The year 1032: Second Era (Blue Dawn)-(Blumoon)
* Admerion: "(Northeast)" Gray Land Region
Redlord Town: Alim Tavern
From the outside, it looks unenjoyable, gloomy, and unfriendly. Hardwood planks and sandstone pillars make up most of the building's outer structure.
It's hard to see through the large, stained-glass windows, but the uncomfortable atmosphere from within can be felt from the outside. The building was a tavern built by old man Markom and sold to a family of four, the "Alim Family."
Arden took a deep breath and opened his eyes. The beer smell started lingering around his nose from the second he woke up.
He got up from his wooden bed and wore his black boots and simple clothes, then looked outside from the dirty window just close to his wooden, rusty bed.
The streets were empty because of the rain. He let out a cold breath and nodded.
"The rain has continued for two days now. I wonder when it will stop. "
Arden asked himself in his mind.
"The shape-shifters will be awakening and starting to go to the forest. If everything is right "
Arden was a young man in his twenties, twenty-four years old to be exact. Black, long hair gently hangs over a thin, handsome but cold face.
All in one, bloodshot hazel eyes set dreadfully within their sockets. Arden was a young, handsome man.
Redlord Town was a singular town in which no empire or country had taken hold at all. It was managed by the town leader and town council members.
Night watchers are people who watch the town at night if there are any "shape-shifters" staying in the town and not leaving the town at night.
Arden paid five copper coins a day; it was not much, but enough to live on. He has nobody to look after anyway.
Arden wore his jacket and took a cigarette from his pocket, lighting it with the flick of his hand.
As he took a deep breath from his cigarette, he exhaled and kept watching the streets.
Shape-shifters are human beings who turn into different kinds of magical creatures at night. Arden knew of two types of shape-shifters, and these two were very different from what he had seen until now.
The first type was regular shape-shifters, who have no control over their shape-shifting instincts and turn every night without any kind of will whatsoever. Most of these types do not have any kind of control over their behavior after shapeshifting is complete.
Some old-fashioned shape-shifters were able to control their bodies even after they had transformed into their innate self.
The second type was the "Lord Shape-shifters", who can control when to transform into their shapeshifting creatures, as well as improve their abilities and use some sort of "Soul Stone" to learn some kind of information about themselves that Arden himself doesn't know about.
As Arden was smoking his cigarette, his door was knocked on and an old man with a beer in his right hand entered his room and started talking with anxiety all over his face.
Arden, you have to come. It seems like on Blasberg there is a shape-shifter out of control. "
Arden did not say anything and just rushed towards the exit of the tavern.
He passed all the people, not even bothered by them, even if he was bumping into almost every one of them.
He left the tavern and was welcomed by strong rain. The air was cold and dark, not a good time to be outside.
He started running towards Blasberg, the name of some sort of neighborhood in Redlord Town.
After about ten minutes, he saw a lot of people surrounding some sort of point in the middle. He yelled.
"Open the way, the Night Watcher is here."
With the arrival of Arden, the townspeople started talking to each other. The ones who were talking about influential figures in Red Lord Town
"With Night Watcher here, the vile shapeshifter will be found in no time!"
Poor girl. I hope Night Watcher finds the one who killed the girl and broke the first rule for shapeshifters. "
After Arden yelled, the people who had gathered in one spot opened a way for him and showed him the reason for the gathering.
The rain was pouring out on the onlookers' heads, but nobody wanted to leave the corpse of the woman alone, so they kept watching.
A young woman, perhaps fifteen or sixteen years old, was lying on the wet stone ground. Fresh blood was staining the ground, which was slowly washed away by the heavy rain.
Arden gave out a cold breath and yelled first before inspecting the young woman.
"We need a doctor here."
This book's true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.
One of the young boys noticed the look Arden had given to him and nodded as he answered and started running.
"I will go to Old Hampton and call him."
Arden did not answer the young boy and started inspecting the corpse of the young woman. She was young and beautiful, with jet black hair. Her eyes were still open even at the time of her death.
The smell of blood was non-existent because of the cold and rain. Arden thought it was a good thing for everyone, even if they were not used to death and or sorrow.
Arden tilted his head to the right and started thinking.
"There are several wounds from claws on her belly. The claws are not big, about one to two cm, but they are razor sharp. "
Arden changed his perspective and moved to the left side of the woman. He then inspected the neck of the girl and noticed some sort of thing that he could not miss.
"There are yellow specks of dust on the neck of the woman. The shape-shifter who killed the girl must have some sort of innate creature who sprays "yellow-colored dust" when attacking or getting ready to attack.
Other than watching for safety. Night Watchers also have the mission of investigating the murders of shape-shifters who let themselves loose.
Arden already has some sort of idea in his mind. At that time, Old Doctor Hampson came with the young blonde boy.
"This is bad, Arden, and you know it."
Arden looked at Old Doctor Hampton and nodded, then spoke.
"There is one more thing that you should know, but others may not need to know right now."
Old Doctor Hampton furrowed his brows and coughed a little because of the rain and coldness.
"I heard from the young boy, Zeta, that you need my help. Arden, what is it? "
Arden then showed the yellow-colored sand on his hands all over the corpse of the young woman, which can only be noticed by those who know what it means.
Old Doctor Hampton saw the yellow dust and looked at Arden. It seemed like he did not know what to say.
Arden started talking.
I did not remember it directly, but after looking at it with a bit of great attention, I know who the shape-shifter is.
Hampton gave out a cold breath and looked at Arden with great expectation.
Hampton has known Arden for about two years now, and he knows that if Arden exhibits these kinds of behaviors, it must be a big thing.
Arden then silently started talking. Hampton, who was too close to him, hardly heard what he said.
This is not yellow dust, but gold dust. Gold Dust is the bloodline shapeshifting creature of "Gold Dust Lynx", which is the bloodline of "Town Leader Ariston."
He may not be the killer, but he has three sons and three daughters, and we don't know if they are shape-shifters. "
Redlord Town-Red Manor (Manor Of Town Leader Ariston)
Black, curly hair slightly reveals a chiseled, warm face. Hooded amber eyes, set graciously within their sockets, watch cautiously over the natives they've come to appreciate for so long. Tribal marks in the form of 1 stripe under each eye mark his ancestry but, more importantly, leave a pleasant memory of hidden talents.
This is the face of Ariston Red, despite his athletic frame. There's something ambiguous about him; perhaps it's his composure, or perhaps it's simply a feeling of arrogance. Nevertheless, people tend to befriend him while learning as much about him as possible.
Ariston was walking back and forth in his bedroom. His face showed clear anxiety and problematic expressions.
Seconds later, a man in iron armor entered his room of Ariston. Arison directly asked.
"Did the body of the girl find its way here?"
The guard thought a little and then answered, looking down on the floor, seemingly afraid of Ariston's anger.
"Yes, my lord, unfortunately, it was found out by the Night Watcher."
Ariston got angry after hearing the response from the Iron Guard and punched the wooden wall and started talking.
For God's sake, if it was just an ordinary watcher, there would be no problem, but night watchers are not like that. He or she would most likely have found out that the murderer was from the Red Family.
The Iron Guard let out a breath and watched the wooden wall break from the punch of Ariston. One look at this weak-looking man. People would not expect him to be able to break a wooden wall, but the Iron Guard was no fool. He knew that Ariston was a Lord Shape-Shifter.
Ariston calmed down a little bit and walked to his desk, sat on his brown chair, looked at the Iron Guard, and asked.
"Who is the Nightwatcher that investigated the corpse of the woman?"
The Iron Guard answered with some hesitation in his voice.
"It is Arden Moon Night, my lord."
Ariston gave out a cold breath and whispered to himself.
"It is bad for us."
Ariston was asked a question by the Iron Guard at the time.
"My lord, I would like to ask about Arden Moon Night. Why would he be a problem for us?"
Ariston took a deep breath and looked outside through his clean glass window.
"If I am not remembering wrongly, he was sent here from the Four Star Islands. "
The Iron Guard gulped as he heard about the Four Star Islands, which got their name not because they were beautiful, but because they were close to each other and each was ruled by an Island King.
Island Kings are essentially strong pirate lords, which means that the lands they control are no different than places with no crime whatsoever. Everything is fair game in the land of pirates, be it killing or any kind of use of a drug-like substance.
If Arden Blacknight had come from one of the islands that connected to the Four Star Islands, it would have created a big problem for them.
Ariston is thinking in his mind about how to form a deal with Arden Moon Night. If the corpse of a young woman had been investigated by an ordinary night watcher, he may have tried to intimidate the night watcher to keep his silence.
But Arden Moon Night was not a person who was intimidated by himself. At the same time, Ariston does not want to have a bad relationship with a Nightwatcher.
Nightwatcher Guild is a strong and deep guild that even strong empires and organizations would not want to have a bad relationship with, and every member of the guild, weak or strong, has some sort of basic protection that comes from Nightwatcher Guild.
The Nightwatcher Guild has landed in the Gray Land Region close to Redlord Town.
Ariston is thinking about the Nightwatcher Guild.
The Nightwatcher Guild was founded about 10.000 years ago in First Era 341 by Lord Night for understanding and stop shapeshifters who have evil motives.
Considering that they have quarters in the Gray Land Region, it does not make any sense to deal with this Arden Moon Night using evil means.
Ariston took a deep breath, looked at the Iron Guard, and started talking.
Bring Arden Moon Night here, and tell him that Town Leader Ariston would like to talk to him.
The Iron Guard thought a little bit and was about to ask something, but his mouth did not open and he left the room.
Ariston, at that time, started preparing some paper documents.
-
Arden watched as some guards put the corpse of a young woman inside a big linen sack and took him to the cemetery. The corpse of the young woman was no longer important as he already had the evidence he needed as well as the report that needed to be written. He also learned that the name of the girl was "Alicia Lelia," the daughter of "Armon Lelia," a small businessman who was here in Redlord Town for trading.
"I need to go home to clear this document before it gets wet."
Arden thought as he looked at the night. With quick steps, he started walking towards his home.
The home of Arden was not big and made of wood; it was in the region of "Bluelight." There are only six different neighborhoods or regions in Redlord Town. Bluelight was one of them, and it was in the middle when it comes to people's quality of life there.
Arden entered his house, gave out a cold breath, and walked directly towards his working room, starting to write the things he needed to add to the report on the young woman.