Somewhere inside a dark motel room, a woman sat on a luxurious armchair, completely naked, her porcelain skin illuminated by the glow of the small candle flame.
In her delicate hand, she held a goblet filled with thick, crimson liquid. She had been enjoying her usual indulgence and savoring each sip like the finest wine — until something changed in the air.
Her body tensed suddenly.A sudden jolt coursed through her senses.
Her grip on the goblet tightened as she turned sharply toward the window, her eyes narrowing. Beyond the cracked glass, the city stretched endlessly, its slums and alleyways shrouded in darkness. But that wasn't what held her attention.
It was something else. She felt a ripple in the air.
It was a presence. Something and dangerous.
She placed the goblet down with a sharp movement, licking the last traces of blood from her lips. Her mind churning.
She had been in this city for months and not once had she sensed anything like this. No hunters strong enough to make her wary or knights that could threaten her. She had checked everything.
She had been very careful.
So why was she feeling this now?
Did someone new arrive? Or had an unknown dark creature been lurking beneath the surface all along and only now revealing itself?
Her stomach twisted with unease. Her instinct was undeniable. This was a force that if left unchecked could change endanger her. If she can feel it, that whatever that is, will be able to sense her as well. She can't risk herself being found now.
"I have to check it out first before it find me," she muttered, pushing herself up from the chair.
She reached for her discarded clothes and robe and she draped it over her shoulders.
Then, she vanished into the night.
---
The night remained dark, a thin mist curling through the streets like ghost fingers.
The city was quiet in this slums. Lux can only hear distant murmurs from small taverns and the faint clatter of rats scurrying through the alleys.
Lux moved carefully, slipping through the dark streets. Jis clothes damp from the hurried wash. He had scrubbed off the blood and dirt as best he could in the city's public bathroom, but the scent still lingered faintly on his skin.
He didn't stay long. The last thing he wanted was to draw attention.
Now, he was heading back to the only place he could call shelter.
Now he can more clearly dee the slums stretched before him. This is a forgotten part of the city where the fogotten people gatherd.
Crumbling buildings leaned against one another.
On the abandoned building, fires burned in makeshift pits and small groups of people huddled around them, murmuring in low voices.
Lux ignored them.
He wasn't cold despite the night's chill biting at the air. It was strange. He had always been sensitive to the cold, but now his body felt different.
Lux slipped to his corner where he usually rested and sat against the wall.
Then silence came.
He stared at the darkness ahead, his thoughts drifting aimlessly.
He didn't know what to do now.
The fight had left him exhilarated and shaken in equal measure. He had won and grown stronger but that wasn't enough.
His mind was restless.He needed a real weapon.
The makeshift spear had served its purpose - barely. He had left it embedded in the Lesser Thrall's body, not even bothering to retrieve it. It wasn't worth keeping.
"I need something better."
"System, can you give me a weapon like the one I used in the Tutorial stage? That white dagger?" Lux asked in his mind.
["No. You cannot take that weapon from there. It belongs to a different dimension."]
Lux sighed. He had expected that answer, but he had to ask. That dagger was able cut through supernatural flesh like it was nothing.
"Then what can you do to help me?"
["Search for information in this city."]
Lux exhaled sharply because the System didn't gave him direct solutions.
He stood, dusting off his coat.
Lux then walked toward the makeshift fire, the flickering flames casting shadows across the walls.
The people gathered there were the forgotten ones. They didn't ask questions and they didn't pry. There are four of them.
When Lux approached, they acknowledged him with small nods. The older man with the graying beard grunted in greeting, while the woman who had given him bread before smiled warmly. He gave a small nod in return.
These people didn't care about his past. They didn't ask how he had ended up here. For them, it will be just like opening an old wound.
Lux settled on the edge of the fire's warmth, listening as they talked.
Their voices were rough, tired, but content. They spoke of small things like the rising prices of bread, the city constables cracking down on loiterers and the latest rumors from the closest taverns.
He let their words wash over him, not really paying attention. Until something caught his ear.
"The Black Market's been busy lately," one of them muttered.
A younger man scoffed, tossing a piece of wood into the fire. "That place is always busy. But yeah, heard they got something special this time."
Lux kept his expression neutral, but his focus sharpened.
"Something special?" the woman asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Yeah. A fresh shipment of good weapons came in. Real ones, not that rusted junk they usually sell. Some say they're from the noble districts, stolen straight from the knights."
Lux's eyebrow twitched a little.
Weapons.
He needed more information.
Feigning mild curiosity, he leaned forward slightly. "Where is this Black Market, anyway?"
The older man snorted. "Kid, that ain't a place for someone like you."
Lux gave a small, humorless smile. "You'd be surprised what kind of places I've been, sir."
The younger man studied him for a moment before shrugging. "Its not a single spot. Moves around every few nights to different locations. You gotta know the right people to get in."
Lux frowned. That made things more complicated. If it kept moving, he couldn't just stumble into it. He needed a way in.
The woman who had given him bread spoke up, her voice softer. "Silas Graves. He's the one you want to find."
Lux glanced at her. Surprised that she even know that kind of thing.
"Who is he?" Lux asked.
"He is one of the arms dealer in the Market. The one who have the best fares."
Lux gulped. "Please show me where to find him."
About one hour later, Lux was standing in front of an old tavern.
"Silas Grave..."
With that name in mind, Lux started to walk into the old tavern.
---