk to Arlia but paused to listen and enjoy the moment, for it had been a long time since they had both heard such a poignant melody move the Spirits in such a way.

Regrettably, their appreciation had to be interrupted, for they were here to speak to Arlia privately, and the matter was urgent. Galen’s voice, gentle but infused with an urgent gravitas, began speaking. “Ah, that was beautiful; however, there is an urgent matter that we require your assistance with, Arlia. Come with us, we must speak privately.”

Arlia gave a concerned look but understood quickly why they wished to speak to her. She turned to everyone there, who by this point wore worried looks on their faces, and with a reassuring smile, she said. “Hehe, I know what this is all about, like, don’t worry, everyone! I will tell you all about it when I get back, I promise!”

They escorted her to the Elder Hall, where Kelan was waiting for them. Galen explained that due to extraordinary circumstances, they required Arlia’s assistance to guide them to the place she was shown in her dreams. Kelan was understandably unhappy about the situation, but knew without the trust of the Spirits, it would be unlikely they would find the clearing in time.

Kelan explained that several novice spiritweavers had suddenly vanished when asked to complete a simple task. When they hadn’t returned after a few days, they had been investigating the matter, but nothing had been found. When they heard of Arlia’s dream, they realised that something else was at work and decided they needed to act soon.

Galen explained how he would not accompany them as his place is to remain at the college to ensure the safety of everyone there and in the settlement. However, ensured that Kelan and Ysolde would suffice for this quest, alongside Arlia. They all swiftly prepared and outfitted Arlia with hide-based armour to protect her just in case, as they readied themselves to leave the college and Durnovaria.

Whilst the three of them travelled towards the forest, Arlia felt a sense of excitement and comfort the closer they got, as it had been a while since she had been in these parts. They approached the edge of the forest, eager to go in, and Kelan and Ysolde told Arlia to begin. Clutching her crwth closely, she settled into position and entered communion to seek guidance whilst the other two stood protecting her.

It wasn’t long before the Nature Spirits began gathering within the meadow of her inner realm. Previously, her form was ethereal but had become a little bit more tangible, and the voices of the Spirits were clearer as she spoke them as an old friend. “My friends, I need your help to find some spiritweavers!”

They began to dance around her meadow with greater intensity than before; the whispers and voices of the Spirits had become sharper, more distinct, until they finally formed clear guidance that Arlia could understand. As she woke from communion, she informed Kelan and Ysolde that the Spirits would guide her and that she needed to feel their presence to follow them.

The three of them began navigating the dense forest, ensuring Arlia’s protection as she led them. The Spirits would guide them like an invisible thread that wove through the trees. As they went deeper into the heart of the forest, it became harder to travel. All of a sudden, Arlia came to a halt, turned to Kelan and Ysolde and quietly said to them. “There is a clearing just behind these bushes, and the Spirits urge me to stop here.”

Kelan steps forward quietly, slipping through the bush at the edge of the clearing, staying hidden, he quickly scans the scene before him and spots the college spiritweavers and the other figures described in Arlia’s dreams. Looking back at the other two, he gives a subtle nod to indicate he has found them, before Ysolde could say anything, Kelan had already extended his hands in front of him, palms facing upwards, and spoke softly with a smirk. “Fire Spirits, form one should suffice…let’s go.”

The flames burst from his hands, surging up his arms and quickly wrapping his entire body like a blazing mantle. The fire itself feels hot but doesn’t burn or destroy anything around him, showing the power and artistry of an Ascendant Pyroartisan. Before anyone can react, Kelan harnesses the fire and dashes forward with a swiftness amplified by the fire cloaked around his legs and feet. He uses that to create smaller bursts of flame to propel himself towards the unsuspecting figures.

He rapidly approached one of the robed individuals, delivering a scorching blow with his left palm. A fiery burst erupted from the palm, forcing the figure to hurl backwards and slam onto the ground. As he finishes the strike, he sweeps his arm out and with flames flowing down to his hand, a flaming whip forms from his hand and extends outwards. With a swift movement, Kelan uses the whip to grasp the figure. Using both hands with great force boosted by the flames on his arms, he pulls the figure, smashing onto the ground, leaving the two of them incapacitated.

Unable to conceal how tiresome she felt, Ysolde let out a long sigh and moved towards the edge of the clearing. She glided with an elegance that was the polar opposite of the explosive movements of Kelan. Untroubled by the potential danger around her, she strode across the clearing with an intense aura, vastly different from her calm self. As she neared the other two cloaked individuals, she spoke as though the words themselves held the weight of the ground itself in them*. “Nature Spirits, lend me your voice to command the earth itself.”*

At that very moment, the earth below the two people began to shift, crack and move around, and as it split open, they felt as though the earth itself grabbed them, pulling them down within its grasp and trapping them. A sinister voice caught their attention as it echoed from the shadows of the forest. “Shihihihihi, you have performed admirably.

They spun round swiftly and saw yet another hooded figure standing behind them, flanked by the spiritweavers missing from the college. Concerned as to how this person was able to approach them without being detected, they both readied themselves but noticed something was not right with the missing spiritweavers, as though they were being controlled by something, their eyes were glazed as if charmed. The hooded man was smiling but spoke with chilling malice. “I like those looks, the confusion amuses me, but alas, I have no use for you. Destroy them, I am sure you can manage, after all, I have shown you the true pathway to power.”

Ysolde and Kelan readied themselves for a battle ahead, but the cloaked man faded into the shadows of the forest. The charmed spiritweavers stepped forward to act on his behalf, but just as they began to ready themselves for combat, a strange melody could be heard from the depths of the forest. It was a gentle sound layered with melancholy, yet seemed uplifting as well, as though a wave of inspiration washed over them.

The charmed spiritweavers immediately started to struggle to focus, the cloudy glaze in their eyes began to fade as the entirety of the clearing was bathed in a soothing emerald glow as Nature Spirits washed over everything and everyone, calming the souls and breaking the charm forced onto the college spiritweavers, all of them collapsed onto the ground confused and exhausted.

Whilst they were all distracted, the sound of a loud explosion came from behind them. They quickly spun around to see what had happened, but were greeted by a thick veil of smoke and dust that was blown their way in the aftermath. They could see five figures in the smoke, though they couldn’t discern their identities, but it was clear from the way some of them were being held up that it was the cloaked people they had subdued before.

Ysolde noticed in the confusion that the ground that had held two of them had been destroyed, confirming it was the cloaked figures they had fought previously; the fifth was an unknown. They stepped forward, and they managed to glance at his face, that of a humanoid. They noticed that his eyes were a darker shade of yellow and a more beast-like shape, and there was also a large scar just above the left eye. The unknown man said with a sense of disappointment. “Oh, that was no fun, but more importantly, where did it come from? Heh, we shall be going now, just maybe we will find the source before you are able to leave these forests, shihihi”

As the smoke and dust began to settle and dissipate, the figures had disappeared, and it was unclear where they went or how they managed to escape. But they had little time to delay as the previously charmed spiritweavers needed aid. As Ysolde attended to them, Arlia emerged from the forest with her presence immediately catching the attention of both experienced spiritweavers, with their faces barely hiding their surprise, awe and concern. Ysolde, with a soft reluctance, queried. “Incredible, was that you?”

Arlia murmured, her voice soft and weary. “Th-they asked me t-to play for them, I don’t remember anything after that…”

Ysolde caught Alia as she collapsed from exhaustion, and Kelan looked towards them with a look of surprise and concern. The three spiritweavers dragged themselves towards them and without anything being said, they began to make their way back through the dense forest, still being guided by the Spirits, Kelan thought to himself, whilst smiling and looking over at Arlia being carried by Ysolde. “The Spirits here are still protecting her, huh, hehe”

One of the other spiritweavers exclaimed. “How we getting out here? It all looks the same!”

Kelan looked at the young man, smiled and pointed forward as the road was now visible. All three spiritweavers looked at each other and started celebrating with each other, visibly emotional and excited to go home again after being away for so long. Once they reached the road, they swiftly made their way back to Durnovaria. Once they had reached the settlement, Ysolde thought it was best to drop Arlia back at home and explain the situation to them personally and then head back to the college to update the council.

A few days had passed since they had gotten home, and Arlia felt it was time to return to the college. She walked through the settlement happy and refreshed, knowing she had helped but not knowing the full extent. This time, when she walked through the doors of the college, she was greeted by an excited crowd, pleased that she had returned. Not comfortable with the crowd, she broke away as soon as possible to find her friends.

They sat down and she told them the story of what had happened on her journey, still not completely certain of what had happened, she spoke about it as much as she could because since the others had returned, the college elders had kept much of what happened a secret. Galen was accompanied by Ysolde and Kelan, observing the youngsters with great admiration for their energy and enthusiasm, he spoke quietly to himself. “Aha, cherish these moments, spiritweaving is a path of dedication and responsibility. The future is in your hands, enjoy the present as much as possible.”

Arlia felt a gaze on her, she looked over towards Galen, Ysolde and Kelan and gave them a smile before continuing the story of her first adventure. All of them were excited about their prospects, unknowing of the dangers that lay ahead.

Meanwhile, in an unknown location, the cloaked man stood in what looked like the ruins of a village when a well-dressed woman approached him. he remained still and facing away from her. She wore a look of disappointment when she saw him, but spoke calmly. “You failed a simple task. Trusting a spiritweaver to do the job of a spy was a mistake on my part. Thwarted by a little girl, honestly, it is pathetic.”

The cloaked man remained silent and unmoved by her antagonistic comment. He turned to face her when a glint of yellow sparked in his eyes. Removing his cloak, his body began to partially change into a beast. He said with a deeper hiss. “You should be careful how you speak to me, Thalira, looking down on those like me because you have the illusion of power. Ignorance is best kept to oneself; otherwise, you might get hurt. Luckily, you still have some uses to us left.”

The woman was now sweating, her fear was palpable and the only reply she could muster. “Y-y-yes, I get it, you don’t need to go that far, there is still plenty to do, and this was only a minor setback anyway.”

She watched on as he transformed back into his regular human form and put his cloak back on. She queried him. “What are you going to do next? I will head back home and try to locate what you asked.”

He let out a long sigh and said in a disconcerting soft manner. “What does that have to do with you? I have my own plans, but don’t worry, your small mind about them. We wouldn’t want your head to explode now, would we…?”

The man turned around and walked out of the village, and soon disappeared into the distance. Thalira took a deep breath and looked around the ruins of the village when it dawned on her, this village had only been brought to ruin very recently and bore the scars of a terrible battle. She decided that staying around here too long would be a bad idea and swiftly started her journey to get back home and begin the next phase of the plan.

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