Crestfall: Darkness Unveiled

Arthur Veiss led the group through the swampy terrain, his sword unsheathed and held loosely in one hand. The mist clung to their skin, swirling around their legs with every step. Water sloshed beneath their boots, the murky depths hiding whatever lurked below. Arthur's sharp gaze darted from tree to tree, scanning for movement in the eerie quiet.

"Creepy," Lyra Valcrest muttered, stepping carefully around a patch of moss. She wrinkled her nose at the stagnant smell. "This place is giving me major 'we're going to die' vibes."

Elowen Cysra hugged her staff closer to her chest, her eyes wide as they flicked toward every rustle in the bushes. "Could you not say that?" Her voice trembled. "It feels like something's watching us."

Arthur glanced over his shoulder, his expression calm but firm. "Stay focused. If something's watching us, it'll show itself soon enough." His voice carried an even confidence that made Lyra smirk and Elowen swallow hard.

"You're so reassuring, as always," Lyra teased, though she moved a bit closer to him. "But seriously, you don't feel like this swamp is… alive or something? Like the air itself is trying to choke us?"

Arthur didn't answer, instead raising his free hand to signal them to stop. The swamp was alive, all right—but not with the sort of life they wanted to encounter. The faint sound of clicking echoed through the fog, sharp and unnatural.

"What is that?" Elowen whispered, clutching her staff like it was her lifeline.

Arthur tightened his grip on his sword. "Something big. And close."

Lyra's confident demeanor wavered for a second before she took a steadying breath. She reached for her pouch of mana crystals, her fingers brushing against the smooth surfaces. "Guess this is why we're here. You ready, Elowen?"

"No," Elowen admitted, though her shaking hands began to glow faintly with magic.

The clicking grew louder, followed by the wet squelch of something dragging itself closer. A hulking silhouette emerged from the mist—a monstrous creature with segmented limbs and gleaming, black eyes that reflected the faint light.

Arthur stepped forward, sword raised, his voice calm and commanding. "Stay behind me."

Lyra rolled her eyes, though there was no real malice in her voice. "Oh sure, let the guy with the hero complex take all the glory. Typical." She began muttering the incantation for a spell, her confidence returning as the first sparks of mana coalesced in her palm.

"Sear and strike, Firecannon!" she shouted, unleashing a bolt of flame directly at the creature. The spell struck true, and the swamp lit up with a fiery glow. But the creature hardly flinched, its chitinous shell deflecting most of the attack.

Arthur didn't hesitate. He dashed forward, his sword glinting with imbued magic. With precise movements, he slashed at the creature's legs, forcing it to reel back with a guttural screech.

Elowen froze, overwhelmed by the sheer presence of the monster. But Lyra grabbed her shoulder, snapping her out of her panic. "Now's not the time to freeze up. Get ready to heal."

Arthur spun around as the creature lunged, deflecting its claws with a practiced sweep of his blade. "This thing's tougher than it looks," he called out, his voice tight but steady. "Lyra, can you pin it down?"

"I'll try," she shot back, her hands already weaving another spell.

As the battle continued, the swamp seemed to close in around them, the fog growing thicker and the clicking of unseen creatures growing louder.

Arthur's blade slashed through the creature's leg, dark ichor spraying across the wet forest floor. He stepped back, calm and steady, his eyes never leaving the flailing beast. "Lyra, your fire's too spread out. Aim for the weak points."

Lyra glared at him as she launched another fireball, this one slamming into the creature's shoulder. "Thanks, Arthur. Really love how you're always so encouraging."

Arthur didn't respond. He moved in again, cutting cleanly through one of the creature's remaining arms. His focus was absolute, every movement sharp and deliberate.

Behind them, Elowen hesitated, her hands glowing faintly with healing magic. "Arthur, if you get hit, I can—"

"Don't," Arthur cut in without looking back. "Save your mana for someone who actually needs it."

Elowen nodded, stepping back. "Got it. Just let me know if Lyra or I need to step in."

Lyra whipped her head around. "Wait, you're just fine with that? He basically called you useless."

Elowen shrugged, her voice calm. "He's right. I'm not much help in a fight like this. I know my strengths."

The creature lunged, forcing Arthur to sidestep and counter. His blade struck cleanly again, splitting through its torso. He landed smoothly, unbothered by the close call. "If you're done chatting, focus on the fight," he said flatly, glancing at Lyra.

Lyra muttered under her breath, her irritation clear but contained. She fired another blast of flame, hitting the creature square in the chest where Arthur had already weakened it. "You know, Arthur, a little appreciation wouldn't kill you."

Arthur didn't even turn. "It might."

The creature collapsed with a final screech as Arthur drove his blade deep into its chest. The swamp went quiet except for the sound of water rippling around the fallen beast.

Arthur sheathed his sword. "We need to move. That thing made a lot of noise."

Lyra threw up her hands. "Oh, great. Let's all just follow his orders. Wouldn't want to upset the big boss."

Elowen stepped between them, trying to keep the peace. "He's not wrong. The noise probably attracted something worse. Let's just keep going."

"Why did I have to choose a team of girls." Arthur sighed and shook his head. He didn't wait for the others and began to run away from the monster's corpse. "I'd hurry, these swamp type monsters usually attract other beasts quicker!" Arthur called out.

Lyra shook her fist at the air and gritted her teeth. "You bastard! You didn't choose us you—!"

Arthur was already far ahead, his silhouette barely visible through the dense mist and tangled swamp trees. He moved without hesitation, cutting through the foliage with his sword, completely unaware of the conversation happening behind him.

Lyra huffed, glaring in his direction. "Why do we even bother keeping up with him? He doesn't care about anyone but himself."

Elowen shook her head, her voice calm as always. "He cares. He just… has his own way of showing it."

"Really?" Lyra crossed her arms, skeptical. "Because all I've seen is him treating us like we're dead weight."

Elowen hesitated, then shrugged. "Maybe he's right."

Lyra stopped, turning to her with a look of disbelief. "What? You can't seriously believe that!"

"It's not about believing or not," Elowen said, her voice soft. "I'm not as strong as you two, and he knows that. He's just being practical."

Lyra threw her hands in the air. "Practical? He's downright rude. You shouldn't let him talk about you like that."

Elowen smiled faintly, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. "I don't mind. He's not wrong, and I don't take it personally."

Lyra groaned in frustration. "You're way too nice for your own good. He's not some untouchable genius, you know. He could use a reality check."

"He's been through things we can't imagine," Elowen said quietly, her gaze softening as she looked toward the faint outline of Arthur ahead. "If he seems distant, it's probably because he's used to handling everything alone."

Lyra frowned, processing her words. "What's that supposed to mean? You know him like that?"

"It's not my place to say," Elowen replied, her pace picking up as she moved to catch up to Arthur.

Lyra hesitated, still standing in place. "This is ridiculous," she muttered before jogging to close the gap between her and Elowen.

Ahead, Arthur paused briefly, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword as he scanned the swamp for any sign of movement. He didn't look back or acknowledge them, as if he was entirely focused on whatever danger might come next.

Lyra glared at his back, her irritation growing with every step. "He doesn't even wait for us," she muttered under her breath.

Elowen glanced at her, offering a small, knowing smile. "That's just how he is. You'll get used to it."

"I doubt it," Lyra shot back, but she followed anyway, her steps splashing loudly through the swamp.

The silence of the swamp pressed down on them, the air thick with humidity and the faint stench of rotting vegetation. Arthur led the way, cutting through the dense underbrush with sharp, deliberate strokes of his sword. He moved like a ghost, his presence blending seamlessly with the environment.

Lyra and Elowen trailed behind, their boots squelching in the damp mud. Lyra cast occasional glances at Arthur, her irritation simmering just below the surface. "Does he ever stop being so dramatic?" she muttered under her breath.

Elowen gave her a look, her lips curving into a faint smile. "Focus. He's probably just trying to keep us safe."

"Right. By ignoring us," Lyra shot back, her tone dripping with sarcasm.

A low growl broke through their conversation. Both girls froze, their eyes darting around the mist-shrouded swamp. Arthur stopped ahead, his grip tightening on his sword.

"Stay back," he said, his voice low and steady.

Lyra scoffed. "Oh, sure, because I'm going to let you hog all the glory again."

Arthur ignored her, his focus shifting to the surrounding trees. The growling intensified, and shadows began to flicker at the edges of the swamp.

The attack came fast. A pack of swamp beasts, their slimy, reptilian bodies blending with the murky terrain, burst from the foliage. Their glowing yellow eyes locked onto the trio, and their jagged teeth gleamed in the faint light.

Arthur moved first, his sword slicing cleanly through the air. He intercepted the lead beast, his blade carving a deep gash through its thick hide. The creature let out a guttural scream before collapsing into the mud.

"Stay out of this," Arthur barked, spinning to fend off another attacker.

"Not happening," Lyra snapped. She raised her hand, her voice sharp and commanding. "Pierce and sever, Arcbolt!" Three curved bolts shot from her palm, striking one of the monsters mid-leap, then spreading to the others around. They fell over, twitching.

Arthur glared at her, his expression dark. "I said stay back."

"I'm not a bystander," Lyra shot back, her tone defiant.

Arthur's blade cut cleanly through another beast, the weight of the swing driving him forward. As he turned, he saw Elowen stumbling backward, clutching her staff with trembling hands. One of the creatures lunged at her from the side.

"Watch where you're standing!" Arthur barked, stepping in to intercept it. His sword flashed, cleaving the beast in two.

"I—I'm sorry," Elowen stammered, lowering her gaze as she quickly moved out of his way. Her voice was quiet, but the sincerity in her tone was unmistakable.

Arthur paused, his sword lowered slightly. For a moment, his hardened expression wavered, his eyes narrowing in something close to confusion.

He didn't respond immediately, instead turning back toward the battle. His movements were sharp and deliberate, but the tension in his shoulders had eased slightly. He kept glancing in Elowen's direction as if trying to process her reaction while focusing on the fight.

Lyra noticed and rolled her eyes as she fried the last beast with a burst of lightning. "Don't look so shocked," she muttered under her breath. "Not everyone's out to get you."

Arthur ignored her, his jaw tightening as the final monster fell. He turned away from the two. "We should find a place to stay for the night." He spoke more relaxed, it didn't sound like he was barking commands.

"Wait was that… a real suggestion I heard?" Lyra's eyes opened slightly, cupping a hand around her ear and leaning in Arthur's direction. "It's about time." She grinned.

Elowen stared at Arthur, smiling faintly again. The team journeyed for another hour until they found a suitable spot to camp for the night.