The morning fog clung to Thornwick's cobblestone streets like a shroud, muffling the sounds of commerce and conversation that marked the beginning of another day in the town.
Aldric adjusted the black mourning band around his left arm and stepped out into the carefully choreographed performance that would establish his public persona while gathering the intelligence he needed to survive.
His first stop was the offices of Thornwick Academic Quarterly, where Professor Edmund Blackwater maintained his position as senior editor while conducting his own research into what he diplomatically called "historical anomalies."
The professor was a man in his late fifties, with the particular combination of scholarly intensity and social awkwardness that came from spending decades in academic environments where intellectual prowess mattered more than interpersonal skills.
"Master Ashmore," Professor Blackwater said, rising from his desk. "Please accept my condolences on your father's passing. Viktor was... a remarkable researcher. His loss represents a significant gap in our understanding of certain historical periods."
Aldric arranged his expression into the combination of gratitude and vulnerability that would encourage Professor Blackwater to provide comfort through the sharing of knowledge. "Thank you, Professor. I'm still trying to understand the scope of Father's work. I know he corresponded with scholars across multiple institutions, but some of his research interests seemed to go beyond conventional historical study."
Professor Blackwater's expression shifted subtly, revealing the kind of cautious interest that suggested he was familiar with Viktor's less conventional investigations. "Your father was... thorough... in his approach to historical research. He understood that some periods of human development have been incompletely documented through official sources, and that understanding them requires examination of alternative records."
Alternative records. The phrase was carefully chosen, suggesting material that existed outside normal academic channels without directly acknowledging supernatural content.
"I've found some of his correspondence mentioning materials that don't seem to appear in any standard historical catalogs," Aldric said, projecting the kind of intellectual curiosity that would appeal to an academic while maintaining the naive tone of someone who hadn't yet understood the implications of what he'd discovered.
"Yes, well..." Professor Blackwater glanced around his office as if concerned about potential eavesdroppers, then moved closer to Aldric and lowered his voice. "Viktor had developed relationships with certain... collectors... who maintained archives that weren't available through conventional institutional channels. Some historical periods have been deliberately obscured from public education, you understand. Political reasons, religious sensitivities, that sort of thing."
He knows, Aldric realized. Not the full truth, but enough to recognize that Viktor's research dealt with suppressed historical information.
"That sounds like it could be quite valuable for someone trying to understand those periods," Aldric said. "Did Father ever mention how someone might gain access to such archives?"
Professor Blackwater studied him carefully, as if assessing whether this young man could be trusted with sensitive information. "Some things, Master Ashmore, are better learned gradually. Your father understood that certain knowledge carries... responsibilities... that not everyone is prepared to accept."
Before Aldric could probe further, the office door opened to admit a young woman whose presence immediately shifted the dynamic in the room. She was perhaps eighteen or nineteen, dressed in the practical clothing of a university student, but Professor Blackwater's reaction suggested she was someone whose opinions carried weight despite her apparent youth.
"Miss Goldwright," Professor Blackwater said, with the kind of respectful attention that suggested this young woman possessed either exceptional academic credentials or some other form of authority. "I'd like you to meet Master Aldric Ashmore. His father was Viktor Ashmore, the antiquarian."
Sera Goldwright extended her hand with the confidence of someone comfortable in academic environments, but Aldric immediately detected something more complex beneath her scholarly facade. Her gaze was assessing him with capabilities beyond normal human perception.
Watcher bloodline, again.
"Master Ashmore," she said, her voice carrying the cultured accent of aristocratic education combined with the practical directness of someone accustomed to serious intellectual work. "I knew your father by reputation. His research into historical preservation techniques was quite innovative."
Historical preservation techniques. Another carefully coded reference to supernatural knowledge.
"Miss Goldwright is one of our most promising graduate students," Professor Blackwater explained. "She's been assisting with research into certain specialized historical materials that require... particular handling methods."
Aldric felt Sera's attention as she studied his reactions to these coded references. She was clearly testing whether he understood the true nature of his father's work, but her approach was more sophisticated than the direct probing he'd experienced from the various faction representatives.
"I hope to continue Father's work," he said, maintaining his pose of earnest intellectual curiosity. "Though I have to admit, some of his research methods went over my head. Miss Goldwright, perhaps you could help me understand what makes certain historical materials require specialized handling?"
Sera's expression shifted slightly, revealing what might have been satisfaction at his apparent naivety. "Some historical artifacts are more... delicate... than they appear. Improper handling can result in deterioration or sometimes unexpected reactions. Your father was quite skilled at recognizing which materials needed special precautions."
She's offering to educate me, Aldric realized. Either as a way of assessing my potential value to House Goldwright interests or as a method of ensuring I don't accidentally trigger something dangerous through ignorance.
"That sounds like knowledge I should definitely acquire," Aldric said. "Would you be willing to show me some examples of these specialized handling techniques?"
Before Sera could respond, Professor Blackwater cleared his throat diplomatically. "Perhaps such discussions would be more appropriate in a less public setting. Some academic matters are better addressed through private consultation."
Aldric nodded understandingly while making note of the clear indication that both Professor Blackwater and Sera Goldwright were involved in supernatural research that couldn't be discussed openly in academic environments.
Leaving the university with promises to schedule private consultations with both scholars, Aldric made his way to St. Erasmus Chapel, where he would continue his performance of grief-driven soul seeking comfort while assessing the local religious hierarchy.
The chapel was a modest but beautiful structure. Its gothic stonework spoke of centuries of accumulated faith and community devotion. Brother Aldwin Cross was conducting morning prayers with a small congregation of perhaps twenty people, his voice carrying the resonant quality that came from genuine conviction combined with formal training.
Aldric slipped into a rear pew, arranging himself in the posture of someone seeking comfort through spiritual contemplation. As Brother Aldwin concluded the service and began speaking individually with congregants, Aldric had the opportunity to observe the priest's interactions with his parishioners.
Brother Aldwin was perhaps forty-five years old, with the kind of steady presence that suggested someone who had found genuine peace through religious dedication. But as Aldric watched him counsel an elderly woman about her husband's illness, he detected subtle signs that the priest's spiritual worldview extended beyond conventional Orthodox doctrine.
He knows about supernatural forces. Not necessarily the full scope, but enough to recognize when spiritual problems have practical dimensions that normal theology can't address.
When the chapel had emptied except for the two of them, Brother Aldwin approached Aldric's pew with the gentle attention of someone trained to recognize spiritual distress.
"I don't believe we've met," Brother Aldwin said, settling into the pew beside him. "I'm Brother Aldwin Cross. I heard about your father's passing. Viktor was a good man who faced some difficult challenges in his later years."
Difficult challenges. Another coded reference that suggested Brother Aldwin knew Viktor's work had involved dangerous elements.
"Thank you, Brother," Aldric replied, projecting the kind of spiritual seeking that would encourage religious guidance. "I'm Aldric Ashmore. I have to admit, Father's death has left me questioning a lot of things I used to take for granted."
Brother Aldwin nodded with the understanding of someone who had counseled many people through similar crises. "Loss often forces us to examine beliefs we've never had to defend. What particular aspects of faith are you finding difficult?"
Aldric paused as if gathering courage to voice troubling thoughts. "Father seemed to believe that there were... forces... in the world that most people don't understand. Things that the Church doesn't talk about directly. I'm struggling to reconcile those ideas with conventional religious teaching."
Brother Aldwin's expression became more guarded but also more interested. "Your father was a thoughtful man who understood that reality contains more complexity than most people are prepared to accept. The Church has always recognized that creation includes elements that require... careful interpretation."
He's admitting that official Church doctrine conceals or simplifies spiritual realities that are too complex or dangerous for general consumption.
"Did Father ever discuss these matters with you?" Aldric asked.
"We had several conversations about the relationship between historical research and spiritual understanding," Brother Aldwin said carefully. "Viktor believed that faith required engagement with difficult truths, not retreat into comfortable simplifications."
Their conversation was interrupted by the chapel door opening to admit a young woman whose presence immediately created an atmosphere of unease. She was perhaps seventeen, dressed in the simple clothing of a working family, but there was something about her that made the air itself seem colder.
Brother Aldwin rose immediately, his expression shifting to concern. "Mira, child, what's wrong?"
The girl, Mira, looked around the chapel with the particular desperation of someone seeking sanctuary from forces they couldn't understand or control.
"They're getting stronger, Brother," she said, her voice carrying the strain of someone who hadn't slept properly in weeks. "The voices, the visions. Last night I saw Mrs. Henderson's death three hours before it happened, and there was nothing I could do to warn her because no one believes me."
[Name: Mira (???)]
[Age: 17]
[The Chain: Mourner]
[Current Order: 9 (Griever)]
[Connected Entity: The Grief Eternal (The Mourner of All Endings)]
[Corruption Level: 15% (Manageable but increasing)]
[Mental Stability: 55% (Declining due to uncontrolled visions)]
[TRAUMA RESPONSE: PTSD FROM WITNESSING DEATHS]
[Trauma Type: Repeated supernatural exposure to death/tragedy]
[Duration: Ongoing for 6+ months]
[Trigger Frequency: Multiple times per week]
[Hypervigilance: Constantly scanning for signs of impending death]
[Emotional Numbing: Difficulty feeling joy or hope due to constant exposure to tragedy]
[Survivor's Guilt: Blames herself for deaths she "should have" prevented]
[Helplessness: Overwhelming sense of powerlessness against fate]
[Isolation Level: Severe (98% social disconnection)]
[Support Network: Minimal (only Brother Aldwin provides limited help)]
[Stigma Impact: High (community views her as "disturbed")]
[Trust Levels: Critical (desperate for anyone who believes her)]
[Exploitation Risk: 95% chance of being manipulated by the first person who offers genuine help]
[Faction Susceptibility: Desperate enough to join any group that validates her experiences]
[Information Security: Would reveal everything to someone who shows understanding]
[Loyalty Potential: Extreme gratitude toward anyone who provides guidance]
[Learning Capacity: High (intelligence + motivation)]
[Strategic Value: HIGH]
[Recommended Approach: Validation + Gradual Integration]
The system interface flickered to life, displaying Mira's profile in detailed analysis.
"Well, this is incredible," Aldric muttered quietly, scanning through the system's accurate assessment. "If I was still running cons, this would be worth millions. Perfect victim profiling, complete vulnerability mapping and even a recommended approach. It's like having x-ray vision for human weakness." He shook his head grimly. "The Puppet Master really doesn't mess around."