From the survivor to the vanisher

Aditya had barely settled into his role as Sablewood's resident healer and alchemist when trouble came knocking once more. His days of assisting villagers with minor ailments and concocting remedies had been, for the most part, peaceful—until Harun and Kalini arrived at his doorstep. The weary father-daughter duo carried with them the scent of desperation, the kind of trouble that Dhruv always seemed to anticipate.

"Aditya," Dhruv said, his voice unusually grave, "it seems you'll have another chance to test your skills."

Aditya sighed, setting down his pestle. "What is it this time? Another restless spirit? A cursed well? Or perhaps someone's goat has turned into a fire-breathing monster?"

Kalini blinked at him, her expression a mixture of confusion and alarm. Harun, however, was too distraught to notice the sarcasm. "Our village—Ironshade—is in grave danger," Harun said. "People and livestock have gone missing. At first, we thought it was wild animals, but... there are signs it's something far worse."

Dhruv gestured for Aditya to listen. "Go on," he said.

Harun lowered his voice. "We believe the Crimson Moon Sect is behind it. They've always been a shadow over our village, but now… now they've started to act. They're after something buried in Ironshade—a treasure, they say. And they'll stop at nothing to get it."

Aditya perked up at the mention of a sect. "The Crimson Moon Sect? Sounds like the kind of group that needs a good dose of humility—and maybe a strategic explosion or two."

Dhruv shot him a sharp look. "This is no joke, Aditya. These people are dangerous, and they're well-versed in martial arts. But you'll go. Consider this a lesson in subtlety."

"Subtlety?" Aditya smirked. "Not exactly my specialty."

The journey to Ironshade was uneventful, except for Aditya's occasional attempts at humor, which Kalini mostly ignored. "So," he began, walking beside her, "if this Crimson Moon Sect is so terrifying, what makes you think I can help? Did Dhruv tell you about my legendary ability to irritate people into submission?"

Kalini's lips twitched, but she quickly suppressed the smile. "We've heard of Dhruv's reputation as an alchemist and thought he might have some… unconventional solutions. You were just a bonus."

"Ah, a bonus," Aditya muttered. "The kind that comes with a side of danger and sleepless nights."

Harun shot him a wary glance. "You're not inspiring much confidence."

"Oh, don't worry," Aditya said, grinning. "Confidence is overrated. Results, however—that's where I shine."

Ironshade was a quaint village nestled in a valley surrounded by cliffs. The narrow streets were eerily quiet, the villagers watching them from behind shuttered windows. Harun led them to the elder's home, where Ravin, a grizzled man with sharp eyes, scrutinized Aditya.

"This is who you've brought to help?" Ravin asked, unimpressed.

Aditya gave a mock bow. "Aditya, at your service. Healer, alchemist, and occasional solver of mysterious disappearances."

Ravin's frown deepened. "You look young."

"And you look old," Aditya shot back. "But let's not dwell on appearances."

Dhruv coughed, clearly trying to suppress a laugh. Ravin, however, was less amused. "If you're done with your jokes, perhaps you'd like to hear what's at stake."

"Of course," Aditya said, sobering. "Tell me everything."

The investigation began that night. Aditya, accompanied by Kalini, wandered the village, speaking to anyone willing to talk. The stories he heard were as fragmented as they were unnerving. Livestock disappearing without a trace, shadowy figures spotted near the woods, strange chanting in the dead of night.

"Sounds like your typical sect behavior," Aditya remarked as they walked back to the elder's home. "Creepy rituals, general menace, and an unhealthy obsession with treasure."

Kalini shook her head. "It's more than that. There's something unnatural about the way they're doing this. The tracks we found—the claw marks—they're not human. And the disappearances… it's like people just vanish into thin air."

Aditya frowned. "Claw marks, you say? Let's take a look tomorrow."

The next day, armed with his alchemical tools, Aditya examined the tracks Kalini had mentioned. He scraped samples of the soil and foliage, muttering to himself as he worked. "Hmm. Definitely not natural. This residue… it's alchemical, but crude. Whoever made it wasn't aiming for precision."

Kalini watched him curiously. "You can tell that just by looking?"

Aditya smirked. "Alchemy isn't just about mixing potions and blowing things up. It's about understanding the world on a deeper level. And right now, the world is telling me that someone's been dabbling in things they don't fully understand."

The investigation led them to an abandoned temple on the outskirts of the village. The structure was half-buried by a landslide, its crumbling facade covered in vines. Aditya approached it cautiously, his senses on high alert.

"This place gives me the creeps," Kalini muttered.

"Good," Aditya said. "It means we're on the right track."

Inside, the air was thick with dust and the faint smell of sulfur. Aditya's eyes scanned the walls, noting strange symbols etched into the stone. "Crimson Moon markings," he murmured. "Looks like they've been using this place as a base."

Deeper into the temple, they discovered a hidden chamber. Aditya carefully deciphered the mechanisms of a rusted trapdoor, neutralizing the poison-laced mechanisms with a mixture of quicksilver and salt. The chamber below was unsettling—rows of jars filled with glowing substances, an altar at the center, and on it, a small carved box.

"What's inside?" Kalini asked.

"Only one way to find out," Aditya said, unwrapping the box. Inside was a peculiar crystal, pulsating with a faint red light. Before he could examine it further, footsteps echoed through the temple.

"Uh-oh," Aditya muttered. "We've got company."

Figures clad in crimson robes emerged from the shadows, their leader stepping forward with a smug grin. "You've meddled where you don't belong."

Aditya sighed. "Why does everyone keep saying that?"

The leader's grin widened. "And now you'll pay the price."

Aditya glanced at Kalini. "Stay close. This is where the fun begins."