The aftermath of the battle weighed heavily on the tavern. The tension that had once gripped the room now hung in the air like the lingering scent of blood and sweat. Clara wiped her brow, her hand trembling slightly from the adrenaline that still coursed through her veins. She glanced at Elysia, who was recovering from Lorento's chokehold, breathing heavily but alive.
"Are you all right?" Clara asked, offering a hand to Elysia.
Elysia nodded, her expression steely. "I'll survive. That was close, though."
Marcus approached, scanning the room. "We held them off, but this won't be the last time. Lorento will return, and he'll come back stronger."
Alaric joined them, his face a mask of concern. "The villagers are shaken. They fought well, but the next attack could break them. We need to do something before Lorento rallies his forces."
Clara sheathed her sword, turning to Marcus. "You got here just in time. Any idea where Lorento went?"
Marcus shook his head. "He's gone for now, but he left behind enough chaos. We need to regroup. There's more to this than we thought."
Elysia looked at the villagers, who were tending to the wounded. "They won't last long in another fight. We need reinforcements or a new plan."
Clara took a deep breath, feeling the weight of leadership pressing down on her. "We can't stay here, not without knowing who's really behind this. Lorento may be the face, but I suspect he's only one piece of the puzzle."
Marcus's expression darkened. "I have the same feeling. There's something bigger at play here. Lorento seemed too confident, like he was waiting for something to happen. But what?"
Alaric rubbed his temples, trying to make sense of the situation. "We should find out where Lorento fled. If we track him down, we might learn who he's working for."
Clara agreed. "We need information, and we won't get it by sitting here. I'll talk to the villagers, see if anyone has heard rumors about where Lorento's hideout is."
Before anyone could move, a sharp knock came from the door. The sound was almost eerie in the now-quiet tavern. Marcus, always cautious, signaled for silence. He moved to the door with careful steps, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword.
When he opened it, a hooded figure stood in the doorway, their face obscured by the shadows of the night. The figure was small and unarmed, but something about their presence felt off. Tension filled the room again.
"I've been waiting," the figure said, their voice low and calm. "For you, Thornhills."
Clara's hand instinctively went to her sword. "Who are you?"
The figure stepped into the light, revealing a young woman with piercing green eyes. Her features were sharp and angular, and though she appeared unarmed, her presence held a sense of danger. "I'm someone who knows what you're up against," she replied. "And I have answers—if you're willing to listen."
Marcus and Clara exchanged glances. "Why should we trust you?" Marcus asked, his voice cautious.
"Because if you don't," she replied, "Lorento's victory will be the least of your worries. The real threat is something you've barely glimpsed."
Clara narrowed her eyes. "Start talking."
The woman stepped further inside, her gaze scanning the room. "Lorento's working for someone far more powerful. A man who's been pulling the strings in the shadows for years. And he's after something more than just this village. Something that you've unknowingly gotten involved in."
"The artifact," Marcus said quietly.
The woman nodded. "Yes. It's not just a relic, it's a key. And whoever controls it holds the power to unlock something far more dangerous."
Elysia crossed her arms, her tone skeptical. "And you're telling us this out of the kindness of your heart?"
The woman smiled, a cold, calculating look crossing her face. "Let's just say, I have my own reasons for wanting to stop him. But if you want to live long enough to figure out what's really going on, you'll need my help."
Clara, never one to trust easily, studied the woman's face. "What do you know about this man?"
The woman's expression darkened. "He's known by many names, but the one you need to worry about is Darian. He's no ordinary man—he deals in dark powers, forbidden by most. And Lorento is just one of his pawns."
"Darian," Marcus echoed, the name unfamiliar yet unsettling.
Elysia glanced at Clara. "We can't just take her word for it."
"No, but we can't ignore it either," Clara replied, her voice low. She turned back to the woman. "If you're telling the truth, why now? Why not warn us before?"
The woman's gaze flickered. "Because you weren't ready. And now, you have something Darian wants—the artifact. He'll stop at nothing to get it."
Marcus stepped forward, his voice steady but firm. "If you're going to help us, we need more than just words. Prove your loyalty."
The woman's eyes gleamed with something unreadable. "I'll take you to Lorento's hideout. But be prepared—what you find there will change everything."