The path he followed led him along the banks of a majestic river, its crystalline waters slicing through the lush, verdant landscape.
Towering vegetation dappled shadows upon the ground, and the air was infused with the sweet fragrance of blooming wildflowers. It was a scene of natural beauty that never failed to captivate him, offering a stark contrast to the life in Wisbech he had left behind.
As he continued along the meandering riverbank, Marcellus couldn't help but be drawn into the serenity of the surroundings.
The tranquil sounds of chirping birds and the gentle rustling of leaves in the breeze were a soothing melody to his senses.
The world was vast and full of wonders, and Mythralis was the only place he ever lived apart from Wisbech.
Marcellus strolled through the bustling streets of Mythralis, the island city that had become his new home. It had been a week since he lived here properly and three months since he left Wicsbech and the transition was still a journey of self-discovery.
The city was a vibrant mix of cultures, with its maze-like streets teeming with people from all walks of life.
Mythralis was known for its tolerance of the eccentric, attracting both wanderers seeking refuge and adventurers in women.
As he wandered the city, Marcellus couldn't help but overhear snippets of hushed conversations and rumours that piqued his interest.
The talk of the town seemed to revolve around a growing number of individuals who had arrived on the island with a singular purpose—to hunt down the pirates responsible for stealing from The Hulk.
The Hulk, a massive ship that had mysteriously disappeared at sea, had been Marcellus's last venture with the Viper Crew before he left.
It was the one job he had been a part of, The only job he was part of. The cargo they had taken from the Hulk had been more than just goods; it had contained secrets and artefacts of immense Significance.
Marcellus had his reasons for distancing himself from the crew after that heist, but the weight of their actions still haunted him.
Intrigued by the rumours, Marcellus decided to delve deeper into the matter. He began eavesdropping using Auspex the ability of a Hallowed.
It didn't take long for him to discover that these hunters were a diverse group themselves; bounty hunters, drawn together by the promise of wealth.
Some were experienced bounty hunters, while others were amateur treasure seekers, but they all shared a common goal—to track down the Viper Crew and recover what had been taken from The Hulk.
As Marcellus listened further, he learned that the bounty hunters had uncovered leads pointing to Mythralis as the pirates' hideout. It appeared that the Viper Crew had made the city their base of operations after the heist, seeking to lay low while they explored the secrets of their ill-gotten gains.
This appears to be accurate information, it has only been a week how did they get such information on the viper privateers?
Marcellus couldn't help but feel that something Mystical was going on.
He knew that if these hunters succeeded in their mission, it could spell disaster for his ex-comrades and expose him in the process.
Am I overthinking this?
Despite his apprehensions, Marcellus was determined to seek answers to the questions that had been haunting him—questions about the dream ritual, the Fontenot Diary, and the enigmatic world of the Aspirants.
He knew that the Aulus held the key to some of these mysteries, and he was prepared to pay to get answers.
After a leisurely trek, Marcellus reached the unseemly entrances of the Aulus's abode at the edge of the city.
Knock! Knock! Knock!
He knocked lightly on the half-closed door.
"Come in, Blackeye" A man's voice sounded from inside.
An Old man dressed in a white shirt and loose pants, His deep, blue eyes sunk deep into his face and he had few wrinkles frowned when he saw Marcellus enter. "There's a while until Finn masters the sword."
"I am not here regarding Finn, Do you think I have no agency to do what I want?" Marcellus forced a smile.
Old man Aulus stroked his white beard and asked, puzzled, "Is there something wrong? I'm not so free, you disturb what little time I have left."
"Here's the situation. I have certain doubts" Klein gave his reason for coming.
Without waiting for Aulus to say something clever, he pressed "Have you heard that there are Hunters in town they seem to be looking for the viper?"
Aulus returned a curious look. "So what if they are, I told you to stay with the Governors' nephew, as long as you are working for Edwin I doubt they will trouble you"
Marcellus was unconvinced "I fear they are using some mystical means to track me, perhaps there is an evil spirit stalking me..."
Aulus thought for a minute, "as long as you don't have anything stolen in your possession you should be fine... for the most part"
Marcellus couldn't help but connect the dots based on what Aulus had mentioned earlier. As he reflected on the events that had transpired, he recalled that after the successful heist, a portion of the loot had been set aside as compensation for Captain Vane. However, the bulk of the stolen goods had been transported to the governor's residence, leaving nothing for the crew.
It struck him as odd that no single coin had been left behind.
The following day, the crew had received their share of the money from the governor, This raised suspicions in Marcellus's mind.
Could this have been a meticulous strategy to avoid any traces or tracking of their ill-gotten gains?
He pondered his situation, realizing that he possessed no possessions that could link him to the Viper Crew. The money he had received was separate from the job, and even his sword was different from the sabre he had used to slay the Wereshark.
His thoughts then turned to the elusive Fontenot Diary, a valuable item that had accompanied him on the Viper. It was something he had been eager to discuss with Aulus, hoping to unearth more information about its fate and significance in the grand scheme of things.
"Aulus," he began, his tone measured and inquisitive, "during my time on the Viper, I came into possession of a book called the Fontenot Diary. It had been a significant item the governor was searching for. I already told you about how Edwin was harassing me because of this, and I handed the book to him."
"However, now it seems the book is missing from the governor's possession, and Edwin is once again looking for it. I'm not very clear on the specifics as well, and I'm curious about the diary's significance"
With an aged face and a flowing white beard, the old man paused, lost in thought. His weary eyes were fixed on the distant void just above Marcellus' head, and he inhaled deeply. His left hand found its way to his temple, where he wearily rubbed it absently. He mumbled, "Fontenot... I feel like I should know that name, but it slips my mind..."