The rain was thundering noisily against the canvas of my hooded cloak, I could hardly hear even my own footsteps in the mud over the racket. I groaned tiredly, regretting not having a drake to ride for what must've been the hundredth time this week. The Inn at the crossroads, to which i was headed, seemed a thousand leagues away, even though i knew it was more akin to a few miles at most. Sighing, i shrugged my pack further up my back and quickened my pace, eager to escape the dreadful tempest. I had walked for another half mile perhaps, when my boot became stuck in a deep pit of the muck that was once a road. angrily muttering to myself as i freed my imprisoned boot, i happened to notice a large, lush holly tree ahead, under which sat what looked to be a man. I pressed forward, unsure whether it was a bandit's trap or an injured person. "Are you alright?" i called out hesitantly. Getting no response, i assumed he could not hear me over the downpour, and treaded closer to the man. Ducking in under the lowest boughs of the holly, i crouched in the damp leaf litter and took a better look at the now clearly unconscious man. He was younger than i, perhaps in his late 20s. His long black hair fell below his shoulders and was matted and unkept. He wore a threadbare black Aketon, with a faded, indecipherable sigil upon the shoulder, and simple dark brown hosen. He wore a Lycadian style saber upon his right hip, bound in a simple leather scabbard, and his feet were wrapped in oilcloth, and where the gaps of the cloth showed, his feet were bruised and bleeding. he had clearly been walking for a long while. Something about him felt off, and i couldn't place it. Placing my hand upon his shoulder, i gently spoke. "Excuse me friend, do you need help?" His eyes shot open, bloodshot and as yellow as citrine. His hand shot to the saber on his hip, fast as a viper. But i was faster. Grabbing his wrist firmly but gently, i spoke once more. "I don't mean you any harm Sir, i was only concerned because you were out here sleeping in the rain." He studied me for a moment, the panic slowly leaving his tired eyes. "Who are you?" He croaked, in a hoarse voice. I smiled warmly at him and replied, "My name is Solace of house Emberson. I'm a priest. It's nice to make your acquaintance Sir-?" "Lucien" He finished. "I'm Lucien Aren." Aren? i pondered. That was the surname of the Lycadian Royal family, And he wore a Lycadian Saber on his hip as well. A coincidence? the Aren family did have many distant relatives after all, and many in Lycadia had the name. But we were in the kingdom of Aken now, hundreds of Leagues southeast of Lycadia. I shook the thoughts from my idle head and Let go of Lucien's wrist. i smiled at him apologetically and said "Well Sir Lucien, Where are you heading in this weather? you'll catch your death in this mess." He grimaced, then replied, still hoarse "Just Lucien. I'm no noble like you, sir. I was heading to Galath, to pay my respects." I nodded soberly, Galath was a budding trade town on the Emerald river that was burned down by the kingdom of Anithorn two years prior, Leading to a massive tri-kingdom war that had only recently ended with the destruction of Anithorn's capital. "Well," i said. "I'm just the sixth son who was given to the temple, you needn't address me as a noble either. Just call me Solace." I stood and offered him my hand. He hesitated for a moment, then reached up and grasped it. Pulling him to his feet, the off-putting feeling intensified, and the pendant of the All-Maker around my neck hummed ever so slightly. "Thanks, Si- Solace." He managed. I nodded, making note of the feeling for later, i decided it would be best to keep an eye on him and get to the bottom of what was causing such an unsettling disturbance. "Do you have anywhere to stay?" I asked him. He shook his head sullenly. "No." he replied. "Galath was the only home i ever knew." Bowing my head, i said "I'm sorry for your loss." Then continued, "If you have no place to go, come with me to the Inn at the Crossroads. I'll get you a room and a hot meal to eat." He was silent for a moment, clearly uncomfortable asking for help. I gave him a grin and a reassuring pat on the shoulder. "Don't worry about it. I wouldn't be able to live with myself if i'd just left you in this downpour on the roadside." He nodded hesitantly, then spoke. "Okay, thank you solace." His eyes did not meet my own.
Together we finished the muddy hike to the Inn in relative silence. He did not ask any questions of me, and i could not think of any to ask him either. We finally arrived at the Inn as the darkness was settling in, heralding the rainy night to come. It was a broad, squat building of whitewashed cobblestone and a straw-thatched roof, a stable sat outside with only a single wagon and lonesome cart drake within it. the light from the inn's squared windows seemed more inviting to me than paradise after hiking all day in the muck. I eagerly stepped onto the threshold and opened the door, and was met with a warm, dry interior of clustered tables, a packed earthen floor, and blazing hearth. Three men in bits of armor sat at one table beside an obviously green young noble. another man in simple flax robes sat a ways away, picking at the remains of a roasted gryphling and sipping ale. Aside from them however, the large inn was empty save for the Hostess and a maid. Smiling at us as we entered, she walked up to us and asked chipperly; "Helloooo! My name is Hecate, i'll be your Hostess. Will you be needing room and board sirs?" I nodded my assent, then said; "And food please." pausing as i looked down at My and Lucien's feet, i added "And a bath as well." She nodded and smiled warmly "Two silvers and a copper please sir." I dug into my coin purse, cringing at my dwindling finances, and handed her the money plus an extra copper for a tip. She thanked me and sat us down at a cozy table in a corner of the inn, all the while Lucien gawked around like he hadn't seen an inn in centuries.
The hostess quickly brought us two mugs of spiced mead. i sipped on the mead, finding it's spiced warmth soothing to my tired body. "Haven't been to an inn in a while Lucien?" i asked casually between sips of mead. He shook his head. eyes still downcast he replied, "I haven't really been around people much at all since Galath was razed." "I see." i replied. "Well i'm glad you came with me all the same." I raised my mug towards him, and after a few moments he reluctantly tapped his to my own weakly. "Yeah, thanks." he muttered. Once the hostess brought food i found my mouth much too busy to interrogate the man further. Roasted gryphling and Lotus bulbs fit the mead perfectly and i ate like a man half-starved. Lucien, Ironically a man who was in fact, half starved, merely pecked at his dinner. As I ate i thought about his behavior. it was strange sure, But such a sullen demeanor was not uncommon amongst brigands or veteran soldiers, and judging by his saber and aketon, he likely had some soldiering experience. I tossed a bone of the Gryphling back to my plate, then studied Lucien's features again. His eyes, like usual, were downcast. and he picked away at the gryphling with the enthusiasm of a student of arithmetic. His eyes... Yellow, bloodshot, but something more was within them. I focused my sight closer, attempting to discern what i was seeing. Suddenly, he looked up and met my eyes. And for a brief moment, within them i had seen a flickering purple light. A Demon. i flinched at his sudden gaze. "I apologize" i said. "That was rude of me. i was merely thinking of your situation." he eyed me cautiously, the purple glow now gone from his eyes. "It's okay." he replied. "I understand how strange i must seem, or how alike to a brigand. I didnt take offense." I nodded my thanks and returned to eating, though the food now lost it's taste it seemed. A demon. for over 20 years i had wandered the land as a priest, and i had never once encountered one. i felt a surge of bile in my gut as the panic hit my nerves. What if he harms the innocent inn folk? or i lose track of him and he goes into a town wreaking havoc? I contemplated if i should attack him now, my longsword was still sheathed at my side. i could draw it easily. but it would drag the inn folk into the skirmish, and also, if Lucien is possessed, he is a victim as well. If he were the demon himself, his eyes would be violet. but there was only a flicker within his eyes, meaning it was likely a case of possession. Unsettled and feeling nauseated, I finished what i could of my food and took my much needed bath, then i accompanied Lucien to our room. We did not say much aside from bidding one another goodnight, and as i laid down to sleep, Lucien's breathing not sounding quite asleep from his bunk across the room, i could not shake the feeling that i had stepped onto a long road that i could not turn away from.