The air in Tharien's Gate was unusually still as Nyx and Zerin moved through the eastern district, their steps muffled by the damp cobblestones. The narrow alleys and crumbling buildings of this part of the city seemed to lean inward, the darkness between them oppressive.
Nyx tightened her grip on her daggers, her eyes scanning the shadows ahead. "If Lirra makes it out of the city, we'll lose our chance to stop her."
Zerin, following close behind, let out a low whistle. "You don't need to tell me twice. The way she bolted out of that foundry, I'd say she's got more to hide than just her loyalty to the gang."
Nyx paused, crouching low as her panther melted into the shadows beside her. "She won't get far. Not if we find her before she reaches the eastern gate."
Zerin knelt beside her, his tone uncharacteristically serious. "You're sure she's heading there?"
"She has to be," Nyx replied, her voice low but firm. "If she's working with the cult, they'll have an extraction point. The eastern gate leads directly to the jungle's edge."
"Right into the gang's territory," Zerin muttered. "Convenient."
---
As the pair moved through the district, Nyx's panther suddenly froze, its ears flicking forward. A faint sound echoed through the still air—hurried footsteps, quick and uneven.
"There," Nyx whispered, motioning toward a side street.
The two slipped into the alley, their movements silent. Ahead, the flicker of a lantern's light betrayed a figure moving quickly through the shadows.
"It's her," Zerin said, his voice barely audible.
Nyx nodded, signaling for him to circle around while she moved in directly. The panther slunk ahead, its glowing eyes locked on the target.
Councilor Lirra was wrapped in a heavy cloak, her steps faltering as she glanced nervously over her shoulder. Her hand clutched a small satchel, the faint glow of corrupted energy emanating from within.
Nyx narrowed her eyes. She's carrying something tied to the Maw, she realized.
Before she could move, Zerin stepped out of the shadows ahead of Lirra, his dagger spinning lazily in his hand. "Going somewhere, Councilor?"
Lirra gasped, stumbling back, only to find Nyx blocking her retreat.
Lirra's eyes darted between them, her expression shifting from fear to defiance. "You don't understand," she said, her voice sharp. "I'm trying to protect this city."
"By working with the gang and the cult?" Nyx shot back, her daggers gleaming in the dim light. "You've done nothing but endanger everyone here."
Lirra's lips curled into a bitter smile, her voice softening into something almost reverent. "You see only chaos and destruction, but that is not the Maw. The Maw is the great shield, the savior this world does not deserve."
Nyx's brow furrowed. "The Maw's corruption has torn apart villages and turned people into monsters. How is that saving anyone?"
"You can't see it," Lirra said, her tone turning cryptic. "The Maw is the protector, the last force standing against ruin. The world teeters on the edge of collapse, and it is the Maw that holds the balance—precarious though it may be."
Zerin tilted his head, his dagger still poised to strike. "Balance? Is that what you call shadow beasts devouring people in the streets?"
Lirra's eyes flashed with a strange light, her voice rising. "The Maw's methods are harsh because the world demands it. You fight against its will, but you don't understand the price of resistance. Without the Maw, everything crumbles—everything. You're blind to the truth, and your defiance only hastens the end."
Nyx stepped closer, her panther growling low. "What truth, Lirra? What's the Maw protecting us from?"
Lirra smiled faintly, her expression serene yet unnerving. "You'll see. When the bonds shatter and the world screams for mercy, you'll see. The Maw is our salvation. It is the only light in the coming dark."
Before Nyx could press her further, Lirra suddenly hurled a vial to the ground. The glass shattered, releasing a cloud of black mist that swirled around her like a living thing.
"She's trying to escape!" Zerin shouted, rushing forward.
The mist thickened, obscuring Lirra's figure as it spread through the alley. Nyx's panther leapt into the cloud, its growls echoing through the darkness.
Nyx hesitated for a moment before plunging into the mist, her daggers at the ready. The air was cold and thick, making it hard to breathe. Shapes moved within the fog—shadowy figures that shouldn't have been there.
A sudden movement caught her eye, and she lashed out with her blade. Her dagger struck something solid, eliciting a cry of pain. The mist parted briefly, revealing Lirra clutching her arm, her cloak torn.
"You don't know what you're doing!" Lirra shouted, retreating further into the shadows.
Zerin appeared from the side, his blade flashing as he cut through the mist. "Oh, I think we know exactly what we're doing."
The corrupted energy in the satchel flared, and the mist seemed to writhe in response. A shadowy tendril lashed out, forcing Nyx to duck as it struck the wall behind her, leaving a scorch mark.
"She's using it to summon something!" Nyx realized.
---
The mist coalesced into a hulking shape, a shadow beast with glowing violet eyes that radiated malice. It let out a guttural roar, the sound shaking the walls of the alley.
"Great," Zerin muttered, readying his blade. "Because this couldn't get any worse."
Nyx's panther lunged at the beast, its claws tearing into the shadowy form. The creature retaliated, swiping with massive claws that barely missed the panther's sleek body.
Nyx and Zerin moved in tandem, their strikes coordinated as they attacked the beast from both sides. Nyx's daggers flashed, cutting through the creature's inky tendrils, while Zerin's blade struck its core, eliciting a pained roar.
Despite their efforts, the beast regenerated quickly, its wounds knitting together as if feeding off the mist's energy.
"We need to cut off the source!" Nyx shouted, her gaze locking onto Lirra, who was backing away with the satchel.
Nyx darted toward Lirra, her panther leaping ahead to block the councilor's path. Lirra hesitated, her eyes wide with panic as Nyx closed the distance.
"It's over, Lirra," Nyx said, her voice cold. "Give me the satchel."
Lirra clutched it tighter, her voice trembling. "You can destroy it, but you can't destroy what the Maw represents. The Maw is the shield, the sword, and the only hope. You'll understand soon enough—when there's nothing left but ash and shadows."
Nyx's gaze hardened. "We'll take our chances."
With a swift motion, Nyx lunged forward, knocking the satchel from Lirra's hands. The bag hit the ground, the corrupted energy inside flaring briefly before fading.
The shadow beast let out a final, anguished roar before dissolving into mist. The fog began to dissipate, revealing the alley once more.
---
The alley fell silent as Nyx stood over the satchel, its corrupted glow fading. Councilor Lirra was on her knees, breathing heavily, her cloak torn and her arm cradled against her chest where Nyx's dagger had grazed her. Zerin moved closer, his blade still drawn, his expression cold.
"It's over, Lirra," Nyx said, her voice as sharp as the daggers she held. "You're coming with us, and we'll stop whatever you and your cult are planning."
But Lirra's faint smile sent a chill down Nyx's spine. "You think this ends here?" she whispered. "You've seen nothing of the Maw's reach."
Her hand darted into the folds of her cloak, pulling out another vial—this one swirling with a thick, violet-black liquid.
"Stop her!" Zerin shouted, lunging forward, but Lirra hurled the vial to the ground at her feet.
The glass shattered, and an explosion of dark mist engulfed the alley. The mist swirled violently, seeming alive, tendrils writhing as if sensing their surroundings. Nyx coughed, the acrid smell burning her lungs, and her vision blurred as the oppressive cloud thickened.
"She's summoning another beast!" Nyx growled, waving her hand in front of her face in a futile attempt to clear the air. Her panther roared, its silhouette disappearing into the choking darkness.
"No," Zerin said grimly, backing toward Nyx. "She's covering her tracks."
Through the swirling mist, faint flashes of violet light flickered like distant lightning. Lirra's voice echoed, sharp and defiant: "You'll regret this, you blind fools. The Maw's purpose is greater than you can comprehend!"
Nyx gritted her teeth, focusing on her panther's glowing eyes as they emerged briefly through the fog. "We have to stop her!" she yelled, sprinting forward blindly.
A shadowy tendril lashed out from the mist, forcing her to dive to the side. Zerin slashed at another tendril with his dagger, but his blade passed through it harmlessly. "This stuff's not natural," he muttered.
Lirra's figure appeared briefly ahead of them, her movements erratic as she stumbled through the darkness. In her free hand, she clutched a second satchel, faintly glowing with corrupted energy. It seemed to guide her through the mist, the glow flickering brighter as she moved farther away.
Nyx raised a dagger, aiming for Lirra's leg, but the councilor was too quick. Another shadowy tendril rose, striking the blade from Nyx's hand before she could throw it. "Damn it!" she hissed, rolling to her feet.
"Catch her already!" Zerin shouted, frustration thick in his voice. He turned sharply, spotting Lirra near the far end of the alley where the mist thinned.
Realizing she was close to escaping, Nyx snarled a command to her panther. "Cut her off!"
The panther surged forward, a dark blur in the swirling fog. It leapt for Lirra just as she reached the edge of the mist, its claws outstretched.
Lirra turned at the last moment, hurling a third vial to the ground. This one exploded into a deafening blast of light and sound, forcing the panther to skid to a halt. Nyx shielded her eyes, the flash leaving her momentarily disoriented.
By the time she regained her vision, Lirra had vanished into the shadows beyond the alley, her footsteps echoing faintly as she fled toward the eastern gate.
---
Nyx slammed her fist against the wall, her breath coming in short bursts. "She got away," she spat, her frustration clear.
Zerin retrieved the satchel they had managed to knock from Lirra's grasp earlier. "Not entirely," he said, holding it up. "Whatever's in here might be enough to figure out her next move."
Nyx's panther returned to her side, its glowing eyes scanning the mist-filled alley as if expecting another attack. Nyx placed a hand on its head, her thoughts racing.
"She's heading for the jungle," Nyx said finally, her tone grim. "That much is obvious. Whatever the cult is planning, it's tied to the shrine—and she's carrying something critical to their ritual."
"Then we'd better move fast," Zerin replied, slinging the satchel over his shoulder. "Because if she reaches the gang before we do, the shrine's as good as lost."
The mist began to dissipate, leaving the alley eerily quiet. Nyx sheathed her daggers, her resolve hardening. They had stopped part of the cult's plan, but Lirra's escape meant the battle was far from over.
"We regroup with Kaelron and Eryk," she said. "They need to know what we've uncovered. The shrine is next, and we can't afford to fail."
With a nod, the pair slipped back into the shadows of Tharien's Gate, the weight of the Maw's growing influence pressing heavier with each step.