The Crimson Covenant: Vol 1The Moonlit Blood Chapter 5

 

ACT I THE BLOOD COFFIN GUILD

Chapter 5  The Quiet After

The silence that followed the demon's destruction felt almost unreal. Only minutes earlier, the village square had been consumed by shrieking darkness and living nightmares. Now... Moonlight returned. The silver glow spilled gently across broken rooftops and scorched cobblestones. Smoke drifted lazily into the night sky, carrying away the last traces of battle. The forest surrounding Kisfenyő stood silent once more, its towering pine trees swaying softly beneath a cool autumn breeze. One by one... The crickets began singing again. The world itself seemed relieved. No one spoke. The villagers simply stared at the four travelers. The Crimson Covenant. The same people who had looked so terrifying only moments ago now stood quietly among the ruins. Bálint carefully wiped soot from one of his silver whips before recoiling both enchanted weapons neatly into the ornate black hilts hanging from his belt. His elegant black coat was dusted with ash, several cuts decorating its sleeves where enemy blades had barely grazed the fabric. Despite the battle, he remained composed, brushing dirt from his gloves as though returning from an evening ride rather than a battlefield. Nearby, Zoltán sat upon a broken wagon wheel, rubbing the back of his neck sheepishly. His blond hair had become wonderfully messy. Soot covered one cheek. His green traveling coat bore fresh scorch marks. One sleeve had been torn by a spear. His enormous axe, Sky Breaker, rested upright beside him, its glowing blue runes gradually fading as the weapon returned to its ordinary weight. The giant automaton, Őrök, knelt beside the church. Blue runes softly shimmered beneath cracked brass armor while tiny enchanted mechanisms emerged from hidden compartments within his forearms, repairing dents left by hammers and sealing fractures with streams of liquid silver. Not far away... Győző calmly closed the lid of his ancient black coffin. The elegant coffin seemed strangely ordinary beneath the moonlight. As though the horror everyone had just witnessed had never happened. The ancient vampire dusted ash from his velvet sleeves before adjusting the silver dragon brooch fastening his crimson cravat. His pale face remained perfectly calm. Almost bored. Finally... The village elder stepped forward. His hands trembled. Not from fear anymore. From gratitude. He slowly bowed. Then another villager bowed. Soon... Every surviving man, woman, and child in Kisfenyő knelt before the four travelers.

"Thank you."

The words spread through the crowd.

"You saved us."

"You saved our children."

"Our homes..."

"Our lives..."

An elderly woman quietly wiped tears from her eyes.

"If you hadn't arrived..."

She couldn't finish.

Bálint immediately looked uncomfortable.

"...Please stand."

No one moved.

He sighed quietly.

"I don't deserve that."

The village elder looked confused.

"But you defeated them."

Bálint glanced toward the ruined houses surrounding them.

"I arrived too late."

His voice was almost a whisper.

"People still died."

The elder gently shook his head.

"No."

"You arrived before everyone died."

For the first time that evening...

Bálint had no reply.

Several merchants approached carrying heavy sacks.

"Our savings."

"Please."

"Take them."

Gold coins jingled softly inside leather pouches.

One farmer even led forward his healthiest horse.

"It's all I own."

"It belongs to you now."

Before anyone else could answer Győző smiled warmly.

"No."

The villagers blinked.

The ancient vampire folded his hands behind his back.

"Keep your gold."

"But..."

"You need it far more than we do."

A baker insisted.

"You defeated a demon!"

"Surely that's worth something!"

Győző chuckled.

"It certainly is."

He looked toward the frightened children now peeking curiously from behind Őrök.

"Their smiles are sufficient payment."

The villagers exchanged confused glances. They had expected legendary adventurers. Mercenaries. Monster hunters. Instead... These people simply smiled. Without another word... The Crimson Covenant began rebuilding the village. Ōrök lifted entire collapsed walls back into place. Massive stone beams that once required twenty men now rested effortlessly within his enormous brass hands. He carefully lowered each one exactly where the village carpenter directed.

"Three centimeters left."

The automaton obeyed.

"A little more."

He adjusted.

"Perfect."

"Thank you."

"You are welcome."

Meanwhile...

Zoltán helped rebuild roofs.

Children followed him everywhere.

"Lord Zoltán!"

"Can we help?"

He smiled brightly.

"Of course."

He handed tiny wooden pegs to eager little hands.

"Can you pass me those?"

The children nodded enthusiastically.

Even carrying nails suddenly felt like important work.

Bálint silently repaired fences. His movements remained astonishingly precise. Every swing of the hammer landed perfectly. Every plank aligned flawlessly.

An elderly carpenter watched in amazement.

"You're surprisingly good."

Bálint shrugged.

"My father insisted every noble should know how to build."

The carpenter laughed.

"A wise man."

"...He was."

For just a heartbeat...

Sadness crossed Bálint's face.

Then he continued working.

Győző wandered through the village. Unlike the others, he repaired little himself. Instead...He listened. He comforted grieving families. Spoke gently with frightened children. Offered quiet advice to exhausted parents.He possessed the calm presence of someone who had witnessed countless tragedies across countless centuries. Somehow... Simply speaking with him eased frightened hearts. Near midnight... The village bakery somehow remained standing. Mostly. Its chimney leaned dramatically to one side.Inside, the baker and his wife insisted on preparing food for everyone.  Long wooden tables were carried into the square. Fresh bread. Vegetable stew. Roasted potatoes. Goat cheese. Warm apple pastries.The smell filled the village.

  Zoltán's eyes sparkled.

"...Can we?"

Bálint didn't even look up.

"You've already decided."

"I was asking politely."

"You were pretending politely."

"I wasn't pretending."

"You absolutely were."

Győző smiled into his teacup.

"Let the boy eat."

Bálint sighed dramatically.

"He already ate four times today."

"Growing boys require nourishment."

"Grandfather."

"Yes?"

"He's six foot three."

"He is still growing."

"...You're encouraging him."

"I certainly am."

The baker placed an enormous loaf of bread before Zoltán.

"Eat as much as you'd like."

"...Really?"

"As much."

The baker instantly regretted those words.

Fifteen minutes later... The entire table stared. The bread was gone. Three bowls of stew. Two roasted chickens. An entire apple pie.

Several villagers whispered among themselves.

"...Where does it go?"

"I don't know."

"He's impossible."

One little girl looked at Zoltán with complete admiration.

"You're amazing."

Zoltán laughed awkwardly.

"I... train a lot."

Bálint pinched the bridge of his nose.

"Our grocery expenses are legendary."

Then came an unexpected sound.

"...Excuse me."

Everyone turned.

It was Őrök.

The giant automaton stood politely beside the table. In one enormous brass hand... He still held the tiny cookie the little boy had given him earlier.

"I have observed..."

He paused.

"...that families usually eat together."

The square became quiet.

Győző smiled gently.

"They do."

"I would..."

Another pause.

"...also like to participate."

Zoltán immediately stood.

"Of course!"

He dragged over the largest bench in the village.

It immediately collapsed beneath Őrök's weight.

The children burst into laughter.

"...I apologize."

"It's okay!" one little boy giggled.

"We'll get two benches!"

Eventually... The automaton simply sat carefully on the ground. A little girl placed another cookie into his enormous hand.

"For dessert."

He carefully stored it inside a small compartment in his chest.

"Treasure acquired."

The children laughed even harder.

Later that night... The village finally slept. Families returned to repaired homes.Fires had been extinguished. Only glowing embers remained.The Crimson Covenant sat together beneath the old oak  tree overlooking the square. No one spoke for a while. The moon hung high above the forest. Zoltán leaned back against the tree, already half asleep. Bálint quietly cleaned his silver whips. Ōrök stood motionless nearby, keeping watch over the sleeping village. Győző looked toward the stars.

"You did well today."

Neither brother answered immediately.

Finally...

Bálint spoke.

"...We still couldn't save everyone."

The ancient vampire nodded.

"No."

Silence returned.

Then he smiled softly.

"But because you came..."

He looked toward the repaired homes.

"...most of them will wake up tomorrow."

Bálint followed his gaze.Children slept peacefully. Parents embraced their families. Warm light shone through repaired windows.For the first time in years... The quiet young heir allowed himself a genuine smile. Small. Almost invisible.But real.  Győző noticed. He said nothing. Sometimes... That was enough.Far beyond the peaceful village, hidden beneath the dark trees, a lone Baalanian survivor watched the sleeping settlement. His face remained hidden beneath black desert cloth. In his hand... He clutched a fragment of the shattered Black Box. Its cracked surface pulsed faintly with crimson light.  Then he disappeared into the forest.The peace of Kisfenyő would not last forever.