The clash was immediate and brutal. The first Shadowbeast slammed into a guard, its claws raking through armor as if it were parchment. The man screamed, his sword clattering to the ground.
"Edrick, with me!" Celeste shouted, drawing her blade and stepping into the fray.
Edrick's sword flashed in the torchlight as he struck at the nearest beast. His blade connected with a sickening crunch, but the creature barely faltered, its glowing red eyes narrowing with rage.
The guards rallied quickly, forming a defensive line around Celeste and Edrick. Their spears glinted as they thrust at the beasts, driving them back momentarily. But for every inch gained, the wolves pressed harder, their unnatural strength making them nearly impossible to hold off.
"Circle up!" Edrick bellowed. "Don't let them break through!"
Celeste's dagger flashed as she ducked beneath a swiping claw, driving the blade into the beast's flank. The creature howled, a sound that seemed to vibrate through her very bones. But instead of retreating, it snapped its jaws at her, forcing her to leap back.
One of the guards screamed as a Shadowbeast dragged him down, blood pooling beneath the writhing mass.
"Focus your strikes!" Celeste ordered. "Aim for the throat or the eyes!"
Her words galvanized the men. A spear found its mark, piercing through one of the wolves' glowing eyes. The beast yelped and crumpled, its body disintegrating into black smoke that dissipated into the night.
"They can be killed!" Edrick shouted, his sword slashing through another beast's throat.
But the reprieve was short-lived. More red eyes appeared in the treeline, and Celeste realized with dread that these were only the vanguard.
"Fall back to the gate!" she commanded.
The guards began a disciplined retreat, their movements coordinated as they slowly backed toward the estate's walls. The Shadowbeasts followed, their growls echoing through the night like a death knell.
Edrick stayed close to Celeste, his sword a blur as he struck down another beast that lunged too close. "We can't hold them off much longer!"
"Just a little further!" Celeste replied, her voice firm despite the fear clawing at her chest.
---
By the time they reached the gate, the Crimson Pact had mobilized. Thera Vane stood at the forefront, her axe glinting ominously in the firelight.
"Shadowbeasts," she muttered, her expression dark. "Didn't expect to see these this far north."
"You're familiar with them?" Celeste asked, panting.
Thera nodded. "They're not natural. Someone sent them. And that someone wants you dead."
Before Celeste could respond, the Shadowbeasts charged.
"Hold the line!" Thera roared, her voice carrying over the chaos.
The mercenaries met the beasts head-on, their discipline and brutal efficiency on full display. Axes, swords, and crossbows worked in tandem to cut down the creatures, their bodies dissipating into smoke as they fell.
Celeste joined the fray, her dagger flashing as she fought alongside her men. Despite the reinforcements, the Shadowbeasts were relentless, their attacks growing more frenzied with every passing moment.
Edrick fought beside her, his sword cutting a deadly arc through the air. "This isn't just an attack," he said between breaths. "It's a test."
Celeste nodded grimly. Whoever had sent the Shadowbeasts was probing their defenses, gauging their strength. This was only the beginning.
---
After what felt like an eternity, the last of the Shadowbeasts fell, its body dissolving into black smoke. The courtyard was silent save for the labored breathing of the survivors.
Thera wiped blood from her axe and turned to Celeste. "If this was a test, you passed. Barely."
Celeste ignored the barb, her mind racing. "How did they breach the perimeter without detection? We've fortified every vulnerable point."
Thera frowned. "Shadowbeasts don't move like regular troops. They slip through cracks, use the dark to their advantage. But they need a summoner to anchor them here."
Celeste's blood ran cold. "Are you saying the summoner is close?"
Thera's expression was grim. "Close enough to watch. And close enough to strike again."
Edrick stepped forward, his jaw tight. "Then we hunt them down. Tonight."
"No," Celeste said firmly. "That's exactly what they want. If we scatter our forces now, we'll leave ourselves vulnerable."
Thera nodded in agreement. "She's right. Better to reinforce your defenses and wait for your allies to arrive. But you'd better hope they get here soon. Whoever's behind this isn't going to stop."
Celeste's hands clenched into fists. "Then we make sure we're ready for them."
---
As the survivors worked to fortify the estate, Celeste retreated to the war room. Maps and reports lay spread out before her, but her focus was elsewhere.
The Shadowbeasts had been a message. Her enemies weren't just coming—they were already here.
And someone within her walls might be helping them.
The war room remained quiet save for the faint crackle of the hearth, its flickering light casting long shadows over the maps and scrolls that cluttered the table. Celeste stared at the parchment before her, her thoughts circling the attack like vultures over a fresh kill.
The Shadowbeasts' presence wasn't just a threat—it was proof. Someone had opened the door for them.
Her fingers tightened around the quill in her hand, the tip pressing into the paper and leaving a dark blot of ink.
A soft knock broke her concentration.
"Come in," she said without looking up.
Edrick entered, his armor still streaked with the grime of battle. "Guards are posted along the eastern perimeter. Thera's men are holding the outer gate."
Celeste nodded absently. "Good. Anything else to report?"
He hesitated, his silence prompting her to look up.
"Say it," she commanded.
Edrick stepped closer, lowering his voice. "One of the bodies... it was cloaked, like the figures we saw near the woods. Human, not beast. Thera confirmed it before I came to you."
Celeste's stomach twisted. "So they weren't just summoned creatures."
"No," Edrick said grimly. "It means whoever summoned them had agents embedded in the attack. Likely scouts—or saboteurs."
Her mind raced. *Why leave one behind? Was it carelessness? A message? Or… bait?*
"Where is the body now?"
"Under guard in the stables," Edrick replied. "I didn't want it near the manor until we're sure there's no foul play."
"Good thinking. I'll examine it myself."
Edrick shifted uncomfortably. "You should rest first. You've been up since dawn, and this attack..."
Celeste cut him off with a sharp glance. "Rest can wait. This is more important."
---
The stables were quiet, the air heavy with the scent of hay and horses. Two guards flanked the entrance, their faces pale but resolute as they stepped aside to let Celeste and Edrick through.
The body lay draped in a coarse cloth, its outline unmistakably human. Celeste knelt beside it, pulling the cloth back to reveal a pale, lifeless face.
The man was young, no older than twenty, with unremarkable features and a dusting of freckles across his nose. His clothes were plain, the kind a farmer or laborer might wear, but the dark stains on his tunic told another story.
Edrick crouched beside her, his expression grim. "Nothing on him but this." He held up a pendant, its black metal surface etched with a rune Celeste didn't recognize.
She took it, turning it over in her hands. The metal was cold, unnaturally so, and seemed to hum faintly against her skin.
"Do you recognize the symbol?" Edrick asked.
"No," she admitted, frowning. "But it feels… wrong."
"I thought the same," Edrick said. "I've sent for Lady Yvonne. If anyone can identify it, she can."
Celeste nodded, her thoughts drifting. Whoever this man was, he'd been prepared to die for his cause. But why?
She replaced the cloth over his face and rose, the pendant still clutched in her hand. "Have the guards doubled near the eastern woods," she ordered. "If there's more of them, they won't catch us unprepared."
Edrick inclined his head. "I'll see to it."
As he left, Celeste lingered, her gaze falling once more on the covered body. The attack had been a warning, but this corpse felt like a puzzle piece—one she couldn't yet place.
---
By the time Lady Yvonne arrived, the war room was abuzz with activity. Reports from patrols, supply inventories, and maps of the surrounding area littered the table.
"This had better be urgent," Yvonne said, sweeping into the room. Her sharp eyes fell on the pendant in Celeste's hand, and she immediately stiffened.
"Where did you get that?"
"It was on one of the attackers," Celeste said. "You recognize it?"
Yvonne nodded slowly, her expression grim. "It's a marker of the Black Veil."
"The Black Veil?" Edrick repeated as he reentered the room.
"A cult," Yvonne explained. "Fanatics who thrive on chaos and destruction. They're known for their summoning magic, especially creatures like the Shadowbeasts. But their motives are always shrouded in mystery."
Celeste's grip tightened on the pendant. "Why would they target the Varrow estate?"
"That's the question, isn't it?" Yvonne said, folding her arms. "The Veil rarely acts without cause. Either they were hired, or they've decided your downfall serves their greater purpose."
"Which means we're dealing with two enemies," Edrick muttered. "The Veil and whoever pulled them into this."
Yvonne gestured to the pendant. "May I?"
Celeste handed it over, watching as Yvonne examined it with practiced care.
"There's a faint enchantment here," Yvonne murmured. "Something meant to obscure its origin. Give me some time, and I might be able to unravel it."
"Do it," Celeste said. "Whatever you can find will help."
As Yvonne departed, Edrick leaned against the edge of the table, his brow furrowed. "If the Veil is involved, we're in deeper trouble than we thought. They don't just take orders—they infiltrate, destabilize, and destroy from within."
Celeste met his gaze, her voice steady. "Then we root them out. Every last one."
---
That night, as the estate settled into an uneasy quiet, Celeste stood once more at the parapet, her thoughts heavy. The Black Veil's involvement changed everything. It wasn't just a battle for survival anymore—it was a battle against something far darker.
The stars above seemed distant and cold, their light barely piercing the inky blackness of the night. Below, the campfires of the Crimson Pact burned steadily, a fragile beacon against the encroaching shadows.
Her grip tightened on the stone railing. If there truly was a traitor within her walls, they wouldn't remain hidden for long.
She would find them.
And when she did, there would be no mercy.