He Doesn't Think Too Much About It. When Stepping Into The Forest, He Isn't Worried. One Could Say That

He doesn't think too much about it. When stepping into the forest, he isn't worried. One could say that he's quite excited. The swamp witch has asked him to inspect the local forest filled with a mysterious fog and the mysteries of the world are known to unravel before Cub whenever he decides to take a deeper look into them. He doesn't hesitate in taking the offer, sure, the scientist doesn't know what to expect in the dense clouds surrounding the mangroves but he's sure of himself and his abilities, and his experience. Cub has been graced with knowledge and power not even fathomable to an average person. But he was far from average, his brain filled with galactic spells and complicated contraptions, the own self no longer of his belonging.

And that's a crucial factor of his being.

The novice witch with her vague instructions forgets to mention that the fog feeds on the souls of any who dares to enter deeper. Maybe, if the hermit knew of that he would mention he has no soul to offer at all. That was far from him, long gone now in the hands of the Vex. Or maybe not. Cub wasn't exactly known for being cautious, he enjoyed the thrill of the unknown. He enjoyed bending and manipulating it to his will even more.

Cub had been walking for a while now, traversing through what seemed an endless forest. It must’ve been hours at this point, everything looked the same and nothing was particularly unusual, it all becoming a blur. A normal swamp biome - filled with the casual mangrove trees surrounded by mud and apart from the dense, aquamarine fog; nothing really stood out to him. And it’s not like it wasn’t something he hadn’t seen or read somewhere about. Just a weirdly tainted bunch of water, he couldn’t understand what all the fuss was about.

He wasn't even sure when to deem his journey over. Was he supposed to find the source of the fog? Or just explore and see what's hidden in it? Not carrying a clock, the hermit has lost track of time but he was growing impatient with each step. He can always return later, ask Shubble more specific questions, this experiment, or whatever one might call it, was getting him nowhere. He should've expected this to be a longer-term project, without any clear instructions he didn’t really know what to expect as the goal of his exploration.

Just as the scientist was taking out a glass vial from his coat pocket, to gather a sample of the thick clouds, he heard a noise. A rustle. Yes, definitely something was there, between all the roots and it suddenly moved. Somewhere to his left. Or right. He wasn't really sure anymore. As he kept on marching the fog grew heavier and only now he realized he can’t see much farther than past his own feet. The sound repeated, a bit closer this time. Cub jumped and secured the grip on the, absurd in size, axe that he was carrying.

A gift from Katherine - the monster slayer.

Somehow the thought of that calmed him down a bit. Really? Getting this anxious over some lost mob he can take out in seconds? He felt ridiculous. Letting out a nervous chuckle, he threw the weapon over his shoulder and began the wander back to Evermoore.

Back to Evermoore. Which direction was that in exactly?

After hearing how easy it is to get lost in the depths of the mangrove swamp, Cub did not stray from the straight line path that he was taking until now, when he heard the sudden noise and it had startled him enough to now be completely… lost. Okay, this was fine. It’s not like he hasn’t found himself in much worse scenarios in the past. After not giving it much thought the hermit started the stroll once again. The forest couldn’t be endless, he was bound to find an exit at some point as long as he kept walking forward.

Not even a dozen blocks of distance covered and he heard something again. It wasn't the same rustle as before though, no, it’s as if a person moved, a person was out there, a person… Alright, this was getting out of hand, there is not a single reason for anyone else to come here. His brain must have started playing tricks on him, anyone would lose their mind in a swamp that feels immovable and fog clogging up your throat. Has it always been so hard to breathe in here?

Cub started panicking again but this time calming down didn’t come as easy. He tried grounding himself, looking at the sturdy axe, repeating to himself that he’s safe, that everything is fine. He never felt like this before, it’s as if something began putting a continuously growing pressure on him from all sides. But nothing was out there, nothing the hermit could spot at least. He started losing all his senses. Or to word it better, he started losing control of all his senses and then he heard it, again. The sound that made his state worsen so drastically, now multiplied by a hundred. Or a thousand, he couldn't really tell. The scientist recognized the sound as voices. Human, creature, just voices.

"The Vex must be playing a prank on me" was the initial thought. Overcoming all and any senses - their speciality. And considering how much Cub has distanced himself from them as of late, they probably decided that he's deserving of a punishment. A terrible choice of a place for this kind of a prank, he must admit, but vexes aren't necessarily known for being merciful. However this time something felt, odd. Not only in an irritating way, this was obviously not the peak of comfort, but it wasn't the type of punishment he has ever experienced before. Instead of his surroundings being blindly bright, everything around him was quickly succumbing into darkness. Instead of spiky needles the little mobs would prick your skin with, it felt as if he was being dragged deeper and deeper into the mud. And instead of the loud, grating chuckle of the vexes, oh, as evil as it was laughable, playing in his skull, what he heard was a cacophony of voices too smooth on his brain but yet so tragically desperate. No, it couldn’t have been the vexes. Whatever took over him, whatever rested in this swamp was slowly lulling him to sleep.

His legs felt like jello but Cub started running. Not sure where, not sure why, he just knew he can’t fall asleep, not now. Frantically escaping from what he considered the epicenter, his heart was racing, forehead covered in beads of sweat. The power surrounding him was mysterious. A mystery, even for Cub. He was sprinting, at least for him it felt as though, in reality it was a slow trek, the mud and roots underneath his feet successfully preventing any attempt at leaving the swamp as quickly as possible. After a few minutes, but what felt to Cub like forever, he stumbled and fell, entirely covering himself in mud.

Darkness.

He wasn’t entirely sure if he blacked out or if the shadows had fully taken over his vision but he laid in the mud for a while, exhausted, limbs limp. “Don’t fall asleep, whatever you do, do not fall asleep.” was the only thought he was able to form and repeat in his head. Slowly, Cub extended his arms in support and started collecting himself, grimacing at the brown, damp stain on the center of his shirt and at how his legs were begging for rest. Sitting on the heels of his feet, he took in his current situation. His senses still were being attacked from all sides but it has gotten slightly better. He has also noticed the fog is significantly lighter at his current position. While turning his head around, searching for any sign indicating a way out he noticed something again. No, not something. Someone. A dark silhouette, clearly human, clearly… familiar. Too familiar even. No, there was no way. New spurge of energy and Cub was up again, approaching the figure with too much, unusual for the scientist, excitement in his step.

“Scar!? Scar, is that you?” he was frantic, he was terrified, he was saved. “What are you doing here man? I- What..?”

A hum. Scar was humming. Cub started drawing in closer. His mind was full of the fog. He didn’t for a second think how this interaction doesn’t make any sense. That Scar, his Scar, would run up to him asking about their situation. He would act like he isn’t petrified of the haunted swamp and would laugh with that all too loud giggle. He would then grasp his hand and pretend it’s to keep warm even in the stuffy climate. But Scar wouldn’t want to get lost and neither did he. But it didn’t matter anymore.

Not to Cub.

He outstretched his arm and it was held.

It wasn’t Scar, he could see that clearly now. But it didn’t matter anymore. The caricature of the other half of the Convex was darker than the deepest of shadows, only its eyes glowing with a bright, blue hue. He could feel the mass, whatever what was standing before the scientist was made out of, covering his arm and slowly creeping its way further. Reaching his chest it seemed to still, as if taken aback. Maybe Cub could escape now, rip himself from the grasps of this alternate and try to run again for his life. But it didn’t matter anymore.

He was too tired, he was just so tired and his thoughts weren’t coherent and the wet shirt on his body started feeling all too displeasing. He couldn’t bring himself to care. The silhouette seemed displeased, not being able to feast on the soul that Cub lacked. Instead it leaned its pretend head towards the caught hermit. It captured his lips in a kiss, exchanging a thrilling power Cub has never had the pleasure of exploiting before. The souls, to which the desperate voices belonged, were now flowing through his veins and he felt like he hasn’t ever before. He felt powerful, he felt meaningful, the hole in his body that was left by the Vex bringing him to their side was now full. His life now with the direct purpose of bringing the darkness to light, he felt as if he could take over the world. He felt exhausted.

The Scar look alike parted itself from Cub’s face and started disintegrating. But it didn’t matter anymore. Cub was falling asleep, his senses numb. He fell down back onto the mud, his head hitting a root on its way down. But it didn’t matter anymore.

He was resting and all he could hear was the quiet hum of a lullaby.