With a firm grip on Elara's hand, Caelum led her away from the chaos of the main square, moving swiftly through the narrow alleys and backstreets of Lighthaven. The town, usually a picturesque blend of cobblestone paths and quaint buildings, now bore a tense, foreboding air.
As they moved, Caelum's eyes were constantly assessing their surroundings, his instincts fully engaged. "We need to think like the enemy. If I were orchestrating this attack, I'd have secondary forces ready to exploit any opening."
Elara, keeping pace with Caelum, nodded. Despite the fear that clouded her heart, she trusted Caelum implicitly. His presence, his calm demeanor amidst the chaos, gave her a sense of security.
They reached a quieter part of the town, away from the river and the main defense lines. The streets here were eerily deserted, the usual bustle of townsfolk replaced by an ominous silence.
Caelum halted, his gaze narrowing as he surveyed the area. "This is too quiet. Stay sharp," he warned Elara, his hand resting on the handle of his revolver.
Elara clutched her dagger tightly, her senses heightened. Despite her lack of combat experience, she was determined to stand by Caelum's side.
His map didn't show anything yet, and there weren't a lot of plants around for Elara to speak to. His instinct said Leviathan was acting too rashly, and it felt like a trap. For what purpose he still didn't know. Also, the name of the Quest the system gave was "The Ruse of the Deep."
Caelum led Elara through the dimly lit streets of Lighthaven, his eyes scanning their surroundings with practiced vigilance. The town, usually bustling with life, was eerily quiet, with the exception of the distant clamor from the riverfront. The relative silence here was unsettling.
"Something doesn't feel right," Elara whispered, her voice barely above a murmur as they moved stealthily.
"I agree," Caelum responded, his tone low and even. "The Leviathan's attack seems too direct, too obvious. There's a deeper strategy at play here, and we need to uncover it before it unfolds."
They continued, Caelum's hand resting lightly on the grip of his revolver, ready to draw at a moment's notice. The dim light from the lanterns cast long shadows, creating an almost spectral atmosphere in the once-vibrant streets.
"Do you think the Leviathan is a diversion?" Elara asked, her eyes darting around nervously.
"It's possible," Caelum replied, his gaze never wavering from the path ahead. "A creature like that, attacking head-on? It doesn't add up. It's drawing the town's defenses to the river, leaving other areas vulnerable."
As they rounded a corner, Caelum paused, his senses alert. He could feel the tension in the air, the sense that something was amiss. The quiet was too profound, too deliberate.
Elara clutched her dagger tightly, her eyes reflecting the flickering lights of the lanterns. "What are we looking for?" she asked, her voice tinged with anxiety.
Caelum pondered as they navigated the dimly lit streets of Lighthaven. "These are aquatic creatures. I doubt even Leviathan can command over land creatures. Even if it could, the walls of the town stand strong. Then the only other possibility is air or..." His voice trailed off as he glanced at the ground.
"Underground?" Elara asked in shock, following his gaze.
Caelum nodded, his expression turning grave. "The sewer system. How does it work?" He realized the futility of his question as soon as he asked it. Elara, a stranger to the town just like him, wouldn't know.
"We need to find someone who does," he decided, quickening his pace towards the inn where they were staying. "Let's find someone there."
As they entered the inn, the atmosphere was tense, the usual warmth replaced by a sense of urgency. They found Lily, the maid of the inn and the daughter of the owner, in the common area, her eyes wide with fear.
"Lily, we need information about the town's sewer system," Caelum said without preamble. His tone was urgent, yet there was a gentleness in his approach, mindful of the young girl's evident distress.
Lily, her eyes flickering with recognition and a hint of something more, nodded quickly. "My uncle is the mason and worked in the sewer system. Let's find him," she said, her voice tinged with a mix of anxiety and determination. Caelum noticed the subtle depth of her gaze, a youthful admiration tempered by the gravity of the situation.
He nodded and followed behind her, his protective instinct naturally surfacing. Despite Lily's evident fear, she was stepping up bravely, and he respected that. As they hurried through the streets, the surrounding sounds of the town under threat provided a somber backdrop to their mission.
"Tell me about the sewer system," Caelum urged, keeping his voice steady. His eyes constantly scanned their surroundings, alert for any sign of danger.
Lily responded, her voice slightly quivering, "The sewer system runs beneath the whole town. It's old, parts of it date back to when Lighthaven was just a small village. My uncle always said it's a labyrinth down there."
Caelum processed this information, his mind racing with possibilities. "A perfect place for an ambush," he murmured under his breath, barely audible.
Elara, walking beside him, caught his words. "Do you think they could use the sewers to bypass the town's defenses?" she asked, her expression a mix of concern and curiosity.
"It's a classic strategy," Caelum replied, his tone grim.
They reached Lily's uncle's house, a modest building nestled in a quieter part of Lighthaven. Lily knocked urgently, her knuckles rapping sharply against the wooden door.
A middle-aged man with a sturdy build and calloused hands opened the door. His face, lined with the marks of labor and wisdom, softened upon seeing Lily. "Lily? What's wrong? Is John okay?"
Lily smiled reassuringly at her uncle. "Dad is fine, Uncle Thomas. It's about the attack," she explained, her voice steady despite the underlying anxiety. Thomas, after a quick nod of understanding, welcomed them into the modest living quarters.
As they entered, Caelum's eyes immediately took in the scene. Thomas, a sturdy man with evidence of a hard life etched into his features, held a blade with a protective stance. By the fireplace, a little girl, no older than four, sat quietly, her eyes wide with a mix of fear and curiosity. A boy, barely six, clutched a knife, his young face set in a determined frown. On a bed in the corner lay a woman, her features drawn with illness.