Aric stood over the fallen beast, his eyes scanning its lifeless form with a mixture of relief and grim satisfaction. The once formidable creature now lay motionless, its massive body sprawled across the forest floor, slick with black blood. The tension that had filled the clearing only moments before had begun to dissipate, replaced by a quiet sense of accomplishment. Aric took a deep breath, letting the reality of their victory settle in.
"Well... all's well that ends well," Aric remarked, his voice cutting through the silence. He glanced down at the beast's head, its once fierce eyes now dull and lifeless. "We should cut off its head, for evidence," he added, prompting Draks to step forward with a knowing nod.
Draks hefted one of his massive axes, the blade gleaming even in the dim light of the forest. "Aye, always best to bring proof. The Guild won't take our word without it," he said, gripping the handle tightly as he positioned himself over the beast's neck. "This won't take long."
With a swift, practiced motion, Draks brought the axe down, the blade biting into the creature's thick hide with a sickening crunch. He worked methodically, his movements efficient and precise as he began the process of severing the head from the body. The sound of the axe cleaving through flesh and bone was unsettling, but Draks showed no hesitation, his focus entirely on the task at hand.
As the grisly work continued, Eve stood off to the side, her gaze distant as she processed the events that had just unfolded. The beast was dead, and yet she couldn't shake the lingering tension that hung in the air. Her thoughts were interrupted by a faint chuckle from Lyra, who had noticed her contemplative expression.
"So... that's it? My job is done... although we haven't killed the beast ourselves," Eve remarked, her voice carrying a hint of irony as she turned to Lyra.
Lyra's lips curled into a small smile, her eyes warm with appreciation. "We couldn't have tracked the beast and reached this conclusion without your help, Eve. Your reward still stands," she assured her, the sincerity in her tone unmistakable.
Eve's expression softened, a faint smile tugging at the corners of her lips. "Heh, that's what I like to hear," she replied, the faint smile lingering as she allowed herself a moment of satisfaction.
Killion, who had been leaning casually against a nearby tree, shrugged nonchalantly as he joined the conversation. "And besides, we accepted this contract for the sake of the people in these parts. So that no more harm could be brought by this beast," he added, his tone light but his words carrying a deeper sense of purpose.
Draks, still working diligently, grunted in agreement. "That's right. We did this to keep folks safe. The gold's nice, but knowing we've prevented more bloodshed—that's worth something too."
Aric nodded, his gaze thoughtful as he surveyed the clearing. "Exactly. We might not have struck the final blow, but we played our part. The people in Selevex will sleep a little easier tonight because of what we've done here."
Lyra added, her voice soft but firm, "Sometimes, it's not about who delivers the killing blow. It's about working together to achieve a common goal. We all contributed to this outcome."
"It's rare finding a party like yourselves, doing jobs for the people's sake," Eve remarked, her voice carrying a note of genuine curiosity as she glanced at her companions. Her experience as a mercenary had shown her the darker side of human nature, where greed and self-interest often prevailed. But this group, they were different—driven by something more than just the promise of gold.
Draks chuckled, the sound deep and rumbling. "We all have our reasons, I suppose. Gold's part of it, sure, but we've all seen what happens when people like that beast go unchecked. The world's hard enough as it is without adding more nightmares to it."
Killion, walking alongside Lyra, shrugged casually. "Doesn't mean we don't enjoy the rewards, though. But yeah, there's something satisfying about knowing you've made a difference. Keeps us grounded, I guess."
Lyra nodded in agreement, her gaze steady as she looked ahead. "We've all seen what darkness can do. If we can push it back, even just a little, it's worth the effort. Sometimes, all people need is a small light to hold onto."
Eve listened to their words, her thoughts briefly drifting to her own experiences. The path she had walked had been a solitary one, marked by battles fought for survival, for coin, for pleasure. She had seen the darkness that could consume a person, felt it within herself. Yet here were these adventurers, speaking of light and purpose, of making a difference in a world that seemed to grow darker by the day.
"A small light amidst the pale darkness that shadows this world..." she muttered softly to herself, the words barely audible. It was a thought she hadn't intended to voice, a reflection on the contrast between her own life and the strange sense of camaraderie she had found in this brief alliance. But the words were for her alone; no one else heard them.
Aric, unaware of Eve's private musings, gave a thoughtful nod. "We do what we can. The world may be dark, but it doesn't mean we have to let it consume us. Every little bit of light we can bring… it matters."
Eve smiled faintly, though there was a bittersweet edge to it. "I suppose it does," she said, her tone thoughtful. "Though it's not always easy to find that light, let alone hold onto it."
Killion, always quick with a retort, smirked. "That's why we've got each other, right? Makes it easier to keep the dark at bay when you're not alone."
Lyra glanced at Eve, her expression kind but perceptive. "And sometimes, it's about finding the light within yourself. Even if it's buried deep, it's there. You just have to know where to look."
Eve didn't respond immediately, her mind processing the words. She had always prided herself on her independence, her ability to navigate the world alone. But now, she couldn't help but wonder if there was something to what Lyra was saying—if perhaps, even in the darkness that had surrounded her for so long, there was still a spark waiting to be found.
"Light? Hope! Hahaha! What a tease!" Traix Khan's laughter echoed, a sinister melody that coiled around her thoughts. "You know better than that, Eve. You've seen the world for what it is. To navigate through darkness… you must be the darkness yourself! Feeding… thriving… dominating whoever dares to stand in your way. The path you will take, Eve, oh, it will be a dark one indeed. Shadow and darkness will prevail, and nothing as pitiful as light will even dare to touch it."
Eve's jaw tightened, her steps steady as she kept her expression neutral, not wanting to betray the conversation happening within her mind. But inside, she wrestled with the weight of Traix Khan's words. There was a part of her that resonated with his dark promises, a part that had long embraced the power of the shadows that had shaped her life. Yet, another part of her resisted, the part that had been stirred by the words of her companions, by the flicker of something more than just survival and domination.
"You speak of darkness as if it's the only way, Traix," Eve replied inwardly, her thoughts sharp and clear, a contrast to the seductive haze of the demon's influence. "But not all paths are so clear-cut. Not all strength comes from the shadows."
Before Traix could respond, Ebojak's voice crashed through her mind, a primal growl that reverberated deep within her. "Strength... is blood! Blood is life! Take it, Eve! Tear it from those who are weak... devour their fear, their flesh!" Ebojak's voice was raw, wild, a beast untamed by logic or reason. "Crush them! Crush their bones, drink deep from their throats! The light is nothing—nothing! It burns out, but blood... blood always flows!"
Eve could feel the raw, insatiable hunger that Ebojak represented, a hunger that mirrored the unending thirst within her own vampiric nature. It was a constant battle, to keep that hunger in check, to not let it consume her completely. But she was more than just her thirst, more than the darkness that trailed her every step.
"And what has that hunger brought you, Ebojak?" Eve challenged, her thoughts biting back against the influence of the entities that shared her mind. "You were defeated, brought low by those who sought the light. They stopped you, and now you're nothing more than a voice in my head, craving something you can never have again."
Ebojak's response was a guttural snarl, filled with rage and unrelenting desire. "Stopped, but not dead! Not gone! Still here, still hungry! Through you, Eve! You will feed me! Feed me their fear, their blood! They are prey! You are predator! Take what is yours! Tear... bite... feast!"
Traix Khan chuckled, his voice smooth and oily, weaving through Eve's thoughts like a serpent. "You're clever, Eve, but even you cannot deny the truth of what we say. The light you seek, the hope these mortals cling to, it is fleeting—an illusion. The world is built on power, on who can take and who can dominate. And you, my dear Eve, you were born to dominate, to rule over the weak, to forge your path through the darkest depths. You know this. You feel it in your very bones."
Eve's lips pressed into a thin line, her eyes scanning the path ahead as she maintained her outward composure. She could feel the allure of their words, the temptation to give in to the darkness completely, to embrace the power that came with it. But something held her back, a small, stubborn flicker of resistance that refused to be extinguished.
"I am one with darkness, yes, a vampire even" she admitted to herself, her thoughts laced with a quiet defiance. "But I choose where to wield it. I am not a puppet to be controlled by you, Traix, or by you, Ebojak. I walk my own path, and it will be my choice—my will—that determines where it leads."
Ebojak's growl deepened, a feral snarl that was almost tangible in its intensity. "Take what you want, Eve! Hunt! Kill! The strong survive, the weak are nothing! Nothing!"
Traix Khan's laughter softened, a sinister chuckle that echoed in the recesses of her mind. "We shall see, Eve," he whispered, his voice like a caress against her thoughts. "The world is darker than you know. When the time comes, you will see that there is only one true path, and it is paved in blood and darkness."
Eve felt the weight of their words settle into the back of her mind as the conversation faded, leaving her alone once more with her thoughts.
As they walked toward their horses, Aric noticed the brief, distant look in Eve's eyes. He slowed his pace slightly, coming up beside her with a concerned expression. "You okay, Eve?" he asked, his voice gentle yet tinged with worry.
Eve flinched slightly at his words, the dark voices of Traix and Ebojak fading into the background as her focus shifted back to the present. She blinked, pushing the lingering echoes of their sinister whispers to the recesses of her mind. Turning to Aric, she offered a small, tight smile. "Yeah… just tired," she replied, her tone even but carrying a hint of the weariness she felt from both the physical and mental strain of the night.
Aric nodded, understanding. "It's been a long night for all of us. Once we get back to Selevex, we can rest. You've more than earned it."
Draks, who had already reached his horse, overheard the exchange and chuckled, his deep voice rumbling in the cool morning air. "Tired? After hours running in the forest, I'm surprised any of us are still standing. But nothing a good ale and a few hours of sleep won't fix."
Killion, always quick with a quip, smirked as he swung himself up onto his horse. "Speak for yourself, Draks. I'm ready for a hot meal and some peace and quiet. Maybe a nice bath too, if we're lucky."
Lyra, already mounted and adjusting her bow, shook her head with a smile. "You and your baths, Killion. I'm sure the Guild will be happy to see us, especially with what we're bringing back. Might even earn us a bonus."
Eve approached her horse, taking a moment to steady herself as she placed her foot in the stirrup and mounted with practiced ease. The night's events still lingered in her mind, the encounter with the beast, the unsettling meeting with the dhampir, and the ever-present darkness within her. But for now, she focused on the task at hand—getting back to the city, delivering the beast's head, and collecting her reward.
Aric mounted his horse beside her, his gaze lingering on Eve for a moment longer, as if trying to gauge the truth of her earlier words. But whatever thoughts he had, he kept them to himself, instead giving a nod to the group. "Alright, let's head back. The sooner we're out of these woods, the better."
With a shared sense of purpose, the party urged their horses forward, the sound of hooves clopping against the forest floor breaking the early morning stillness. The journey back to Selevex began in a comfortable silence, the companionship of the group offering a quiet solace after the intensity of the hunt.
As they rode, the first rays of sunlight began to filter through the trees, casting long shadows that danced along the path. The city of Selevex awaited them, its walls a familiar sight in the distance, promising rest and respite from the night's dangers.