We are deep in the story here. Want to start from the beginning?

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“Who are you people?” Keira said as she caught up to the two strangers.

“I’m Susan,” the woman responded. “This is Eric.”

“Susan and Eric?” Keira replied. “I was expecting something like Kitzo or Electrictazy… something weird.”

“We’re not aliens,” the woman replied with a faint smile.

“Yes, but you’re not like the people in the village either.”

“What makes you say that? We’re not that dissimilar.”

“These runes, for starters.”

“Do you know about them?”

“I kinda activated one of them down in the swamps,” Keira said. “I was being chased by these beasts, and then there was a bright blue light, and they all died.”

Susan and Eric exchanged a long look.

“How did you activate them?” Eric asked.

“I don’t know. Maybe I pushed it? I cut myself…”

“Your blood,” Susan said quietly.

“Yeah. I guess my blood touched the grooves. Is that how you get them to glow blue and shock things?”

“It’s one way, yes.”

“So… not like the village people then,” Keira noted. “Hey, is this legal? You’re not supposed to have technology in Artizan. Is this technology? I haven’t really seen electric… electricity?”

“This is old technology,” Eric chuckled softly. “It’s forgotten, for the most part. And what people forget can be dangerous. So we stay here to remember.”

“You’re talking in circles,” Keira replied.

“I guess I am. Why don’t you come and see what I’m talking about?”

Eric guided Keira toward the edge of the river they had been walking beside. He stopped where the path neared the base of the waterfall feeding into it.

“Watch your step now,” he said, hopping across the slick river stones.

Susan gestured for Keira to go next, following close behind. Keira watched as Eric stepped straight through the waterfall and vanished. She glanced back at Susan, who gave her an encouraging nod. Keira took a deep breath.

“Here we go,” she whispered.

She leapt through the wall of water. The torrent was ice-cold, drenching her instantly and forcing her eyes shut. Her boots landed hard on flat, solid stone—a stark contrast to the rounded river rocks outside.

She opened her eyes. The cave was dimmer than the mountain path, and it took a moment for her vision to adjust to the expansive cavern. Daylight streamed down through high skylights and fissures in the rock, feeding lush patches of ferns and moss wherever warmth touched the stone.

The deeper she looked, the more she realized how massive the space truly was. Glowing runes ran down the natural stone walls, framing wooden homes and terraced structures where people were going about their morning routines. Eric and Susan led her toward the center of the cavern, where a wide skylight illuminated a central fire pit. Keira stared as villagers traded fish and dried meat for fresh vegetables, chatting and laughing like neighbors. If she weren’t inside a giant mountain cave, she would have assumed she was standing in one of the coastal fishing hubs.

Like Eric, the men mostly wore braided beards intertwined with wooden beads. Their tunics and trousers were dyed in earthy tones from forage scraps like onion skins and beetroot peels. Nearby, women worked at large looms, hanging long woven sheets to dry on lines strung across a sunny ledge. The stone floor radiated a gentle, natural geothermal warmth, and Keira felt a layer of her constant tension melt away.

Still, she resisted giving in completely. This felt safe—safer than her own home village—but questions piled up in her mind. Why didn’t anyone down below know this place existed? What were the runes really for? And what did these people know about the shadow monster?

She fidgeted nervously with the woven string around her wrist. Susan noticed the motion, holding Keira’s gaze for a quiet moment before Keira looked away.

“Look,” Keira said. “I’m on a journey. I can’t stay here long.”

“You’ve come for the monster, haven’t you?” Eric asked.

Keira snapped her head up in surprise. “Is it here? Have you captured it?”

Eric chuckled gently. “Not quite. It’s a long story, and you’ve traveled far from the valley below. Join us for some food. Stay a few days and rest. The creature is effectively hibernating right now anyway, so there’s no rush.”

Keira shifted her weight, fidgeting again. It had been years since an adult had offered her food or shelter without expecting something in return. “What do you want from me?”

“We will tell you everything you need to know,” Susan promised. “It’s not a trap. We offer sanctuary to anyone who makes the climb up. You are free to leave whenever you wish.”

Keira scanned the faces around the fire. Everyone seemed relaxed and light-hearted.

“Okay,” she muttered. Then, looking up at them both, she added, “Thank you.”

They smiled warmly and guided her toward the main hearth. Keira realized then that to them, she was simply a tired child in need of help—doing what decent adults were supposed to do. It was what her own village should have done years ago, and hadn’t. A spark of cold resentment stirred in her gut, but she let it simmer quietly beneath a wave of overwhelming gratitude as they reached the fire.

Resting over the flames was the largest iron cauldron Keira had ever seen, filling the air with a rich, savory aroma. Susan stepped onto a wooden ledge to reach the rim, dipping a heavy ladle into a dark, simmering stew. Eric handed her a polished stone bowl, which Susan filled to the brim and passed down to Keira.

Keira tried to control her hunger, barely stopping herself from inhaling the food on the spot. She hadn’t eaten in two days; her bones felt hollow, as if her body had begun consuming itself just to keep her moving. The heavy bowl nearly slipped from her fingers, but she flashed Eric a quick, reassuring smile as she backed toward the wooden benches encircling the pit. Susan pulled a fresh loaf from a basket near the fire and handed her a generous piece.

“Whenever you’re hungry, you come here,” Susan said gently. “No one will mind. There’s always food for those who need it.”

Keira managed a small smile. “Do people not eat in their own homes?” she asked, trying to sound polite while tearing off a chunk of crust to scoop up the heavy broth.

“Most do, if they feel like cooking something specific,” Eric explained. “But most gather and forage for the group, then eat together here. You’re welcome to do either.”

Keira nodded, her mouth too full to answer. Eric and Susan exchanged another quiet, warm smile.

“I know you’re eager to learn about the monster,” Eric said, placing a gentle hand on her shoulder. “But you need rest first. Tomorrow we’ll gather the elders so you can hear the full truth from them directly, rather than second-hand from us.”

Keira wanted to protest, but the heavy food was already taking its toll. Her eyelids grew leaden. The single-minded drive to find her next meal had been the only thing keeping her upright; now that her stomach was full, her body was shutting down to heal and digest. Susan handed her a wooden cup of cold water, which Keira drained in long gulps before her legs gave out.

Eric and Susan caught her arms, supporting her weight as she stumbled into the nearest shelter. The mattress they laid her upon was softer than anything she had ever known. She felt the heavy, comforting press of a wool blanket pulled to her chin and the strange luxury of a soft pillow beneath her head.

She didn’t remember anything else for the better part of twenty-four hours.