Silvia sipped her ale, her eyes scanning the bustling tavern. Fellow hunters gathered around, their voices rising.
"The King's bounty is 10,000 livres," one hunter boasted.
"I'll take that beast down myself," another hunter claimed.
Silvia listened intently, her expression unreadable.
A grizzled hunter, Diego, leaned in. "I've heard it's not just any beast," Diego said.
"Rumors say it's a lycanthrope."
"A werewolf?" a young hunter repeated, wide-eyed.
Diego nodded. "The villagers have seen it. Tall, with razor-sharp claws and teeth."
Silvia's gaze narrowed. She had heard similar stories in China. Of the Jiangshi, bloodthirsty creatures roaming the night. But this beast seemed different, more powerful.
A burly hunter, Argent, slammed his fist on the table.
"We'll need traps, silver bullets, and men with steel nerves."
The group nodded in agreement. Silvia remained silent, her thoughts racing. She had left China to escape the Emperor's expectations, to find adventure and purpose.
Now, she had found a new quest. To hunt the beast and claim the bounty, but was it just about the gold? Or was it about understanding this creature?
Silvia's gaze drifted toward the tavern door. As if sensing her thoughts, a hooded figure slipped in. Their eyes met, and Silvia felt a jolt. The figure vanished into the crowd.
"Who was that?" Silvia asked Argent.
He shrugged. "Stranger. Came in last night, asking questions about the beast."
Silvia's curiosity piqued. She finished her ale, her mind made up. She would find that stranger and learn more about the beast.
Silvia stepped out of the tavern, her senses on high alert. The night air was crisp, the moon casting eerie shadows. She scanned the crowded streets, her gaze sweeping. But the stranger was nowhere to be seen.
Silvia's instincts nagged her. She had recognized the stranger as non-human. A subtle difference in their scent, their movements. A quality that set them apart from mortals. As a master tracker, Silvia's skills were renowned. China, she had hunted the great snow leopard, tracked the elusive golden monkey.
But this stranger was different. The aura was shrouded, hidden. Silvia was now definitely curious. She went through the crowds, searching. Her eyes scanned alleys, market stalls. But the stranger had vanished.
*
Lucius sipped his coffee, Madame Tussaud's warm smile greeting him.
"Lucius, darling! What brings you here today?" she asked.
"The usual, Madame," Lucius replied, his eyes scanning the bustling café.
"But I must admit, I'm intrigued by the King's recent announcements."
Madame Tussaud's eyebrows arched. "Ah, the bounty on the beast?"
Lucius nodded. "I've heard rumors of a Chinese princess joining the hunt."
Madame Tussaud leaned in, her voice dropping. "Silvia, yes. A skilled huntress, they say."
"Any information on her?" Lucius asked.
Madame Tussaud's eyes sparkled. "She's been asking questions, gathering intel."
"About the beast?" Lucius pressed.
"And the local hunters. She's looking for allies."
Lucius's interest piqued. "Any notable hunters joining the fray?"
Madame Tussaud nodded. "Argent, Diego, and a few others."
Lucius committed the names to memory. "What's the mood among the hunters?"
Madame Tussaud's expression turned serious. "Desperate. They're eager for the bounty, but wary of the beast's power."
Lucius's thoughts turned to his own encounter.
"The Darach is no ordinary creature," he said to himself, his voice low.
Madame Tussaud's gaze locked onto his. "You know something, Lucius."
Lucius smiled, his secrets safe. "Just rumors, Madame."
Madame Tussaud's eyes narrowed. "I'll extract the truth from you eventually."
Lucius chuckled. "I look forward to it."
As he finished his coffee, Madame Tussaud leaned in closer.
"Be cautious, Lucius, Silvia is not to be underestimated."
Lucius's gaze met Madame Tussaud's.
"I'll keep that in mind." With a nod, he departed, his thoughts swirling.
*
Lucius stepped out of Madame Tussaud's restaurant, the evening air enveloping him like a warm shawl. The scent of freshly baked bread and roasting meats lingered, enticing passersby.
He walked briskly, his mind racing with the hunt's implications. The King's bounty had drawn skilled hunters, and Silvia, the Chinese princess, seemed particularly formidable.
As he approached his home, the familiar façade welcomed him, its stone walls and slate roof a comforting sight.
Lucius climbed the stairs, his footsteps echoing through the hallway. He reached his room, locked the door, and leaned against it, ensuring solitude.
His gaze fell upon the worn leather bag in the corner, its straps buckled and weathered. He approached it, running his fingers over the embossed symbols etched into the surface.
Unbuckling the straps, he revealed the treasures within: three ancient tomes bound in cracked leather. His mother's parting gifts, imbued with arcane knowledge, seemed to radiate an otherworldly energy.
"Elemental Magic," "Shapeshifting," and "Defense Against Dark Creatures" – each title was etched in elegant calligraphy. Lucius's fingers traced the embossed covers, feeling the thrum of magic within.
He opened the first book, and yellowed pages crackled as he turned them. The words swirled before him, a mix of Latin and ancient dialects. Lucius's eyes scanned the text, committing spells to memory.
Incantations for summoning wind, water, and earth leapt off the pages. He practiced the gestures, his hands weaving intricate patterns. The air seemed to respond, stirring with an unseen breeze.
As night deepened, Lucius shifted to the "Shapeshifting" tome. Illustrations depicted various forms: wolf, bear, and eagle. He studied the transformations, noting subtle differences.
Control was key, his mother had emphasized. Lucius practiced shifting, his body responding sluggishly at first. But with each attempt, his strength grew. Sweat beaded on his brow as he mastered the eagle form.
Finally, he opened "Defense Against Dark Creatures." The Darach's image haunted him, its claws raking across his mind. Lucius devoured the strategies, tactics for countering dark magic.
Protective charms and banishments filled the pages. He committed the spells to memory, his mind reeling with possibilities.
As the first light of dawn crept through the window, casting a golden glow, Lucius closed the tomes. Exhaustion claimed him, but determination burned brighter.
He would face the Darach again. And next time, he would be prepared. With a resolute nod, Lucius collapsed onto his bed, the tomes scattered around him. Sleep claimed him, his dreams filled with magic and steel.