Myra ran frantically to Brady's Inn, her heart pounding in her chest. Bursting through the door, she found Lucius sitting in his usual spot, a dark aura surrounding him.
"Lucius," she gasped, out of breath. "They took it. The Outcasts... they took the relic."
Lucius's eyes narrowed, his expression turning deadly. "What did you say?"
"They caught me by surprise," she stammered, tears welling up in her eyes. "I couldn't face four of them alone."
Rage flared in Lucius's eyes, and he stood up abruptly, towering over her. "Do you have any idea what you've done?" he roared. "That relic was a gift for the Morning Star, compensation for the failure at the Rhea Mansion."
Before she could react, Lucius backhanded her, sending her sprawling to the ground. He didn't stop there. He brutally beat her, each blow fueled by his anger. Myra's cries for mercy echoed through the inn, but he was relentless.
