Once again, Holden and the others found themselves trekking through the marshlands south of Chrimoria on their way to the Hollows, except this time they were all carrying paper bags full of groceries in hand. They were filled with raw meats, vegetables, and fruits of all kinds from a store that was open all night which Naomi had recommended to them.


    It was a couple hours from sunrise when they returned to Shayfield. The place seemed dead. There were no rowdy bandits in the tavern like last time, nor had any of Shayfield’s other dubious residents returned. This made it easy for them to pass through town.


    Holden had only been to Leanna’s place once before, but it had left quite the impression on him. She lived in an old clinic, and apparently was the closest thing to a doctor in all of Shayfield. Not that anyone would go to her unless they had no other choice.


    The clinic itself was a building made of stone like all the others in town. It had two floors above ground. Plus, a large basement below where Leanna conducted her experiments. Holden had seen it before. The basement had plenty of medical equipment, cadavers, and a lot of weird ingredients which Holden assumed was for potions.


    Holden informed the others of this so they wouldn’t be taken off guard. However, Sable’s curiosity left him with several questions. “What do you mean by weird ingredients?”


    Holden cringed at the question. “Toad eyes, snake poison sacks, bird bladders. That kind of weird.”


    Sable gagged. “I regret asking.”


    “You’re about to regret coming.” Holden knocked on the door of the clinic. Leanna opened the door slightly and poked her head out, looking at Holden and the others with her usual deadpan expression. She didn’t say anything, so Holden started the conversation. “Leanna, I brought everything you asked for.”


    Leanna saw the bags of groceries, and gestured for everyone to come inside. The front room of the clinic was mostly empty. The only thing of note was the wooden counter, which served as the reception area for the clinic.


    “Just leave them on the counter,” Leanna said. “I’m assuming there’s something else you want.”


    “What gave you that idea?” Holden asked.


    Leanna glanced over all of the others who came with Holden. “You brought your friends with you. And you’re back before sunrise. That means you came back as quickly as possible because you need something.”


    “I guess I shouldn’t be surprised.” Holden then dug the delirium out of his pocket. “Have you ever seen these before?”


    The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.


    “Delirium,” Leanna said, giving the stones a quick glance. “I’ve experimented with them as an ingredient in potions before. Didn’t really work out.”


    “Dare I ask what you were trying to use them for. Where’d you find them?”


    Leanna gestured for everyone to follow her outside. She then pointed off to the west. “There’s a cave filled with delirium about a mile outside of town. A lot of people avoid it, because of the stone’s side effects.”


    “Side effects?”


    “Too much exposure can cause one to go insane. Some people started hearing voices. Others saw things that weren’t there. The residents of the Hollows say the place is cursed.”


    “And you risked going there?”


    “There are ways to defend against its effects. I kept up a constant healing spell. The thin layer of magic reduced the effects. I wasn’t in there for very long, though.”


    “Great,” Sable said, clicking his tongue. “We’re dealing with a place that literally induces madness. Anyone know how we’re supposed to counteract that?” The cait-sith then looked at Atticus. “One of us is already on the verge of a psychotic break.”


    Atticus grumbled. “He isn’t wrong.”


    Everyone felt a sudden chill as if a cold breeze just blew by them. Leanna then nodded her head. “Morlax says he’ll accompany you. He’s already used up much of his energy dealing with those bandits and Leudox thugs. But he should have enough to keep you safe from the delirium’s effects.”


    “Morlax,” Holden said with a curious gaze. “You mean that wraith of yours? He wants to help?”


    “Yes. He says he likes you guys. Or at least he finds you all entertaining.”


    Sable hunched his back out of fear. “So, the ghost likes us.”


    “Wraiths aren’t ghost,” Leanna said. “They’re the accumulation of dense amounts of magic created when several mages die in a single place. All the magic contained within their bodies converges creating a spiritual like being. They have nothing to do with the dead.”


    “Then why are they considered the undead?”


    “They often absorb the memories and personalities from the mages who’s magic created them. It’s a terrible misconception. But I guess I can see how the ignorant might mistake them or the soul of the lost.


    “Morlax is an accumulation of several mages who died in the conflict to control the Hollows. Maybe that has something to do with why he wants to help you, too. The three powers vying for control of this place likely want access to the delirium mine.”


    Holden smirked proudly at Leanna’s words. It validated his theory that someone from either the Arclight Kingdom, or Lamyros was the one collaborating with the Leudox to kidnap Elliandra. Though that smirk became a frown once he thought about his friends. “I say we’ve stood around talking long enough. We’ll gladly accept Morlax’s help. Now lets get going to that mine already.”