The humid night air of Adonis clung to Eden and Rey like a second skin, a stark contrast to the cool, ethereal currents they usually commanded. Dressed in the unassuming attire of well-to-do merchants – Rey in a tailored charcoal coat and Eden in a slightly more flamboyant burgundy one – they moved with a practiced ease through the city's bustling streets. Their auras, usually shimmering with arcane energy, were deliberately muted, allowing them to blend into the tapestry of Adonis like threads of a similar hue.
For the past few days, their focus had been Claude. The Moonshades' preliminary intel had painted him as a mid-level operative within the Enclave. He was the last person mentioned in their report before they went silent.They had observed Claude's routine from a distance, a silent study in mundane habits. He was a man of middling height, with thinning brown hair slicked back and a perpetually worried frown etched onto his features. During the day, he frequented administrative buildings, poring over ledgers and whispering with other similarly dressed individuals. But it was the night that held their interest. Every evening, instead of returning to the respectable townhouse in the outer district that he shared with his wife, Claude made a detour. His destination: the Serpent's Kiss, a notorious pub pulsating with loud music and the promise of illicit pleasures.
Tonight was no different. The neon glow of the Serpent's Kiss cast lurid colours onto the throngs of people queuing to enter. Rey shifted impatiently beside Eden, his gaze fixed on the ornate, snake-shaped door handle.
"Why can't we just follow him to this 'Enclave' of theirs?" he muttered, his voice low.
"Kick down the door, see what secrets they're hiding."
Eden shot him a sharp glance.
"And announce our presence to the entire city? Alert whoever else is lurking in the shadows? Our task is observation, Rey. Information gathering. We need to understand the connection between the Empire and the crimeworld. Rushing in will only guarantee a messy confrontation and potentially compromise the entire mission."
"But this is taking forever," Rey grumbled, crossing his arms.
"Watching this… this accountant sneak into a den of vice every night. What are we even learning?"
"We're learning his habits," Eden replied calmly, his eyes scanning the club's entrance.
"His weaknesses. Who he associates with. Whether he's the type to boast after a few drinks, or if he's more guarded. Patience, Rey. A well-placed question at the right time yields more than a forced entry." He paused, his gaze narrowing slightly.
"The decision to breach their operations rests with the others, unless an… unforeseen opportunity presents itself."
Just then, two figures in polished steel breastplates and crimson cloaks approached them. The insignia of the Adonis gleamed on their shoulders; A skullshaped knights lemes in the middle of a star shaped gear.
"Good evening, gentlemen," one of them said, his voice polite but carrying an undercurrent of authority. He had a neatly trimmed beard and a keen, assessing gaze. His companion, younger and broader, stood slightly behind him, his hand resting near the hilt of his sword.
Eden offered a courteous nod.
"Good evening, officers."
"Been seeing you gentlemen around this district quite a bit lately," the first guard commented, his eyes flicking between Eden and Rey.
"Admiring the nightlife, perhaps?"
Eden offered a disarming smile.
"Indeed. My associate, Mr. Krieg, and I are… connoisseurs of fine establishments. Just arrived in Adonis, you see, and eager to sample its local flavour." He extended a hand.
"I am Sven Aisenhower, by the way."
The guard shook his hand firmly.
"Captain Valerius. And this is Sergeant Marius." He inclined his head towards his partner.
"Welcome to Adonis, Mr. Aisenhower. And Mr. Krieg." His gaze lingered on Rey for a moment longer than necessary.
"Business or pleasure brings you to our fair city?"
"A bit of both, wouldn't you say, Krieg?" Eden interjected smoothly, nudging Rey gently.
"Exploring potential trade routes, while also enjoying the… vibrant culture."
"Right, right," Rey mumbled, a little too quickly.
Captain Valerius's eyes narrowed subtly. "Trade routes, you say? In this part of the city? Mostly entertainment establishments here. Unless you're dealing in… specialized goods?" He allowed a hint of a smile to play on his lips.
Eden chuckled lightly.
"Ah, you know how it is, Captain. One must explore all avenues. Sometimes the most unexpected opportunities arise in the most… colourful of locales." He kept his tone light, deflecting the subtle probe with practiced ease.
"Indeed," Valerius conceded, his gaze still sharp.
"Well, enjoy your evening, gentlemen. Just ensuring all is well in our fair city." He gave another curt nod.
"Sergeant."
The two guards turned and walked away, their polished boots clicking on the cobblestones. Eden watched them until they disappeared around a corner. Just as a wave of relief washed over Rey, the doors of the Serpent's Kiss swung open and Claude stumbled out. He was clearly intoxicated, his tie askew, and his steps unsteady. He mumbled to himself, swaying precariously as he started to walk in the opposite direction from the club occasionally drinking from a green colored bottle.
"Looks like our accountant has had a bit too much 'culture'," Rey observed with a smirk. "Finally going home to the missus, is he?"
"Not quite," Eden said, his eyes following Claude's erratic path.
"He's heading in the general direction of the residential district, but not towards his known address. This could be interesting." He turned to Rey.
"Follow him, discreetly. See where he ends up. I need to have a brief word with our observant Captain Valerius."
Rey stared at him, confusion etched on his face. "You're going back to talk to the guards? Why?"
"They're curious, Rey. It's better to offer a small, controlled piece of information than to leave them wondering. It might buy us some much-needed breathing room." Eden's gaze was firm.
"Follow Claude. Report back later."
Without further explanation, Eden turned and walked in the direction the guards had taken. Rey watched him go, a knot of unease tightening in his stomach. He glanced back at the staggering figure of Claude, now weaving his way down a dimly lit side street. With a sigh, Rey adjusted his coat and melted into the shadows, the drunken accountant his reluctant guide into the....deeper mysteries of Adonis.
Around the corner, the scene that unfolded was a brutal tableau. Captain Valerius and Sergeant Marius were dragging a young woman, her face contorted in a silent scream. Raw terror radiated from her, a palpable wave in the stagnant night air. As they hauled her along the cobblestones, she twisted, arcane energy flaring around her fingertips in a desperate attempt at resistance. Marius, with a guttural grunt, backhanded her arm, the impact dulling the nascent magic. A sickening crack echoed as his fist then slammed into her face.
"Should have grabbed those two back there as well," Marius growled, his breath ragged. "The fancy one with the monocle… he looked right through us, I swear."
Valerius chuckled darkly.
"Patience, Marius. We'll have our fun soon enough." He licked his lips, his gaze lingering on the woman's struggling form. "Maybe a little… preliminary interrogation before we deliver her?"
Before Marius could reply, a gust of wind erupted from the woman, throwing them both back. She scrambled to her feet, a wild look in her eyes, and tried to flee. In that instant, Marius, regaining his footing with surprising speed, hurled his sword. The blade spun through the air, a silver arc in the dim light, and bit deep into the woman's leg, severing it above the knee. She shrieked, collapsing onto the rough stones. Valerius was on her in a flash, his hand clamping around her throat. He punctuated his grip with a vicious punch to her stomach, doubling her over. He then threw her to the ground and began stomping on her back, a string of vile curses spilling from his lips.
Marius picked up his discarded sword, sheathing it with a sigh. He pulled Valerius back.
"Don't damage the merchandise too much, you brute."
He looked down at the woman, who was feebly trying to crawl away, leaving a trail of blood. He kicked her hard in the side sending her sliding a few feet away.
"Well,at this point, she's practically expired anyway." He turned to Marius.
"Do as you like."
As Valerius turned to leave, footsteps echoed from the alley entrance. A figure emerged – a young man in a dark suit, a silver-tipped cane in hand, a monocle gleaming over one eye. Eden.The jovial facade he had so carefully constructed dissolved like mist in the morning sun.
"Guards," Eden said, his voice deceptively calm. Valerius and Marius stiffened.
"Mr. Aisenhower," Valerius said tightly.
"This is none of your concern. Leave."
Eden remained impassive. "I sensed faint traces of Arcana clinging to you. Curious, considering your lack of artifacts and your apparent inability to wield magic yourselves."
A beat of silence. "More curious still is the thick miasma of death that hangs about you, the stench of spilled blood. And the… the whispers."
Being a spiritual being, he could see the clinging shadows of vengeful souls, a silent, screaming chorus trailing the two men. He could feel their emotions and the negativity they exuded.
Marius, still straddling the woman, his hands tightening on her throat, exchanged a look with Valerius.
"Mr. Aisenhower," Valerius said, a forced smile on his face, "you've clearly had a long night. Perhaps you're not thinking clearly about your actions. Since this is our first… proper meeting, I'll overlook this intrusion."
Their eyes flicked downwards, widening in disbelief.
The woman lay still, cradled gently in Eden's arms. Her severed leg was whole again, the flesh seamlessly rejoined. Eden's hand rested over her eyes, a faint silver light emanating from his touch. She was asleep, her ravaged face finally serene.
Valerius and Marius exchanged another look, this time a predatory grin spreading across their faces.
"A magic user," Valerius purred.
"Should have stayed hidden, shouldn't you? Might have lived longer." Marius chuckled.
"And he even healed our little… acquisition. Saves us some trouble. Praise Ignus for this unexpected sacrifice."
Eden slowly rose, the silver cane clicking against the cobblestones as he placed both hands upon it. From the shadow cast by his top hat, a single eye blazed, the Triquetra within it spinning in a dizzying, kaleidoscopic vortex. An instinctive terror, primal and absolute, gripped the two guards. It was lik.....
The feeling of helpless insects caught in a spider's intricate web, about to be devoured.
"If you let us live," Valerius stammered, his bravado crumbling, "we won't tell anyone."
A blanket of darkness descended upon the alley, swallowing the flickering lamplight. The guards were trapped in a silent void, fear paralyzing their limbs.
"Tell the others about me?" Eden's voice echoed from the nothingness, devoid of all warmth.
Then, a chilling voice whispered in thier ears.
"Dead men tell no tales."
Dozens of luminous eyes snapped open within the darkness, fixated on the two terrified figures. The void rushed towards them, a silent, suffocating wave. Their mouths opened in soundless screams.But,
Only silence could be heard.