It was 4.00a.m. and Evelyn slipped into Sebastian's estate. She wore a black suit that blended seamlessly into the darkness. Her fingers flexed at her sides, frost crackling faintly,
Sebastian's been acting strange lately. He hasn't even help with the rebuild and his actions always scream, 'No, don't do this'.
Also I find it strange how he hasn't been showing his face anymore. Ever since Vayne finished Mira's Bakery...well, if he's gone, makes my life easier.
Her boots made no sound against the floor as she moved deeper into the house,
Alright, you slimy bastard. Let's see what skeletons you've got buried.
She started with the study first—it was always the study where people hid their dirty laundry. Or so she hoped. Pushing open the heavy oak door, she scanned the room quickly.
Papers were scattered across the desk, some crumpled, others stained with what looked suspiciously like dried blood.
Messy, messy mayor. she thought and she picked up a piece of paper that caught her eye. Numbers scrawled hastily across it, along with names she recognized immediately.
It consisted of merchants and nobles, all tied together by one thing; money laundering.
Evelyn smirked, tucking the document into her belt pouch.
Sweet! I knew you were a bitch, Sebastian but I didn't think you'd make it this easy for me.
But this is too easy...Where is Sebastian? I can't sense anything else right now.
She moved on to the guest room—a space rarely used, judging by the thin layer of dust coating every surface.
She pushed the door open slowly, careful not to make a sound.
Inside, the room looked untouched… except for the faint glow emanating from beneath the bed. Evelyn knelt down, pulling out a small chest tucked away in the shadows. It was locked, but locks meant little to someone who could freeze metal until it shattered.
This better be worth it. she murmured as frost spread across the lock like veins, cracking it apart within seconds. Inside the chest lay stacks of letters sealed with wax emblems she didn't recognize and a single vial filled with black liquid.
Poison? Forbidden magic? What the hell is this? she thought, frowning as she picked up the vial. She slipped it into her pouch alongside the other documents and as she was about to leave the room, something changed in the air.
A shift in the atmosphere so subtle most wouldn't notice but Evelyn wasn't most people. She felt goosebumps in her entire body and her instincts screamed at her to leave.
What the fuck? The energy...it's so evil. It's something I can't fight!
In Narxiua, magic was typically invoked through chants. Spoken sequences that structured raw mana into usable form. A simple fireball for example, would require a chant like,
"O flame that dances in the void, heed my call and ignite."
With mastery and repetition, a mage could condense that into "Flame, ignite!" and eventually, with enough skill, simply think the concept and make it manifest.
Most trained mages took seconds to recite spells. Skilled ones could cut it to a word or two. But Evelyn?
Evelyn needed neither.
Despite being a commoner who never set foot in a prestigious magic academy, her raw talent was so immense that spell chants had become meaningless. All she needed now was desire and thought.
Evelyn willed a barrier of ice to form around her, shielding her from whatever unseen force pressed against her senses.
I'm not sticking around to die here.
She ran for the exit as her instinct kept screaming at her to get out,
I don't know what that was, as she skidded to a stop once she reached to safety.
But I'm not sticking around to find out.
Before she could take another step, the hairs on the back of her neck stood on end. Without hesitation, she spun around, summoning a trident of ice just as fire chains erupted from the shadows, hurtling toward her face.
"Oh no you don't!" as she deflected the attack. Her trident then shot forward, followed by chains of ice that wrapped around its shaft, extending its reach. The ambusher barely had time to react before the trident pierced his side, catching him completely off guard.
You're done!
With a brutal yank, Evelyn tore the weapon free, ripping the man's arm clean off in the process. He screamed in agony, collapsing to the ground as blood pooled beneath him.
Evelyn loomed over him, her expression cold,
"You're working for Sebastian, aren't you?" she said while stepping on his chest.
The mage groaned in pain, clutching at his severed stump.
"W-we're not working for him…"
Evelyn raised an eyebrow, "Not working for him? Then what the hell are you doing here?"
"We're done with him." the man gasped, "Sebastian is done."
"What do you mean, 'done'?"
"Exactly what I said." the man spat as a tornado of fire erupted around him, engulfing his body in flames.
When the blaze subsided, he was gone. Evelyn stared at the empty space,
Is that why I didn't see the mayor? They killed him? No way. If he was dead, I would've smelled the body.
But that house... something's definitely off. I could go back in, but... my instincts are telling me not to. I need to report this to Lady Seraphina.
Without wasting time, Evelyn hurried back to the inn. She slipped inside quietly, making her way to the room Seraphina and Aric shared. She knocked softly, waiting.
Seraphina who was a light sleeper, recognized the pattern instantly. She rose, still drowsy, and opened the door.
"I have updates milady." Evelyn whispered, stepping inside.
"But... how are you so comfortable sleeping next to Vayne? Doesn't he... disgust you?"
Seraphina yawned and stretched, "Mmmm, it's complicated." she said with a lazy shrug.
"Clearly he's different now. He hasn't once broken the dinner deal or tried anything while sleeping with me. But anyway, tell me what you found."
Evelyn shrugged, "Your slimy mayor has been busy cooking books. Money laundering, bribes, the works."
She handed over the stack of papers and the black vial,
"And this… whatever it is, it gives me bad vibes. You might want to take a closer look."
Seraphina examined the vial, her brow furrowing as she rolled it between her fingers,
"This… feels wrong. Like it's alive somehow."
"Yeah, well, that's not even the weirdest part." Evelyn said grimly,
"I got ambushed by one of Sebastian's lackeys or former lackeys, apparently. They said they're 'done' with him."
"What?" Seraphina asked sharply, "Sebastian's dead?"
"No." Evelyn replied, shaking her head. "At least, I don't think so. But something's definitely off. The house Sebastian is in feels wrong… there's something unnatural about it. Something evil. My instincts told me to get out, and well, I didn't exactly stayed."
Seraphina sank onto the edge of the bed,
Fuck. Everything Aric dreamt about is starting to come eerily true. The shadow figures, Evelyn being attacked... If that's not a death flag, I don't know what is. And Sebastian—he's the traitor Ashwick never saw coming.
Evelyn isn't just anyone. She's one of the strongest ice wielders I know. One of our best warriors. If even she backed off because the energy was too foul...
How much worse will it get? How much more of Aric's visions will become reality?
"If Sebastian's not running things anymore, then who or what is?"
Evelyn crossed her arms "That's what worries me. Whoever or whatever they are, they're planning something big. And we need to figure it out before they strike."
Seraphina nodded slowly, her grip tightening on the vial.
We're running out of time.
"We'll deal with this later. For now, keep this between us. We can't risk panicking the town."
Evelyn gave a nod and slipped out silently, leaving Seraphina alone in the room.
Something's coming. Something we might not be ready for.
And if Aric's dreams continue to unfold into reality...
Her throat felt tight as the next thought formed, We might not be able to stop it.