As I nodded in agreement, a nagging thought gnawed at the edges of my mind. The Goldeen Vault of Artifacts was renowned for its formidable security. The very idea that someone could infiltrate it and make off with an artifact without detection seemed almost preposterous. I couldn't help but voice my concerns.
"But Darius, how could this have happened? Isn't the Goldeen Vault practically impenetrable?"
Darius sighed, his expression growing graver. "I've already asked myself the same question, Elias. It's perplexing, to say the least. But remember, mysteries have a way of unveiling themselves at the most inconvenient times. I'd rather investigate this swiftly now and discover there's nothing amiss than wait for it to escalate later into something far more troublesome. We can deal with this now and try to figure out how it happened later."
Before I could respond, the wooden door to The Den swung open, and Felix strode in, holding a peculiar-looking case.
"Boss," Felix said, "I've brought what you requested."
Darius took the case carefully, his fingers tracing the contours of the ornate engravings. "Thank you, Felix," he said, his voice filled with gratitude. "This should prove crucial in our investigation."
Darius cleared his throat, his attention returning to the case. He addressed the group, but his words sounded primarily directed at me. "Listen closely, everyone. I've requested this artifact from the Church as a precautionary measure. It's just a low-tier artifact but that doesn't mean it isn't dangerous. I'll be the only one using it. The drawbacks associated with it can be risky, and I can't afford to have any of you compromised."
As Darius finished speaking, he carefully opened the ornate case that Felix had brought in. Inside lay a small, intricate pair of spectacles, its lens seeming to shimmer in the soft light of The Den. Unfortunately, the glass looked cracked.
"Shattered Sight," Darius muttered. "When injected with your will and spirit, one can temporarily disrupt time in the user's field of view like a stunning effect. This is at the cost of your own sanity as it temporarily damages your vision causing cracks in your sight. Prolonged use could even cause you to lose your sanity after going blind."
He looked up at the team and closed the case. "Remember, if things go south, I'll have to use it. I'll be sure to warn you all if that time comes. Hopefully, it won't come to that."
Darius's words about the artifact stirred a whirlwind of thoughts in my mind. Artifacts were one of the most enigmatic aspects of arcanist lore, and the brief glimpse I had gotten from my time at The Den left me hungry for more knowledge. My knowledge about them was still limited though, but I had picked up a few tidbits from Alexei's work and other texts.
The Artifacts were placed as either High-tier, mid-tier, or low-tier, each with their own unique abilities and properties relating to the same pathways that we arcanists were in. It was like a hierarchy of power hidden in plain sight. Yes, the churches guarded many of them, and many other more dangerous ones were stored in The Goldeen Vault, but the thought that some could be lost or hidden sent a shiver down my spine.
The team nodded, expressions determined yet wary. Darius's words hung heavy in the air, and I could sense the unease among the team.
"Darius," Jo spoke up, "I get that we might need this artifact, but are you sure it's worth the risk?"
"I understand your concerns. Believe me, I wouldn't use this artifact unless I thought it was absolutely necessary. Time is of the essence, and this might be our best shot at resolving the situation quickly and discreetly." Darius replied.
Darius continued speaking to the entire group, his tone resolute. "Our mission tonight is to retrieve the stolen artifact and ensure it doesn't fall into the wrong hands. A few of us here have recently been to The Old Leode Theatre so we should be prepared. Yet we still must tread carefully."
As Darius outlined the mission's details, I couldn't help but feel a sense of apprehension as I tightened my grip on my pocket watch.
About an hour later, in the dimly lit preparation room of The Den, I found myself donning my combat suit. Its black fabric clung to my form, the gloves fitting snugly over my hands. My fingers brushed over the cold metal of my revolver holstered at my side, and I couldn't help but think of the fractured scene I had glimpsed in my vision.
The scene clouded in darkness under the dim lights of the Theatre. My gun aimed high at the shadowy figure. The bloody corpse as I knelt down. It all was feeling impending as if it was just around the corner.
With the last of our equipment secured, we made our way to the exit, the air charged with tension. The sun hung low in the sky, casting long shadows that stretched across the cobbled streets of Leode. The evening was approaching, and the city was beginning its transition from the bustling life of the day to the enigmatic world of the night.
The carriage was waiting just outside, its polished exterior gleaming softly in the fading light. We piled in, our breath forming misty clouds in the cool evening air.
Looking at my fellow Arcanists, gave me a sense of comfort. Fleur, Lucas, Jean, Mar, Jo, and Darius. I knew they were all capable. But I would have to give it my all too, to show I wasn't a burden. To prove myself.
As we made our way through the cobble streets, I couldn't shake the sense of déjà vu. It had been only a few days since we had ventured to the Old Leode Theatre to investigate the strange occurrences of missing people. The memories of that eerie place lingered in my mind like a haunting melody.
The carriage finally came to a stop, and we disembarked a few blocks away from the Old Leode Theatre. The building loomed ahead, its dilapidated façade even more foreboding in the dim light than the afternoon glow from last. This time, there was no pretence of a casual investigation.
The team entered cautiously, the soft creaking of the doors reverberating through the desolate space. Our footsteps echoed in the vast emptiness as we moved deeper into the theatre. The air was thick with dust, and the only light came from the faint moonlight filtering through the cracked windows.
Darius led the way, with a lantern in his hand casting eerie shadows on the peeling wallpaper. We passed by the dusty lobby and into the hall of long-abandoned seats, their faded red velvet now tattered and torn. It was as if the very essence of this place had been drained, leaving behind only a hollow shell.
As we progressed, I couldn't help but notice strange markings etched into the solid walls. They resembled deep scratches on concrete like someone had tried to claw their way out. It sent a shiver down my spine, and I couldn't suppress a sense of foreboding.
Darius spoke in hushed tones. "Stay alert, everyone. We don't know what we might encounter. Who knows what could've changed in just a few days."
We nodded in response, our senses on high alert. The theatre seemed to hold its breath as if waiting for us to uncover its long-held secrets.
Suddenly, a distorted low growl echoed through the darkness, causing us to freeze. The sound was guttural and inhuman, and it sent a shiver down my spine.
The growl grew louder, and then, from the shadows of the corner, a monstrous creature emerged. It moved slowly, prowling around the theatre as if hunting for prey. The thing that stepped into the hall was a grotesque and nightmarish abomination. Its form seeming to defy the laws of nature, a wretched perversion of flesh and bone.
Its skin, or what was left of it, was pallid, mottled with patches of sickly blacks, greys, and bruise-like purples. Deep, oozing cracks and crevices marred its surface as if the very substance of its being had decayed. Its limbs were elongated and twisted, ending in gnarled, clawed appendages that scraped against the rotting floorboards with a sinister hiss.
Its head, or what remained of it, was a nightmarish visage of horror. Its soulless eyes were hollow sockets, blacker than the abyss, and yet they seemed to gleam with a malevolent intelligence. Jagged shards of bone jutted from its skull, forming a grotesque crown of agony.
"What in the abyss is that?" Lucas exclaimed, his voice barely more than a terrified whisper.
The monstrous creature turned its head towards Lucas, its movements unnaturally fluid, its lips curling into a sinister grin. It regarded him with those empty, soulless eye sockets, and for a moment, time seemed to stand still.
Darius's voice cut through the tension like a blade. "Lucas, don't move a muscle."
Lucas froze in place, his eyes locked onto the abomination, his breaths shallow and rapid. While he held his position, Darius moved with a slow, deliberate grace, his hand inching towards the intricate case concealed within his jacket pocket.
The monster's growl intensified, a distorted cacophony that reverberated through the theatre, sending waves of pain lancing through my ears. It felt like nails scraping against the inside of my skull, and I instinctively clamped my hands over my ears and half closed my eyes in a futile attempt to block out the agony.
In the blink of an eye, the creature lunged towards Lucas, its movements a blur of unnatural speed.
Darius, his actions driven by instinct and the urgency of the moment, pushed Lucas to the side with a forceful shove. As he did so, he activated the Shattered Sight artifact, the lenses of the spectacles covering his eyes shimmering with power.
In that moment, everything changed.
The world around us distorted and fragmented, as if reality itself had shattered into a kaleidoscope of images. It was as though all inertia had come to a sudden, jarring halt, causing a stunning effect that left us suspended in time.
The monster, mid-leap, froze in mid-air, its grotesque form contorted and twisted. Its roar of aggression became completely mute. The theatre, once filled with noise, fell into an eerie and unnatural silence.
I felt weightless, as though I were floating in a void, disconnected from the passage of time. My heart pounded slowly in my chest, and I could see the expressions of daze on the faces of my comrades, their movements suspended in a surreal tableau.
But then, slowly, time began to knit itself back together. Reality, like a shattered mirror, reassembled, and the stunning effect of the artifact began to wane. It was as though we were awakening from a dream, the world around us returning to its chaotic and frenetic pace.
As the stunning effect of the artifact faded, I glanced around in a half-slow-motion state. My vision still slightly blurred from the artifact's impact.
Darius who bore the weight of the artifact was on one knee, his hands trembling as he removed the Shattered Sight spectacles. Jean looked exhausted, his gun hanging limply at his side as he gasped for breath. Lucas was deftly reloading his revolver with gleaming, golden pieces of metal, his hands steady despite the chaos. Mar, Fleur, and Jo were half stumbling around preparing for a fistfight, their expressions resolute and focused.
In that moment of chaos and uncertainty, I couldn't help but wonder about the abilities of my teammates. What unique powers did they possess? What secrets were hidden beneath their composed exteriors?
But there was no time for contemplation. The theatre had turned into a battleground, and the monstrous abomination was far from finished.
With a collective gasp, we regained our senses. And then, the moment presented itself. Still recovering from the stunning effect of the artifact it let out a guttural growl, its movements sluggish. It was vulnerable.