As David and Luna traveled towards the Henwards Kingdom, the path stretched endlessly ahead, bordered by vast fields of emerald green. The farmland was alive with the rustling of tall grass, bending and swaying under the gentle caress of the wind. Birds chirped overhead, their songs harmonizing with the soft murmurs of villagers hard at work. Women, their hands covered in dirt, plucked ripe vegetables from the earth, their smiles radiant as they chatted among themselves. Men, muscular and bronzed from years beneath the sun, swung scythes through golden wheat, the rhythmic slicing echoing through the air. Oxen pulled wooden plows, their heavy hooves pressing deep into the soil, and children laughed as they chased each other between the rows of crops.
David's eyes lingered on their happiness, a contrast to the dark weight in his chest. These people had no idea of the horrors lurking beyond their simple lives. Luna walked beside him, her holy armor reflecting the sunlight, a symbol of divine protection. The sight of her brought him a sense of calm, but he couldn't shake the feeling of unease creeping through his mind.
As they continued along the pathway, a grand carriage adorned with the insignia of the Holy Church came into view, its golden wheels glistening in the sunlight. White horses, draped in ceremonial cloth, pulled the carriage with dignified grace. Luna's gaze hardened at the sight. The Holy Church was a sacred institution, and yet, something felt off. The horses were breathing heavily, as if they'd been pushed beyond their limits, and the knights surrounding the carriage had an unnatural stiffness in their stance.
The carriage had halted, seemingly for a brief rest. Luna, ever the loyal knight, took a step forward and greeted them, "Holy Father, may the light guide your path."
The door creaked open, and an elderly priest stepped out, his robes adorned with the crest of Henwards. His face, however, was pale—too pale. Sweat gathered on his brow despite the cool breeze. His lips trembled as he responded, "Y-yes, my child. Are you a Holy Knight?"
Luna nodded, standing tall. "I am Luna, a Holy Knight of Henwards, returning to the Holy Church. We travel with purpose."
The priest's eyes flickered toward David, his expression shifting into something between fear and forced politeness. "And this man?"
David remained silent, his crimson cloak swaying in the wind, his dark presence a stark contrast to Luna's radiance. Luna responded, "He is an Archmage, specializing in dark magic."
The moment those words left her lips, an almost imperceptible shudder passed through the knights. The priest's hands clenched at his robes, his smile faltering. "A-ah, the gods be with your travels." His voice was strained, forced, as he hastily gestured for the knights to mount their horses. "We must continue our journey. Time is of the essence."
David narrowed his eyes. Something was wrong. The priest's reaction wasn't that of a man comforted by the presence of a Holy Knight—it was that of a man afraid of being caught.
As the carriage sped away, David spoke lowly, "Luna, we should follow them."
Luna frowned. "Why? They are priests of the Holy Church."
"That's exactly why we should follow them." His voice was calm, but his instincts screamed danger. "Something is off. The way they reacted to us… they were hiding something."
Luna hesitated, but David's unwavering stare convinced her. With a nod, they followed at a distance, cloaking themselves in stealth magic.
Inside the carriage, the priest gripped a small crystal device, his fingers shaking. The enchanted gem flickered as a voice crackled through it, low and commanding. "Report."
The priest swallowed hard. "We just encountered a Holy Knight and an Archmage. They let us pass."
A pause. Then the voice snapped, "Did they suspect anything?"
"No, they believed we were real priests." The priest's breath was shallow. "We are proceeding as planned."
"Good. Do not fail me."
The connection severed. The priest exhaled sharply. "Faster," he ordered the driver. "We must reach the house before they suspect."
David and Luna trailed them into the depths of the forest, where a decrepit wooden house sat hidden beneath the shadows of ancient trees. As the carriage stopped, the knights dismounted, but their behavior shifted. Gone was the pious grace of the Holy Church. Instead, they moved with the precision of assassins. One of them whispered an incantation, and the wooden structure groaned as a hidden door opened beneath it.
David and Luna slipped through the entrance just before it closed, descending into darkness. The air was thick with the stench of blood and decay.
A cavernous underground chamber stretched before them, lit by eerie crimson torches. Hooded figures in black robes encircled a massive ritual site, a grotesque magic circle drawn in blood. The metallic scent was overpowering.
Within the circle, several prisoners—men, women, even children—were chained, their eyes filled with terror. A hooded figure in purple robes stepped forward, raising his hands. Dark energy coiled around his fingertips as he chanted in an ancient tongue. One of the captives, a woman, screamed as the magic consumed her. Her body convulsed violently, bones cracking, flesh contorting. Her hands morphed into bestial claws, her eyes burned red with unnatural rage, her screams turning guttural—then, suddenly, she collapsed, lifeless.
"Another failure," the purple-robed man spat. "Prepare the next subject."
The black-robed cultists dragged another terrified prisoner forward. The purple-robed figure turned and stormed toward a secluded chamber, activating another enchanted crystal. "Sir, we failed again."
A deep, chilling voice growled through the device. "You waste my time. Do you have any idea how difficult it is to obtain these subjects without alerting the church?"
"I-I swear, we will perfect the experiment. We just need more time!"
A pause. Then the voice hissed, "See that you do. Fail again, and I will make you the next subject."
The crystal dimmed. The purple-robed figure exhaled sharply. "Damn it…"
David and Luna exchanged a glance, their expressions grim. They crept deeper into the chamber, their eyes widening as they reached another room—lined with iron cages filled with captives, all waiting for their turn in the nightmare.
The chapter ended here, the air thick with dread, the unanswered questions clawing at their minds. Who were these people? What was the purpose of this monstrous experiment? And who was the faceless voice commanding it all?
One thing was certain: the horrors had only just begun.