The air in Tharien's Gate was thick with tension. The sprawling city, nestled at the edge of the jungle, had an unnatural pallor. Shadows seemed to cling to the corners of every building, and the usual bustle of merchants and travelers was subdued. Kaelron couldn't shake the feeling that the corruption of the Maw was everywhere, lurking just beyond sight.
"We need information," Nyx stated firmly, her sharp eyes scanning the crowds as they moved cautiously through the marketplace. The Guild tamer had taken charge since their skirmish with the shadow beasts, her authority clear. "The gang's presence is stronger than I expected. Charging in blind won't work."
Kaelron nodded, still uneasy. The fragment in his satchel pulsed faintly, a reminder of its constant presence. He had felt its energy growing more chaotic since their arrival in Tharien's Gate, as if it were reacting to the corruption permeating the city.
Eryk, always the rogue, smirked. "I might know someone who can help. Word is there's a local who's been causing trouble for the gang—someone who knows the city inside out. But finding him won't be easy."
Nyx folded her arms, her skepticism evident. "And why should we trust this mysterious local? For all we know, he's just as corrupt as the rest of this place."
"Because," Eryk shot back, "he's the only lead we've got. Unless you have a better idea?"
Kaelron raised a hand before the argument could escalate. "Let's find this person and judge for ourselves. If they've been opposing the gang, they might know more about the Shadow Tamer and their plans."
Nyx sighed but relented. "Fine. But we're keeping our guard up."
---
Eryk led the group through the winding streets of Tharien's Gate, where the architecture became progressively shabbier the deeper they ventured. The polished stone of the main thoroughfares gave way to crooked alleys and crumbling buildings. Here, the shadows seemed alive, and Kaelron's hand instinctively hovered near the hilt of his blade.
They eventually arrived at a dilapidated tavern with a faded sign that read The Broken Fang. Inside, the air was thick with the stench of stale ale and unwashed bodies. A few patrons glanced at them, their gazes lingering on Nyx's polished armor and Kaelron's fiery aura before quickly looking away.
Eryk approached the bartender, a burly man with a scar running across his cheek. "We're looking for someone," he said, sliding a coin across the counter. "A local troublemaker, goes by the name Zerin."
The bartender glanced at the coin, then at Eryk, his expression unreadable. "Troublemaker's one word for him. But if you're looking for Zerin, you'd best tread carefully. He's not a man to be trifled with."
"Good thing we're not trifling," Eryk replied with a grin.
The bartender sighed and motioned toward a back room. "He's in there. But don't say I didn't warn you."
---
The group entered the back room cautiously. The space was dimly lit by a single flickering lantern, and at its center sat a wiry man with sharp features and piercing green eyes. Zerin exuded an air of danger, his every movement deliberate and precise.
"So," he said without preamble, his voice low and gravelly. "You're the ones poking around in the gang's business. Brave, or stupid. Maybe both."
"We hear you've been causing them trouble," Kaelron said, stepping forward. "We need information about their leader. The Shadow Tamer."
Zerin raised an eyebrow. "Bold of you to ask, considering I don't even know who you are."
Nyx crossed her arms. "We're tamers investigating the corruption spreading from the Maw. If you've been fighting the gang, our goals align."
Zerin let out a dry chuckle. "Align, huh? And what happens when our 'aligned goals' get me killed? Or worse, leave me to deal with one of those shadow beasts?"
Kaelron's voice hardened. "If you know what's at stake, you'll help us. This isn't just about you. It's about stopping the Maw from consuming everything."
There was a long silence as Zerin studied Kaelron, his gaze lingering on the faint glow of the fragment in Kaelron's satchel. Finally, he nodded. "Fine. I'll help. But only because I've seen what those monsters can do, and I don't want the Maw's filth spreading any further."
---
Zerin laid out what he knew:
The gang operated out of a fortified warehouse near the docks, heavily guarded and filled with shadow beasts.
Their leader, the Shadow Tamer, was rarely seen but commanded absolute loyalty. Rumor had it that they had been merged with shadow corruption for so long that they were barely human.
The gang had been targeting tamers and forcing them to fight in underground arenas, where shadow beasts were unleashed to entertain the gang's members.
"That's barbaric," Nyx said, her expression darkening.
Zerin shrugged. "That's the world we're living in now. The Maw's corruption brings out the worst in people."
"Do you know what their endgame is?" Kaelron asked.
Zerin hesitated before answering. "They've been talking about the jungle shrine. They believe there's something there that'll give them even more power. If they get their hands on it, you can kiss this city goodbye."
---
As they left the tavern, the group gathered in a quiet corner of the marketplace to discuss their next steps.
"We need to stop this gang before they reach the shrine," Nyx said. "If they're already this dangerous with the Maw's corruption, I don't want to think about what they'll become with more power."
"But we can't just charge in," Eryk countered. "That warehouse is a death trap. We'll need a plan."
Kaelron glanced at the horizon, where the sun was beginning to set. The fragment in his satchel pulsed again, its energy a constant reminder of the stakes. "We'll infiltrate the warehouse first. Find out what we can about their leader and their connection to the shrine. If we can disrupt their operations, we'll weaken their hold on the city."
"And what about Zerin?" Nyx asked.
Kaelron thought for a moment. "He's a wildcard, but he knows this city better than we do. We'll need his help if we're going to pull this off."
---
The group moved cautiously through the winding streets of Tharien's Gate. The market stalls were beginning to shut down for the evening, and the once-bustling crowds thinned to a trickle of weary merchants and travelers.
Kaelron couldn't shake the feeling that they were being watched. The shadows seemed to stretch unnaturally long in the fading light, and faint whispers drifted on the wind—too faint to make out but unmistakably there.
"We're not alone," Nyx muttered, her hand on the hilt of her blade.
Kaelron nodded, his grip tightening on Ignis's reins. The gryphon let out a low growl, her fiery eyes scanning the darkness.
The feeling grew stronger as they approached the edge of the market district. The streets narrowed, and the buildings became more rundown. Kaelron's heartbeat quickened as the fragment pulsed in time, a steady rhythm that made his skin crawl.
"Something's following us," he said softly.
Eryk glanced over his shoulder, his greatsword ready. "We should head back. This isn't the time for a fight."
But before anyone could move, a figure stepped out of the shadows ahead of them.
It was cloaked in darkness, its form indistinct and shifting. Its voice, when it spoke, was cold and sharp, like shards of ice cutting through the night.
"You've come far, but you're treading on dangerous ground."
Kaelron stepped forward, his staff glowing faintly. "Who are you?"
The figure didn't answer. Instead, it raised a hand, and the shadows around it seemed to ripple and surge. A wave of darkness shot toward the group, forcing Kaelron to raise a shield of fire. The blast sent sparks flying, and Ignis roared in defiance.
"Get ready!" Nyx shouted, drawing her daggers.
The figure vanished, but the shadows around them grew thicker, coalescing into forms. Shadow beasts emerged from the darkness, their violet eyes glowing with malice.
Kaelron merged partially with Ignis, flames erupting around them as the beasts attacked. His staff blazed with fire as he struck down the nearest creature, its form dissolving into ash.
Eryk and Frostfang fought side by side, the wolf's icy breath freezing one of the beasts in place before Eryk's blade shattered it.
Nyx and her panther darted through the fray, their movements swift and deadly. Each strike of her daggers found its mark, cutting through the beasts with precision.
Despite their efforts, the beasts kept coming, their numbers seemingly endless. Kaelron could feel the fragment's energy growing unstable, its pulsing chaotic and erratic.
"We can't keep this up!" Nyx shouted, dodging a swipe from one of the creatures.
Kaelron gritted his teeth, focusing his energy into a burst of fire that pushed the beasts back momentarily. "We have to!"
The fight raged on until, finally, the beasts began to retreat, melting back into the shadows as quickly as they had appeared.
The figure from before reappeared briefly, its form flickering like a dying flame. "You're not ready for what lies ahead," it said before vanishing completely.
---
The group stood in the now-silent street, their breaths heavy and their weapons drawn.
"What was that?" Eryk asked, his voice tinged with frustration.
Kaelron shook his head, his hands trembling as he lowered his staff. "Something tied to the Maw. Whatever it was, it knows we're here."
Nyx sheathed her daggers, her expression grim. "If that's the kind of power the Shadow Tamer commands, we're in for a fight we might not win."
Kaelron placed a hand on Ignis's neck, her warmth steadying him. "We'll figure it out. But first, we need to rest and finalize our plan. The warehouse is our next target."
The group moved cautiously back toward the safer parts of the city, their minds weighed down by what they had just encountered. The shadows of the Maw were closing in, and with each step, the stakes grew higher.
As Kaelron walked, the fragment pulsed once more, sending a shiver through him.