The moment Evren slipped through the crowd, he felt the weight of eyes on his back. The silver-haired woman was watching him, her curiosity palpable even amidst the gala's chaos. His instincts screamed at him to tread carefully. Whoever she was, she wasn't merely a curious guest.
The pendant glimmered under the soft light of its display, taunting him from its glass case. Two guards stood rigidly by, their gazes scanning the room with the discipline of professionals. Evren kept his movements casual, blending in with the swirling mass of nobles exchanging pleasantries and indulgent laughter.
But he wasn't alone.
As he neared the pendant's display, he caught sight of a figure in the crowd—a man clad in dark, unassuming attire, moving with predatory precision. Another rival, perhaps hired by someone with the same ambitions as Varis.
Wonderful, Evren thought, suppressing a smirk. The more, the merrier.
Evren adjusted his pace, using the crowd as a shield while keeping the dark-clad rival in his peripheral vision. The man stopped a few feet from the display, his fingers brushing against the hilt of a concealed blade. A bold move, but one that made the rival's intentions clear.
Evren positioned himself near a group of drunken nobles, who were gesturing flamboyantly with their wine glasses. One misstep, and the spectacle could become a distraction.
From across the room, the silver-haired woman continued to observe him, her eyes narrowing. She began to move, weaving through the crowd like a shadow.
Evren's mind raced. He needed to act quickly before the situation spiraled out of control.
The guards stiffened as the rival stepped closer to the display. The man's hand darted out, producing a small vial of liquid that he splashed against the glass. A faint hiss filled the air as the acid began eating away at the barrier.
"Bold," Evren murmured under his breath. Sloppy, but bold.
The guards reacted instantly, drawing their swords. "Stop where you are!"
The rival didn't hesitate, spinning around to engage them. His blade flashed, deflecting the first strike as he parried the second guard's thrust with deadly precision. The crowd erupted into chaos, screams echoing through the grand hall as nobles scrambled for safety.
Evren seized the opportunity, slipping toward the display as the acid finished its work. The glass crumbled, and the pendant fell into his waiting hand. He stuffed it into his coat, already calculating his escape route.
But the silver-haired woman appeared before him, blocking his path with a look of amusement.
"Well," she said, her tone dripping with sarcasm. "Aren't you efficient?"
Evren gave her a wry smile. "Just doing what I'm paid for."
"Let me guess," she said, stepping closer, her hand resting casually on the hilt of a rapier at her side. "Varis sent you, didn't he? You're playing his little games."
"Funny," Evren replied, sidestepping her. "I was about to ask you the same thing."
Her smile widened, and in a flash, her blade was out, its edge gleaming under the chandelier's light. "I'm not here for Varis. But I'm not letting you leave with that pendant either."
Evren drew his dagger, its shorter length a disadvantage against her rapier, but he knew better than to rely on brute force. Instead, he relied on speed and precision.
She lunged, her movements quick and deliberate. Evren dodged, parrying her blade with a deft twist of his wrist. The clang of metal against metal rang out as the two moved through the chaos, their duel drawing scattered glances from the panicked crowd.
"You're skilled," she said, her voice calm despite the exertion.
"So are you," Evren replied, feinting left before striking toward her unguarded side. She deflected the blow with ease, her blade singing as it cut through the air.
The rival, now free of the guards, noticed the duel and began closing in. Evren cursed under his breath.
The silver-haired woman noticed too, her eyes narrowing. "Friend of yours?"
"Not exactly," Evren muttered.
The rival lunged toward them, his blade aimed at Evren's side. The woman reacted instinctively, intercepting the strike with her rapier and spinning to kick the man square in the chest. He stumbled back, momentarily stunned.
"Looks like we're allies now," she said, her tone dry.
"Convenient," Evren quipped, falling into step beside her.
The rival recovered quickly, his movements even more aggressive. Evren and the woman worked in tandem, their blades a blur as they defended against his relentless attacks. The chaos of the gala provided cover, but it also made their movements unpredictable.
Evren saw his opening. As the rival overextended with a wide slash, Evren sidestepped and drove his dagger into the man's shoulder. The rival cried out, dropping his weapon as he fell to his knees.
"Efficient and ruthless," the woman remarked, lowering her rapier.
Evren retrieved the pendant, his expression calm despite the adrenaline coursing through him. "The job demands it."
The woman studied him, her expression unreadable. "You're interesting, Evren. Dangerous, but interesting."
"How do you know my name?"
She smirked. "Let's just say I keep tabs on anyone worth knowing."
Evren didn't press further. Instead, he inclined his head. "Well, if you're not going to stop me, I'll be on my way."
She stepped aside, surprising him. "Go ahead. But don't forget—we'll cross paths again. And next time, I might not be so lenient."
Evren gave her a curt nod and vanished into the crowd, the pendant safely tucked away. As he slipped into the night, he couldn't shake the feeling that the woman's parting words were more a promise than a threat.
The game was getting more dangerous, and the stakes were rising. But Evren wouldn't back down. He was determined to survive—and thrive—in the shadows of Val'Tharis.