Part 1
The lamplight flickered, casting dancing shadows across the stone walls of my workshop. The air was thick with the smell of sulfur and dried herbs, mingled with the faint aroma of ancient scrolls. Only the sound of my chisel striking enchanted metal broke the silence. The artifact in my hands glowed with a faint blue aura, promising to be a masterpiece.
As I worked, my thoughts wandered.
"How many eras have I lived through?" I murmured to myself, squinting against the glare. "How many kingdoms have risen and fallen, forgotten by the sands of time? And here I am, still standing. Still creating. Still... alone. Well, almost alone."
I glanced toward the corner, where a small shelf was crowded with rudimentary toys—tiny wooden carvings, cloth dolls, and a few improvised magical trinkets. My apprentice, Midnight, a six-year-old luphio, has been my only companion for years. I saved him as a pup, left to die in a forest clearing. Since then, I've done my best to raise him, balancing my role as his master and… father. If I can even use that word.
But there's something about him I can't ignore. Something that stirs buried memories. His rare, infectious laughter, his boundless curiosity, the way he looks at the world as if everything is a miracle.
"Master?" I heard his voice in my mind, like an echo from the day before. He always used that term directly, without the formality of "Papa Elias" or "Sir."
"What's beyond the forest? Have you ever been out there?"
I didn't know how to respond. How could I explain to him that the world outside was more dangerous than fascinating? That beyond the barrier were beings who wouldn't hesitate to destroy him simply because he was different? Because he was a luphio? I merely shook my head and muttered something about him not being ready. He lowered his eyes and said no more. Now I realize I might have sown the seeds of his dissatisfaction.
"Curiosity… The most dangerous trait, yet the most essential." I sighed. "Is that what doomed me to this endless existence? My insatiable desire to know the unknown? Or was it a blessing disguised as a curse? I… will never know."
The rune's glow finally reached its peak. Carving the final strokes, I completed the enchantment with a circular motion and a few words of power. The metal shone brilliantly for a moment before settling into a soft glow, signaling that the work was done.
"Perfect." I murmured, placing the artifact on a silk cushion atop the table. "Now I can… Wait, is it dinner time already? Strange, I didn't hear Mid knocking on the door this time, not even that creature pestering me."
I wiped my hands on a cloth and descended the stairs leading to the kitchen. The silence in the house was unusual. At this hour, Midnight would usually be telling some story to his annoying slime ball while clumsily trying to help prepare dinner.
"Midnight?" I called, but there was no answer.
My heart sank when I found the room empty. But then, I noticed a carefully folded piece of paper next to a jug on the table. Picking up the note, I felt an unsettling sensation even before I read the words.
"Master Elias, I'm heading to the village. I want to see what it's like. I want to try and find that felles boy who helped me last month when we escaped the storm. He was very kind to me, even knowing I was a stranger in the forest. I wanted to thank him. Don't worry, I'll be back before sunset.
-Midnight."
The words screamed at me. I rushed out the door and looked up at the sky, already cloaked in darkness. Sunset had passed long ago.
"Damn it." I growled, throwing the note to the ground. My heart pounded as a whirlwind of possibilities flooded my mind. Midnight was out there, beyond the safety of the barrier, with no concept of the dangers the world could hold. He didn't know the village, peaceful in appearance, was a haven for bandits, mercenaries and hidden perils.
"Idiot, Curious, Stubborn." I muttered, grabbing my staff and pulling on my heavy cloak. "I won't lose anyone else. Midnight, I'm coming for you, you curious little brat."
The forest at night had never been my ally, but this time, it felt even more menacing. The wind howled through the trees, carrying the scent of damp earth and danger. Shadows seemed to grow, stretching like claws ready to ensnare me. And yet, I knew nothing would stop me from finding him.
Part 2
Two hours had passed. The trees began to thin, and I finally reached the edge of the forest. In the distance, the village glowed with a profusion of lights, flickering like fireflies dancing in the darkness. There was something captivating about the sight, but also unsettling.
"Impressive." I murmured, leaning on my staff as I surveyed the scene. "It hasn't been that many years, and it's already spreading like wildfire. Growing too fast… faster than it should."
New houses, towers that hadn't been there before, and a freshly built wall stood out. It was strange how my own kind always found ways to advance, even under the most adverse conditions. But that haste often came with problems.
Taking a deep breath, I resumed my path. The glow of the lights was soon replaced by the towering village walls rising before me. Guards patrolled the main gate, their silhouettes outlined by torchlight.
As I approached, one of the guards raised his hand, signaling me to stop. He was young, perhaps in his twenties, clad in simple yet worn armor, with a wary expression.
"Who are you?" he asked, squinting as he scrutinized me. "I've never seen you here before."
"And you won't often." I replied calmly. "I'm only here to retrieve something that belongs to me."
The guard narrowed his eyes. "Something that belongs to you? What exactly?"
"My apprentice." I said firmly, meeting his gaze. "A six-year-old luphio. He came here earlier, but he hasn't returned home."
The guards exchanged meaningful glances, though they tried to mask their unease with feigned confusion.
"Oh, yes, we haven't seen anyone like that around here." said the younger guard, averting his eyes. "Right, Haran?"
The other, more robust and hardened in appearance, nodded slowly. "Yeah, no one matching that description came through here."
I narrowed my eyes, catching the hesitation in their voices and the greedy glint in their eyes. Past experiences had taught me to recognize this kind of behavior. They knew something, and it wouldn't take long for their true intentions to surface.
"But," Haran began, crossing his arms and smirking, "maybe we can help you out… if you're willing to pay for our time and effort."
"That's right." added the younger one, now more confident.
"You see, information comes at a price around here. After all, we risk our lives guarding this place from creatures and wild monsters. Isn't it fair to expect a little compensation?"
I sighed, already tired of the exchange. "Do you really think it's a good idea to try extorting me?"
Haran stepped forward, apparently unfazed by my tone.
"Hey, relax. All we're saying is our time costs something. You don't seem like you're here to cause trouble. How about we make things easy for everyone, huh?
He placed a heavy hand on my shoulder, leaning in as if to whisper something. But before he could complete the motion, an intense and sudden light erupted.
In an instant, his arm was severed, flying through the air and landing a few meters away. He let out a scream of pain, collapsing to his knees as he clutched the bloody stump.
The younger guard stepped back, his eyes wide with shock, frozen in place. I held my staff firmly, my voice cold and controlled.
"I warned you." I said calmly, my presence now shrouded in an aura of menace. "You made two mistakes. First, you underestimated who I am. Second, you tried to take advantage of me."
Haran continued to scream, but I ignored him, turning my attention to the other guard.
The younger one tried to steady himself, assuming a defensive stance, though his voice trembled despite his attempt at confidence.
"You bastard! Dare to attack again, and I'll sound the alarm! You'll have to face the entire village guard!"
He tried to appear resolute, but his posture betrayed his hesitation. His eyes darted briefly to Haran's body, searching for any sign that his companion might rise to support him, even with one arm. Instead, he was met with utter silence.
Haran lay motionless on the ground. His eyes were glazed over, life having already left him. On the arm that had clutched his stump, a purple mark spread like sinister roots, a clear sign of the deadly spell that had consumed him. The young guard swallowed hard, and fear began to corrupt his expression.
"He… he's dead…" the guard stammered, his voice faltering. He took a hesitant step back, sweat beading on his forehead. "What… what did you do to him?"
"I warned you." I said, stepping forward. "Now, tell me where the boy is. This is your last chance."
The young guard, now drenched in sweat, began to stutter but finally revealed what he knew.
"The… the luphio brat… he said he was looking for a felles boy with a skáld as his familiar. We knew who he meant, so we let him through. But…" He hesitated, looking at the ground. "But we… we sold the information about him to a mercenary. It was just a rare species cub! We didn't think it would… be a problem."
"A mercenary?" I asked, my voice sharp as a blade. "Who?"
"We don't know!" the guard exclaimed, raising his hands in surrender. "He's famous, but no one knows his real name. He works with… difficult contracts. That's all I know, I swear!"
The confession hung in the air like a cold breath. Each word echoed in my mind as I weighed my next steps. Midnight was in dangerous hands, and time was not a generous ally.
"A famous mercenary... You don't know his name, but you were willing to sell him for a few coins?" I murmured, my voice sharp as a blade. "You're more foolish than I imagined."
The remaining guard took another step back. Sweat streamed down his face, mixing with the dust of his work. "I didn't know he was so important, I swear! It was Haran who made the deal. I… I just followed orders."
"Followed orders?" I took a step forward, closing the gap between us. "That's the pathetic excuse you'll use to justify putting a cub in danger?" My voice was calm, but there was an intent in it that made the guard tremble.
He choked on his words, unable to respond. His eyes, once filled with arrogance, now reflected nothing but fear and regret. The sound of crickets and distant footsteps was the only noise for a few moments. Then, the guard murmured, barely audible:
"There's a place... an old warehouse near the center of the village. One of the mercenary's contacts usually uses it as a meeting point to negotiate. He might be there."
I raised my staff, making the pale light surrounding it intensify for a moment. "If this information is false, you'll wish your companion had taken you along." Then, I lowered the staff and turned away without waiting for a response.
As I walked away, I could feel the guard's gaze on my back. He likely thought he had escaped a worse fate. However, the reality was quite different. As I passed him, I whispered a chant so low that I could barely hear my own voice. The words were filled with intent, and his fate was sealed in that instant.
After a few more steps into the village, I heard a scream. The sound of flesh burning and the smell of smoke filled the air for a brief moment before everything fell silent again. I turned my head slightly, just enough to see the other guards frozen in place, staring at what was left of their comrade: a pile of ashes scattered on the ground.
"Worms," I murmured to myself as I continued walking. "By trying to extort me, they dug their own graves."
Part 3
Crossing the gate and entering the village felt strange. The streets were surprisingly busy for that time of night. Creatures of various races came and went, some carrying goods, others simply drinking in taverns along the main road. The sound of laughter and arguments created a disturbing contrast.
"A Felles cub with a skáld as a familiar." I thought as I walked through the streets. "This felles boy must be important enough to catch Midnight's attention. But why exactly?" I had thought it was just a delirium of his, due to the fever he had back then, but it seemed he was telling the truth.
Walking along the main road, I decided I needed more information about the warehouse. My gaze swept over the crowd, looking for someone approachable. After a few failed attempts to speak to the villagers, a young merchant who was closing his tent finally responded. He seemed hesitant, but his tone was sincere.
"An old warehouse? Hmm, I think I know where it is," he said, folding a cloth and placing it on top of a pile of others. "But it's not a place I'd recommend visiting. It's in a remote part of the village, near the brothels. Follow this main road until you reach the last houses before the village limit. You'll see the warehouse. But be careful... it's not a safe place."
I thanked him with a small black coin and continued on my way. The young man's words echoed in my mind.
A remote and dangerous part? That made sense, considering the type of individuals I was dealing with. I gripped the staff tighter, feeling the energy flow through it as I prepared for what was to come.
Arriving at the Warehouse
When I finally spotted the warehouse, the surrounding area matched the merchant's description perfectly. Timeworn walls and broken windows indicated that the place wasn't frequented by ordinary folk. The smell of dampness and oxidized metal permeated the air, and the distant sound of laughter and music from the brothels echoed in the background.
I approached cautiously, inspecting the surroundings for any signs of movement or tracks. The dirt floor was marked with confused footprints, but none seemed recent. The warehouse door was ajar, creaking slightly with the breeze. I entered, letting my senses pick up on any presence.
Nothing—just silence and the scent of old wood. I scanned the environment, but there were no clear signs that anyone had used the place recently. Frustrated, I stepped back out onto the narrow street.
As I pondered my next move, an unexpected noise caught my attention. It wasn't the sound of footsteps or a fight, but muffled laughter and what seemed to be... murmurs. I hid behind a stack of boxes and looked in the direction the sounds were coming from.
There, among the shadows cast by a flickering torch, I saw a couple. The female was an exotic-looking courtesan, dressed in colorful garments and adorned with jewelry that jingled softly as she moved. Her dark eyes held a cunning gleam, and her lips were curved in a satisfied smile. The male was entirely different. Tall and burly, his face was marked with scars, and his toothless grin revealed a rough demeanor. He wore simple warrior's attire, but a club tucked into his belt made it clear he was far from harmless.
"Ah, my dear." he said, sliding his hand around the courtesan's waist. "The cash the boss got us was too good to be true. Those idiot guards didn't even know the goldmine they had in their hands."
"And what did you do with the money, my love?" she asked, her voice dripping with feigned sweetness as she caressed his chest.
"Ah, just bought the good stuff." the man replied with a proud smile. "Some of it went to booze, of course. But the rest... Well, the boss always says we need to save a bit for emergencies, doesn't he?" He said this, hinting that she was such an emergency.
"And this mysterious boss." she asked, tilting her head to study him. "Does he pay that well? It seems like you've been earning more than you should, big guy."
The man laughed, a rough and unpleasant sound. "Ah, he's smart. Knows exactly where to invest. And that boy... He must be worth more than anything I've ever seen for us to make so much. I still don't know why he's so important, but it's not my job to ask questions."
"I hope all that gold is worth it, big guy." murmured the courtesan, squeezing his arm to pull him closer to her. "Because if he finds out you've been spending more than you should..."
"He won't find out." the fellow interrupted, laughing again. "I know exactly how to play this game. Now, come here. We've got better things to do than talk about the boss."
I averted my gaze, trying to ignore the disgust that scene stirred in me. However, the man kept talking, and his next words made me freeze.
"Ah, and worse, I saw the brat with the boss's younger brother earlier. They were near the arena when I went to collect my payment. I thought they'd stay there, but just as I was about to leave, I saw the boss following the kid. They were heading toward the slums. You know, that place is a mess, and it's often deserted at night—a perfect spot to ambush someone."
The couple in the alley remained engrossed in their interactions. The man chuckled softly, murmuring something as he pulled the courtesan closer. She responded with a syrupy laugh, and soon the two were lost in their embrace, completely oblivious. I took advantage of their distraction to slip away—the information I had gathered was enough for now.
I left the alley quickly, heading toward the slums.
Part 4
As I approached, the streets grew darker and narrower. The buildings were rudimentary, many made of old wood and cracked bricks, forming a chaotic maze of alleyways. The air was thick with the smell of mold, garbage, and smoke from makeshift fires. Few people roamed the area, and those I saw kept their faces covered or avoided eye contact.
The slums radiated an oppressive atmosphere, as if the entire place was steeped in despair and danger. As I walked, every sound of footsteps or whispered voice seemed amplified. I passed by ruined houses and walls scarred by past battles, yet I found no clear signs.
After several minutes of fruitless searching, I began to doubt the words of the "Big Guy." Maybe he had lied or left out something important. I was already preparing to return and confront him directly when something unusual caught my eye. The soft glow of the moon, filtering through the uneven rooftops, illuminated a piece of fabric caught on an iron grate in a steep alley. Its color and texture were unmistakable: it belonged to Midnight.
I quickened my pace, grabbing the fabric and inspecting it carefully. Not far from there, the signs of a struggle were unmistakable. The ground was cracked and stained with dried blood, as if something heavy had crashed into it. Fragments of wood and stone were scattered everywhere. The surrounding walls bore scorch marks and deep gashes. It was clear that an intense battle had taken place.
I cautiously followed the trail, examining every detail of the destroyed path. My concern grew with each step—it was evident that Mid had fought hard.
Stopping at the point where the signs of combat seemed most concentrated, I began preparing a magical tracking formation. I traced a circle on the ground with my staff, drawing runic symbols around it and infusing them with my energy. The formation glowed faintly, pulsing like a living heart as it picked up the lingering traces of mana in the area.
The traces were chaotic but clear. The mercenary had used a powerful spell to subdue him, and Mid had fought back with everything he had. However, the difference in experience was apparent. Within minutes, the boy had been overpowered and knocked out. The residual energy revealed that the mercenary was an incredibly skilled fighter, relying heavily on brute strength to crush his victim's resistance. He used his mana sparingly and with calculated precision—each spell or strike seemed designed to maximize the boy's pain.
The malice behind his actions was undeniable, and it only fueled my anger further.
I clenched my teeth as the formation completed its analysis. The final glow pointed in the direction the mercenary had gone. I took a deep breath, suppressing the growing fury within me.
"That bastard will pay for what he's done," I muttered, letting my intent manifest in the aura now radiating around my body. I adjusted my staff, erasing the remnants of the formation to leave no traces behind, and set off in the indicated direction. If necessary, I would tear through anything and anyone that stood between me and Midnight. This mercenary would learn the true meaning of suffering before meeting his end.