The fog rolled in thick and heavy, blanketing the city streets in an almost supernatural haze. Evelyn Carter, Marcus Reed, and Claire Wren stood at the edge of the capital city's old quarter, where narrow, cobbled streets twisted into a labyrinth of ancient buildings and forgotten alleys. The air was cold, biting at their skin, but it was more than just the weather that sent shivers down their spines. Something darker lurked in the shadows, something they couldn't quite see but could feel closing in around them.
The discovery of the vanishing knowledge had left them shaken, but their mission to seal The Source had been a success. The Source was locked away, its power hidden from the world, and the ancient texts that held the dangerous knowledge were fading as if they had never existed. Yet, despite their hard-earned victory, the world didn't feel safer. In fact, the growing darkness was suffocating.
"Do you think Lucian is still out there?" Claire asked, her voice barely above a whisper as they moved deeper into the fog-shrouded streets.
Evelyn's heart pounded at the mention of his name. Lucian, their former ally turned betrayer, had been defeated when they sealed The Source, but he wasn't gone. He had escaped into the shadows, licking his wounds and waiting for his next move. And Evelyn knew he wouldn't stay hidden for long.
"He's out there," Marcus said grimly, his eyes scanning their surroundings as if expecting Lucian to appear at any moment. "We haven't seen the last of him."
Evelyn nodded in agreement. Lucian was relentless. His obsession with power, with controlling The Source, had driven him to betray them and ally himself with the Arcane Order. Even now, with The Source sealed, she had no doubt that he was scheming, searching for a new way to take control.
As they rounded a corner, the fog parted slightly, revealing a figure standing at the far end of the street. The figure was tall and cloaked in shadow, their face obscured by a hood. The air around them seemed to ripple with dark energy, a heavy, oppressive aura that sent a chill down Evelyn's spine.
"That's him," Marcus growled, his hand instinctively reaching for the hilt of his sword.
Evelyn's breath caught in her throat as the figure stepped forward, their movements slow and deliberate. But as they drew closer, Evelyn realized that this wasn't Lucian. The energy surrounding this figure was different, darker—like a black hole that swallowed the light around it.
The figure stopped a few paces away, their face still hidden in the depths of the hood. "I've been waiting for you," they said, their voice a low, rasping whisper that seemed to echo through the fog.
"Who are you?" Evelyn demanded, her heart racing. "What do you want?"
The figure chuckled, a sound that sent shivers down Evelyn's spine. "Who I am is of no importance. What I want, however, is something you may be able to help with."
Marcus stepped forward, his eyes narrowed in suspicion. "We're not interested in making deals with shadowy figures. If you've come here to threaten us, you'll regret it."
The figure remained unmoved, their tone calm and measured. "Threats? No, no. I'm not here to threaten. I'm here to offer you a choice."
Evelyn's pulse quickened. She didn't like the way this figure spoke, as if they held all the cards. "What kind of choice?"
The figure raised a hand, and for a brief moment, the fog around them seemed to shift and swirl in response to their movements. "You've sealed The Source, locked it away where no one can reach it. Admirable, perhaps, but ultimately futile."
Evelyn's blood ran cold. How did this figure know about The Source?
"Who are you?" Claire asked, stepping forward, her voice trembling slightly. "How do you know about The Source?"
The figure chuckled again, this time a little louder. "I know much more than you realize, Claire Wren. I know that the knowledge of The Source is fading from the world, just as it was meant to. But I also know that not everything is lost."
Evelyn's heart pounded in her chest as she realized what the figure was hinting at. They knew something about The Source—something that hadn't disappeared with the fading texts. "What do you mean?" she asked, her voice filled with tension. "What hasn't been lost?"
The figure tilted their head slightly, as if considering their next words carefully. "There is power left in the world—power that even The Source cannot erase. And there are those who seek to control it, just as you once sought to seal it away."
Marcus's hand tightened on the hilt of his sword. "We're done with the games. If you know something, say it."
The figure lowered their hood, revealing a face that was both familiar and unnerving. It was a woman, her features sharp and angular, her eyes gleaming with a cold, calculating intelligence. Evelyn had never seen her before, but there was something about her that felt deeply unsettling.
"My name," the woman said, her voice now smooth and steady, "is Selene. And I am here because we share a common enemy."
Evelyn's breath caught in her throat. "What enemy?"
"Lucian," Selene replied, her eyes narrowing. "He and I… have unfinished business."