Chapter 38 (Patreon)

The three Hunters stood before an intricate metal gate, designed by thin bars of twisting metal. Beyond it, an overgrown garden enveloped a ramshackle mansion, a functioning clock-tower peering out over the city.

The gate was locked, with no bell in sight. 

Elenya adjusted the cloth-wrapped halberd slung over her shoulder, the links of her warrior skirt clinking.

“Waldenvick estate,” Astrid said, tracing a corroded plaque with a gloved finger. “This place could hold a small army. Certain we shouldn’t wait for reinforcement?” 

Edmund pulled at the cuffs of his coat. “There is no telling when they’d arrive. A reflected light isn’t exactly a believable clue.” Edmund answered. 

“We’ll scout it out,” Elenya said without hesitation.She gripped the bars, and her muscles strained. With the shriek of metal, the bars bent. 

Astrid raised a brow.“That’s property damage.” 

“Yup.” Elenya answered, slipping through the gap. 

They walked up along an overgrown path to the house itself. Boards covering the windows. A heavy wooden door atop stairs hewn from stone. 

“Let’s be courteous, but persistent,” Edmund said.Elenya slammed her balled fist against the door in a pair of violent knocks.   

Silence. Astrid removed her hat, pressing an ear against the wood.“Movement, lots of it. And shouting.”

Edmund rubbed his chin.“Odd at this hour, perhaps we should…” 

Elenya kicked. The door blasting inwards as hinges snapped and wood splintered.

Edmund Blinked “...Knock again” 

Beyond was a well-maintained room, contrasting the overgrown exterior. A giant set of polished stairs. Expensive rugs and sparkling chandeliers.  Beyond a doorway, steam welled out into the hall.A dozen figures froze, most carrying crates or paperwork, all dressed in black. The broken door slid to a stop in the middle of the scene. Elenya moved in first, unzipping her halberd and slapping the shaft against her palm.

At the top of the stairs, stood a thin man in an intricate suit. His eyes were piercing blue and his hair combed back. 

“Excuse us,” Edmund said. “We’re hunters of the city. May I inquire what is happening?”

The man laughed. A sharp and hoarse cackle.“Spectacular entrance, welcome guests. I am professor Waldenvick. Owner of this estate. Tell me, what compels you to rip my door from its hinges?” 

“We’re investigating the terrorist attack during the recent storm.” Edmund replied, eyes flickering under furrowed brow. “Per paragraph twelve of hunter legislation, we withhold the right to refuse inspection.”

“Well, there must be a mistake. Come, sit. We have nothing to hide. In fact, tea is about to be served,” The professor said as he gestured towards a group of chairs at the bottom of the stairs.

Elenya tightened the grip on her halberd, but Edmund moved forward, putting a calm hand on her shoulder. In the front, a man with a bandaged eye bowed. A medallion inlaid with a red gemstone dangling from his neck.

“Welcome, do you prefer cinnamon or lavender?” he said with a pleasant smile. Elenya ignored him, eyes traveling between the crates.“What’s in the boxes?” 

Professor Waldenvick, descending the stairs, answered for him. “A leaking pipe. Can't risk damaging the research equipment.”

Edmund placed a hand on the back of a chairs, but he didn’t sit. “Something doesn’t add up.” He said. 

The professor leisurely slumped down in one of the seats. “The facade? I expected you to ask. It was part of an inheritance, along with a clause forbidding changes to the exterior. I am a man of the law.” 

The figures with the boxes hurried onwards and Edmund sighed, finally sitting down. Astrid joined him. Elenya remained standing, her eyes never leaving the professor. 

A kettle was soon brought in by the bandaged man and he poured into waiting cups as Edmund spoke. “We need to see the clocktower.” A small, silent tremor traveled through the one-eyed man.

“And an explanation of your research.”

“I will arrange a tour.” The professor said with a nod. “Here at Waldenwich, we dedicate ourselves to biology and history.”

He leaned forward with a thin smile. “May I ask you something?”

Edmund watched the half-dozen figures standing along the walls. The assistants seemed to have been panicked a minute ago. Now, they stood perfectly calm. His hand reflexively brushed against the hilt of his sword. “Go on…”

“You are Blessed, correct?” The professor said, “Did you know that they used to be much more common, why do you think that is?” 

Edmund met the gaze of the man. Both unyielding in their own way. “No clue.”

The professor shrugged his shoulder“I believe it’s the environment. Pressure, violence. Only a true challenge can rouse the interest of the Flame. 

The professor only paused for a moment. “Imagine what humanity could become if we were truly tested, if we tore down the walls of comfort. 

“The tour,” Edmund said with a cold tone. “Arrange it.” 

The professor chuckled and stood from his chair. “My apologies, I have a habit of rambling. I’ll do so immediately, in the meantime. Tea, please try it.”

The one eyed man, kettle still in hand, nodded with fervor. “Its a special blend, worthy of the Richter’s.” 

Edmund squinted his eyes at the man.Astrid squeezed around the captain’s shoulder. “What is it Astrid?” He said. Her tone was clear as she spoke.“We never said our name.”

Edmunds eyebrows slowly rose. The professor stood with his back turned, halfway up the stairs. He sighed. “Not the day for poisoned tea, shame.” He said. “Take care of them, convene at the exit.”

From along the walls, a dozen black figures stepped closer. Fingers tightening around the shafts of swords. The strings of crossbows drawing.

Edmund slowly stood, slinging his shield from his back.“This won't end well for you. Trust me.”

“You’re outnumbered.” The one-eyed man said, drawing two long knives. Twirling them in his hands.

Edmund drew his sword.“You have no idea what we’ve faced before you. Yield while you can.” 

The custodian scoffed. “Never.” Edmund’s eyes lit with fire “I hoped you’d say that.”

The hall erupted. Elenya swung first. The halberd whistled towards the one eyed man. The custodian’s one eye lit with a fire of his own. He dissolved into a blurred streak, like a moving afterimage. 

Feet rushed forward. 

A sabre swung towards Elenya's shoulder. She pivoted, the blade passing by her side. With a flick, a dagger appeared up her sleeve. In a fluid motion she slammed it up the chin of her attacker. Blood sprayed across her arm.Three others were already upon her. 

Edmund stepped around her, shield raised. A blast of force exploded from the shield. Sending three attackers tumbling backwards. 

A blur moved around his shield. A heavy kick from Elenya slammed against it. The moment before it hit, the blur contracted, materializing back into the man. Two long knives centimeters from Edmund’s chest. The kick connected with a heavy thud, knocking the air from his lungs and sending him flying like a cannonball. 

From above the stairs, a handful of crossbows rattled off shots. Edmund raised his shield over Astrid. The bolts clinked against his armor. 

“Elenya! The high ground!” Edmund shouted. 

“On it,” she growled. 

A faint red tint spread over her exposed skin, twisting and turning like shadowy serpents. 

She threw the halberd. The massive weapon spun through the air. With a thump it slammed into a charging figure. Catapulting him backwards with enough force to pin him to the wall. She dashed up the stairs, dodging blows and crossbow bolts with impossible speed for her large frame. 

Atop the stairs, a woman straightened with a reloaded crossbow. She paled as Elenya twisted the weapon away, then slammed her head into the railing with a crunch. 

On the lower floor, Edmund fought for his life. Blades scraping against his armor and shield. Astrid threw out a handful of seeds from a pocket. Thorny branches sprouting under the attackers feet. 

“Surround them!” shouted the man with the knives, having stumbled back to his feet. 

Edmund severed a throat with his sword, and deflected a strike with the shield that would have gutted Astrid. She thrust her short sword under the shield. Sinking it deep into the midsection of the opponent. With a boom, Edmund’s shield exploded outwards, sending the next group ripping through the jagged vines. “Nice one!” Edmund said through gritted teeth. 

Up above, Elenya tore through the crossbowmen with unflinching brutality. The last one, she threw over the railing. the yelping man crunching against the granite floor. A bolt stuck out from her chestplate, leaking red along her armor.  

In less than a minute, the room had been decimated. Bodies of the dead or dying littering the floor. Others had fled. Only three remained, holding sabres in trembling hands. And the blessed that could turn into a blur. 

The blessed man flashed a warped smile. Something burned into his hand. A weapon of shimmering metal.He threw it at Astrid and dove into a blur. She dodged behind Edmund as the blade chimed against his shield. 

“That’s the Blinking Blade!” Astrid said.

Edmund took a step back, dodging a cleaving strike from another attacker. Angling his shield against the incoming blur. It materialized into the man. The Blinking blade that he had thrown was back in the man’s hand and its reach was far longer than the knives. It dug into Edmund’s chest under the collarbone. 

Edmund gritted his teeth and his eyes lit up. The shield exploded again. It sent the man crashing across the room. 

Astrid pressed an open palm against her captain’s back. Mending the oozing wound as he cut down another attacker.

Two men waded through the vines with raised weapons. They didn’t see Elenya ripping out her halberd from the wall. Barreling towards them.

She was on them in a heartbeat. The first strike split a man from shoulder to hip. The other barley had time to turn before her armored fist caved in his jaw with a crack. 

They had been three against a dozen. Now they were three against one.The Blessed man with one eye stood up with shaking legs.

“Fighting monsters day and night, no wonder you’re sharp.” He said, spitting blood by his feet.

Elenya took heavy steps towards him.  Ripping free the crossbow-bolt lodged in her chest. “You have his blade…Where is he?” 

The man flashed a defiant grin.“We tortured him and then we killed him. He became food for the rats weeks ago, fitting, with a name like that.”

“You’re lying,” Astrid said coldly. “You needed him for something.” 

The man gripped the Blinking Blade tight and gave off a low laugh.“It doesn’t matter. The father of machines bears witness. I’ll take one of you with me.” 

He dashed forward, turning into a blur again, zigzagging towards Elenya. “Fool, your blessing breaks when touched.” She said, flicking the bloodied bolt in her hand. 

It passed through the blur, and for a heartbeat, it materialized back to the man. For Elenya, it was more than enough. A pivot away from his blade. Then a kick. It cracked against the blur. It shattered, her foot connecting squarely in the ribs. 

He slammed into the floor, tumbling along the stone. Knives escaping his grip. 

Elenya walked up and picked him up by the throat. He hissed. His free hand shot forward. The Blinking Blade burned into his palm, slicing towards her neck.

Her free hand caught the wrist. Then, she squeezed. The wrist cracked like dry wood. Behind them, Edmund retrieved his fallen hat, placing it back on his head as he spoke with a grim tone. “Last chance Gulschack?” 

The man spat at Elenya’s face. Slowly, she raised a balled fist. Seeping with shades of dancing red. 

Edmund spoke first. “Let’s get moving.”

Her fist slammed into the man’s skull. His head exploding into a mist of red. 

“A professor Waldenwich colluded with the Gulschak. We fought this guy in the square.” Edmund said and stepped towards the stairs. “ We were fatigued then. This time, we’ll give them hell.” 

“Yes captain,” Astrid and Elenya answered.