Demons meet

...

Aria had carefully chosen her target: Lord Varic, a noble known for his jovial disposition and outspoken demeanour. He was a prominent figure in Valeria, with a wide network of connections and a reputation for his flamboyant social gatherings.

On a bright afternoon, Aria made her way to one of Lord Varic's elegant gardens. The scent of blooming flowers filled the air as she approached him, her polished armour gleaming in the sunlight. He was seated at a marble table, sipping wine and conversing with a group of nobles.

Aria approached the gathering with a graceful stride, her voice carrying a hint of intrigue. "Lord Varic," she began, her tone a mixture of curiosity and seriousness, "have you heard the curious tales circulating among the city lately?"

Lord Varic raised an eyebrow, regarding her with a playful smile. "Curious tales, you say? My dear Aria, do enlighten us."

Aria leaned in, her voice lowered as if she was sharing a well-guarded secret. "Whispers of demons within our beloved Valeria," she revealed, her eyes dancing with a mischievous glint.

The group of nobles exchanged bemused glances, and a few chuckled at what they assumed was a jest. Lord Varic leaned back in his chair, his laughter hearty. "Demons in Valeria? My, Aria, I've heard you Knights have a penchant for tales, but this one is particularly fanciful."

Aria's expression remained unyielding, her eyes locked onto Lord Varic's. "The Knights of Valeria are not prone to jesting about such matters," she replied, her voice unwavering. "But don't take my word for it. Ask around, speak to the common folk, and you may find your views shifting."

With that enigmatic statement, Aria excused herself from the group, leaving Lord Varic and his companions to their laughter and doubts. She knew that the seed of unease had been planted, and it would not be long before it began to take root in the hearts of Valeria's nobility.

As Aria left Lord Varic's estate, she made her way toward the bustling merchant district. Her every step exuded the confidence of a knight, and her armour clanked with authority. The sun hung high in the sky, casting a warm glow across the cobbled streets.

However, as she strolled further, a subtle feeling of being followed prickled at the back of her neck. She instinctively glanced over her shoulder, her hand resting on the hilt of her sword. The merchant district's lively commotion was replaced by a looming sense of unease in a dimly lit alleyway.

Before she could react, a powerful force yanked her back into the shadows. Aria's blade gleamed in her grip, ready to strike, but her defiance wavered when she beheld the figures before her.

Standing in the alleyway were two towering beings, unlike any she had ever encountered. Their skeletal wolf-like heads bore down on her with empty eye sockets, one as black as the abyss, the other as white as bone. They stood like grim sentinels, their presence an eerie blend of menace and mystique.

Her voice remained steady, tinged with caution as she spoke. "Who are you, and what do you want?"

Anubis 1, the shadowy figure with eyes as dark as night, extended an elongated clawed hand toward Aria, his voice a low, otherworldly resonance. "Scythe."

The single word hung heavily in the air, resonating with an inexplicable power. As Aria heard it, she felt an unusual calmness descend upon her. It was as if the name itself held a hypnotic quality, pulling her in.

Aria's grip on her sword loosened. Her defiant stance softened as she allowed Anubis 1 to guide her. With a sense of curiosity mixed with newfound understanding, she followed the enigmatic beings into the shadows.

The two Anubis figures slithered from rooftop to rooftop, with Aria in tow, their movements a blend of fluidity and grace. They navigated the rooftops and alleyways, using their uncanny agility to traverse the city with a strange purpose.

Their journey through the labyrinthine streets took about ten minutes. As they reached the outer walls of Valeria, Anubis 1 turned to face Aria. The white and black skulls of the figures seemed to shimmer with an eerie luminescence in the dim light.

Without words, Anubis 1 led her to a small crevice in the city's fortifications, a narrow tunnel they had meticulously created for such a purpose. The passage was small, dark, and well-concealed.

With a mixture of trepidation and fascination, Aria hesitated for a moment before stepping into the hidden passage, drawn into the enigmatic events that lay beyond the city walls.

…..

In the heart of Valeria, as the sun cast its golden rays upon the city's towering spires and cobblestone streets, an 11-year-old boy found himself lost. His wide eyes darted nervously from one unfamiliar building to another. Panic welled within him, urging his young legs into a sprint.

But as he rounded a corner and emerged into a narrow alleyway, his breath caught in his throat. There, in the dim recesses, he glimpsed something that would forever haunt his dreams.

A valiant knight was being led away by two towering, spectral figures. Their elongated forms were skeletal and lupine, with hollow eyes that bore into the boy's soul. 

The boy, gripped by both fear and fascination, had only a moment to absorb the sight before he turned and bolted, his tiny heart pounding. He would find his parents, he thought, and they would protect him from the phantoms that haunted Valeria.

Beyond the city walls, the canopy of a dense forest awaited, its emerald foliage concealing secrets of its own. In the heart of this sylvan realm, Anubis 1 led Aria, the enigmatic figure's grip on her having softened. A shimmering, eerie aura enveloped the dark and light of their skull-like heads.

As they reached a tranquil glade within the woods, Anubis 1 released Aria. Without words, the spectral figure indicated that she should sit, its gaze never leaving her. In the presence of these spectral beings, Aria's sense of uncertainty had transformed into a strange calm.

Anubis 1's voice, a spectral resonance that seemed to emanate from the depths of the beyond, broke the silence. "Scythe sends us to assist you, Aria."

Anubis 2, the spectral figure of contrasting hue, remained silent, its presence an uncanny blend of enigma and purpose.

Aria, though taken aback, soon found her voice. "Assist me? How can I trust you? What do you want in return?"

Anubis 1's voice held an eerie quality that hinted at ancient wisdom, although he was just trying to impress the girl before him. "Trust is earned, as is truth. We desire to know the details of your plan. Your goals are your own, but we offer guidance."

Aria considered the cryptic offer, weighing her options. In these spectral figures, she sensed an aura of otherworldly power, and a connection to Scythe, the enigmatic Lord of Hell. Her eyes flicked between the two skeletal heads, one white as bone, the other as dark as the abyss, before she began to speak.

She shared her meticulous plan to plant the seeds of fear within Valeria, sowing doubt and trepidation among the people. Her objective was to weave a web of unease and uncertainty, guiding the kingdom into a new era of fear, and to make them believe in the existence of Hell.

Anubis 1 and 2 listened intently, their empty eye sockets appearing to absorb her every word. The spectral figures seemed to acknowledge her intent, their role to assist in her intricate dance of fear and doubt, all under the shadowy watch of Scythe.

Amid the sylvan stillness, Aria and the spectral beings shared a moment of contemplation in the forest glade. The whispers of the wind and the soft rustle of leaves accompanied the haunting questions that swirled in the air.

Anubis 2, the white furred creature, finally broke the silence. "How can we assist in the progression of your plan, Aria?"

Aria pondered the enigmatic nature of her companions urging caution in her decision. "Haunt the people of the central city. Appear behind them, stir whispers of dread. Let the word of our presence spread like wildfire."

Anubis 2's nod was a seamless motion, confirming their intent, they instantly took action.

The spectral figures slithered like spirits among the trees and shadows, creeping silently through the forest's edge. They reached the city walls and, with their eerie powers, widened the hole they had originally used for their exit.

Meanwhile, Aria passed through the city gates. The guards, recognizing her as a high ranking Knight of Valeria, bowed in deep respect, parting the way for her. Her noble stature granted her unhindered access to the heart of the central city.

As she ventured into the bustling merchant district, the subtle weight of her mission returned. The merchants haggled over goods, the commoners moved in a rhythmic dance of trade, and the streets pulsed with life. Here, the soul of Valeria thrived.

Anubis 1 and Anubis 2 maintained their spectral vigilance from the city's rooftops. From their elevated vantage point, they watched as Aria began to spread the rumours, sharing tales of the wolf-like creatures haunting the city's denizens. Her voice reached both commoner and merchant, her words sowing the seeds of fear. The reactions she observed were unexpected.

The people, usually bustling and boisterous, appeared overly panicked, their faces etched with distress. Some whispered fervently amongst themselves, while others cast frightened glances over their shoulders.

Aria, puzzled by their extreme reactions, continued her campaign. As she moved deeper into the merchant district, she encountered a young boy. He was yelling passionately to the gathered crowd, describing two creatures that perfectly matched the spectral forms of Anubis 1 and 2. The boy fervently told the tale of an unidentified knight, a woman, being dragged away by the spectral figures.

Aria's heart skipped a beat as she watched the boy. Her initial reaction might have been one of fear or panic, but Aria was different. She saw opportunity in the boy's actions. He was unknowingly helping her cause.

With a sly smile, she sidestepped the boy, continuing to weave her web of uncertainty and dread among the people. They believed that the shadows watched, that the wolf-like creatures prowled, and that Valeria was no longer safe. Little did they know that, in this moment, their fear was Aria's most potent weapon.

And so, the young knight pressed on, determined to advance her intricate plan while the boy's unwitting cooperation aided her at every turn.