Onyx Bay,
Bratovi.
Rania Chalybs
Rania, her nerves taut as piano wires, read the cryptic letter from the vampyre before retreating into her dimly lit apartment. With each item she stored away in her bags, memories threatened to overwhelm her: cherished photographs, heartfelt letters from her mother and siblings, and the raw emotions inked onto the pages of her journals. Though sadness clawed at her, she dared not falter. With a sense of urgency, she quickly ly packed her life into boxes, shrouding her past in the darkness of her rented car as she embarked on the journey to her temporary home in Kali.
In contrast to her former neighborhood's gritty and dirty streets, Kali was clean and had an aura of tranquility reserved for the elites . Nestled on the outskirts of a dense forest, Rania's new apartment, though modest in size and quaint, exuded a charming simplicity that resonated with her. As she unpacked her belongings, the quiet hum of nature enveloped her, offering a sense of peace she hadn't known in a while. With a contented sigh, she explored every nook and cranny of her new apartment, feeling a glimmer of hope stirring within her tired soul.
As she settled into her new space, Rania retrieved her journals, determined to piece together the puzzle laid out before her. Memories flooded back as she revisited the fragments of knowledge they had gathered:
1. She knew the MeaWarld Procurement Agency was responsible for capturing both humans and lower Vampyres, ghampires and they called them figurines.
2. They knew that the figurines were transferred from Bratoviae to Renduim every third Wednesday using three different ships. However the final destination is not Medellin.
3. There was an uprising happening in Medellin, how does it relate to the missing people. That was a mystery to be solved.
4. Who is isaas Bernarui?
Despite her efforts to connect the dots, huge gaps in the narrative persisted, leaving her grappling with unanswered questions and a gnawing sense of unease.
Remembering that a certain vampyre seemed to know a lot about what was going on in Regnum, Rania knew she had a lot of questions to ask. Feeling stressed out by everything that had happened, she took a shower, got some sleep, and then got ready to meet with the vampyre later.
Emerging from her three-hour nap, Rania readied herself for the rendezvous with Styx, ensuring her safety with her trusty whip in hand. To throw off any potential pursuers, she opted for a series of tram rides before arriving at her destination: No. 15, High Street. The abandoned warehouse loomed before her, its charred exterior hinting that been building had most likely been abandoned due to a fire disaster.
As she approached the looming entrance, Rania braced herself before pushing open the massive door that guarded the abandoned warehouse. The lower level showed signs of neglect and decay, but as she ventured deeper into the dimly lit space, her keen eye caught a subtle irregularity in the floor. A closer inspection unveiled a cleverly disguised handle, hidden amidst the worn floorboards. With a strong dose of curiosity, she grasped the handle, its metallic coolness sending a shiver down her spine as it yielded to her touch. A soft creak echoed through the silence as the hidden entrance revealed itself, a narrow stairway descending into the mysterious area below.
With cautious steps, Rania ventured into the underground chamber, her senses immediately assailed by the unexpected sight that greeted her. The underground space unfolded before her in a dazzling display of illumination, bathed in the warm glow of countless lamps. To her astonishment, the room was adorned with tasteful furnishings, exuding an air of sophistication and luxury. She couldn't help but marvel at the lavish decor, noting with amusement the resemblance to a bachelor pad, a stark contrast to the charred exterior of the warehouse above.
Seating herself gracefully upon one of the plush maroon velvet chairs that adorned the room, Rania settled in, her gaze sweeping over the lavish surroundings with a mixture of intrigue and anticipation. As she waited patiently for Styx's arrival, she couldn't help but wonder what secrets lay hidden within these walls.
After a considerable wait, Styx finally appeared at their designated meeting spot. "I see you've discovered our new hideaway. Impressive, isn't it?" he remarked with a faint smile. "You've truly outdone yourself this time," Rania replied, acknowledging his efforts. As Styx approached the chair where Rania sat, she couldn't suppress the flutter of nerves in her chest. With deliberate movements, he removed his jacket and draped it over the arm of her chair, their eyes locked in a charged exchange. "Feel like disappearing into the chair?" he teased, a playful glint in his eyes, but Rania remained silent, her gaze trailing after him as he made his way to the basement's compact kitchenette.
Observing the vampyre's deft movements as he retrieved an array of food items from the refrigerator and began to prepare ingredients for a meal, Rania couldn't help but voice her confusion. "I understand you have plenty of time on your hands, but I'm on a schedule here. We're just here to share information, so why the culinary detour?"
Glancing at the clock on the wall behind her, Styx noted, "It's 8 p.m., dinner time. I promise not to keep you long. I suspect you haven't had dinner yet." He continued chopping ingredients as he spoke. "I haven't eaten, I don't see why you should care, but I can easily grab something from a nearby restaurant. I'm not in the mood for mind games today, Your Grace. If you don't have any information for me, I'll be on my way."
Shaking his head disapprovingly, Styx tutted, "You seem to have overlooked that you're also obligated to share information. And no, I won't entertain your report until after we've eaten. Please, take a seat and let me handle this." Rania huffed in frustration before reluctantly settling into her chair. "How can you call yourself an agent when you behave like a petulant child?" he retorted.