I took the most direct route through Briar’s Hollow, keeping a steady pace, conscious that the rest of the party were waiting beyond the village. The last thing I wanted was to compromise the mission because I lingered too long or brought them unnecessary attention. I passed through familiar roads, nostalgia creeping in as I recalled the various buildings, people and the scent of home.


    It really felt like I had never left.


    Braun, the baker, was out front arranging fresh loaves on a wooden pallet in front of his bakery, the rich aroma of freshly baked bread filled the air as I approached. His face broke into a wide grin as he spotted me.


    “Well, well! Look what the cat dragged in,” he called, dusting flour from his hands and wiping them on his apron. “Caden, my boy, where’ve you been? You look like you’ve been wrestling a bear!”


    I chuckled, rubbing the top of my left arm. “You’re not far off.”


    He raised an eyebrow but didn’t press further, handing me a small roll of bread. “Still warm. Consider it a welcome home present.”


    He paused for a moment, peering into his shop before quickly retreating to retrieve something. He came back with a full loaf wrapped in a paper bag.


    “For Edrin,” he said as he handed it to me. “The old bugger hasn’t been the same with you gone.”


    I nodded in thanks, taking it gratefully before continuing down the road.The roads themselves were a stark contrast to the Feywild, there was no artistry or construction aided by magic or exotic materials. The ground was dirt, well worn by animals and humans alike.


    As I passed the tavern, a familiar figure stood outside, wiping down a table. Lysandra - Lys to everyone in the village, she looked up as I approached.


    For years, we had been sweethearts, my anchor in an otherwise dull place. Her deep brown eyes met mine, and a warm smile tugged at her lips. She didn’t say anything, just lifted a hand in an easy wave.


    I returned the gesture, hesitating only briefly as I thought of what could have been. How different my life could be if we hadn’t separated. There was a lot of history between us, but we had both agreed that we wanted different things out of life.


    Edrin’s farm came into view before long. The fields were neatly tilled, the crops showed signs of careful upkeep. He must have found another farmhand - someone to take my place. I felt slightly guilty, Edrin had done so much for me. Especially after my parents passed away. But I was relieved to see he hadn’t been struggling.


    I climbed the small hill to his house, the air shifting subtly as I neared. Now that I could feel mana, I could sense something about Edrin’s cottage that had eluded me before now. There was a depth beyond what my eyes could see, like the roots of an ancient tree stretching far beneath the surface.


    I hesitated for a moment, unsure of what I would find inside before knocking firmly on the wooden door. A moment passed before it creaked open.


    Edrin was sat in the kitchen, hunched over the table, his gnarled fingers tending to a newly potted plant. His robes were as plain as ever, disheveled and well worn. His tangled grey hair was pulled back and his beard as tangled and uncontrollable as ever, the usual hint of mischief in his eyes tempered by his thoughts.


    He didn’t look surprised to see me.


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    “You’re late,” he said plainly, not even looking up as he adjusted the soil around the roots.


    I blinked. “Late for what?”


    “For today,” he said simply, as if that explained anything at all.


    He finally glanced up, his sharp gaze flickering past me to the doorway before settling back on my face. “Sit then. Tell me all about it.”


    I hesitated but took the chair opposite him. “You… I mean, what aren’t you telling me? What do you know?”


    Edrin let out a dry chuckle, shaking his head as he sat in his chair. Rummaging around the table to find his pipe, he lit it with a match and inhaled. A plume of smoke left his lips, drifting up toward the ceiling.


    “What do I know? Not a lot. The birds told me you disappeared in the forest.”


    I exhaled through my nose, shaking my head. Of course, the crows. Edrin always had an uncanny way of knowing things he shouldn’t.


    “I went beyond Veilwood,” I admitted. “To the Feywilds.”


    Edrin didn’t react with shock or disbelief. Instead, he hummed, nodding slowly, as if I had simply told him I had gone to the market. “I suppose it was only a matter of time.”


    I grimaced. “You say that like you were expecting me to go there.”


    He met my gaze, something knowing lurked behind his expression. “Because I was.”


    Silence stretched between us before he continued. “We don’t get to choose the roads we walk, boy. Some paths are set long before we even take our first steps. Your folks had hoped you might avoid this one, but fate is a stubborn mistress.”


    His tone was distant and his words held a weight that gave me an uneasy feeling. “Edrin… who are you, really?”


    He laughed heartily, sounding both amused and tired. “Nothing more than an old man with a farm.” But now, with my mana awakened, I could feel the world around me. Edrin’s presence however, was unnaturally absent. His mana was hidden so thoroughly that it was as if it had been erased from existence. It wasn’t the actual absence of mana though, everything I had learned living with the Fey meant that would be impossible. It was deliberately concealed. He had definitely been something more, perhaps a long time ago, and though I couldn’t grasp the full truth, I knew this much - Edrin wasn’t an ordinary farmer.


    Pressing him further for answers had never worked before, and I doubted it would work now. But something gnawed at me, his lack of mana. It wasn’t just faint or dwindling like an aged hermit. I was still new to all of this, untrained, but even I could sense what wasn’t there.


    Instead of trying to solve the mystery that was Edrin, I pulled the satchel from my shoulder and set a small bundle of feverfew on the table. “I collected this before I left. You probably don’t need it now, but…”


    For the first time, true delight lit up his face. He chuckled, his voice booming as he picked up the herbs. “You disappear into another realm, come back looking like the weight of the world sits on your shoulders, and still remember to bring an old man his feverfew?”


    He let out a slow sigh, placing the bundle aside. “Thank you, really. It means more than you know.”


    I nodded, standing from the chair. “I should go. There’s a group waiting for me outside of the village.”


    Edrin’s gaze softened slightly. “Then you better not keep them waiting.” He leaned back in his chair, smoking his pipe and watching me closely. “Keep your wits about you, boy. The road ahead isn’t as forgiving as the one behind.”


    I turned to leave, reaching for the door. But I hesitated. It almost felt like I was saying goodbye to Edrin, I didn’t know when I would see him next. But he was all the family I had left, even if he wasn’t explicitly family. I could feel the sadness building, if something happened in the mountains then this really might be the last time I see him. Would he be okay without me?


    I took a deep breath and opened the door. Stepping outside, I made my way back towards the edge of the village. My mind was swirling with more questions than answers, but I couldn’t let that distract me from the mission ahead.