Canvas of Twilight ⡇A Fallacy X Encre book.

𝟐. 𝐃𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐬𝐜𝐞𝐧𝐭

StarPoisons.

Delitescent, an adjective that means "concealed," "hidden," or "lying dormant." It is often used to describe something that is kept out of sight or kept secret.

☆

Night descended upon the small village, its peaceful facade now tinged with unsettling darkness. Encre had spent his entire day immersed in the art of sketching, yet his gaze had often wandered to the mysterious forest nearby. The allure of its beauty and mystery captivated him, but he was well aware of the dangers lurking within. Plus, he knew very well hunters and guards would stick around the areas.

As the night wore on, the temptation to explore the forest became too strong to resist. A sense of curiosity and restlessness tugged at his soul, urging him to take a short walk and perhaps catch a glimpse of the wondrous scenery that lay hidden among the trees.

He strolled through the village streets, his focus on the path before him, trying to ignore the nagging sense of exploring more.

Suddenly, a shrill scream tore through the stillness, sending a quick shiver down his spine. Another scream followed, filled with pain and despair, causing him to flinch in anguish at the sound.

He paused for a moment.

His attention was now captured by the alarming commotion, he hurried toward the source of the screams. There, before his eyes, he witnessed a scene of horror and madness—a woman and her child being dragged out of their home by a frenzied mob of villagers. Torches ablaze as they accused the mother of being a witch.

Encre's heart sank at the cruelty before him. He couldn't believe the extent of the villagers' fear and hatred, driving them to commit such an atrocity. His mind struggled to comprehend how this beautiful village had fallen into the grip of such darkness.

As the woman was tossed to the ground, Encre's eyes widened in horror as they tore at her clothing, preparing to subject her to a brutal fate. They dragged her closer to the large stake by the once-beautiful fountain, a stark contrast to its current state.

Fear and helplessness washed over Encre, paralyzing him in place. The screams of the woman resonated in his ears, and the fountain, once a symbol of tranquility, now stood as a grim witness to the horrors unfolding.

Amidst the chaos, he made eye contact with the accused woman, her eyes filled with pain and fear. Their connection haunted him, and he found himself unable to tear his gaze away. Witnessing the terror in her eyes left a deep and lasting scar on his soul.

The night air filled with the scent of burning grass mingled with the overwhelming scent of tragedy. As the flames flickered, Encre felt the urge to run away oh so very far, the face of such blind hatred and cruelty petrified him.. One wrong action and you're suddenly accused and burned at a stake. The fountain, now stained with blood and tears, stood as a poignant reminder of the darkness that had engulfed the village.

...

The next morning greeted Encre with a heavy weight on his chest, the haunting memories of yet another nightmare lingering in his mind. This time, the woman he had witnessed in the horrifying scene last night was the focal point of his dreams. Her tear-streaked face and terror-stricken eyes seemed to follow him even after he woke, the echoes of her screams playing like a haunting melody in his thoughts.

He tried to shake off the lingering fear, forcing himself to stand up from his bed and walk towards his small, cluttered kitchen. The comforting routine of making himself a cup of tea helped ground him. The warmth of the tea filled him with a sense of solace, like a gentle embrace that whispered everything would be alright.

Carrying his cup of tea, he settled at his desk with his sketchbook. He had developed a coping mechanism to deal with these types of nightmares—sketching them out. As his pencil danced across the paper, he poured his emotions into the drawing, capturing the terrifying image from the depths of his subconscious.

Sketching the nightmare allowed him to externalize the fear, pain, and unease that plagued him. He knew that once he transferred the nightmare onto paper, he could symbolically detach himself from its grip. A way to release the darkness and turn it into something tangible.

After he completed the sketch, he gently tore the page from the sketchbook and crumpled it in his hand. Walking over to a nearby garbage bin, he took a deep breath, channeling his frustration and fear into one swift action. He slammed the crumpled paper into the bin as if casting the nightmare away, giving it no power over him.

As Encre stood there, still reeling from the aftereffects of his nightmare, a knock at his door startled him. He walked over to the door and opened it to find Orion, a close friend of his. Attempting to compose himself, Encre straightened his clothing before greeting Orion with a warm smile.

"Bonjour Orion! What're you doing at such an early hour?" Encre asked, his thick French accent adding a touch of charm to his words. He was genuinely curious about Orion's unexpected visit.

Orion seemed lost in thought for a moment before snapping out of it, grabbing Encre's hand with urgency. "Encre! Did you hear about the immolation?.. I heard it was done at the middle of the night, quote on quote, Secretly!" The mention of the incident sent a shiver down Encre's spine as if the echoes of the woman's screams from yesterday were still haunting him.

"Yes, I did. Why?" Encre replied, attempting to hide the fear that threatened to bubble to the surface. He didn't want to appear terrified in front of Orion, but the memory of the horrifying scene was still fresh in his mind.

"Sir Simon was there to solve the fact that woman was a witch! They're getting oh so very close! I heard her child ran away into the forest and disappeared," Orion revealed, concern etched on his face as he shared the troubling news.

As Orion invited himself into Encre's cottage, the artist couldn't stop the smaller skeleton from invading his messy sanctuary. His cheeks flushed with embarrassment, but he didn't have the heart to turn Orion away.

"But is it really good? Won't that just make the other witches angry?" Encre questioned, voicing his worry. He couldn't help but contemplate the consequences of such actions, fearing that they might only escalate tensions.

Orion turned to him, a confused expression on his face. "Well... I guess," he replied, clearly unsure of the potential ramifications. Orion, Standing slightly a bit taller than Encre, who was rather short. Then spoke once more, "I heard the King was sending more hunters to stop the vampires.", Encre raised an intrigued eyebrow at this as he listened to Orion's rambling. "King Asgore sending more hunters for the vampires?" he repeated, setting his tea down momentarily. The news piqued his curiosity and concern, as it seemed the village was becoming embroiled in a web of fear and suspicion.

Orion nodded solemnly, his expression showing the weight of the situation. "Yes, it seems the rumors of vampires and witches have been spreading, and the king believes it's necessary to take action. But... I don't know, Encre. I'm worried that this might lead to even more conflicts and misunderstandings."

Encre's heart sank at his friend's unease. He understood Orion's worries; violence and hostility would only exacerbate the existing tensions in the village. He took a moment to collect his thoughts before replying, "You have a valid concern, my friend. Reacting out of fear can lead to unfortunate consequences. Perhaps there's another way to address the concerns without resorting to violence?"

He leaned back in his chair, the warmth of his tea in hand providing some comfort.

Orion's eyes brimmed with conflict and emotion as he shook his head. "You know, Encre, we cannot interfere with the king's decisions. And, well, maybe sending more hunters is for the best. Simon believes it to be the right course of action," he explained, his voice laced with uncertainty and loyalty towards his mentor, Simon.

Encre took a long sip of tea and let out a sigh to relieve his stress. As he set the cup down, he noticed a brief, awkward silence before Orion stood up, excusing himself from the fellow's cottage. "Well then... I must be on my way! It was nice talking to you Encre, I must encourage Simon to rest. You know how he is."

Encre gently laughed in reply, nodding as he waved a bye. The door shut behind Orion and now, Encre was simply alone with his thoughts

☆

End Chapter.
1421 words.

How are you feeling today?

I might update on only Wednesdays and Thursdays. We'll see.

StarPoisons