[ WP ] The shadows are getting restless , and the creatures that visit become stranger every day . It 's almost as if the warmth from the sun never reaches the village , even though it 's so bright .

The village I sought refuge in had long been abandoned when I arrived. Saplings had sprouted in the unpaved paths alongside ferns, small grass and moss. Between the dilapidated houses overrun with vegetation was a single cobblestone road that led to a villa in the distance. 
 
 I hurried towards it, passing by what must have been a tavern and a small shop. Their signs still lay hanging on rusty chains from the eaves, but the writing and picturesque drawings had been washed out by the rain. Mouldy water-filled barrels stood in front of them along with a forgotten broom. Through the broken windows and collapsed roofs I could see upside down dirty tables and a decayed counter. Peeking through the glass at the open cupboard in one of the cottages, I wondered if the people who left this place in a hurry when the laylines erupted did, in fact, foolishly planned to return. 
 
 With one hand on my staff and one on my pendant, I tread patiently to the large manor in the distance. There, up on a vegetation covered hill, just where the lines had converged lay a building suitable in size and whose architecture I fancied. There were only a few times when I had felt this fortunate in my very long life. 
 
 If it was not for my obsession with magical land-charting, as well as my usual apprehension when walking in a place where boundaries were faded that I had not brought under my total, I would have joyously run to my destination. I was no such fool. 
 
 Just ahead of me stood a twitching fuzzy tentacle. There was no doubt it did not belong here though; the light of the other morning sun, the one that shone in the fading world, cast the monster's shadow in the opposite direction to our own. It was clear that the curious creature did n't have the power to enter our realm. Nevertheless, stepping on its shadow meant ruining my lucky streak by inviting a bad omen. 
 
 Although, I was not planning on letting my presence known and taking customers before officially opening shop, I figured that rather than secretly killing this indeterminate fool, I would try to hear its plea. I encircled it with salt and chanted my default summoning. To my surprise it took the form of a cut out branch. I lifted it off the ground and rubbed my fingers gently along it. Holly, huh? Although it could not talk, I felt its curiosity and its sorrow. It had brought undesired harm and hoped to atone for it. 
 
 I did not need a branch too short, gnarled and bent to make a wand. I still respected its wishes enough to place it in my pouch in hope that one day a client would have some use for it. I would be probably still selling magical items at a node for the next few centuries. Maybe, when I would tire of this occupation I would consider taking on an apprentice. 
 
 My thought were interrupted by the apparent calmness that eroded the paved plaza in the middle of the village. Too empty, I thought. The side of the houses facing that direction looked less dilapidated, as if in that area, time flowed differently. I covered the soles of my shoes in salt and approached carefully. 
 
 My first instinct told me that I had to use a powerful spell to cleanse the area, but them I recalled I brought a stupid branch with me. Why the hell not? I giggled, throwing it as hard as I could towards the point where the magic was coming. It fell on its tip almost burying itself entirely in what appeared to be a cobblestone. A layer of dust fell from the roofs of the houses and the façades ages as the hexing was weakened enough for me to unaffectedly pass through. 
 
 When I finally arrived at the villa it was nearing noon. To claim residence there, I encircled it and gave it a secret name. I could see inquisitive shadows approaching as I rewarped the time in order to make it look as it did in the old days. The curious creatures seemed to have taken a liking to temporal magic and I felt an atmosphere of reverence and acceptance coming from them. 
 
 Of course, it was midday and as the sun would set, the kind ones would be replaced by their darker brothers. For a while, a war between me and the great ones would ensue. 
 
 ( If you would like me to continue this story, please tell me. I also appreciate criticism. )
