[MiF] Ch.2 - Glimpse into the Shadow

As the shadows engulfing her room gradually gave way to the gentle morning sunlight, Neo began to stir. She finally woke up after a long night of deep slumber, while the strange, almost disturbing dream still lingered in her mind. It robbed her of that well-rested feeling she craved so much after the previous day's adventure. Rubbing her tired eyes, she sat up in bed, trying to recall the blurred images that had revealed themselves to her subconscious. The mask, the tar. She could still see them clearly. The fragments of her visions continued to swirl in her memories, only posing countless unanswered questions. For now, her childlike creativity simply filled in every blank, leaving her with a slight uneasiness, yet also intrigue.

Hoping to return to her treasure later that day, Neo set about her morning routine. After getting dressed in her usual linen garb, accompanied by a short, cyan cape wrapped around her shoulders, she followed the sweet scent of breakfast downstairs and joined her mother in the kitchen.

Martha was busy preparing a pot of savory oatmeal on the hearth, spreading warmth and an inviting aroma in the spacious living area. Clad in a simple, earth-brown dress, with an apron tied around her waist, Neo's mother consistently stirred the pot. Freshly cut slices of fruit and berries had already been placed on the table, waiting to add their sweetness to the lovely meal. Martha's long brown hair, which cascaded down her back in a single thick braid, swayed gently from side to side as she moved around the room. At first, she did not notice Neo right away. But when she finally did, Martha greeted her daughter with a warm smile.

"Good morning, Neo. Sleep well?" Martha chimed cheerfully, looking at Neo with slight concern as she noticed her daughter's distant expression.

Neo hesitated for a moment. Her eyes wandered along the lines in between the stone tiles of the kitchen floor. The dream had been so vivid, too unsettling to easily forget.

"I... I had a really strange dream," she admitted, her voice soft.

Martha paused in her cooking, took the pot off the fire, and turned to face her daughter. "Oh my, you look quite tired. What did you dream about? Does it still worry you?" she asked in an attempt to comfort the girl.

Neo swallowed, the images still too clear, too alive. "It's just... it felt so real… I don't know," she began, struggling to find the proper words to describe what she had seen. "I was in a place I've never seen before, and there was this...this black goo everywhere."

Martha patted her daughter's head. "Black goo? I think your mind was just trying to play a mean little trick on you. Dreams can be unsettling sometimes, but they can't harm you, dear."

Neo nodded, trying to shake off the lingering discomfort. "You're right. I guess it means nothing."

Martha smiled reassuringly, her deep blue eyes sparkling with love as she served breakfast. "Why don't you sit down and have some oatmeal? Its warmth will awaken your spirit."

As Neo took a seat at the wooden table and picked up her spoon, she could not help but wonder if her dream held any deeper meaning or if it was truly just a trick of her imagination. Whatever the answer might have been, for now, she was distracted by the delicious meal and the soothing presence of her mother. Her unease gradually faded away, just like the darkness disappeared with the increasing morning light.

Throughout the day, Neo continued to attend to her usual tasks. She helped her mother with chores around the house and gardens, while always listening to Martha's countless remarks about the importance of her beloved medicinal herbs. Together, they prepared mixtures of tea, brewed potent medicine, and picked aromatic flowers from the gardens to let them dry in small bundles in the attic.

Arick had left the evening prior, probably spending the day at the miner's lodge to fix some tools and smoke well-earned pipes with the other men. Grandma Unna, not known for being a morning person, eventually joined Neo and Martha in the living room. She was always quietly sensing the two, while her face stayed hidden behind her gray hair and the hood of her brown cloak. Whatever the work at hand currently was, every so often, Neo's mind kept drifting. It wandered back to the dream. To her ancient mask that still rested inside her tree.

In the late afternoon, when all the daily chores had been completed, Martha stepped out of the house. She carried freshly brewed medicine for an ailing elderly woman in the neighborhood.

"I'll be back later. Have fun," she spoke, before closing the front door behind her.

"See you," Neo answered, now free to play and enjoy the rest of the day. Finally, she saw the opportunity to visit her secret treasure.

With quick, eager steps, she left the living room downstairs through the small back door, walking onto the soft grass of the backyard towards the hollow Linden tree. Neo approached the natural crevice within the aged trunk cautiously and peeked inside. The gleaming mask revealed itself to her, still waiting for its new owner in undisturbed splendor. There she felt it again, that unexplainable pull towards the enigmatic object. Her thoughts remained locked on the Artifact, wondering what secrets lay behind its sinister-looking eyes. Could there really be a connection between the surreal dream and her grandmother's unusual words from the previous day? She had to find out.

Neo knelt down on the patch of moss that surrounded the gnarled roots, and she carefully reached for the relic inside the tree. As her small fingers wrapped around the mask's flawless edges, touching the cool and smooth surface of the Artifact, it rekindled that same intense fascination she had felt when she had first discovered it. Neo lifted the mask out of her hideout and stared into its empty eyes in complete silence. She was mesmerized and anxious in equal measure. It was as if the mask held a spirit of its own. Something bound within it was reaching out to her with an ever-increasing strength.

At first, she hesitated. A part of her wished to put it back, even return it to the grave of its long-lost former owner, to pretend she had never found it. But the other part, the one that was filled with insatiable curiosity, whispered to put it on, to see the world through its mysterious eyes.

After a long, contemplative moment, Neo's curiosity ultimately prevailed. As if commanded by the Artifact itself, she raised it to her face. Her bright blue eyes slowly aligned with the mask's vacant gaze. The material felt light as a feather, defying the natural heaviness of any metal known to her. No matter familiar to humans could have possibly gone into forging this Artifact, she thought. With her hands slightly trembling, Neo took a deep breath. She finally placed the mask over her face, tightly.

In an instant, the world around her dissolved. The once-familiar backyard, with its blossoming flowers and sturdy trees, began to spin. It morphed into a blurry nothingness while a wave of darkness spread toward Neo with an unstoppable force. She gasped in panic. Suddenly, Neo felt herself falling through the ground beneath her into a pitch-black unknown.

What followed were rapidly shifting visions. Through the eyes of the mask, an overwhelming deluge of fragmented images and brief scenes revealed itself. Neo's eyes opened to realize she was in the form of a woman. A woman that she instinctively recognized as her future self. In her bloody hands, she clutched a blade that was dripping crimson mixed with black tar, the very same ominous substance she had encountered in her dream the previous day.

She averted her gaze in repulsion, but the visions simply continued. Neo then found herself transported to a dimly lit chamber that resembled the living room she called home. Yet now, something felt different. The air was heavy with sorrow.

"My Neo, I love you," her mother whispered, her voice quivering with heartbreaking emotion. "Whatever might happen, always remember that."

Martha, looking seemingly older, stood by the door, her tears glistening in the feeble light. Neo watched as her older self embraced her mother long and tightly. She wished to stay in this very moment, to find out what was going on, but her request was denied.

The visions shifted yet again. They became increasingly incomplete, the vague images now flashing before her eyes for mere seconds to see. She caught a glimpse of someone placing the mask on the very grave where Neo had found it. She saw faces she recognized, and others she did not, interrupted by monstrous screams, vast views of cities in ruin, poisoned wastelands, and raging battles. Neo was unable to tell whether the events she was witnessing were taking place in the past or the future, nor did she know if they were memories of her own, or of strangers from long-forgotten times. While the relentless torrent of images kept flowing, a dull pain in her chest kept growing stronger with every passing second. It made her small hand wander to her heart in an attempt to comprehend the source of this increasing ache.

Another rapid vision, even more chilling, overcame her. Visible only for a split second, a grotesque, pitch-black figure lunged from the darkness. It swung its shadowy arm at Neo in a fluent, vicious motion. She was abruptly thrust onto the hard and unforgiving floor, and the ongoing ache in her chest quickly turned into an intense agony. Pain surged through her, she wanted to scream, to cry out for help, but her voice was silenced by the suffocating nothingness she was trapped in. Neo's horrified gaze fell to her chest in disbelief. She found a wound. It was not bleeding, it was oozing black tar. Her shivering hands reached for her head. They found the mask, and, with urgency, she clutched it tightly. All she wished for now, was to tear it off and end this nightmare.

In a flash of blinding light, the visions abruptly ceased. Neo screamed. She tore the mask from her face, tossing it aside while her entire body still trembled with terror. She lay flat on the grass, tears streaming down her cheeks. Her mind was reeling from the harrowing prophecies that she could hardly comprehend. Next to her, silent and indifferent to her distress, lay the mask. The decision to wear it had already been made, and it appeared to have opened the door to something that she should have never chosen to face.

Grandmother Unna, alerted by her granddaughter's screams, quickly stepped out into the backyard. She hurried to Neo's side as fast as she could with the support of her sturdy wooden cane.

"Neo! What happened? Are you hurt?" she asked with great worry.

But Neo was incapable of describing the imagery and horrors she had just witnessed. All she could manage was a choked sob. The girl's hands quickly clung to her grandmother, tears blurring her vision. Unna's presence began to slowly but surely calm the storm of Neo's thoughts, offering her a sense of protection that she desperately longed for at this moment. The elderly woman extended a comforting hand, the gentle touch warming Neo's cheek. She gazed up at her grandmother, her innocent blue eyes still filled with remnants of fear.

"Grandma…" Neo began slowly, her voice trembling, "I wore this old mask, and I saw something... something evil."

With hesitation, Neo sat up and handed the mask to her grandmother. The girl's hands nervously avoided any prolonged contact with the shining material. Fear had taken a grip on her young heart, and her grandmother felt it clearly. As Unna's fingers began to explore the sharp contours of the Artifact, her sightless eyes widened.

After a few seconds that seemed to stretch into an eternity, Unna finally spoke. "Child, this mask... Where did you find it?"

Neo tried to calm herself down, wiping away the tears that kept flowing from her eyes. "In the forest… an old grave," she said. "It was as if the mask was calling to me, so I took it. I shouldn't have…."

Her grandmother's brows furrowed and her expression grew more serious. "A grave in the forest, you say? I have never sensed anything like this before. You have discovered something extraordinary."

Unna's touch, both gentle yet firm, continued to brush over the Artifact's pristine surface. Her wrinkled hands took note of every detail they could find, all while her pale eyes stared directly into the hollowness of the mask. It was as if she could perceive its hidden spirit through her otherworldly ability. Her own way of seeing, a unique sensitivity to the unseen forces of the world. It temporarily left Unna speechless. The properties of the Artifact in her hands were beyond her own understanding. She was sure, however, that there was a great force bound within this mask.

Following a prolonged pause, her aged lips moved slowly while her face displayed a mix of emotions. "This is more than an ordinary old mask. It carries a flame within, burning stronger than anything I have ever witnessed in my long life."

Neo, still slightly trembling from the remnants of her nightmarish visions, asked with a quivering voice. "What… what do you mean?"

Unna's fingers lingered on the mask to slowly guide along its perfect edges. "The tales of ancient relics from the world that existed long before us. This mask might be one of those forgotten spiritual remnants. I can sense its light clearly. It glows with the same fire as the souls within our hearts. It feels alive."

Neo's hand moved to her chest, recalling the terrible pain that had plagued her. "You mean the Light? If it's not evil, then why did it show me those terrible things? Why did it try to hurt me?"

"The Light may reveal what we must see, not necessarily what we wish to see. I know what it feels like. Whatever you have glimpsed, Neo, I doubt you are fully prepared to grasp its true nature," Unna spoke with her elderly wisdom.

Neo had heard the vague stories of Unna's gift before but had so far been withheld the exact details by the elderly lady. All the young girl knew was that her ability had been present ever since her childhood and it allowed her to observe the spiritual realm.

The old lady's tone then became more warning as she continued. "You must be careful handling this mask, let alone wearing it. The world beyond is too dangerous. Look what it has done to me."

"W-will the same happen to me?" Neo asked fearfully.

"Never attempt what I did," Unna answered, her aged features suddenly showing a distinct sadness.

After a short thoughtful break, the wise woman continued. "I learned to control my sight by trial and error. But ever since the day my sister died, it pulled me in with greater force. I failed to resist. I wanted to see her again… just once."

Neo listened in silence as her grandmother kept telling her fateful story. "I delved too deep, and my wish blinded me," Unna explained. "All that remained was my feeble ability to sense souls in the darkness that took me. I swore to never see the beyond again."

The young girl shivered, doubts swirling in her mind, all while her youthful face was etched with concern. "I-I don't have a gift like this. The mask made me do it," she answered. "You think it's a real Artifact?"

"It has to be," her grandmother answered with certainty.

"Then w-what should I do now?" Neo continued, her helplessness evident. "I'm scared. I should've never taken this cursed mask."

Unna's fingers paused for a moment as she took a deep breath, her expression pensive. "Fear is a natural response to the things we cannot understand," she spoke. "Please, promise me one thing... promise me that you will never speak of this mask to anyone. Not to the neighbors, nor the Watchmen. Your young spirit is not ready to handle such an object, and we must hide it where no malevolent soul will ever find it."

Neo nodded. "I promise, Grandma… I don't want to wear it ever again."

Unna's hand gently brushed against Neo's cheek once more, her touch warm and comforting. "Perhaps, one day, your spirit will be prepared to understand what you have seen."

Although comforted by her grandmother's words, Neo could not shake off the unease that had gripped her since the unsettling event. "I don't want to… no."

"That choice is yours to make when you are older, my child," Unna spoke with understanding as Neo voiced her fears. She patted her granddaughter's shoulder gently. "Come, get up and calm your heart. I know where we can secure this mask."

Neo agreed. With her grandmother's supportive presence, they both stood up from the velvety grass. Unna cradled the mask close to her chest, leading the way. Together, the two retreated back into the welcoming safety of their home, entering through the wooden back door with a faint creak. The spacious living room invited them with the soothing aroma of herbs that Martha had left drying by the hearth. Unna, relying on her senses and memorized knowledge of the cottage's layout, ascended the staircase, with Neo following closely behind her.

They walked to the end of the small corridor on the first floor. Their destination was clear now, it was her grandmother's bedroom. With a tender push, the elderly lady opened the door. The small, softly lit space where Unna spent much of her time had always sparked Neo's curiosity. The room was comfortable, filled with a neatly placed assortment of knick-knacks, alongside a few old wooden chests of various sizes. Dust motes danced in the scarce light as her grandmother crouched down and carefully opened one of the larger chests among those resting on the floor.

Neo's eyes widened in fascination. She peered into the assortment within, and it was filled with endless curiosities. Little stone statues, scrolls of ancient prayers, and ornate silver jewelry. They all were remnants of Unna's days as an active village priestess. The young girl watched as her grandmother carefully concealed the mask in a piece of aged linen cloth, making sure it was well hidden within the rough fabric. Unna felt the wrapped mask in her weathered hands one final time before she placed it inside the chest with utmost care. It was now nestled among the countless other objects from distant times. The mysterious mask was ready to become one with the elderly lady's precious memories.

"This chest holds many objects of spiritual value. From now on, it shall safeguard your mask as well," Unna explained.

Neo nodded, acknowledging the significance of their decision. Though some part of her wished to keep the treasure she had found, the mask had also taught her to respect, even fear it. It was gone for good now. Hidden away, in a place known only to the two of them. When she witnessed the Artifact disappear, Neo took a deep breath, her unease slowly subsiding. She could not help but feel slight relief as her grandmother fully sealed the chest right in front of her.

With that, they both left the chamber. Neo cast one last glance at the dusty wooden container before her grandmother closed the door to her bedroom. Unna stepped by Neo's side, her sightless eyes reflecting a deep sense of understanding for her granddaughter's emotions.

The elderly lady appeared satisfied with their choice. "Let it remain there, hidden from sight. It can no longer haunt you, my dear."

"Thank you," Neo answered with a grateful nod.

They descended the stairs, the sun outside already dipping below the mountains and casting its beautiful golden light through the windows. Deep down, Neo still feared the visions the mask had revealed to her. She wondered whether they would terrify her again during her slumber that night. Yet, she quickly resolved to banish those memories from her mind, to not give them a chance to return. Having trust in the wise words and actions of her grandmother, Neo finally allowed herself to feel a sense of relaxation. She let out a long, weary sigh. At least the mysterious mask was hidden away now, she thought, waiting to be forgotten – or so Neo fervently hoped.