As dusk settled, casting long shadows over the land, Zuka and Noir approached a cave on the outskirts of the city of Jordan. The fire they had lit crackled softly, the light flickering against the cave walls.
"We'll enter the city alone," Zuka said, his voice calm and resolute. "No need to draw attention. Our royal lineage should remain hidden."
A soldier stepped forward, concern evident. "But my lords, it is our duty to protect you."
Noir smiled faintly, a touch of amusement in his eyes. "Do you truly think your protection surpasses our own strength? Stay here."
The soldier, clearly uncertain, lowered his gaze and stepped back.
"Wait here," Zuka ordered as he removed his royal armor, setting it aside. Noir did the same, and the two brothers, now clad in simple cloaks, began their journey toward the city. "We'll return before the moon is high."
As they walked through the dimming light, Noir broke the silence with his usual riddles. "What has many mouths but cannot bite?"
"A comb," Zuka replied, barely paying attention.
"What casts no light but is seen most clearly?" Noir continued, his tone playful.
"A shadow," Zuka answered without hesitation.
Noir's grin widened as he posed another question. "What is a nation without a leader?"
Zuka sighed, glancing at his brother. "Why do you choose to annoy me"
"Because change is afoot, dear brother," Noir said with a cryptic smile. "These riddles are warnings, echoes of the past. The nations we walk upon ignored such signs, and now they are mere paths between ruins."
Zuka nodded, absorbing his brother's words in silence. After a moment, Noir spoke again, his voice soft but firm. "From here on, let me do the talking."
Zuka gave a small nod of agreement.
They soon spotted a structure that immediately drew attention—a towering building that dwarfed the others in both size and presence. It was an Adventurers' Guild, unmistakable in its unique design. Standing nearly twice the height of any surrounding structure, the building's exterior was constructed from thick, rich wood, its surface aged but resilient, giving off a faint glow as if imbued with centuries of magic.
Inlaid along its walls were panels of Voidglass, a rare and coveted crystal known for its dark, reflective surface. Voidglass had a unique property—it absorbed ambient magical energy from the environment, storing it within its depths, making the building feel alive with unseen power.
At the entrance, a grand arch framed by intricate carvings led up to a large insignia: a shield bearing the emblem of a soaring eagle, its wings spread wide in a symbol of strength and vigilance. The guild was known as The Vanguards
The air inside was thick with the smell of ale and sweat, and the noise of conversations filled the room. Zuka and Noir slipped inside unnoticed, making their way to the bar.
"How may I help you?" the receptionist asked, her voice polite but distracted by the activity around her.
"We'll take four cups of your best beer," Noir said, his grin friendly but calculated.
They sat beside two rough-looking men who glanced at them warily. Noir wasted no time. "Greetings, friend," he said, leaning in slightly. "They call me Blanche."
The men scowled. "What do you want?"
Noir slid a cup of beer toward the men. "I seek what is unknown but can be bought."
One of the men raised an eyebrow, eyeing the cup. "You think a beer will buy information, dragonkin?"
Without a word, Zuka placed ten gold coins on the table, the metal gleaming in the dim light. The men's eyes lit up with greed, and they pocketed the coins quickly.
"Alright," one of them said, leaning forward. "What do you want to know?"
Noir leaned back in his chair, his tone casual but focused. "This city—it feels detached from the main human lands. Who controls it?"
"From what I've heard, it's ruled by a duke and a few nobles," the man replied. "They came here years ago to expand their territory."
"Interesting," Noir said, his fingers tapping the table lightly. "It doesn't feel quite... human."
The man shrugged. "A roof is a roof. People don't ask too many questions as long as they've got a place to sleep."
Zuka's eyes darkened slightly. "These noble... Where might we find them?"
The second man narrowed his gaze. "Why are you asking?"
"Business," Noir said smoothly. "I deal in high-quality elves from the Forest of Kain. I hear the nobles here pay handsomely for such slaves."
The men exchanged glances before replying. "You'll find them in the city center. The duke—he's a large man, golden hair like the sun. You'll know him when you see him."
Noir nodded, standing from his seat. "Much obliged. A pleasure doing business."
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Once outside, the streets dimly lit by the moonlight, Zuka turned to his brother, his brows furrowed. "Why didn't you ask more? We barely have enough information."
Noir grinned, his eyes sparkling with amusement. "Too many questions invite suspicion. Now we know the key players—a noble at the center of this game. All we need to do is unravel the rest."
Zuka frowned but nodded. "What's our next move?"
Noir's smile faded, his tone growing more serious. "We find an old friend of mine. Someone who sees more than these simple men ever could."
They slipped into a narrow alleyway, hidden from the busy streets, the air damp and cold. Noir raised his hand and began to chant, his voice low and rhythmic:
"Summoning, Sage of Aeons; Unmei o tsumugu mono yo, kokū kara tachiagari, uchū no kokoro ni koku ma reta kotoba o katare."
A ripple of energy shimmered before them, and from the void, an ancient high elf materialized, his eyes burning with age-old wisdom and resentment.
"You dare summon me again, you insolent wretch?" the elf hissed, his voice dripping with disdain.
Noir's grin returned, playful yet sharp. "Ah, old friend. Is that any way to greet me after all this time?"
The elf's eyes narrowed. "You bound me to your service against my will."
"And I've been nothing but gracious," Noir replied, shrugging. "Now, let's not waste time. I need information."
The elf's gaze shifted toward the city, his senses attuned to the magical energies around them. "There seems to be a huge reserve of energy coming from the outskirts of this town," he began. "It's underground—blood magic, but it's arcane. The power comes from multiple sources, so there are definitely many vampires. At least a few centuries old."
Noir's smile widened, his excitement barely contained. "Vampires. How delightful."
The elf's expression remained cold. "Be careful. These vampires are not mere bloodsuckers. They hunger for more than just blood."
Noir chuckled darkly. "Let them hunger. It'll make their downfall all the more satisfying."
"You both bore me... Light Magic, Teleportation," Zuka muttered with a hint of annoyance. In an instant, they vanished from the city and reappeared back at the cave where their camp had been set up. As they arrived, all the guards stood in attention, surprised but ready.
Noir glanced at his brother, a smile tugging at his lips. "Well, it seems I'm not the only one with secrets. You never told me you had such a useful skill. We could have just teleported from the start, dear brother."
Zuka shot him a sarcastic look. "That's because I can only teleport to places I've already been. Besides, the journey was... fun, wasn't it?"
Before Noir could respond, Kaizen stepped forward, bowing slightly. "You've returned, my lords. Did you find anything? And, who is that figure with you?"
Noir gestured toward the elf standing behind them. "This is my summon, Elyndris Virelith, a high elf. He's informed me that there's a large reserve of magical energy around this area. It appears to be vampires, underground, multiple, and probably centuries old. Now it all makes sense—why this city feels so detached from the rest. It's likely run by vampires."
Kaizen's eyes widened. "Oh my…"
"And the Duke," Noir continued, his voice dark and calculating, "he might either be their puppet or the one pulling the strings."
"I see…" Kaizen said, the weight of the information sinking in.
Zuka crossed his arms, already thinking ahead. "We must bait the monster out. Whoever's behind this, we'll offer them something they cannot resist." He pointed to one of the soldiers. "You there, What is your name"
Kieran Wolfhart, My Lord" the soldier replied
"Kiaren Wolfhart, Remove your armor. Go into the city dressed as a commoner in a tattered cloak. Find the Duke. Tell him you're a messenger of two merchants who wish to discuss business. We offer elves from the Forest of Kain—mostly females, and a high elf. But remember, if they ask our names, you refer to Noir as Blanche and to me as Trevor. Go now."
Kiaren bowed, his voice firm. "It shall be done, my lord." He turned and swiftly departed, disappearing into the night.
Elyndris, watching the scene unfold, raised an eyebrow and spoke dryly, "When you say high elf, I hope you're not referring to me."
Noir let out a laugh. "No, Elyndris, At least not yet."
Kaizen, still standing by, hesitated before asking, "But my lord, why send the soldier? Why not go yourselves? Is it to... sacrifice him in case of a trap? Or perhaps to gauge the Duke's strength?"
Zuka shook his head, answering calmly. "Neither. It's simply to establish our importance. If we walk in ourselves, it might raise too much attention. This way, we make our presence known without revealing too much."
Noir chuckled, giving his brother a nod of approval. "You've learned well, brother. This is a game, after all. A game of power. Every move counts. We must tread carefully or risk giving the enemy the advantage."
He glanced out toward the city, his eyes gleaming with excitement. "Now, the next move is ours."