Cursed Bloodlines

Fire and Bone: The Final Battle

Naomi slowly stepped into Dorian's office, her movements sluggish and clumsy, as if the weight of exhaustion pressed down on every step she took. As soon as she entered, she immediately met Dorian's gaze, who was sitting at his desk, waiting for her. Naomi's expression was clear—the research she had undertaken hadn't brought any significant breakthroughs. She sat down at the desk and quietly ran a hand across her forehead, as if trying to chase away the weight of the thoughts swirling in her mind.

"I'm sorry, Dorian," Naomi began, her gaze fixed on the notes resting on the desk, "but I haven't made much progress." Her voice rang seriously, and with every word, the weight of the lack of results was palpable. "The Arcanum Crusaders don't have much useful information on Pyro's current whereabouts. All I found out is that he's hiding in abandoned buildings. Nothing concrete. There are no specific clues, just some vague hints that he was spotted somewhere on the outskirts of the city now and then."

Dorian leaned back in his chair, his eyes wandering for a moment as he listened to Naomi's report. He wasn't surprised, but his face clearly showed disappointment. For a moment, he sat in silence, then sighed and leaned forward. "It's not much, but at least we know he's likely still hiding somewhere in those abandoned places." His words were calm, but the tension within him was undeniable. "These abandoned buildings might hold more secrets than we've found so far."

Naomi nodded, but the disappointment still lingered on her face. "Yes, but the problem is that Pyro is very good at hiding. These abandoned buildings are scattered around different parts of the city, and it will be hard to pinpoint his exact location. The Crusaders are just as clueless."

Dorian stood up from the desk and looked at the map hanging on the wall. It showed all the key locations in the city, but at that moment, he was only interested in three sites. As Naomi continued speaking, Dorian took the map off the wall and spread it out on the desk.

"Wait a moment," he said, pulling out a pen. "I need to recall the previous investigations." Naomi watched curiously as Dorian started marking locations on the map.

"The locations of the three previous victims..." Dorian began, carefully marking the points on the map where Pyro's previous victims had fallen. "There's something here... something that links these places together."

Naomi leaned over the desk, watching as Dorian connected the dots with a line. "This isn't a coincidence," Dorian continued as he started to recognize the pattern. The three locations formed a perfect magical circle, and the deliberate arrangement was clear. "Pyro didn't choose these buildings randomly. It's part of a plan."

Naomi's eyes narrowed as she examined the circular shape more closely. "This is a ritual," she said softly. "But what is its purpose?"

Dorian was silent for a moment, then replied quietly, "Magic is usually used for a specific purpose. Pyro might be trying to summon a power or force. But it's clear he didn't pick these points by chance."

As Dorian continued to study the map, he pointed toward another spot. "Clara disappeared here," he said, marking the location on the map. That point fell perfectly on the edge of the circle, as if it were part of the magical ring. "This abandoned house... it fits right into the pattern."

Naomi examined the map closely, then glanced at Dorian. "Does this mean he took her there?"

Dorian nodded. "Yes, and if I'm right, Clara is going to be part of the ritual. If Pyro is indeed trying to create a magical circle, Clara could be the next victim. We need to get there before it's too late."

The silence in the room was almost tangible. Naomi looked at Dorian with concern. "What if you run into Pyro again?" she asked. "The last time you two crossed paths, it didn't go in your favor. Pyro is stronger than you, and last time, you barely escaped alive."