Tragedy of Divinity

Chapter 44: Into the Ruins

The misty streets of Loyrn seemed quieter than usual as the trio made their way out of the Adventurers Guild. Lucian walked ahead, his shoulders tense and his hand resting on the hilt of his sword. Seraphine followed closely behind, her gaze sharp and unwavering. Quintin trailed at the back, looking more like a nervous child than an adventurer.

What the others didn't know was that Quintin's hands were stuffed deep into his pockets, clutching a small, newly purchased revolver.

Earlier That Morning

While Lucian had been interrogating the receptionist about directions, Quintin had slipped out of the guild for a few moments. He had spotted a weapons stall just outside the guild, manned by a burly, gray-bearded merchant whose wares gleamed under the morning sun.

Quintin's eyes fell on a simple revolver—a small, well-worn thing, but functional.

"How much?" he asked, trying to sound confident.

The merchant eyed him skeptically. "Fifty silver pieces."

Quintin hesitated, then patted the small pouch tied to his belt. He had no silver of his own, but Lucian's coin purse—"borrowed" earlier—was surprisingly heavy.

He pulled out fifty silver pieces and handed them over. The merchant chuckled, clearly unconvinced of Quintin's competence, but handed him the revolver and a small pouch of bullets.

"Try not to shoot yourself," the merchant said with a grin..

Quintin tucked the weapon into his coat pocket and hurried back inside before Lucian or Seraphine noticed.

Back to the Present

As they neared the outskirts of Loyrn, the fog thickened, swallowing up the cobblestone streets and giving way to a desolate expanse of fields. Beyond the fields stood the ruins—an ominous structure of crumbling stone and twisting vines that seemed to breathe malice.

Lucian stopped at the edge of the ruins and turned to the others. "Stick close. This place isn't for amateurs." His eyes flicked to Quintin, who was already nervously glancing around.

"I'm not an amateur," Quintin muttered.

Lucian snorted. "Sure. And I'm the king of Loyrn."

Seraphine stepped between them, her calm voice cutting through the tension. "Focus. Let's move."

The Ruins

The air inside the ruins was suffocating, heavy with the scent of damp stone and something far less natural. The faint echoes of dripping water mixed with the occasional distant growl that set Quintin's teeth on edge.

Seraphine led the way, her dagger drawn and her movements precise. Lucian followed, his sword at the ready, while Quintin stumbled behind them, one hand clutching his coat pocket where the revolver was hidden.

"What exactly are we looking for?" Quintin asked, his voice trembling slightly.

"Anything that screams 'Crimson Witch,'" Lucian replied curtly.

They moved deeper into the ruins, the shadows growing longer and the air colder. Strange symbols were etched into the walls, glowing faintly with an otherworldly light.

Seraphine stopped abruptly, her eyes narrowing as she examined the symbols. "These markings… they're not just decorative. They're wards. Something was sealed here."

Lucian frowned. "And it's probably not sealed anymore."

As if on cue, a low, guttural growl echoed through the chamber.

Quintin froze. "What was that?"

Lucian didn't answer. He had already drawn his sword, his eyes scanning the darkness. Seraphine's grip on her dagger tightened, her posture shifting into a defensive stance.

The growl came again, louder this time, and from the shadows emerged a grotesque demon. Its twisted, skeletal frame was covered in black, oozing flesh, and its glowing red eyes fixed on them with a predatory hunger.

Behind it, more demons began to emerge, each one more horrifying than the last.

The Battle

Lucian was the first to move. He charged at the lead demon, his sword slicing through the air with precision. The creature howled as his blade tore through its flesh, but it retaliated with a swipe of its claw, forcing Lucian to duck and roll.

Seraphine darted forward, her movements swift and calculated. She slashed at one of the smaller demons with her dagger, the blade glowing faintly as it tore through the creature's hide.

Quintin, meanwhile, was frozen in place, his eyes wide as he watched the chaos unfold.

"Quintin!" Lucian shouted, narrowly dodging another attack. "Move your ass or get eaten!"

Snapping out of his daze, Quintin fumbled for his revolver. He pulled it out and shakily aimed at one of the demons, pulling the trigger. The shot echoed through the chamber, and the bullet hit its mark, lodging into the creature's chest.

The demon stumbled back but didn't fall. Instead, it let out a piercing shriek and charged toward Quintin.

"Oh, crap," Quintin muttered, scrambling backward.

Lucian intercepted the demon, his sword cleaving it in half. "Stay behind us!" he barked.

The fight continued, the trio moving in sync despite the chaos. Lucian's swordsmanship was brutal and efficient, his strikes aimed to kill. Seraphine, on the other hand, was like a shadow, her movements fluid as she danced around her enemies, landing precise, fatal blows.

Quintin, for his part, managed to get a few more shots off, though his aim was far from perfect.

The Escape

The demons kept coming, their numbers seemingly endless. For every one they killed, two more appeared.

"We can't keep this up," Seraphine said, her voice calm but strained.

Lucian gritted his teeth. "Then we don't. Fall back!"

The trio retreated, fighting their way out of the chamber. The demons pursued them, their shrieks echoing through the ruins.

As they reached the exit, Lucian turned and hurled a small vial toward the pursuing horde. It shattered on the ground, releasing a burst of light and fire that engulfed the demons, buying them enough time to escape.

Breathing heavily, they stumbled out of the ruins and into the cold night air.

Quintin collapsed onto the ground, clutching his revolver. "That… was insane."

Lucian glared at him. "You're insane for bringing that toy into a fight like that."

Seraphine sheathed her dagger, her expression unreadable. "We need to regroup and plan our next move. This isn't over."

Lucian nodded, his jaw tight. "No, it's not. And next time, we'll be ready."