It took two months, but we have arrived at the abandoned town that Alys was ordered to investigate. I was not told the specifics of the mission, but I was told that Alys may be sensitive about the area and to keep an eye on her. I assume that means this has something to do with her past – either directly, or as a parallel – though I do wonder at the Commander’s intentions.

Perhaps he suspects that her control is not secure, despite how she handled herself at the Turning Ritual, and he is attempting to warn me. It is also possible that he wishes me to be on edge for some reason. I doubt I could take her on in a direct confrontation, even if I were inclined to, so…

I shall spare a few thoughts to the matter when I can.

The town itself is not as destroyed as the town we razed. Several buildings are charred, as would be expected if this were another remnant of another ritual, but a significant amount of time has passed and just as much of the damage is due to neglect and weathering as fire.

But the most notable thing about the entire town is the massive crater in the center of it. Not only the buildings, but also the ground itself, seems to have disintegrated entirely. It is not evenly spread, but seems to have originated as a single point, getting wider as it goes further.

I would expect there to be some variation, perhaps some rubble on the far edges of whatever happened, but no. The ground itself is still smoother, almost like glass. Presumably years later.

Alys, for her own part, has been even more quiet on the trip. Previously, I could steal a few words at meals, but she has gone days at a time with just a gesture or two. For the last week, she’s not even done that. Whatever is here is… troubling her?

I do sense something among the rubble. Something pulling me toward it. I can only assume it has to do with her past in some way, something I can grasp with my aspect to understand more of this proto-Saint.

Perhaps I can learn more about what would make her a Saint in the first place. Though she is intimidating, and powerful, she has been much more reserved than the others I’ve seen. She does not have the cache that I would expect a Saint to have; she cannot gather the fear, awe, or widespread attention necessary to carry her over the threshold.

The book has been wrong in the past; it claimed the Hobo still lived and could not be killed. But those have been due to my own intervention, or at least I would assume so. I have done nothing here. Not yet.

But I shall find an excuse to follow my instincts, and discover whatever shows me more about Alys.