Crimson & Light

The shadowy figure moved with an unnatural speed, its limbs jerking as though they were being pulled by invisible strings. It lunged forward, its claws gleaming faintly in the dim light. Merrick reacted first, stepping in front of the group with his sword raised.

"Stay behind me!" he barked, his voice cutting through the tense air.

Callen flanked Merrick, his own blade drawn, while Tessa readied her bow, her fingers trembling slightly as she pulled an arrow from her quiver.

Changra stood frozen for a moment, his heart pounding in his chest. His grip on the Crimson Dagger tightened. You've fought before. You can do this. You have to do this, he thought, though the words felt hollow.

The creature's claws swiped at Merrick, who deflected the blow with his sword, sparks flying as metal met whatever material those claws were made of. It let out an earsplitting screech, its glowing eyes narrowing as it recoiled slightly.

"Spread out!" Merrick shouted. "Don't let it focus on one of us!"

The group moved into action. Callen darted to the side, slashing at the creature's legs in an attempt to slow it down. The shadow twisted unnaturally, its torso swiveling in a way that no living thing should be able to. It lashed out at Callen, forcing him to leap back.

Tessa released her arrow, the projectile soaring through the air and embedding itself into the creature's shoulder. It didn't flinch. Instead, it turned its glowing eyes toward her, its movements jerking again as it changed direction.

Changra's feet finally moved, and he found himself running toward Tessa. "Move!" he shouted, his voice breaking slightly as panic surged through him.

The creature's claws came down, and Tessa dove to the side just in time. The ground where she had been standing was torn apart, dirt and debris flying into the air.

"Nice timing," she said breathlessly, her voice shaking as she glanced at Changra.

"Yeah, well, don't expect me to keep saving you," Changra replied, trying to mask his own fear with sarcasm.

Merrick and Callen charged again, their blades slashing in unison. The creature snarled, its limbs moving faster than seemed possible. It blocked Merrick's strike with one claw while lashing out at Callen with the other. Callen ducked, the claws grazing the top of his head and slicing through his hood.

"Is this thing even hurt by weapons?" Callen growled, frustration evident in his voice.

"Keep at it!" Merrick yelled. "Everything can be killed. We just have to figure out how!"

Changra felt the weight of the dagger in his hand, its hum growing stronger. He stared at the creature, its unnatural movements and glowing eyes sending chills down his spine. What even is this thing? he wondered.

Berethia, who had been standing at the edge of the fight, finally stepped forward. Her hands glowed faintly as she muttered an incantation. A burst of green energy shot toward the creature, striking it in the chest. The creature staggered back, its screeching growing louder as the energy seemed to burn into its shadowy form.

"Magic works!" Berethia called out, her voice steady despite the chaos.

Jane, who had been standing frozen near the back, nodded and began chanting softly. A stream of icy shards materialized in the air around her before shooting toward the creature. The shards struck its limbs, slowing its movements slightly as frost began to spread across its shadowy surface.

"Good job!" Changra called out, feeling a flicker of hope. Maybe they could actually do this.

The creature snarled again, shaking off the frost as it lunged toward Jane. Changra didn't think—he just moved. He threw himself in front of her, raising the dagger instinctively. The creature's claws collided with the blade, and for a brief moment, everything seemed to freeze. The hum of the dagger grew louder, almost deafening, as a faint red glow surrounded it.

The creature recoiled, screeching as though in pain. It stumbled back, its movements jerky and frantic as it clutched at its chest.

Changra stared at the dagger in his hand, his breathing ragged. What just happened?

"Nice move, kid," Merrick said, stepping up beside him. "But don't get cocky. This thing isn't done yet."

The creature straightened, its glowing eyes burning brighter than before. It let out a guttural roar, the sound vibrating through the air and making the ground tremble.

"Brace yourselves!" Merrick shouted.

The shadow charged forward, faster and more furious than before. It was no longer targeting individuals—it was attacking indiscriminately, its claws slashing through the air as it moved. The group scattered, each member trying to avoid its frenzied attacks.

Changra found himself separated from the others, his heart racing as the creature's glowing eyes locked onto him. He gripped the dagger tightly, his mind racing. I can't do this. I'm not strong enough. I'm not—

The creature lunged at him, and he barely managed to roll out of the way. The ground where he had been standing was torn apart, dirt and rocks flying into the air.

"Changra!" Jane's voice cut through the chaos, and he turned to see her standing a few feet away, her hands glowing faintly as she prepared another spell.

The creature snarled, turning its attention to her.

"No!" Changra shouted, his fear giving way to a surge of determination. He charged forward, the dagger humming in his hand as he slashed at the creature's back.

The blade connected, and the red glow flared again. The creature screeched, its movements growing more frantic as it stumbled forward.

Jane took advantage of the opening, releasing her spell. A blast of ice shot toward the creature, encasing its legs in frost and slowing it down.

"Now's our chance!" Merrick called out, his voice filled with urgency.

The group regrouped, their weapons and magic ready for the final push.

The creature thrashed wildly, its shadowy limbs striking out in all directions. The frost on its legs cracked with each jerky movement, but it wasn't fully free yet. Merrick stood at the forefront, sword raised, his gaze steady and determined.

"Now!" Merrick bellowed. "While it's slowed!"

Callen lunged forward, his blade aimed at the creature's chest. His strike landed with precision, sinking deep into the shadowy figure. The creature let out a piercing scream, its glowing eyes flaring like dying embers. But instead of falling, it retaliated with terrifying speed, swiping one claw at Callen's side.

Callen barely dodged, stumbling back with a curse. "Damn thing's tough," he muttered, clutching his side where the claw had grazed his armor.

Tessa, standing a few feet away, loosed another arrow. It struck the creature's shoulder, the enchanted tip sparking briefly before fading. "It's weakening!" she called, her voice steady despite the chaos. She nocked another arrow, aiming for the creature's head this time.

The arrow struck true, embedding itself between the creature's glowing eyes. It reeled back, screeching in agony, but still refused to fall.

"Why won't this thing die?" Changra shouted, gripping the Crimson Dagger so tightly his knuckles turned white. The dagger pulsed in his hand, the hum growing louder as though it were urging him to act.

"Magic!" Berethia's voice rang out from behind him. "It's vulnerable to magic. Keep hitting it with everything you've got!"

Jane stepped forward, her hands glowing as she summoned another icy spell. She hesitated for a moment, her gaze flicking to Changra. "I'll freeze its arms. Go for the legs!" she shouted, her voice trembling but resolute.

Changra nodded, his mind racing. He wasn't sure he could do it, but he didn't have a choice. He darted toward the creature, his heart pounding in his chest. Jane released her spell, and icy shards shot through the air, striking the creature's arms and pinning them to its sides.

"Now, Changra!" Jane yelled.

With a deep breath, Changra closed the distance between himself and the creature. The dagger's red glow intensified, casting an eerie light over his face. He slashed at the creature's legs, the blade cutting through its shadowy form like a knife through cloth. The creature let out another scream, this one weaker than before.

Merrick seized the opportunity, charging forward with a powerful swing of his sword. His blade struck the creature's chest, sinking deep and sending a wave of dark energy rippling outward. The creature staggered, its glowing eyes dimming as it began to collapse.

But it wasn't over yet.

The creature's form started to shift, its shadowy body melting into a pool of darkness on the ground. The pool began to expand, creeping toward the group like a living thing.

"Get back!" Berethia shouted, her hands glowing as she cast a barrier around the group. The dark pool slammed into the barrier, sending ripples through the magical shield but failing to break through.

"What's it doing?" Tessa asked, her voice filled with dread.

"It's trying to reform," Berethia replied, her tone grim. "We need to finish it off now, or it'll come back even stronger."

Changra looked down at the dagger in his hand. Its hum was deafening now, the red glow pulsating with an almost hypnotic rhythm. He felt a pull, a strange compulsion to act. Without thinking, he stepped forward, the dagger leading the way.

"Changra, what are you doing?" Jane's voice was filled with panic.

"I don't know," Changra admitted, his voice barely above a whisper. "But I think this is the only way."

He stepped through Berethia's barrier, the dagger's glow intensifying as he approached the dark pool. The shadowy mass recoiled slightly, as though sensing the dagger's power. Changra raised the blade, his hands trembling.

"End it, kid," Merrick said, his voice steady. "You've got this."

With a shout, Changra plunged the dagger into the center of the dark pool. The blade sank deep, and for a moment, everything went silent. Then, the dagger erupted with a blinding red light, and the shadowy pool let out a final, ear-splitting scream before disintegrating into nothingness.

Changra stumbled back, the dagger still glowing faintly in his hand. He fell to his knees, gasping for air as the adrenaline drained from his body.

"It's… it's gone," Jane said, her voice barely audible.

The group stood in stunned silence, the weight of the battle settling over them. Merrick sheathed his sword, his expression unreadable. "Good work, everyone," he said after a moment. "But this isn't over. There's more going on here than we realized."

Berethia stepped forward, her gaze fixed on Changra. Her usual warm smile was absent, replaced by something colder, something calculating. "You did well," she said, her voice soft. "But we'll need to talk about that dagger later."

Changra looked up at her, his chest still heaving. He didn't have the energy to respond, but her words sent a chill down his spine.

As the group regrouped and began tending to their wounds, Changra couldn't shake the feeling that this was only the beginning. The creature may have been defeated, but the darkness it left behind lingered in the air, a silent reminder of the danger that lay ahead.

The group slowly gathered near the remnants of the creature's final resting place, the forest eerily quiet around them. The oppressive silence, once broken by the creature's unearthly screams, was now replaced with the faint rustling of leaves and the occasional labored breath from the group. Everyone looked battered, their weapons nicked and scratched, their faces pale with exhaustion.

Jane slumped down on a nearby log, her face still pale from the fight. She hugged herself tightly, her eyes darting around as though expecting another shadow to emerge from the darkness. "That thing… What was it?" she asked, her voice trembling.

"No idea," Merrick replied, leaning against a tree as he wiped the sweat from his brow. His sword rested heavily against his knee. "But whatever it was, it wasn't natural. Shadows don't just come alive and attack people. Something created it—or summoned it."

"Summoned?" Changra echoed, his voice cracking as he tried to keep his panic in check. "You're saying someone made that thing on purpose?"

Merrick nodded grimly. "That's exactly what I'm saying."

Tessa lowered her bow and sat on the ground, staring blankly at the forest. "It didn't feel alive. Not really. It was more like… like it was being controlled."

Callen leaned on his blade, still catching his breath. "Whatever it was, it's gone now. Thanks to Changra and that dagger." His eyes shifted to the crimson blade in Changra's hand. "Speaking of which… What the hell is that thing?"

All eyes turned to Changra, who instinctively gripped the dagger tighter. Its hum had quieted, but its faint red glow still pulsed ominously in the dim light. He shifted uncomfortably under their scrutiny. "I… I don't know," he admitted. "I just found it."

Berethia, sitting nearby, tilted her head as she observed him. "It's powerful. That much is clear." Her tone was light, but her gaze was sharp, almost predatory. "You handled it well, Changra. Better than most could."

"Handled it well?" Jane interjected, her voice sharp. "He nearly got himself killed! And if he hadn't stabbed that thing, who knows what would've happened to all of us."

"Still, it worked," Berethia countered, her smile returning, though it didn't quite reach her eyes. "That dagger might've saved us all."

Changra shifted uncomfortably, unsure how to feel about the dagger being the focus of the conversation. "It didn't feel like I was in control," he admitted quietly. "It felt like… like it was telling me what to do."

Jane turned to him, worry etched across her face. "Telling you? Changra, that's not normal. Weapons don't just—"

"Enough," Merrick cut in, his voice firm. "We'll deal with the dagger later. Right now, we need to figure out what we're up against. If this was just the start, there's no telling what else might be out there."

Berethia nodded, brushing some dirt off her cloak. "Agreed. We've completed the initial part of the mission—finding out why the village was abandoned. But now we need to figure out what caused this and stop it before it spreads."

Tessa frowned. "You think there's more of those things?"

Merrick met her gaze, his expression grim. "If someone or something is summoning them, then yes. And it's likely they're stronger than the one we just fought."

The group fell silent, the weight of Merrick's words settling over them like a heavy blanket. Changra looked around at his companions—at Jane's worried expression, Callen's exhausted stance, Tessa's furrowed brow, and Berethia's serene yet calculating smile. For the first time, he truly felt the gravity of the situation they were in. This wasn't just some random mission. This was something bigger. Something dangerous.

"We should rest for the night," Merrick finally said, pushing himself off the tree. "We'll head toward the village ruins at first light. If there are more of these things, we'll need to be at full strength."

The group murmured their agreement and began setting up camp. Changra sat down near the fire, staring at the dagger in his hand. Its glow had faded completely now, leaving it looking like any ordinary blade. But he knew better. There was nothing ordinary about it.

Jane sat down beside him, her sketchbook in her lap. She didn't say anything, just gave him a small, reassuring smile. Changra appreciated it more than he could express. The silence between them felt comforting, a brief reprieve from the chaos of the day.

Berethia, meanwhile, sat a little ways away, watching the group with an unreadable expression. Her gaze lingered on Changra, her smile faint but ever-present.

As the fire crackled softly and the group settled in for the night, Changra couldn't shake the feeling that the fight with the shadow creature was only the beginning. Whatever was out there, waiting for them in the ruins, was going to be much worse. And for some reason, he couldn't help but feel that the dagger—and the strange pull it had over him—was tied to it all.

He sighed, leaning back against the tree behind him. "Guess I'm not sleeping tonight," he muttered to himself. The faint glow of the fire reflected in the blade of the Crimson Dagger, its presence a constant reminder of what had just transpired—and what was still to come.