Chapter 2: The girl and the Gun

Chapter 2: The Girl and the Gun

The city of Veridane was a labyrinth of cobbled streets, iron lamplights, and low-hanging mist. The old quarter was mostly abandoned now — too many strange disappearances, too many whispers of things seen slithering just beyond the edge of sight.

Ezra moved silently through the fog, his coat brushing the worn stone walls as he tracked the coordinates given to him by the Sanctum.

His boots stopped outside an ancient bookstore.

“The Brass Quill.”

It looked dead — shutters closed, windows filthy, a crooked "Open" sign dangling from a rusted chain.

Ezra grimaced.

A perfect hiding place.

He pushed the door open.

A little bell jingled pathetically.

Inside, the air was thick with the scent of yellowed paper and mildew. Towering shelves leaned dangerously close together, creating claustrophobic corridors of forgotten knowledge.

Then he heard it:

A sharp click from behind one of the aisles.

Ezra’s instincts kicked in.

In a blink, he ducked behind a shelf just as a shot rang out, sending a spray of old books flying.

Another shot. And another.

“Stay where you are, creep! I’m armed!” a young voice shouted.

Ezra slowly peeked around the corner.

There, standing atop a rickety ladder, was Sunny Elaris — holding a ridiculously oversized handgun with both hands, her arms trembling slightly under the weapon’s weight.

She had a determined scowl on her face, but there was no mistaking it:

she was terrified.

Ezra exhaled slowly through his nose.

This... was the Radiant Vessel?

Another bullet ricocheted off the metal bookshelf inches from his head.

“Hey!” Ezra barked. “Stop shooting before you blow your own damn foot off!”

Sunny’s hands jerked in panic — the gun clattered from her grip, hit the ladder, bounced off three shelves, and somehow discharged a shot directly into the ceiling fan.

The fan groaned, shuddered... and fell.

Right onto Sunny.

Ezra lunged forward without thinking, catching her just before the fan could crush her.

For a moment, they were frozen — Sunny clinging to him, wide-eyed, their faces inches apart.

"Uh," she stammered, cheeks turning crimson. "Thanks."

Ezra set her down roughly.

"You’re welcome, idiot."

Sunny puffed up indignantly. "I was defending myself! You could’ve been a demon!"

Ezra smirked faintly, brushing dust off his coat. "Trust me, if I were a demon, you’d already be a bloodstain."

Sunny crossed her arms. "You’re not very friendly, you know."

"I’m not here to be your friend," Ezra said, voice hardening. "I’m here to keep you alive."

Sunny blinked, caught off guard by his intensity.

“Alive…? Why? Who are you?”

Ezra turned, surveying the bookstore with a sharp gaze. "Name’s Ezra Veyne. Exorcist. You’re Sunny Elaris — the girl every demon in this city wants to turn inside out."

Sunny paled.

"Wait — demons? Like... real demons? From Hell?"

Ezra’s look was flat. "No, Sunny. The cuddly, plush kind."

She opened her mouth, closed it again.

Somewhere outside, a howl split the night.

Ezra’s hand went instinctively to the hilt of his sword.

"Looks like we’re out of time," he muttered. "Pack your stuff. We move now."

Sunny scrambled to grab a tattered backpack from behind the counter.

Ezra threw open the door just as the mist thickened unnaturally. Figures, hunched and twitching, slithered from the shadows. Their eyes gleamed a sickly green.

Demons — lowborn scouts, hungry and mindless.

Sunny whimpered.

Ezra stepped in front of her, drawing his blade in a fluid, almost lazy motion.

Behind him, Sunny whispered, “Hey... just so you know… I’ve never really fought anything before.”

Ezra gave a humorless chuckle.

"Good," he said, eyes narrowing. "Stay behind me and don't do anything stupid."

The demons shrieked and charged.

And the street became a battlefield.

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***