Then Adam walked past Vince, smiling as he usually did. "You're so talented, Salomon. Remember, today is Thursday. I'll give you until Saturday to rest. After that, you'll be learning far more." Adam's tone was sharp and low.
I barely get any time, Vince thought, his mind still hazy. Adam's words began to blur, his voice loose and drifting. Vince looked at him, then at the disaster around them.
"But what about here? The city, hundreds of people died," Vince said, his tone surprisingly calm.
Adam chuckled slightly as he looked around.
"Oh, don't worry, Salomon. This whole incident will be covered up. Nothing about it will be labeled as 'supernatural.'" As he spoke, he raised his hands dramatically. "The small city of Whiteband fell victim to a sudden disease. Advice to stay away. The cause? The rich man known as Estill, who became infected, causing the death of hundreds." A huge grin spread across Adam's face as he imagined the headlines plastered across newspapers.
Vince stared at him wide-eyed, though that was all he could do, his eyelids were completely gone. This insane man, Vince thought. But then the words of Estill echoed in his head.
No Stackers are sane.
Would I soon fall into that category? Vince's thoughts raced. Would I also lose my sanity?
Adam continued speaking, his voice softer now, almost cheerful.
"Well, Salomon, let's get going. You'll be partially healed on the way there. And I never did ask where you lived, guess events came up too soon."
Then Adam reached toward his back and pulled out a dagger and a mask. The mask was the same kind his group wore, plague-like, surrounded by mist and covered in pimples. It was disgusting to look at.
"I truly welcome you," Adam said calmly.
…
An hour after handing Vince the mask, they walked about twenty minutes to a carriage. When they arrived, Ara, Sydney, and Jasper were there. None of them reacted to his wounds. After being given his items, he received his cherished artifact with its book holder.
The Darken Ages had gained a new member.
Vince spoke a little about himself, but most of it was lies.
He said he followed the god Eta, that he had lived in Koburn for a few years after leaving a small city. He claimed to have excelled in school, lived on his own, and had friends in a church. Despite everything, Vince was a skilled liar. He could fabricate anything with ease. Even when nervous, his lies sounded genuine and convincing.
A false liar through his teeth.
…
Soon after, Vince was dropped off near the middle of Koburn. His face was wrapped in bandages, leaving only his eyes and mouth exposed. His hands were also covered. He drew a few stares, but nothing too heavy.
In his hand was a bag of belongings, his robes and other useful items, including the mask. He had also received fifty gold coins from Adam for his hard work.
He was on the slum side of Koburn. The smell of filth and waste burned his nose, and in the distance he could see things happening in the alleys. During the ride to Koburn, Vince hadn't slept once. He hadn't truly slept in days, and his body felt more drained with every passing second.
Back on the carriage, he remembered Adam telling him that if he wanted to learn more, he should visit the library. Surprisingly, the things I need to know are mostly in the fictional section, he recalled.
From the slums, he could see his church far in the distance. Feeling a slight tug at his heart, he turned away. Even though he was back in Koburn, a place that now felt like hell to him, in his current state, he couldn't go back.
It'd be stupid to even try to go in. I'll stay at a hotel for now. After a while, I'll leave the church for good. I don't want anything to do with them, Vince thought, slowly turning down another street to escape the stench of the slums.
Even with all the hatred he carried in his heart for Adam and that little group, at least he could focus on other things. Still, one thought lingered to kill Adam. If the chain is still with me, what else can I do?
As Vince walked, he thought about everything that had happened to him in the past four days.
Found my father's note, I killed a father and son. Then I ran away, met a monster, met the Darken Ages , almost turned into a monster. I, well, Aden, experienced sixty more years of life. Found his love life. Now that I think about it, how old is my mind? Oh well. And I also killed Estill. Maybe. Wait… my father!
Vince turned around and looked back toward the church.
If my father wrote that note and it was there, what else could be found about him?
Once I'm finally done, I'll return to find more, he thought, a faint spark of happiness crossing his mind.
As he continued walking, he found a small hotel. It wasn't fancy, but it would do. The place was built from old wood, only one story tall, with a few cracked windows and dead plants by the entrance. A worn sign read, "Joe's Hotel."
Opening the door, a small bell rang. Inside, the main room had a few chairs and a small brown desk at the front. Behind it stood a short, balding old man with deep wrinkles and jagged teeth. When he looked at Vince, he almost stumbled back.
"W-Well, hello there, young man," the old man said, his voice slightly trembling.
"One room, please," Vince said in a flat, tired tone. Sleep was weighing on him heavily.
"Y-Yes, ten bronze coins, please!" the man said, turning to grab a set of keys marked with the number 3.
Vince reached into his pocket and pulled out a gold coin.
The old man's eyes went wide in shock. "W-We don, " His words were cut off as Vince dropped the coin on the counter and took the keys.
Looking at the number, Vince walked down the narrow hallway beside the desk. The short corridor was lined with old wooden doors. Reaching room 3, he unlocked it and stepped inside. It was a simple single room, no bathroom, just a small window, a desk to the side, and a narrow bed.
Groaning softly, Vince stretched.
This will do, he thought as he lay down on the bed.
In an instant, his vision went blank, and his consciousness slipped away.
…
When he opened his eyes, Vince shuddered. Everything around him was a void. He could feel his hands and body, yet it all felt unreal, like his body wasn't really there. The sensation was horrifying, almost disgusting. His eyes were wide open, and he could feel the urge to sweat, though no sweat came.
Turning around, confusion filled him.
There were two doors.