Lifting his head, Fort met Stella's gaze. Her eyes were sharp, filled with both seriousness and curiosity.
"..." Fort's stare was enough to silence the question Stella had been about to ask.
Stella sighed, leaning back in her chair. "If you're searching for the Flood that the Voss researchers keep mentioning, you won't find much."
Fort shifted his gaze towards her, puzzled. "Why's that?"
Stella carefully closed the book she had been reading, its cover showing signs of age and frequent use. She placed it on a shelf that had a conspicuous empty spot, clearly indicating where it belonged. "Because I've already looked into it extensively, and it hasn't led anywhere significant."
Fort raised an eyebrow, trying to mask his growing intrigue. "How's your search been otherwise?"
Stella picked up a different book from the desk, its pages freshly crisp. She flipped it open with a casual grace. "As I said, no groundbreaking discoveries. But I've stumbled upon a few interesting tidbits."
Fort, noting that Stella had been investigating longer than he had, leaned forward. "Like what?"
Stella chuckled softly, her eyes twinkling with mischief. "Why should I share that with you?"
Fort's brows furrowed in frustration, his patience wearing thin. He took a deep breath, contemplating what she might want in return.
"… I'll pay for it," he said, his tone firm.
Stella's eyes sparkled with a hint of amusement as she closed the book and extended her hand for a handshake. "Deal."
Fort's heart raced, his mind racing with concerns. "I hope it's nothing too unusual."
Stella's expression grew more serious as she clarified her terms. "I want information in exchange."
Fort's face paled slightly as he heard the high price. "And if I can't provide it?"
"Then you'll owe me 100 silver coins," Stella stated matter-of-factly.
Fort's eyes widened in shock, his mouth slightly agape at the hefty amount. He had little choice but to agree. They shook hands firmly, and Stella, with a satisfied nod, added, "Pleasure doing business with you."
Stella then closed the book with a decisive snap before turning to Fort, her expression thoughtful yet weary.
"This flood theory has been around for years," she said, her voice tinged with frustration.
"Like many other theories," Fort replied, "this one lacks strong evidence. It's all speculative."
"But after the news broke in the newspapers this morning," Stella said, her eyes narrowing slightly, "the theory has resurfaced with a new fervor."
She leaned forward, her fingers tracing the edge of the book as if it held more secrets. "The only lead I stumbled upon was by chance. I noticed that the emergence of this theory coincided almost perfectly with the discovery of rare minerals at Mt. Aparus."
A heavy silence settled between them, the quiet only broken by the occasional rustle of pages from the nearby shelves. Fort finally broke the silence, his tone a mixture of impatience and curiosity. "Is that all you found?"
Stella met his gaze, her expression a blend of frustration and resignation. "I told you before... my search hasn't yielded much. What were you expecting?"
With a resigned sigh, she turned back to the book she had put aside, the flickering candlelight casting shadows that danced across the text.
Fort looked down, his face scrunched in disappointment, his shoulders sagging slightly. He glanced up at Stella, who sat across from him, her eyes piercing with curiosity. "What information do you want?" he asked, his voice tinged with frustration.
Stella mulled over her options, her gaze shifting between her notes and the table. After a moment's hesitation, she met Fort's eyes with a firm resolve. "What do you know about Void followers?"
The mention of Void followers seemed to pull Fort into a deep contemplation. He furrowed his brow, his mind racing through the fragments of information he had on the topic. The conversation had taken a turn he wasn't expecting, and he felt a twinge of unease.
Fort's eyes wandered around the room before settling back on Stella. He hesitated, feeling the weight of the question pressing on him. "There is... one thing," he said slowly, his voice gaining a hint of clarity. "A painting at the museum where Mr. Aries works is titled 'Salvation for Void Followers.'"
Stella's skepticism shifted to genuine interest. Her eyes widened slightly as she absorbed this new piece of information. She nodded, her expression softening as she considered the implications of what Fort had revealed.
"Okay," she said, her tone now more neutral, though still carrying a hint of cold detachment. "This is just an exchange of information with no ulterior motives, merely a coincidence. You can leave if you wish."
Fort, feeling the chill in Stella's demeanor, stood up, his movements deliberate as he packed up the book he had been reading. He placed it back on the shelf with a sense of finality.
As he and Stella were about to leave the table, she suddenly spoke again, her voice carrying an unexpected note of invitation. "But... if you're interested in this conversation, come back on Monday."
Fort turned back, meeting Stella's gaze with a mix of curiosity and uncertainty. After a moment, he nodded and made his way toward the reception desk, the sound of his footsteps echoing softly in the quiet room.
When Fort arrived at the reception desk, the receptionist greeted him with a warm, genuine smile. "Do you want to leave, sir?"
Fort nodded, confirming his intention to depart. As he glanced up at the large clock mounted above the desk, he was taken aback to see it was already 18:40.
"Huh... time flies when you're with someone," he murmured, more to himself than to anyone else.
He exchanged a polite farewell with the receptionist, who offered him a final, friendly nod before Fort stepped out of the library.
---
Outside, the evening air was crisp and growing colder as mist began to weave its way through the streets with the setting sun. Fort quickened his pace, sensing the urgency to get home before it became too dark. The fog thickened rapidly, turning the familiar surroundings into a labyrinth of gray. The streets were deserted, and there wasn't a single horse-drawn carriage in sight, adding to the unsettling atmosphere.
As he wandered through the thickening fog, Fort encountered a T-junction he didn't recognize. His mind raced, trying to recall the layout of the streets around the library.
"Since when is there a T-junction here?" he muttered, perplexed.
He tried to mentally retrace the route he had taken earlier in the carriage. The chill wind cut through his coat, and the distant cawing of crows filled the silence. Fort remembered that, in his past encounters with the supernatural, crows often seemed to appear.
As Fortis struggled to make sense of the thickening fog that surrounded him, a figure began to emerge from the mist, becoming more distinct with each step. The figure was clad in a flowing black robe, the hood partially obscuring his face. His glasses glinted in the faint light, and he was intently absorbed in a newspaper dated for today.
The surreal scene seemed at odds with the eerie, desolate environment. The figure looked up from the newspaper and spoke, his voice carrying an unsettling calmness. "What a remarkable discovery… I didn't expect it to happen so quickly."
Fortis, feeling both bewildered and threatened by the apparition, tried to focus on his own predicament, pushing the figure's presence to the back of his mind. But the man's voice cut through his concentration again. "Humans are meant to seek answers, yet sometimes they pursue questions that are not worth answering."
The man's tone was almost philosophical, laced with a hint of disapproval. "Sometimes people need to mind their own business," he added, his words edged with a sense of warning.
Then, with an unsettling shift, the figure turned directly towards Fortis, his gaze piercing through the fog. "That includes you, Fortis Dexter."
The name struck Fortis like a physical blow, his heart pounding in his chest. He felt a chill run down his spine as the man's recognition of him sank in. Before Fortis could fully grasp the significance of the encounter, the figure turned away, his robe swirling dramatically as he walked further into the dense fog.
The mist quickly swallowed the man's retreating form, leaving Fortis alone with a profound sense of confusion and fear. The fog thickened around him, as if closing in on his thoughts, and the weight of the man's cryptic remarks pressed heavily on his mind.
Questions surged in Fortis's thoughts—Who was that man? What did he know about Fortis? Why had he seemed so ominously informed? As the fog continued to swirl and the night's shadows deepened, Fortis was left with an uneasy silence and an urgent need for answers.
As he focused on the figure he encountered, a sudden scream pierced the fog. A woman's cry for help, desperate and filled with fear, jolted him from his thoughts.
Instinctively, Fort followed the agonized cries, running with renewed urgency. The fog swirled around him, making it difficult to see. As he neared the source of the sound, he spotted a shadowy figure near the edge of a fast-flowing river.
Cautiously, he approached, his hand gripping the revolver he had drawn. "Madam?" he called out, his voice steady but tinged with concern.
The woman's response was not what he expected. She let out a chilling, maniacal laugh before turning to face him. Her form shifted grotesquely, elongating into a nightmarish creature with unnaturally long limbs and a twisted, otherworldly visage.
The creature lunged at Fort with terrifying speed.
Adrenaline surged through him. Fort sprinted away, darting through narrow alleyways and shadowed streets, but the creature pursued him relentlessly, its eerie laughter echoing behind him. The fog seemed to close in around him, amplifying his sense of dread as he desperately sought a way to escape.
"Why does this always happen to me!" Fort shouted inwardly, frustration simmering beneath the surface.
He sprinted through the dimly lit streets, each pounding step making his legs feel as though they might shatter. Finally, he took a sharp turn into an alley, a move that seemed to bewilder the relentless creature pursuing him.
The abrupt change in direction offered Fort a fleeting chance to regain his breath. He leaned against a grimy wall, his chest heaving as he slowly straightened his legs. A few seconds passed before he could breathe normally again, though the anxiety still clenched at his heart.
His face twisted into a puzzled frown as he mentally shouted, "What happened to the night in this city?" The sky, usually cloaked in a dark veil, now seemed unnaturally gray and hostile.
As he wrestled with his confusion, the creature, a monstrous silhouette against the flickering streetlights, began scouring the alleys around him with methodical persistence.
Realizing he had little time before the creature's search would close in on his position, Fort knew he needed to find cover immediately. He moved with deliberate care, every shadow and corner scrutinized to ensure he avoided detection.
---
Arriving at a dilapidated warehouse, its broken windows and rusting metalwork a testament to years of neglect, Fort slipped inside. The interior was a cavernous space filled with dust and the faint scent of decay. He quickly retrieved his gear from a hidden compartment in his coat: a revolver, Binding Time.
Fortis then pondered intensely on how to escape his precarious situation. The dim light filtering through the dirty windows of the warehouse did little to ease his anxiety.
"As soon as I leave this warehouse, I'll be chased immediately..."
His mind raced as he considered how to immobilize the creature. A sudden memory flashed before him—the river where he had first encountered the mysterious woman.
"Maybe I can drown that creature!" For a fleeting moment, a spark of hope illuminated his thoughts, bringing a brief sense of relief.
But then Fortis was struck by the harsh reality of his plan. "But... how?"
The idea of waiting for sunrise crossed his mind, and it seemed like the wisest choice. With daylight, he could potentially gain an advantage or at least lessen his immediate danger. However, staying in the warehouse was not a viable option; the creature would find him sooner or later, its relentless pursuit only a matter of time.
Determined, Fortis grabbed his bindings and revolver, feeling the cold metal of the weapon through his gloves. He approached the warehouse door with cautious steps, each creak of the old hinges sounding like a gunshot in the stillness of the night.
As he stepped into the empty street, the eerie silence was only broken by the distant hum of city life, now a world away. He scanned his surroundings, eyes darting between the shadows of dilapidated buildings. Relief washed over him when he saw no sign of the creature.
But just as he began to exhale, a guttural snarl echoed from the dark recesses of an alleyway. The creature emerged with a sudden burst of speed, its eyes glowing with malevolent intent. Fortis's heart raced as he sprinted down the street, adrenaline fueling his desperate bid for escape. The night air was cold and thick with tension as he ran, every shadow threatening to conceal the creature's relentless pursuit.
Fortis darted through the deserted streets, each echo of his footsteps a grim reminder of the danger closing in. The narrow alleys and abandoned buildings offered fleeting cover, but also risked trapping him. He veered left, trying to lose the creature's line of sight, but his senses were on high alert. The creature's snarls grew louder, a chilling assurance that it was gaining on him.
He reached the riverbank and skidded to a halt, panting heavily. The water flowed with a menacing calm, reflecting the moonlight that barely cut through the night's gloom. Fortis cast a desperate glance around, searching for a way to make his plan a reality. The river's current was stronger than he had anticipated, but it was his only option.
Fortis quickly searched the area for anything he could use. His eyes fell on a fragile wooden bridges, Thinking to make the creature fell from the high and drown.
The noise of the approaching beast grew louder, a constant, haunting growl that quickened his movements.
Fortis took a deep breath and tried to steady his shaking hands. The creature burst into view, its grotesque form illuminated by the faint light. It let out a deafening roar as it spotted Fortis, eyes gleaming with a fierce hunger.
As soon as the creature began its relentless pursuit, Fortis sprinted toward the fragile bridge that spanned the dark, churning river below. The wooden planks creaked ominously beneath his feet, and he could only hope the bridge would be the key to slowing the beast down.
Reaching the far side of the bridge, he glanced back just in time to see the creature hesitate at the bridge's edge. Its grotesque form loomed against the dim light, eyes gleaming with a relentless, predatory hunger. The creature snarled, its gaze fixed on Fortis with unwavering intent.
The creature's hesitation was brief. It charged forward, crossing the bridge with alarming speed. Fortis quickly drew his revolver, his hands steady despite the adrenaline coursing through him. He fired four shots in rapid succession. The first bullet found its mark, hitting the creature squarely in the shoulder, causing it to stagger momentarily. The remaining three bullets struck the bridge's wooden supports with loud, splintering cracks.
The bridge groaned under the impact, its stability compromised. Fortis watched with grim satisfaction as the wooden planks began to splinter and give way. The creature, momentarily dazed and disoriented, continued its advance but was clearly slowed by the damage.
Seconds later, with a final, thunderous roar, the bridge collapsed into the river below. Planks and debris tumbled into the dark waters, dragging the monstrous creature down with it. The river surged violently as the bridge's wreckage and the creature were swallowed by the depths. Fortis peered over the edge, his breath coming in ragged gasps. The water churned with the aftermath, but the creature was nowhere to be seen.
Fortis took a moment to steady himself, the night's tension slowly receding. He knew this battle was over, but the night was far from safe. Fortis stood on the riverbank, his heart still pounding from the intense encounter. The night air was thick with the acrid smell of gunpowder and the faint, lingering scent of the river. As he took a moment to collect himself, he realized the creature's ominous presence had been momentarily silenced by the collapse of the bridge.
Despite the victory, Fortis knew he couldn't afford to linger. The night was still young, and the danger wasn't over. He scanned the area for any signs of movement, his senses on high alert. The moonlight illuminated the water's surface, which was now eerily calm, but the sound of distant sirens and the occasional rustling of leaves reminded him of the world beyond the immediate threat.
He retraced his steps to the edge of the bridge's remains, looking for any clues that might indicate whether the creature had been truly vanquished or if it might somehow resurface. The debris floated on the river, but there were no signs of the creature itself. Fortis hoped this meant it was no longer a threat, but he couldn't be certain.
He needed to find a safer place to regroup and reassess his situation. As he moved away from the river, he noticed a dilapidated building a short distance away, partially obscured by overgrown vegetation. It looked abandoned but seemed to offer a potential refuge. With no better option, he headed toward it, the night's shadows cloaking his movements.
The building's exterior was crumbling, and the front door hung precariously on its hinges. Fortis pushed it open with a cautious shove, revealing a dark interior filled with the scent of mildew and decay. He stepped inside, the wooden floorboards creaking under his weight. The room was dimly lit by stray beams of moonlight filtering through broken windows.
He took a moment to examine his surroundings. The building appeared to have been abandoned for years. Dust-covered furniture and scattered debris created an unsettling atmosphere, but it was a place to catch his breath and plan his next move.
Fortis moved to a corner of the room where he could keep watch over the entrance. He carefully unloaded his revolver and checked his ammunition, relieved to find a few rounds still remaining. The immediate threat had been neutralized, but he needed to stay vigilant.
As he sat down on a rickety chair, his thoughts drifted back to the creature and the encounter that had nearly cost him his life. He wondered if there was more to this nightmare, or if he had truly seen the last of the monstrosity. The moonlight cast eerie shadows around him, and every creak of the building seemed amplified in the stillness.
Fortis resolved to wait until morning. He needed to regroup and figure out a way to deal with whatever lay ahead. With the night stretching out before him, he tried to get some rest, While resting Fortis tried to make sense of the strange and terrifying events of the night. The building's oppressive silence only deepened his unease, broken occasionally by the creak of old floorboards or the distant hum of the city beyond.
"This place is definitely not Misthaven," he concluded, noting the stark differences from the familiar city environment. The building was in a state of decay, its design alien and unfamiliar. "This abandoned structure… there isn't a single building like this that I remember from my time in the city."
Confusion clouded his thoughts, and he forced himself to stay focused on surviving until dawn. He settled into a corner of the room, the dusty air thick with the scent of mildew. The darkness outside pressed in, adding to the sense of isolation.
The sudden sound of footsteps shattered the silence, sending a jolt of panic through Fortis. His heart pounded as he gripped his revolver tightly, the metal cold against his skin. He moved quickly but cautiously towards the door, every creak of the floorboards amplifying his anxiety. He eased the door open just a crack, peering out into the dense fog that blanketed the area.
The fog swirled around the figure, obscuring its features but revealing a steady, deliberate approach. Fortis aimed his revolver at the silhouette, ready to defend himself. The figure continued forward, emerging from the mist with an unsettling calmness.
As the figure stepped closer, the fog began to lift slightly, revealing more details. Fortis's breath caught in his throat. The figure was unmistakably the same person he had encountered earlier.
the one whose presence had seemed to herald the night's strange events.
Fortis's mind raced, grappling with disbelief and fear. The figure's sudden reappearance at this moment was both an unexpected and alarming twist. He tightened his grip on the revolver, his gaze fixed on the approaching figure, unsure of what to expect next. The night's tension hung heavy in the air, the building's shadows growing darker with each passing second.