The Silver Curse – Volume 1, Chapter 8: Shadows on the Road
A Presence in the Dark
The whisper sent a chill down Yuto's spine. His grip tightened around his sword as he scanned the treeline, his instincts screaming that something unnatural lurked just beyond his vision.
The wind rustled the leaves, but there was no other sound—no birds, no insects, nothing. It was as if the entire forest held its breath.
"Who's there?" Yuto called out.
Silence.
Then, a flicker of movement.
A shadow darted between the trees, too fast to follow. A cold pulse radiated from the burn mark on the ground beneath him, the same unnatural energy thrumming through the air.
Magic.
Yuto barely had time to react before something lunged at him.
The Mysterious Opponent
A flash of steel. Yuto twisted, his sword clashing against a curved dagger, the impact sending a jolt through his arms. His attacker was fast—inhumanly so. A figure cloaked in black, their face obscured by a mask, moved with deadly precision.
Yuto parried another strike, his instincts taking over. He countered with a quick slash, but his opponent dodged with unnatural grace, leaping back into the shadows.
"Not bad," the masked figure murmured, their voice distorted, almost echoing.
Yuto steadied his breathing. "Who are you?"
A chuckle. "No one you need to know."
Yuto didn't wait for another attack—he rushed forward, striking fast. His blade sliced through empty air as the figure vanished, appearing behind him in an instant.
Too fast.
A sharp pain burned across Yuto's arm as the dagger grazed him. He hissed, spinning to strike, but his opponent had already retreated.
"Your silver rings… they make you interesting," the figure mused. "But you're not ready yet."
Yuto's eyes narrowed. "What do you know about them?"
The figure tilted their head. "More than you do. But for now… consider this a warning. Stop looking for the missing cargo. This is bigger than you."
Then, like a wisp of smoke, they disappeared into the trees.
Returning to Valkris
Yuto pressed a hand to his wound, his mind racing. The missing cargo wasn't just a simple job—it was connected to something much larger. And now, someone wanted him to stay out of it.
That wasn't going to happen.
He turned and made his way back to Valkris. The sun had begun to set, casting the town in golden hues as he stepped through the gates. The guards barely glanced at him, but their wary expressions told him something was wrong.
Inside the guild, Mira was waiting for him, arms crossed. "You look like you had fun."
"If you call getting attacked by a masked assassin 'fun,' then sure."
Mira's smirk faded. "What happened?"
Yuto tossed the bloodstained parchment onto the counter. "The cargo's gone. No wreckage, no bodies—just a burn mark filled with magic. Then someone tried to kill me and told me to drop the investigation."
Mira's expression darkened. "And let me guess—you're not dropping it."
Yuto smirked. "Of course not."
She sighed. "You really are an idiot."
The guild receptionist cleared her throat, sliding Yuto a small pouch of coins. "Payment for the investigation. Lord Renald was… dissatisfied with the lack of answers, but he still honored the request."
Yuto took the pouch but barely acknowledged it. His mind was already elsewhere.
Someone was watching him. Someone knew about his rings.
And they wanted him to back off.
Yuto wasn't about to listen.
He had more questions than ever.
And now, he needed answers.
End of Volume 1