You look around for the child, but you no longer see him. The lantern made him invisible.

He appears again. “Thank you for finding my lantern. I would have been captured again if they found me.”

Captured? Again? What is going on? You try to remain calm, careful not to spook the child.

“The men of the Church… they… they did things. They hurt me.” He goes quiet—too quiet—then continues. “I ran, but they caught me. They beat me, chained me, and muttered words over me while they hurt me… for my blood. They needed it. They made this.” He holds up the lantern. “It’s connected to me.”

You ask about the men of the Church. Was it alchemy?

“They locked me in a crypt. I saw things… heard things. They came into the darkness, and they…” His voice trails off. The things this child has lived through have fractured him, and he’s barely holding together under the weight of it all.

You both stand in the darkness for a moment, silent. The moon slowly begins to set, and somewhere in the distance is the faintest glow of daylight.

After a moment, you ask about the crypt and a jewel known as the Child’s Beating Heart. He shakes his head, then asks you a question instead.

“I don’t know that jewel,” he says. “But I do know someone who might. I need something first—an exchange. I need you to get me a sweater. It’s cold in the mornings.”

You agree, but ask if he’ll travel with you. It’s safer in numbers, and you can protect him.

“No,” he says. “I must go alone. My quest requires it.”

Your quest?

“Will you find me a sweater, please? I’ll give you something for it.”

You agree. He agrees to stay by the rock for now.