Hadagery, Book of Canaan

Chapter 7: Meet the Grimiore

Chapter 7: Meet the Grimiore

Hadlin Stood trembling amid the blackened shards. Helplessly wondering, "What do I do now?" As one rebounding problem throbbed within his skull. How to save Canaan without the book. He had no way to go back to Penumbra. Even if he could go back he had no idea where to look. Then there was the quandary with the carib. Going back would be a death sentence. For now he could only move forward. Forward that is without the mirror.

Throughout his foot had been toying with the shards of the mirror. How do you even make a magic mirror? It was all quite curious. By this time the blackened shards started to twitch. How bizarre? At that point the shards began to liquefy. That liquid migrating to meet at one central spot. Coming together in a globular shape. Thereon the glob began to change colors. Whatnot suggesting, "Looks kinda like that frog." Hadlin agreed that it did. Which replayed the memory of the frog named Reed in his head. Reed changed colors as well. Then the glob stopped at a silvery white. Whilst its matter changed into a malleable texture. Hadlin could only look on as the events unfolded before his disbelieving eyes. Having no idea what this thing could be. However he couldn't just leave it here. He started to pick up the glob. Noticing a slight discoloring to his wooden fingers. Dismissing it as no more than dirt. Nothing a good scrubbing couldn't take care of. Then continued onward with his task at hand. The glob flexed in his palm fairly similar to flesh. Still he couldn't make heads or tails of the thing. He would have to keep it out of harm's way until he could figure it out. Then placed it securely in his pocket. Assured that it would be safe in there.

Just as something small and dark flew at his face. "What in Canaan?" Hadlin was instantly swatting at the thing. Whatnot cried out at the same moment, "Get away!" When Hadlin turned around there were dozens more. Dozens of ouray. All with their penetrating gaze upon him. In fact the entire room was covered in black chanterelles. To the point you couldn't tell the furniture apart from the wall and floor. What were they doing here?

The more important question is, "Where is here?" Hadlin was positive the door would lead him to the answer. Seeing that he swatted at the clouds of ouray on his way out. Whatnot was telling Hadlin, "Run faster!" Hadlin stepped out onto a dirt path. Right into fog. His thoughts associating it to the fog of Nocturnia. However they were nothing alike. The fog here was rather thin, and the area still visible. There were trees everywhere. A scattering of houses dotted the landscape. Roughly hewn structures. Everything marred in black chanterelles. This was some sort of village. Though he didn't see a soul or animal in sight. On the other hand it was nighttime. Explaining away the absence of people. They were simply asleep. Whatnot was complaining once again, "I don't like this place." Hadlin sounded a bit cross, "You don't like anything." Oddly noticing that their voices were the only sound he heard. Where was all the din from insects? Hadlin shook the thought. He was making something out of nothing.

Then again he started to trail the fog to its origins. The fog was coming from the black chanterelles. It wasn't a fog at all. It was spores. They were spreading. Subsequently he began to think the village had been abandoned. The spores kept growing thicker. Even as a whisper hearkened through the village. Was that the wind? Then another whisper came from a different direction. His answer was most assuredly, no. It couldn't possibly be the wind. Already tracing where the sound may have come from. Hadlins eyes resting upon an outbuilding. Not a soul to be seen. So where are the whispers coming from?

That's when he noticed a page from the book. Instantly wondering, "Is the book of Canaan here?" How did the book make it through the mirror? Could that be where the whispers are coming from? It didn't make sense. The book wasn't responding to him. Why would it suddenly start working now? Hadlin walked up to the page. Finding another not far from the first. He didn't understand why the pages kept falling out. Therefore he wasn't anticipating the vibration from touching the page. The page warned him, "Beware." At first he thought it was his imagination. Then picked up the second page. Straightaway he had two voices warning him, "Its here." Hadlin questioned the pages, "What's here?" Nonetheless the pages never acknowledged him. Still they warned, "Run." It went on and on, "Run while you can." By that time he realized that there were even more whispers around him. Moreover the whispering weren't coming from the pages. A chill ran up his spine. Even as he looked up from the pages.