The feeling intensified, and I could feel the darkness tugging at my very essence. It was as if the void was trying to consume me, to erase my existence from this world. Panic surged through me, and I quickly realized that I had to deactivate my ability before things got out of hand.
With all my willpower, I forcefully pulled myself out of the trance. The darkness receded, and the chilling cold dissipated. My heart was pounding in my chest, and I was left breathless, shaken by the abyss.
What was that? What could have happened if I had stayed there for too long? The questions echoed in my mind, but I couldn't find any answers. It was as if the darkness had swallowed them too, leaving me with a profound sense of uncertainty and dread.
Pushing those thoughts aside, I decided it was time to sleep. I deactivated the bounded field and the chill subsided, alleviating my tense body. Before settling down, I placed the pocket watch on the table and slid my gun under my pillow.
As I closed my eyes, I tried to clear my mind of the events of the day, focusing on the sound of my own breathing. The world around me faded, and soon I drifted into sleep.
…
The next morning, I woke up early and prepared for another day of work. The events of the previous day still lingered in my mind, but I pushed them aside, focusing on the tasks ahead.
I made my way to the office with my things, the streets of Leode already bustling with activity. The city seemed to have a life of its own, each person caught up in their own stories and struggles.
Following my usual routine I picked up breakfast from the bakery and ate it on the way to The Den.
As I entered The Den, the familiar scent of coffee and ink filled the air. Darius was already there, pacing back and forth with a stack of notes in his hand. His brows furrowed.
"Good morning, Elias," Darius greeted me as I approached him. "I've got a lot to do today. I need you on lobby duty."
"Lobby duty?" I repeated, surprised. I had usually seen Jean involved in that task. I guess everyone has to do it at some point.
"Yes," Darius confirmed. "I'm expecting something to come today, and I want you to handle the front desk. Make sure everything runs smoothly."
"Understood," I replied with a nod, taking a seat at the front desk. It was a rare change of pace from my usual assignments, but I didn't mind. It meant I would have some time to catch up on the books Alexei had given me, and perhaps even do some thinking.
I nodded, accepting the task without protest. It wasn't often that I got assigned to the front desk, but I was more than capable of handling it. Besides, it would give me a chance to catch up on my reading during any downtime.
As I settled in behind the front desk, I laid out the stack of notes and papers from Alexei's material book. It was a rare opportunity to have some uninterrupted time to read and absorb the knowledge. The book was a treasure trove of information, detailing various aspects of arcane materials, rituals, and practices. Each page was filled with intricate diagrams and detailed explanations, and I found myself engrossed in the content.
About twenty minutes later a few familiar faces walked through the entrance. Fleur, Jo and Mar.
"Good morning, Elias," Fleur greeted me with a smile as she approached the front desk.
"Morning," I replied, my attention still on the book.
"We're heading out for a field investigation," Jo explained. "We'll be back by evening."
"Alright, have a safe trip," I said absentmindedly, still engrossed in the book.
Mar didn't say anything, but she gave me a nod of acknowledgment.
As they left, I finally looked up from the book, realizing they had already gone. I sighed and stretched, rubbing my eyes. It was easy to lose track of time when I was deep into my studies.
A little while later, Lucas walked in. He was dressed in his usual attire, a confident grin on his face. "Hey there, Elias," he said, leaning against the front desk. "Keeping yourself busy I see."
"Always," I replied with a smirk. "What's on the agenda for today?"
Lucas shrugged. "No concrete plans yet. Darius is still sorting things out. But you know how it goes—always something to do."
I nodded in agreement still with my eyes glued to the pages. "True that."
Lucas glanced through into the meeting room. "Where's the gang?"
"Field investigation," I replied. "They should be back later. Probably."
Lucas grinned. "Ah, the field, my second home. Well, I guess I'll find something to keep me busy in the meantime."
An hour later, a new face entered The Den. The man was of average height, dressed neatly in a suit, and wearing a short top hat. He looked around the room, his gaze finally settling on me at the front desk. He approached with purposeful strides.
"Good day," he said, his voice polite but tinged with urgency. "I am Deka, a messenger from the Leode government. I have a message from Haywood Ahern that needs to be delivered to Mr Black."
I studied the man briefly, noting the beads of sweat on his brow and the tension in his stance. There was something about him that seemed off as if he was carrying a heavy burden.
"I can pass on the message for you," I said, reaching for a piece of parchment and ink. "Please, go ahead."
"Oh no, I have it here with me," Deka replied taking a rolled-up parchment from inside his jacket. He handed it over to me, his fingers slightly trembling. "Thank you," he said, his voice almost a whisper.
"I'll make sure my boss gets this," I assured Deka, setting the parchment aside. "Is there anything else?"
Deka shook his head, his eyes darting around the room as if he was in a hurry to leave. "No, that's all. Thank you."
With a quick bow and a slight press of his top hat against his chest, Deka turned and walked away.
I watched him go, a sense of curiosity tugging at me. The parchment he had handed over was rolled up and sealed with the Leode government's emblem. The message was addressed to Darius. As I placed it on the front desk, I couldn't help but let my eyes linger on it for a moment. My curiosity was piqued, but I knew better than to pry into matters that didn't concern me.
The day passed by in a blur, with the usual comings and goings of visitors. I glanced at the sealed parchment a couple of times, but I resisted the urge to open it. There was a sense of respect for privacy and I didn't want to cross any boundaries.
As the day wore on, the sun began its descent, casting long shadows within the room. It was nearly evening when the meeting room door opened Darius came in to see me.
"Elias," he called, his voice carrying a sense of urgency.
I stood up from behind the front desk. "Darius, you finished with your work?."
He nodded, his eyes locking onto the sealed parchment on the desk. "Sure have. I've dealt with the matter at hand. How's everything been here?"
"Smooth," I replied, feeling a mixture of relief and anticipation. "The others are still out on the field."
Darius's gaze shifted from the parchment to me. "Lucas?"
"I'm sure he's keeping himself occupied," I confirmed.
Darius exhaled, his shoulders visibly relaxing. "Good. It's been quite a day."
I gestured to the parchment. "Do you want me to leave it here?"
Darius shook his head and reached for the sealed parchment. "No, I'll take it from here."
As he held the parchment in his hands, I couldn't help but let my eyes wander to the spot where the message was sealed. A few words caught my attention before Darius rolled it up again: "Pink Stanway," "spotted near the pier of Arway."
I furrowed my brows, the words intriguing but also cryptic. Who was Pink Stanway, and what did his presence near the pier signify? I was tempted to ask Darius about it, but something held me back. It wasn't my place to pry, especially when the matter seemed important.
Darius let out a sigh. "Lucas can handle the front desk for the rest of the day. I've sorted out the urgent matters."
I glanced at the clock on the wall and realized that it was already getting late. "Should I head home, then?"
Darius nodded, putting the parchment inside his jacket's inner pocket. "Yes, Elias. It's been a long day. We'll reconvene when the team is back."
With a nod of understanding, I bid Darius farewell and stepped out of The Den. The streets were quieter now as the sun dipped below the horizon, casting long shadows along the cobblestone pathways. I made my way back to Caius's place, a sense of anticipation building within me. There were so many pieces of the puzzle scattered around, and I wanted to fit them together to see the bigger picture.
Sitting at the small table in my room, I opened the materials book and started reading through the intricate diagrams and explanations. The arcane world was vast and complex, and each page revealed new depths of knowledge that I hungered to explore. I traced my fingers over the diagrams, committing them to memory as best as I could.
After a while, I shifted my attention to the language book. The unfamiliar symbols and characters seemed to dance before my eyes, challenging me to decipher their meanings. I couldn't deny the sense of accomplishment that came with learning something new, especially in a world where I still felt like an outsider.
As the hours passed, I realized how absorbed I had become in my studies. The night had fallen, shrouding the city in darkness. With a yawn, I stretched my arms and decided it was time to get some rest. As I lay in bed, my thoughts continued to swirl, a mixture of excitement and uncertainty.
In the middle of the night, I was stirred from sleep by a faint sound. My senses immediately went on high alert, and I remained still, my body tense beneath the covers. The sound of metal being uncoupled reached my ears, and I held my breath as the latch on my window was opened. I could sense a presence in the room, a weight in the air that wasn't there before.
My heart raced, and I fought the instinct to reach for the gun under my pillow. I couldn't see who was in the room, and I didn't want to make any sudden movements that might alert them to my wakefulness.
A chill spread through the room, a sensation I recognized as a bounded field, a protective barrier used by arcanists. Whoever had entered my room was skilled and cautious.
I strained to hear the person's movements, and then a whisper broke the silence. "Shit, I don't even know what I'm looking for."
The voice was familiar, but the words were hushed, making it difficult to place. My mind raced, trying to remember where I had heard that voice before.
The figure moved through the room, searching for something, their footsteps almost soundless on the wooden floor. "Yes, I've given them the lead. It's all set."
My heart pounded in my chest as I realized the person was speaking to someone. But who? There was only one person in the room with me. The words made it clear that they were involved in something—something that felt both secretive and significant.
As I lay there, I struggled to piece together the puzzle. The familiarity of the voice gnawed at me, but it remained just out of reach. Minutes felt like hours as I listened to the movements and whispers, trying to decipher the cryptic conversation.
Finally, the figure seemed to be satisfied with their search, and their footsteps retreated. The window creaked again as they exited, and the latch was carefully closed behind them.
I waited a few moments before carefully sliding out of bed. My gaze fixed on the window, I saw a shadowy figure moving away, blending into the darkness of the night. It was impossible to make out any features, but a sense of unease settled over me.
I watched until the figure disappeared around a corner, swallowed by the night. My mind raced, trying to connect the dots and make sense of what I had just witnessed.
The words they had spoken echoed in my mind, "I've given them the lead. It's all set." It was clear that this wasn't just a random intruder—they were involved in some kind of scheme, one that seemed to be orchestrated by someone else.
As my heart rate gradually returned to normal, I scanned the room to see if anything was amiss. My eyes fell on the small table where I had left the materials book, the language book, and other belongings. The golden brooch was still there, as was my watch, and the bag of materials I had purchased yesterday.
It was a strange relief to see that nothing had been taken, but that only deepened the mystery. Why had this person broken into my room? What were they searching for? And who were they working for? Were they someone I knew?
A sliver of unease settled in my chest as I contemplated the situation. Whoever they were, they had been in search of something specific—something they hadn't found in my room. The mention of a lead and a plan left more questions than answers.
With a sigh, I made my way back to bed, my mind racing with possibilities. There was something bigger at play here, something that I had unwittingly stumbled upon. As I closed my eyes, I knew that the road ahead was only going to get more complex and treacherous.