Lara & Drayven
Drayven
Ever heard of the candle that never goes out? In a crumbling hamlet, they say a candle made from wax of a moth that fell from the sky could ward off a plague, but only if it’s lit by a living hand that’s never touched electricity.
Lara
That's the kind of weird legend that makes my brain race, so yeah—let's dig into it. I’ll grab the town’s old records and see if anyone actually made that moth‑wax candle, and if it really needs a hand that never used a light switch. Count me in.
Drayven
Just be sure you bring a candle that hasn’t been touched by a switch; that’s what the tale says is required. In the old ledger, there’s a mention of a priest who tried to light a moth‑wax candle in 1789—he noted it “burned even in the night of the plague, but only when the light came from a living hand”¹. Keep a spare in your pocket, just in case the shadows start whispering.
Lara
Got it—I'll snag a candle that’s never met a switch, keep it in my pocket, and we’ll see if the shadows really whisper when it burns. This is one of those stories that’s begging to be checked out. Let's do it.
Drayven
Sounds like a plan, though I’d suggest keeping a silver coin in the pocket too—old lore says the coin must be struck with a knife that never cut flesh, lest the candle draw the wrong kind of light. Let me know if the shadows answer back.
Lara
Sure thing—silver coin, knife never used on flesh, and a fresh candle that’s never been near a switch. I’ll keep an eye on those shadows and let you know what they whisper. Let's see if the legend holds up.
Drayven
Just remember to hold the coin in the same hand that lights the candle, and keep your breath slow. If the shadows speak, they'll likely speak in the old tongue of the town—quiet, almost a sigh. I’ll wait to hear what the darkness has to tell us. ¹ The silver coin must have a dull, unpolished edge; it’s a small detail, but one that appears in the original journal of the village scribe.