Part 19: The Dance with the Drakren

The Drakren prowled toward them, its talons clicking against the cobblestone street. Its wings, torn but imposing, spread slightly as if to remind them of its dominance. The glow of its eyes was hypnotic, but Kaelen never looked away.

“Kaelen,” Sigrid warned, her tone sharp. “Don’t underestimate it.”

“Wouldn’t dream of it.” He smirked but adjusted his stance, sword at the ready.

The Drakren charged suddenly, faster than its bulk suggested. Kaelen barely sidestepped its snapping jaws, his blade grazing its thick hide. The creature’s tail whipped around, forcing him to leap back.

Nessa darted in from the side, her daggers striking for the creature’s legs. Her blades barely penetrated its scales, but her attack was enough to distract it.

“Go for the underbelly!” Sigrid shouted, summoning a wave of energy that struck the Drakren square in the chest. The creature staggered, letting out a guttural roar, but its eyes burned brighter as it focused on her.

“Brilliant plan, Sigrid,” Kaelen grunted, moving to intercept. He slashed at the Drakren, this time aiming for the exposed flesh beneath its jaw. The beast recoiled, black blood dripping from the wound.

Nessa rolled to the side, her movements fluid as she avoided the creature’s lashing tail. “It’s fast for something that big!”

“And tough,” Kaelen added, narrowly avoiding another swipe of its claws. “We’ll wear it down eventually.”

The Drakren roared again, the sound reverberating through the empty streets. It lunged at Sigrid, its claws tearing through the air. She raised her staff, a barrier of light appearing just in time to deflect the attack, though the force sent her stumbling back.

“Keep it busy!” she called out, already preparing another spell.

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Kaelen didn’t need to be told twice. He charged in, striking with precision and ferocity. The Drakren was relentless, but Kaelen’s movements were calculated, each strike testing its defenses.

Meanwhile, Nessa circled behind the beast, her eyes fixed on a weak spot just above its hind legs. With a quick burst of speed, she leapt onto its back, driving her dagger into the vulnerable area.

The Drakren howled, thrashing wildly in an attempt to shake her off.

“Hold on, Nessa!” Kaelen shouted, driving his sword into its side.

Sigrid’s magic flared to life again, this time a concentrated beam of energy that struck the creature’s head. The Drakren stumbled, its movements growing sluggish.

“Now!” Sigrid yelled.

Kaelen seized the moment, plunging his blade into the beast’s exposed underbelly. The Drakren let out one final, deafening roar before collapsing, its body going still.

The trio stood over the fallen creature, breathing heavily. The street was silent once more, save for the faint crackle of energy as Sigrid’s magic dissipated.

Kaelen wiped his blade clean, looking at the others. “Well, that was fun.”

“Fun?” Nessa snapped, pulling her dagger from the Drakren’s corpse. “That thing almost killed us!”

“And yet, here we are.” Kaelen grinned, though his expression softened as he glanced at Sigrid. “You alright?”

She nodded, though she looked visibly drained. “The magic takes a toll, but I’ll manage.”

Nessa kicked at the Drakren’s remains. “This thing didn’t belong here, either. That’s two monsters out of place in a row.”

Sigrid frowned, her gaze distant. “It’s not a coincidence. Something is driving them out of their territories.”

“Any guesses as to what?” Kaelen asked.

“None that I like,” she admitted.

With the Drakren slain, the trio returned to the guild to collect their reward. The guildmaster was impressed, though his congratulations were tempered by a growing concern.

“You’ve done well,” he said, sliding a hefty pouch of coins across the table. “But this is just the beginning. The city has been seeing more and more of these incidents. Beasts where they don’t belong. Attacks growing bolder.”

Kaelen pocketed the coin, his expression serious. “We’ll figure it out. That’s what we do.”

Sigrid, however, seemed less certain. “We’ll need more information. Patterns, sightings—anything that might explain this.”

The guildmaster nodded. “I’ll gather what I can. In the meantime, I suggest you rest. You’ve earned it.”

The trio found an inn on the edge of the district, a quiet place with warm food and soft beds. For the first time in days, they allowed themselves to relax.

Kaelen sat by the fire, his sword leaning against his chair. Sigrid was at the window, her gaze fixed on the bustling street below. Nessa was already asleep, sprawled across her bed with one dagger still in hand.

“You look troubled,” Kaelen said, breaking the silence.

Sigrid didn’t turn. “Something about this doesn’t feel right. These aren’t random events. It’s all connected—I just don’t know how.”

“We’ll figure it out,” Kaelen said, his tone surprisingly gentle. “We always do.”

For a moment, the room was quiet again, the crackling fire filling the space between them.

“Do you ever think about why you do this?” Sigrid asked suddenly.

Kaelen raised an eyebrow. “Hunting monsters? Keeps me alive. Pays the bills. What’s not to like?”

She turned to face him, her expression unreadable. “That’s not what I meant.”

Kaelen considered her words, his usual smirk replaced by something more thoughtful. “Maybe I just don’t like things that don’t belong. Makes the world... messy.”

Sigrid didn’t respond, but her eyes lingered on him a moment longer before she turned back to the window.