The iron door to Eryx Vansemos' chamber clanged shut behind Cassandra and Rainne, echoing through the ancient stone halls of The Veil. The weight of their meeting lingered in the air, as if the shadows themselves had grown heavier with each word their master had spoken. Wraiths. The thought chilled Cassandra more than the cold stone beneath her boots.
They walked in silence through the winding tunnels of the catacombs, their footsteps soft but steady. Torches flickered along the walls, casting long, dancing shadows that seemed to follow them, much like the haunting memories of the creatures they'd barely escaped. Cassandra's mind raced, replaying every moment of their journey, every glance from those glowing, life-draining eyes.
Rainne broke the silence first, her voice low and hoarse. "Wraiths. We barely survived those things. How are we supposed to fight them if we have to go back?"
Cassandra sighed, running a hand through her tangled hair. "I don't know. I've never fought something that wasn't... human."
"I've fought plenty of monsters," Rainne muttered, "but those things weren't like anything I've ever seen. It was like just looking at them sucked the strength right out of me."
They turned a corner, approaching a smaller passageway that led deeper into the catacombs, toward their shared quarters. The tunnels here were narrower, the walls slick with age and dampness, but this part of The Veil was private, away from the bustling activity of the main guild.
Cassandra pushed open a creaking wooden door at the end of the corridor, and they stepped inside. Their room was simple but familiar—two narrow beds pressed against opposite walls, a small table with mismatched chairs, and a basin for washing. It was a far cry from luxury, but it was home, a sanctuary after days of running, fighting, and barely surviving.
Rainne immediately collapsed onto her bed, letting out a deep sigh of exhaustion. "I don't think I've ever been this tired."
Cassandra dropped her gear beside her own bed and moved toward the basin. She filled it with water from the jug nearby and dipped her hands in, splashing her face. The cool water helped clear some of the grime from their escape, but it did little to wash away the tension clinging to her muscles.
"We'll bathe, eat, and rest," Cassandra said, her voice more forceful than she intended. "We need to be ready when Eryx calls on us again."
Rainne groaned, sitting up and pulling off her boots. "You sound like you're still in the field. We're safe now, Cassandra. We're home."
"I know," Cassandra muttered, though the words felt hollow. "It's just... those wraiths. I can't get them out of my head."
Rainne looked at her for a long moment, then rose and walked over, placing a hand on her shoulder. "Hey. We made it back. Whatever those things were, we're still standing. That counts for something."
Cassandra's shoulders relaxed slightly, and she nodded. "Yeah. I guess."
They took turns bathing, washing away the dirt and grime of their harrowing journey. The warm water soothed their aching muscles, and for a brief moment, the tension lifted. Afterward, they sat at the small table, sharing bread and dried meats they had stashed away before their mission.
Between bites, Rainne broke the silence again. "You ever think maybe we're in over our heads? I mean... wraiths? Creatures that feed on life itself? It feels bigger than us. Bigger than anything The Veil has dealt with before."
Cassandra stared down at her food, her appetite fading. "Maybe it is. But what choice do we have? This is what we do, Rainne. We deal with the impossible."
Rainne chuckled softly. "Yeah, I guess so. Doesn't mean I'm not terrified."
Cassandra looked at her, surprised. Rainne was always the more carefree of the two, always quick with a joke or a smile, even in the darkest situations. To hear her admit to fear unsettled Cassandra in a way she hadn't expected.
"We'll figure it out," Cassandra said, her voice softer now. "We've always made it through before."
Rainne gave a small nod. "Yeah. Together."
The silence between them was more comfortable now, the tension easing as they shared their quiet meal. The candlelight flickered, casting soft shadows on the stone walls, and for the first time in days, they felt a sense of safety.
As they finished eating, Cassandra leaned back in her chair, exhaustion pulling at her. "You know, if you hadn't tried to pet that horse, we wouldn't have been kidnapped in the first place."
Rainne snorted, a grin spreading across her face. "I'll never live that down, will I?"
"Never," Cassandra replied, a faint smile tugging at her lips.
They eventually made their way to their beds, the weight of everything they had been through pressing down on them like a heavy blanket. Cassandra lay on her back, staring at the ceiling. The flickering torch light from the hall outside cast dim shadows, but the darkness felt different now—no longer just a lack of light, but something deeper, something more menacing.
Rainne's voice broke through the quiet, soft and tired. "Do you think we'll ever get used to this?"
Cassandra turned her head, looking at Rainne across the room. "What, the wraiths? The kidnappings? The constant danger?"
"All of it," Rainne said, her voice heavy with fatigue.
Cassandra thought for a moment, then shook her head. "I don't think we're meant to get used to it. But we survive. That's all we can do."
Rainne nodded, rolling over in her bed. "Survive. Yeah. That's good enough for me."
The room fell silent again, and this time, it was a peaceful silence. Despite the looming threats and the uncertainty of what awaited them, they had made it through. Together. And for now, that was enough.
As sleep finally claimed them, Cassandra's last thought was of the wraiths, their cold, hungry eyes, and the inevitable battles yet to come. But for now this peace and comfort of this small room is enough.