Chapter 261 - The Wailing of a Witness (1/2)
”There seems to be something wrong at the docks…my son works there you see, and…well those that return seem to feel like there is something there. Something watching, waiting. Something Ominous…”
To anyone else, the woman's words may have seemed like needless worrying. But to Devina, who'd woken with a sense of loss in her purpose, it had sounded like a promise.
”Like a dark sort of shadow…”
The term had instantly drawn interest from the young Spark. And so, that evening, when they had finished their meal, Devina and her six Paladin separated out to different parts of the dock yards in hopes of discovering that this 'shadow' was more than met the eye.
The sun set, the regular movements of a city day coming to an end were followed. Those finishing work and going home. Those taking rooms at inns, regulars making their way to their preferred taverns and other, arguably more pleasurable, places. But, even as the only lights left in the city were that of the moon and the lamp lights, Devina could not seem to find the shadow that the woman had spoken of.
”Perhaps we should head back to the church, Priestess,” Aina suggested as it drew later into the night. Despite Devina's insistence that she could look after herself, her Paladins refused to leave her alone outside of her personal quarters.
”Not yet,” Devina replied, ”That woman said that she could feel it. Her, with no attachment to the Mist. It must be something more obvious. Something I'm missing”.
Aina sighed, ”Or it could just be the worries of a mother for their children”.
Devina ignored Aina as she continued to look out onto the street from where she leaned against one of the buildings. The White Robes that both her and Aina wore did not exactly allow them to blend in, but they were never mistaken for brothel whores on their stakeouts. Devina had heard a story of one of the other Priestesses wishing to go unnoticed only to have that mistake be thrust upon her. It was quite the awkward trial for both her and the men involved.
”We stay. At least for a few more hours,” Devina eventually spoke.
Aina sighed, ”Then please remain here, Priestess, I will inform the others quickly”.
A Shadow. She thought to herself, a feeling like a dark shadow...
As she cast her thoughts over what it could possibly be, two young women passed by whom both nodded to her respectfully. She nodded back, smiling warmly despite her mouth and nose being hidden behind her scarf. She watched them keep walking down the street with a sigh. Then she suddenly shivered, a chill coming past her. Only it was no sea breeze. This chill came from the Mist. A Mist that was positively filled with...wrongness.
Devina frowned, her senses suddenly sharpening on it just as she felt Aina return.
”Priestess-”
”Do you feel that?” asked Devina.
Aina paused instantly, hesitating before expanding her own senses. She frowned deeply, ”Why does the Mist feel so...wrong?”
”Like a shadow,” Devina spoke aloud, ”The source, we need to find the source”.
Aina's eyes widened, ”Ah, yes, Priestess”.
She nodded her head, then immediately moved to focus her attention on her senses, on her connection with the Mist just as Devina did. The two stood in silence, following the trails of the wrongness in the Mist ever so delicately. As if a single touch would taint their own Holy gifts.
The wrongness, Devina ascertained, seemed to be remaining just as still and vigilant as they were, only there was a purpose there. One that had been what made Devina shiver. She had never been on a hunting trip before, but she suddenly imagined that she felt no different to prey facing the eyes on it's predator.