Tragedy of Divinity

Chapter 34: The Calm After the Storm

The forest was eerily quiet after the battle. The monstrous beast lay motionless on the ground, its massive form casting long shadows in the fading light. The air smelled of blood and damp earth, the aftermath of their violent struggle.

Seraphine crouched near the creature's corpse, inspecting the wounds they had inflicted. Her dagger glinted in her hand, the blade stained with black, viscous ichor. She wiped it clean with practiced efficiency, her face calm and composed despite the ordeal.

Lucian, leaning on his sword, let out a frustrated sigh. "That thing wasn't natural," he muttered, his voice low but sharp. His dark eyes scanned their surroundings, as if expecting another threat to emerge from the shadows. "The Nexus keeps throwing worse at us. What's next? Dragons?"

Quintin stumbled out from behind the tree where he had been hiding, clutching his chest as he tried to catch his breath. "Can we—can we just acknowledge the fact that I saved our lives?!" He held up the bow he had used, a proud but shaky grin spreading across his face.

Seraphine glanced at him, one brow raised. "You hit one shot, Quintin."

"Yeah, the shot that turned the tide!" Quintin exclaimed, pointing dramatically at the creature. "Without me, you two would've been toast."

Lucian rolled his eyes, his irritation evident. "Keep telling yourself that, kid."

Quintin frowned, his bravado deflating slightly. "I'm just saying I contributed. I'm not useless, you know."

Seraphine sighed, standing and brushing the dirt off her coat. "No one said you were useless. Just… less useful."

Quintin looked offended but didn't argue. Instead, he huffed and sat down on a nearby rock, pulling his pack of food into his lap for comfort. "Fine. I'll just sit here and eat my snacks while you two brood or whatever it is you do."

Lucian ignored him, his focus on the creature's corpse. He crouched beside it, running a hand over the jagged armor-like scales covering its body. "This thing didn't just appear out of nowhere," he said, his voice low. "Something's stirring in the Nexus. Something big."

Seraphine nodded, her gaze distant. She had spent centuries in the Nexus, and while she had encountered countless dangers, this felt different. The creature's sudden emergence, its sheer ferocity—it wasn't random.

"We need to move," she said, her tone firm. "Staying here isn't safe. If there's one thing I've learned in the Nexus, it's that where there's one monster, there's usually more."

Quintin groaned, reluctantly standing and slinging his pack over his shoulder. "Great. More running."

Lucian sheathed his sword, his expression grim. "If you're done whining, let's go."

The trio set off through the forest, the tension between them hanging thick in the air. Quintin muttered complaints under his breath as they walked, but neither Seraphine nor Lucian paid him much attention. Their focus was on their surroundings, every rustling leaf and snapping twig putting them on edge.

The sun had dipped below the horizon by the time they found a small clearing to rest in. A makeshift campfire crackled softly in the center, casting flickering light over their tired faces.

Seraphine sat cross-legged on the ground, sharpening her dagger with a whetstone she had pulled from her coat. Her movements were slow, methodical, a reflection of her composed demeanor. Quintin, meanwhile, was sprawled out on his back, munching on a piece of bread from his seemingly endless supply of food.

Lucian stood a little away from the fire, leaning against a tree with his arms crossed. He hadn't spoken much since the battle, his expression unreadable as he stared into the darkness.

"So," Quintin said, breaking the silence, "are we just gonna ignore the fact that Lucian went all 'knight in shining armor' back there? I mean, the guy actually saved Seraphine. Didn't think you had it in you."

Lucian shot him a glare. "Don't push your luck."

Quintin smirked, clearly enjoying the reaction. "I'm just saying, maybe you're not as heartless as you seem."

"Quintin," Seraphine said, her tone sharp, "drop it."

Quintin raised his hands in mock surrender. "Fine, fine. No need to get all scary."

The fire crackled, filling the silence that followed. For a while, none of them spoke, each lost in their own thoughts.

Eventually, Lucian broke the silence. "We need to figure out our next move."

Seraphine glanced up from her dagger. "We keep moving. Stay ahead of whatever's out there."

Lucian shook his head. "That's not a plan. It's survival. We need to figure out what's causing all of this—why the Nexus is changing."

"And how do you suggest we do that?" Seraphine asked, her tone challenging.

Lucian didn't respond immediately. His gaze flicked to the horizon, where the faint outline of distant mountains was visible against the night sky. "There's a place," he said finally. "A city. Bigger than Jill. If anyone has answers, it's there."

Quintin sat up, his interest piqued. "What kind of city?"

Lucian's expression darkened. "The kind that doesn't welcome strangers."

Seraphine frowned. "You think it's worth the risk?"

Lucian met her gaze, his dark eyes unwavering. "Do you have a better idea?"

The fire crackled between them, casting long shadows across the clearing. Seraphine studied Lucian for a moment, then nodded. "Fine. We'll go. But if this is another one of your brilliant plans, and it backfires…"

Lucian smirked faintly. "Don't worry. I'm not planning to get us killed. Yet."

Quintin groaned. "Oh, great. Another death march. Can't wait."

As the fire burned low, the trio settled into an uneasy silence, the weight of their journey pressing down on them. The Nexus was vast and unpredictable, filled with both wonder and terror. But one thing was clear: their journey was far from over.

End of chapter 34.