The fire crackled softly in the center of their encampment, casting flickering shadows against the trees. The air was thick with anticipation as Mary, Lela, Loosie, and Eris huddled around the stolen map. The Cathedral of the Silver Dawn stood at the heart of the Order's stronghold, a place where only the most devout and deadly hunters resided.
It was also where Lucian Valkar would be waiting.
Mary traced a finger along the map. "This isn't just a cathedral. It's a fortress."
Eris nodded, her expression grim. "The Order doesn't take chances when it comes to protecting their secrets. If we're going to infiltrate, we need a solid plan."
Loosie leaned in, eyes gleaming with excitement. "So, how do we do it? Smash the gates down? Sneak in through the back?"
Lela smirked. "As fun as smashing things sounds, we'd be dead before we even reached the inner sanctum."
Mary exhaled slowly. "We need to get inside without raising the alarm. If Lucian knows we're coming, we lose any advantage we have."
Eris tapped the edge of the map. "There's an underground passage here—an old tunnel system that was used for evacuations centuries ago. It connects to the cathedral's lower levels."
Mary's eyes narrowed. "How do you know that?"
Eris hesitated for a moment before responding. "Because I've been there before."
Silence fell over the group.
Mary studied her carefully. "You were part of the Order, weren't you?"
Eris' jaw tightened, but she didn't deny it. "A long time ago. I left when I realized they weren't just hunting monsters. They were erasing anything that didn't fit their idea of 'purity.'"
Mary considered this new revelation but decided not to press further. Right now, Eris' past didn't matter—only what she could offer.
Loosie grinned. "So, we've got a secret way in. That's a good start."
Lela's expression was more cautious. "It's still dangerous. Once we're inside, we won't be able to just slip away if things go wrong."
Mary tightened her grip on her saber. "Then we make sure they don't get the chance to stop us."
The Descent
The entrance to the underground tunnels lay hidden beneath the ruins of an old monastery. Crumbling stone and overgrown vines concealed the rusted iron gate that led down into the earth.
Eris went first, pushing the heavy door open with a creak. A gust of stale air rushed up to greet them, carrying the scent of damp stone and decay.
Mary followed, her boots echoing softly against the stone steps as they descended into darkness. Loosie and Lela came next, their weapons drawn.
The tunnel stretched on endlessly, its walls lined with faded carvings and remnants of a forgotten time. Torch brackets jutted from the stone at uneven intervals, though most were empty.
Loosie shivered. "This place gives me the creeps."
Eris glanced back. "Stay close. The tunnels aren't completely abandoned."
Lela frowned. "What do you mean?"
Before Eris could answer, the sound of skittering echoed through the passage. A deep, chittering growl followed, reverberating off the walls.
Mary's body tensed. "Something's coming."
A moment later, they saw it.
Crawling from the shadows were creatures that barely resembled anything human. Their bodies were twisted, their limbs elongated and jagged. Pale, eyeless faces turned toward them, and rows of needle-sharp teeth gnashed hungrily.
"Ghoulspawn." Eris spat. "The Order uses them to guard the lower tunnels."
The creatures lunged.
Mary moved first, her saber flashing as she cut through the closest beast. Dark ichor splattered across the stone. Lela's spear followed, impaling another before it could reach Loosie.
Loosie, despite her size, was quick. She ducked under a swiping claw and drove a dagger into the creature's throat, twisting it before kicking it back.
Eris moved with practiced efficiency, her twin blades cutting a path through the swarm.
But the Ghoulspawn were relentless.
One latched onto Mary's arm, its claws digging into her skin. Snarling, she wrenched free and drove her saber upward, slicing through its torso.
Lela shouted, "There's too many! We need to keep moving!"
Eris nodded. "This way!"
They fought their way forward, forcing the creatures back just long enough to escape down a narrow passage. The tunnel twisted and turned before finally opening into a vast chamber.
At its center stood a massive iron door, adorned with the symbol of the Order.
Eris wiped blood from her cheek. "That's it. That leads into the cathedral."
Mary glanced back. The Ghoulspawn were already regrouping. "Then we don't have time to waste."
She placed her hand against the door. Magic pulsed through the metal, sealing it shut with ancient enchantments.
Eris reached into her cloak and pulled out a small vial. "Stand back."
She shattered the vial against the door. A surge of blue flames erupted, spreading across the surface like liquid fire. The runes burned away, and with a low groan, the door swung open.
Mary stepped through first, her heart pounding.
They were inside the Cathedral of the Silver Dawn.
And waiting for them—
Was Lucian Valkar.
The Confrontation
The grand hall was lined with towering stained-glass windows, depicting the Order's greatest victories. At its center stood Lucian, clad in dark armor, his crimson cape flowing behind him.
His silver eyes locked onto Mary.
"I knew you would come," he said, voice calm. "You've become quite the nuisance."
Mary raised her saber. "And you've become quite the coward, hiding behind monsters and traps."
Lucian smirked. "You misunderstand. The Order isn't hiding from you. We've been preparing for your execution."
At his signal, armored figures emerged from the shadows—elite hunters, their weapons gleaming under the torchlight.
Loosie cursed. "Oh, great. More of them."
Lela tightened her grip on her spear. "Looks like we're not leaving without a fight."
Eris took a step forward, eyes locked onto Lucian. "This ends tonight."
Lucian smiled. "Indeed, it does."
He drew his blade, the steel shimmering with divine light.
Mary's pulse quickened.
This was it.
The battle for survival—the battle for vengeance—had begun.