Down the narthex, chapel doors hung barely on their hinges. The faint light that spilled through the gaps was neither sun nor moon—just a pale, hazy glow that bled through.
Ren hesitated before pushing them open, his fingers brushing the cool wood, creaking and groaning like something long asleep being disturbed.
Eva followed close behind, her steps quiet, her closed eyes tilted slightly upward. The faint wind stirred her hair, carrying with it a scent she vaguely recognized—damp earth with a hint of something sweet beneath it.
"Do I-This smell..." Eva thought. "Is it flowers?"
They stepped out together, and the world outside changed.
The forest that had once been shrouded in black mist stood before them in shades of grey, the fog still present but much thinner. The darkened trees that stood high were now collapsed at the base, broken branches scattered along the ground. And along the path before them stood figures—dozens of them.
Men, women, children—the villagers.
Their faces were pale, their eyes milky white, their skin like wax.
They were just as he remembered.
The same figures from the village that had once stumbled through the fog like marionettes.
Ren's hand instinctively shot to Eva's shoulder, pulling her behind him.
"Stay close to me," Ren murmured.
She didn't argue with him, her hand finding the back of his cloak.
The villagers did not move. Only watched. Dozens of white eyes reflected the pale light.
Ren's throat tightened. The memory of them—the chase, the blood, the shrieks—still burned behind his ribs. He could almost hear them again.
And then—
One by one, the villagers fell to their knees.
Heads bowed deep.
Hands pressed together.
Even the smallest of them—a young girl with tangled hair and an empty stare—lowered herself, forehead almost touching the ground.
Ren locked up at the sight.
"…What the…"
Eva's head tilted slightly. "They're…bowing..." She whispered. "...to you?"
"But...why?" Ren muttered under his breath.
"They tried to kill me...tearing at my skin like beasts. So why? Why are they...kneeling?"
From the crowd, an elderly woman stepped forward.
Ren recognized her immediately—the same woman who'd spoken to him back in the village. The one who'd warned him to leave, before Mother claimed him. Her back was hunched, her hands clasped tightly around a wooden cane, and though her eyes were just as milky as the others, there was something alive behind them now. Something more aware.
She approached weakly, stopping only a few feet from him.
"…You…" She whispered, though it sounded as if it hurt for her to speak. "You came back."
The woman's lips trembled into the faintest smile.
"You've lifted it, haven't you?"
"Lifted what?" Ren responded quietly, unsure to trust so easily.
"The curse," She said, her voice shaking as she leaned heavier on her cane. "The one that bound us to this land. That kept us chained to her."
Eva's brow furrowed, her voice soft. "Her…?"
The woman's pale eyes flicked toward her. "…The Mother."
"Tell me then," The old woman said, shifting her attention back to Ren, her tone trembling between fear and hope, "Did you end her reign? Is she truly gone?"
He exhaled slowly, lowering his gaze to the cracked stones beneath his boots.
"She's gone..."
The old woman inhaled sharply, a fragile sound. Her shoulders shook once before she steadied herself. Then, with a trembling bow, she lowered herself to her knees before him.
"Then it's true…" She whispered, her voice breaking. "You defeated her...You've freed us! You freed these lands from her hunger. The Mother's hold on us has been broken…"
Ren opened his mouth to answer, but no sound came out.
He didn't know what word to use—defeat felt wrong. He hadn't defeated her in some heroic manner. He'd believed himself to have only survived her. And at least, barely.
Ren took an uneasy step back. "Freed you? No—I didn't—"
The woman clutched her cane tighter. "Thank you, young man. Thank you for freeing us."
Her words made him uncomfortable. He wasn't used to being thanked — especially not by the very ones who had once tried to kill him.
Eva turned toward him slightly, her eyes, though closed, seemed to search him.
"…Is that true?" She asked quietly. "That you killed her."
He looked away, toward the villagers still kneeling in the mist. He could still feel the warmth of Nocstella's blood, the resistance of her body when his blade had cut through.
"It was real. I know it was...I felt the resistance when I stabbed her. She is...dead."
The thought wasn't final for him, still unsure if it was real or not.
"I don't know if I ended anything," Ren finally spoke. "But she bled...I saw her die."
"Bled?" Eva tilted her head as she thought. "I didn't think that was possible."
The old lady stood, pushing herself up with her cane.
"Then perhaps the mist will fade in time. Maybe the land will heal...and the dead will rest."
Following the old woman's lead, the rest of the villagers rose to their feet.
"Why won't you come with us, children?" The old lady asked, gesturing for them to follow her. "There is much we must discuss."
Eva's lashes lowered slightly. "You want us to return with you?"
"Yes, child. You have given us our dawn." The old woman inclined her head. "We would like to compensate for your bravery, for as much as we can offer to you."
Ren thought about the offer. What he might learn from them, and also what he might endure.
He couldn't trust the old lady. Not yet, at least.
Her expression was gentle—too gentle for a face that had once screamed for his blood.
"I understand your feelings," Ren said carefully, his hand lowering from Eva's shoulder.
"But we're—"
"We'll go with you..." Eva interrupted softly.
Ren turned his head sharply, looking at her with disbelief.
"Eva?"
Her expression didn't change.
"If what she says is true, then there's something to learn here. Something important."
Ren stared at her for a moment before he leaned in slightly, lowering his voice. "You really think this is a good idea? You haven't seen what I've seen."
"They won't hurt us." Her voice was quiet, yet certain.
"And you're sure of that?"
A faint smile touched her lips. "You forget, Ren—I can feel things you can't."
He sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "Yeah, you're right..."
She tilted her head slightly toward him. "Just trust me, it'll be okay."
He hesitated, eyes darting between her and the villagers. Everything about this felt wrong.
But Eva was already walking forward, following the old woman.
The old lady smiled faintly, gesturing with her cane. "This way, please. The village is not far."
Ren scraped his boot against the stone and followed behind Eva.
He kept his eyes forward and alert; every instinct screamed that this was too calm.
Eva walked beside him, one hand held out, brushing through the thin layer of mist.
The path curved downward, opening into the mist village. The fog that once blanketed every corner now hung like thin gauze. The old woman led them through the central square. The well—once black and overflowing with corrupted ink-like water—now lay completely dry.
Villagers lined the paths, bowing their heads as they passed.
As Ren followed behind the group, he felt a warm mist on his neck.
The steed stood at his side.
Ren blinked, disbelief written all over his face. "You've got to be kidding me…"
The horse pressed its muzzle against his shoulder. Its breath was warm and heavy.
He couldn't feel comforted by its presence; a tired smile tugged at his lips.
"Guess you found your way back, huh?"
Ren raised a hand, rubbing along its mane.
The creature leaned into his touch, exhaling through its nostrils, its ear flicking once.
Eva turned toward the sound, her head tilted. "Is that?"
"Yeah," Ren answered. "The same horse from before."
The horse moved again—this time stepping closer to Eva, its nose brushing against her arm.
She let out a quiet, startled laugh as it nudged her hand again.
"It…tickles," She said quietly, a genuine smile forming on her lips.
Ren blinked, taken aback by the sound. It was rare—he couldn't even remember the last time he'd heard someone laugh like that. Ren took in the sight before him—the steed beside Eva.
The two things in this world that have stood by his side, even when he was scared and weak.
He looked around the village.
It was still quiet, but not the same way it was before.
It was no longer eerie but peaceful.
And Ren began to think that maybe, just maybe, everything would be okay.