Idilia: The Dark Kingdom - Part 1

XXVI: Fractured Past

The joyful respite at Runegrove felt fleeting for Ashana and her companions. The exuberant celebration of the night before still echoed in their hearts – laughter mingling with the rhythmic beat of drums, the air thick with the aroma of roasted meats and sweet pastries. Yet, a new day dawned, and with it, a renewed sense of purpose.

Emerging from their restful chambers, the travelers were greeted by a sight that both surprised and touched them. The festive decorations – vibrant banners and twinkling lanterns – still adorned the town square, but alongside them, a different kind of activity unfolded. The once-abandoned storefronts bustled with life. Villagers, their faces etched with determination but devoid of yesterday's despair, cleared debris and mended broken windows. Carpenters hammered away, repairing damaged carts, while blacksmiths clanged their anvils, forging new tools. Even the children, their eyes sparkling with a newfound resilience, pitched in, gathering scattered wood and playfully assisting their elders.

A sense of awe washed over Ashana and her companions. Here, amidst the rhythmic pounding of hammers and the determined shouts of villagers, a community rose anew. As they walked towards Elara's quarters fulfilling her summoning of them, Ashana couldn't help but feel a flicker of hope. Perhaps, with the same unwavering spirit, they too could overcome the darkness that threatened Idilia.

Elara greeted them with a warm smile, her gentle and kind demeanor further enhanced by the sight of her granddaughter, even though adopted by her, nonetheless raised as her own. Ashana rushed forward and embraced her warmly. The rest followed them through the bustling haven. It was a rustic hut, yet it felt cozy and familiar to Ashana, a place where she spent her childhood. Moss clung to its slanted roof, and gnarled roots curled around its base like protective guardians. Strange symbols, glowing faintly with an otherworldly luminescence, adorned the weathered wooden door. Stepping inside, they were enveloped by a comforting warmth and the musky scent of aged parchment and exotic herbs. Here, in this intriguing sanctuary, Elara settled them into a cozy chamber, the air fragrant with aged wood and calming herbs. Her gaze turned serious as she addressed them, the weight of their upcoming discussion settling upon the room.

"I've called you here because truths need to be told," she began, her voice carrying a weight that demanded attention. "But first, I need to know about the attack on Anarim and the... entities you encountered."

The others recounted the horrifying events – the sudden transformation of the once peaceful villagers, the relentless assault of the twisted creatures, and the strange power that had surged within them. Ashana's voice trembled as she described the horrors, her eyes welling up with tears. Dagda, his grip tightening around his sword, recounted the battles with a grim determination, while Pontha listened with a stoic facade that masked a churning turmoil within. Aeliana, her composure wavering for the first time, struggled to maintain it, her hands trembling slightly. Elara, her expression growing increasingly grave, listened carefully, the weight of their shared burden felt heavy upon her.

Elara waited for a moment giving her guests a moment to regain composure after remembering those dreadful memories, after a deep breath she looked at them "The creatures you faced were manifestations from a force beyond our realm," Elara revealed, her voice barely a whisper. "They are not of this world, but summoned from the void of Non-creation. These entities are not merely creatures, but twisted perversions of life, born from the darkness and empowered by it. They are capable of transforming both living beings and the very fabric of reality itself, bending it to the will of the Non-creation."

A heavy silence descended upon the room as Elara spoke. Her eyes held a haunted look, as if gazing into a forgotten abyss. "I have encountered this power once before," Elara paused, her eyes focused on Ashanás sight. "What I'm about to share with you, Ashana, and with everybody in this room, is something I never thought I'd reveal," her voice filled with a gravity that piqued Ashana's curiosity. "I've carried this burden for centuries, hidden behind a façade of wisdom and experience. My age is far greater than it appears."