"...an' some even say that if ye venture out into North Thanalan in the black o' night, ye might run into Flame Sergeant Dalvag 'isself. Or at least... whatever's wearin' his skin..."

Oh, sod off. What're we, children 'round a bleedin' campfire?

That's what Ludovic thought to himself, trekking out into the dusty trails of Camp Bluefog. His mates from the Maelstrom were getting into the spirit of All Saint's Wake, and that meant only one thing: hackneyed horror stories, terrorising tales thrice-told. Ludovic was sick of them.

Arriving at an especially plentiful cobalt deposit, he hopped off his chocobo and reached for his tools, strapped to his companion's side. Without warning, however, Alfendi bucked towards him, and the sudden force sent Ludovic careening to the ground! "Ungh...! Oi! What do you think yer playin' at, ye useless pile o'..." Ludovic mumbled, brushing himself off. "Do that again an' I'll pluck all yer feathers, one by one!" Alfendi wasn't listening, though. Something had spooked him, but what?

"I don't have time for this," said Ludovic, grabbing his pickaxe before the chocobo could knock him down again. He made his way through the pea-soup fog and began to chip away.

Wait a moment. Pea-soup fog? It was meant to be fair skies today...

He sighed. Bloody weatherwatchers. They were getting worse at their job by the second. Still, he couldn't make exceptions for bad weather. Ludovic struck at the rock again and again, collecting what little scraps of cobalt ore he could find. All the while, Alfendi was uncharacteristically still. Usually the chocobo would pace, or scurry. Instead, he just stood. Stock still, unerring. Though he'd never admit it, Ludovic was starting to get nervous.

That's when he heard the whispering.

Ludovic froze. Were his ears playing tricks on him? He couldn't make out what exactly was said, but it sounded... bizarre. Eldritch. Like a chorus of voices, calling in unison. Suddenly, perfect clarity fell upon him.

"Oh, enough with this farce!" Ludovic yelled. "Rai! Alena! Carroway! I know yer out there!" He laughed anxiously. "Joke's over, alright? Get out 'ere!"

He waited.

Nothing.

So be it. If they were going to play that game, he wouldn't give them the satisfaction. Stone-faced and steely-eyed, he turned back to the cold rock and continued mining. It felt so much quieter, like the wind itself was in on the joke. Again, he heard the otherworldly whispering. It seemed louder this time, and it was getting louder still. It dawned on him that he could no longer hear Alfendi. Worse still, he could start to make out words.

Words like "hate", like "fury", "vengeance", "spite".

Words like "seize him".

Ludovic's eyes grew wide. Before he could move, he felt an icy grip on his shoulder; then another on his arm, his neck, his legs. Before he could scream, an inky tendril wrapped around his mouth. He felt a dozen frozen breaths against his skin.

Everything went black.

===========

Character name: Ludovic Lestrade
World: Coeurl
Prize: Chocobo Noble Barding