[3393] A Hunt for the Damned

Hello again RDR. I don't remember why I drifted away from here a few years ago, but knowing me, I was probably being an asshole about something. Mods and others, please accept a bunch of crits as both payment for this submission and a blanket apology:

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Short Story Link: A Hunt for the Damned

So, the short story. It's high fantasy and meant to stand alone. I wanted to challenge myself re: worldbuilding in a short form. A few questions I have for after the read:

!Did the start-up take too long? Should I try to reach the inciting incident faster?!<

!Did the ending make any sense to anyone who is not me?!<

!Did any parts drag, or was the tension between the two characters enough to hold interest? Pacing in short stories is hard. !<

!Were there any elements of the worldbuilding that felt confusing, underdeveloped, or irrelevant?!<