The fog thickened as they advanced, swallowing the broken path leading toward Hollow Abbey. The twisted silhouette of the structure rose in the distance, its spires jagged and wrong, as though built by hands unfamiliar with human architecture. The faint glow of a blood-red moon cast long, eerie shadows across the ground.

Kaelen trailed behind Sigrid, watching her every move. Despite her disdain for company, she moved with calculated precision, her silver longsword gleaming faintly at her side. Glyphs etched into her armor shimmered softly with each step, a quiet testament to her reliance on magic.

“Ever been here before?” Kaelen asked, his voice breaking the silence.

“No,” Sigrid replied without turning. “And I assume you haven’t either. The Abbey has been cursed for decades—long before either of us picked up a sword.”

Kaelen smirked. “Well, this is shaping up to be a memorable first visit.”

Ahead, the gate to the Abbey hung ajar, its rusted iron bars twisted as if by some immense force. The air grew colder, and a faint whisper seemed to drift on the wind—a sound just barely beyond hearing.

Sigrid paused, her hand brushing against one of the glyphs on her armor. It flared softly, and Kaelen felt a sudden warmth push against the oppressive chill.

“Protective spell?” he asked, noting the glow.

“Yes,” she replied curtly. “It won’t shield you if you’re careless, so don’t expect me to save you.”

Kaelen chuckled, drawing his sword. “Don’t worry, I’m not the ‘hide behind the mage’ type.”

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The Abbey’s interior was worse than the outside suggested. The walls were blackened with age and soot, strange claw marks gouging deep into the stone. Bones littered the ground, some human, others unrecognizable.

Kaelen stepped carefully, his boots crunching on the debris. Sigrid moved ahead, her eyes scanning every shadow. Her silver longsword was drawn now, faint runes glowing along its edge.

“What do you think we’re dealing with here?” Kaelen asked, keeping his voice low.

Sigrid stopped, crouching to inspect a pile of bones. Her fingers hovered over the remains, a soft glow emanating from her hand. “Something old. Something powerful. These aren’t ordinary beasts. They’re…” She trailed off, her expression darkening.

“They’re what?” Kaelen pressed.

Sigrid stood, gripping her sword tighter. “Servants. Minions of something much worse.”

Kaelen tilted his head. “A big one, then. Good. I was getting bored.”

Sigrid shot him a cold glare. “You won’t be laughing when it’s tearing you apart.”

“Fair point,” Kaelen admitted, though his grin didn’t fade.

A low growl echoed through the halls, followed by the scrape of claws on stone. Both hunters froze, their eyes snapping toward the sound. The air grew heavier, the oppressive atmosphere pressing against their lungs.

Sigrid whispered an incantation, her glyphs flaring brighter. A shimmering barrier surrounded her, and Kaelen felt a faint tingle against his skin as the magic extended toward him.

“Appreciate the assist,” he muttered.

“Don’t mention it,” she said. “Literally. Don’t.”

The growling grew louder, closer. From the shadows emerged a creature that defied logic—its form a grotesque fusion of man, beast, and something far darker. It stood nearly eight feet tall, its elongated limbs tipped with razor-sharp claws. Its face was a twisted mockery of humanity, its mouth filled with jagged, uneven teeth.

Kaelen stepped forward, his blade ready. “You take the lead,” Sigrid said, her voice steady.

“Gladly,” Kaelen replied, charging at the monster without hesitation.

The creature roared, swiping at him with its massive claws. Kaelen ducked, pivoting on his heel to deliver a powerful upward slash. The blade connected, slicing deep into the creature’s torso. Black ichor sprayed, but the beast barely flinched.

Sigrid moved quickly, her magic flaring as she traced a glowing sigil in the air. A burst of energy slammed into the creature, staggering it just long enough for Kaelen to strike again.

“Nice shot!” Kaelen called over his shoulder.

“Focus,” Sigrid snapped, her tone sharp.

The creature howled, its movements becoming frenzied. Kaelen dodged another swipe, his strikes quick and brutal. Sigrid circled around, her silver blade glowing brighter as she murmured another incantation.

“Kaelen, now!” she shouted.

He didn’t hesitate, leaping back as Sigrid drove her sword into the creature’s chest. The runes flared brightly, and the monster let out a deafening scream before collapsing in a heap.

Kaelen caught his breath, wiping black ichor from his blade. “Not bad, Argent. Not bad at all.”

Sigrid sheathed her sword, her expression unreadable. “Don’t get used to it. There

’s worse ahead.”

Kaelen chuckled. “Good. I wouldn’t want it any other way.”