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Beneath the Leaves

[1]

Year 427, fallen Kingdom of Ravendor, Ruins of Nightshade Keep.
~•~
Several boxes filled with weathered tomes were stacked on the burnt grass outside the old decaying library. A tall, well-built, mature man stood with his wife, frowning down at the musty books.
Roark
Roark
I don't know what that lad is thinking, saving those past relics. The whole damn building could collapse any second now!
Ann
Ann
He did translate that relic that helped restore the soil for crops. We had a good harvest last year, love.
Roark
Roark
Bah! All it needed was some tough loving care!
Ann resisted the urge to laugh as she knew how worried her husband really was.
Ann
Ann
Honey, you know he can't do that kind of physical labor. Gloom is doing the best he-!
Ann's breath caught as the library tremored, debris falling in a cloud of dust. Her husband yanked her back from the falling sandstone and held her protectively.
Once they were at a safe distance...
Roark
Roark
Stay here, away from the building. I'm going to get some strong men and Granny. He always listens to her.
~•~
Meanwhile, inside the library...
A lanky young man struggled to stand. His hand flew to his throbbing head before pulling back from the sharp sting.
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Gloom
Gloom
Dammit!
He hissed under his breath and carefully straightened out his fragile form.
Gloom gazed around the hidden room he'd stumbled into when the tremors started. The walls glowed softly with ancient magic, casting eerie shadows across the room filled with bookcases stuffed with pristine books.
The air was cool and carried a faint, musty smell reminiscent of the weathered books He'd managed to save.
Gloom
Gloom
It must be an array of protection. This room is too preserved to be a century old...
His eyes flickered over to the almost otherworldly box placed upon a pedestal. Slowly and cautiously, he made his way over to the strange relic.
Gloom
Gloom
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Gloom
Gloom
Interesting... It looks like it's made of metal.
He mumbled, squinting his onyx eyes at the artistic pattern the metal was shaped into. Despite the throbbing pain in his head, curiosity got the better of him, and he couldn't stop himself from touching its cold, yet smooth surface.
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Gloom winced and closed his eyes. His hand on the relic felt warm.
Cure
Cure
Not only am I freed by the worthy vessel, but he also has affection for me!
Gloom yanked his hand back from the strange creature's head, watching it dance.
Cure
Cure
(•^ー^)ノ♪
Before him stood a peculiar being, radiant and otherworldly. Cure's soulless eyes somehow seemed to gleam with mischief, a wide grin spreading across his face.
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Gloom
Gloom
Who-no, what are you?!
The small beings grin widened and it bowed in greeting.
Cure
Cure
I'm the Companion of Unorthodox Reforming and Eccentricities!
Cure
Cure
Otherwise known as Cure.
Cure
Cure
•^-^•)
~•~

[2]

Work site, outside library entrance.
Strong, capable men work tirelessly, lifting and shifting debris with measured care. The clatter of shifting stones mixes with strained grunts. Roark wipes the sweat from his brow and takes a moment to breathe, catching a subtle beckon from his mother-in-law. She stands with his wife, Ann, her expression unreadable but heavy with concern.
Roark
Roark
What is it, Ann?
Ann clutched her amulet so tightly her fingers turn white.
Ann
Ann
Just... promise me you’ll be safe in there.
Roark softly presses a kiss to her forehead. He wasn't going to make a promise he might not be able to keep.
Roark
Roark
We’ll try our best.
Ann's brows furrowed and she frowned, glaring up at him.
Ann
Ann
That’s not a promise.
Roark turns her carefully, his hand brushes her abdomen. He lingers for a moment, his voice dropping to a whisper.
Roark
Roark
You both need rest.
Ann hesitates, her gaze lingering on him before she nods. Roark watches her go, his jaw tightening as he fights the weight of his worry. A familiar voice pulls him back to the moment.
Granny
Granny
You've got that look, boy.
Roark side-eyes his Mother-in-law. Still mostly focused on Ann's distant figure.
Granny
Granny
The one that says you’re letting worry get the better of you.
Granny
Granny
Ann’s strong. Always has been. And that little one she carries? Roots down deep. You’ll see.
Roark swallows hard, his chest loosening just enough to draw a deep breath. Before he can respond, a shout cuts through the air.
Strong men
Strong men
We've got a way in!
Roark and Granny exchange a look, then stride toward the opening. Granny’s steps are slow but deliberate, her cane tapping in rhythm.
~•~
Inside Library.
The air is damp and thick with dust. Lanterns cast flickering shadows over the sandstone walls, their intricate carvings worn and broken with age. The faint scent of earth and decay fills the space.
Roark frowned at the state of the building.
Roark
Roark
Sandstone. Durable, but it makes me uneasy. Feels ready to crumble.
Granny
Granny
Not just sandstone. Magic runs deep here. Subtle, but it’s there.
Her cane pauses mid-tap as she kneels to examine faint lines etched into the floor.
Granny
Granny
Someone's been here.
Roark's hand twitches towards the sword he always carries.
Roark
Roark
Is it Gloom?
Granny shot him an amused glance.
Granny
Granny
I don't doubt it.
Granny
Granny
But we need to move cautiously. Gloom is careful, but not perfect.
Strong men
Strong men
Found something! A passageway over here!
Roark moves to inspect it. The gap is narrow and dark, partially obscured by rubble. Roark grimaced at the implications.
Roark
Roark
Single-file. No telling what’s on the other side.
Granny
Granny
That’s why I’m here. If there’s trouble, I’ll know before it bites.
Roark huffs at her words and confident smirk. His grip tightened on the hilt of his sword.
Roark
Roark
Just don’t go charging too far ahead when you get to the other side.
Granny grins and taps her cane against the stone floor.
Granny
Granny
Oh, I’ll try to restrain myself.
She then steps into the passageway. The shadows swallowing her whole.

[3]

The ground trembled. Dust filled the air. Chunks of sandstone rained down like judgment.
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Shouts rang out as men called for each other, their voices nearly drowned by the chaos. As the dust began to settle, Roark took in the scene.
Roark
Roark
Get the injured to a healer!
One man lay crushed beneath slabs of sandstone, coughing blood. Roark grimaced, stepped forward, and drove his sword through the man’s skull—a mercy.
Strong men
Strong men
Roark! The path Granny took is still open!
With most of the men tending to the injured, only a few remained with Roark as they moved toward the narrow crevice. As they slipped through the small passage, a sound met them.
Weeping.
Gloom
Gloom
No... no, you can’t be dead! Please!
They found him kneeling in blood and rubble, hunched over Granny’s lifeless body. Her crushed form leaked red beneath his knees as he clung to her.
A broken amulet slipped from her robes, clinking to the stone floor. Roark’s blood ran cold at the sight of it.
Strong men
Strong men
H-her eyes… She’s a vampire…
Whispers and disbelief spread through the remaining men. Granny—the kind elder they’d known—had hidden a cursed bloodline.
Cure
Cure
'Who would’ve thought my current host would be so lucky…'
The ancient being smiled to himself, stepping up silently beside Gloom—unseen by the others.
Cure
Cure
We can bring her back.
Gloom jerked his head toward him, eyes wide with shock and raw desperation.
Gloom
Gloom
Please... Please! Bring her back!
The men’s confusion turned to horror as Granny’s body twitched… then rose with unnatural grace. Her red eyes snapped open.
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Strong men
Strong men
He's a necromancer!
The men staggered back, fear overtaking them. Roark stepped forward, face dark and unreadable.
Roark
Roark
All of you. Return to the village. Tell the chief what happened.
Strong men
Strong men
B-but what about—?
Roark
Roark
Go. Now.
They obeyed. Only Gloom stayed behind, trembling beside Granny. He looked up at Roark, confused and overwhelmed.
Gloom
Gloom
I didn’t… I didn’t mean for this...
Roark knelt and picked up the bloodied, broken amulet from the ground. His grip tightened as he saw the familiar markings—the same amulet Ann wore.
Roark
Roark
Take your... creation... and run.
Gloom
Gloom
Wh—what?
Roark
Roark
Go. Now. Into the forest! And don't stop!
Cure placed a hand on Gloom’s shoulder, nudging him gently. Gloom stumbled to his feet. Granny followed—eyes lifeless, movements strange. They disappeared into the trees beyond the ruins.
~•~
Roark’s home – Shortly after
~•~
Roark burst through the door, face pale and grim. Ann came quickly from the kitchen.
Ann
Ann
Roark? What happened?
He didn’t answer with words—just placed her mother’s shattered, bloody amulet in her hands.
Her breath caught. Her eyes went wide.
Ann
Ann
...Mama?
Roark
Roark
You have to go. Now.
Ann
Ann
But—what’s going on? Is she—
Roark
Roark
There’s no time! They’ll come. For you. For the baby.
She stared at the amulet in her shaking hands. Then looked up at him—eyes wet, but hardening.
Ann
Ann
I’ll go.
Roark gently brushed her hair back, then turned toward the door, grip tightening around the hilt of his sword. The village would have to go over his corpse before they touched his wife and his unborn child.

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