The amulet glinted faintly in the dim light of the hideout as Selena turned it over in her hands. The etchings seemed to shift beneath her touch, the designs alive with latent power. Loki leaned against the doorframe, watching her with an amused expression.
"So, are you going to tell me what makes that little trinket so special?" he asked, breaking the silence.
Selena glanced up, her expression guarded. "It belonged to my mother. It's one of the few things she left behind after she disappeared."
Loki straightened, his curiosity piqued. "Disappeared?"
"Not your concern," Selena said curtly, slipping the amulet into her pocket. "You've done your part."
Loki didn't press further. He could sense that this was a topic she wasn't ready to share. Instead, he shifted the conversation. "What's next?"
Selena hesitated, then sighed. "We've stirred the pot with Garrik. It's only a matter of time before he tries to retaliate. We need to move quickly."
"Move where?" Loki asked, his grin returning. "I didn't think we had a destination."
"We do now," Selena replied. "There's a network of informants working against the Dumornay family. Their grip on Carcera has created as many enemies as allies over the years—some bitter enough to risk everything to undermine them. I've been gathering information for months, and they've uncovered something valuable—a map leading to a hidden relic. If the rumors are true, this relic could shift the balance of power, weakening their alliances and leaving their enemies emboldened."
Loki's eyes lit up. "And you think this relic will help us?"
"It's not about helping us," Selena said. "It's about destabilizing the Dumornays. If they're busy protecting their power, they won't have time to hunt us down."
Loki chuckled. "Clever."
Selena ignored his comment, pulling a rolled parchment from her bag. She spread it across the table, revealing a crude map marked with symbols and annotations. "This map," she said, her voice tinged with both reverence and caution, "was created by one of the Dumornay family's earliest allies, a cartographer and mystic who betrayed them centuries ago. He claimed to have hidden secrets that could topple the family's power, marking their locations in cryptic symbols before vanishing. The Dumornays have hunted for these artifacts for generations, but this particular relic—the mask—is the most coveted. It's said to hold the truth behind every illusion, something they fear as much as they desire." Loki leaned over her shoulder, his sharp eyes scanning the details.
"This symbol," he said, pointing to a mark near the edge of the map. "What does it mean?"
"It's a marker for an ancient crypt," Selena explained. "The relic is supposedly hidden there."
"A crypt," Loki mused. "Let me guess—haunted? Cursed? Guarded by some horrific creature?"
"All of the above," Selena said without missing a beat. "That's why I need you."
Loki smirked. "You really know how to make a man feel special."
The journey to the crypt was treacherous, taking them through the outskirts of Carcera and into the wilds beyond. The city's glow faded into the distance as they moved through dense forests and rocky terrain. Loki felt the tension in the air, the silence broken only by the rustling of leaves and the distant call of nocturnal creatures.
Selena led the way, her movements purposeful and silent. Loki followed, his sharp eyes scanning their surroundings. Despite his newfound abilities, he couldn't shake the feeling that they were being watched.
"Do you feel that?" he asked, his voice low.
"Feel what?" Selena replied, glancing back at him.
"The air—it's… off," Loki said, his tone uncharacteristically serious.
Selena frowned but said nothing, her hand drifting to the hilt of her dagger. They continued in silence until they reached the entrance to the crypt. It was carved into the side of a jagged cliff, its weathered stone doors etched with ancient runes.
Loki whistled softly. "Imposing."
"Focus," Selena said, stepping forward. She traced her fingers over the runes, muttering under her breath. The doors groaned and began to open, revealing a dark passage that seemed to stretch endlessly into the earth.
"After you," Loki said, gesturing with a mock bow.
Selena rolled her eyes and stepped inside, Loki close behind. The air grew colder as they descended, the light from their lantern casting eerie shadows on the walls. The silence was oppressive, broken only by the sound of their footsteps.
"What exactly are we looking for?" Loki asked, his voice echoing faintly.
"A mask," Selena replied. "It's said to grant the wearer the ability to see through any illusion."
"Sounds useful," Loki said. "And dangerous."
"That's why we need to find it before anyone else does," Selena said.
As they ventured deeper into the crypt, Loki felt a familiar tingling sensation—a warning. He stopped abruptly, his eyes scanning the darkness.
"We're not alone," he said quietly.
Selena froze, her dagger in hand. From the shadows, a low growl echoed through the passage.
"Whatever it is," Loki said, a sly grin forming, "I hope it likes games."