With a heavy sigh, Alexander extinguished the flames, lowering his hand. With his mind made up, Alexander cast a spell of invisibility, shrouding himself in shadows as he slipped out of the room. He moved quickly and quietly through the halls of the Nox manor, he had to get out of there before anyone realized he was gone.
As he reached the main entrance, he spotted Edmund, the butler, standing near the doorway, his eyes scanning the room as if he were waiting something. Alexander felt a surge of anger at the sight of him, remembering the blow that had knocked him unconscious the day before. He moved closer, still cloaked in invisibility, and with a deft movement, snatched the wallet from Edmund's pocket before slipping out of the manor undetected.
Outside, the air was crisp and cool, a stark contrast to the heavy, oppressive atmosphere of the manor. Alexander took a deep breath, feeling a sense of relief wash over him as he put some distance between himself and Liliana. He needed to return to the magic academy today, to attend tomorrow's auction with Elara and the other.
But before returning, he still had to do one more thing— the werewolf. He knew that he had to deal with the werewolf that had attacked him before, the one that had been following him ever since he left Grimsby. It was a loose end that he couldn't afford to leave hanging.
Meanwhile, Liliana sat elegantly in the grand meeting room, her posture poised and regal despite the events of the previous night. The room was dimly lit by the early morning light filtering through heavy velvet curtains, casting long shadows across the ornate furnishings and polished marble floors.
Liliana's silver hair was pinned up in a loose chignon, and she wore a deep burgundy gown that clung to her curves, accentuating her hourglass figure. She looked every bit the powerful, enigmatic woman that she was. Her eyes, however, held a spark of something more—something that hadn't been there before.
Standing next her, Edmund, her ever-faithful butler, stood with his hands clasped behind his back, his face impassive as always. He had served the Nox family for decades, and there was little that could surprise him anymore. Yet, as he looked at his master, he sensed a change in her demeanor—a hint of amusement and perhaps even a touch of something warmer.
Liliana's lips curled into a small, satisfied smile as she recalled the night's events. The unexpected turn of events with Alexander had left her intrigued, his raw power and untamed nature stirring something within her that she hadn't felt in a long time.
"Little boy, let's wait and see," she chuckled softly, her voice laced with a playful edge.
Edmund, ever perceptive, raised an eyebrow at her comment. "Madam, he is still quite vindictive," he remarked, his tone joking.
With that, her face grew serious, her amber eyes narrowing as she made her decision. "We're leaving," she said, her voice firm and resolute. "Prepare the carriage. We're going back to the imperial capital."
Edmund bowed his head, acknowledging her command. "As you wish, Madam," he replied, turning to leave the room and make the necessary preparations.
As Edmund left, Liliana stood up, smoothing out the folds of her gown as she made her way to the door. The meeting room was quiet now, the silence broken only by the soft rustle of her dress as she moved.
As she stepped out into the hallway, she caught a glimpse of herself in a gilded mirror hanging on the wall. Her reflection stared back at her, the dark circles under her eyes a testament to the night's events.
"I'll be looking forward to our next encounter, Alexander," she murmured to herself, a small smile playing at her lips. With a deep breath, she made her way down the hall, her footsteps echoing softly on the marble floor. The carriage would be ready soon, and she would be on her way back to the heart of her power, to the place where she could plot her next move.
.....
Walking through the early morning streets of Blackstone Town, Alexander made his way to the local weapons shop. The small shop was nestled between a blacksmith's forge and a leather goods store, its front display window showcasing an array of weapons and armor. He pushed open the heavy wooden door, the bell above it tinkling softly as he entered.
The shop was dimly lit, the only illumination coming from a few flickering lanterns hanging from the ceiling. The air was thick with the scent of oil and metal, and the walls were lined with racks of swords, daggers, and other weapons. A large, burly man stood behind the counter, polishing a gleaming sword with a cloth. He looked up as Alexander approached, his eyes narrowing slightly in curiosity.
"Morning," the man grunted, setting the sword aside. "What can I do for you?"
Alexander nodded in greeting, his gaze sweeping over the weapons on display. "I'm looking for a dagger," he said, his voice steady. "Something well-balanced and easy to handle."
The armorer raised an eyebrow, eyeing Alexander up and down. "Got yourself into some trouble, have you?" he asked, his tone more amused than concerned.
Alexander gave a wry smile. "You could say that. I just want to be prepared."
The armorer grunted in acknowledgment and reached beneath the counter, pulling out a tray lined with a variety of daggers. "Take your pick," he said, sliding the tray across the counter.
Alexander examined the daggers carefully, his hand hovering over each one as he considered his options. He finally settled on a sleek, steel blade with a leather-wrapped hilt that felt comfortable in his grip. The dagger was well-balanced, the blade sharp and sturdy—a weapon that could be easily concealed and quickly drawn if needed.
"I'll take this one," Alexander said, holding up the dagger for the armorer to see.
The man nodded and placed the dagger in a leather sheath. "That'll be ten dollars," he said.
Alexander handed over the money, and the armorer took it with a nod of thanks. As he turned to leave, Alexander paused, his gaze lingering on a row of small, black powder kegs lined up on a shelf behind the counter.
"What about the gunpowder?" Alexander asked, pointing to the kegs. "How much for one of those?"
The armorer glanced over his shoulder and then back at Alexander, his expression cautious. "Depends on what you're planning to do with it," he said slowly. "Gunpowder's not something we sell lightly, you know."
Alexander met his gaze evenly. "I need it to set a trap," he said honestly. "There's something dangerous following me, and I need to take care of it before it becomes a bigger problem."
The armorer studied Alexander for a moment, his eyes narrowing as if trying to gauge the truth of his words. Finally, he nodded, reaching for one of the kegs. "That'll be twenty dollars," he said, placing the keg on the counter.
Alexander paid the man and took the keg, carefully tucking it into his satchel. "Thanks," he said, turning to leave.
"Good luck," the armorer called after him. "Sounds like you're gonna need it."
Alexander nodded in acknowledgment as he stepped back out into the street, the weight of the gunpowder in his bag a reassuring presence. He knew that what he was about to do was risky, but he couldn't afford to leave any threats unchecked.
With the dagger securely sheathed at his side and the gunpowder safely stowed, Alexander made his way to the outskirts of Blackstone Town, and took a carriage back to the town of Grimsby.
The journey was uneventful, and when the carriage was about twenty minutes away from Grimsby, he asked the driver to stop, paying the 30 dollars fare with some of the money he had taken from Edmund.
He got off the carriage and made his way through the forest, following the path where he had fought the werewolf before. The forest was quiet, the only sound the rustling of leaves in the breeze and the distant call of a bird.
When he reached the old stone cabin agian, Alexander set to work, laying a line of gunpowder around the perimeter of the building, making sure it was well-hidden beneath the leaves and underbrush, and ensuring that the explosion would be powerful enough to collapse the structure and trap the werewolf inside.
He knew that the werewolf would be drawn to his scent, just as it had been before, and he planned to use that to his advantage. Even Alexander took out his dagger and made a small cut on his arm, letting the blood drip into a bowl he had brought with him. Because he knew that his blood had a strange allure to the werewolf, a magnetic pull that would draw it to the cabin like a moth to a flame.
He placed the bowl inside the cabin, positioning it near the back wall where it would be easily visible. With everything in place, Alexander cast a spell of invisibility and a second spell to mask his scent, then moved away from the cabin, hiding himself in the underbrush a short distance away. He crouched low, and slowed his heart racing as he waited for the werewolf to arrive.