The morning was grim, and the fog hung heavily over the city, tightly wrapping around the streets and buildings as if unwilling to leave. It obscured the view, muffled the sounds, and made the world seem distant, like a misty dream. Gray clouds thickly covered the sky, and a faint wind carried the penetrating, damp air that filled the room with cold.
In this scene, in the midst of the dark room of a small inn, Arahnos’s loud voice suddenly broke the silence.
– Get up! – his voice cut through the stillness like a cold breeze, reaching Nyx, who was deep in sleep. – How long are you going to sleep? We’ve got a meeting about a new job, and you’re just sleeping away… – he added, softening his tone, though there was still a hint of irritation in his voice.
Nyx groaned quietly and rolled over, covering her face with her sleeve. Mumbling something unintelligible, she tried to return to sleep, even though she knew it was hopeless. She opened one eye, looking at Arahnos with disbelief.
– Give me a minute… – she muttered, stretching with a sleepy sigh. Her voice was tired and heavy with sleep. – Not everyone has your sick energy in the morning – she added with a sarcastic drawl, stretching the words out.
Arahnos, undeterred, simply rolled his eyes, a hidden smirk forming on his face. He turned toward the table where a glass carafe of cold water sat. A glint of mischief flashed in his eyes, betraying his intentions. He grabbed the carafe, poured some water into his hand, and slowly walked over to Nyx, smiling at her with that trademark mockery.
– Well, since a minute isn’t enough… maybe you need a little refreshing to wake up – he said with false concern, dripping with sarcasm.
Nyx opened her eyes wider, but before she could fully grasp what was happening, the cold water splashed onto her face. Instantly awake, she jumped up, letting out a surprised shout. Her eyes blazed with reproach and anger, but there was also amusement and a bit of tired resignation in them.
– Do you ever know when to stop? – she hissed, glaring at him and wiping her face with her sleeve.
Arahnos straightened up, trying to assume an innocent expression, though his eyes twinkled with mischief.
– I’m just helping you wake up. I’m sure you’ll thank me later – he shrugged, as if he were truly doing her a favor.
Nyx shot him an angry look, but after a moment, she let the tension go, curling her lips into a half-smile. They had been friends for a long time, and these morning quarrels had almost become a tradition. She knew Arahnos sometimes went too far, but she appreciated his way of relieving the tension.
– This better be worth me losing my sleep – she grumbled, getting out of bed and stretching. With each movement, she seemed to come back to life, her face regaining its color, and her voice becoming more lively. She threw him a fleeting glance that said, “I’ll get you back for this.”
– Well, we’ll see what the day brings – Arahnos replied, reaching for his coat and throwing it over his shoulder. – They said we had to be there at dawn. And since dawn has already arrived… – he pointed meaningfully at the gray light pouring through the small, dusty window.
Nyx just sighed heavily, trying to shake off the last remnants of sleep. She gathered her things and looked at him, raising an eyebrow.
– Fine, fine. Lead the way, Mr. “Punctuality” – she said with a touch of irony, brushing past him and heading toward the door.
Arahnos smiled to himself, following her.
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The city at this hour was nearly empty, with fog lazily drifting between the buildings. The empty cobbled streets reflected the quiet footsteps of the two of them. The stones under their feet were cold and damp, as if the whole city was still asleep, heavy from the chilly morning.
Arahnos and Nyx walked in silence, exchanging brief glances every so often. There was no one else around—only a few black silhouettes in the distance, slipping between the buildings, shadows of the city’s inhabitants who, like them, were becoming part of the fog.
– This job… – Nyx spoke suddenly, breaking the silence. – Do you know exactly what it’s about? Because I’m not planning to wander around for nothing.
Arahnos glanced at her out of the corner of his eye, an expression of weariness on his face.
– They say they have a problem with something that’s causing unrest among the residents. A few disappearances. People are starting to avoid certain places after dark. Rumors are circulating about shadows and something or someone moving on the edge of their sight… – he paused, looking at Nyx to gauge her reaction.
Nyx furrowed her brow, her eyes flashing with a spark of interest.
– Something unsettling and hard to pin down. Sounds intriguing, though you know it’s just another story someone told to get us to do their dirty work – she responded with a touch of sarcasm.
Arahnos shrugged, as if it didn’t matter to him.
– Rumors, right, whatever. Either way, they’re paying us to solve their problem, so that’s all you should care about.
They quickened their pace, and Nyx felt the cold seep through her skin, as though the fog itself wanted to envelop them, stop them, and withhold any explanations. The town, though small, seemed full of secrets—the buildings around them had windows like dark eyes, and the shadow hanging over the rooftops seemed more than just mist.
When they reached the market square, their attention was caught by a man waiting by one of the stone benches. He was short and plump, dressed in a rich silk tunic that emphasized his status. Yet now, his face was glistening with sweat despite the cool morning, and his gaze nervously flickered from one shadow to another, as if every corner of the square might hide a threat.
– Finally! – he exclaimed as soon as he saw them. His voice trembled, and the expression of relief mixed with fear. – I… I can’t live in this fear anymore. Please, you have to help me!
Nyx appraised him with a glance, sensing that he was more terrified than he was willing to admit.
– Please tell us what’s happening – she replied calmly, trying to ease the tension radiating from the man.
He swallowed hard, wiped his forehead, and began speaking. His words were chaotic, but it was clear he was talking about something that deeply troubled him.
– It’s something… no one really knows what it is – he explained, glancing around nervously. – People in the area have started to disappear. At first, I thought it was just a coincidence—someone left, someone else might have been robbed… But then I started feeling it myself. Like… something was following me.
Arahnos looked at him, trying to gather all the details.
– Describe it more precisely. What’s really happening? Have you seen something yourself? – he asked quietly.
The man nervously shook his head, his face expressing growing fear.
– People say they feel a sudden chill nearby… like something invisible is touching them. A piercing shiver that comes and goes. No one sees what it is, but anyone who feels it starts avoiding that part of the town. And I… I felt it myself.
Nyx and Arahnos exchanged meaningful glances. This description sounded too familiar, too familiar to ignore.
– Do you only feel it at night? – Nyx asked, trying to pull more details out of him.
– Yes, yes – he replied, his concern obvious. – As soon as dusk falls, the whole town seems to freeze. Once, while I was heading home, I felt it… that cold, terrifying sensation. Like someone was watching me, like something was waiting for me to take the next step. I ran, not looking back.
Arahnos pondered his words. In his mind, the image of a creature he had heard of before began to take shape. He knew of an entity that hunted in the dark, almost imperceptibly, leaving only an icy trace on its victims’ skin.
– We’ll take the job – he said, giving Nyx a brief, meaningful glance. – We’ll investigate what or who is hiding in that part of the city.
The merchant let out a sigh of relief and nodded quickly, as if not believing anyone had finally dared to take on his problem.
– Thank you… thank you. I will pray for your safety. – He cast one last, nervous glance toward the dark alleys and hurried off, eager to leave the place he considered cursed.
When he was gone, Nyx looked at Arahnos with a question in her eyes.
– Do you know what it could be? – she asked softly, a clear note of unease in her voice.
Arahnos nodded, thinking for a moment, then answered:
– There’s one creature that fits this description. It doesn’t hunt like a typical predator, it moves subtly. A parasite that draws near silently, almost invisibly. It attaches to its victim, draining their strength until only an exhausted body remains. The only thing it leaves behind is a piercing cold and the feeling that something is standing right next to you.
Nyx looked at him, slowly processing this information.
– I’ve heard of something like that. It’s been called different things, but it’s always described as a shadow – something that blends into the surroundings. If that’s what’s here, we’ll need to be exceptionally careful.
Arahnos nodded, his gaze settling on the dark alleys of the old district, where the shadows now seemed more oppressive than ever.
– I know – he replied, tightening his grip on the hilt of his blade. – We’ll have to be ready for the fact that we might become its target.
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Nyx and Arahnos walked through the empty alleys of the old district, where the fog lay heavy on the stones, and the shadowy corners seemed to swallow every sound. Each step echoed hollowly, bouncing off the cold walls, and the chill in the air heightened the unease that grew with each passing moment.
The silence was almost overwhelming, as if life in this part of the city had frozen, giving way only to shadows and dark nooks. Nyx kept her hand on the hilt of her sword, her sharp eyes scanning the surroundings, catching every movement.
– Strange place for such a creature – she whispered, more to herself than to Arahnos. – And yet, it feels like its natural habitat.
Arahnos walked beside her in silence, but his mind was far from calm. The familiar whisper of the Darkness began to stir inside him—carrying with it some hidden, deep knowledge of what had drawn them here. He felt its presence, pervading every corner of his mind, as if it was disdainfully judging something they hadn’t yet seen.
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– Pathetic creature – the voice of the Darkness hissed, as if expressing contempt. – It crawls out of the shadows, as though it has any significance. It feeds on scraps of fear, trembling at the thought of true darkness…
A cold shiver ran through Arahnos as the words of the Darkness pierced his thoughts, filling him with barely contained disdain for the creature that waited somewhere for them.
– Do you know anything about it? – he thought, though he wasn’t sure if the Darkness would answer.
– I only know this: it’s a wretched parasite, – the Darkness hissed, its voice dripping with venom. – It hides and feeds on what isn’t its own. It hides from me like a rat in a burrow.
Nyx looked at Arahnos, noticing the intense focus on his face, but said nothing, allowing him to deal with what lay ahead of them.
– What is this creature? – Arahnos pressed in his thoughts, feeling that the Darkness knew more than it was willing to reveal.
The Darkness laughed coldly, its voice resembling muffled whispers.
– Why should I reveal everything to you, Arahnos? Isn’t it better when you discover your own mistakes? When you meet this wretched vermin, you’ll see just how insignificant its miserable existence truly is.
Arahnos couldn’t suppress a flicker of anger, feeling that the Darkness was toying with his uncertainty instead of helping him.
– So, it’s useless even for you – he thought dryly.
The Darkness emitted a sound reminiscent of a whispering laugh, malicious and quiet, as if it found the whole situation amusing.
– Of course. But I’ll take pleasure in watching you confront this pitiful creature. Maybe you’ll learn that there’s a darkness that surpasses everything else.
Nyx and Arahnos slowly approached the end of the alley, where a hunched figure appeared—a frail old man, leaning on a cane, his thin frame trembling slightly in the subdued light. His clothes were faded and worn, and his face was shadowed by the brim of his hat, revealing hollow eyes that stared at them. Nyx furrowed her brow, stopping and lifting her sword slightly, ready for an immediate response. Something didn’t seem right.
– An old man? – she whispered to Arahnos, clearly surprised. They had come here with one goal—to hunt the beast, not to find an innocent man. Yet, they both felt that something was off.
Arahnos stared at the figure, his gaze remained alert, but his face showed no emotion. Inside, an uneasy feeling was growing as the familiar, cold whisper of the Darkness began to echo in his mind.
– Do you really believe it’s just an old man? – the whisper was mocking, full of amusement, as if questioning everything he saw before him. – Or perhaps it’s something else? Something that wants you to believe there’s no danger?
The words of the Darkness pierced Arahnos like cold needles, leaving him even more focused. The thought that this creature might be able to take any form troubled him. He placed his hand on the hilt of his blade, ready for whatever might come.
The old man lifted his head and looked at them from under his hat, his eyes glistening with a cold light. A barely perceptible, unsettling smile appeared on his face, sending an uncomfortable shiver down Nyx’s spine.
– What brings you to such a forgotten corner? – he asked quietly, his voice soft, almost melodic, but there was an undertone of something sinister, almost mocking, in that melody.
Nyx struggled to hide her surprise. She felt that this wasn’t a simple conversation, and this man wasn’t what he appeared to be.
– We’re looking for a creature that feeds on human blood, – she replied calmly, her eyes still fixed on the old man. – Perhaps you’ve seen someone like that around here?
The old man raised his head, and from under his hat, his hollow eyes gleamed with an eerie, cold light. A disturbing smile spread across his face—barely visible, yet enough to make Nyx feel that there was something unnatural in his gaze.
– Strange place to be looking for someone… or something, – he whispered calmly, his voice sounding as though filled with melancholy or mockery. – People rarely venture into these alleys, especially after dark.
Nyx furrowed her brow, sensing that something was amiss. The old man seemed to be almost toying with their presence, and his voice carried a coldness that permeated them, as if something in his words wanted to penetrate deeper than just their thoughts.
Arahnos kept his gaze fixed on him, but his mind was restless. The familiar whisper of the Darkness began to stir within him, its voice more intense now, filled with a mixture of amusement and disdain.
– Is this really a man, Arahnos? Or perhaps a shadow, convincing you it’s harmless? – the Darkness whispered, its words carrying the weight of a riddle, one whose answer might reveal the truth. – Look closely. That smile, that certainty… isn’t it just another mask?
Arahnos didn’t respond, but the words of the Darkness planted an even deeper vigilance in him. He didn’t know exactly what the old man was, but everything he felt told him they were facing something more than just a frail human. His hand slowly moved toward the hilt of his sword, ready for any movement.
The old man noticed the movement of Arahnos’s hand and briefly raised the corners of his lips into a barely perceptible, cunning smile. Despite his hunched frame, his gaze suddenly seemed more penetrating, as if he were sizing them up, assessing how aware they were of the true danger that might be lurking.
Nyx kept her gaze fixed on the figure, feeling the atmosphere around them begin to thicken. Small details—the slight trembling of his hand, the shadow on his face—now seemed almost too theatrical, as if they were meant to deceive them. In her mind, a thought began to form: the old man was hiding his true nature. Her instincts told her that any delay might be dangerous.
– Really, you have nothing interesting to tell us? – Nyx asked, trying to draw him into conversation, hoping to get more information. Her tone was calm, but she could feel that every word the old man spoke could be hiding an unspoken threat.
The old man looked at her from beneath his hat, and his smile turned into something more calculating. He took a step closer, still leaning on his cane, as though testing their reaction.
– Stories? Oh, my dear… I have plenty of those – he whispered, his voice carrying a note of coldness, almost paralyzing. – But not all are for everyone. Sometimes, it’s better not to know all the secrets, lest you attract unwanted shadows.
Nyx stared at him with determination, trying to decipher his cryptic words. There was something sinister in them, as if they carried a warning, but at the same time, subtly provoked them.
At that moment, Arahnos felt his inner tension rise, and the Darkness spoke again, its whisper now clearer, more amused.
– Do you see it now, Arahnos? This shadow is playing with you. Think carefully about what it really is. – The Darkness’s whisper was filled with malicious triumph, as if it had seen something he hadn’t yet noticed. – Look deeper, beneath the seemingly human mask. It’s close, too close, and it’s waiting for your move.
Arahnos suppressed his inner unease, keeping his eyes on the old man. All the signs pointed to them dealing with something more than a helpless human. His fingers tightened around the hilt of his blade, and his mind was prepared for whatever came next. He could feel the Darkness within him almost pulsing with impatience.
Then, as if sensing his intentions, the old man shifted. He stopped trembling, and his gaze became more intense, more defiant. A smile appeared on his face, one that didn’t belong to an old, frail man.
– Such audacity, – he whispered, his voice now deeper, almost growling. – Do you think you’ve come here to hunt? Oh, young friends, you have no idea what you’re really hunting.
Nyx and Arahnos instinctively took half a step back, sensing that the false mask of frailty the old man had worn was starting to melt away. His body began to subtly change—his facial features became sharper, and the hands that had once rested on the cane straightened, resembling slender, clawed limbs.
Nyx glanced at Arahnos, determined to prepare for confrontation. She now knew they weren’t facing an old man, but something that had tried to deceive them, and was now revealing its true nature.
– So it’s you, – she whispered, her voice coldly calm, though inside she felt her heart quicken.
The old man, or rather, what had assumed his form, straightened up further, shedding the last remnants of the mask that had concealed his true nature. His body elongated, and his figure began to lose its human shape, transforming into something darker, more grotesque. The face that had once looked aged now took on inhuman features – his eyes sank deeper, their pupils glowing with an icy light, and his mouth stretched into a terrifying grimace.
Nyx and Arahnos watched the transformation in silence, but their bodies were already prepared for immediate action. Nyx tightened her grip on the hilt of her sword, while Arahnos felt the Darkness within him almost laughing, relishing in this revelation.
– Here’s your opponent, Arahnos, – the Darkness whispered with mockery, its voice dripping with deep satisfaction. – It tried to deceive you, but you— you always see the truth. Now show it who holds the power.
The creature before them no longer resembled either a human or an old man. It was a shadow, a being with inhuman limbs resembling slender, sharp claws that hovered in the air as if they didn’t touch the ground. Its body was dark, nearly blending with the surrounding darkness, as though it were merely an imagination, a nightmare’s shadow.
The creature looked at Nyx and Arahnos, its eyes flashing with a mixture of rage and cold, calculated satisfaction.
– Humans – it hissed, its voice distorted, like the sound of a snake mixed with the crunch of glass. – You always come, thinking your swords can save you.
Nyx clenched her teeth, and her gaze became even more focused.
– And you are wrong – she replied coldly.
Nyx raised her sword, ready to parry any attack, while Arahnos stood beside her, his face a mask of concentration. The creature lunged at them, its claws extending toward them as if it wanted to rip them apart. Nyx reacted immediately, deflecting the blow with her blade and moving to the side to gain a better position. However, the creature didn’t stop attacking, jumping between them, agile and unpredictable.
Arahnos focused, delivering quick strikes, but inside him, the familiar presence began to stir—the Darkness started to awaken in response to the threat, its voice slipping into his thoughts, full of mockery and malicious satisfaction.
– Look, Arahnos, – the Darkness whispered, its tone almost amused. – This pathetic creature thinks it can defeat you. Show it what real darkness is.
The creature, still unaware of the full extent of Arahnos’s power, swung at him again, but at that moment, subtle tendrils of dark smoke began to seep from his body, surrounding him with a delicate, ethereal aura. The smoke swirled around him, creating a terrifying image, as though the darkness had become his armor.
The creature, which had been attacking them with wild aggression just moments before, suddenly froze. Its eyes widened, as if it had only now realized who it was dealing with. A cold hiss escaped its throat, and its body instinctively recoiled, almost with fear. The claws, which had been ready to tear Arahnos and Nyx apart, now trembled, as if the creature was considering retreat.
– See, Arahnos? – the Darkness’s whisper was now full of triumph, almost affectionate. – This shadow knows who you are. It feels your power and knows it has no chance. Watch how it cowers. Like everyone who encounters true darkness.
The creature stepped back even further, its figure beginning to lose its shape, almost blending into the darkness, as if it were merely a shadow. It let out a prolonged hiss, then turned sharply and vanished into the depths of the alley, dissolving into the dark, like a shadow that refused to face what it had seen.
Nyx lowered her sword, watching the vanishing figure, a mixture of surprise and unease in her eyes. She turned toward Arahnos, studying him closely, her gaze investigative, and a shadow of an ironic smile appeared at the corner of her lips.
– Even the monster fears you, Arahnos, – she said with sarcasm, though her tone carried an undertone of concern.
Arahnos, still surrounded by tendrils of dark smoke, didn’t answer right away. He stared at the spot where the creature had disappeared, his face remaining cold and focused. The Darkness within him pulsed triumphantly, as though it reveled in the fear that had been invoked. The whisper in his mind grew louder, filling him with both power and unease.
– Do you remember who you were, Arahnos? – the voice of the Darkness pierced him like a cold current, carrying the echoes of his former weaknesses. – Just a man, lost and defenseless, toying with fate like a child. Only through me do you see what truly hides in the dark, what runs from you. You were nothing—and now, you are the threat. It’s because of me that monsters tremble before you, not daring to face your strength.
The words of the Darkness reminded him that every battle, every challenge he now faced, was no longer just his own. Each step deepened the bond he shared with it, reminding him that the price of power increased with every time he reached for this dark might. He could feel its presence—it wasn’t just a shadow; it was an ancient being, omnipotent and unyielding, an existence that had chosen him and permeated him completely.
Nyx squinted, looking at Arahnos with clear disappointment, her voice cold and full of sarcasm.
– Great, – she said, turning away from the spot where the creature had just been. – Exactly what we needed. Now, instead of dealing with it, we have to play cat and mouse from the start.
Arahnos, slightly thrown off balance by her tone, shifted his gaze to Nyx. In her eyes, he saw fatigue and something else—perhaps frustration? Nyx was patient, but now she was clearly fed up with this game of cat and mouse.
– You’re right, – he admitted calmly. – We’ll approach it differently. Maybe we can lure it to a place where it won’t have the opportunity to escape. We’ll find somewhere the alleyways are narrow, where it has no way out.
Nyx looked at him with a hint of approval, though she quickly concealed it.
– Good, but there’s one more thing, – she added coldly, resting her hand on her hip. – Maybe, in the meantime, you could refrain from your... peculiar aura? – She shot him a look of irony. – You know, because it seems like your "skills" are more off-putting than enticing.
Arahnos raised an eyebrow slightly, sensing the hidden criticism in her words, but he didn’t engage in an argument.
– You’re right, – he replied calmly. – Maybe if I act a bit less... spectacular, I’ll draw it closer.
Nyx nodded, though her expression remained cold.
– Alright. Since that’s the case, we should only separate for a short time. Draw it in, and I’ll take the flank. If it tries to escape again, we’ll cut off its path. But this time, Arahnos, no “special effects.” I want this plan to actually work.