Adrian sat alone in his room, the dim light of a single candle casting flickering shadows on the walls. He replayed the events of the previous night in his mind, the weight of his decision pressing heavily on him. He had confided in Alaric and Thalia, but their reassurances had done little to quell the storm raging within him. The shadow's influence was growing stronger, and the urge to follow its commands was becoming increasingly difficult to resist.
He stared at the letter he had received, its sinister words etched into his memory: "Kill another villager. Drink their blood, and your guilt will fade. You will feel the power you seek." The promise of power was tempting, but the thought of taking another innocent life filled him with dread.
Adrian's resolve wavered as the shadow's voice echoed in his mind. "You cannot escape me. Your friends cannot save you. Do it, and you will be free of this torment."
