The forest thinned by midday, giving way to a valley shrouded in rolling mist. From a distance, Iris thought it was another phantom trick of the shadows, some mirage meant to lure them deeper into danger. But as they drew closer, faint shapes emerged: rooftops, bridges, the glimmer of water catching sunlight.
A village, hidden away as though the world had forgotten it.
Luna exhaled in relief. Her hand was still entwined with Iris's, her grip steady, but Iris could feel the exhaustion in her trembling fingers.
"Do you think it's real?" Iris asked softly.
Selene scanned the horizon, her hand resting on her sword hilt. "It's real. The question is whether it's safe."
---
A Sanctuary in Shadows
When they entered, the villagers met them with wary eyes but not with hostility. Lanterns hung from wooden beams, swaying gently in the misty breeze, their flames warm and steady. Children peeked from behind doorways, clutching at their mothers' skirts, whispering about the strangers.
An elder woman stepped forward, her hair silver, her gaze sharp as glass. "Travelers," she said, her voice carrying authority. "You bring with you the scent of the shadows."
"We fought them," Luna said, her voice measured but firm.
"Few survive such encounters." The woman studied them, her eyes lingering on Iris before softening just slightly. "You may rest here. But know this—sanctuary does not last forever."
They were offered a small cottage at the edge of the village. The inside smelled of cedarwood and herbs, with a low fire crackling in the hearth. Iris all but collapsed onto the bedrolls laid out, the weight of days without rest finally pressing down on her.
Luna knelt beside her, brushing hair from her face. "Sleep. I'll keep watch."
"You need rest too," Iris whispered.
"I'll rest when you do." Luna kissed her forehead, lingering, as though imprinting the moment into memory.
---
Lantern Festival
By evening, the village came alive with soft music and laughter. Iris stirred awake to the glow of hundreds of lanterns being lit, their light scattering the mist like stars fallen to earth. She blinked in wonder as Luna tugged her gently outside.
"It's their festival," Luna explained, a rare smile breaking through the weight on her shoulders. "The elder said they light the lanterns every month to push the shadows back."
Iris's heart warmed at the sight of children laughing, couples strolling hand-in-hand, the air alive with joy instead of fear. For the first time in what felt like forever, she saw a glimpse of what peace could look like.
"Dance with me," Luna murmured suddenly.
Iris laughed softly, flustered. "I don't know how."
"Neither do I." Luna's eyes sparkled. She pulled Iris closer, one hand at her waist, the other holding her hand. Their movements were awkward at first, steps stumbling, but soon they found a rhythm that was all their own.
They twirled beneath the lanterns, Iris's laughter spilling into the night, Luna's rare, unguarded joy answering it. For a few stolen moments, the world beyond the mist didn't exist.
---
A Moment of Intimacy
When the music slowed, they slipped away from the crowd, finding a quiet bridge arching over a stream. The lanterns reflected in the water, glowing like constellations.
Luna leaned on the railing, her gaze fixed on Iris. "I don't remember the last time I felt… normal. Like this."
"Maybe this is what we're fighting for," Iris said softly. "Not just survival. But nights like this."
Luna reached out, pulling her close. Their lips met in a kiss that was both gentle and fierce, as though trying to hold onto this fleeting peace. Iris melted into her, her fingers brushing against Luna's jaw, memorizing every detail.
When they parted, their foreheads pressed together, Luna whispered, "I'll give you as many nights like this as I can. No matter what it takes."
---
Selene's Shadows
But peace didn't belong to everyone.
Selene stood at the edge of the festival, apart from the laughter and light. She didn't join the dance, didn't even step into the glow of the lanterns. Her eyes were fixed on the mist, where shadows curled at the edges, always watching.
Iris found her there later, her steps hesitant. "You don't have to be alone," she said softly.
Selene didn't turn. "I should be. It's safer that way."
"For who? You, or us?"
Silence stretched, taut as a bowstring. Then, almost too quietly, Selene whispered, "She loved lanterns. Seraphine. Said they looked like trapped stars."
Iris's breath caught. This was the most Selene had spoken of her.
"She believed light could guide anyone home," Selene continued, her voice raw. "I failed her. And now… she wears the dark instead."
Iris touched Selene's arm, gentle but steady. "Maybe that's why we're here. To remind her. To remind you."
For a moment, Selene's mask cracked, grief and longing flashing in her eyes. But she pulled away, retreating once more into silence.
---
The Infiltration
That night, Iris dreamt of lanterns dimming, one by one, until the village was swallowed in black. She woke with a start—and realized it wasn't a dream.
Smoke choked the air. Screams pierced the night. Outside, the lanterns were shattering, their flames extinguished by claws of shadow. The Woman in Black had found them.
Luna was already on her feet, sword drawn, her body tense with fury. Selene stood in the doorway, blade gleaming, her eyes like cold fire.
Iris grabbed her sketchbook, hands trembling but determined.
"We fight together," she said, her voice steady.
---
Iris's Revelation
As shadows surged through the mist, Iris's hand flew across the page. She sketched lanterns—hundreds of them—her lines frantic, desperate. And as the ink darkened, the air around them flickered with light.
Lanterns bloomed out of nothing, suspended in the air, their glow searing the shadows back.
The villagers gasped, rallying with renewed strength. Luna cut down the wraiths that slipped past the light, her movements fierce and precise. Selene's blade flashed like silver lightning, her rage silent but unstoppable.
But Iris felt something more. The sketches weren't just creating light—they were revealing it. She saw faint outlines within the mist, paths and shapes hidden to the eye. As if the world itself was layered, waiting for someone to peel it back.
And among those outlines, a figure—a woman cloaked in black, watching.
The Woman in Black. Seraphine.
Their gazes met across the mist. For a heartbeat, Iris swore she saw sorrow in those eyes. And then the vision shattered.
---
Aftermath
By dawn, the shadows had retreated. The village stood scarred, lanterns shattered, but not destroyed. Survivors clung to each other, grateful yet shaken.
Iris sat on the bridge, her sketchbook in her lap, staring at the pages she had filled. Lanterns, stars, fragments of something she didn't yet understand.
Luna sat beside her, her arm curling protectively around her shoulders. "You saved them."
Iris shook her head. "Not me. The light was already here. I just… drew it out."
Selene approached, her cloak torn, her expression unreadable. She looked at Iris for a long time before speaking.
"You saw her, didn't you?" Selene's voice was low, tight.
Iris hesitated, then nodded. "Yes."
Selene's jaw clenched. "Then she knows about you now."
The weight of those words pressed heavy on Iris's chest. But Luna's hand tightened on hers, grounding her.
"We'll face her," Luna said, her voice steel. "Together."
Selene looked away, but not before Iris caught the flicker of something in her eyes—fear, yes, but also a fragile hope.
The mist curled around the village once more, but now, Iris no longer saw it as suffocating. Somewhere within it, light was waiting to be found.
And she would draw it out, no matter the cost.