Stepping down the old pathway Lucas took a moment to watch the building before him, a large abandoned hall on the far east side of the hamlet Titania had told him about earlier. The two had split up to cover more ground.
Pushing the heavy wooden door open, Lucas heaved. Training with Ronan was mainly about technique and stamina, his physical power hadn't really change much since he had begun learning under the butler. Making a mental note to do some kind of exercise when he had done with this business, Lucas stepped inside.
The interior was just as bad as the outside, with a damp wet smell accompanying the rotting wood, Lucas fought the urge to grimace. The resident weren't much better either, most of them covered in grime and mud, a testament the unfairness that came with the thirty evils...
Despite the dismal surroundings, Lucas pressed on, his determination unwavering. He knew that somewhere within these dilapidated walls lay the answers he sought, clues that could lead him one step closer to finding Adara and unravelling the mystery of her disappearance.
"Hey kid," called an older man sitting on a barrel, "You don't get to just walk on in here..."
He trailed off, seeing the shiny silver sword resting on Lucas's waist, a glint seemed to take shape in his eyes.
Lucas's hand instinctively went to the hilt of The Mentor's Hand, his fingers tightening around its grip. The old man's gaze lingered on the sword, a mixture of curiosity and wariness flickering across his weathered features.
"I don't mean any trouble," Lucas replied evenly, his voice carrying a calm confidence. "I'm just passing through, looking for someone. Have you seen an elf around here? Goes by the name of Adara?"
The old man's expression softened, a hint of recognition crossing his face. "Adara, you say? Can't say I've seen her, but I do know a thing or two about the folks in these parts. What's your business with her?"
Lucas hesitated, unsure of how much to reveal to a stranger. But the urgency of his quest outweighed his reservations. "She's my companion. We were traveling together, and she went missing. I'm trying to find her."
The old man nodded slowly, as if weighing Lucas's words. "Well, son, you've come to the right place. This old hall has a way of drawing in all sorts of wanderers. If anyone knows anything about your friend, it'll be the folks here. You go further in and you'll find a guy, goes by the name Otto, he can help you."
Lucas nodded gratefully, his determination renewed by the old man's words. With a nod of thanks, he ventured further into the dilapidated hall, the weight of The Mentor's Hand at his side serving as a constant reminder of his purpose.
As he navigated through the labyrinthine hallways, Lucas eventually came upon a small gathering of people gathered around a makeshift table. At the centre stood a burly man with a grizzled beard, his eyes sharp and observant.
Approaching cautiously, Lucas addressed the man. "Excuse me, are you Otto?"
The man turned to face him, his expression unreadable. "That's me. What do you want?"
"I'm looking for my friend, Adara..." Trailing off, Lucas's eyes found their way on a bone dagger that was sitting next to Otto, he recognised it immediately. It was Adara's.