Whisper of the Crows

The stillness of the chapel felt heavy after your encounter with Donna. The fragment Miranda placed alongside the others pulsed faintly, joining the rhythm of the Megamycete orb. Each shard added seemed to intensify the aura in the room, a mix of power and unease that set your nerves on edge.

Miranda stood before the pedestal, her back to you, her golden eyes fixed on the growing light of the fragments. Without turning, she said, “You’re progressing well, but the path ahead grows more perilous. The next fragment lies with Salvatore Moreau.”

The name sent a wave of disgust through you. The villagers’ whispered tales of the grotesque, amphibious Lord had painted him as a pitiable creature—malformed, shunned, and desperate for Miranda’s approval.

“What should I expect from him?” you asked, your voice steady.

Miranda finally turned, her expression cool but distant. “Moreau’s domain is treacherous. His connection to the Megamycete has twisted not only his body but the land itself. His lair, the reservoir, is a labyrinth of decay and water. It will test your resolve, your endurance, and your mind.”

Her cryptic warnings did little to ease your apprehension. “And the fragment?”

“It lies at the heart of his lair,” Miranda replied. “Moreau has fused it with himself, believing it will bring him closer to me. He will not relinquish it willingly.”

You clenched your fists, frustration bubbling beneath your skin. “So you’re asking me to kill him.”

Miranda’s gaze sharpened. “I am asking you to do what is necessary.”

The coldness in her tone left no room for argument.

The path to Moreau’s reservoir was rugged and desolate, winding through craggy cliffs and overgrown marshland. The air was thick with the stench of stagnant water, and the distant croaking of frogs mingled with the rustle of reeds.

As you descended toward the reservoir, the terrain grew more treacherous. Pools of murky water dotted the path, and the ground beneath your feet was slick with mud. The spark within you pulsed faintly, a reassuring presence in the oppressive atmosphere.

The reservoir came into view—a sprawling expanse of water bordered by decaying structures and rusted machinery. The central building, a decrepit boathouse, loomed ominously in the distance.

You took a deep breath and pressed on.

The boathouse was eerily quiet, the only sounds were the creaking of wood and the gentle lapping of water against the docks. As you stepped inside, the smell of rot hit you like a wall, nearly making you gag.

The interior was a chaotic mess of broken furniture, discarded fish carcasses, and slimy residue that coated every surface. In the center of the room stood a massive tank filled with murky water, its surface rippling as something moved beneath.

“Miranda… sent you, didn’t she?”

The voice was wet and guttural, coming from the shadows. You turned, your grip tightening on your blade as a hunched figure emerged.

Salvatore Moreau was even more grotesque than you’d imagined. His misshapen body was covered in slimy, fish-like scales, and his bulbous eyes glistened with a mixture of desperation and malice.

“She always sends her favorites,” Moreau rasped, his tone dripping with bitterness. “But she doesn’t care about you. She only cares about her.”

“I’m not here to debate Miranda’s motives,” you said, forcing your voice to remain steady. “I need the fragment.”

Moreau’s laughter was a wet, choking sound. “The fragment? It’s mine! It’s part of me now! You can’t have it!”

Before you could respond, he let out a guttural roar and dove into the tank. The water churned violently, and the room trembled as the machinery around you roared to life.

The walls of the boathouse split open, revealing a network of flooded tunnels. The water rose rapidly, forcing you to wade through the waist-deep muck as the sound of Moreau’s movements echoed around you.

The spark within you flared, warning you of the danger ahead. You barely managed to dodge as Moreau burst from the water, his mutated form larger and more monstrous than before. His body was a grotesque fusion of man and fish, his mouth filled with rows of jagged teeth.

“You won’t take her away from me!” he bellowed, slamming his massive tail into the water and sending a wave crashing toward you.

You were thrown backward, the force of the wave slamming you against the wall. Gritting your teeth, you pushed yourself up and summoned the spark, releasing a burst of energy that struck Moreau square in the chest.

He roared in pain but didn’t retreat. Instead, he dove back into the water, disappearing into the depths.

The tunnels led to a massive chamber, the heart of Moreau’s lair. The water here was deeper, murkier, and filled with debris. At the center of the chamber, Moreau emerged, his body pulsating with the light of the fragment embedded in his chest.

“You can’t have it!” he screamed, his voice distorted and filled with anguish.

The battle was chaotic, the confined space making it difficult to move. Moreau attacked relentlessly, using the water to his advantage. His massive tail sent waves crashing toward you, and his acidic bile corroded everything it touched.

But you refused to back down. The spark within you burned brighter with every attack, responding to your determination. You dodged and countered, unleashing bursts of energy that chipped away at Moreau’s defenses.

Finally, with one last surge of power, you struck the fragment embedded in his chest. The light flared brightly, and Moreau let out a guttural scream as his body began to dissolve.

“You… will never understand,” he rasped, his voice fading as the light consumed him.

When the light faded, the chamber was silent once more. The fragment lay in the water, its glow soft and inviting. You reached down and picked it up, the warmth spreading through your hand as the spark within you resonated with its energy.

The fragment pulsed faintly, a sense of completion washing over you. But there was also a lingering sadness, a reminder of the life you had just taken.

///////

When you returned to the chapel, Miranda was waiting, her expression serene as she took the fragment from you.

“Moreau was weak,” she said, placing the shard alongside the others. “But his sacrifice brings us closer to our goal.”

You stared at her, your mind racing with questions. “How many more sacrifices will it take?”

Miranda’s gaze met yours, her expression unreadable. “Sacrifice is the price of salvation. Soon, you will understand.”

Her cryptic words only deepened your doubts, but for now, you had no choice but to press on.