Mark leaps from rooftop to rooftop, his movements silent as a ghost across the kingdom's sleeping houses.
His dark cloak billows behind him like a shadow, and the chain on his arm glints faintly in moonlight.
He traverses the rooftops with ease, thanks to his enhanced strength and agility.
As he lands on a particularly tall roof, Mark scans the surrounding area – rows of houses, market squares, and alleys.
One building catches his attention: a large, rustic house with smoke drifting from the chimney and loud laughter carrying into the night air.
Mark's curiosity piqued, he observes the house from afar – people of various ages and attire mingle outside, sporting scars, swords, and backpacks.
Adventurers.
Mark decides to investigate closer, activating his Mimic skill –
His monstrous features shift and contort, replaced by a rugged yet ordinary face, short brown hair, and normal eyes.
The chain on his arm remains hidden under his sleeve.
With his appearance temporarily normal, Mark climbs down from the roof and approaches the bustling house...
Mark observes from outside, pressing against the wall near a window to listen in on the lively conversations.
He hears snippets about:
* A nearby dungeon rumored to contain powerful artifacts
* Strange occurrences in the Kingdom's forest
* The mysterious deaths of random girls in the Kingdom, striking fear among citizens
* The Heroes' training program, with Kai hailed as the strongest Hero of them all
* The unpredictable Goddess, whose whims seem to bring chaos to the kingdom's people
* The Hero Archpriest, revered for healing the sick and injured – both kingdom citizens and adventurers alike, rumored to be incredibly kind and powerful
Mark's mimicked ears absorb every detail, his mind racing with connections –
Kai's name sparks intense wariness within him.
He wonders if this Hero Archpriest might be the Hana he's been thinking of...
With sufficient information gathered, Mark pushes open the creaky door and steps inside...
The room falls silent momentarily as adventurers turn to face the newcomer – Mark.
A hooded figure near the bar beckons Mark closer, saying, "New face. What brings you to Grimjack's Tavern?"
Mark orders an ale and introduces himself as "Ryker," asking about job opportunities.
The hooded figure nods, "Plenty of work for capable adventurers like yourself. Join us for a moment."
Mark sits with a group of adventurers near the fire pit, listening to their tales.
As he sips his ale, he catches snippets of their conversation turning to:
"...the Hero Archpriest is incredibly powerful, healing even the most grievous wounds."
"...heard she's as kind as she is beautiful."
Mark's interest piqued, he asks directly:
"Tell me more about the Hero Archpriest. What's she like?"
The group leans in, eager to share stories – but one of them, a burly man, clears his throat:
"Information doesn't come free, friend Ryker. Pay the 'story tax' – 5 gold coins – and we'll share all we know."
Mark hesitates, reaching for his pocket out of habit – though he didn't think he had any money.
His fingers brush against something unexpected – a pouch of coins inside his cloak pocket!
He pulls out one gold coin and slaps it on the table, saying:
"Start with something worth at least this much gold."
The group cheers, and the burly man begins:
"The Hero Archpriest... lives in the temple district, etc ..."
*Then the time passes*
The burly man finishes telling the story about the Hero Archpriest,
The group nods thoughtfully, and the room falls silent for a moment before they start discussing among themselves.
Mark stands up abruptly, pulling out another gold coin from his pouch and slapping it on the table:
"Thanks for the information."
The storyteller smiles and says, "Anytime, friend Ryker. Come back soon!"
The group continues their drinks and laughter as Mark turns to leave.
He walks out of Grimjack's Tavern into the cool night air, the sound of laughter and clinking glasses fading behind him.
Mark pulls his cloak tighter, lost in thought – his mind racing with thoughts of the Hero Archpriest and Kai.
He disappears into the night shadows, pondering his next move...
Mark continues his nocturnal journey, heading towards Elyria's King Castle – his destination guided by the information gleaned from Grimjack's Tavern.
He leaps from rooftop to rooftop, then bounds through trees lining the castle's outer walls, using shadows for cover.
With agility enhanced by his mysterious transformation, Mark jumps upwards – his hands finding holds in the castle's stone walls.
He climbs vertically, silent as a ghost, until reaching the top of a tower where two guards patrol – oblivious to the danger lurking mere feet below.
Mark waits for their footsteps to move away from the edge, then springs upwards again – clearing the tower roof and landing gracefully on the top of the castle's tallest inner building:
The Heroes' Residence – where elite warriors like Kai and... reportedly the Hero Archpriest, reside.
Mark crouches low on the rooftop, scanning his surroundings before focusing his mind.
He activates his Far Sight skill – Level 4 – allowing him to glimpse indoors without physical presence.
Through closed doors and windows, Mark's enhanced vision sweeps across the Heroes' Residence:
He checks room after room, finding only darkness and emptiness – no signs of occupation.
His Far Sight continues its silent sweep...
Then, suddenly, a faint glow appears –
A small candle light flickers in one of the rooms, casting soft shadows on the walls.
Mark's vision zooms in slightly, his heart rate increasing with curiosity...
But as he gazes deeper into the room, his mind starts to twitch –
A creeping sense of dread rises, like ice spreading through his veins...
Nightmares he thought were buried start to resurface...
The candlelit room reveals a disturbing scene:
A girl lies in bed, partially exposed – her dress is torn, and her chest is visible. She appears unconscious.
But Mark's gaze barely registers her state before shifting to the corner of the room...
His heart plunges into darkness:
Hana cowers on the floor, her night dress disheveled. Her eyes are wide with fear.
A man stands slightly distant from Hana, his face twisted with lust and malice – half-naked, muscles bulging.
His sword is raised, poised to strike, and his body coiled like a spring – ready to charge towards Hana at any moment.
Mark can almost sense Man's tense muscles unleashing into a deadly lunge...
Mark's vision burns with rage and horror. He feels an overwhelming urge to act – IMMEDIATELY.