Into the Shadows

Fynn and Aisha made their way down the spiral staircase, Aisha's spell, 「Lumen」, casting a bright yellow glow from her staff and lighting their path. Fynn, keeping a careful guard, held his sword firmly as they descended, Aisha following closely behind.

They entered a vast cavern, its size overwhelming, with flickering torches casting black flames on the walls. The air felt heavy and damp, and their footsteps echoed loudly through the stony expanse.

Aisha glanced around at their surroundings, her voice barely louder than the distant echoes. "This floor is much larger. Which way should we go?" Four dark passageways stretched out before them, silence hanging thick in the air.

Fynn halted in front of her. "Can you sense anything with your mana?"

Aisha closed her eyes, tapping her staff lightly on the ground as she focused. This wasn't a spell, but a technique familiar to those with mana—by concentrating, one could feel the flow of energy beneath their feet, or detect the presence of others nearby.

Her brows furrowed, a look of concentration on her face before she sighed in resignation. Opening her eyes, she met Fynn's gaze. "Nothing."

Fynn shrugged, turning toward the far-right passageway. "Then we'll go by chance.." he said, beginning to walk. Aisha followed, her staff's light the only thing illuminating their way as the eerie torches faded from sight.

As Fynn and Aisha ventured further down the far-right passageway, the air grew colder, thick with an oppressive silence. Their footsteps echoed softly in the darkness, occasionally interrupted by the distant drip of water from the cavern ceiling. Aisha's 「Lumen」 spell illuminated their surroundings, but even its glow seemed weak against the heavy, ominous atmosphere that enveloped them.

After walking for several minutes, Fynn raised a hand, signaling Aisha to halt. His sharp eyes had caught a flicker of light ahead. They moved forward carefully, the sounds of their steps muffled now as they neared a small clearing that appeared to be a campsite.

The sight that greeted them was unsettling. A cold, lifeless firepit lay at the center of the clearing, surrounded by scattered supplies and broken equipment. But the most disturbing sight was the body of an adventurer, sprawled on the ground near the remnants of the camp.

The man, dressed in torn leather armor, lay on his back, his face frozen in a mixture of terror and pain. His unblinking eyes stared vacantly at the jagged cavern ceiling. A large wound in his stomach told a grim story—something had torn into him with brutal force. Blood had pooled around him, stained and smeared as though he had attempted to crawl or been dragged before finally succumbing to his injuries.

Aisha gasped quietly, clutching her staff tightly as she stepped closer, the light from her spell revealing the gruesome scene in greater detail. Bloodstains led away from the body, trailing toward a darkened corner of the cavern. "This... this just happened." she whispered, her voice shaky.

Fynn knelt beside the body, his expression grim as he studied the wound. "Teeth marks.." he murmured. "Whatever did this was big. And it didn't finish its meal. It might still be close." He glanced at the blood trail that led into the shadows. "It looks like it was interrupted."

Aisha's eyes flickered nervously toward the darkness. "Should we turn back?"

Fynn rose slowly, his swords gleaming faintly under Aisha's spell. "If we turn back now, we might run into it anyway. If it's hunting, it already knows we're here."

Aisha hesitated, her grip on her staff tightening before she nodded. With resolve, Fynn took the lead again, following the blood trail deeper into the cavern. The passage became wider for every step they take, and the eerie silence was broken only by their breathing and the soft crackle of Aisha's glowing staff.

A low growl echoed through the cavern, freezing both Fynn and Aisha in their tracks. Slowly, a pair of glowing red eyes appeared in the darkness, followed by another, and then yet another. The growls grew louder, and the unmistakable sound of claws scraping against stone sent a chill down their spines.

Fynn tightened his grip on his swords, his voice steady despite the tension in the air. "Dark Hounds, huh? They're bigger than I expected."

From the shadows emerged a monstrous creature—an enormous, wolf-like beast with matted black fur and bloodstained fangs. Its body was unnaturally large, muscles rippling under its fur, but what truly made it terrifying were the dark tendrils of shadow that seemed to writhe around it, as if the creature itself was made of the very darkness surrounding them.

The beast snarled, its glowing red eyes locking onto Fynn and Aisha. Behind it, more pairs of eyes gleamed in the gloom. It was clear that it wasn't alone.

Aisha's grip on her staff tightened, her voice trembling slightly but still steady. "There... there are three of them."

Fynn didn't take his eyes off the lead beast as he responded, his voice calm and resolute. "There could be more. These creatures don't hunt alone. Their pack must be nearby."

Without warning, the lead Dark Hound lunged, its claws slashing the air and jaws open wide. Fynn stepped forward, his swords flashing in the dim light as he met the attack head-on. The clash of steel against claw reverberated through the cavern as Aisha, standing ready, summoned her next spell, the light from her staff intensifying.

The Dark Hound was quick, far faster than Fynn had anticipated, dodging each of his strikes with uncanny agility. The beast moved erratically, its shadowy tendrils writhing as though they had a mind of their own. Fynn gritted his teeth, barely managing to avoid the Hound's deadly claws. It darted around him, striking again, and Fynn's swords cut through empty air.

"Aisha!" he called, not taking his eyes off the beast. "I need you to slow it down!"

Aisha nodded, her staff glowing brighter as she began chanting. The air around her thickened with mana as she focused. "「Flash」!" she cried, pointing her staff at Fynn's direction. Fynn smirked as he struggled to hold the Hound's claws with his swords, knowing Aisha's spell was nearing completion.

A blinding yellow light surged from Aisha's staff, cutting through the cavern behind Fynn. The Dark Hounds were momentarily blinded, stepping back and shaking their heads as their eyes slammed shut.

"Now's your chance!" Aisha shouted.

Seizing the opportunity, Fynn charged forward, his sword slashing through the Hound's mane with a swift, powerful stroke. Blood spurted from the wound as the beast collapsed with a guttural snarl. Its shadowy tendrils flailed wildly before it fell still.

Fynn stepped back, his chest heaving as he glanced at Aisha, who sighed in relief. But her face quickly contorted with horror. "Look out!" she shouted.

Fynn's eyes widened as he realized the danger. Two more Dark Hounds had appeared, their massive forms looming in the shadows. Before he could react, one of the beasts swung its massive claws down at him. Instinctively, Fynn blocked the attack with his sword, but the force of the strike was overwhelming. His right forearm took the brunt of the blow, and pain shot through his arm as the claws left a deep gash. He staggered back, eyes narrowing as the two Hounds flanked him, one on the left and the other on the right, both growling and bared their fangs.

"Shit..." Fynn cursed inwardly, his right arm shaking from the severe laceration. Blood dripped from his wound as he eyed the two Hounds. He heard Aisha chanting from behind, but his focus remained on the beasts before him. Shifting his sword to his left hand, he prepared to move. With a quick step, Fynn ran to his right.

Both Dark Hounds chased after Fynn, their footsteps echoing as he slid down the rocky terrain, stumbling slightly and dislodging pebbles that tumbled after him. The cavern stretched endlessly, its vastness overwhelming as he scrambled to regain his footing. With little light to guide him, he put his sword back in the sheath quickly and grabbed a torchstick from his belt and, gritting his teeth in pain, used his fire magic with his right hand to ignite it. The effort strained his lacerated right arm, and he groaned in discomfort but pressed on.

He hurled the torchstick with his left arm at the charging Hounds, and it exploded on impact, sending a cloud of smoke billowing into the air. For a few precious seconds, the beasts were disoriented. Seizing the opportunity, Fynn leaped into the air above the smoke, his blade poised. As he descended, he saw one of the Hounds emerging from the haze, and with a swift motion, he plunged his sword into its head.

But before he could react further, the last Hound, unhindered by the smoke, leaped at him with terrifying speed. It caught him off guard, its jaws snapping just inches from his neck. Fynn's left forearm blocked the beast's mouth, the Hound struggling to sink its teeth into him as its saliva splashed across his skin. "You mutt!" Fynn groaned, pushing against its jaws with all his strength.

Suddenly, footsteps rang out above them, and a burst of bright yellow light struck the Hound squarely in the chest. The light was so powerful that the creature's torso was obliterated, leaving only its head and rear body intact. Fynn blinked in disbelief as the last of the Hound disintegrated before him.

"Aisha..." he said weakly, his body giving out as he finally reached his limit. His injuries were overwhelming, and he sank down, supporting his lacerated arm as he fought to stay conscious.

Aisha descended cautiously and slowly, her staff glowing brightly in the darkness of the cavern. The soft light of her spell seemed like a beacon of salvation. She kneeled beside him, her gaze full of concern as she examined his injury. "You're so dumb and reckless, you know that?" she said, her voice calm but tinged with worry.

Despite the pain, Fynn managed a weak chuckle, his expression sour. "Sorry, Aisha.." he muttered, his voice strained.

With a sigh, Aisha carefully helped him to his feet, sliding his left arm around her shoulder to support him. "You're so heavy..." she murmured, but there was no anger in her voice—just exhaustion. Slowly, they made their way through the cavern, walking for what felt like ages until they found a small tunnel.

As Aisha helped Fynn down the narrow tunnel, the dim glow of her staff illuminated the jagged walls, casting eerie shadows around them. Despite the exhaustion in both of their bodies, the quiet of the small tunnel offered a sense of momentary peace. They were safe—at least for now.

Aisha gently settled Fynn against the cavern wall, the warmth of her staff's light flickering softly in the enclosed space. The silence between them was filled only by Fynn's steady breathing and the occasional pulse from Aisha's staff providing them light.

"Let me look at your arm.." Aisha said in a soft tone, kneeling down beside him. She was already pulling out bandages from her satchel, but she needed to make sure the wound was truly healing. The blood-soaked sleeve told a grim story, and she focused her attention on his right forearm, which was still raw from the attack.

Fynn winced slightly, trying to downplay the pain. "It's not as bad as it looks.." he muttered, though the strain in his voice betrayed his words. "Shit.. It really hurts!" he thought to himself, gritting his teeth.

Aisha narrowed her eyes, her tone turning sharp. "Don't lie to me.." She quickly retrieved a small vial of translucent blue liquid and handed it to him. "Drink this. It'll help with the pain and give you some of your stamina back."

Fynn reluctantly took the vial, grimacing as he drank the bitter potion. "Tastes like swamp water." he muttered, making a face.

"If you want a better quality potion.." Aisha said dryly, "..then we better earn more money." She raised an eyebrow at him, and Fynn couldn't help but chuckle despite himself. She was right, of course.

"By the flow of life, mend the wound and soothe the pain, restore the body's strength with gentle grace." 「Heal」

Aisha spoke the incantation softly, her palms glowing a faint yellow as she placed them just above the laceration on his arm.

The healing magic worked slowly, but Fynn felt the immediate relief as the deep gashes began to close, the bleeding slowing. He let out a relieved sigh, leaning back against the cold stone. "You okay?" he asked, his voice low with concern. "You look tired.."

Aisha nodded, though she wasn't fooling anyone. "I'm fine. I'll drink a mana potion later." She continued to apply the bandages, her hands steady despite her own exhaustion. Her staff, still glowing faintly, cast flickering shadows across the walls.

"You're lucky we weren't facing more than three." Aisha murmured, her tone somewhere between relief and reprimand. "Charging headfirst like that, you could've gotten yourself killed."

Fynn, leaning back with his newly-bandaged arm across his lap, gave her a tired, small smirk. "I know you have my back anyway~"

Aisha looked at him with a side-eye, "Just what will you do without me?" she retorted, a skeptical eyebrow raised. Though her words were sharp, there was the faintest hint of a smile on her lips. She finished adjusting the bandage, ensuring it was secure, and then leaned back, resting her staff beside her.

Fynn let out a small chuckle, feeling a warmth in his chest despite the lingering pain. "That's true," he admitted. "Aisha is an amazing priestess, and every great party is trying to recruit her for her skills. Without her, I'm just--" He trailed off, looking down at his bandaged arm, deep in thought.

Aisha, sitting beside him now, spoke thoughtfully. "In the end, we still need a tank to lure the monsters' attention and a powerful mage to add firepower. A single warrior and a cleric wouldn't be enough to clear a dungeon alone, you know?"

Fynn sighed deeply, giving into the suggestion that had been hanging between them for years. The two of them had adventured together for so long, just the two of them completing commissions, random requests, and occasional dungeon dives with temporary party members. But Fynn, as the party leader, had always been selective about who he allowed to join their ranks, which often led to their temporary companions leaving.

"Fine, Aisha.." he said, his tone softening. "I'll consider recruiting someone again."

Aisha raised an eyebrow, clearly skeptical. "Uh-huh" she replied, her voice dripping with doubt. "I'll believe it when I see it."

The silence that followed was heavy but not unwelcome. Fynn leaned back against the stone wall, his head resting against the cool rock as he stared up at the faint glow of Aisha's staff. Outside the small tunnel, the dangers of the cavern still lurked in the shadows.