[Vyrien]

The portraits.

There was a hunter in the woods, who, after a long day's tracking, had become lost in the middle of the immense forest. It was getting dark, and having lost his bearings, he decided to head in one direction until he was clear of the increasingly oppressive foliage. After what seemed like hours, he came across a cabin in a small clearing. Realising how dark it had grown, he decided to see if he could stay there for the night. He approached, and found the door ajar. Nobody was inside. The hunter flopped down on the single bed, thankful to have found shelter from the terrors of the nighttime forest and decided to explain himself to the owner in the morning.

As he looked around the inside of the cabin, he was surprised to see the walls adorned by several portraits, all painted with incredible and loving detail. Without exception, they appeared to be staring down at him, their features twisted into looks of hatred and malice. Staring back, he grew increasingly uncomfortable. Making a concerted effort to ignore the many hateful faces, he turned to face the wall, and exhausted, fell into a restless sleep.

The next morning, the hunter awoke. He turned, blinking in the unexpected sunlight. Looking up, he discovered that the cabin had no portraits. Only windows.