#astrallithid01

"Shoot, these woods seem to go on forever... You remember which way we came in?" she asks the man wandering with her. The Forest of Airaisal had always been difficult to traverse, and the cold, frigid air wasn't helping matters, either.

It isn't long before the two come across a clearing somewhere deep in the woods. What's in there gives Maria a fright, or rather, who's in there.

It's a dang ghost!

The ghostly apparition floats inches off the ground. It's not a vision of her grandma or anyone else who's passed on, but of herself from many years ago. She's a young woman with blue hair and a pair of overalls.

The older Maria stares at herself. "I —" She starts to sputter out.

"Shh! Hold that thought!" The younger Maria holds up a hand to shush her counterpart. She looks around the clearing, then lets out a huff. With her hands on her hips, she's clearly annoyed.

"I'm supposed to babysitting some kid... Either of you seen him around?" she asks.

The black-hatted Maria sure hasn't seen him. She turns to her partner to see if he has.

⋆˖⁺‧₊☽◯☾₊‧⁺˖⋆⋆˖⁺‧₊☽◯☾₊‧⁺˖⋆⋆˖⁺‧₊☽◯☾₊‧⁺˖⋆

His bow and Arrow were replaced with the wooden ones. He couldn't say where his actual weapons were. He knew they weren't misplaced, but maybe he had lost them on his arrival here. He had hoped he could get in contact with Goddess Selûne, but there was nothing.

" Man this is just grim.... "

The canteen's pretty quiet today - Eiden must have come a touch too early and everyone's still sleeping. Which is fine, it's not what he's moaning about.

It's the food. They said it's some type of casserole but appearance suggests something like 'undetermined beige goop with bits'. Even the orphanage had tastier looking foods, bland or not.

" Can't waste any though... "

Eiden's about to take the brave first spoonful when he spots something from the corner of his eye - right in front of him. Without realizing he ends up making a singular scream, then quickly covering his mouth and waving hands for the guards not to worry.

" Who-... "