Chapter 6: Threads of Corruption
The drive back from the estate was tense. Ethan gripped the wheel, his knuckles white, as he kept glancing at the rearview mirror as if expecting another twisted creature to emerge from the shadows. Adam sat silently in the passenger seat, turning the charred fragment of parchment over in his hands. The symbols on it still faintly glimmered, as though alive with residual energy.
"What do you think this means?" Ethan finally asked, breaking the uneasy silence.
"It's a clue," Adam replied, his tone distant. "Artifacts aren't just objects—they're tied to the events and emotions of the past. This corruption? It's not random. Something or someone is disturbing the balance."
Ethan sighed, his shoulders sagging. "Great. So not only are these artifacts dangerous, but they're also somehow tied to ancient magic mumbo jumbo?"
Adam shot him a glance. "If you're going to stick around, you might want to stop calling it 'mumbo jumbo.' This stuff is real, Ethan. And if we don't figure it out, it's going to get worse."
The workshop came into view, its familiar façade a small comfort after the ominous halls of the estate. Ethan parked, and they stepped inside, the jingling bell signaling their arrival.
Adam wasted no time. He dropped the fragment onto his workbench and activated the system's Appraisal Mode, focusing on the parchment.
[Fragment of Knowledge: Resonance of Corruption]
Details: This fragment contains traces of historical events tied to artifact imbalance. Further fragments may reveal the source of the corruption.Current Energy Signature: Linked to multiple corrupted entities. Investigate artifacts bearing similar resonance to uncover more.
Adam groaned. "Of course, it's incomplete. Because why would anything be simple?"
Ethan leaned over his shoulder, peering at the screen. "Multiple corrupted entities? You mean there's more of those... things out there?"
Adam nodded grimly. "And we have to find them before they find us."
Ethan shuddered. "So, what's the plan? You're the artifact guy, not me."
"The system says to investigate artifacts with a similar resonance," Adam said. "That means finding other pieces like this one." He gestured to the parchment. "Which means hitting up places with a history of artifacts—auctions, museums, private collections. Anywhere that might have something old and unusual."
Ethan winced. "You make that sound so easy. It's not like people just let you walk into their houses and start poking around their antiques."
Adam smirked faintly. "That's where you come in. You're the smooth talker, remember? You've got the charm, the connections. If we play this right, we can get access without raising suspicion."
Ethan groaned, rubbing his temples. "This is going to be a disaster, isn't it?"
"Probably," Adam said with a shrug. "But we don't have a choice."
The first stop on their list was a small auction house downtown. It wasn't the most prestigious venue, but Adam had heard whispers of rare finds occasionally passing through its doors.
The auctioneer, a portly man with a slicked-back haircut and a toothy grin, greeted them warmly. "Welcome, gentlemen. Looking to add something special to your collection?"
"Something like that," Ethan said smoothly, flashing a practiced smile. "We're interested in items with a bit of... history. Unique pieces, maybe with some folklore attached."
The auctioneer's grin widened. "Ah, you're collectors of the curious and the unusual. Well, you've come to the right place. Follow me."
As they were led into a back room filled with shelves of artifacts, Adam's system chimed softly. His vision sharpened, faint glimmers of energy appearing around certain objects.
[Appraisal Mode: Active.]
[Detecting Low-Level Resonance.]
Adam scanned the shelves, his gaze landing on a dusty, ornate mirror. The faint glow of energy pulsed around it, and he activated the appraisal function.
[Artifact: Mirror of Echoes]
Effect: Reflects fragments of the user's memories and emotions.Status: Dormant. Possible corruption detected.
"This one," Adam said, pointing to the mirror. "We're interested in this."
The auctioneer raised an eyebrow. "An excellent choice. It's said to be cursed, you know. Reflects things you'd rather not see."
"Perfect," Ethan said with a strained smile, pulling out his wallet.
Back at the workshop, Adam wasted no time appraising the mirror in detail. The system confirmed his suspicions: the artifact was dormant, but it held traces of corruption similar to the dagger.
"Looks like we're on the right track," Adam muttered. "This mirror's tied to whatever's causing the corruption."
Ethan sat nearby, still fidgeting with the medallion around his neck. "So what now? Do you... fix it or something?"
"Not yet," Adam said. "First, I need to figure out what corrupted it. If I can track its origins, maybe I can stop the corruption from spreading."
Ethan groaned. "You're talking about more monsters, aren't you?"
Adam didn't answer. Instead, he focused on the mirror, his determination hardening. Whatever was causing this, he was going to get to the bottom of it—no matter what it took.