Chapter 4 — Into the Mist

Mirra

The moon hung heavy in the sky, a pale, luminous orb veiled by the perpetual mist. Its ethereal glow seeped through the forest canopy, casting long, skeletal shadows over the gnarled roots and tangled underbrush. Tonight, the mist felt heavier, as though the forest itself conspired to obscure my path. The village bells tolled their mournful cadence, echoing through the still air and marking the beginning of the ritual.