Within the Planar Complex exist fourty Named realms across its nucleus and four rings, thirty-one existing entirely within its rings... Within the second ring of the Planar Complex exists Venthrey; the Battle Realm. - Heteronimous Jackal (Accounts of the Planar Complex vol. 1).
Contrary to first impression, the Greywitch Forest was actually a structure itself. The Forest had been conjured for a challenge between Fey Hags a couple of years prior, which Evan had watched from his previous settlement. The Forest was filled with fireflies, snakes, and a single mockingbird whose call would sound once a day.
The challenge Venthrey presented to the Hags was simple: capture the mockingbird. However, while it was ordinarily within the fey nature of the Hags to adhere to the Rules, so it was to push them to their limits.
Evan had pushed through the forest for half an hour, sword drawn and sweeping along the ground in front of him to find and ward off snakes. He eventually came to his encampment; a humble collection of scrap fabrics and pelts that formed a tent in front of and around a large rock formation.
"Calweather?" Croaked the old voice from within the main tent. Evan drew up to the pelt curtain, drawing it aside and looking into the damp holding within. The only light that filled the space was the sunlight that cracked through the holes in the stone, no matter how much Evan tried to fill them in. Light was not needed for the holding's singular occupant.
Rubinin was the first and only Hag Evan had encountered, fey or otherwise. She had sagging, wrinkled skin with a milky complexion, covered predominantly by what was now a tattered crone's cloak. Her eyes were perfectly grey, the irises long since dulled and empty. Her left leg had grown atrophied from lack of movement, and her right was a stub from just below the waist.
Evan quickly surveyed the interior before responding, ensuring there were no nasty, slithering surprises.
"I'm here, Hag." He responded, returning his sword to his makeshift sheath at his side.
"I heard noises, Calweather. Something is out there, it eats." The panicked voice of the Hag was made worse by the darting of eyes that could see nothing. She reached out her hand wildly, hoping to grasp onto Evan.
Pitying her, Evan grabbed her hand and placed another on top of it.
"It's the pigs, Ruby. Remember?" Evan hoped to see some recognition in the face of his Hag companion, evidence her memory could recall their swine companions of the last dozen sleeps. When he could see none, he shook her hand gently in his.
"They mean us no harm, you'll be safe." He assured her.
"Are they with Akkana?" Rubinin asked with a harsh whisper, gnashing her teeth as she spoke the name.
Regret tinged within Evan's heart, though he stifled it as much as he could. He attempted to draw his hands away from the Hag, but her grip merely tightened.
"What is that?" The Hag hissed, clutching his palm tightly, bringing her other to trace along his wrist. "What is within you, Calweather?"
Evan wrenched his hand free from the hag, nearly pulling her to the ground as he did.
"Nothing, Hag! I detest the name as much as you do, that's all."
"That was not what I..."
"You're little use as it is, accuse me again and I'll leave you to yourself. I'm taking care of you, remember?" Evan snapped. He immediately felt sick to his stomach at his own words, but he did not know any other way to deal with Rubinin's paranoia, and insight.
The Hag seemed to shrink away at his words, almost childlike in how she held herself. Evan sighed and sank to his knees, kneeling before her and reaching into his pelt belt to retrieve a waterskin. He grabbed her recoiled hand gently and gave it to her.
"Drink. You are tired." His voice was quiet now, and he wanted little more than to leave her to be.
"Thank you, Calweather." The Hag greedily drank from the waterskin til there was not a drop left. She smacked her lips, her thirst not entirely quenched. Water was a rare commodity in Venthrey, the realm did not need to sustain life it did not sustain itself. Instead there was a singular source of fresh water Evan had found that he could consistently rely upon, a small rock formation hidden within the Amber Woods, which Evan assumed was fed by an underground aquifer. The water was constantly contested by Spitfires and the various other creatures of the woods, so Evan had timed his sleep cycle to allow him to wake when the Spitfires were at their deepest sleep.
There was less remaining today, he had needed more to regain his strength after his trek to the Parthenon. The guilt he felt when he looked at Rubinin had grown unbearable as of late, and grew further still today. Regardless, she had a purpose to serve, and he needed her today more than usual.
Legs crossed before her, Evan tried to focus into her grey eyes.
"I saw a new structure today, a Parthenon." He recalled what he had seen, from the murals along the marble and the hallway within, to the enchanting pull of the green-flame torches.
As the Hag listened, she began to feel along the floor, eventually finding her tools tucked behind a rock. Within a leather pouch laid various tools of the trade of Hags; old, cracked chicken bones; petrified bark laced with silver; and, a shallow bowl with fey runic writing along its rim.
The Hag placed the bowl before her and bit her lip hard. She pressed a finger from her free hand to her lips, taking a drop of blood and placing it in the centre of the bowl. Keeping her hand on the bowl, she drew the chicken bones into her hand, whispered an incantation, and threw them into the bowl.
Once she had, she began to trace their patterns, the way they fell with her free hand. This process lasted for several minutes, most of the time she spent attempting to recall the information from when she had sight. Finally, she traced her long, wrinkled finger over the last bone and gasped softly.
She drew her shaking hand to cover her agape mouth and remained silent. Evan's patience quickly ran thin.
"What is it? What do you foretell?" He asked, leaning forward slightly.
Rubinin's body shook for several long moments as she lowered her hand. She managed a dry gulp and answered.
"It is dangerous, Calweather. Stay away and it will do us no harm." She quickly began to pack away her supplies as she responded.
"That can't be it," Evan responded.
"Bah, leave me. I am tired." The Hag attempted to wave away his remark as she fumbled for the leather pouch.
"Don't lie to me," Evan yelled, his fury growing quickly at the Hag who had never been able to deceive him well. "What did you see?"
"Leave me be, please!" Cracks began to show in the angry facade of the Hag, tears were welling up in her lifeless eyes and her movements became more erratic, desperate.
"Tell me!" Evan was now on his feet, standing above the Hag, hand clenched on the hilt of his sword.
"Please!" Rubinin was now sobbing, one hand holding her mouth as the words came out between the tears.
If he had more humanity, if he had spent a bit less time in Venthrey, Evan may have had the compassion to step back, to approach the situation with more rationality. But he had grown too callous. He grabbed the Hag by the collar with one hand, his yells created spit that spotted her wrinkled face. With the other hand, he had begun to draw his sword.
"Hag!"
"You will leave me!" She cried, barely able to contain her fear. "You will leave Venthrey, and I will be alone!"
Evan did not mean to maintain his grip on Rubinin, nor did he mean to let her go. His grip loosened enough that the cloak fell from his grasp. In his anger he did not realise he had stood up, that he had dragged her up to her atrophied foot.
As she slipped from his grasp, she landed heavily on the floor, crying in pain as she tried to lift herself up to a sit. Evan intended to help her, but his thoughts were far too occupied.
Freedom, he thought, leaving Venthrey. The concept was a longtime fantasy of his, a dream that would fade and grow over the countless years he had spent in this nightmare of a realm. It was real, it was possible.
Longer than he would have liked in retrospect, he realised what he had done and knelt to aid Rubinin. As his hand touched her shoulder to aid her, she desperately grabbed at it. Her countenance now reminded Evan of that of a child, desperate and scared.
"Please, Evan," Rubinin wept, "please don't leave me! I won't make it!" The guilt in Evan's core burned more than it ever had, he felt physically ill and like he was about to sob and weep at any moment.
Once she had returned to her sitting position, Evan broke free of her grip. In her desperation to hold onto him, Rubinin fell forward against the rocky ground.
Evan took terrified steps backwards until his back was against the curtain.
"Please, Evan." Her words were little more than whispers now, her voice strained hoarse.
"I'll be back, Ruby." He assured her, tears welling up in the back of her throat. "I promise, I'll be back."
Evan wasn't sure if she believed him, if she even understood him. He had to do this, this was far too overdue. It would not ease his guilt, but maybe he could live with himself once he left this dreaded realm.