Elara stood there, froststeel blade reflecting faintly in the dimness of the mountain trail. Right behind her, Aleron's response just hung in the air, numbly silencing her. You can't outrun the darkness forever.
The injury that she had dealt to him was horrible, but he had just gone on to become part of the darkness, unharmed, unnerving her. His words had been a challenge, a declaration of war. It was not only a fight of the machine they were meeting; it was a fight with an ideology, a thing that will stop at nothing to swallow the world. The Black Lotus was not just an organization—it was the emerging wave of corruption and darkness that was on the brink of smothering all that was in its way.
Princess, Bael's voice broke the situation out of its trance, bringing her back to reality as soon as possible. He stood next to her, his eyes locked on the vacant area where aleron had vanished. "That was… no ordinary man. He was more than a soldier. He was something else."
Elara nodded, her expression grim. "I know. I've heard stories about him. He's one of their leaders—the Black Lotus's right hand. The one who knows more than just how to fight.the one who can command darkness itself," She muttered, clenching her teeth. "But it doesn't matter. We can't let him or the Black Lotus win."
Varik stepped up behind them, his expression dark. "You're right, Princess. We need to push forward. We can't afford to waste time here. And the Black Lotus would teem with more of its ilk in these mountains, and Aleron would be able to gather them more readily. The more time we spend here, the more risk it is," etc.
Elara turned toward the path ahead, her gaze fixed in a resolute state of mind. "Then we move. We wipe them out and we cut off their source of energy at the very source.
Bael grunted, eyes narrowed. I've been in many fights, but this one feels strange. It's no longer game and tactics, no more, it's about killing something.fantastical.
Varik's expression was equally troubled. "We need more than just strength, Princess. We need allies. We're too small a force to take on the Black Lotus alone.
Elara hesitated, her mind whirling with possibilities. Varik was right—their small force wouldn't be enough. But who could they trust? The Black Lotus was fatal, its effect was sneaky, and festering wherever it found a place. She could not afford to show any dependence on anyone potential to have been compromised by them.
I'll let them know at the Verdant Veil," she said at last, her voice resolute. They have, and always will be, an ally, and their eyes and ears have been upon the Lotus for years. If we can count on anyone, it's them."
Bael nodded in agreement. "A wise choice. They know the land better than anyone. If there's a way through this, it's through them."
Having made that decision, the party resumed their climb to the top of the mountain, and left their encounter with Aleron in their wake. The wind screamed, tearing from their raincoats and breastplates, but the cold was insignificant compared with the load that was to fall upon them.
The Verdant Veil's Hidden Camp
It took them several days of grueling,snowy-peak-through in conditions, but they finally arrived at the secret abode,the verdant veil encampment. Masked in the bowels of the forest at the base of the mountains, it was unknown to the Black Lotus. Such soldiers of the Verdant Veil had for a long time perfected the practice of stealth, disappearing into the forest as phantoms and utilizing the natural features of their landscape to their own benefit.
Elara, Bael, and Varik were led through a network of narrow paths and camouflaged tents until they reached the central campfire, where an older man stood waiting.
The man's face was drawn, grey hairs marking his scalp, but his eyes were keen and precise. He wore a cloak of very dark green and he carried a longbow, the emblem of the Verdant Veil diepended in silver onto the green fabric.
"Lady Elara," the man greeted her with a nod. "I am Captain Joryn, leader of this camp. We've been expecting you."
Elara returned his nod, her gaze steady. "Captain Joryn, I need your help. The Black Lotus is getting more powerful and we can't try to fight it alone. If we are to make a hit at the ennemy's bunker, it is where they hold high ground in the Blackened Mountains.
Joryn's stare vibrated, oscillated, between recognition item and background sense of underlying anxiety. "The Black Lotus, he muttered, as if tasting the words. "Their influence runs deep. But I've heard whispers—there's something else in the mountains. Something darker. And it's tied to them."
Elara's brow furrowed. "What do you mean?"
Joryn stepped closer, his voice low. "There are rumors of a creature—a beast—created by the Black Lotus. It's not just a soldier or a warrior. It's something more. A being of pure corruption. But if it is true, then they must have dabbled in dark arts. On the other hand, they have been systematically persecuting the challenged groups who dared challenge them. If we strike at their fortress, we may be walking straight into a snare," etc.
Varik's hand went to his weapons, his expression darkening. Well, if we're going to even consider the stronghold, we have to deal with it first.
"Exactly," Joryn replied, his eyes meeting Elara's. "You're not just fighting men and women. The Black Lotus is making mischief with the powers of the familiar. And those forces are waking up."
A Dangerous Proposition
Nighttime was silent, but it was an expectation silence, not a quiet silence. Elara sat by the fire, her thoughts racing as she considered Joryn's words. A creature—something unnatural—hunting them, controlled by the Black Lotus. She has even seen the practice of a dark magic before, but this one felt somehow special. It was not a question of power/corruption, but a question of deeper issue.
"Princess," Bael's voice cut through her thoughts. "What do we do now?"
Elara glanced up, her eyes hard with resolve. "We prepare. We move at dawn. We take for example this monster and finish it, but leaving it unused as a new instrument in the Black Lotus's warfare.
Varik, who had been silent for a while, spoke up. "We'll need to move quickly. If we hesitate too long, they'll get us next.
Yes," Elara said, standing up and brushing the frost off her robe. "But this creature is only the first obstacle. Unless we are very careful we face being swamped if we take the Black Lotus" is just getting out of hand.
She turned to Joryn. "What can you tell me about this creature? Any weaknesses? How do we kill it?"
Joryn's expression darkened. It is this unstoppable force of nature, forged in the dark arts, . They say it is impenetrable to everyday weapons, but the tales tell of one thing that can bring it down.
"And that is?" Elara pressed.
"A heart of ice."
The Hunt Begins
The next morning they set out, trudging through the snow-drifts creating the woodland trails with grim determination. The hunt for the creature had begun.
Elara's thinking was clear as she gave the lead to the group, and she scanned them as she walked from tree to tree. There seemed to be a thing in the dark just watching her. The whispers of Aleron's challenge still reverberated in her. You can't outrun the darkness forever.
But she would not be broken. Not now. Not while there was still a chance to fight.