One might think that this place be entirely devoid of life, if that which thought it had not had to be partway alive.

-

Gnarled, gargoyle-like trees guard the borderline between the depths of the forest and the farmlands of Hahn. The trees, once proud golden guardians of the forest, are now corrupted evil barriers. Legends of evil, stories with which to scare children- life is rejected from this place.

A woman stands, wavering, in the wake of the front line of trees.  Alone for a while, she suddenly shudders violently and falls from the pale light of the moon to the dark of unprotected night. Far away, a wolf howls its yearning.

-

Ominous evil seems to creep in from the shadows, always just out of sight. This lush grand forest has been turned from the inside out into a barren place of death. Devilish creatures flock to its outskirts, only to be overcome by the aura around the place and turned from its doors to the dark corners of nightmares and intimate fears. For the demons who might make it past the first wall, few remain long. For those guarded by light- living souls, creatures with harmony, the spirits might gather and steal their mentality, or drive them into drowning themselves. For spirits have no bodies with which to damage, but their weapons are greater than any gun and sharper then any blade.

Dried, shriveled branches snatch out at her before snapping weakly. Saplings have fallen lightly before her, and they crack easily. Crumbled leaves break from their trees with just the disturbances in the air- they are too long dead for care. The woman grasps the hilt of her sword and stills as an unearthly hissing reaches her ears. Her eyes dart about; bright spots in a land of dark.

Crawling, stumbling out of the undergrowth comes an imp. Snapping the sword from its sheath, she prepares to pull it out. The imp makes several gurgling sounds and seems to choke, its eyes rolling franticly in its head.

‘Here be eevil girl, eevil be heere. Run, girl, ruun!’
Crumpling, it begins to writhe and shake horribly upon the dry ground. As she inches around the twitching form, it grasps loosely into the air and its eyes roll back into its head. She sheaths her sword and with little hesitation walks slowly on.

-

A short while later she comes upon a clearing in the centre of the forest; the creation place of the evil.

Alone in the middle, a man stands. He stares blankly at the sky for a few moments, arms outturned as if in receiving. Obviously in a trance of sorts, he hisses a chant through his teeth and shivers ride up his spine. An aura darker than anywhere else in the woods emanates from his body, growing stronger and thicker as he continues his spell. The very air has taken on a singed smell- one of burnt wood and bones.

This is also the only place in the forest which receives moonlight. Right in the centre, the man is bathed in glowing, pale light; the blackness comes from within him as he appears angelic through the ray.

She is stunned slightly; how could this man be ever beautiful? Despite this, she dutifully walks into the middle of his tree-less lake, himself a statue at the centre.

She comes to his shrine, shrouded in light and darkness, and in cautioned awe takes his image to heart. Oblivious to her presence, he continues to shake and utter his spell.

For a brief moment they hang in suspension; neither in this world or the next but their own.

And then, she touches him on the wrist.  

Instantaneously their connection is broken and he grabs her by the arm, eyes red and glowing. Through superior instincts he immobilizes her entirely, putting pressure on her shoulder and gripping her arm tightly. He hisses into her ear. Calmly, she whispers an incantation to oppose his black magic, draining him of his new-bred darkness.

They hang once more in suspension.

As he comes to realize that this woman ruined his plans, he growls lowly and lets her go, jumping back a great distance and placing his sleeve over his nose and mouth, pulling a short sword from it.

Her eyes reflect the sharp metal but she makes no move to defend herself. Rushing into what was a won battle, he flashes before her, closer and closer, and finally, at her front. Through her belly rested her dagger. She looked at him but with the sadness of regret and falls to her knees.

Changing for a moment to what he used to be, his eyes widen as he takes a step back from his deed. Tight bonds lay shattered around the woman as shivers billow down her spine. The man fights against the spirits within him.

She lifts her eyes to his shaking ones and a small tear rolls down her pale cheek.

‘I… loved.. you.’ she whispers as her body collapses into itself and tucks away the remains of her shattered soul. The man falls to his knees next to her and freezes there, staring blankly at her still form.

He stands and returns to his mantra.