The Last Link

The deeper we went, the worse the cave became.

The air was thick with humidity, and the walls were covered in strange markings—scratches that looked far too deliberate to have been made by beasts alone.

Cain: “Stay close. Something’s wrong.”

We soon found the source of the goblins’ retreat.

A massive centipede-like creature emerged from the shadows, its long body writhing as it advanced toward us.

Alana: “That thing is definitely not normal…”

Daiki didn’t hesitate and charged forward, striking at the creature. The centipede let out a shrill cry and thrashed violently.

Cain moved to support him, coordinating the attack.

Cain: “Careful! Don’t let it corner you!”

The creature struck back wildly. One of its limbs hit Cain, sending him staggering.

Alana: “Cain!”

Before it could attack again, Eleanor raised her staff, her voice trembling.

Eleanor: “L-Light… please…”

A beam of light burst forth, engulfing the creature. It screeched, its body writhing as it burned, until it finally collapsed lifeless to the ground.

Surprised, Eleanor nodded, took her pendant, and pointing it toward another creature, recited the same prayer as before. Within moments, the second centipede burst into flames and died.

Alana: “Eleanor, are you alright?”

Eleanor: “Yes, thank you. It just startled me a little, nothing more.”

Alana carefully helped Eleanor to her feet as Yadiel approached them.

Yadiel: “Are you alright? Thanks… I had just run out of weapons,” he said, showing his broken dagger, half of the blade missing.

Eleanor: “You’re welcome, but first we should save the hostages before doing anything else.”

Yadiel: “Yes, that would be best, before more creatures show up.”

Alana: “It looks like Daiki and Cain are handling the big one pretty well.”

Distracted for a few seconds by their companions’ fight, who soon managed to defeat the creature, everyone headed toward where the supposed hostages were being held. Eleanor was the first to approach, followed by Alana.

Eleanor: “Are you alright?” she asked, concern clearly reflected on her face.

The supposed hostages, covered in cloaks, appeared younger the closer they got. Two of them were crying over one of their companions, who was gravely injured, apparently having failed to dodge one of the creatures’ attacks.

Seeing the severity of his wounds, Eleanor didn’t hesitate. She rushed to tend to the young man, using her sacred symbol to channel her healing magic.

Cain and Daiki approached to assess the situation.

Cain: “Don’t worry, you’re safe now. We’ll take you back to the city, where your wounds will be treated.”

At those words, one of the hooded youths let out a bitter laugh.

Young Man: “Do you really think they’ll help us? Do you think I trust you?” he shouted.

In a swift movement, he pulled out a knife and pressed it against Eleanor’s neck, taking her hostage. Daiki, axe still in hand, prepared to strike, but Yadiel—standing beside him—stopped him.

With that movement, the young man revealed himself slightly: dark hair, and a tired gaze filled with resentment, as he shouted toward Cain.

Young Man: “Do you really think we can trust you? I’m sure you’ll kill us, and if it’s not you, then it will be him. I won’t let this end here. If you arrest me or kill me, she’s coming with me.”

He pressed the knife harder against Eleanor’s neck. Frightened, she couldn’t utter a single word.

Alana: “I don’t know what you’re talking about, but that girl is trying to save your friend’s life. You could be more grateful. We’re just adventurers. If you don’t want to return to the city, that’s fine—but I warn you, they’ll send real guards, and then you’ll be accused of much worse things.”

Young Man: “You don’t understand… If we go with you, he’ll kill us. We failed. The merchandise… it escaped.”

As he spoke, panic began to take over. His hands trembled, and he started to lose himself in his thoughts.

Daiki: “Calm down, boy. Be a man and tell us—who is he?” he said, trying to step closer.

However, the hooded youth reacted like a cornered animal, pressing the knife even harder against Eleanor’s neck, drawing small drops of blood.

Young Man: “Step back or I’ll kill her! I won’t let myself be deceived again!”

Rage and fury burned in his eyes, so intense they seemed to glow in the darkness of the cave.

Yadiel: “You’re not from the city, are you? You come from outside… It would be better to look for allies, not enemies. We can help you, but if you don’t let her go, this will lead nowhere.”

Alana: “He’s right. Your friend is dying. We’re only trying to help. Let us do our job,” she said in a calm, soothing voice. “How about I show you that we’re not dangerous?”

The young man didn’t take his eyes off Alana, watching her every movement. Carefully, she took out her flute and began to play a soft melody that echoed through the cave walls. The tension in the air dissipated, and the music wrapped around everyone, calming them and making them lower their guard.

When the music ended and silence returned to the cave, the young man had unknowingly let go of Eleanor, who quickly took refuge behind Daiki.

Cain, the first to notice, seized the opportunity and, with a swift movement, restrained the young man, who came back to his senses upon impact.

Cain: “I’m sorry, but I have to take you to the city. Calm down. I promise I won’t let them hurt you.”

The rage in the young man’s eyes quickly turned into tears, his dull gaze reflecting deep despair.

Young Man: “You don’t understand… We’re going to die.”

Cain: “Can the rest of you walk?” Cain asked, looking at the other hooded youths, who nodded, though there was something strange in their gaze.

Daiki: “We’d better head back before it gets dark.”

The whole group began moving toward the entrance, but Cain, Eleanor, and Alana noticed something unsettling about the hooded youths: a kind of dark mist surrounding them, as if they were trapped—without expression, without emotion, without feeling.

Alana: “Those creatures we saw earlier aren’t from this continent. Who gave them to you?” she tried to ask, but none of the youths responded. They seemed to be in a trance, like puppets without will, or at least that’s what they thought—until they reached the cave entrance.

As soon as they stepped outside, Cain gently pulled the prisoner along, but the others stopped. None of them took a step beyond the cave, as if they didn’t want to leave.

Noticing their hesitation, Cain insisted.

Cain: “I said we would protect you. Come to the cart. If the creatures escaped, there could be more inside the cave, and besides, it’s getting dark—at night they’re more hostile.”

Only the sound of the wind rushing through the nearby trees answered him. Then one of the hooded youths stepped aside and, with a quick movement, pulled a rock, triggering a collapse that blocked the cave entrance.

Everyone stood in shock. Fortunately, they had all managed to get out before the trap was activated.

Yadiel: “They escaped!” he shouted.

Eleanor: “The injured one is still inside!” she exclaimed in distress. “We have to free them as soon as possible. He won’t survive the night in those conditions.”

The imprisoned young man, with a glint of madness in his eyes, managed to speak.

Young Man: “It’s useless. They didn’t want to leave. That cave has no other exit. They know the fate awaiting them out here is worse than being devoured by the merchandise.”

Overcome with frustration, Daiki grabbed the young man by the shoulders, staring at him intensely.

Daiki: “What are you so afraid of? As long as there’s blood or breath left, anything can be defeated!”

Those words seemed to strike a sensitive chord in him.

With a distant gaze, the prisoner murmured softly:

Young Man: “None of us will see the light of day… that’s why we are children of the night.”

Those strange words captured everyone’s attention.

Cain: “‘Children of the night’? Is that the name of your group?”

The young man fell silent, making no further sound, lost in his own thoughts. Impatient, Daiki shook him again.

Daiki: “Answer!”

But no matter how much they shook him, the young man didn’t speak again. He seemed withdrawn, as if something beyond him wouldn’t allow him to speak.

Eleanor: “We should return to the city and ask for help as soon as possible. We have to find a way to save those children.”

Alana: “I think Eleanor is right. We should act quickly. Cain, will you take care of the boy?”

Cain: “Yes. Tomorrow I’ll see you at the tavern and bring the reward for today, but first I have to report this to my superiors.”

During the return journey, an unsettling silence filled the cart. The young prisoner, in his calm state, sometimes seemed to stop breathing altogether, which deeply worried Eleanor.

Once they arrived in the city, the group decided to split up to handle different responsibilities. Cain and Eleanor headed to the church with the young man to report what had happened, while Daiki, Yadiel, and Alana went to attend to their own matters.

Alana returned to the tavern, intending to rest before going shopping the next day. The day had been longer than she expected, so to clear her mind, she worked a couple of hours with Wilbur, putting on a small performance in the main hall and getting to know the staff a little better. Completely exhausted afterward, she went up to her room and collapsed onto the bed, unable to think about what had happened.

However, even though she was utterly tired, her mind kept returning to the young man’s words—“children of the night”—and she wondered why those words sounded so familiar.

Meanwhile, in another part of the city…

In the gloom of a damp, dreary cell, the young man sat in a corner, awaiting his judgment. He seemed lost in thought until the echo of firm, measured footsteps broke the silence, resonating through the cold stone-and-iron prison.

A shadowy figure stopped in front of the bars and spoke in a sinister voice filled with contempt.

Figure: “You did not fulfill your part of the deal.”

The young man raised his head, trembling, terror painted across his face. Before he could utter a single word, a piercing scream shattered the stillness of the prison, cutting through the walls and vanishing into the dark corridors.

The echo of that scream lingered for a few moments, and then absolute silence reigned once more, as if no one had ever been there.