In the twilight of Illyria, where the nights are darker than in any other realm, I found myself trudging alongside my fellow merchant, Alden, through a seldom-traveled trade route. The moon overhead cast an eerie silver glow, but it was the unnatural, flickering neon lights from the bushes that had us on edge.
We'd heard tales of the Luminescent Woods, of strange creatures that glowed in the dark, but we dismissed them as mere folklore. A decision we'd come to rue.
As Alden and I navigated the treacherous path, a chilling giggle echoed from the thicket. Peering into the underbrush, I glimpsed a tiny figure, barely a foot tall, with blue skin that shimmered in the moonlight. But what froze my blood were its eyes: two glowing orbs of the deepest red, gleaming with malevolence.
"Noctel," Alden whispered, naming the creature from the old tales. Said to be a guardian of these woods, the Noctel was a gremlin-like being that hunted those who dared to trespass after dark.
Before we could react, the creature lunged at Alden, its diminutive size belying its strength. Its sharp claws tore at him, and within moments, he lay lifeless on the forest floor. Paralyzed with horror, I could only watch as the Noctel, with a triumphant cackle, disappeared back into the shadows.
My grief was quickly replaced by a primal urge to survive. Recalling tales of the Noctel being repelled by light, I hastily gathered dry twigs and struck my flint, igniting a small flame. As the fire grew, I brandished a burning branch as a torch, its light piercing the darkness.
But the Noctel was cunning. Every so often, I'd hear its sinister giggle, feel its presence lurking just beyond the light's reach. It was toying with me, waiting for the flame to die.
Dawn seemed an eternity away, and my torch began to wane. Just as despair gripped me, a distant song wafted through the air. The melodic voice of a Luminaria, ethereal beings said to dwell deeper within the woods. Their radiant glow was believed to be anathema to dark creatures like the Noctel.
Driven by hope, I followed the song, the Noctel's taunting giggles growing fainter. As the first rays of dawn broke, I emerged from the Luminescent Woods, the haunting silhouette of the Noctel forever etched in my memory.
To this day, I bear the scars of that harrowing night, a somber reminder of the darkness that lurks in the forgotten corners of Illyria. The Luminescent Woods stand as a testament to both the allure and peril of the unknown, and of the neon-blue terror that awaits those who dare traverse its depths.
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Made from 100% organic ring-spun cotton, this unisex t-shirt is a total must-have. It's high-quality, super comfy, and best of all—eco-friendly.
• 100% organic ring-spun cotton
• Fabric weight: 5.3 oz./yd.² (180 g/m²)
• Single jersey
• Medium fit
• Set-in sleeves
• 1 × 1 rib at collar
• Wide double-needle topstitch on the sleeves and bottom hems
• Self-fabric neck tape (inside, back of the neck)
• Blank product sourced from Bangladesh
The sizes correspond to a smaller size in the US market, so US customers should order a size up.
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