Something bad

"There as been attacks everywhere on the continent, Fanatics making sacrifices for some entity called the empress of the last night. It's so bad that the demons sent envoys to ask for our cooperation against it, and the gods advised their envoys to accept it." The owner of the inn explained. "Can you imagine, humans and demons making an alliance to fight a common enemy?"

Arlstor couldn't have imagined such a day. It may be a plan from the demons, but it was difficult to imagine the gods being fooled by them. They had to be really careful during their travel. He took a look at Niel, but she was already getting upstairs to their room. Arlstor joined her.

"What do you think about that?" he asked, once he closed the door of the bedroom.

"The empress of the last night, there is a story in my people's culture about it. It's the end of everything, even your so-called gods won't be able to stop it." She explained.

Elves don't believe in the gods, they acknowledge their obvious existence, but refuse to follow them, or honor them. Still, they know how powerful they are. So, for them to state that they can't win against that entity left a bleak future.

"So, we can't do anything?"

"I didn't say that. The story talks about four artifacts that can push it back to oblivion."

Arlstor took the bracelet from the pouch and showed it to Niel.

"Let me guess, we have one of them..."

"I don't know, the story doesn't tell what the artifacts are."

"If it is, our mission just cranked up in importance and difficulty."

"I know."

Niel walked to a bathtub in the corner of the room and opened the faucets. Pipes and warm water, pleasure of the big towns. It was most welcomed after the misty forest. The elf took off her clothes and picked up a soap bar from her bag. Entering cautiously in the tub, she sat in it with a sigh of relief.

Arlstor took a look by the window, watching the people walking in the street like everything was ok, despite the close watch of the guards.

"Do we go see who wanted to steal our package?" He asked.

"It's a bit risky, if it's that cult, we may be out of our league here."

"You're not wrong, but we can't just let them be..."

The giant turned his gaze back to Niel, who was washing her pale, soft skin. She used quite few spells earlier, he should also take a bath, for a better experience when revitalizing her in tantric energy.

"What's our options?" The elf asked.

"Burst at the place where the mercenaries were supposed to deliver the package, leave during the night to catch a caravan on the road, or pay people to pass as us to go one way, and we take the caravan as passenger in another. If you have another idea, I'm open to it too."