Black-blue mist rolled out of Waycrest Manor and rolled down the hill it crowned, choking every single house in its path. Alaina's too.
From the ground, seams of the same cursed energy ripped through and rose skyward, the aurora replaced with a sky blacker than night.
Her Father, Auntie, and three Cousins piled out from their home and fought their way through the darkness.
Guardsmen and falconers alike swung their blades and set their rifles upon Alaina and her family, though quickly dispatched, left wounds and answers that would yet be unhealed.
Alaina shouted. "I can't see Arthur anywhere! I have to find him."
Her Father nodded. "His training should see him still alive. Find him, then meet us on the road leading out of Corlain!"
Alaina did just that, and barged her way past any who tried to stop her.
Her thoughts lingered little on what had happened, on how it happened, only that she might still have the chance to save her closest friend.
She saw him standing at the entrance to his home with a neighbour's child, shielding the boy from every blow that would have been sent his way and dealing just as many back.
Throwing him on his shoulder, Arthur leapt over his assailants and met Alaina's side. With a charming smile, fearless, and proud he took her hand and together they escaped.
"I'm glad to see you still alive, Alaina!" He boomed heartily. She smirked, heartened in turn to see his demeanour untarnished by even these worst of circumstances.
"I'd hardly die now." She replied. "Who would be there to rival your heroism without me?"
Alaina's Father eventually left with Auntie to seek aid in Boralus, to find a home for them there.
Alaina and Arthur however, inseparable and all too positive, stayed in Arom's Stand to defend the few refugees from Upper Corlain and the farms they had travelled there with.
Though young, the Order of Embers took them in and shared the teachings of the Tome of Silver and Ash with them. Two Knights trained by Corlain's greatest Swordsman would doubtless be needed in the fight ahead.
Though the times ahead of them were dark, Alaina and Arthur fought back the darkness together.
For every great, glorious act Alaina performed, Arthur did the same.
Arthur charged in headfirst and slew a witch and ended a ritual before it could begin.
Alaina, later that same eve, rescued four children from a barn which threatened to collapse on top of them.
Arthur, on another day, slew at least four beastmen alone with a single mighty swing of his sword.
Alaina herself climbed upon a colossal Wicker construct and plunged a flaming sword into its head, ending its brief life instantly.
When they set upon yet another witch, they thought it easy, simple even.
On a farm just outside Corlain they and a number of other members of the Order stood.
If they could reclaim this farm, it could give Lady Waycrest and her Inquisitors a chance to breathe... and a chance to reclaim their home.
The witch, though, was cunning. With a hex it animated the farm's wicker scarecrow with unnatural strength and set it to slay anything in its path.
Caught off guard, the other warriors aside Alaina and Arthur were slew, though they beat the monstrosity back handily.
The witch had anticipated this, though, and with another spell worked its way into the mind of one of the two remaining Knights.
And Alaina fell under its control. She saw a hazy dream, a nightmare, her sword ran through Arthur's throat as he pleaded for her to listen.
When Alaina woke, she saw it was no dream, and the witch had escaped.
She spoke to Inquisitor Cleardawn, head of the Order's forces, in the coming days.
"I see." The Inquisitor spoke. "That is a shame to hear, awful even. We've had many terrible losses and I fear more are to come. I don't think it was your fault, if it's any help."
"Thank you, Ma'am." Alaina spoke. "It doesn’t help, but thank you."
Alaina continued to serve the Order with the best of her ability for the rest of its campaign.
Though now permanently assigned to missions where it was known Witches were not present, Alaina was there for the final battle at Corlain, and did retake her home though alone.
A hero, she was named, for her services. An Inquisitor too.