The Crimson Dawn

Chapter 5

The Silver Anvil Inn was a modest establishment on the edge of Taryndale’s market square. Its wooden sign, carved with a hammer striking an anvil, swayed in the breeze. Inside, the air smelled of ale, roasted meat, and faintly of old iron. The group reunited at a corner table, where Aydin and Stella relayed the information about the eastern mines.

Barrett leaned back in his chair, his arms crossed. “Glowing eyes and claws, huh? Sounds like a beast worth fighting.”

Ari groaned, still nursing her headache. “Do we have to? Can’t we find something less… deadly?”

Derick smirked, resting his boots on the edge of the table. “Think of the coin, Ari. Enough to cover a proper feast and maybe even a real bed for once.”

“Not to mention the miners need help,” Raphael added, his tone serious. “If we can stop whatever’s terrorizing them, we’d be doing some good.”

Gedeon tapped the table with a finger, his violet eyes thoughtful. “We don’t even know what we’re up against. It could be a wild animal—or something worse.”

“Only one way to find out,” Stella said, grinning. She was already halfway out of her chair. “Let’s talk to this mine owner.”

The group made their way upstairs, where they found a middle-aged Dwarf pacing nervously in a private room. His thinning hair was slicked back, and his shirt was damp with sweat. He jumped when the door creaked open but relaxed slightly when he saw the group.

“Are you the ones here about the mines?” he asked with a thick accent, wringing his hands.

“That’s right,” Aydin said. “We heard you’re having trouble.”

The man nodded quickly. “Trouble’s an understatement. My name’s Samuel Dureth. I own the eastern mines. For weeks now, my workers have been attacked—dragged into the shadows, torn apart. The survivors won’t go near the place, and I can’t blame them.”

“Do you have any idea what’s doing this?” Raphael asked.

Samuel hesitated, then shook his head. “I wish I did. Some say it’s a demon, others think it’s a cursed beast. All I know is that it’s costing me my business—and lives.”

“How much are you paying?” Derick asked, cutting to the chase.

Samuel’s eyes darted to him. “A hundred gold pieces for the lot of you if you can kill whatever it is. Double if you bring me proof it’s gone.”

“Done,” Barrett said immediately, cracking his knuckles. “Point us to the mines.”

Aydin raised a hand, stopping him. “Hold on. What about the layout? Are there places it’s been attacking more often? Any clues at all?”

Samuel nodded. “The lower tunnels seem to be its hunting grounds. They’re dark and deep, where the lanterns barely work. Whatever this thing is, it’s smart. It knows the terrain better than my men.”

Ari shivered. “Sounds charming.”

“Any survivors we can speak to?” Raphael asked.

Samuel shook his head. “The ones who made it out alive have either fled town or won’t speak a word about what they saw. You’re on your own.”

Stella clapped her hands together. “Perfect. I love a good mystery.”

Samuel handed them a rough map of the mines and a pouch of coins. “This is half your payment upfront. The rest is yours when the job’s done.”

Barrett grabbed the pouch eagerly. “Let’s get moving, then. That beast won’t kill itself.”

As the group left the inn and prepared to set off, Aydin lingered at the back, glancing at Stella. She caught his eye and raised an eyebrow. “What?”

“You don’t have to act so excited,” he said quietly. “This could be dangerous.”

Stella smirked, her platinum hair catching the sunlight. “Since when have I been afraid of danger?”

Aydin sighed, but a small smile tugged at his lips. “Just stay close, alright?”

“Always, Mr. Starash,” she teased, bumping his shoulder.

The group gathered their supplies and headed out of town, following the winding path toward the eastern mines. The deeper into the woods they went, the darker the air seemed to grow, the cheerful chirping of birds replaced by an eerie silence. By the time they reached the mine’s entrance, a foreboding chill hung in the air.

The entrance to the Brazenfang Mine loomed before them, its mouth a jagged wound in the rocky hillside. The air grew noticeably cooler as they approached, and a faint metallic scent wafted out, mingled with the earthy aroma of damp stone. The faint echo of dripping water and the clinking of loose rocks set an eerie tone.

Aydin adjusted his Iron Shooter, double-checking its mechanisms before glancing at the group. “Stay sharp, everyone. These mines might be empty of miners, but something’s still in there.”

Barrett hefted his two-handed axe onto his shoulder, his yellow eyes gleaming in the dim light. “Good. I needed something to break the monotony.”

Stella, always alert, crouched low, dual daggers spinning idly in her hands. Her violet eyes seemed to glow faintly in the shadows, scanning for any sign of movement. “Quiet, Barrett. Let’s not invite whatever’s in here to roll out the welcome mat.”

Raphael drew his sword, its polished blade reflecting the faint light filtering in from the entrance. His shield was strapped to his left arm, ready for any attack. “I’ll take point. If there are creatures, they’ll target the first one in.”

Ari, leaning lightly on her quarterstaff, glanced uneasily at the dark passage ahead. Her fire-red hair glimmered faintly, even in the dimness. “The spirits here feel… restless. Something unnatural has disturbed this place.”

Gedeon disappeared into the shadows near the entrance, his bow drawn and an arrow already notched. His voice emerged like a whisper from the darkness. “I’ll scout ahead. If something’s lurking, I’ll find it before it finds us.”

Derick, standing back for a moment, strapped his two-handed sword across his back. “You all make it sound like we’re heading into the depths of hell. It’s just a mine.” He paused, smirking. “Then again, trouble does have a habit of following us.”

As the group filed into the mine, the dim light from the entrance quickly faded, leaving them reliant on torches Aydin lit with a flick of his wrist and a muttered spell. The flames danced eerily on the walls, revealing rusting tracks for mine carts and abandoned tools scattered across the ground.

A sudden skittering noise echoed from the darkness ahead, freezing the group in their tracks.

Barrett grinned, tightening his grip on his axe. “Finally, some action.”

Aydin raised a hand, signaling for quiet. “Don’t rush in. We don’t know what we’re dealing with yet.”

Gedeon’s voice whispered from ahead. “Spiders. Big ones. At least three… maybe more.”

Ari shuddered. “Spiders? Of course it’s spiders.”

“Of course,” Stella muttered, twirling her daggers. “Because why wouldn’t it be spiders?”

Suddenly, the skittering grew louder, and the shadows ahead shifted unnaturally. Out of the darkness emerged three enormous arachnids, each the size of a small horse. Their mandibles clicked menacingly, and their beady eyes reflected the torchlight.

Raphael stepped forward, his shield raised. “Formation!”

The group moved with practiced precision: Raphael and Barrett took the front, shielding the others, while Gedeon and Stella flanked, disappearing into the shadows. Aydin and Ari stayed in the center, ready to support with spells and long-range attacks.

As the spiders lunged, the battle erupted in a chaotic flurry of movement and sound.

Barrett swung his massive axe with terrifying force, cleaving the leg off one spider and sending it screeching backward.

Raphael blocked another spider’s venomous fangs with his shield, retaliating with a glowing strike from his sword that left a deep gash in its carapace.

From the shadows, Gedeon’s arrows found their marks with deadly precision, piercing the soft flesh between the spiders’ armored plates.

Stella darted in and out of the melee, her daggers slashing in quick, precise movements. With a leap, she landed on the back of one spider, plunging both blades into its thorax.

Ari, muttering an incantation, transformed into a sleek panther, her claws tearing into the nearest spider’s abdomen.

Meanwhile, Aydin raised his Iron Shooter and fired, the crack of the shot echoing through the mine. The iron ball struck one spider square in the head, killing it instantly. He followed up with a spell, sending a jet of flame into another spider’s face, driving it back.

The fight was over almost as quickly as it had begun. The last spider collapsed to the ground, its legs curling inward as it let out a final, pitiful screech.

The group regrouped, catching their breath.

“Well,” Barrett said, grinning and wiping ichor off his axe, “that was fun.”

Stella rolled her eyes, adjusting her hair. “Speak for yourself. I hate spiders.”

Aydin smirked, glancing at her. “You handled them well enough.”

“Better than you with your fancy shooting,” she teased, though her tone was light.

Raphael inspected the tunnel ahead. “This was just the start. If there are more of those things deeper in the mine, we’ll need to be ready.”

Ari, back in her human form, shivered. “Let’s just hope the mine’s treasure is worth it.”

Derick clapped his hands together. “No time like the present to find out. Let’s move.”

The group pressed onward, deeper into the Brazenfang Mine, the promise of coin—and danger—pulling them forward.