chaos. Elly's mother knew something. Elly

ld be a reason for the townspe

ran after her, g

d a wounded expression. "What, Elly? What

... I don't want to tell you. Because it wil

va's voice cracked. "Why di

she lowered her voice, looking around them. "But... I don't w

rply in frustra

t." Elly's voice trembled. "Do you remember?

Memories of the fun

he rem

her, but she hadn't been ab

r grandmother. Opening it... it would be like truly s

the cabinet. Eva looked at it every day

aid slowly.

a. What's inside... will show you the truth. And whatever you find, whatever you learn

she didn't put on her mask of str

"But some truths cause pai

with trembling hands. The mountain road was

he rushed inside and lit the fireplace. As the flames

. The small

unded wildly in her chest. Finally, she climbed onto a c

light. But in Eva's hands, i

eplace. She placed the chest in

whispered. "Let's s

it. The lid

. Its leather binding was worn, its pages

perhaps something else. Symbols, drawings, diagrams. She didn't unde

the same language. Notes and

h lighter. Dried herbs, crystallized liquids in small bottles.

ed. Grandma, why d

she saw something wrapp

ped the fabric, the r

eath c

gly radiant medallion. But

ings. Runic symbols, wolf heads, moon and star motifs... But wha

escent, alive. When she gently shook the medallion, t

ht. A yellowis

She extended her finger and

shed through her mind a

eyes, glowing

howling beneat

g, tears streaming down. "I

t voice. Deep,

for you. Rose

her hand and fell to the floor, but the light didn't go out

ike it would burst from her chest. Her hands trembled. "This can't be real. It can't be!" s

so vivid... Those eyes.

eel it. It

ands grabbed the wine bottle from the cabinet. She didn'

but she didn't care. She too

he floor. She held the bottle between her knees,

s streamed down her cheeks. "What did you go thro

p from the bottle. W

voice dropped to a whisper. "Why...

st painful

leave? Why did

he screams of the gri

gh her tears. The chest was still

on. This time she felt nothing. There was only tha

" Eva whispered. "Or... were you

nymore. Grandma was go

ung to the last thing remaining of her a

fell against her chest, settling just above her c

ears had stopped now. Only exhaustion rem

urled up in the velvet chair in fron

much, Grandma

e fell

the darkness of night

ng with the medallion on her

pulse like a heartbeat. L

rhythm as if it we

rst it illuminated Eva's chest. Th

walls, ceiling, floor everyth

ion began to spin wildly. Li

th

eared in the crystal. Suddenly,

leeping. She wa

hrough the windows. The entire mountain h

fina

ted out from the room. Trees swayed. S

blazed... An

clouded over. The amber liquid ins

sleeping. Unaw

outs

omething h

ll silently. The ni

sound of bare fe

Walking acr

d. The nails were long, almost like

ey moved forward with the creaking of

ping in the chair, calm, peaceful. On her chest, t

, powerful, covered in sc

ed. Stained wi

the glass. As if wanting to t

eep, hoarse v

magic... Welcome, my mate