Lucian took great care not to directly control any of the insects he detected, instead letting them flit freely around the area. Through the eyes of his tiny, scattered "spies," he reviewed and logged any relevant details, mentally comparing them with his memory of the Bone Mound's layout. He analyzed possible spots where Norian and his associates might be hiding, as well as areas where he suspected they might have set up protective wards or traps.
"Norian is only a third-level apprentice. He wouldn't risk setting up camp too deep within the Bone Mound; that area poses a risk even to formal wizards. So my primary focus should be the outer regions of the Bone Mound, especially locations suitable for setting up a temporary camp," Lucian muttered to himself, continuing his observation.
Soon enough, something caught his attention. One section of the map was curiously devoid of insect activity—a complete blind spot in the swarm's view. This void, in an area teeming with insects, was a dead giveaway; either wards had been established to repel life or something equally peculiar was at play.
"That's the place," Lucian thought, a sense of certainty welling within him. Adjusting his focus, he soon discerned the outlines of an illusion array shielding a temporary wizard camp. Following the fleeting, hazy images from a few insects that had strayed into the array before dying, Lucian caught a brief glimpse of the interior, where two of Norian's apprentices were stationed. However, he saw no sign of Norian himself.
Stepping back from the swarm's collective vision, Lucian exited his augmented state. Monitoring so many insect perspectives simultaneously had been taxing, and he took a few moments to gather himself.
"My modifications to the Shadow Stealth spell have made it far better suited for evasion," he reflected as he let his features gradually return to their natural form, the effects of the spell slowly fading. Planning his next steps with a clear mind, he finally rose, melting into the cover of night and slipping seamlessly into the shadows.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Within the Bone Mound, shadows reigned supreme, bolstered by the dense negative energy that permeated the canyon. The thick miasma served as Lucian's perfect cover as he advanced, bypassing two traps set up as early-warning measures. Finally, he arrived at the edge of the shadowed zone he had marked earlier.
Taking a deep breath, Lucian plunged himself further into the darkness, like a diver sinking beneath the water's surface, concealing his presence even deeper within the shadow realm. After only a few meters, he resurfaced near the camp, now fully within the perimeter of the hidden base.
"Three apprentice wizards, plus nearly a dozen servant-slaves?" Lucian noted, observing from the cover of a knight-level servant's shadow, his aura carefully restrained. His true objective was still Norian, and these servants were the only obstacles in his path.
Quickly scanning the camp, Lucian's gaze fell upon a cave entrance converted into a shelter. The thick magical essence emanating from the cave was leagues beyond the protective spells around the outer camp, leading Lucian to surmise that this cave was Norian's true lair.
"Should I go in?" Lucian hesitated briefly but then redirected his focus to the apprentices and servants in the vicinity, a determined gleam in his eye.
Inside the camp, Bilao, a second-level apprentice, stood vigil by the central ward array, carefully scanning the perimeter for anything amiss. He knew all too well the price of carelessness under Norian's harsh oversight—punishment - if he was lucky.
Just then, Bilao felt a chill crawl over him. An eerie paralysis gripped his limbs, and he could only stare helplessly as a dark blade slowly rose from the depths of his own shadow.
"Hrk…" He felt the blade slice cleanly through his throat, cutting off his air. For a brief, liberating moment, he managed to regain control of his body, but instead of calling out for help, he remained silent, an eerie look of peace crossing his face. The twisted satisfaction of seeing his fellow apprentices meet the same fate as he did flickered in his eyes.
Lucian silently observed as Bilao slumped to the ground, his life slipping away. Everything was proceeding more smoothly than anticipated.
But there was no time to waste. Having eliminated one apprentice, Lucian swiftly melted back into the shadows, moving toward the next target without pausing to search the body for valuables.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Inside an underground lab, Norian's hands stilled. Sensing something amiss, he retrieved a small straw doll from within his robes. On the doll's head was a slip of paper inscribed with a name, but the paper had slipped off.
One of his apprentices had died.
Norian's eyes narrowed as he glanced toward the ceiling. He quickly gathered his belongings and approached the hulking figure that had been the object of his work. With a wave of his hand, he retrieved a crystal orb from his storage gear, releasing a trapped, tormented soul into the monstrous form before him.
Boom—
Under Norian's command, the creature stirred, its fist smashing into the cavern ceiling, sending debris tumbling. Moving cautiously behind the lumbering giant, Norian cast a detection spell to locate the intruder who had dared infiltrate his lair.