The gas lamps lining the streets of Tingen flickered as a chill wind swept through the city. Liam walked with careful steps, keeping to the less crowded alleys as he tried to make sense of his new reality. The city's atmosphere was both haunting and strangely comforting, as though the shadows themselves were watching over him.
His mind buzzed with fragments of the Codex. The first sequence, Shadow Whisperer, had begun to awaken within him. While he hadn't consciously tapped into it yet, he could feel it—an unexplainable connection to the darkness around him.
I need information. If this is truly the world of Lord of the Mysteries, then I need to understand its rules and the current timeline, he thought, pulling his coat tighter around him. The faint outline of a pocket watch in his jacket caught his attention, and he retrieved it.
The watch was simple yet elegant, its face adorned with unfamiliar symbols that seemed to shift subtly when he wasn't looking directly at them. It wasn't just a timepiece—it was linked to his pathway.
This must be part of the Codex, Liam realized, tucking it away.
As he turned a corner, a loud commotion caught his attention. A group of workers was gathered outside a tavern, their voices rising in heated argument. Liam paused, keeping to the shadows as he listened.
"Another one disappeared last night," one of the men said, his voice tinged with fear. "Right in the middle of Watchman Street! The constables haven't got a clue."
"Bah! The constables are useless," another retorted, taking a swig of his drink. "It's those cultists, I tell you. Sacrificing folk to their so-called gods."
Liam frowned, his mind racing. Cult activity? That meant danger—but it also meant an opportunity to learn more about this world.
He stepped out of the shadows and approached the group. "Excuse me," he said, keeping his tone neutral. "I couldn't help overhearing. What's going on?"
The men turned to him, their eyes narrowing with suspicion. "Who're you, then?" the first man asked.
"Just a traveler," Liam replied smoothly. "I'm new to the city and curious about its… peculiarities."
The men exchanged wary glances before the second one spoke. "It's none of your business, traveler. But if you've got any sense, you'll stay off Watchman Street at night."
Liam nodded, offering a small smile. "Thanks for the advice."
As he walked away, his mind was already working. He had no intention of avoiding Watchman Street—if anything, it seemed like the perfect place to test his newfound abilities.
---
Later That Night
The streets of Tingen were eerily silent as Liam made his way toward Watchman Street. The gas lamps cast long, wavering shadows that seemed to dance in the corners of his vision.
This is it, he thought, his heart pounding in anticipation.
The moment he stepped onto Watchman Street, a strange sensation washed over him. The air felt heavier, and the shadows seemed deeper, almost alive. He closed his eyes, focusing on the connection he'd felt earlier.
The Codex responded. A whispering voice echoed in his mind, guiding him. Feel the shadows. Let them show you what the light cannot.
Liam opened his eyes, and the world shifted. The darkness around him seemed to ripple, revealing faint trails of energy leading deeper into the street. He followed them, his steps silent as the void itself.
The trail ended at a boarded-up warehouse. Liam pressed himself against the wall, peering through a crack in the door. Inside, a group of figures in dark robes stood in a circle, chanting in a language he couldn't understand.
On the floor between them lay a young woman, bound and unconscious. A faint, sickly green light emanated from the symbols drawn around her.
Cultists, Liam thought grimly. He felt a surge of anger, but he forced himself to stay calm. I can't just rush in. I need to use my abilities.
He closed his eyes again, focusing on the shadows within the room. The Codex whispered, guiding him to draw on his power.
The darkness around him stirred, responding to his will. It coiled and twisted, forming tendrils that slithered through the cracks in the door. The cultists remained unaware as the shadows crept closer, wrapping around their legs and arms.
With a flick of his wrist, Liam commanded the shadows to tighten. The cultists cried out in surprise as they were yanked off their feet, their chanting abruptly silenced.
Liam stepped into the warehouse, his presence commanding. "Whatever you're doing, it ends now," he said, his voice cold and firm.
One of the cultists managed to free an arm, reaching for a knife. Liam reacted instinctively, sending a shadow tendril to knock the weapon from his grasp. The Codex's guidance was clear, and Liam moved with precision, incapacitating each of the cultists without hesitation.
When the last of them fell unconscious, Liam turned his attention to the young woman. He knelt beside her, carefully undoing her restraints. She stirred, her eyes fluttering open.
"W-who…?" she began, her voice weak.
"You're safe now," Liam assured her. "Can you stand?"
She nodded shakily, allowing him to help her to her feet. "Thank you," she whispered, tears streaming down her face.
Liam glanced at the unconscious cultists, a sense of satisfaction washing over him. He didn't fully understand his pathway yet, but tonight had proven one thing: he could make a difference in this world.
As he escorted the woman back to safety, he couldn't shake the feeling that this was only the beginning. The shadows had chosen him, and he would use them to uncover the mysteries of this world—no matter the cost.