They ca at midnight.
Not stalkers this ti. People. Three of them, cloaked and hooded, their faces hidden. They moved through the academy's halls with purpose, heading straight for the chapel.
[Chaos signatures: three. All human. All enhanced by harvested fragnts. Estimated levels: 6, 7, and 9.]
"Harvesters," Seris whispered, peering through a crack in the chapel door. "Venn's replacents."
"Or his partners," Varyan said. "He wasn't working alone."
The three Harvesters stopped outside the chapel door. One of them—the tallest—raised a hand and knocked.
Not a threat. A courtesy.
"Crumb-bearers," the tall one called out, his voice muffled by his hood. "We know you're in there. The Lord Harvest is rciful. Return the shard you took from Venn's cottage, and you will be allowed to leave. Refuse, and we will take it by force."
Varyan didn't answer.
"We can hear you breathing, boy. Don't be foolish. You're outnumbered and outmatched."
Still Varyan said nothing.
The tall Harvester sighed. "Very well."
He kicked the door open.
Varyan was ready.
Oblivion's Edge flashed. The Order Slash caught the tall Harvester in the chest, throwing him back into the corridor. His cloak caught fire.
The other two Harvesters rushed in.
Seris t the first with her Chaos form—shadow and fury. She wasn't as strong as she had been against Venn, but she was fast. She drove the Harvester back, her claws raking across his arms.
Tobin stood frozen, his fragnt flickering.
"Tobin!" Varyan shouted. "The speed thing! Use it!"
The boy blinked, then vanished. He reappeared behind the second Harvester and shoved him. The Harvester stumbled, off balance, and Varyan cut him down with a single stroke of the sword.
One down. Two left.
The tall Harvester was back on his feet, his cloak smoking. He raised his hand, and frost gathered around his fingers—Chaos magic, just like Venn.
"You'll pay for that."
He unleashed a wave of ice. Varyan dodged, but the cold caught his left arm. Numbness spread. He couldn't feel his fingers.
[Warning: Frostbite detected. Left arm functionality reduced by 40%.]
Seris scread—the other Harvester had grabbed her, his hands glowing with dark energy. He was trying to *extract* her fragnt.
Varyan ran. He ignored the pain in his arm, ignored the cold spreading through his body. He drove Oblivion's Edge into the Harvester's back.
The man gasped. Released Seris. Collapsed.
Two down. One left.
The tall Harvester laughed. "You're good, boy. But you're exhausted. Your fragnt is almost drained. Look."
[Fragnt reserve: 7%.]
Varyan looked at his hands. The golden flecks in his eyes were fading.
"You can't kill ," the Harvester said. "But I don't need to kill you. I just need to delay you."
He pulled a small black stone from his pocket and crushed it.
Darkness exploded from the stone—not natural darkness, but *Chaos* darkness. It filled the chapel, blinding, choking.
When it cleared, the Harvester was gone.
And on the altar, a new ssage was carved into the stone:
*"Next ti, we take them both."*
User Comments
0 comments from readers