Somewhere in the middle of the Fey is a tiny but tidy hut, where a beautiful swamp witch named Enigma lived with her fabulous familiar, Fred!

While her day started today much like it did every other day, today would be very different. Maybe even life changing.

As the sunlight crested the trees of the Fey, smoke started pouring from Enigma’s little clay chimney. The rest of the woods slowly woke, as the sounds of wooded life filled the air!

The beautiful swamp witch had finally finished her morning chores and settled down to some breakfast (fried mushrooms, yum!) when a loud RAP RAP RAP came from her front door.

“Strange…I wasn’t expecting anyone…” she said, mindlessly, as she pushed her plate away and stood up to get the door.

She didn’t have barely a moment to stand before the door came flying open, and in barged a very well dressed black mage.

“Um. Hi, Sam! Want some mushrooms?” She asked sheepishly, as the very well-dressed mage stood in her doorway gasping.

“I’m so sorry Eni gasp grab your stuff, we have gasp gasp go NOW.” He said, with a look in his eyes that she had never seen.

She’d never seen Sam in any other mood but completely joyful. They were often two peas in the same pod, but this was a side of him she’d never seen.

Instead of arguing or asking, she decided to trust her friend. She scooped up her little red pouch (filled with who knows what), her legendary staff, the Caduceus of Hermes Trismegistus, and last but not least, her adorable familiar, Fred!

Before she had managed to get everything situated, Sam grabbed her by the hand and took off, barely giving her time to close the door on the way out.

The two had been in a dead sprint for some time now, and Sam finally slowed his pace to a vigorous walk.

“Sam, what the heck is going on?!” Enigma asked, able to catch her breath for the first time. Her hair, green as her favorite outfit, was a hot mess, and Fred was nested right in the middle.

“Ok, Eni, I’m sorry. I think I got caught up in someth-” Before Sam could even finish his sentence, the two were set upon by ambushers!!

A group of cloaked goblins and kobolds leaped from the brush on the sides of the trail, blocking the two from making their movement forward. Before they had time to react, a second group sprung up, blocking the other path.

“EEEEEEEEEP EEEEEEEEP EEEEEEEP” Friend started shrieking from the inside of Enigma’s mess of hair before anyone could really do anything.

This threw the ambushers off for just a split second; long enough for Sam (who was quite wise) to pull his wits together, and leaped into action.

“IGNIS” Sam yelled, his voice weaving into the very fabric of time and space. It was almost as if time stood still.

“DIABOLIS!!!!” Sam finished his incantation, holding (of all things), his old pipe with both of his hands, pointed straight up.

POP!!! A flash of light shot into the sky…but then nothing.

“Hah, and the boss said these two would be a challen-” A kobold from the front group of ambushers started to gloat, only to be interrupted by a sudden burst of fire and brimstone!!

It was raining down hard and fast, but seemed to be completely ignoring Sam and Enigma (who’s eyes were VERY closed at this point).

Within moments, the chaos of the rain, and the painful screams of the ambushers died down and Enigma opened her eyes.

“Sam…” Upon seeing the smoldering remains of her would-be attackers, she was overtaken by grief. Tears welled as she stood motionless taking in the carnage.

“I’m sorry Eni, but this is not the time. These are very bad people and they have already murdered too many wizards. We cannot take normal precautions.” Sam grabbed Enigma by the shoulder, and looked deep into her eyes.

Their deep bond allowed Sam to share with her what he had already seen, causing Enigma to tear up and began sobbing.

“Sam…please no more. I...I understand. But I-” Enigma said, between sobs until Sam interrupted her gently.

“I know, Eni, I know. I would never ask you to do that. I know you can’t.” Sam’s eyes began tearing up and he scooped Enigma up into a huge embrace that seemed to last forever.

Every denizen of the Runiverse was special, and Enigma was no different. Though she was born to pure evil, she had been blessed with a soul of Light, and was one of the fated Lightborns.

This rare, tragic blessing only affects those who are born into a world of darkness, but are still just beings of pure love. Enigma would never be able to hurt anyone or anything, because of this tie to her magic.

Sam was well aware of this, and the effect that violence and conflict had on her, and held his embrace just a little longer.

After the moment had passed, Enigma took a deep breath, leaned heavy into her staff, and said “I have never felt such evil, Sam. You must tell me how you got involved.” Her eyes pierced deep as their gaze met, and Sam knew right then he had no other choice.

So, the two walked, putting as much distance between them and the ambush site as they could.

They walked and they walked and Sam went into great detail behind the whole thing. It all started with a dream, a dream about a legendary forgotten city, and a relic that would have great complications if it fell into the wrong hands.

Sam went on to tell about the city of Atlantis and a device that could contain and control the Quantum Shadow. He couldn’t possibly ignore a chance to go on an adventure, so he had taken off to the lost city (which wasn’t so lost these days).

He actually managed to find the artifact he saw in his dreams, and according to him, he managed to get it out of the city and was traveling back home when he was ambushed by the same folks they had met previously.

“They are an evil cult, but I do not know much about them. They deal heavily in death magic, and not much else. Which, as you saw in our shared vision, they use quite liberally. I need to get the artifact back, and there’s only a single person I know that is basically the opposite of death magic in every way.” Sam said, picking up his speed a bit, anxiously watching Enigma’s face for any reactions.

It took her a moment to process everything, but eventually she looked over to Sam, with a huge grin on her face.

“Well of course you would!!! So what you’re saying is…we’re going to the hideout of a death cult to steal back an artifact that YOU found in some ruins. Am I tracking this right?” Enigma said, the excitement of adventure growing. Even Fred popped his head out of her hair at the mention of ruins.

“YES! Exactly! Except…there’s one really big caveat…”Sam said, looking at the ground as he walked, avoiding all eye contact.

“Ah.” Enigma said, enlightened by his behavior. “I saw it in your visions when we embraced. You plan on sacrificing yourself, and you’re hoping I can bring you back.” The love and support just oozed from her words, reassuring Sam.

“I’m sorry Eni, I know it’s so much to ask, but…these guys are really bad. Really really bad. What would happen if they were able to control the whole of the Quantum Shadow?!” Sam started to shake, mostly out of emotion for the whole thing.

“Rest easy, Sam. You know I’d do anything in my power for you without hesitation. But you do know I’ve never brought back someone from an intentional death, and never another sentient creature. Are you sure you trust my magic that much?” Enigma’s voice wavered. How could it not? She herself wasn’t sure she was capable of such a powerful feat.

“Oh Eni, I trust you with every fiber of my being. Will your magic be enough? No. But, if I don’t make it…” his gaze darted from the ground directly into hers. “You need to finish the job.” He dug a small stone out of his pocket and handed it to her.

“Simply think of home and crush this under your boot, and you and Fred will both immediately return home.” He pressed the stone into her hand and kept his gaze locked on hers. “Promise me.” His words stern and desperate.

“Of course Sam!!! You know I’d give my life for you and for the Runiverse…” Enigma went on and on about how dying isn’t the issue, but the lack of Sam in her life.

As the two went back and forth, Fred (who had found his way into Enigma’s pouch) hopped to the ground and started squeaking with intent.

“Fred?? What?? Ugh, you silly slime, it’s just a snake!” Enigma almost chasting the slime, went over and scooped up the snake.

“Wait…ARCHIMEDES?!” Sam squeaked, and scooped the golden viper out of Enigma’s hands gingerly.

“I was wondering where he was! Why does it sound like you didn’t know where he was? He’s your familiar!” Enigma was clearly confused with the sudden appearance of the viper, and more so with Sam’s response.

“So during the ambush where the cult got the crown, Archimedes here snuck away in one of their bags, and was able to help me locate their hideout! But they’re so far underground, we lost our connection…we must be close!!” Sam said, tucking Archimedes under his hat, and heading off with a bit more pep in his step.

Up till now, they had been traveling along known paths throughout the Fey, as Enigma had spent her whole life out here.

However, as they crept close to the border, and to their destination, they came across some old world ruins that she had never seen before.

“Has this always been here…” Enigma asked absent mindedly, as she and Sam took in their surroundings.

The ruins were mostly steel, glass and old world tech that made no sense. Even bits of road were still here and there. These may have been some of the most untouched ruins either one of them had seen up to now.

“Not sure, but Archimedes swears this is the place.” Sam said, and on que, the tiny viber stuck its head out from under Sam’s hat and hissed.

The two slowly wandered through the ruins taking note of anything that might have been disturbed. It was quite surreal, to see so many buildings not destroyed! Homes, shops maybe? Just overgrown with ivy and plants, but even some of the signs were still readable! How on earth did she miss this? Her hut was only a day’s walk away!

The two continued to wander, deep in thought until they stumbled on what had to have been the entrance to the cult lair. Archimedes shot out from under Sam’s hat, and began to slithering in circles around a man-made hole in the center of the path they were on.

It looked as if this entrance had been here for two millenia, vines growing down it, but clearly very man-made. It even had the remnants of an old steel ladder leading down.

“Hm, well I guess this is it!” Sam said, puffing his pipe a couple of times for comfort. The sweet cherry smoke filled the air, and even made Enigma feel a bit more at ease.

“I think you’re right. Down we go?” She said, the spark of adventure lighting her up her eyes.

“Down we go!” Sam said with a grin, and the two hopped down.

To be continued…

Entered by: 0x4Dbb…04d3 and preserved on chain (see transaction)