Nanami's broomstick cut through the cool morning air, carrying her toward the mountains. She had packed enough food and supplies to last her a few days. The path to the mountains was treacherous, filled with thick forests, rocky cliffs, and unpredictable weather.
As she flew higher, the landscape below began to change. The forests thinned out, giving way to jagged peaks that rose from the earth like ancient sentinels. Snow-capped mountains loomed ahead, their white peaks glittering under the midday sun.
Nanami kept her eyes on the path ahead, her grip steady on the broomstick. Though the mountains were breathtaking, there was a sense of foreboding in the air. The winds here were colder, biting at her skin, and a heavy fog began to creep in as she ascended higher.
Soon, the mountain range stretched out in all directions, and Nanami could barely see the ground below. She had read about the dangers of these mountains—how many travelers had gotten lost in the mist, never to be seen again. But Nanami had faith in her abilities. She had magic on her side, and she was determined to help the elderly woman.
The deeper she flew into the mountains, the more she noticed strange signs in the air. The wind carried whispers, faint but clear, and the shadows seemed to move in unusual ways. It was as if something—or someone—was watching her.
Her intuition told her to proceed with caution, so she slowed down, scanning the area below. A small village, half-hidden in the fog, appeared in the distance. It seemed abandoned, but there was a faint light flickering from one of the houses.
Nanami landed carefully, her boots crunching on the road as she approached the village. The eerie silence was unsettling, but she kept her composure. As she walked past the empty houses, she could feel a strange energy in the air.
At the end of the village stood a larger house, its door ajar. Nanami hesitated for a moment before pushing it open. Inside, she found an older man, sitting in front of a fire. His clothes were tattered, and his face was weathered, but his eyes gleamed with an unsettling brightness.
"You've come for her, haven't you?" the man asked, his voice rasping.
Nanami nodded. "I'm looking for a woman. She came here for herbs and hasn't returned."
The man smiled, but it was a cold, unsettling smile.
"She's here," he said. "But you're not the first to come looking for her. And you won't be the last."
Nanami's heart skipped a beat at the man's cryptic words. She stepped forward, narrowing her eyes, but her voice remained steady. "What do you mean? Who are you?"
The old man didn't respond immediately, his gaze lingering on Nanami as if he were sizing her up. The flickering firelight cast eerie shadows across his face, making him appear more like a specter than a person.
"You're different from the others," he finally said, leaning back in his chair. "Most come here with only a desire to find their lost ones, but you… You have the look of someone who knows something of this place, of these mountains."
Nanami frowned, trying to decipher the meaning behind his words. "I'm just here to help. A woman is missing. Her name is—"
"Her name doesn't matter," the man interrupted, his eyes gleaming. "She's a part of this place now, just like so many others. And you won't leave without facing the truth about this mountain."
The words hung in the air like a heavy fog. Nanami's mind raced. She had been prepared for obstacles, but this? This felt like something far deeper than a simple disappearance.
"I'm not leaving without her," Nanami said firmly, her voice tinged with magic. She wasn't about to be intimidated, not when someone needed her.
The man laughed softly, a low, haunting sound. "I can't stop you, child. But I can warn you." He stood up slowly, his movements stiff as if every part of him ached. "This mountain isn't just home to herbs. It's alive. It thrives on the souls of those who wander too far. Your friend... she's not lost. She's a part of this place now."
Nanami felt a chill run through her spine. "What do you mean?"
The man's eyes glinted. "The mountain calls to those who are lost. Those who seek something they can't have. You'll understand soon enough."
With that, he turned and hobbled into the back room, leaving Nanami standing in the dimly lit front area. Her mind was swirling with confusion and fear, but she couldn't let it deter her. There was still a glimmer of hope.
She glanced around the room, her eyes falling on an old map hanging on the wall. It was marked with various symbols and places, all centered around the mountains. One of the locations caught her eye—a small marking near a cavern deep within the range, labeled in faded ink.
"That's where she must be," Nanami whispered to herself. She had to find the cavern. There was no time to waste.
She turned on her heels and made for the door, but before she left, the old man's voice stopped her once again.
"Be careful, witch," he warned, his voice softer now. "Not all magic is meant to be found."