The morning sun filtered through the curtains, casting a warm glow over Adonis as he slowly stirred awake. It was later than usual, but he didn't mind—today was the weekend, a rare day off. For the first time in a while, there were no missions, no council meetings, and no immediate danger to deal with. A sense of calm settled over him as he lay in bed for a few more minutes, enjoying the quiet.
After finally getting up, Adonis made his way to the kitchen. He decided to treat himself to a proper breakfast, something hearty and satisfying. As he cracked eggs into a pan and put bread in the toaster, his mind wandered back to the article he'd published. The second one had just come out yesterday, and the next would be tomorrow. That gave him a brief reprieve, though he knew the tension in the city was still building. The streets were simmering with unrest, but for now, he could focus on something else—something far more personal.
With breakfast ready, he sat down with the newspaper, scanning the headlines as he ate. It was mostly the usual—political updates, market reports, and some minor gossip. Nothing about the uprising yet, but that would come in time. For now, he had other things to think about.
The Heart of Nox.
Adonis' mind snapped to attention as he recalled the strange object from the fragments of the original Adonis' memories. It was an artifact, small and seemingly insignificant, but it held great power. The Heart of Nox was shaped like a coin, but not just any coin—it was ancient, from a time long before credits and rings replaced physical currency. It was said to be tied to the Lost Continent, a place shrouded in mystery and myth, now known only as a distant memory in the minds of the people of this world.
The original Adonis had been close to finding it, or so it seemed. Adonis could feel the pieces of the puzzle forming in his mind, but the clues were scattered, buried in the depths of memories he hadn't fully unlocked. Still, there was one thing he was certain of: the original had hidden the Heart of Nox somewhere. The question was—where?
As he finished his meal, Adonis stood and paced the room, trying to recall more from the fragments of the original's thoughts. The original had been cunning, always playing mind games, always thinking several steps ahead. It was likely that the Heart of Nox was hidden in a place that only made sense once you understood the psychology behind it.
Adonis quickly dressed, leaving his apartment with a sense of purpose. He spent the entire morning and afternoon scouring places he thought the original Adonis might have hidden the artifact. He searched the local landmarks, small shops, and even some shady back alleys that had once been frequented by the original. Each location seemed promising at first, but each one turned out to be a dead end.
By midday, Adonis found himself standing in front of a small café, his stomach rumbling. He had been searching for hours with no luck. After a quick meal and a moment to gather his thoughts, he realized something: the original Adonis wouldn't have hidden something so important in an obvious location. He was playing a game of reverse psychology, trying to throw off anyone who might come looking.
Think like him, Adonis told himself. Where would he hide something if he wanted to make sure no one found it?
The answer struck him suddenly. He paid for his meal and stepped outside, walking through the crowded streets, lost in thought. He needed to think like a man who loved riddles, who thrived on deception. The original had been someone who took great pride in outsmarting others, someone who hid things in plain sight.
After a while, Adonis found himself standing in the bustling center of the city. The heart of this metropolis was a mix of luxury shops, towering apartment buildings, and important businesses. But in the very center of it all was a large, ornate fountain. The water sparkled in the afternoon sunlight, a peaceful and unassuming sight in the middle of the busy city.
Adonis stared at the fountain, remembering something he had read in a history book. Every major city in the Empire had a fountain or a similar structure in the center of its city. These fountains weren't just for decoration; they were symbols of the city's wealth and power, monuments to the Empire's greatness.
The fountain… could it be? Adonis thought to himself. It made sense. The fountain was something everyone saw, but no one really paid attention to. It was right in the open, yet no one would ever suspect it could be hiding something so important.
The more Adonis thought about it, the more certain he became. The original Adonis had been clever, but Adonis was beginning to understand his game. If the Heart of Nox was anywhere, it had to be near the fountain—maybe even inside it.
Adonis' heart raced as he stood there, the pieces of the puzzle finally clicking into place. He had an idea of where the Heart might be hidden, but now came the difficult part—getting it.
With a new sense of purpose, Adonis turned away from the fountain, blending into the crowd as he made his way back to his apartment. The city's heartbeat pulsed around him, unaware that he was on the verge of uncovering a secret long buried by time.
As he walked, Adonis' mind raced, formulating a plan. The Heart of Nox was within reach. Now, it was only a matter of finding the right moment to seize it.
And when he did, everything would change.