The lantern

"If it be her desire, she hath the power to do so."

'So, have I encountered her in real life before? Why would she have erased my memories? Could she be one of those old-fashioned individuals who believe in true love?'

He couldn't ascertain if the lantern was toying with his thoughts or speaking the truth, but he hoped it was the latter.

"Pray, reveal thy needs and I shall strive to fulfill them." The lantern inquired once more, its tone suggesting a growing impatience with Adrian's evasiveness.

Adrian's gaze locked with the lantern, and he couldn't resist asking, "If you can delve into my thoughts, you should know what I desire." He consciously willed his mind to conjure thoughts of the woman he longed to be with.

The lantern remained silent for a moment, and then its spectral figure turned toward Adrian and replied, "Thou canst not manipulate me, young one."

Upon hearing the figure's remark, beads of sweat formed on Adrian's forehead. He thought, 'This is no joke. That gaze wasn't there without purpose. This is risky.' Although he comprehended the precarious nature of the situation, he couldn't afford to let this opportunity slip by; it held promise.

"So, are there any rules? Or can I wish for anything?" Adrian inquired, genuinely curious about the workings of this enigmatic encounter.

. 

"I shall grant thy request, and thou shalt be tasked with bearing me for no more than four paces with each endeavor. Should thou fail, thou shalt bear the consequences." The lantern responded, its demeanor indicating that it had already foreseen such a question from Adrian.

Adrian couldn't help but narrow his eyes at the ethereal figure. He was eager to accept, but doubt lingered in his mind.

"Is that all?" Adrian inquired, his voice rife with suspicion.

. 

"Doubt me not, I beseech thee."

As the lantern's voice descended, the entire basement quivered. Observing the growing seriousness of the figure, Adrian ceased his experimentation with the lantern's limits. Just as he was on the verge of consenting, the lantern's form began to blur and morph into that of a fox.

Baffled by the lantern's sudden transformation, Adrian couldn't comprehend what had caused it to change shape. Just as he was about to inquire about it, eerie footsteps echoed through the darkness. Adrian strained his enhanced werewolf senses to see, but the inky blackness concealed any source of the sound.

The footsteps had an irregular, unsettling cadence—sometimes halting, other times hastening. There was an uncanny, unidentifiable quality to them. The only consistent aspect was their unnerving proximity, drawing nearer with each passing moment.

Desperate and terrified, Adrian implored, "Mother Gaze, I was wrong. Please help me. I'll never doubt you again. Just guide me to safety, please." However, like always, the Mother Gaze remained indifferent, leaving Adrian to face the menacing presence on his own. 

The footsteps abruptly ceased, and for a brief moment, an eerie silence enveloped Adrian. He thought it was finally over, but that sense of relief was short-lived. The footsteps suddenly resumed, increasing in speed from a brisk walk to a jog, and then to a full-out sprint.

The disconcerting part was that the sound seemed to be coming from all directions, as if he was encircled by an invisible multitude. Adrian was trapped in a nightmare of sound, unable to see anything in the pitch-black darkness that surrounded him.

"Thou hast but little time, my child, for it approacheth."The lantern cunningly seized upon the most desperate of circumstances to manipulate Adrian into carrying out its enigmatic scheme.

Adrian, unsure of his next move, found himself at a loss when his cane suddenly began to vibrate. The sensation jolted him back to reality. He swiftly withdrew the needle from his cane and plunged it directly into his chest.

Wincing in pain, Adrian patiently waited for his blood to flow into the needle. However, for the first time since acquiring the needle, it refused to absorb his blood.

'Well shit.'

Resorting to his final option, Adrian approached the lantern and grasped it firmly. The moment he did, the footsteps ceased. The sudden silence brought him a sense of relief.

"Make a wish, and swiftly, for thou hast but three heartbeats to decide." The lantern, still maintaining its characteristic behavior despite now taking the form of a fox, prompted Adrian to make his first wish. Uncertain of what to request, Adrian pondered his options.

"I wish for all the relics from the House of the Gentle Tablet to be here right now,"

Adrian proclaimed. The lantern's light intensified, and a rift in reality appeared. Then, countless objects began tumbling from the tear, comprising nearly thirteen mysterious relics. 

Adrian couldn't believe his eyes as the relics materialized seemingly out of thin air. It dawned on him that this lantern was no ordinary relic; it had to possess a higher rank than the very relics it summoned.

He refrained from pushing the lantern's limits by requesting all the relics from the House of the Gentle Tablet, as doing so might have been more fatal.

"Now thou shalt proceed with two steps ahead." The voice descended from the lantern, but this time it had a chilling undertone of happiness.

Adrian noticed the change in tone as well but he didn't put too much thought into it as he just wanted to pickup the the relics that he felt deemed worthy. He bend down and started to look through them and soon found the compass of finding. 

Adrian couldn't help but be amazed by the relic. The Compass of Finding was a wondrous relic, a testament to time's embrace. Crafted from aged bronze, its surface bore the intricate patina of countless years, which had etched an intricate, yet delicate, map of time's passage into its very essence. Its aged countenance exuded an air of profound antiquity, as if it had journeyed through centuries, bearing witness to countless adventures and discoveries.

The dial, marked with ornate engravings of celestial symbols and intricate patterns, had exuded an aura of wisdom and enigma. Each twist and turn of its elaborate design had told tales of uncharted territories and hidden truths.

Its needle, though worn, had still quivered with purpose, ever ready to point the way to untold destinations, reminiscent of bygone eras when brave souls had embarked on quests unknown.

The Compass of Finding had been more than just a relic; it had been a bridge to the past, a reminder of forgotten legends, and a guide to uncharted futures.

Its ancient bronze and the whisper of age in its every contour had made it a treasure that had beckoned adventurers with its promise of discovery and an everlasting connection to the echoes of history.

Adrian thought, 'That's one task completed. Now, let's consider what else I should take. I can't take all of these.'

He continued to examine the remaining relics, and his attention was drawn to a mysterious necklace. Determining the purpose of a relic was simple—just use it, and its function would become evident. 

Using a relic felt as natural as breathing. Simply touching a relic would provide the knowledge of its use. The mechanics of this phenomenon remained a mystery, but the universe was full of enigmas waiting to be unraveled.

Relics were non-living, although some exceptionally powerful ones could mimic certain aspects of living beings- 

such as the lantern he held.