Chapter 17: The Abyss

The tavern hummed with life, filled with the clinking of mugs, boisterous laughter, and the raucous cheers of adventurers reveling in their latest victory. The crackling fire in the hearth cast a warm glow over the crowd, adding to the festive atmosphere.

"We killed that beast, didn't we?!" Katsu roared, his voice cutting through the noise. He raised his mug high, his face flushed from the drink, blue hair wild from the excitement. His amber-blue eyes gleamed with pride. A sword hung from his sheath, its hilt just peeking out as he gestured wildly, recounting the battle. The room hushed for a moment, all eyes locked on him, waiting for the rest of the story.

The crowd erupted into cheers, hanging on every word. Katsu's arms swept through the air, each gesture emphasizing his tale.

"That Minotaur was a monster!" he yelled, his voice filled with energy. "A massive brute! But my party and I fought tooth and nail, and in the end, we brought it down!"

Laughter and applause filled the room, the adventurers raising their mugs in a victorious salute.

The tavern filled with laughter and applause, the adventurers clinking their mugs together, eager for the next part of his tale.

Beside him sat his companions, each absorbed in their own thoughts. The mage, cloaked in white, held her staff tightly, her face concealed beneath the hood, her posture still and guarded. Next to her, the elf with vibrant green hair leaned casually, her bow resting against the table, her sharp eyes scanning the room with quiet alertness.

The dwarf sat nearby, a sturdy figure nursing his drink. His brown leather armor was well-worn from countless travels, and his thick brown beard framed his face. His eyes gleamed with a mixture of wisdom and mischief, as though he was always ready for the next adventure.

Katsu turned to the dwarf with a smirk. "Tell me, Ginzan, my friend, how does a man of your abilities end up as an adventurer?"

Before Ginzan could answer, the tavern doors suddenly swung open. A girl with blonde hair and blue eyes stepped in, her gaze scanning the room.

"Rose!" a voice called out eagerly.

 The white cloaked mage rushed forward, throwing her arms around Rose in an eager embrace.

Rose chuckled. "Nice to see you too, Akari."

As Akari's white hood slipped down, her features were revealed—pale skin, sharp red eyes, and fiery orange hair. The most striking detail, however, were the fangs peeking from her lips. 

Rose gently patted her orange hair before moving on to greet her other friends.

"Nozomi!" Rose shouted happily at the green-haired elf sitting at the table. "And Ginzan, Katsu—you're here too?"

Behind Rose, Fenrir strode into the tavern, his imposing wolf form instantly drawing attention.

Akari's eyes lit up. "Fenny!" she squealed, rushing over and rubbing her face into his thick fur.

I'm not a pet! he grumbled internally, but his tail betrayed him, wagging of its own accord.

"Fenny," she breathed in deeply. "You're so fluffy." She buried herself further into the fur on his chest.

What are you guys doing here? Rose ask curious

Katsu chuckled. "We just got back from an expedition—exploring old ruins. Ran into some nasty beasts."

Nozomi studied Rose closely, her brow furrowing. "Rose, are you okay? You seem… different."

Rose tensed, then shrugged it off. "Well, Fen and I just got into a nasty battle—well, he did most of the fighting, I stayed behind the whole time." She hurried to Nozomi's side and slid into a seat at the table. "We fought this weird monster down in a dungeon. 

"It felt like it was draining me," she admitted. "But Fen took care of it."

"You have to give me more details than that, Rose!" Nozomi pressed.

"Oh, yeah," Rose said, thinking back. "It could change forms—at one point, it turned into a dragon. And its whole body was surrounded by this dark purple energy, almost like… I was staring into an abyss."

Nozomi frowned. "I've heard stories from my mother about strange creatures like that—beings from long ago But they were just legends."

"Well," Rose said with a shrug, "whatever it was, it's dead now."

"Come, sit with us, Rose. Have a drink. We're about to head out for another expedition. Care to join us?" Katsu asked, grinning.

Rose hesitated. "Well, I was planning to head home to Florevelle, but I wouldn't mind going on one last adventure with you guys before I get married."

"Oh, how's the duke's son treating you?" Nozomi asked, raising an eyebrow with a teasing smile.

Rose's smile softened. "He treats me well," she said, her cheeks coloring slightly. "He's charming and handsome."

Meanwhile, Akari remained oblivious to the conversation, contentedly cuddling into Fenrir's fur without a care in the world.

The day passed in a blur of laughter, drinks, and lighthearted conversation, but as night fell, Fenrir sensed a change. The atmosphere shifted, and a subtle, unsettling presence pricked at his senses. His ears twitched, and his instincts screamed for alertness. He closed his eyes, narrowing his focus, letting the familiar dark energy wash over him.

It was the same as the energy he'd felt from the monster he fought, only this time, it was stronger—deeper, more intense. The force pressed against him, a weight that sank into his chest. It called to him, an undeniable pull, an energy that demanded his attention.

Back at the dungeon, the air was thick with malice. A surge of purple energy twisted through the darkness, warping the space around it. Rifthounds materialized from the rift, their forms flickering like fleeting shadows, emerging from a tear in reality.

Someone—or something—was meddling with forces they had no control over. The ground was inscribed with ancient symbols, written in a forgotten script that pulsed with a sinister glow. The remnants of a ritual. A ritual that sought to draw upon forbidden knowledge, connecting this world to the Abyss.

More creatures slithered from the rift, their presence a heavy weight on the air. They weren't meant to be here. They were fragments of an age long past, but now their connection to this world had been reestablished. A connection that should have remained severed.

The growls of the beasts echoed through the dungeon, their voices filling the cavernous space with an ominous threat.