The small hidden room beneath the tavern flickered with the dim light of an oil lantern. Maps, old and tattered, were spread across a wooden table, their inked lines depicting the surrounding regions and strongholds of demonic activity. Alucard stared at the layout, his mind buzzing with thoughts of strategy and the battles that lay ahead. The reality of the fight against the dark sorcerer and his forces felt more tangible than ever.
"We're not the only hunters left," Jasper said, tracing his finger along the map. "But many of us have scattered. After Eldergrove fell, hope did too. Some left to the mountains; others went underground."
Alucard leaned in closer, his eyes narrowing as he focused on the names of distant places. "Do you know where they went? How do we find them?"
"Some I can track down, but not all," Jasper admitted, his voice roughened by years of hardship. "Many have lost faith, and some…" He trailed off, his gaze hardening. "Some have been taken."
"Taken? By who?" Alucard asked, a knot forming in his stomach.
"The sorcerer's forces," Seraphina answered quietly. "They don't just kill hunters. They corrupt them, turn them into something… different."
A chill ran down Alucard's spine. The idea of hunters, once protectors of the realm, being twisted into tools of the enemy was horrifying. "How do we stop that?"
"We fight," Jasper said simply. "And we rescue those we can before it's too late."
The room fell into silence, thick with the weight of their task. Alucard felt the growing pressure of the responsibility he had taken on. He had set out to avenge his parents, but now, the stakes were far greater. If they failed to rally the hunters and stop the dark sorcerer, the entire realm could fall.
After a moment, Seraphina broke the silence. "There's one hunter we need to find first. His name is Garret. He was once the leader of the hunter clans in the southern regions. If anyone can bring the others together, it's him."
Jasper nodded in agreement. "Garret was a legend. But after the fall of Eldergrove, he disappeared."
"Do you know where he might be?" Alucard asked, eager to move forward.
"Rumor has it he's hiding in the Blackwood Forest, near the mountains," Seraphina said, her finger pointing to a dark, foreboding area on the map. "It's dangerous territory—filled with creatures that even the sorcerer fears."
"The Blackwood…" Alucard murmured, staring at the thick line of trees drawn on the map. The forest was notorious for its ancient, twisted creatures, and few ventured there willingly.
"We'll need to prepare," Jasper said, standing up and heading to a large chest in the corner of the room. He opened it, revealing an array of weapons and supplies. "If we're going to the Blackwood, we'll need everything we can carry."
Alucard picked up a sword from the chest, testing its weight in his hand. He could feel the shadows stir within him, eager for the battle ahead. The journey to the Blackwood would be treacherous, but finding Garret was their only chance to unite the hunters and stand against the dark sorcerer's forces.