The Crimson Legacy (In Progress)

Chapter 20: Old Haven

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Old Haven was a town of old stone houses and cobbled streets, but tonight, it was drenched in blood and shrouded in tragedy. Clara and her companions—Zoe and Kuro—had arrived too late to prevent the massacre that unfolded before them. Eldrid's Guards, distinguished by their dark blue armor and iron helmets, were scattered across the town like an infestation, searching for something or someone among the ruins. The air was thick with smoke, and the scent of iron was overwhelming. Clara's eyes swept over the chaos, assessing the scene with an unflinching coldness.

Kuro's face paled as he took in the sight of the streets filled with injured and dead Old Haven fighters, their bodies lying in grotesque poses. The banners and flags of the town were trampled, and the symbols of Old Haven's defiance against tyranny were drenched in their own people's blood.

"Why are the guards here?" Clara whispered, her voice a razor-sharp blade cutting through the tension.

"They're looking for me," Kuro replied, his voice low, heavy with an emotion that was more than just fear. It was remorse—a burden he seemed to carry with him.

"Why?" Clara pressed.

Kuro took a deep breath, his eyes fixed on the devastation before him. "Years ago, I served as the most talented archer of the Eldrid's Guards," he admitted. "But the corruption within the ranks—watching the dishonor and cruelty—they made me leave. I swore an oath to serve with integrity, but Eldrid's purpose was twisted into something else entirely."

The fire in Clara's eyes burned brighter. "So why are they after you now?" she demanded, her tone harsher than she intended. But it wasn't anger directed at him—it was at the web of deceit and betrayal that seemed to spread across Eldrid like a plague.

"I don't know," Kuro admitted, shaking his head. His fists clenched at his sides, and he struggled to keep the pain from his voice. "But they won't stop until they have me."

Clara studied him for a moment, weighing her options. She knew she couldn't afford distractions, but she couldn't ignore the pain in Kuro's eyes either. After a moment of silence, she gave a curt nod. 

"Stay here with Zoe," she ordered. "If anything happens—protect her."

Kuro looked as though he wanted to argue, but he saw the resolve in Clara's gaze. He nodded reluctantly and murmured, "Seraphine's house is by the large oak tree at the far end of town."

Without another word, Clara turned and vanished into the shadows.

Moving like a phantom, Clara leaped from roof to roof, her footfalls silent against the slanted tiles. The moonlight cast faint shadows across her path, and she embraced them, letting the darkness swallow her whole. Her cloak billowed behind her, and she blended seamlessly with the night—just another specter haunting the dying town.

Below, the guards patrolled the streets, their eyes searching and their weapons drawn. Clara's eyes narrowed. These men were looking for Kuro, but she wouldn't let them have him. Not if she could help it.

She reached the far end of town, spotting Seraphine's house beneath the large oak tree. But guards stood at the entrance, poised to break in. Clara's jaw tightened, and she felt a rush of cold anger surge through her veins.