Joseph
*`As one approaches the warm light that does not wane even in the snow, their eyes settle on a small place of sanctuary.`*
*`The one place undisturbed by the snowfield's blizzard — a single room where the snow does not settle, and where warmth emanates from the very ground upon which one stands.`*

The unending gales of wind of the blizzard wane, dissipating as one grows closer to the light, granting for a moment of respite and solace within the clarity of sight and warmth of body granted by one's mere presence in the wake of the light. Indeed, as Sachiko wandered through the snowfield, and unconsciously followed that dim light, they were met with an unnaturally-open location, oddly devoid of snow, and without a hint of cold, gnawing winds to chide their flesh and blood.

The light faded, and its origin was revealed before them, in the epicenter of the strange domain of warmth and still. There, stood unimposing before them, was a single, symmetrical, and square building, no taller than three meters in height, and no larger than five meters in length on any of its four sides. Construed of no more than humble stone brickwork, the building remained in a stillness of an almost timeless nature, oddly both eerie and comforting at the same time. An unlocked door of a simple, yet elegant nature, allowed one entry to the building, should Sachiko brave the oddity of the still sanctuary within the snow.
Tom
*Swiftly dashing through the snow, cursing under her breath, sachiko ran. Sachiko ran across the barren land, focused on searching for everybody else.*

*Sachiko wasn't sure where she was headed, or where exactly everyone needed to head, only trudging and treading through the snowy expanse on instinct and instinct alone, endlessly calling out for any signs of life, desprate to find a way out.*

*As the feline dashed and dashed through, sachiko could see a faint light: warmth was near. As if the light called, sachiko went, for light could mean safety. Or unending doom. Who knows!*

`[***]`

*Nearing their destination, sachiko's pace slowed, finally worn from the fast-paced escape and constant screaming.*

" Hello...? Is... Is anyone near...? " 
*Sachiko calls out once more, desperate to find any sign of life in this barren land.*

*But despite their desperation, sachiko knew from within that no one was there, no one would respond, and that everyone was probably good and gone, all without her.*

*However, sachiko felt it unnecessary to sulk now. What was there to sulk of anyway? Besides, the light seemed closer now, so perhaps a chance of finding a way through this barren land without the others would come to be fruitful.*

`[***]`

*As she finally arrived to where the light led, they were instantly greeted by a lack of cold air in their fur, a feeling of warmth was near. Sachiko's notions were right. However, the lack of snow and cold in the area baffled the feline, feeling as if they were in a different area entirely.*

*And if that strange occurrence wasn't enough, in front of them lies a strange stone structure: a sanctuary hidden within the snow. A feeling of relief was felt in their fur upon seeing the structure. However, the feline couldn't help but feel unnerved by the peace. It simply didn't feel real to them, not at all.*

*Sachiko felt slightly hesitant about entering any further. Especially since they still had no idea where the others were, or how to make their way out of this area. But then again, it wouldn't hurt to take a bit of a break before she set off once more. Who knew how much further she had to go, and either way, sachiko felt quite tired, even more tired than they usually were. So perhaps it would be a good time to take a breather, just for a little while. And perhaps they could encounter the others and tell them of such a place hidden in the snow.* 

*Taking a deep breath, along with a chill of anticipation from within, they slowly walked towards the structure, soon entering the open entryway, highly curious of its contents.*
Joseph
*The door smoothly glides past the wooden frame that encompasses it, and reveals the crimson-lit interior of the sanctuary.*

A light, a familiar light, crimson.
A light that faintly glowed from both the roof and ceiling of the otherwise uncomplex and simple structure, and granted its interior a strange, alien glow, as though it were lit by the dim afterglow of a dying star. A light familiar, and a light identical to the one that guided Sachiko here. Yes, indeed, it seemed to call them.

After all, the one who gave origin to this light took a very similar path to the outsider. A path unknown even to themselves.

The source of such a peculiar light seemed almost divine, but on further examination, would revealed to be no more than the work of a potent magic, no matter how oddly foreign or outright mythical it seemed. Engraved into both the floor and roof, there were dozens upon dozens of carefully-carved runes, each with indecipherable magical natures the likes of which were utterly apocryphal to one who hailed from any universe beside the one from which the *Vektet* Originated. Even the automatic translation device — the R.A.S.W.L.T system — would provide no aid toward unlocking their secrets. Still, it seemed that the warm glow and basic shape of the runes seemed to reminisce of former days; of days lit by the *Sun.* It was naturally soothing, and naturally expunging of the bitter cold within one's bones, quickly bringing them up to comfortable temperature within the midst of the humble sanctuary.

Of course, the light was not only what was truly interesting about the interior of the sanctuary. While mostly empty on the inside, was Sachiko to divert their attention to the wall directly opposite themself, they would take note of an engraved image of the *Moon.* Not a full moon, but one just a quarter-revealed, just beginning its lunar cycle. A **Waxing crescent.** 
_ _

Beneath the simple engraving of the moon of a waxing crescent, there seemed to be much smaller, yet finely-chiseled carvings of text. The script of the text was unknown to Sachiko, of course, for it originated within the *Vektet.* However, the translative device provided to the mercenary would, this time around, be of some use — the contact within their left eye subtly glowed, a blue, holographic text originating from the device overlaying the engraved text. Translated, it read:

```cs
'ᴱᴿᴱ ᴿᴱᴵᴿᵁᴱ'
"ᴛʜᴇ ᴍᴏᴏɴ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ʟᴏᴠᴇꜱ."

"𝘈 𝘱𝘳𝘢𝘺𝘦𝘳 𝘰𝘧 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘯𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘣𝘺 𝘴𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘬𝘯𝘦𝘸 𝘩𝘰𝘸 𝘵𝘰 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯 𝘢𝘯𝘺 𝘦𝘭𝘴𝘦."
"𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘰𝘰 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘥, 𝘖𝘬𝘰𝘵. 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙒𝙖𝙭𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝘾𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙘𝙚𝙣𝙩."```
Marshall
`"𝒶𝒽𝒽, 𝓅𝒶𝓇𝒹𝑜𝓃 𝓂𝑒?"`

—A gentle, and quite quiet voice broke the silence, speaking from a person who oddly went unseen, sitting against one of the walls of the sanctuary. Considering the humble size of the building, it seemed an improbability that Sachiko would have overseen her, and yet, there she appeared, as if she had been glossed over as a mere shadow. A woman clad in delicate, lengthy white lace, with what appeared to be an embroidered blindfold and a sisterly hood over her eyes and head, respectively. Her head perked to the attention of the sudden visitor to the sanctuary, and the notion of both confusion and curiosity pulled at her lips, her mouth opening slightly in surprise.

`"𝒽𝓂𝓂"`

Her lips closed tight again, and she hummed with slight curiosity, blindly tilting her head in the vague direction of the stranger.R

`"𝒞𝒽𝑒𝓇𝑒𝒾?"`

...She questioned, and it was immediately made clear that she hadn't an idea who Sachiko was.

`"...𝑜𝓇 𝑅𝑒𝓊𝓀... 𝒽𝓂..."`

She pondered, and paused for a prolonged time, as if both to collect her thoughts, and to allow the stranger time to introduce themself.