Shattered Prophecy Part 4

The tunnels leading away from the underground temple district twisted in erratic patterns, leading the party deeper beneath the city. The air was damp, thick with the scent of moss and centuries-old dust. Flickering blue torches lined the stone walls, their ghostly glow casting long shadows that seemed to slither when no one was looking.

Raelyn, gripping her staff tightly, muttered under her breath. "I’m really starting to miss the sun."

"What’s the matter, cleric?" Liora smirked, effortlessly flipping one of her daggers between her fingers. "Afraid of the dark?"

"No, but I have a deep dislike for enclosed spaces filled with traps, cultists, and possibly ancient monsters," Raelyn retorted. "It’s a completely rational fear."

"Agreed," Verin added, eyeing a suspicious crack in the wall. "I’d rather not be squashed by falling rocks because some ancient architect had a flair for the dramatic."

Aric, marching ahead with his sword drawn, let out a short laugh. "Aren’t you two supposed to be the smart ones? Yet here we are, still following the creepy tunnels."

Liora patted his shoulder. "Oh, don’t worry, big guy. If we get lost forever, I promise to tell our tale in a suitably tragic ballad."

"That’s very reassuring," Aric muttered.

Their banter came to an abrupt halt when they stepped into a vast chamber, its walls lined with strange symbols. At its center stood a massive stone archway, humming with an unnatural energy. Ancient markings glowed along its frame, pulsing as if responding to an unseen force. Before it, a group of hooded figures stood in a tight formation, chanting in low, guttural voices.

"That’s never a good sign," Verin whispered.

Raelyn, peering at the symbols, sucked in a breath. "This is serious. They’re trying to open a portal."

"To what?" Aric asked, tightening his grip on his sword.

"No idea," Raelyn admitted. "But I have a strong suspicion it involves nightmares and screaming."

"Sounds about right," Liora said cheerfully. "So, do we ruin their evening before or after they summon an eldritch horror?"

Aric didn’t wait for an answer. He charged forward, sword raised, aiming for the nearest cultist. The others followed, each moving with practiced precision. Liora darted ahead, her daggers flashing in the dim light. Raelyn channeled divine energy, sending a burst of radiant light toward the chanting figures. Verin muttered an incantation, and a wave of fire shot forward, cutting through the group and scattering them like leaves in a storm.

The cultists reacted immediately, their chanting breaking as they turned to defend themselves. Dark energy crackled in their hands as they flung spells toward the intruders. Aric deflected a bolt of shadow with his sword, feeling the force of it vibrate through his bones. Liora twisted out of the way of an oncoming attack, landing a precise strike that sent a cultist crumpling to the ground.

"Could we maybe not let them finish whatever they were doing?" Verin called, dodging a second wave of dark energy. "That portal looks way too active for my liking!"

Raelyn thrust her staff forward, sending a beam of radiant light straight into the archway. The portal flickered, but the cultists redoubled their efforts, chanting in unison as the runes on the stone pulsed brighter. The air grew heavier, thick with something ancient and hungry.

Liora, spotting an opportunity, launched herself at what appeared to be the lead cultist. "No offense, but I really hate what you guys are doing here." With a swift movement, she sliced through his robes, cutting deep. The cultist staggered, his concentration breaking just long enough for Verin to send a bolt of magical force slamming into his chest. He collapsed, gasping, and the portal shimmered violently.

"We need to break the spell!" Raelyn shouted. "Destroy the runes!"

Aric, never one for subtlety, took the direct approach. With a mighty swing, he brought his sword down on one of the glowing symbols, shattering the stone beneath it. The effect was immediate—the portal flickered again, its energy destabilizing.

"Nice work, big guy!" Liora grinned, wiping sweat from her forehead. "Now do that about four more times!"

Before Aric could respond, the portal let out a deafening wail, and from its depths, something began to emerge. A clawed hand, too long and too thin, reached outward, grasping at the edges of the archway. A second hand followed, then the beginnings of a monstrous form, its body twisting in unnatural angles.

"Oh, wonderful," Verin muttered. "They got far enough to start a horror show."

Raelyn summoned all her strength, channeling divine energy directly into the portal’s center. "We have to push it back!"

The four of them struck in unison. Aric’s blade carved through another rune, causing the portal to stutter. Verin conjured a gust of force that sent several remaining cultists flying. Liora darted between them, cutting down any who dared to continue the ritual. Raelyn, eyes burning with divine light, unleashed a final burst of energy, sending the creature back into the abyss just as the portal shattered in a blinding explosion of light.

When the dust settled, the chamber was silent. The remaining cultists lay defeated or fled, and the portal was nothing more than a pile of cracked stone.

Aric let out a breath, resting his sword on his shoulder. "Well, that was unpleasant."

"On the bright side, no one got sucked into an interdimensional nightmare," Liora said, sheathing her daggers. "So, I’d call that a win."

Verin dusted off his robes. "Define ‘win.’ I think I have second-degree burns."

Raelyn walked over to Aric, offering him a small smile. "You did good."

He glanced at her, something unspoken passing between them. "We all did."

Liora watched the exchange with an amused smirk. "Oh, I see what’s happening here."

Raelyn rolled her eyes. "Don’t start."

"I’m just saying, near-death experiences have a way of bringing people together," Liora teased, nudging Aric.

Aric sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Can we focus on the part where we just saved the city?"

Liora grinned. "Fine, fine. But if you two end up making moon eyes at each other later, I get to say ‘I told you so.’"

Raelyn groaned. Verin just chuckled, shaking his head as they gathered their things.

As they exited the ruined chamber, the weight of what had just happened settled over them. They had won this battle, but the war was far from over. The Veiled One’s influence was growing, and whatever lay ahead would test them in ways they couldn’t yet imagine.

But for now, they walked together, the bonds between them stronger than ever.

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All Parts of The Shattered Prophecy Series:

• The Shattered Prophecy Part 1
• The Shattered Prophecy Part 2
• The Shattered Prophecy Part 3
• The Shattered Prophecy Part 4
• The Shattered Prophecy Part 5