You return to the camp where the Wandering Merchant was, but he’s nowhere to be seen. You ask around, and someone tells you he wandered down the river and hasn’t returned.

You follow the riverbank, scanning the path up and down until, at last, you spot an old man sitting on a log by the water. He watches birds drift past in the mid-afternoon sun.

“He didn’t like what he saw, did he?” the old man asks.

You sit beside him and explain that you found the Soldier sobbing, claiming his brother was dead. He looked into the mirror, then threw it. Now it’s broken, and you have no idea how to repair it.

“The witch will know more, child. But you’ll need something for her. A vial of emerald blood.”

Emerald blood? As in—

“Yes. That blood.” He nods. “There’s a vial deep within Twisted Memories, buried in a vault. I have the key. A door I swore would never open. A crypt of sorts. You’ll need the blood from there. Take it to the witch. Her incantations are stronger than mine.”

How? You question him and remind him of what he is: a force, like the Poet. Controlled by the Nameless Ones. Watched over. Sent here with a mission, like an angel of sorts.

He chuckles, then coughs and wheezes like an old man on a winter morning.

“Don’t make me laugh, child. I’m no more a guide than the Poet ever was. We were manipulated by the Nameless Ones, yes, but we broke free.” His gaze stays on the river. “At what cost? Even now, my power fades. It wanes like the sun setting over mountains. Soon, even death will take my hand and lead me into the void.”

He falls silent. A long, heavy pause settles between you.

“If you want the key child, I request something of you. Something only an old man can ask for. You can find it in an old mining village deep with in the memories of twisted beings I have saved you from before.”

You ask him what it is.

“Am emerald chain. It contains something that might help me ward off the icey grip of death and let me live to see the very thing your chasing – The Second Shattering”

You look at him, stunned. He know – Of course he does. A being of his power.
“Now go child. I need that chain and you need this mirror back.”

You ask him, what about the …

But he cuts you off, “Another time child.”