Divine System: Land of the Abominations

The conversation had moved on to more practical matters...

As the chatter went on, Nero let their words wash over him without really listening. His mind was elsewhere, turning over everything he had learned.

The Templars had known. They had sent evacuation orders three days ago. Which meant they had advance warning about the Grey Cloud attacks.

Seers, Obed had mentioned. Templars who could witness visions of what was to come. The White Prophets.

So there was a chance they had known Gor would be attacked. They could have warned the town, could have evacuated people before the Grey Crows descended and wrought terror upon it.

But they hadn't.

Why?

Was Gor too remote? Too small and limited in use and resources to be seen as save worthy? Or had the seers simply not seen it in their visions?

Nero didn't know which possibility was worse.

He became aware that someone was speaking to him. He blinked and refocused to find Obed looking at him expectantly.

"Sorry," Nero said. "What?"

"I asked how your injuries are healing," Obed repeated.

Nero glanced down at himself. The gash across his chest from Garrick's blade had already closed to a narrow red gash. His ribs, which had been cracked, no longer hurt when he breathed. Even the cut on the side of his head was reduced to a bloodied wound. But it no longer leaked blood.

"I'll manage," he said simply, choosing not to say too much. When his injuries were considered, they were healing faster than normal. It was best not to draw too much attention to that.

Obed's eyes narrowed slightly, but he didn't press.

To turn his focus, Nero asked him, "And you? How's the arm?"

Obed glanced down at his broken limb, still held against his chest. His expression was carefully neutral.

"I can manage with just one dagger for now," he said. "Once we get into the city, I'll do my best to purchase a healing Elixir."

Relief flooded through Nero. If Obed could get a healing Elixir, his arm would be restored. He wouldn't have to know about the Divine Elixirs he carried, and he would feel less guilt.

After all, having to wonder how a town guard had access to such rare items would be quite bewildering.

"That's good," Nero said. "I'm glad."

Obed nodded but said nothing more.

Nero watched him for a moment longer. There was something in Obed's expression, visible for just a fleeting instant before he schooled his features. A darkness in his eyes. A deep resignation.

But it passed quickly, and Nero told himself he had imagined it.

The sun continued its descent. The light was taking on that golden quality that came with approaching evening. Shadows were growing longer, stretching across the field of refugees like grasping fingers.

Lucy had finally stopped talking and was leaning back against a log, her eyes half-closed. She looked like she might fall asleep sitting.

Aisha had moved closer to Nero, her shoulder almost touching his. She wasn't saying anything, just sitting there. But Nero could feel the tension in her body, the way her eyes kept darting to the darkening sky.

"It's going to be a long night," Obed said quietly.

Of course if would be...

Nero let his gaze drift back to the distant walls of Liedenstorm. From here, they looked pitch black against the fading light.

Imposing and impenetrable. Like the lofty back of some ancient deity, he could only imagine...

Somewhere inside those walls was safety.

But out here, there was only crisis, danger, death, and doubt.

He thought about all the crap he had been through.

The four Stone Demons. Eli and the maze. Mephistopheles and the mark on his hand. All the horrors he had survived to get this far.

He realized that none of it mattered right now. All the power he had accumulated, all the Seals of Sin, all the skills and abilities he had gained. None of it would mean anything if he couldn't survive what was coming.

The simple truth was that they were vulnerable. All of them. And there was nothing they could do about it except wait and hope.

In a place were doubt and fear was suffocating, they had to hope that the Templars were as powerful as Obed claimed.

Hope that whatever Abominations came were not true horrors.

Hope that they would see morning.

It wasn't much. But it was all they had.

Geor, who had been up looking for more wood for the fire dropped the small bundle of twigs he had gathered and sat back down with a heavy sigh.

"There's nothing left."

Lucy clicked her tongue, her eyes still closed,

"Fuck."

The conversation died after that. They all seemed to be conserving energy, preparing themselves for whatever the descending darkness would require of them.

Nero found his thoughts turning inward again.

At the moment, they had no real plan. All they could do was take things as they came. Survive one night, then the next, then the next. Keep surviving until the gates finally opened.

It was a passive approach, but what choice did they have?

He couldn't force the gates open, could he?

The realization was frustrating. After everything he had been through, after all the agency he had fought for, he was once again at the mercy of forces beyond his control.

But maybe that was just the nature of things. Maybe no amount of power could change certain realities.

The sun kissed the horizon, turning the sky shades of orange and red. Twilight was approaching and the temperature was already starting to drop. Soon the darkness would come.

And with it, the monsters and madness that dwelled within.

Nero took a slow breath and let it out. He centered himself as best he could.

Aisha shifted beside him, and he became aware that she was trembling slightly.

The temperature was already dropping as the sun sank lower. And according to Obed, it would get far worse once night fell. Beyond freezing, he had said.

Nero glanced down at the girl beside him. She had her arms wrapped around herself, trying to preserve what warmth she could.

They would need a fire.

"It's getting cold," Aisha said quietly, her voice trembling.

Nero nodded. "Yeah. It is."

All they needed to do was survive the night.

Survive.