Ethershine: Secrets of Mirewood Marsh by VoidGift on DeviantArt (original) (raw)

Rumors spoke of Mirewood Marsh, where the boundary between our world and arcane mysteries lay thin. Driven by tales of potent magics and hidden artifacts, I, the Wizard of Magical Colors, ventured into its mists, seeking secrets that many before me had sought but few had unveiled. Every step within its treacherous embrace was a dance with destiny.

In the shadowed heart of the swamp, a white witch appeared before me, her ethereal form levitating above the murky waters. Eager to comprehend her magic, I called out to her, only to be met with a wicked grin that hinted at her true intentions.

As words spilled from her lips, the very clearing around us began to glow with a malevolent luminescence, a testament to her overwhelming power. I felt the tendrils of her wicked aura wrap around my very soul, chilling me to the bone.

She proposed a devil's bargain: my life in exchange for a particular root. Curious, I inquired why she couldn’t retrieve it herself. It was then she spoke of the Soulroot, a cursed flora that consumed the essence of any who dared to touch it.

With little choice, and knowing her powers eclipsed my own, I agreed. She led me to the place where the root lay, pulsating with an almost sentient hunger. Carefully, I cast a spell to lift it, ensuring I didn't come into direct contact.

The witch's visage contorted in fury. She had intended for me to be devoured by the root, its malevolent power only truly activated once it had tasted a soul.

As she summoned her powers to destroy me, I acted on sheer instinct. Using the very spell I held the root with, I hurled it towards her. Blinded by her own anger, it wedged between her teeth, and I watched in mixed horror and relief as the witch's screams echoed throughout the swamp. Her soul was rapidly consumed by the root she so desired.

After narrowly escaping the witch's wrath, I took a moment to inspect the Soulroot more closely. Its luminous hue was unlike anything I'd ever encountered, a shade I aptly named "Ethershine Blue." When beheld, this mesmerizing color revealed fleeting glimpses into distant realms and age-old mysteries. This was more than just a testament to Mirewood Marsh's magic; "Ethershine Blue" became an emblem of the uncharted wonders that still await, beckoning to seek them out.

Thanks call-of-eternity for being an inspiration.