A scream further darkened the night as dust gathered within a grass-filled glade. In the finality following the sharp absence of sound, a silence settled in the evening with a yawning stretch.

  From the stillness entered two shadows of the forest. Each was shaped similarly, though with key differences, as one stood tall and thin, while the other was relatively short and stocky. Both had long beards, loose robes, and held staffs that seemed bound and fit to their hands.

  They carried an innate darkness that seemed untouched by the green-touched moon overhead, their colors only lightened to gray at the best of times. Both looked down at the pile of dust before them, speckles of it drifting away in a light breeze that seemed to drift through the area unaware.

  “Another one gone,” said the tall man, almost seeming to lean on the long staff held before him.

  “Yes,” replied the shorter of the two, “But at least this one made it much further, better than the three from before”.

  The tall man sighed, “I don’t like doing this. It’s not right.”

  “Right,” The short man laughed, a deep, phlegm-filled thing. “Since when has the option of being right presented itself to us. No, it’s not right. It’s necessary. For the good of the village and beyond, the challenge must be completed.”

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  He reached down, uncaring of what the dust had once been, and seemed to pluck something from within. Holding it up to the light of the moon, he inspected it with great interest before placing it in a pocket within his robe. “That will help.”

  “You know it will not work.”

  “Yes, it will. I have to believe that, otherwise, these sacrifices are for nothing.”

  The tall man looked down at the disturbed pile, further pieces of it blowing away in a wind that seemed to touch the forest not at all. “I’d really hoped she could make it through. Such a kind girl.”

  The short man let the words trail away in the air before clearing his throat. “Who’s next?”

  Shaking his head as the last pieces of the former Challenger of the Forest finally faded away, the tall man looked up, “The Boy, you know the one.” He paused, then spoke slowly, “There’s something strange about him. I can’t place my finger on it.”

  “Maybe that’s for the better.” As one, they both turned and walked away, leaving the thoughts and memories of the evening behind them. “We could use a bit of strangeness right now. Things are only getting worse out there. Soon enough, we’ll have more trouble than we can handle.”

  “Yeah…yeah. Maybe you’re right.”

  As the two men left the glade, a presence filled the area. It had watched, always watched, tracking each breath and movement of the Girl who had thought she could make it through. But she was mistaken, as were the many in the last ten attempts.

  But one day, a challenger would get through. Then, and only then, would the village change.

  Only then would the new wizard gain their mastery.

  And the Boy would be the next to try…