Chapter 6: Faith and Bone

"Ah!" Vaelira looked over at Edrin. "Not feeling snow under your boots is... so weird!"

Edrin snorted softly.

They’d already passed through Winter’s Rest. Snow had given way to damp soil, and the trees — once stiff with frost — now stood tall and green. Birdsong filled the air, far more frequent than it had been in the silent north. A rabbit darted through the underbrush ahead, vanishing into tall grass.

Vaelira kept glancing at the trees, at the ground that no longer crunched beneath her boots. It felt… exposed. Without the white blanket of snow, everything looked louder — brighter, too alive. She wasn’t sure if she liked it. In the north, the cold wrapped around her like armor. Here, the warmth made her feel too soft. She tugged her cloak tighter around her, even though she didn’t need it.

Too Green. Too open.

But she didn’t say it out loud.

"You'll get used to it... Ah, I remember traveling with my parents," Edrin said, looking at the trees.

"I know your parents were adventurers. But you actually traveled with them?"

"Barely, they settled down when I was nine. But they planted the idea in my head."

"Huh. That’s actually kind of interesting." Vaelira glanced at him.

"What you said before—about not bringing destruction. That wasn’t just a throwaway comment, was it?" He stopped walking. Vaelira put her hands behind her head.

"Do we really need to have this conversation?" Vaelira said quietly.

"I’ve already dropped a few topics. We’ve been traveling together for a while. I’d really like to hear this one."

"Well, fine. I wasn't the most patient student—"

Edrin laughed.

She shot him a glare.

"Sorry, I can just imagine it."

"Anyway... During one of the lessons with my Elder, I got cocky, way too cocky. Started casting a spell — it exploded all around the room. She made a comment that with my impatience, my magic would eventually kill someone."

"And now you’ve proven that’s not true. You've saved people." Vaelira’s eyes widened as she looked at him. She wanted to say something—anything—but couldn’t.

He was right. Her magic had saved people. Twice.

"Well, I guess... You're right."

"You just need to believe in yourself more, Vaelira," he said with a smile.

"I will... Thanks, Edrin. I mean it."

"Good to see your hair’s almost back to normal. You’ve still got a few orange strands, though."

"Yeah... But, I can at least cast small spells again!"

"And take it out on the trees."

"That ice spike bursting right into a tree and cutting it wasn't MY fault! Well, not intended!"

Edrin bent over laughing.

"Right. Completely accidental tree murder."

Vaelira chuckled. Her harmless misfires felt more amusing than frustrating now.

As they traveled further, they began to notice something strange — the fields were filled with crops twisted and wilted in unnatural patterns. Vaelira felt something shift inside her as they passed through the fields.

"Huh... the magic feels unstable here..." She whispered.

"You can sense that?"

"Normally? Not really. But here — something’s off." Edrin frowned but kept walking. A short while later, they reached a small town. The townsfolk looked worn out and weary. Near the square, a young human man tended to the wounded. He had long blond hair that fell just past his shoulders. As they approached, he looked up at them with tired violet eyes.

"Ah, travelers. You’ve arrived at the worst possible time." He said while bandaging a man's leg.

"We can see that..." Edrin commented as Vaelira nodded.

"What is happening around here?"

The man glanced at her staff, biting his lip.

"As much as these folks could use your help, I’m not sure another arcane user is a good idea."

Vaelira raised her eyebrow.

"Huh? What do you mean?"

"A wizard moved in recently. Ever since, strange things have been happening. Crops dying, livestock acting off... and people having strange dreams."

"So you think it might be related to him?" Edrin asked.

"I think so. But one cannot be certain. I’ve been meaning to investigate. If you're willing, we could go together. I am Thalen of Dawnreach, a follower of Soltheria."

"Vaelira Eirwyn. And this is Edrin." Thalen smiled at her words, giving a polite nod.

"So I can assume we would work together on this?"

"Considering you can lead us, sure." Edrin said.

Thalen turned to finish patching the last wound.

Edrin glanced at Vaelira.

"At least this one doesn’t treat us like sidekicks."

Vaelira smirked. "Yeah. And he actually seems to care."

Thalen stood and wiped his hands on his chainmail. He picked up his mace and shield — the latter marked with Soltheria’s sun symbol.

"We should go before the sun gets too low."

They set out on the road again. Vaelira glanced at their temporary companion every now and then. Her mind drifted back to her home, to the religious customs she was raised with. Eventually, she said aloud.

"You said you’re a follower of Soltheria..."

"Of our Lady Soltheria, yes. First time hearing of her?" Vaelira nodded.

"She is our Lady of the Sun. Her flame does not just illuminate — it reveals hidden truths. She is the warmth that will soothe your so—" Vaelira cleared her throat loudly, drawing a glance from Edrin.

"I think I heard enough, thank you."

"But I can—"

"No, no need, thank you!"

The moment of quiet continued for a little more. Until Thalen spoke.

"So, she is a wizard you are like... A bowman and swordsman?" Vaelira snickered as Edrin gazed at her and responded.

"You can say that, though you forgot to add that she is a great mage."

"Huh...? It didn't sound like a co—" Before Thalen could, he was interrupted by Vaelira.

"Of course it was, I am sure that Edrin truly meant it and didn't want to undermine me, riiiight?"

"Of course"

They both laughed while Thalen’s eyes shifted between them, unsure what to make of it — but he didn’t push. Their journey continued until the air grew heavy with an unbearable stench. The ground was dark, with no sign of life. Vaelira looked at Thalen.

"Is this... the place? The smell is... so awful."

"Indeed it is. Judging by the signs, I think we might be dealing with a necromancer."

Edrin tensed and picked up his bow, knowing they were close to their destination.

A small house stood ahead, watched over by two unarmed zombies and a skeleton clutching a rusted sword.

"We can try to approach. Or I take out one zombie, Vaelira handles the other, and you take the skeleton. Should be easy with your mace."

"Yes. Soltheria’s will guides us."

Vaelira rolled her eyes but nodded in agreement.

Edrin drew an arrow, steadying his bow. The string creaked. He exhaled and let it fly.

The arrow flew fast and buried itself in the zombie’s skull. It collapsed in an instant.

The other two turned sharply, then shambled forward in a clumsy rush.

Thalen raised his shield and charged. He slammed into the skeleton with his shield, staggering it.

Vaelira stepped forward, staff raised. The runes flickered to life—her fingers tingling as raw magic surged through them.

She didn't hesitate.

A burst of frost shot outward — spikes of ice exploding in all directions.

One skewered the second zombie straight through the chest.

Another spike hit Thalen’s shield with a loud crack, throwing shards of ice across his boots.

"Be a bit more careful next time!" he shouted, just as the skeleton slashed at him with its sword.

Steel scraped across his shield. He grunted and struck back—mace crashing down onto the skeleton’s skull with a crunch of bone and iron.

Edrin lowered his bow and looked toward the small house.

"I think that’s all of them." Vaelira narrowed her eyes.

"Here? Maybe. But the magic hasn’t faded. It might be worse inside." Thalen stepped over the last body, gripping his mace. "Then we move." The front door opened with a squeak. The smell hit harder than before — rot, ash, something burnt and unnatural. The hallway beyond was dark, the walls lined with scattered papers and scorched symbols.

Vaelira could barely handle the stench. She had never faced something this foul before — the kind of rot that turned her stomach. She wanted to gag, maybe even lose her dinner… but she held it back. She wouldn’t show weakness.

They moved cautiously. The floor creaked underfoot. A few jars lined the shelves — bone fragments, something floating in cloudy liquid, and what looked like human remains.

In the back of the house, they found the trapdoor. "Down there," Vaelira said quietly.

Thalen nodded. "Stay sharp."

Thalen pushed it open. A wave of damp air rushed out — thicker than before, heavy with decay. Stone steps led down into the cellar, swallowed by shadows.

Thalen went first, shield raised. Edrin followed. Vaelira came last, her staff faintly glowing.

The cellar was wider than expected. Stone walls, packed dirt floor. Strange symbols had been carved into the walls, some still glowing a faint red. Books lay scattered across a table, along with scrolls, bones, and melted candles.

And at the far end a figure, facing a book on a pedestal.

He wore black robes, hood pushed back. His skin was pale, almost grey.

""Is he—?" Vaelira said.

The man’s fingers twitched.

Edrin stepped forward. "He’s alive."

The necromancer turned to look at them. His eyes glowed faint green — hollow, with veins and blackening beneath the skin.

"You shouldn’t have come here," he rasped.

Behind them, movement echoed up the stairs. The sound of cracking bones followed.

Vaelira spun, raised her staff. "I’ll hold them!" She slammed it against the stone, and a wall of ice burst to life across the stairwell. The runes on her staff flickered wildly as the magic formed. It wouldn’t hold forever — but it was enough.

"You bring light into my tomb?" the necromancer whispered "Then let it die with you." He raised a hand, black energy gathering in his palm. Steel met corrupted force with a flash. The necromancer snarled, staggering as their clash knocked him off balance.

Edrin pushed back hard. "Thalen!" Thalen moved in fast. His shield blocked a second blast of magic, golden light flickering against the darkness. He raised his mace.

"Soltheria sees you," he said. "Your lies end here."

The mace came down hard, slamming into the necromancer’s shoulder. He shrieked and staggered. Edrin held him in place, blade pressed near his throat.

The necromancer lashed out with his hand, catching Edrin across the chest — but not deep enough.

"Guys… Faster!" Vaelira shouted. The ice wall wouldn’t last much longer under the onslaught it was taking.

"We’ll need more than just physical force…" Thalen said, gazing at the necromancer.

"Do it!" Edrin shouted. "Now, Thalen!"

Thalen stepped forward, raising his shield. Light shimmered along its edge, golden and searing — a sign of Soltheria’s presence.

"Soltheria, burn away this darkness," he whispered.

His hand ignited with divine fire.

The necromancer writhed, trying to push away Edrin. Thalen’s strike came down — not with brute force, but with holy energy. A surge of radiance crashed into the necromancer’s chest, piercing through with searing light.

The necromancer gave a short, broken scream — then fell limp. The glow in his eyes vanished.

At the same time, the onslaught against the ice wall finally stopped.

Vaelira didn’t speak. She just stared at the body. Even after all the horror — the rot, the undead, the twisted magic — it still struck her how human he looked now. Pale. Small. Just another person who had gone too far.

Edrin breathed heavily.

"We did it… This was quite the adventure." Vaelira nodded, then smiled.

"It was. But we did it." "One last thing. I’ll burn this place with the blessing of my Goddess."

They went out of the cellar. Standing in front of the building, Thalen said.

"Our Benevolent Soltheria, let me consecrate this place, so no more evil can take root." With those words, his hand ignited once more. He stepped forward and set the building aflame, while Vaelira looked around. "I guess it will take the land some time to heal." "Indeed," Thalen nodded.

"But it will, now that we did our job. Thank you for helping me on this endeavour." "It’s fine. I wouldn’t forgive myself if we didn’t help. And she wouldn’t let me hear the end of it if we hadn’t." "Hey!" Vaelira gazed at Edrin who smiled as Thalen laughed.

"You two are such good friends, it truly was a pleasure to join forces together." They returned to the village together. The people looked tired, but lighter — like hope had finally returned. Maybe their land could heal.

The village elder paid them, and they split the reward between themselves. The next day, Vaelira and Edrin set out for the road, Thalen waited for them in front of the village entrance.

"Well, I guess that’s it, then. Until our paths cross again" "Indeed." Vaelira responded. "It was fun having you with us. Even with all your preaching."

She paused. "You weren’t as bad as I expected."

Thalen blinked. "That almost sounded like a compliment." "Don’t get used to it," she said, smirking.

Edrin laughed. "That means she likes you."

Vaelira glanced at Edrin, then said. "Good luck getting back to your order."

"I am afraid not yet. I am in search of an artifact of my Goddess. There’s still a long road ahead of me." "Well, with how you can handle yourself, I think you are more than fine," Edrin smiled and gave him a friendly slap on the shoulder.

"Well… goodbye, then" Thalen said and bowed.

They nodded and continued down the road.

"Still not used to this weather. I miss the cold and snow," Vaelira said, as Edrin laughed and shook his head. "Really? Usually for people it is the other way around. They prefer to be in the warmth. Though cold has its merits, you can just dress warmly."

"Or resting by a campfire! There’s so much more… you were right. I’ll miss home a little." "Well, I told you it is this way." As they continued, bickering and laughing, they heard a familiar voice behind them.

"Wait! Please, wait!" It was Thalen, who ran to them, trying to catch his breath. "Please… Wait…" "Thalen? What are you doing here?" Vaelira asked.

"I… I know it sounds unbelievable but while going through my scrolls, it felt like my Goddess spoke to me. I think I should travel with you. At least for the time being." He glanced back. "If you will have me of course." "We aren’t exactly hiring," Edrin said.

"As long as you won’t try to convert us to your Goddess, I will be fine with it!" "Deal!" Thalen smiled and shook Vaelira’s hand.

She hadn’t planned on traveling with a cleric.

But maybe, just maybe, it wasn’t the worst thing.