A Long Hot Summer, Chapter 4

Ophyila stood on the deck of the ship, staring out at the open sea. She could hear the waves crashing against the hull, and the smell of saltwater filled her nostrils. She looked back at the crew, a group of burly sailors who were working to keep the ship afloat.

"So, what's the plan?" she asked.

The captain, a grizzled human, grinned. "We drop you fools off at Dead Mines Island, and then we wait, but not too long. Got another shipment of goods to pick up from Freeport."

"Sounds good," Ophyila said, turning back to face the ocean.

The ship sailed towards the shore, and she could see the island's outline ahead. It was a small, barren place, with little vegetation. As the ship drew closer, she could see the remnants of a ruined city, long since abandoned.

"Rich in iron ore," Captain Ashvale said, "Very little else here. It is rumored that the ancient dwarven city of Karanath was here before the Sundering. There is an old dwarven fortress somewhere on this island. No one knows where, exactly. And I'm not about to waste my time looking for it. There's no gold to be had in those ruins, just a lot of rust and dust. That's all that's left of the ancient dwarves, now."

Trejario and Gadilus were loading the longboat tied alongside the ship; the seven would sail to the Island and complete the mission.

"Why's it called Dead Mines Island?" Angelaya asked, curious.

"Because the mines are full of dead things," Captain Ashvale said.

"How long until we reach the shore?" Trejario asked.

"An hour, give or take," Captain Ashvale replied.

The ship sailed towards the shore, and Ophyila stared at the ruined city ahead. "Small city, goes up a hill. And a fort on top."

"The fort is the target," the warlock Scarletina said. "The black crystal we found is attuned here. All the ley lines align on this point, and I got a bad feeling about that fort."

Selinah sighed. "Of course. Of course, there is a fort. Why wouldn't there be a fort?"

Gadilus loaded his bow, and Tamarisyn readied her flail.

Trejario checked his armor and made sure his tiny spide Nacho was hidden just inside his cloak. "Load up, we go now."

Trejario, Gadilus, Selinah, Scarletina, and Tamarisyn climbed into the longboat, and Ashvale joined them.

The ship drew closer to the shore, and Ophyila could see the ruins of the city, a mix of old stone buildings and crumbling structures. As the boat approached, she could see the broken walls of a once-great fortress, its towers toppled and its gates shattered.

Trejario stared at the fort. "It's quiet."

"Too quiet," Gadilus said, nodding.

Trejario pulled a grappling hook out of the longboat, and he tossed it to the shore.

"Pull the boat to the shore," he commanded.

Ophyila nodded, and the men pulled the boat to the shore.

The team jumped out and grabbed their gear.

"Ready?" Trejario asked.

"Always," Gadilus said, nodding.

"Ready," the warlock Scarletina said.

"Ready," Selinah, a templar, agreed.

"Ready," Tamarisyn, an inquisitor, said.

Ophyila nodded, holding onto her pen of doom, knowing she could do damage with it if needed, but feeling something else was missing here. She thought of the epic pen that Drulissa, the Storyteller, showed her, and she sighed.

Ashvale waved to the group and pointed up the stone pier to the city. "Let's go."

"Lead the way," Trejario said.

Ophyila and the rest followed the captain, their weapons ready.

The city was eerily quiet, the only sound the wind blowing through the ruins. The team moved carefully, keeping an eye out for any signs of danger.

The buildings were crumbling, and the streets were covered in debris. They passed the remains of what was once a marketplace, now a pile of rubble.

"It's a ghost town," Scarletina whispered.

"Yeah, and a creepy one," Gadilus added.

The team continued through the city, their footsteps echoing on the broken cobblestones.

As they approached the gates of the fort, Ashvale stopped, holding up his hand. "Something's not right. Can anyone feel it?"

Selinah shook her head, staring at the gates. "No. I can't sense anything."

Tamarisyn held up her holy symbol and closed her eyes. "I sense nothing. Not even demons. No magic, nothing."

Ophyila felt uneasy, staring at the fort.

"Something feels wrong," Gadilus said, "but I can't put my finger on it."

Scarletina shrugged, her expression nonchalant. "The crystal points to there," she said, nodding towards the fort. "We need to go in and find whatever it is linked to."

Ophyila felt something was very wrong, but she couldn't put her finger on it.

Trejario gripped his greatsword tightly. "Let's go."

The team moved towards the gates of the fort, their weapons ready. They worked their way through a crumbling street leading up a hill, passing the remains of what was once a mighty stronghold.

"It's like a scene from a horror novel," Gadilus said, glancing around.

The street opened up into a large courtyard, with the crumbled remains of a fountain in the center. In the middle was a statue of a man on a horse, his sword raised high.

"Who is that supposed to be?" Ophyila asked, curious.

"I have no idea," Scarletina replied.

The team moved through the courtyard, keeping a lookout for any danger. The wind blew through the ruins, making a low whistling sound.

"This is the strangest place I've ever been," Gadilus said, his voice hushed.

"I have to agree," Ashvale said, his expression grim.

As they approached the gates of the fort, a feeling of dread washed over Ophyila, and she stopped, her hand held up. "Wait!"

The team stopped, and Trejario looked back at her.

"What is it?" he asked.

Ophyila's eyes narrowed, and she pointed to the statue.

"The statue," she said, "it's not a man on a horse. It's a centaur. And something else seems strange..."

The rest of the group turned and looked at the statue, and their eyes widened in shock.

"She's right," Selinah said, her voice tinged with fear. "And it is moving!"

The iron statue groaned to life, its hooves breaking free of centuries of confinement as the massive beast came to life.

Trejario, the group's leader, rushed the monster. "Attack!"

The group attacked, their weapons slashing and striking the animated statue.

"Get the head!" Ashvale yelled.

Scarletina and Trejario attacked the head, their weapons slicing into the iron. Sparks flew from the beast's iron hide.

"It's no use!" Selinah shouted. "Magic time!"

The centaur swung its massive iron sword at Ophyila, the blade coming down with a mighty swing. Ophyila rolled out of the way, and the blade struck the ground, sending up a shower of sparks. She got to her feet, wrote a fine for the unauthorized animation of city statutes, and slapped it on the creature's side before she ran past.

Tamarisyn chanted, "Forces of righteousness, hear my plea! Bless us with your power and help us defeat this foul creature!"

A glowing light surrounded the group, and their weapons glowed with divine energy.

"That's more like it!" Gadilus yelled, loading an arrow and sending it deep into the iron beast's side.

Trejario and Ashvale charged the beast, their weapons slashing at the creature's legs.

"It's slowing down!" Scarletina yelled as she flung a fire spell, drawing the iron brute's attention as molten bits dripped off its hide.

Selinah chanted, "Bright Lady of Light, bless me with your power!"

A blinding light burst from the Templar's weapon, and the creature staggered back, its iron legs buckling; the clangs of hooves on stone deafened them.

Trejario and Ashvale attacked, their blades slicing into the creature's legs.

The animated statue roared, its iron hide burning with rage.

"It's not slowing down," Ophyila said. "There must be some enchantment on it. A powerful one. That is another fine!"

The statue reared up, its iron hooves slamming to the ground. The group scattered, and the courtyard shook from the force of the blow.

"We can't fight this thing!" Scarletina yelled.

"We have to," Trejario said, his expression grim.

Gadilus and Trejario attacked, their weapons striking the statue's legs.

Ophyila slapped another fine on the creature, her heart racing.

Selinah cast a spell, and the creature froze, its iron limbs locked in place.

"Now!" Ashvale yelled.

The team attacked, their weapons slashing into the frozen iron. Bits of cold iron flew in every direction, and large chunks of metal were hacked from the beast's body.

"It's working!" Scarletina yelled.

Ophyila wrote a new fine for the unauthorized movement of city statutes and slapped it on the beast, a smile crossing her lips as she watched the paper dissolve.

The statue struggled, its iron legs straining against the magical bonds. She blinked, had a fine one she just wrote, and somehow slowed the beast.

Trejario and Ashvale attacked, their blades slicing deep into the beast's hide.

Selinah and Tamarisyn chanted, their voices blending in a prayer to the Bright Lady of Light.

"Blessed Light, guide our hands and aid us in defeating this foul creature," they chanted.

A beam of light burst from the sky, striking the statue and scorching its iron hide.

Trejario and Ashvale attacked, their weapons flashing with a holy radiance.

Ophyila ducked under a mighty swing of its sword, rolled beside it, and wrote a citation against the powerful use of defensive magics. She slapped it on the statue and saw the magic flow out of the creature. She had somehow dispelled the ward on it with a citation?

"How are you doing that?" Selinah asked, her eyes wide.

Ophyila shook her head. "I don't know. I think my fines are affecting its magic. That or they are countering it. Keep attacking, I'll try to keep it distracted."

"Got it," Selinah said, chanting.

Scarletina and Trejario attacked, their weapons slicing into the weakened iron.

The statue struggled, its metal hooves scraping against the stone courtyard.

Ophyila slapped another fine on the statue and was surprised when the beast began to dissolve, its iron melting away into dust.

"That's a fine, you animated statue! And a citation for illegal magic! And a warning for rusted metalwork!" she yelled, slapping three different pieces of paper on the beast.

Ashvale smashed the beast with his shield and sliced through the rusting iron. The statue collapsed, its iron frame melting away into dust. The team stood, panting, their weapons slick with rust and iron.

"That was a close one," Gadilus said, shaking his head.

"Yeah, I almost lost an arm," Trejario said, flexing his muscles.

Ophyila stared at the piles of rust, her eyes wide. "How did I do that?"

"I have no idea," Selinah said, "But whatever you did, it worked."

"Your fines... did that?" Tamarisyn said, her voice filled with wonder. "It just goes to show you the power of a fine backed by the power of the Overlord."

Trejario laughed. "Or the power of a good smack from a hammer."

"I'll take either," Ophyila said.

"You have an interesting way of fighting," Ashvale said.

Ophyila blushed. "Thanks."

Selinah grinned. "I guess this means you're part of the frontline team now, Ophyila. Those de-buffs you have are very powerful."

Ophyila blushed. "Thank you, I don't know how, but..."

Her mind flashed back to seeing the epic pen in the small wooden box Drulissa had shown her. It was the only other epic item she had ever seen. It must be a connection between her, the penalties she wrote, and the epic pen. Like, somehow the pen was calling to her, and letting her touch only a fraction of its magic power. But she didn't even have it? Drulissa still had it with her!

She smiled. "I guess so."

Ashvale stared at the piles of rust. "This is the strangest place I've ever been. Come on, let's go. We need to find whatever's inside that fort."

The team made their way up the crumbling stairs to the ruined gates of the fortress. The courtyard was eerily quiet, and a chill breeze blew through the crumbling walls.

"Keep your eyes peeled," Trejario said, his voice low. "There's something here. I can feel it. Nacho can, too."

Ophyila and the team walked through the ruined halls, their weapons drawn. The walls were covered in cobwebs, and the air was filled with the scent of decay.

They reached a large set of double doors, and Trejario tried the handle.

"Locked," he said.

Ophyila stepped forward, her mind racing.

"Wait," she said, a plan forming in her head.

Trejario stepped back, and Ophyila pulled a small book and quill from her satchel. She quickly wrote a note and then ripped it from the book.

"Let me handle this," she said, a confident grin on her face.

She carefully placed the note on the door and took a step back. The paper glowed with an ethereal light, and the doors slowly opened.

"Impressive," Ashvale said, his eyebrow raised.

"That was a fine," she said, nodding. "For keeping a door locked during business hours."

"Great," Gadilius said. "Next time, they should just put a sign on it."

Ophyila and the team entered the room, facing an enormous arch and a glowing red magic gate.

"Bingo," Selinah said. "That's our portal."

"We're going through," Trejario said.

"But the demon's realm..." Tamarisyn said.

Trejario grinned. "It's only scary if you let it be."

Tamarisyn nodded.

Ashvale grabbed Ophyila's shoulder. "Ready?"

"No," Ophyila said, her heart pounding.

Trejario chuckled.

"Well, you don't have much choice," he said. "Come on."

The team stepped through the portal, and the world went dark.

Ophyila felt like she was falling through an endless void, her mind racing and her body numb.

Then, as quickly as it had begun, the feeling was gone, and she stood in a massive, lava- and rock-filled landscape. She could not tell if it was open to the sky or an enormous cavern, as the smoke hung in the air.

"This is the Demon Realm," Selinah said, her eyes wide.

"What do we do now?" Ophyila asked, staring around the desolate landscape.

"We find whatever it is we're looking for and get the hell out of here," Trejario said.

"Any ideas?" Selinah asked.

Ophyila and the team stood in a small clearing, the rocky ground bathed in an eerie red light. To one side stood a large, black obsidian gate.

"There," Ophyila said, pointing to the gate.

"Yeah, looks like that's our only option," Trejario said, leading the way. "There is nothing behind it, though."

"Trust me," Scarletina said. "It opens up to somewhere, another magic portal."

"Okay, then," Ashvale said, shrugging.

They walked towards the gate, the air growing colder and the wind picking up.

"There's something here," Gadilus said, his bow drawn.

"Yes," Trejario agreed. "I can feel it."

They approached the gate, the obsidian surface gleaming in the eerie red light. Ophyila could feel the power radiating from the gate, and her pulse raced.

They heard hoofbeats. A giant stag stepped in front of the gate. Its eyes glowed a fiery red, and its antlers looked like they could kill.

"Well, hello there," Trejario said, drawing his greatsword.

"That's no ordinary deer," Gadilus said, readying his bow.

"It's a demon," Scarletina said, her eyes wide. "Well, aren't you a handsome devil?"

The stag's eyes narrowed, and it pawed the ground.

"Oh, yes, a fine fellow indeed," she said, her voice sweet.

"Let's just get through the gate," Selinah said.

"You can't come here without payin' the toll," the stag demon hissed, its voice sending chills down Ophyila's spine.

"What toll?" Trejario asked.

"Why, the toll to enter the Demon Lord's realm, of course," the stag demon said.

"And what's the price for entry?" Scarletina asked, her eyes sparkling.

"The souls of the innocent," the stag demon said, a grin crossing its lips.

"How about we take your soul instead?" Ashvale asked, his voice dark.

"You can't defeat me," the stag demon hissed. "I am too powerful for you."

"We'll see about that," Trejario said, gripping his greatsword.

"Oh, but I think you will," the stag demon said, a wicked gleam in its eyes.

"Don't let him fool you," Scarletina said, her voice smooth. She blinked, pulling the black crystal from her pouch. Something was wrong; something was telling her that a fight was not the way they wanted to go, but she couldn't quite put her finger on it. She stared at the black crystal. The stag demon seemed to sense it, its eyes narrowing.

"Give me the crystal," the stag demon said, its voice deep and gravelly.

"Not a chance," Trejario said, his grip tightening on his weapon.

The stag demon charged, its eyes blazing. Trejario and the team scattered as the beast's antlers narrowly missed them. Ophyila wrote a fine for letting a wild animal loose in public, but missed slapping it on the stag's fur.

The stag demon turned, its eyes blazing with anger.

"You can't escape," it hissed, its voice dripping with venom.

"Watch us," Ashvale said, grinning.

Gadilus readied his bow and fired an arrow at the stag demon. The arrow bounced off its antlers, and the stag demon laughed.

"Your weapons are useless against me," it hissed, its eyes narrowing.

"Want to bet?" Ashvale asked, his expression dark.

"No bets necessary," the stag demon said, grinning. "You can't beat me."

Selinah cast a holy spell, and the stag demon screamed, its antlers blistering and burning.

"A little help, Ophyila," she cried.

Ophyila slapped a citation on the beast's antlers, the citation being for illegal poaching during the off-season hunting period.

The stag demon snarled, and the air grew hot.

"Your tricks won't work," it hissed, its eyes burning with anger.

"Wanna bet?" Gadilus asked, readying another arrow.

The stag demon charged, its hooves thundering across the ground. Ophyila wrote a fine for a large mammal running on the road without a permit, but the stag demon dodged her.

Trejario swung his greatsword, the blade narrowly missing the stag demon.

Scarletina stared at the obsidian gate and then at the crystal. She felt the crystal's power. There were souls trapped in the crystal.

"I'll handle this," she said, a confident grin crossing her lips.

"What do you mean?" Gadilus asked, his voice tense.

"Just watch," she said, her eyes sparkling.

She stepped towards the obsidian gate, and the stag demon froze.

"Where do you think you're going?" it hissed, its eyes narrowing.

"Many souls for one," Scarletina said, staring at the beast. "That is the deal, right?"

"It's not a deal," the stag demon said, its voice filled with venom.

"I think it is," Scarletina said, her voice smooth. "The souls of the crystal, in exchange for one soul. Your soul, beast."

"What are you doing?" Ashvale asked, his voice tense.

"Just watch," Scarletina said, a wicked gleam in her eyes. "Binding him to me."

She held the black crystal aloft, and the stag demon froze.

"What's happening?" Gadilus asked, his eyes wide.

"I'm binding the demon to me," Scarletina said, her voice confident.

"Why?" Selinah asked, her voice tinged with fear.

"Because we can't defeat him," Scarletina said, a grin crossing her lips. "And he is valuable to us."

"If you destroy the crystal," Ashvale shouted, "We cannot sense gates! That is our only lead in this case!"

"Don't worry," Scarletina said, her voice confident. "This is the way."

"You can't bind me," the stag demon hissed, its eyes burning with rage.

"Oh, but I can," Scarletina said, a wicked grin crossing her lips.

She began to chant, the words flowing from her lips like honey.

"You are bound to me, beast," she hissed. "Do not try to resist."

"No," the stag demon cried, its voice filled with pain.

"You cannot fight it," Scarletina said, her eyes burning with power.

The stag demon struggled, its body contorting as the binding took hold.

"What is happening?" Ophyila asked, her voice tense. "Should I write a fine for this?"

"The warlock is binding the stag demon to her," Trejario said, his voice grim.

"It is forbidden!" Tamarisyn shouted.

"We have no choice," Scarletina said, her eyes narrowing. "This is the only way."

The stag demon's body twisted and contorted, its body shaking, and the mighty beast screamed and fell to its knees.

"You are mine," Scarletina hissed, her voice filled with power.

The stag demon knelt, its eyes burning with rage.

"Do not try to resist," she said, her voice cold.

"You can't bind me," the stag demon hissed, its voice filled with pain.

"Oh, but I can," Scarletina said, her smile dark.

"It is forbidden!" Tamarisyn shouted again.

Scarletina turned and glared at the inquisitor. "It is the only way."

"No," she hissed. "He is mine."

The crystal shattered.

The gate to the Island began to close.

Ophyila shouted. "We need to go!"

Ashvale shouted a retreat, and Trejario stared at Scarletina. The mighty berserker grabbed the stag by the neck and hauled the beast with him towards the closing gate. Gadilus grabbed Scarletina and pulled her along. Ophyila was the last to arrive, slapping the gate with a fine for closing the door early during business hours.

The gate slammed shut, the obsidian wall shimmering. All seven, plus the stag, were back on the island, inside the ruined fort.

"What the hell was that?" Gadilus yelled.

"We're safe," Trejario said, panting.

"Safe?!" Tamarisyn shouted. "That was forbidden magic! We must report her to the Church!"

"Don't," Ashvale said, his voice grim.

"But-" Tamarisyn said.

Ashvale grabbed the young inquisitor by the shoulders and stared into her eyes.

"Do not," he said.

Tamarisyn's eyes went wide, and she nodded, her expression stunned.

"What's done is done," Ashvale said, releasing her.

"I agree," Trejario said, his voice tense. "That was risky, but it worked."

"We can't report her," Selinah said, her expression grim.

"Agreed," Gadilus said, his voice dark.

Scarletina stared at the demon, feeling drained of all energy herself. The stag was weakened, heaving for breath, its antlers resting on the ground.

"He's mine," she whispered.

"So he is," Ashvale said, nodding.

"Now we have a demon," Trejario said, his voice amused. "We are demon hunters, with a demon."

"We will always have a job," Gadilius smirked.

"That's...not funny," Tamarisyn said, her eyes wide.

"You'll need to control him," Selinah said, her expression wary.

"He is mine," Scarletina said, crawling towards him. "And he will do as I say."

"Yes," the stag demon hissed, its eyes blazing.

"Good," Scarletina said, her voice filled with power.

"We should rest," Ashvale said, staring up at the sky.

"There are no demons out there," Trejario said, nodding.

"For once," Gadilius added. "Except, this one here. Anyone want to explain to me why she destroyed the crystal?"

"It's simple," Scarletina said, her eyes locked on the stag demon. "I had to bind him to me. This demon knows more about the ones we are fighting than a crystal."

"How so?" Ophyila asked.

"They are related," Scarletina said. "A family."

"So you are a demon tamer now," Tamarisyn asked, her voice shocked.

"Yes," Scarletina said.

"But...that's forbidden," she said, her voice low.

"Not here," Scarletina said, her smile dark.

"So we are now a group of demon hunters, with a pet demon," Gadilius said, chuckling. "And the Overlord knows about it."

"The Overlord knows everything," Ophyila said, her voice sure.

"That is the truth," Selinah said, a grim tone to her voice.

Ashvale walked to Scarletina. "When it is time to put the beast down, let me know."

The stag huffed. "I was, I was..."

"You were," Scarletina said.

"A Lord of the Realm," he hissed.

"Not anymore," she said. "Now you are a servant. And you will do as I command."

The stag's eyes burned, and he bowed his head.

"Yes, mistress," he hissed.

Scarletina smiled. "Good. Help us, and you may find redemption and salvation for your deeds."

"I doubt that," the stag said, his voice dark.

"Time will tell," Scarletina said, her smile wicked.

"Let's make camp," Ashvale said, nodding to a corner of the ruined fort.

"Agreed," Trejario said.

"What will we do with the demon?" Ophyila asked.

"Leave it here," Ashvale said.

The stag demon stood. "I will obey."

"Good," Scarletina said, a dark grin crossing her lips. "Because if you do not, I will kill you."

"I understand," the stag demon hissed.

"Now," Ashvale said. "We rest."

"And then what?" Tamarisyn asked.

"And then," Ashvale said, a grim smile crossing his lips. "We continue the hunt. We have an informant who can tell us a great many things, correct Scarletina?"

"He does," she said.

"Then," Ashvale said. "We rest. Tomorrow, we find the next gate, the next cult, and the next, and the next, until we have hunted them all down. They will not be expecting us to have a demon with us. But, they will find out soon enough."