The Elderlight Stone

The river flowed slowly beside them, its surface rippling gently under the weak moonlight. Oliver trudged along the bank, his boots sinking slightly into the wet earth with each step. His head still ached from the cold impact with the water, and his body felt like it had already been through a hundred battles. Every part of him screamed with exhaustion, but he pushed forward. He wasn’t sure where he was going anymore, but he knew it had to be somewhere—anywhere that might lead him to safety, to his missing friends.

Beside him, Mali walked in silence. The glowing orb of green energy flickered beside her, illuminating her path in the otherwise darkened forest. She moved with a quiet grace, her tattered cloak brushing the ground as she stepped carefully over rocks and branches. Her face was set in that same neutral expression, and despite the miles of silence between them, Oliver found himself feeling oddly comforted by her calm presence. She didn’t seem afraid, and that was something he couldn’t quite understand.

After what felt like hours of walking, the river began to widen, its current growing slower as it spread across a broad, shallow section of land. The water lapped at the edges of the bank, pulling at the long grasses, but here it was still. The river was at its widest, and it didn’t seem as dangerous as it had further upstream.

“We can cross here,” Mali said suddenly, breaking the silence. She stopped, turning to look at the water.

Oliver squinted at the river ahead, his mind still clouded from the previous ordeal. "Is this... is this the way to Gloom?"

Mali’s gaze lingered on the river for a moment longer before she turned her head toward him. “We’re closer to the Spine now than Gloom,” she said, her voice even, almost indifferent.

Oliver blinked, startled. “What? No, that doesn’t make sense. I wasn’t in the water that long. How are we closer to the Spine?” His stomach churned with confusion.

Mali looked at him, her expression unreadable. “The river doesn’t move at a steady pace. It moves in different directions and speeds, depending on where it is. Time itself bends with it. The farther you’re carried, the further away you become, even when you think you’re going in a straight line. You could be carried far from your intended path and still not know it.”

Oliver frowned, trying to make sense of what she was saying. The river, time bending, moving at different speeds? None of it made sense, yet, there was an odd certainty in her words, like she knew this reality intimately. He was impressed how calm this woman was looking for her family in such a strange place as the Breach.

“So, you mean... we’re not even close to where we thought we were?” he asked, trying to ground himself in the conversation.

“Exactly,” she replied, then motioned toward the wide, shallow section of water. “But we’re close enough here to cross without getting swept away.” Her tone was practical, as if this whole thing were a simple matter, as if the bending of time and space didn’t bother her in the slightest.

Oliver wasn’t sure whether to feel relieved or even more unsettled. But he had no choice. He had to keep moving forward. He needed to find Lilith, Fernwyn, and somehow survive this madness.

Without further hesitation, he followed her toward the river. The water was cool against his boots, the current gentle against his legs. They waded through the shallow water, the coolness sinking into his bones and washing away the lingering pain from his encounter with the tanglebeasts.

As they reached the far side, Mali glanced up at the distant mountains, their jagged peaks looming against the fading light of the moon. “We’ll have to climb,” she said, already beginning to turn toward the steep incline ahead.

Oliver, looking up at the towering mass of stone, felt a chill run through him. The mountains seemed almost otherworldly; their peaks so high that they pierced the very clouds. Their dark silhouettes against the dimming sky felt ominous, like a great, towering presence in the distance. It would be dangerous to climb them. But he didn’t have a choice.

“Where exactly are we going?” he asked, his voice a little hoarser than he would’ve liked.

“Up into the mountains,” Mali replied, “To the Elderlight Stone. It will get us closer to Gloom without risking the dangers of Vexmore or The Vein.”

“Elderlight Stone?” Oliver repeated, confusion written across his face. He didn’t know much about the area, but the name sounded old, powerful. It sounded dangerous.

“Yes.” She didn’t explain further but began to climb, moving nimbly over the rocky terrain, the green orb floating just above her shoulder, guiding her steps.

Oliver followed behind her, his legs protesting with each step. The path they were following was narrow and winding, the ground uneven, and the space between the rocks cramped. The mountains seemed to close in around them, dark and forbidding. The shadows stretched as the moon continued to fade behind the towering peaks into its night cycle. As they climbed higher, the air grew colder and sharper. The further they went, the less he could see, his vision beginning to blur into the growing darkness.

Oliver stumbled once, nearly losing his balance as he tried to steady himself against a rocky outcrop. He hadn’t realized how exhausted he was until he tried to move. His body was on fire with exhaustion, and his breathing came in short, painful gasps. But still, he climbed, his fingers scraping against the stone as he reached for another hold.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, he heard Mali’s voice in the silence. “We’re almost there.”

Oliver looked up, seeing nothing but the outline of the mountain above him. He couldn’t tell if they were near the top or if there was more to go. But then, as if on cue, a faint green light appeared in front of them, floating above the ground. It flickered like a distant star, illuminating the path before them.

“Follow the light,” Mali said softly, and Oliver did.

The light was steady now, swirling around her in a lazy orbit. He followed its soft glow, each step feeling like it brought him closer to something ancient, something forgotten. It was like stepping into the very heart of the mountains, where the world was old and silent, where time itself seemed to pause.

The climb continued for what felt like hours, the path narrowing, the rocks growing more jagged and uneven. The further they climbed, the darker it became. Oliver’s body was numb with fatigue, every muscle aching in protest.

Then, just when he thought he couldn’t go any further, the path opened up before them, and they stumbled into a small, secluded clearing. The air was cool and still, and at the center of the clearing stood the remnants of what looked like an ancient temple. Only the pillars remained, crumbling with age, their surfaces worn smooth by time. The ruin was beautiful in its decay, a testament to something long lost.

In front of the ruins, there was a carved stone pool, filled with rich blue water that shimmered even in the faint light. The water seemed almost alive, as though it was breathing.

Mali moved toward the pool. She kneeled at the edge and began to undress, her movements fluid and practiced. “Come,” she said over her shoulder. “The water will help align our energies so we can pass through the Elderlight Stone safely.”

Mali removed her blouse and revealed a plain gray bra. She untied it and let it fall to the ground, revealing her breasts. Oliver's breath caught in his throat as he stared at her and then pretended to cough and look away realizing he had just been transfixed. When he glanced back, she then began to unbutton her skirt, and Oliver could see the outline of her hips and thighs through the thin, worn fabric. His heart pounded in his chest as he watched her. When was the last time he had seen anything like this? It was when Lilith had flashed him on his last visit. It was hard not to feel like a letch as she undressed with zero care that he was there.

Finally, Mali removed her skirt and stepped out of it, revealing her bare legs and the soft curve of her hips. The peasant girl was stunning, and he couldn't help but feel a sense of awe at the beauty of the human form.

She then waded into the pool, her silver hair glistening in the moonlight that had broken over the mountains and the water lapped at her skin. Oliver watched her, mesmerized, as she submerged herself completely. He could see the way the water clung to her body, highlighting every curve and contour.

Oliver stood frozen for a moment, unsure what to do. The air was thick with an otherworldly presence, and he wasn’t sure if he could trust what was happening. But he had little choice.

With a sigh, he stripped off his clothes and stepped into the pool. The water was cold at first, but as he sank deeper into it, he felt a strange warmth spread through his body, a soft hum of energy that seemed to resonate with his very bones. His body relaxed, and for the first time in what felt like days, he felt something close to peace.

The two submerged themselves in the water. She closed her eyes and began to chant in a low, guttural language that sent a shiver down Oliver’s spine. The air around them seemed to thrum with the power of her words, and the water rippled, glowing with a soft, ethereal light.

When they emerged from the water, both were dripping but he felt better. The exhaustion was still there but something was different. Oliver felt lighter, as though some weight had been lifted from him.

Mali quickly dressed, her face focused, her eyes gleaming with a quiet intensity. Oliver followed suit re-putting on his clothes and the armor he had been given. She turned toward the ruins, her gaze locked onto something in the distance. She approached one of the crumbling pillars and reached out to touch a black stone embedded within it. The stone was smooth, but it flickered with a faint purple light, as if it were alive and responding to her. The space between the pillars flashed and a twisting dark purple light filled the space as if angry and lapping at anything that got near it.

Without a word, Mali took Oliver’s hand, muttered a dark incantation, her voice low and filled with power. Her eyes were glowing green and then she stepped through bringing him with her.