"So here's my plan... We go to this Ellius guy, smash his teeth in 'till he tells where Adara is. Rescue her from where ever it is. Go to Iron-port, and since our little mage is so grateful, she signs a full lifetime contract and works for me until.... I don't know, Death do us apart?"
"You're not getting married to her, Titania." responded Lucas, his face tense with stress and pale from the earlier fight. his thoughts still on the man he had killed. Lucas was glad he didn't get a chance to see his face, to humanise him...
With a light shiver, Lucas recalled words of wisdom from Hypnos. something along the lines of "At the end of the day, if I'm still in one piece, why worry the Riff-Raff that didn't get so lucky?"
Actually maybe the demon of dreams wasn't the best individual to draw wisdom from.
After a few more minutes of walking in silence, Lucas began to grow agitated. His once black boots were now caked in mud, their usual lustre now gone and replaced with a dirty aura... Once again his thoughts drifted to the simplicities that came with earth...
It wasn't the first time since he had reminisced. With public transport, food delivered straight to your door and so many other things that he began to feel annoyed at the complications this mystical world brought.
Not that he felt any longing to be back, after all, he didn't exactly have the best life.
"Looks like this is it..." said Titania solemnly, her usual carefree tone disappearing. Lucas understood why, the home in front of them belonged to a potential enemy.
With a false sense of bravado, Lucas hammered on the heavy oak door of the cobblestone tower. The decorated stained glass gave of an aura of nobleness, but he knew better. The man inside here had more than happily sold Adara's dagger to a group of criminals.
After a few moments of tense silence, the door creaked open, revealing a dimly lit entrance hall beyond. A figure stood in the shadows, their features obscured by the darkness.
"Who goes there?" came a voice from within, tinged with suspicion.
Lucas stepped forward, his hand resting on the hilt of The Mentor's Hand. "We're looking for Ellius," he said, his voice steady despite the uncertainty gnawing at him. "We have some questions for him."
Stepping out of the shadow, the man revealed himself. His long dark beard showed a few grey hairs, thorough demonstration that he had to be out of his "hey-day". With a guarded expression the grey-eyed man responded.
"I am Ellius," the man said, his tone quite. "What business do you have with me?"
Lucas narrowed his eyes, his grip on his sword tightening. "We know you had Adara's dagger," he said, his voice low and accusatory. "Where is she?"
Ellius's expression remained unreadable, his grey eyes betraying no hint of guilt or remorse. He tilted his head slightly, as if considering Lucas's words.
"I'm afraid you must be mistaken," Ellius replied calmly, his voice steady. "I haven't the faintest idea what you're talking about."
Lucas's frustration boiled beneath the surface, his patience wearing thin. He took a step forward, his eyes flashing with determination.
"Don't play games with me, Ellius," Lucas said, his voice dripping with contempt. "We know you sold Adara's dagger to a group of thugs. Now tell us where she is, or things are going to get very unpleasant for you."
Ellius's façade wavered for a moment, a flicker of uncertainty crossing his features. But he quickly composed himself, his gaze hardening once more.
"I assure you, I have no knowledge of any dagger or any woman named Adara," Ellius replied, his voice tinged with defiance. "And even if I did, why should I tell you anything?"
Lucas's patience snapped like a taut wire, his frustration boiling over into anger. With a swift movement, he lunged forward, grabbing Ellius by the collar of his robes and pressing him against the wall.
"Listen to me, you lying scum," Lucas hissed, his voice low and dangerous. "If you don't start talking right now, I'll make you regret it."
Ellius's eyes widened in fear as he struggled against Lucas's grip, his breath coming in ragged gasps. But Lucas held firm, his resolve unwavering as he awaited Ellius's response.
That was until a strong burst of light hit him in the side sending him rolling over.
As Lucas recoiled from the sudden burst of light, his vision swimming with stars, he could hear the sound of hurried footsteps approaching. Blinking away the dizziness, he managed to focus on the figure rushing towards them.
It was Adara.
But something was off.
Her usually warm and familiar gaze was replaced by one of confusion and concern, her emerald eyes scanning the scene with a furrowed brow. She paid no attention to Lucas or Titania, her focus solely on Ellius, whom she addressed with urgency.
"Father, are you alright? What's going on here?" Adara exclaimed, her voice laced with genuine worry.