LEVEL EVERYTHING UP in my Eldritch Tribe

Lyerin's footsteps were silent as he approached the abandoned sanctuary, the moonlight casting long shadows across the desolate landscape.

The building, once a haven of peace and protection, now stood in ruins, its walls crumbling, its roof partially collapsed.

The eerie quiet of the afternoon light was broken only by the faint sounds of the eldritch fleshers, their guttural growls and heavy breathing echoing through the afternoon air.

As he drew closer, Lyerin noticed a crowd of humanoid hulking horses gathered near the entrance.

The creatures were massive, their bodies twisted and grotesque, resembling a horrifying blend of man and beast.

Their eyes glowed with a sickly yellow light, and their muscles rippled under their scarred skin as they prowled around the sanctuary.

But something about their behavior caught Lyerin's attention.

They were circling the entrance, not with the intent to attack, but as if they were drawn to something inside. Lyerin's eyes narrowed, his mind racing as he tried to understand what was happening.

And then, it hit him.

The girls.

Without hesitation, Lyerin began walking toward the creatures, his pace calm, almost leisurely. He knew these beasts well.

They were drawn to fear, to panic, to the scent of terror that was likely emanating from the girls inside. But Lyerin also knew something else—these creatures weren't here to kill. L

Not yet, anyway. L

They were curious, almost cautious, as if waiting for something.

As Lyerin approached, the hulking eldritch horses turned their heads, their glowing eyes fixing on him. But instead of attacking, they stepped aside, parting like a grotesque sea, allowing him to pass. Lyerin smirked, amused by their deference.

They sensed his power, recognized him as something more than just another prey.

No—they know he is their leader.

The entrance to the sanctuary loomed ahead, and as Lyerin stepped inside, the sight that greeted him made him pause.

The once sacred space was in ruins, debris scattered across the floor, the walls cracked and blackened.

The air was thick with dust, and the remnants of destruction lay everywhere.

And in the center of it all, huddled together, were the girls.

Corora, Cornelia, Maria, Elena, Sophia, Lydia, Fiona, Emily, and Natalie were trembling, their eyes wide with fear as they stared at the remnants of the sanctuary around them.

Their clothes were torn, their faces smudged with dirt and tears, and they clung to each other for comfort. But despite the destruction around them, the eldritch horses had not attacked.

They had simply… destroyed, as if venting some unknown frustration.

As Lyerin entered the room, the girls' eyes darted toward him, a mix of relief and fear flooding their expressions. Lyerin's gaze softened as he took in their frightened forms, but his lips curled into a small, almost cruel smile.

"How are you all doing?" he asked, his voice calm, almost teasing as if the destruction around them was nothing more than an inconvenience.

For a moment, the girls didn't respond, too stunned by his sudden appearance. But then, with a sudden burst of emotion, Corora broke free from the group and ran toward him.

Before Lyerin could react, she threw herself into his arms, burying her face in his chest.

"Lyerin!" she cried, her voice muffled against his shirt. "We were so scared! We thought… we thought you wouldn't come back!"

Cornelia followed suit, though she hesitated at first. But the relief on Corora's face was enough to break through her own fear, and she too ran to Lyerin, wrapping her arms around him.

Lyerin, caught off guard, hesitated for a moment before hugging them both back.

"I'm sorry I'm late," he murmured, his voice soft, almost gentle. "I didn't mean to scare you."

The other girls slowly approached, their fear giving way to relief as they saw Lyerin safe and unharmed. But as the initial shock wore off, a new emotion began to surface—anger.

"Where were you?" Maria demanded, her voice shaking with a mixture of fear and frustration. "What took you so long? We've been here, waiting, terrified out of our minds! Do you have any idea what it was like?"

Sophia, usually calm and collected, couldn't keep the edge out of her voice. "We heard those things outside, Lyerin! They were trying to get in! We thought… we thought we were going to die!"

Lyerin froze at their words, his arms still wrapped around Corora and Cornelia. His mind flashed back to the blonde girl—the one he couldn't save. Her lifeless body, the blood, the guilt that still gnawed at him like a festering wound.

He had promised himself that he wouldn't let it happen again. But here he was, late once more, leaving the people he cared about to face danger alone.

His eyes darkened, and his grip on the girls tightened, though his mind was far away, lost in the memory of that horrible day.

The screams, the blood, the cold, lifeless eyes staring up at him. He had been too late then, too.

"Lyerin?" Cornelia's voice broke through his thoughts, pulling him back to the present. She looked up at him, concern etched on her face. "What's wrong? What happened?"

The other girls noticed the change in Lyerin's demeanor as well.

The atmosphere in the room shifted, the relief and anger giving way to confusion and worry.

They could see it in his eyes—the pain, the guilt.

Something had happened, something he wasn't telling them.

Lyerin's jaw clenched, and he forced himself to look away, his gaze fixing on a random spot on the wall. "Nothing," he said, his voice flat, emotionless. "Nothing special."

But the girls weren't fooled.

They exchanged worried glances, unsure of what to say.

The Lyerin they knew was strong, confident, always in control. But this… this was different. They had never seen him like this before.

Sensing the tension, Lydia tried to lighten the mood. "So, Lyerin," she said, forcing a cheerful tone, "did you manage to do what you needed to? Did everything go according to plan?"

Lyerin blinked, the question pulling him further out of his dark thoughts. He looked at Lydia, and then at the others, who were all watching him closely, waiting for his response.

For a moment, he considered telling them the truth—about the blonde girl, about the guilt that still haunted him. But he pushed the thought away. They didn't need to know. Not now, not ever.

"Yes," he said with a nod, his voice more steady now. "Everything went as planned."

The girls visibly relaxed, their worried expressions easing into smiles. Emily let out a relieved sigh. "Good," she said, a small smile tugging at her lips. "We were worried something went wrong."

Lyerin managed a small smile in return, though it didn't quite reach his eyes. "No need to worry," he said. "I handled it."

"Handled it?" Fiona repeated, raising an eyebrow. But she had a smirk on her face. "Lyerin, you make it sound like it was nothing. We were all here, freaking out, and you're just… calm as ever."

Lyerin shrugged, she knew now what they are doing, but acting as if trying to maintain his usual cool demeanor, he replied with a grin, "I've been through worse."

Sophia smiled, though there was a hint of sadness in her eyes. "You always say that, Lyerin. But we know it's not easy. Thank you for coming back for us."

Lyerin nodded, grateful for the change in subject. "Of course. I promised I'd keep you safe, didn't I?"

Cornelia, who had been quiet, finally spoke up, her voice soft. "We're just glad you're okay. We were so scared… but now that you're here, it feels like everything's going to be alright."

The tension in the room continued to dissipate, and soon, the girls began to chatter among themselves, the atmosphere becoming more relaxed.

They shared stories, joked about their fears, and for a while, it was almost as if the destruction around them didn't exist.

Lyerin listened to their banter, offering the occasional comment, but for the most part, he stayed silent, content to let them talk. He needed this—needed to see them smile, to hear their laughter.

It reminded him that he could relax with this harmonious atmosphere.

After a while, Lyerin's gaze drifted to the horizon, where the first light of dawn was beginning to break through the darkness. He took a deep breath, feeling a sense of calm wash over him.

The afternoon had been long, filled with challenges and memories he'd rather forget, but it was almost over.

And there was still much to do.

He turned back to the girls, his expression serious. "We need to prepare for toafternoon," he said, his tone leaving no room for argument. "I'm taking all of you to the ruined magical world."

The girls fell silent, their eyes widening at his words.

The ruined magical world—a place they had only heard about in stories, a place of danger and mystery. But there was also excitement in their eyes, a spark of curiosity that had been absent for so long.

"Lyerin," Corora began, her voice filled with both apprehension and excitement, "are you sure? Are we really going there?"

Lyerin nodded. "Yes. It's time."