Tragedy of Divinity

Chapter 20: Beneath the Surface

The next morning dawned quietly over Jill. The city streets were serene, bathed in soft morning light. Seraphine stood by the inn's lone window, watching the city stir to life. She sipped the bitter tea Quintin had bought from the market—an unspoken peace offering after her near argument with Lucian the night before.

Her gaze flickered to the people below. A baker kneaded dough through an open shop window; a seamstress adjusted a dress on a mannequin by her door; a group of children chased each other through the square. The normalcy was almost unnerving.

For centuries, Seraphine had survived the chaos of the Nexus. She'd seen cities rise and fall, beings torn apart by rifts, and the relentless instability of a world that twisted and reshaped itself with little warning. But Jill was… different. Stable. Ordered. Too good to be true.

Quintin entered the room, hair still damp from a quick rinse. He stretched, his cheerful demeanor a sharp contrast to her stillness. "Morning! Did you sleep at all? Or did you spend the night glaring at Lucian's back again?"

"I don't glare," Seraphine replied flatly, taking another sip of tea.

He smirked. "Sure. It was more of a disapproving stare, I guess."

Seraphine rolled her eyes and turned away from the window. "Lucian knows more than he lets on. He always does. I just don't trust him."

"Join the club," Quintin said with a shrug, pulling on his boots. "But I don't think he's out to hurt us. If anything, he's just… tired."

Seraphine glanced at him, her expression softening slightly. Quintin had a way of simplifying things, of seeing the best in people. It was both his greatest strength and his most glaring weakness. "Tired people can still be dangerous."

Downstairs, they found Lucian waiting for them, as stoic as ever. He leaned against the wall near the door, arms crossed, his gaze distant. When they approached, he straightened and wordlessly pushed the door open, stepping outside into the cool morning air.

"So, what's the plan?" Quintin asked, jogging to keep up with Lucian's long strides.

Lucian glanced over his shoulder, his expression unreadable. "You wanted to explore. I'll make sure you don't get yourselves killed."

Quintin shot Seraphine a grin. "See? He cares."

Seraphine gave a faint snort, but didn't comment.

The trio made their way through the city, Lucian leading at a brisk pace while Quintin and Seraphine trailed behind. As they walked, Seraphine took in the details she'd missed the day before: the way the stone streets were worn smooth from centuries of footsteps, the faint hum of energy that seemed to emanate from the clocktower, the way the people moved with a sense of purpose that bordered on rehearsed.

It was peaceful, yes, but something about it felt… off.

They passed a flower vendor arranging bouquets of strange, iridescent blooms. The woman smiled brightly at them, her eyes lingering on Seraphine. "You're new here," she said, her voice warm and lilting.

Seraphine nodded cautiously. "Just passing through."

The vendor's smile didn't falter, but there was a flicker of something in her gaze—recognition, perhaps? "Well, welcome to Jill. Enjoy the peace while it lasts."

Before Seraphine could respond, Lucian stepped in, his tone clipped. "We're not here for small talk. Move along."

The vendor's smile turned brittle, but she didn't argue. As they walked away, Seraphine shot Lucian a glare. "Was that necessary?"

"Trust me," Lucian said without looking at her. "The less attention we draw, the better."

They spent most of the day wandering through the city's various districts. Quintin was fascinated by the architecture and culture, constantly stopping to ask questions or admire something. Seraphine, while quieter, absorbed the details with a practiced eye, her years in the Nexus making her naturally observant.

Lucian, true to his word, offered no commentary and showed no interest in their exploration. He walked a few paces ahead, his posture tense, his gaze scanning the crowd.

It wasn't until they reached the outer edge of the city—a quiet, tree-lined street far from the bustling market—that Lucian finally spoke.

"This place isn't what it seems," he said abruptly, his voice low.

Seraphine and Quintin exchanged a glance.

"What do you mean?" Seraphine asked, her tone cautious.

Lucian stopped walking and turned to face them. For the first time, there was a crack in his usual cold demeanor—a flicker of unease in his dark eyes. "Jill isn't just peaceful. It's controlled. Perfectly, meticulously controlled. That's not natural."

Quintin frowned. "Controlled by who?"

Lucian hesitated, his jaw tightening. "I don't know. But I've been here long enough to know that the peace you see is a facade. People disappear. Events repeat themselves. It's like the city is… alive. Watching."

Seraphine studied him, her expression unreadable. "And you stayed here anyway?"

"I didn't have a choice," Lucian said simply. "But if you're smart, you'll leave before you get too comfortable."

Quintin looked between them, his usual cheer dimmed by the weight of Lucian's words. "So what do we do?"

"We keep moving," Seraphine said firmly. "Explore, learn, but don't settle. If there's something off about this place, we'll figure it out."

Lucian nodded, a faint hint of approval in his gaze. "Good. Just don't let your guard down. This city is like the rest of the Nexus—dangerous in its own way."

As they continued down the street, Seraphine couldn't shake the feeling that Lucian was right. Jill might have been a haven in the chaos of the Nexus, but no place in this world was truly safe. And the longer they stayed, the more they risked becoming entangled in whatever forces controlled it.

She glanced at Lucian, his figure stoic and unyielding, and then at Quintin, who still carried a spark of naive optimism despite everything they'd been through. Together, they were an odd trio, bound by circumstance and necessity.

And as Seraphine watched the shadows lengthen over the city, she couldn't help but wonder how much longer their fragile alliance would last.

End of chapter 20.