As Ren, Olivia, Talos, and Skorn reached the city center, chaos greeted them. People darted in every direction, clutching loved ones, while frantic shouts filled the air as more city bells tolled in rhythmic urgency.
Ren's gaze swept over the panicked crowd, his face creasing with concern. "Well, this is worse than I imagined," he muttered. "Who knew city-wide terror would kick off a festival vibe?"
Talos grimly adjusted his glasses. "Crowds in turmoil often create more danger than what they're running from," he noted, quoting one of his many books. "We need to get them moving safely."
Ren gave him a knowing nod, sensing the gravity of the moment. "Guess we're in for quite the story after all."
As the bells continued to chime, their haunting echo reverberated through the city streets, setting a tense backdrop for the rising chaos. Ren, Olivia, Talos, and Skorn quickly realized that this was no mere accident or drill—this was a signal, and not the kind that bodes well.
Ren's eyes narrowed, his senses alert. "Bells like these don't just sound off for decoration," he muttered, more to himself. A sinking feeling settled over him. From his knack for reading situations, he knew this wasn't just an ordinary day gone awry.
As if reading his thoughts, Talos looked over, his brows furrowed.
"I remember reading about cults using bells to mark the start of their rituals," he said, sounding both worried and intrigued.
"Especially the kind that tap into ancient powers."
"So, you're saying a ritual is happening right here, in the middle of all this?" Skorn's expression was a mix of disbelief and budding anger.
"This day just went from a festival to the worst field trip ever."
Ren smirked, though his tone was anything but light. "Well, let's just say… I've got a bad feeling this is the grand opening to something sinister."
Olivia, meanwhile, focused on what she could do now. She took a deep breath and, with the calm authority of a seasoned leader, raised her voice above the panicked crowd.
"Everyone! Please make your way to the eastern gates in an orderly manner. Stay together and watch out for others."
Her voice, strong and steady, managed to calm some of the citizens as they began organizing and moving toward safety.
From nearby, a group of adventurers caught sight of the team near the Statue and hurried over, breathing heavily.
"We just got word from the Adventurers' Guild!" one of them shouted. "They're calling everyone to be on high alert. They think it's a cult ritual—something to do with summoning or… breaking through the city's defensive rune arrey."
Ren's face tightened. "So they're really trying to pull something here, huh?" He glanced at his team, his voice quieter but determined.
"Guess it's up to us to find out exactly what they're after."
With no more hesitation, the four of them set out together, weaving through the crowd as the bells continued to sound.
The chaos of the crowd began to thin as Ren, Olivia, Talos, and Skorn moved deeper into the city.
The festive decorations from earlier in the day now seemed out of place—torn banners fluttered in the wind, abandoned stalls littered the streets, and overturned carts blocked paths as the citizens evacuated.
The once vibrant streets had turned eerily quiet, except for the tolling bells and the distant murmur of frightened voices.
Ren's sharp eyes scanned the surroundings, catching glimpses of odd markings etched onto walls, lamp posts, and even cobblestones. He crouched down near one of the symbols—a jagged, circular design with interwoven runes. It pulsed faintly with an unnatural glow.
"Yup, this screams 'cult activity,'" Ren muttered, brushing his fingers over the grooves. "Classic ominous rune placement. Why is it always the creepy spirals?"
Talos knelt beside him, squinting at the symbol.
"Wait… I've seen this before. These runes are part of an old summoning ritual. They're meant to destabilize protective wards and draw in energy." His voice took on an almost excited tone as he tapped his beak-like nose.
"I read about these in A Theorist's Guide to Forbidden Magic. Fascinating stuff, really, but also incredibly dangerous."
Skorn stood a few paces back, arms crossed, his tail flicking irritably. "Great, Talos, you can publish your findings later. Right now, how do we stop it before things go kaboom?"
"Well, destroying the runes disrupts the energy flow," Talos explained. "But if they've already activated a central focus point—like a main altar—we'll need to find and destroy that, too."
Ren stood up, brushing his hands off. "So, classic scavenger hunt followed by boss battle. Got it. Let's move."
As they advanced further into the city, Olivia's keen senses caught sight of several individuals behaving… off.
A group of robed figures, almost blending into the shadows, moved in the opposite direction of the fleeing crowd. Their hoods obscured their faces, but their stiff movements and whispered chants made their intent clear.
"They're heading somewhere," Olivia pointed out, her voice steady but tense. "We need to follow them."
Ren nodded, already starting forward. "Let's see where the bad guys are leading us. Bet it's somewhere creepy and symbolic. Cults love their aesthetics."
The group followed the robed figures cautiously, weaving through back alleys and quiet streets. Along the way, they found more of the glowing runes, growing denser the closer they got to the heart of the city. Talos occasionally paused to sketch the symbols in a notebook, much to Skorn's exasperation.
"Seriously, Talos?" Skorn hissed. "You're documenting this for your memoirs now?"
"It's important to understand the enemy," Talos replied, unapologetic. "Besides, if we live through this, it could be useful."
Ren chuckled darkly. "Big 'if' there, buddy."
Finally, they reached a clearing near the city's center—a crumbled ruin hidden behind an unassuming wall. The robed figures disappeared into the structure, and a deep, resonating hum began to emanate from within. A sickly green light pulsed faintly through cracks in the stone.
"This is it," Ren whispered, his tone grim. "Whatever they're cooking up in there, we're the only ones close enough to stop it."
Olivia drew her staff, her expression resolute. "Then we don't waste any more time."
The team exchanged a quick nod, steeling themselves for what lay ahead, and stepped toward the entrance.
The faint hum grew louder, and the pulsing light intensified as they crossed the threshold, ready to face whatever dark ritual was unfolding within.
______
The ruins they entered were nothing like the grand architecture of the city's central square. Instead, this place felt ancient, with walls that were damp and cracked,
adorned with grim carvings of forgotten legends.
The air was thick, carrying a strange, metallic scent mixed with the odor of old stone and stagnant water. The unsettling green and red light led them deeper inside,
casting eerie shadows that danced along the stone walls.
Ren felt a shiver run down his spine. "Y'know, Talos, I feel like this could use a nice, welcoming sign. Something like 'Beware: Soul-Sucking Ritual in Progress.'"
Skorn huffed out a laugh, though his gaze stayed sharp on their surroundings. "Would be nice if cultists had more straightforward branding, huh? But hey, makes our jobs interesting."
Talos adjusted his glasses, eyes flicking to the flickering green light up ahead.
"Interesting isn't always good. If my readings are correct, the amount of energy radiating from here suggests they're summoning… something large. If they complete the ritual, it'll have enough power to rip right through the city's protective rune arrey."
"So we're on a timer," Olivia said, keeping her voice low but determined. She glanced back, signaling for them to move forward.
"Let's stay close and keep our guard up."