Chapter 7: The Quarry’s Desperation

The morning mist clung to Eldenreach's outskirts, swirling around the scent of pine and damp earth as the Lion Hearts Knight Order readied themselves in the inn's sprawling courtyard.

The village square, usually alive with market chatter, was hushed, the cobblestones slick underfoot, reflecting the first glimmers of dawn.

Villagers peered from shuttered windows, their faces etched with hope and dread, whispering prayers for the knights order successful hunt.

Elshua stood at the courtyard's edge, his small frame dwarfed by the towering oak that anchored the square, its gnarled branches heavy with dew.

His golden hair caught the faint light, and his fair skin, now free of bruises thanks to Caelan's healing, seemed to glow faintly, a beacon in the gray morning.

His stomach churned, the knot tightening with every clank of armor and scrape of whetstone against blade.

The high demon awaited, its distant roars and fleeting red glows from his past encounters now a looming terror, and he was marching toward it meant for others—and a resolve forged in desperation.

The courtyard hummed with purpose, knights moving like a living tide: buckling silver and gold armor etched with runes, testing bowstrings, and packing satchels with vials of holy water that shimmered faintly in the dim light.

The air rang with the clatter of steel, the creak of leather, and the low murmur of prayers, a rhythm that steadied Elshua's nerves despite the weight of what lay ahead.

Caelan Herdos was a whirlwind, his dark curls bouncing as he darted among the ranks, his voice clear and commanding, a beacon of calm in the chaos.

He paused by a knight struggling with a breastplate, his hands deftly tightening the straps.

"Keep your shield high, Laren, or you'll be picking claws out of your ribs," he said, clapping the young man's shoulder with a grin.

To another, he handed a vial, his tone firm but warm. "Douse your blade with this before we engage. It'll sear the demon's flesh."

His confidence was infectious, the Lion Hearts responding with nods and squared shoulders, their lion crests—gold with a ring of stars—gleaming like small suns on their chestplates.

Caelan's gaze always returned to Elshua, his blue eyes softening as he hovered like a guardian spirit.

"Your Holiness, let's get that cloak sorted," he said, striding over with a woolen garment slung over his arm, its hem trailing in the dust.

The cloak was comically large for Elshua's small frame, meant for an adult, but Caelan insisted, draping it over his shoulders and fussing with the bronze clasp, his fingers brushing Elshua's neck.

He stepped back, tilting his head like a painter assessing a canvas, his brow furrowed.

"There. Warm enough? The mist's biting today, and I don't want you catching a chill out there."

His earnestness was almost laughable, but Elshua saw the worry beneath his smile, the same fear that had haunted him in the forest when they'd found him.

"I'm good, Caelan," Elshua said, his voice gentle but firm, letting a hint of warmth slip through.

He'd already decided to ease up on his neutral act, recognizing that keeping Caelan at arm's length might fray the bond the paladin held so dear.

Caelan's face brightened, and he thrust a small leather pouch into Elshua's hands, the same one from last night.

"Dried apricots," Caelan said, grinning like a kid offering a treasure.

"For energy. You'll need it, Your Holiness. The quarry's a rough trek, and that demon…"

He trailed off, his smile faltering, his jaw tightening as he glanced toward the forest.

"Just… stay close to me, alright? I mean it."

Elshua nodded, the weight of Caelan's concern settling on him like the cloak.

"I will," he said, pocketing the pouch.

"But you don't have to worry so much. I'm tougher than I look."

He tried for a smile, hoping to lighten the mood, and Caelan chuckled, ruffling Elshua's golden hair.

"Tough or not, you're the Spark of Aeloria," Caelan said, his voice soft but fervent.

"We've lost you once. I'm not letting it happen again." He paused, then gestured to the knights assembling in the square.

"Come, let me show you the Lion Hearts properly. They're dying to see you."

Caelan led him through the ranks, introducing knights with a pride that made Elshua's chest ache.

"This is Laren," he said, stopping by the freckled young knight, who was polishing his shield with nervous energy.

"New to the order, but he's got spirit." Laren blushed, bowing awkwardly.

"An honor, Your Holiness," Laren mumbled, his voice cracking, and Elshua nodded, offering a small smile to ease his nerves.

"And Mara," Caelan continued, pointing to a woman with cropped hair and sharp eyes, who was testing her bowstring with a twang.

"Best archer we've got. Her arrows could pin a fly's wings from fifty paces." Mara glanced up, her grin sharp but warm.

"Hope you're as holy as they say, Your Holiness," she said, winking. "We'll need it out there."

The knights around her laughed, a ripple of camaraderie that eased the tension, and Elshua felt a flicker of belonging, however fleeting.

Sir Torren, the scarred veteran, approached, his armor clanking.

"Enough chatter," he said, his voice gruff but not unkind.

"We move out soon. Your Holiness, you're with Caelan. No wandering." His eyes softened slightly, a rare crack in his stern facade.

"Aeloria's with you, lad. We all are."

Elshua swallowed, the knights' faith a heavy mantle.

"Thank you," he said, his voice quiet but steady.

He didn't know these people, not like Caelan did, but their trust in him as the Spark stirred a resolve he hadn't felt before. He'd keep them alive, whatever it took.

The knights formed ranks, their hundred-strong force a shimmering wall of silver and gold, and Elshua walked beside Caelan at the center, the paladin's hand brushing his arm as if to anchor him.

The path to Blackthorn Ridge snaked through the forest, the trees thinning as they climbed toward the quarry.

The air grew heavy, laced with the acrid tang of dark magic that made Elshua's nose wrinkle. The knights' chatter was low, a mix of nerves and levity, and Elshua listened, grateful for the distraction.

"Think we'll get a feast after this?" Laren said, his voice light but shaky, his shield bouncing on his back. "I'm dreaming of roast boar and ale."

"Only if you don't trip over your own feet again," Mara teased, her bow slung over her shoulder.

The group laughed, and Laren flushed, nudging her with his elbow.

"Laugh all you want," Laren shot back, grinning. "I'll be the one eating your share when you miss a shot."

Mara snorted. "Keep dreaming, kid." She glanced at Elshua, her tone softening.

"What about you, Your Holiness? Got a favorite feast food? Bet the monastery fed you like a king."

Elshua froze, his amnesia excuse flashing in his mind. He didn't know what Elshua's past tasted like, but he couldn't dodge the question.

"Uh… apples," he said, thinking of the old woman from his college days. "Sweet ones, with honey."

It was a safe guess, and Mara nodded, approving.

"Good taste," she said. "I'll find you some after we gut this demon."

Caelan leaned close, whispering, "They're nervous, Your Holiness. Talking keeps them steady. You did well."

His breath was warm against Elshua's ear, and Elshua nodded, grateful for the guidance. He was starting to see Caelan not just as a hovering protector but as a friend, or at least someone he could rely on.

The forest gave way to rocky terrain, the quarry looming ahead—a vast, jagged pit carved into the hillside, its cliffs jagged like broken teeth, casting long shadows in the pale morning light.

The air was thick with dust and the hum of dark energy, making Elshua's skin prickle. The knights fanned out, archers scrambling up the cliffs while swordsmen formed ranks below, their shields raised in a tight formation.

Caelan led Elshua to a sheltered outcrop, a vantage point overlooking the quarry's entrance, and positioned Laren and Mara nearby.

"Stay here, Your Holiness," Caelan said, his voice firm. "If anything comes close, Laren's your shield, Mara's your bow."

Elshua nodded, his heart racing as the knights set their traps: spiked chains buried in the dust, vats of holy water rigged to spill from the cliffs, their faint glow a flicker of hope.

The plan was to lure the demon into the quarry, weaken it with traps and arrows, then close in with blessed blades.

Elshua's role was to stay safe, using Heal and Shield to keep the knights alive. He clutched the apricot pouch, its weight grounding him, and scanned the quarry, the system's objective burning in his mind: defeat the high demon.

A deep rumble shook the ground, the air heating, the acrid tang sharpening to a burn in Elshua's throat. The knights fell silent, their hands tightening on swords as a red glow pulsed at the quarry's far end.

The high demon emerged, a colossal mass of shadow and flame, its body a writhing fusion of darkness and molten light.

Its hide shimmered like obsidian, rippling with veins of fire, and its claws, long as scythes, gouged the stone, leaving scorched furrows. Its eyes blazed like twin furnaces, and its maw, lined with jagged teeth, curled into a mockery of a smile.

Skitterbeasts scuttled in its wake, their mandibles clicking, but the demon dwarfed them, its roar a cataclysm that sent pebbles skittering across the quarry floor.

Elshua's breath caught, the terror of its distant growls nothing compared to this living nightmare.

Caelan raised his sword, its blade glowing with divine light, his voice piercing the fear.

"Lion Hearts, hold fast! For Aeloria, for the Spark!"

The knights roared, their shields locking into place. Mara's archers loosed their arrows, the blessed steel glinting as they arced toward the demon.

The shafts struck its hide, sizzling as they burned, but the demon laughed—a deep, guttural sound that shook the cliffs.

"Mortals with their trinkets," it growled, its voice like grinding stone. "You dare challenge me?"

Its eyes swept the battlefield, then locked onto Elshua, a predatory hunger in their depths.

"You, child… your divine energy is so pure, untainted. Must be the Spark of Aeloria. I will drink your light and ascend."

Elshua's blood froze, his golden eyes wide as the demon's gaze pinned him. Caelan stepped in front, his sword raised.

"You'll have to kill me first, beast!" he shouted, his voice steady despite the tremor in his stance.

Elshua's heart pounded, the demon's fixation on him a chilling new threat. His divine energy—the Spark—was a magnet, drawing the creature's insatiable hunger.

The demon charged, its claws shattering the ground, and the traps sprang, chains snapping taut to snag its legs.

Holy water cascaded from the cliffs, hissing as it seared its hide, but the demon tore through the chains, its flames flaring brighter, melting the metal.

Skitterbeasts swarmed the swordsmen, their claws clashing against shields, and the quarry erupted into chaos. Elshua's hands shook, his skills burning to be used.

"Shield!" he shouted, focusing on Laren, who was grappling with two skitterbeasts.

A golden barrier flared around the young knight, deflecting a venomous tail with a metallic clang.

Laren shot him a grin, his freckles stark against his pale face, and Elshua felt a flicker of hope. His skill worked, but the ten-second duration forced precision.

The demon's claws raked through the swordsmen, shields crumpling like parchment, blood staining the dust.

Elshua's stomach churned.

"Heal!" he called, targeting a knight with a gashed arm, the golden light knitting the wound just enough for him to fight on.

The knight shouted thanks, but the demon's laughter echoed, chilling.

"Your light is really sweet, Spark," it taunted, its eyes never leaving Elshua. "Give it to me, and I'll spare your pets."

Its voice dripped with malice, and Elshua clenched his fists, fear warring with defiance.

"Keep fighting!" Caelan yelled, slashing a skitterbeast's carapace, his sword glowing as he charged the demon.

"Your Holiness, stay back!"

Elshua nodded, but his mind raced. The demon's obsession with him was a weakness—he could use it to lure it into a trap.

The cliffs were unstable, loose rocks teetering above the demon's path. A collapse, like with the skitterbeasts, might slow it down.

The battle grew desperate, the demon's flames scorching the ground, its claws tearing through knights like they were straw.

Mara's arrows sank into its hide, but it regenerated, its obsidian skin knitting together with a crackle.

"Your toys are nothing," it snarled, swiping at Caelan, who dove aside, his armor scorched.

Elshua cast "Shield!" on Caelan, the barrier absorbing a second swipe, and the paladin rolled to his feet, his healing light mending a burn on his arm.

"We need to trap it!" Elshua shouted, pointing to the cliffs. "The rocks—bring them down!"

Caelan nodded, shouting to Mara. "Archers, target the cliff base!"

Mara's team shifted, their arrows striking the cliff's weak points, stone chips raining down.

Elshua scrambled toward a path up the cliff, Laren at his side, Mara covering them with a volley. The demon's gaze followed, its laughter a blade.

"Run, little Spark. Your light is mine."

Elshua's bare foot stung on the sharp rocks, but he pushed on, his heart hammering. At the cliff's edge, he and Laren heaved against a boulder, their shoulders straining.

"Heal!" Elshua cast on Laren, easing his fatigue, and they pushed harder, the rock grinding.

The demon charged, its flames licking the outcrop below, and Caelan fought to distract it, his sword slashing its legs, blessed steel sizzling but barely cutting.

"Now!"

Elshua yelled, and the boulder fell, crashing into the demon's back, knocking it to its knees. Rocks cascaded, pinning one arm, but the demon's laughter cut through, its free claw shattering the rubble.

"Stone cannot hold me," it growled, rising, its flames surging. It swiped at Caelan, who took the blow on his shield, the metal crumpling as he flew back, blood streaming from his mouth.

Elshua's heart lurched.

"Heal!" he shouted, the light enveloping Caelan, closing the worst wounds. Caelan staggered up, grinning through bloodied teeth.

"Keep going, Your Holiness!" he called, charging back.

The demon's eyes locked on Elshua, its voice a purr.

"Your power is wasted, child. Join me, and your light will burn eternal."

Elshua shuddered, the offer a twisted mockery of his role. He cast "Shield!" on Mara, her barrier deflecting skitterbeast claws as she nocked another arrow.

The demon lunged, scaling the cliff, its claws inches from Elshua.

Just then, Caelan tackled him out of the way, the claw grazing his cloak, and the paladin's healing flared, mending a cut on Elshua's arm.

".....Thanks."

The knights were faltering, their ranks thinning, blood pooling in the dust. Elshua's skills couldn't keep up, the cooldowns forcing agonizing choices.

The demon's hide was iron, its flames a furnace, and every wound it took healed in moments.

"We need another trap!"

Elshua yelled, spotting a narrow chasm at the quarry's edge—a bottleneck to contain it.

"Drive it to the chasm!"

Caelan nodded, shouting orders, and the knights shifted, baiting the demon with feints and arrows.

Elshua cast "Shield!" on Laren, then "Heal!" on a knight below, his skills stretched thin. The demon roared, its flames dimming slightly, but it lunged for Elshua, its claws tearing up the cliff.

"Your light calls me, Spark," it hissed, its hunger a palpable force.

Elshua ran toward the chasm, drawing its focus, his cloak flapping. The knights flanked it, their blades striking, and Mara's arrows blinded one eye, eliciting a howl.

At the chasm's edge, Elshua and Laren pushed another boulder, the demon's claws scrabbling closer.

"Now!"

Elshua yelled, and Mara's archers loosed a volley, arrows striking the cliff above. Rocks rained down, the ground crumbling, and the demon slid into the chasm, its roar shaking the earth. It was trapped, its flames burning below, but its voice echoed, undaunted:

"You cannot bind me with just that, Spark. Your light is mine."

The knights panted, their faces grim, and Caelan pulled Elshua back, his grip bruising.

"It's not dead, Your Holiness," he said, his voice raw. "We've caged it, but it's too strong... it will break free at any moment."

Elshua nodded, his chest heaving, the system pinging:

⟪System Notification: High Demon Trapped Temporarily!⟫

༺═════════════════༻

Objective Progress: Contain the High Demon with the Lion Hearts Knight Order (Incomplete). ༺═════════════════༻

⟪Note: The demon's hunger for your divine energy grows. Protect your allies and find a way to end it, Saint Elshua.⟫

Elshua dismissed the window, his resolve steeling despite the exhaustion.

The demon was contained, but its power was overwhelming, its fixation on him a relentless threat.

Caelan's arm stayed around him, a lifeline, and Elshua leaned into it, the paladin's warmth grounding him.

The Lion Hearts regrouped, their crests dulled by dust, and Elshua knew the battle would continue, his role as the Spark pulling him deeper into a fight he couldn't escape.