elective amnesia | eeva

[cade owen woodward]

Fear alone, like a crutch

Maybe that's what keeps us up

March 23, 2026
@eeva

Cade stared at the wall in front of him, though really, he wasn’t staring at anything in particular. His elbow rest on the bar and his fingers were on his chin as he gathered his thoughts. This whole business of the Island was still quite relevant and a topic that wasn’t going away. Even if the Ministry had more control over the mysterious piece of land, the public still had questions and wanted answers. Cade did his best to keep his ears open, and his journalists couldn’t be stopped from writing the articles that came across his desk at night to perhaps be published in the edition the next day or the day after. Fortunately, he could keep the Order informed, and even more fortunately, the Order itself had Ministry employees that had visited the Island. For now, they had kept quiet about their experiences—minus what was due to be reported back from the Aurors and Interpol.

Unfortunately, the bureaucratic process was getting in the way of any progress. There were limitations to such organizations as the Order—at least if they wanted to remain as hidden as they could be. To top it off, Krum was hardly handling the matter. Cade figured perhaps a piece, however small, could be informative to the public and put political pressure where needed. Fortunately, they had an excellent resource. Eeva had agreed to speak to Cade on the record regarding the Island. The Druids had a complicated history with the Ministry and its Ministers. Krum was no different. Harry’s pub would be empty enough as it was a weekday, and Cade had his self-writing quill ready to take notes.

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[Deleted]

March 23 2026
cade owen woodward

The fact that Eeva worked aroudn and with non-druids far more then her native people. But, despite waht seemed to be clear signs she wasn't "in" with her culture, it was far from it. Yes, Eeva was far more tolerant then the average Druid. But she still held many of her childhood and cultural beliefs. Though there were points in which she clashed with other druids as well. IN particular, it seemed Yrisle. Eeva had more experience with the island than many other druids. As such, she had a more informed opinion when it came to the location. Still, she was surprised when Cade had brought up asking about Yrisle and druid beliefs. All on the record, for an article he was writing.

Even more surprising, she'd decided to agree. Normally Eeva wouldn't involve herself in this sort of situation. But she felt if he interviewed any other druid he'd only get half truths that were buried in Druidic lore. And so, she agreed to meet him at the Hounds and Harrier's Pub in the early afternoon. Cade had already arrived as when she walked into the pub she found him sitting alone at the bar. She moved to him, sliding onto the free barstool next to him and waved over a bartender. "Do you have any Woodworm wines?" the Bartender nodded. "One for each of us then." He left to fill the order adn she smiled at Cade. "Since you want to talk Yrisle and druids, it's only fitting you at least have a druid wine, if you've never tried it before." Woodworm was one of the popular winemakers on Hy-Brasil. "So. What do you want to know?"

[cade owen woodward]

Fear alone, like a crutch

Maybe that's what keeps us up

March 23, 2026
@eeva

Cade looked when Eeva approached the bar. To be fair, despite all his work over the years, Cade had never visited Hy-Brasil and hadn’t interacted with hardly any Druids over the years. So suffice to say that this would be his first on-record interview with one. While Anastasia had mentioned escorting the High Druid to the island not long ago, he doubted it would be possible to speak to her at this time. It might be intrusive even. Something in his gut told him to start with Eeva, and she had happily agreed. She ordered a wine that Cade was not familiar with, and he nodded with a slight grin. ”Seems appropriate. I’d never thought to ask for Druid wine at a pub before.” He supposed it made sense with the growing population of Druids on the mainland.

Straight to business. Cade nodded, opting to ask his first question before the bartender even returned. ”First, I want to thank you for speaking with me.” Despite his work outside of his role with the Prophet, that was his duty first and foremost. Cade sat up a little straighter and pointed his wand at the quill. It seemed to wake up and rested above the parchment—ready to write. ”Well, let's start with what drew you to the island? Why did you go, and what did you experience there?” There were many reasons to visit or attempt to. Mainly the Ministry and Cursebreakers and others. Even outside of her involvement with Heliopath, was there another reason?

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[Deleted]

March 23 2026
cade owen woodward

Druid wines weren't very popular unless you were close to Hy-Brasil. As such, they were mostly carried by pubs in the UK and surrounding area. The further from Hy-Brasil, or any other druid community you got, the more rare it was. Eeva wasn't one to drink it too often, but not because she didn't like it. She honestly just liked having a variety of alcoholic drinks. "It isn't surprising. I wouldn't call them common for witches and wizards that haven't been exposed to them before."

It was like a switch and Cade was all business, first thanking her and then starting up that magical note taking quill. She smiled, not responding to the thanks. Again, she wanted to make sure he got an honest perspective of Yrisle that wasn't clouded by superstitions. Though that didn't mean he should know about them. Those superstitions were just one side of the coin though. As his first questions came she chuckled softly. It was at that moment that the bar tender returned with the two glasses. She took a moment to take a sip from her own glass before beginning to answer. "Those are pretty loaded questions. Well, to start it was honest curiosity. It was before we knew what the island was or it's connection to my ancestors. An acquaintance of mine wanted to get some first hand knowledge and I've always had a strong connection with creatures. So I went to learn about what sort of wildlife was there." She didn't specify who the acquaintance was, but she winked, hoping he'd get the reference that it was Order related. Well, Heliopath related before the reunification. So she couldn't go into to much detail. "As f or what I experienced... Honestly it's difficult to put into words. Yrisle is a world of it's own with it's own laws, magic, and ecosystem. It's been cut off from the rest of the world for so long that it hardly resembles any other place you might experience. It's was disorienting for most people. In particular druids can feel these differences stronger then a witch or wizard and as such Yrisle doesn't sit well with our bodies at first. It was very difficult for my body to adapt to the land and magic. You probably heard that being on Yrisle made many druids sick just being there." She hoped the explanation was good enough to start.

[cade owen woodward]

Fear alone, like a crutch

Maybe that's what keeps us up

March 23, 2026
@eeva

The bartender approached, and he nodded in thanks. A familiar face he’d seen around and trusted by Harry, so he didn’t mind him lingering if he felt he needed to. Cade took the glass and sipped the wine. While he didn’t drink wine often outside of a social event or dinner, this was…interesting. He couldn’t quite decide if he liked it yet. Eeva had begun to speak, and the quill began scratching away furiously after a moment. Cade glanced over and verified it was transcribing what was being said. The typical Quick Quill notes used by the Quibbler and other publications made him wary of such charms at times, and he aimed for accuracy.

Cade didn’t dwell on the ‘acquaintance’, as it wasn’t relevant technically to the story he was putting together. Plus, mentioning such groups would only shift the spotlight from where he wanted it to be. He listened intently and with curiosity as well. He hadn’t made the trek to the island though it had crossed his mind. But one might question why an Editor would make the journey rather than sending journalists from his team. ”So the island has a greater effect on Druids? How is it connected to your ancestors?” She had brought up the ancestor connection previously. That tied in with the effect she described was interesting. Karkaroff had described the effect it had on The High Druid, plus her own experience and a handful of others in the Order. ”Is it true that the levels of disorientation seemed to vary between individuals?” Cade wanted to know if it varied with Druids or if it was a generalized sort of effect.

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[Deleted]

March 23 2026
cade owen woodward

Eeva took a second sip as he asked his next question, nodding just a little before she finished and set the glass down to finally begin to answer. "Yes, it does. Everyone I spoke to about it seemed to confirm druids felt it the strongest. My theory is that it's because druids have a stronger connection to nature. So we are able to tune into how foreign Yrisle is from the rest of the world much easier then the average wizard." Though she'd eventually grown used to it, that feeling never really went away. She'd just learned how to manage how horribly sick it'd made her feel. As for the connection with her ancestors she smiled. "You would call them ghost stories. It's why the island is being called Yrisle. Yrisle is an island in druid folklore. After the initial few days visits many of us came to the same conclusion that this mysterious island was Yrisle from our legends." IT was a brief overview, she knew, but she was trying to keep her answers to the point. SO that he could lead the conversation and questions in the direction he wanted. If he wanted to pursue that line of questioning, he would.

Eeva thought as he mentioned the disorientation varying by the individual. She tapped a finger to her chin. "I suppose so. None of the companions I traveled with felt it nearly as strong as I did. When I stepped onto the sand it was completely overwhelming, alike the wind was knocked right out of me. Other wizards felt it but they didn't seem nearly as bothered by the feeling. Werewolves, from my understanding, didn't feel disoriented at all. They felt the presence of the island, of course, but it wasn't uncomfortable for them in any way. I did hear that the High Druid visited Yrisle as well and her reaction was even more violent than my own. That could be linked to her status as High Druid, or perhaps because she'd spent more time on Hy-Brasil then I have so she was even more in tune with the magic of Yrisle." There were plenty of theories why High Druid Fae would feel the effects even stronger then the average druid.

[cade owen woodward]

Fear alone, like a crutch

Maybe that's what keeps us up

March 23, 2026
@eeva

Cade took another sip of the wine. An acquired taste, he had to admit but not a bad one either. ”The wine is different.” A good different. ”Do you know any winemakers?” Slightly off-topic, but more of a question of personal curiosity. Eeva continued to explain the island’s effect. Perhaps there was some unique magic that existed there. Unfortunately, Cade did not have the extensive training that his Auror and Cursebreaker colleagues did to even begin to think about the possibilities. He made a mental note to check in with others at the Order who might be able to shed some light on similar phenomena if there were any.

”Foreign? As in the island itself or whatever magic exists there?” It wasn’t a far-reaching conclusion that there was magic there, much like Cursebreakers he’d interviewed in the past having a gut feeling when walking into a particularly cursed tomb. They felt it, much as the people did with this island. And then she said a name. Cade glanced at his notes again to make sure it was written down. ”So you’re suggesting that these ‘stories’ are, in fact, entirely true?” Stories passed down through time and generations were typically modified intentionally and unintentionally over time. Cade suspected it was possible here as well.

Cade nodded, wondering why there was a difference in reactions between werewolves and regular magical folk. It also reminded him that he’d never actually heard the werewolves he knew speak about their experiences. Levi kept quiet when he decided to attend meetings, and Greyback avoided the topic altogether. ”What do the stories say about werewolves?” If this island, Yrisle, was in their folklore and was, in fact, real, then perhaps there was some explanation there for this. Karkaroff had said that the High Druid had warned them to leave the island. ”Were you not raised on Hy-Brasil?” Such things he wasn’t well versed on, though he was still amazed the High Druid had decided to make that visit. Though it was also in stark contrast to any action their Minister had decided to take. He wondered if there was a chance he could speak to the High Druid at some point as well.

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[Deleted]

March 23 2026
cade owen woodward

It had been a long time since Eeva had been to Hy-Brasil. But, his question of knowing any winemakers wasn't a no. It wasn't really a yes either though. So, instead Eeva shrugged. "No doubt I'm related to some somewhere in the family tree. I was more familiar with some growing up as well. Not so much in recent years, however. Many druid winemakers have been in the business for generations though, so you tend to know of the families, where you know them personally or not. And there's always some connection to them." That was the life of a druid. Especial those still on Hy-Brasil. If you searched, you'd find a connection. While in recent years they'd been much more careful about marriages between too close of relatives it wasn't a secret that there was a history of it before that sort of thing was really considered taboo. But the same thing happened with Pureblood wizards.

To be honest, Eeva, despite the effects of Yrisle... was still fascinated by the island. And wanted to return. She'd grown accustomed to the "gifts" Yrisle had given her and wanted to learn more about it's wildlife. Alas, she hadn't been allowed to return with the crack down from the Ministry... "The island is magic. You can't differentiate the two. But it's unlike any modern magic I'm familiar with. So yes, it's very foreign. I was able to find some roots that reminded me of ancient druidic runes, however. Ones we've long since stopped using, and many we've lost the true meaning behind. So, while foreign, I think it would be safe to assume that at one point the magic of Yrisle was the same as our own. Like two branches of a tree. But simply put, Yrisle's magic changes far faster then our own. Which is why it is difficult to see any similarities." HOw it changed, of course, would play into Druid lore and her own experience.

She smiled as he asked if she was suggesting the stories were real, before slowly nodded. "I believe the root of the stories, Yrisle and the Wyrdness, are real. But I also believe stories change over time and unfortunately many details were changed or lost. Modern stories of Yrisle and the Wyrdness are nothing more then children's stories, used to scare druid children into behaving. We changed the stories to fit a need, but they were all based on truth at one point."

Ah, werewolves and the stories. Now, while she assumed some details were changed considering the reaction and druidic beliefs regarding werewolves... Well, there must be some truth to them. "It's no secret that most druids are no friends of werewolves or vampires by nature. Druid culture is very superstitious, especially when it comes to dark magic and creatures. Druid believe that the first vampire and werewolf were created by the Wyrdness. They came with sincere dreams and desires but the Wyrdnesss corrupted and twisted them into these demihumans." She knew it was a bit callous to put it that way, but her expression didn't change nor did her tone of voice hold any resentment. WHile druid she didn't sound like she shared these beliefs anymore.

Many witches and wizards were most familiar with Hy-Brasil. It was, after all, the capital of all druid culture. But, it was not the only settlement of druids. The druids' other homes were not widely known, however. She shook her head. "No, I was raised in Stuorraguovssahasat. It's a Druid and Sami community in Finnish Lapland, roughly a hundred years old. Druids have several communities off of Hy-Brasil, but they are all still fairly young and small. I can't think of any that are more then a few hundred years old."

[cade owen woodward]

Fear alone, like a crutch

Maybe that's what keeps us up

March 23, 2026
@eeva

Cade listened intently. There was a lot about this culture he had no idea about. It had never really come up in his work, but times were changing, and he supposed this would help him keep up. But it was a good tidbit of information to know. Winemaking as a craft seemed to be passed down through the family. His brow furrowed, however, when she spoke about the island again. The Quill was writing still and keeping up with her explanations, capturing all the details he’d re-read later to make sure it was all in his head. She spoke of ancient magic and runes, and he knew she was getting into topics he was hardly qualified for. But he supposed that was the best part of the Order, the variety in who was involved that provided insights from all different perspectives. ”The magic sounds almost…volatile?” He supposed that was the right word, or unstable even if it changed that quickly.

”Does your experience on the island help you differentiate what is fact wand what isn’t?” As far as Cade knew, she walked up on that beach and saw something that was described exactly as it had been told to her or perhaps the opposite. Which lead them to talk more about the lore but in regards to werewolves now. While he knew enough to know that werewolves stayed clear of Hy-Brasil as they were not welcome, but had never quite understood why. ”The Wyrdness…is that another name for the Yrisle?” He hadn’t heard that name before, or maybe it was for another part of the ghost story. ”So Druids believe that Vampires and Werewolves are dark magic or related to that dark magic?” A clarifying question for his understanding of how this was all possibly connected. Cade glanced at his notes. It was a sort of blunt and cold way to think about these members of society, especially when they had progressed as far as they had in terms of equality.

Cade raised an eyebrow in surprise. He’d just assumed she’d been raised on Hy-Brasil. The knowledge of smaller settlements wasn’t totally new information, but he supposed it just hadn’t been in the forefront of his mind. ”Interesting. Do the stories vary from community to community? Or are they all relatively the same?”

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[Deleted]

March 23 2026
cade owen woodward

Volatile was a strong word. She tilted her head from side to side, mulling over it. Before shaking her head. " I wouldn't say volatile. A fish does not think a bird is bad because it can fly. Nor does a bird think a fish is bad because it can swim. They are simply different from one another. We, as human beings regardless of our blood, simply don't adapt to new quickly and are often brand the unknown as bad before giving it a chance." She shrugged then, taking a sip from her wine. "Some would have you believe it is volatile because of the stories though." HEr personal experience though had made her think differently. If the Wyrdness truly was evil, she shouldn't be standing here today.

While there was still much to be determined, his question was spot on. Eeva nodded slowly. "I can see many truths to our lore, but I can also points in which druid lore changed into more myth then fact. It's still too early to decide just how much is true or false and unfortunately your Ministry chooses to remain ignorant and attempt to control a force that's been locked away for a very long time. If even a fraction of the stories are true then the Ministry has fatally flawed judgement." Despite having been away from a druid community for so long it seemed she still shared a hint of resentment towards the Ministry of Magic that was common among her people. At the very least, she was clearly very critical of it's decision to try and control the Yrisle.

Eeva could understand many of the confusion and need for further questions. Yrisle, Wyrdness. Many of this was very new information to a non-druid. "Yrisle is the island in which the Wyrdness calls home," she explained, pausing momentarily. "The Wyrdness is... well you could call it the God of all magic, or creator of magic. Including our own. Druid lore says that long ago, the Wyrdness was a sentient consciousness with no physical body, but with the capacity to think and create. It created a great many things, including magic which is bestowed upon humanity's ancestors. Unfortunately the Wyrdness never stopped creating. It soon turned to manipulation, changing things it touched, whether it was willing to change or not. Many turned to the Wyrdness for power, begging it to change them and give them strength, knowledge, wealth, and so forth. But no one rules the Wyrdness, and no one can dictate what would do. It would twist people's desires into something they didn't want. Corrupting those desires. I think you would think of it like... a Genie. How you can wish for something and it may, in theory, fulfill your wish, but it isn't in your benefit. The Wyrdness twisted anything it wanted without any rules to confine it." She paused, realizing that this might be a lot of information to absorb all at once. It worked well with his question. "Werewolves and Vampires are, according to our lore, proof of the Wyrdness' existence and capability. The first vampire and werewolf did not seek to become what they are today, but that's what the Wyrdness made them in accordance to it's interpretation of their desire."

Eeva wasn't surprised that he'd thought she was from Hy-Brasil. Most people assumed all druids came from Hy-Brasil. They did... sort of. Hy-Brasil was the homeland of all druids and where their culture, stories, and magical abilities, developed. "As far as I'm aware, no. None of the communities are old enough to have developed noteworthy variations on our lore. The communities can have some cultural variations, however. For example, druids at home cohabitate with the Sami people, magical and muggle. So druids from my home are often much more tolerant of non magical people." She shrugged. "For us, it is not as important to remain a druid only culture, as we've found kinship with another people." She paused to run a hand through her hair, thinking. "But at the root we are still druid. Regardless of where we're born."

[cade owen woodward]

Fear alone, like a crutch

Maybe that's what keeps us up

March 23, 2026
@eeva

Eeva didn’t seem to agree with his word choice, but he figured it was a matter of perspective. Still, he listened to her logic. It was a relatively simple way to look at a complex issue, so he wasn’t sure if he entirely agreed, but he could see her point. ”So you believe it's just misunderstood?” But, Cade did have to agree on the point that humans feared what they did not know, and that seemed to be true in some capacity of every generation. Much like the history in the United States and how he’d found out of the magical community’s disdain for the muggle community due to that unfortunate history. And her statement on the Ministry's judgment had been echoed by the High Druid. Though if they had asked Cade, he’d have to agree on certain points but not entirely related to the Island itself.

”I was under the impression the Ministry was just trying to keep people out.” Many were attempting to enter the Island for whatever reason. Curiosity, personal gain, treasure hunting, but it was a dangerous place according to what he’d been told from those that had visited. Besides, how could the Ministry control what it did not understand? He doubted that the Druid stories had been shared with the Minister. And if what Eeva spoke of was to be believed, he wondered if it was the right choice to tell them at all. Creator of Magic. A God. Dangerous words to repeat and especially if heard by the wrong ears. Cade glanced again at his quill as he thought through what she’d just explained, but he wouldn’t be able to think through what all this might imply just yet.

”So—“ Cade was still struggling with the idea of an entity that was sort of sentient and that powerful. It was quite literally the stuff of stories. ”The Wyrdness…is some sort of omnipotent presence.” He had stopped short of saying ‘being’ because that seemed too much. ”But without morality?” Somehow, Cade was reminded of some of these new devices that were entering the magical world. Small devices with buttons, and if you pressed the buttons, it did things regardless of whether that thing was good or bad. It did not stop you. She had described it as a ghost story, but at the same time, it wasn’t evil. It was a bit difficult to reconcile that, at least in Cade’s mind. Perhaps it was what caused people to fear it, that it behaved of its own accord rather than what they wished of it. But, it begged the question. ”What do you suppose would happen if we just left the Island alone?”

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[Deleted]

March 23 2026
cade owen woodward

"I think no one has taken the time to properly investigate what it is and isn't." Eeva answered slowly. While misunderstood worked, she felt it didn't really encompass her full thoughts. "And until that investigation is complete, I refuse to apply any labels to it's nature." While lore would have her call the Wyrdness evil she wouldn't. Not until she understood more. She wouldn't be close minded about Yrisle and The Wyrdness because of ghost stories. She could know them, and recite them as part of her culture. But they did not dictate what was true. A story did not make something fully true, though it could lie in truth. Much like how muggles had hundreds of variations on werewolves and vampires. Both, obviously, excited. But obviously some stories were more fiction then fact.

As for the Minstry... Cade seemed to quote what was believed. "Exactly. Who gives the Ministry the authority over Yrisle? Who decided that Krum had the power over a mysterious island that does not fall within his boundaries?" She spoke with a slight snap to her tone. "Yrisle is not some new land for which the Ministry to lay claim, like it did the Americas. Yrisle belongs to the Wyrdness. Not a mortal man who thinks it's wise to repeat events. Only he's not playing with a nameless land filled with gold. Yrisle is not like the UK, or Hy-Brasil. Our rules do not apply to it." She leaned back on the barstool, tilting her head upwards to stare at the ceiling as she thought. "Besides. Yrisle has been locked away for thousands of years. The fact that we can find it now?" She leaned forward, smiling as she met Cade's gaze. "I think the Ministry should stop being so concerned with keeping people away from Yrisle, and instead consider what will happen when the inhabitants of Yrisle get off before we fully understand it." Which, she had no doubt would happen. Whatever enchantments her ancestors had used to hide Yrisle away had weakened enough that Yrisle could now be found. It was only a matter of time until those enchantments fully failed.

Cade seemed to be mulling over her words, but when he spoke again he seemed to be on the right track. First that the Wyrdness was an omnipotent presence. She nodded. Then, he went on to the part that many failed to understand. She started to smirk. "Exactly. Morality is a human invention. It means nothing to a God." She agreed. "Druids, unfortunately, associate the Wyrdness with evil. But after experiencing Yrisle personally... I see no evil in it." And not only that, she had experienced a change herself. Two, in fact. But she would not mention that on the record.

The question of what would happen if they left it alone... Well.. it was difficult to say... As her understanding of the Wyrdness and Yrisle was still very limited. "Let me answer your question with my own. What do you supposed we could learn from Yrisle?" She asked, raising an eyebrow. "What if herbologists are able to discover an herb that could be use in potions? What if those potions could be used to treat life threatening ailments that currently have no cure? What if the secrets to understanding our own magic are there? What if we're able to open communication and eventual trade with the people of Yrisle and learn about their history and practices?" She rested her arm on the bar, tapping her fingers on the bar top. "A baby bird believes learning to fly outweighs the risk of falling. Our society is at the cliff edge now. If we jump... we may fall." she paused, stopping her finger tapping to look at him, unblinking. "But what if we soar?"

[cade owen woodward]

Fear alone, like a crutch

Maybe that's what keeps us up

March 23, 2026
@eeva

Cade listened but with a hint of doubt clear on his face. To him, it sounded like something that was not fully understood, hence the fear, but the Druid perspective was more peaceful than that. ”Well, the Ministry could be investigating as well.” Though despite his friends and connections, he knew the bureaucratic process would be more concerned about a perceived threat than research, as he had seen time and time again during his tenure. Cade continued to listen intently as Eeva spoke of Krum and the Ministry, though her thoughts on both were shared by many and was hardly a minority opinion.

There was a lot said at once in terms of loaded information. The Wyrdness and its island. Repeat events. Locked away. ”Locked away? Why would Yrisle need to be locked away, and why is it here now?” Was it actually dangerous? Or these inhabitants she had spoken of. For a second, Cade felt like an intern again, wanting to shoot off a thousand questions at once, but he knew he needed to pace himself. Perhaps she would explain further or answer it in a previous question. ”And these inhabitants, is that the reason it was locked away?” And how does one, he wondered, lock away such a great power—if it was as powerful as the stories described?

Morality was indeed a manmade invention and tended to change depending on its creator, much like this fight between the Order and the Purifiers as they followed their own code and beliefs. Cade nodded rather than answer verbally. He mainly was taking in information and trying to direct questions that could encompass the entire experience or story of this. And the way she answered his question—made him pause. It was an entirely valid question that would hardly be considered with the current level of fear people were experiencing. ”A valid point.” Cade conceded, remembering a few articles sitting on his desk that reminded him of the topic. ”There is still a safety concern, at least according to the Ministry.” It wasn’t Cade’s style to defend the Ministry. He was just asking the question. ”While there can be benefits as you have stated, what about all the people that have come back and claim to have been…affected by the island?” It was a sore topic for some, and few wanted to admit it, but some effects were too obvious to ignore, though he stopped short of asking Eeva if she was one of them.

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[Deleted]

March 23 2026
cade owen woodward

Right. the Ministry could. But if they were they were very tight lipped about it. "Forgive my superstition. But if they are investigating it and not telling us... should that be comforting?" she tilted her head a little, as if to accentuate the question. "I'm personally of the mindset that all secrets do is breed deception and mistrust." Eeva could see some use in keeping a secret, but when it came out? Was it worth it? It seemed that most secrets just caused more pain. You felt you had to keep it a secret to protect people, but in the end it did the opposite. Not only that though, government secrets were far worse.

Ah, there it was. He seemed to finally be asking the right questions. Questiosn that Eeva wanted to know now as well. She shrugged. "In our lore it's because the Wyrdness couldn't be controlled and was growing too powerful. It's lack of morality made it dangerous. So, our ancestors created powerful enchantments that would seal the magic and inhabitants of Yrisle away, unable to escape or be found." She paused, picking up her glass to stare down at the liquid. She didn't take a sip though. "No, Yrisle was locked away because of the Wyrdness. The inhabitants are merely beings that were left. There aren't many stories about them. So... I would imagine that they are simply what remains of wizard and druid kind that was unfortunately locked away with the god." She raised the glass and downed the rest of the contents. She stared out into space, her gaze slightly unfocused as she thought. "Magic isn't infinite. It grows weaker with time, or can eventually be destroyed. I don't know why Yrisle has appeared now. But it's appearance can only mean that whatever enchantments sealed it are no longer in effect. When I was on the island I noticed great pillars surrounding the island with ancient druid symbols carved into them. Unfortunately I haven't been able to return to study them further." The way she spoke though... she clearly wanted to return.

Eeva set her now empty glass down on the table and turned her gaze back to Cade. "There are safety concerns with most of life. Does that mean we should stop living simply because there's too great a risk?" She asked slowly. She could go into great length of how the dangerous things people did every day that the government sanctioned, but she chose not to. "We simply learn how to mitigate the risks, and continue." Lack of knowledge was the true safety concern. The inability to know how to stay safe. As the question of those affected came up Eeva stilled. She didn't respond immediately, instead taking a long moment to close her eyes and think. Finally though, she opened them and looked at him. "Exposure to the Wyrdness can cause change. But change is not necessarily good or bad. It's how you perceive it. I do know some people that felt this. There are those that have learned to accept these changes, some even embracing them. And there are those that did not. There seems to be a way to reverse these changes though, should you choose that path." She finally shrugged. "Unfortunately I don't know much of the reversal method. I just know that there were some affected that aren't any longer."

[cade owen woodward]

Fear alone, like a crutch

Maybe that's what keeps us up

March 23, 2026
@eeva

Cade could hardly be surprised at her apprehension about the Ministry’s intentions considering the history between the Ministry and the Druids. And Cade himself never let himself get too comfortable with what they may or may not be doing. His closeness to a specific Department Head gave him more insight, but he would hold reservations for as long as he worked at the paper. ”Personally, I agree.” Transparency and telling the public what they should know was important for him. It had been a struggle to know what he did through the Order and Ouroboros and not be able to publish it in the paper.

He glanced at his notes, ensuring that what Eeva was explaining was being noted down. Differentiating between the different entities could become confusing if he didn’t pay attention. ”So you’re saying it can be locked away again?” It sounded liked a great deal of magic would need to be involved if that was the case. But he kept that comment to himself, but it was something he could bring up with the Order but not something that needed to be in this article for now. The runes were something he had recalled Bianca bringing up, though it was merely a rant about the Cursebreaker she’d been stuck with on her last visit to the Island. Still, apparently, his training could be important for this.

Cade nodded his head, glancing at his notes again. Omnipotent magic, ancient runes…it was like some story one told a child that was some grand adventure. Safety would always be the go-to reason when it came to the Ministry—in Cade’s experience. An easy rubber stamp excuse when they didn't want interference. Cade also paused. Her response was cryptic in a way, and he was deciding whether to pursue this line of questioning further. While Eeva had been very forthcoming on all the information he had given him so far, she had paused here. Why? ”Well, I suppose you know what I’m going to ask next. Has the Island affected you?” Cade decided he wouldn’t ask further on the effects, despite his own curiosity. It was vague, and something like this could only add to the fear and panic, in his opinion. But he thought back to something she had said earlier. ”You said magic grows weaker with time. We know this to be true of longstanding charms and curses. Would it apply to The Wyrdness?” There was the common thread of time. Time to quell the public’s fear and curiosity, time to learn how to deal with this magical thing. Time they didn’t seem to have enough of.

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