The streets of Val'Tharis glistened with a recent rain as Evren emerged from the Whisperer's lair. The faint light of the Abyss's artificial stars reflected in pools of water on the cracked cobblestones, painting the city with an eerie glow. He tightened his grip on the pouch he'd concealed under his cloak, the parchment inside feeling heavier than it should.
Secrets have weight, Evren thought. And this one feels like it could break me—or make me.
As he moved through the labyrinthine alleys, his mind replayed the Whisperer's cryptic words. The relics Varis seeks hold fragments of forgotten power... mastery over the Abyss. It wasn't just ambition fueling the power struggles in Val'Tharis—it was desperation to control forces that none fully understood.
Evren's musings were interrupted by the unmistakable sound of footsteps trailing him. He glanced over his shoulder, his sharp gaze cutting through the shadows. Two figures peeled away from the darkness, cloaked in the subtle anonymity of the Shallows. Their movements were deliberate but not overtly hostile—yet.
Evren's lips curled into a faint smirk. "If you're going to follow me, at least try to be subtle. Or is this your version of a warm welcome?"
The taller of the two figures stepped forward, his face obscured by a hood. "Varis sends his regards," he said, his voice gravelly. "He expects a report."
"Of course he does," Evren replied smoothly, his hand resting casually on the hilt of his dagger. "But the Shallows isn't the place for such conversations. Shall we move somewhere less… damp?"
The shorter figure chuckled. "Smart. Let's go."
***
Evren was led to a small, dimly lit tavern tucked into a corner of the Shallows that even locals avoided. Its air reeked of stale ale and smoke, the kind of place where deals were struck, and betrayals were sealed. The two men ushered him to a back room, where Varis awaited, seated at a worn wooden table. A faint smile played on his lips as Evren entered.
"You've returned in one piece," Varis said, gesturing to the seat across from him. "That's a good start."
Evren settled into the chair, his expression neutral. "I always deliver."
Varis leaned forward, his steely gaze locking onto Evren. "Then deliver. What did the Whisperer say?"
Evren reached under his cloak and placed the pouch on the table. He didn't miss the slight flicker of greed in Varis's eyes as the man opened it and removed the parchment. As Varis read, his face remained impassive, but the tightening of his jaw betrayed his reaction.
"So," Varis murmured, "the relics are more than curiosities. They're keys to something greater."
"Something dangerous," Evren added. "The Whisperer hinted that those who seek them risk more than they know. Whatever these relics unlock, it's tied to the Abyss—and it's not just you looking for them."
Varis's eyes flicked up to meet Evren's. "Do you think I don't know that? Rivals are everywhere, and every move I make is shadowed by those who would see me fall. The question is, do you have the ambition to rise with me—or will you be just another piece in the game?"
Evren smiled faintly, leaning back in his chair. "I think we both know the answer to that."
Varis regarded him for a moment, then nodded. "Good. Because this game is about to become much more dangerous. If the Whisperer's information is accurate, then these relics are the key to controlling Val'Tharis. And I'll be damned if I let anyone else claim them."
He slid the parchment back into the pouch and leaned forward. "There's a gala tomorrow night at House Adrelis. They've recently acquired one of these relics—a small pendant. I want it. You'll go as my agent."
Evren arched an eyebrow. "Stealing from House Adrelis? Bold."
"It's not stealing if they don't deserve it," Varis said with a smirk. "And Adrelis's heir is too preoccupied with flaunting his wealth to notice its absence."
Evren nodded slowly. "And what happens when they notice it's gone?"
"Leave that to me," Varis replied. "Your only concern is retrieving the pendant. Succeed, and you'll prove you're more than a useful tool. Fail…" He didn't finish the sentence, but the implication was clear.
Evren rose from his chair, adjusting his cloak. "Consider it done."
As he turned to leave, Varis's voice stopped him. "One more thing. House Adrelis won't be the only ones watching the pendant. There are others who know its value. Watch your back."
***
The night of the gala came quickly. Evren blended seamlessly into the crowd, his borrowed finery allowing him to move unnoticed among the city's elite. The mansion of House Adrelis was a sprawling structure of gleaming stone and intricate carvings, its halls filled with music and laughter. Yet beneath the surface of opulence, tension simmered.
Evren's eyes scanned the room, quickly identifying the pendant displayed in a glass case near the far wall. Two guards flanked it, their posture rigid, their eyes scanning the crowd. He noted the exits, the movements of the servants, and the blind spots in the guards' line of sight.
Getting to it won't be the challenge, he thought. Getting away will be.
As he moved toward the pendant, a voice stopped him. "You don't look like you belong here."
He turned to see a young woman with striking silver hair and piercing green eyes. She wore a sly smile, her posture relaxed yet predatory.
"And you seem far too interested in strangers," Evren replied smoothly.
Her smile widened. "Let's just say I have a knack for spotting trouble. Care to prove me wrong?"
Evren offered a charming smile, but his mind was already calculating. She wasn't just another guest—her eyes were too sharp, her demeanor too self-assured. Whoever she was, she would complicate things.
"Perhaps another time," he said, bowing slightly before slipping away into the crowd.
As he approached the pendant, he felt the weight of her gaze on him. Another piece in the game, he thought grimly. But whose side is she on?
The night was far from over, and Evren knew the poisoned chalice he'd accepted would soon show its true cost.