The night air, thick with the scent of dry earth and impending doom, howled like a mournful beast. As the crimson sun bled across the horizon, painting the sky in hues of blood orange and bruised purple, a malevolent blood moon ascended, casting an eerie glow upon the scene. The Umbra knights, silhouetted against the fiery spectacle, stood vigilant, their gazes fixed on the ominous sky. This wasn't their first encounter with a red sun, but the blood moon's presence marked a chilling first.
"I don't know if we're just incredibly unlucky, or if some deity is truly testing our endurance,"
Hector muttered, his eyes scanning the desolate landscape. His breath plumed out in the frigid night air.
Gren chuckled, taking a long swig from a metal flask of wine.
"Well, isn't this a splendid opportunity to give said deity a spectacular display of that perseverance?"
He said, a smug grin playing on his lips.
"I'd wager we're providing quite the entertainment."
Lilah, scowled from what she heard. Her fingers stained with earth, abruptly silenced him.
"Stop that! Such nonsense talk is inappropriate, especially now,"
She snapped, burying the last of her protective spells into the dry soil. She meticulously smoothed the earth, her movements precise and deliberate.
Gren, never one to be deterred, scoffed.
"I always figured magic healers were atheists, nor have I ever fivtired you to be a believer, I mean, magic isn't exactly considered a divine gift, is it?"
He countered with a provoking smile.
Lilah dusted off her worn dress, her eyes flashing.
"I've witnessed enough to know when to hold my tongue—and when to hold onto my faith,"
She retorted, stepping in front of Gren, whose lips curled into a teasing grin.
"And do you know what have I proven all along?"
Standing in front of Gren, she stood with her hands on her waist while giving a distasteful look.
Gren shrugged, a careless gesture that earned him a withering glare.
"That a noisy mouth often accompanies an empty head. Good thing your foolishness hasn't gotten you slaughtered yet."
Gren sputtered, a growl rising in his throat, but the menacing sound was cut short by a chilling series of thuds that vibrated through the very ground.
"Giant Cenrigs!"
A knight screamed, his horse rearing in terror as the earth trembled beneath their hooves.
"Cenrigs?!"
Gren's face paled, the color draining from his cheeks before being replaced by a surge of furious energy.
Aleric, in his warhorse of a magnificent beast, drew his sword – a blade that gleamed like molten lava in the blood moon's light. "Prepare the shields! Spearmen to the front, swordsmen watch for an ambush! Cenrigs can attack from underground!"
He commanded, his voice ringing with authority.
"Lilah, come with me!"
"What?!" Lilah shrieked as Aleric, with surprising strength, scooped her into his arms, lifting her effortlessly as if she weighed nothing. His horse, a whirlwind of muscle and fury, bolted towards the approaching threat.
"Those brutes are drawn to magic wielders. Honestly, there's no safer place for you than right beside me!" Aleric grumbled, expertly maneuvering his steed through the chaotic landscape.
"Are you insane?! Cenrigs might be attracted to magic, but you're practically leading them to a feast! You're serving me up on a silver platter!"
Lilah protested, her voice laced with horror.
Aleric smirked, his eyes glinting with a reckless thrill.
"Isn't that fun?"
Lilah's eyes widened with disbelief, she knew that Aleric can be crazy at times but she never experienced that side of his craziness, nor she ever wished for that day to come.
Cenrigs, monstrous creatures resembling a giant centipedes with whip-like arms and four venomous beaks, were rarely seen. They emerged from their subterranean lairs only when provoked or when they sensed a powerful magical presence to which they feast.
Aleric's brow furrowed as he urged his horse forward. They hadn't done anything to disturb the creatures, nor did they possess a powerful magic wielder to attract their attention. What a pain, he thought. Despite Lilah's protective charms, they needed to be wary of what lay ahead.
***
Ysabel, nestled within the confines of her tent, felt the earth shudder beneath her. The tent shook violently, the vibrations mimicking a powerful earthquake. She glanced at Elvin, his eyes fixed on the tent flap, his expression unreadable.
A thunderous thud echoed from outside, jolting Ysabel upright. Her heart hammered against her ribs, a frantic drumbeat in the rising tension.
"You called me… it's been so long…" A chilling voice whispered, sending shivers down her spine.
"That voice…"
Ysabel stiffened, a cold dread washing over her as she felt a presence behind her. She dared not move, her body frozen in fear.
"Listen, you must follow your destiny. You must open your eyes…"
"But I'm awake!"
She tried to speak, but the words caught in her throat.
"Open your eyes, Ysabel. Let them see the things you need to know."
The voice faded, replaced by an unnerving silence, then a blinding light. Through the tent fabric, she witnessed the Umbra knights battling the monstrous Cenrigs. But to her horror, she saw a vast, shadowy presence lurking beneath the earth, waiting to unleash its destructive power.
"N-no…"
Ysabel whispered, her knees buckling as darkness enveloped her, swallowing her whole.