They made good progress. Gareth didn’t seem like he would collapse again anytime soon. Jake would cast a worried glance in his direction from time to time. His mentor noticed and said, “Don’t worry, boy. After last night's good sleep, I feel much better.” Jake focused on the black veins slowly pulsing around Gareth's eye. He tightened his lips and walked forward.

  They arrived at a town. “I never came here,” commented Jake. His companion nodded, “It’s a bit off the main road, so not a lot of traffic. Still, it’s the biggest in the area. We will find what we need here.”

  They found an inn and rented a room. Jake was a bit surprised by the bulging coin pouch Gareth produced. When he saw the thief's gaze, he smirked, “Compliments of the Grandmaster.” The young man took it as an invitation and asked, “So what is your deal with the College and the Grandmaster?” The warrior frowned, pursed his lips, and pretended he didn’t hear. He did a poor job at that. Jake sighed, Fine, keep your secrets. I’ll keep mine. They finished their meal in silence.

  After the meal, they had a beer and then another. Gareth broke the silence and explained the next steps. They made some calculations and wrote a list of supplies. Then they went their own way to gather what they needed.

  It was night again. The two men were sleeping, or at least one of them was; the other was pretending. Jake got up, approached Gareth's bed, and brought his mentor back into the mist again. He looked at the black veins, slowly thinning under the pink mist. I still have one day before we’re in danger. The apprentice didn’t know what he would do after that. But he couldn’t let Gareth die.

  The next day, they left the city. Gareth walked with a spring in his step. Jake's face was pale. He dragged his feet more than he walked. Gareth looked at him with a raised eyebrow. “What’s the matter, boy? You didn’t sleep well?” Jake muttered, “I had nightmares.” His mentor patted his back. “Very understandable, the last few days have been intense.” He locked eyes with his apprentice. “But we have to move, boy, tired or not tired.” Jake smirked, “Sure thing, lead the way.”

  Later, they reached a village circled by a wooden palisade. “We will just pass through,” said Gareth. He winced, “Brace yourself, boy. People hardly get by here.” They stayed longer than planned. Neither Jake nor Gareth could ignore the weight of misery of the place. And even if it didn’t mean much, they did what they could to bring a bit of joy to the hopeless place.

  As they left the village, neither of them spoke. They were lost, each in their own nightmare. The spell was broken when they reached a fork in the road. Gareth froze. He looked in one direction, sorrow and anger seeping through his detached mask. Jake didn’t even try. He just asked, “Which way?” His mentor snapped back to reality and said, “There’s nothing for us over there. The only path forward is this one.” And he stepped onto the other path.

  As they walked deeper into the wilderness, their mood lit up, and they started chatting. Around the campfire, there were jokes, teasing, and laughter.

  As the last sparks from the embers were dying in their blue eyes, Jake asked, “Gareth?” The warrior didn’t look up, lost in his thoughts. “Mmmh?” Jake looked at the night sky, stars lighting up one by one. “Where are we going?” His mentor sucked air through his teeth but finally answered, “We’re going to see a friend. I think he can help us. He can help you.”

  During the night, Jake got up. He stealthily walked toward the snoring warrior and put a hand on his forehead. It was getting warmer. His mentor shivered under his touch. He felt under his hand the pulsating black tendrils digging deeper, sucking life away. Jake got up. His throat was dry, his palms sweaty. It’s the third night. Will they find us? Are they near? He pulled his hair and clenched his teeth. I’m crazy. What is the point if this monster finds us again? He decided that tonight he wouldn’t bring Gareth into the mist. His mentor would be fine, and they would stay safe. He lay on his mattress and fell into a light, disturbed sleep.

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  A howl startled Jake awake. He phased a few paces away, calling the mist to strengthen his fists. Scanning the area, he didn’t see any enemies. A low moan came from a shivering shape. He ran to Gareth's side. The man was convulsing, the black veins so big they looked like they would burst. His mentor's breath rattled, then he coughed. It sounded like silk being torn apart. A black liquid splattered on his clothes and the ground.

  Without thinking, Jake brought him into the mist. He focused on condensing as much pink fog as he could around Gareth, willing the corruption to go away.

  Hours crawled by, and Jake felt his heartbeat wouldn’t calm down. He forced it to. Then he listened for danger, for enemies, for the humming sound that would mean the hunters found them. But there was only silence. And the cold. The young man felt his body go numb. He couldn’t really tell where his hands finished and where the mist began. When he moved, it felt like the whole world was moving with him.

  Then he felt it, like a stranger’s hand caressing his skin. His hair stood on end. He listened intently, but still heard nothing. He focused on the feeling of the unwanted touch. It was not on his body, it was farther away, but he felt it: Slow steps, controlled movements, something dark and sharp. Then he heard it, the lowest humming possible, like someone holding a breath, like a presence would be felt in an empty room. They found us! How many of them? He extended his new mist sense. He couldn’t feel any other presence. Only one. I can take him!

  Leaving Gareth in the mist, Jake phased back into the real world. He crossed his arms and looked away, yawning. He didn’t need to look where the assassin was. He felt it. Ten steps, nine steps… The young man rubbed his eyes and stretched, letting out another yawn. Five steps, four steps… He took a deep breath. three steps, two steps… His left hand clenched the jewel hard. He felt through the air the dark edge thrusting toward his heart. Jake let the surge of mist take over; he phased above and beyond, where the material world didn’t exist. He ran back four steps, called as much mist as he could around his right fist. Then, he threw the attack with all his might and phased back. His fist connected with the hunter's neck, an explosion of swirling mist lit up the night. A sharp crack broke the silence. The corpse crumbled to the ground.

  A battle-ready Gareth phased back next to him. The warrior rapidly spun around, looking for a threat. Then he looked at the corpse. He saw the black dagger, small tendrils of smoke curling around it. His eyes grew wide, and he ran to Jake. “Are you alright? Did he cut you? He frantically inspected his apprentice's hands and arms. Jake sighed, “I’m fine, Gareth, I got lucky.”

  Gareth let out a slow breath. “Yes, you got lucky, dagger wielders are weak, but it’s tough to spot them when they stealth.” He took another breath and shook his head. “And you still had the presence of mind to hide me in the mist first.” A frown slowly appeared. “We should have fought together. Why did you send me in the mist?” Jake didn’t answer; he kicked a rock and clenched his teeth. The warrior froze, and his eyes grew wide. He stepped in front of the young man in all his towering power. “You took a tremendous risk, boy. How long has it been going on?” Jake looked at the ground and muttered, “Three nights.” Gareth nodded and ordered, “Then we run.” As they quickly gathered their gear, Jake whispered, “I’m sorry.” His mentor looked at him briefly before answering, “It’s alright, I would have done the same.” Then, as he put his backpack on, he added, shaking his head, “But I didn’t think you were that stupid.”

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