Evan’s heart pounded in his chest as he squared off with Gromm in the dimly lit alleyway. The narrow passage felt like a cage, and the air was heavy with tension. The smell of rot and urine mixed with the smell of stale ale almost made Evan sick. Without his weapons, Evan knew he was at a disadvantage, but he couldn’t afford to back down.
Gromm grinned menacingly, his sword glinting in the light. “You’re in over your head. Let’s see how long you can dance before I cut you down.”
Clenching his fists, Evan took a defensive stance, his eyes locked onto Gromm. The first strike came fast and heavy. Gromm swung his sword with brutal force, but Evan managed to evade it, the point of the sword came dangerously close as his instincts and agility compensated for the lack of a weapon. The clash of metal against stone echoed through the alley.
Dropping low, Evan’s mind raced, desperately searching for a strategy. He couldn’t outmuscle Gromm, but perhaps he could outwit him long enough to escape.
Evan jumped back as Gromm swung his sword where he had just been. It carried past, arcing down diagonally, causing Gromm to stumble. Evan stepped around Gromm as he stumbled and delivered a powerful kick to his back, sending him crashing into a stack of crates.
The alleyway trembled as the crates collapsed, sending rats scampering away from where Gromm struggled to get back to his feet. Evan’s eyes darted around, assessing the surroundings, looking for anything that might help him.
“You little rat.” Swore Gromm as he pointed his sword at Evan. “I’m going to enjoy gutting you. No one talks about my mother and gets away with it.”
Evan grunted as he sidestepped Gromm’s thrust. Ducking as Gromm twisted the sword sideways at the last second, the blade just missing Evan’s head.
“Why did you lie about the carriage attack.” Asked Evan.
“The boss told me to. He ordered the attack. If I hadn’t gotten lost, I would have been with the group to lead the attack.” Laughed Gromm. He cut upwards with his sword, Just missing Evan again.
Evan jumped back as Gromm reversed the sword’s direction, bringing the sword point down just as Evan moved his foot.
“That would have been my foot if I had been just a second slower.” Thought Evan as he stepped under another swing. “I need to get away from him. I can’t outmuscle an overgrown walking mountain. "
Taking a deep breath, Evan focused on the chaos magic within him.
Embracing the turbulent energies, Evan envisioned the alleyway changing. He willed the chaotic forces to alter the very fabric of reality. The ground quivered beneath his feet as the cobblestones shifted, creating an uneven terrain that played to his advantage.
Gromm, grunted as he charged forward, only to find himself stumbling on the altered ground. Evan darted around him, using the new landscape to his benefit, as he kicked Gromm in the back again.
The alleyway seemed to groan as cracks snaked up the surrounding walls, and loose debris rained down from above.
Evan’s breath quickened, adrenaline fueling his every move. Gromm, growing frustrated, roared in anger, his attacks becoming more ferocious as he reached forward after a quick thrust to grab Evan by his shirt.
“Caught you.” Laughed Gromm as he slammed Evan against the closet wall. “Now you will pay.”
Gromm pulled Evan back, before slamming him into the wall again as he kicked Gromm hard in the chest. Evan’s vision began to waver as he felt himself being thrown down the alleyway.
Groaning, Evan struggled to his knees, watching as Gromm smiled at him as he raised his sword.
“Human. You need to kill him or run. This fight is lost if we continue.” Shouted Ardentrex’s voice.
Evan tapped into the chaos magic as Ardentrex continued to scream at him. The air shimmered with energy as he directed the chaotic forces toward Gromm. The very fabric of reality twisted and contorted, and with a deafening roar, Gromm was engulfed in a vortex of swirling chaos.
“Burn” Shouted Evan as he felt the exhaustion hit him as he stared at the aftermath. The alleyway bore the scars of their fierce confrontation. Gromm lay on the ground, burns covering parts of his body.
“Shit.” panted Evan as distant sounds of approaching guards reached his ears. Panic surged through him as he realized the precarious situation, watching as Gromm managed to crawl away, retreating into the shadows.
“This is not over.” Came Gromm’s retreating shout. “Next time you will die.”
With a final glance at the chaos he had wrought, Evan slipped into the darkness, leaving behind a shattered alleyway. Dust fell as small chunks of the walls still fell away.
Evan stumbled along the dimly lit streets, his breath ragged and his body aching. The sounds of distant footsteps and muffled conversations filled the air as he weaved through the crowded market. His eyes darted nervously, scanning the faces of passersby, half-expecting the guards to emerge from the shadows.
Evan’s stomach growled in protest. “I haven’t eaten in hours, days maybe.” He thought as the aroma of fresh produce wafted through the air as he passed a market stall. The temptation of food proved too much, and with a swift, furtive glance around, Evan snatched an apple from the vendor’s display as he walked past.
Looking back as he walked away, the vendor hadn’t noticed anything as he haggled with another customer over the price of carrots. Evan, clutching the stolen fruit, quickened his pace and melted into the gathering shadows.
As he walked he kept to back alleys and side roads, Evan made his deeper into the slum areas, and the atmosphere shifted with the houses becoming more rundown and decaying as he went. The alleys became narrower, and the flickering glow of lanterns cast long, distorted shadows on the uneven walls as night began to creep in. The murmur of conversations turned into hushed whispers, and wary eyes followed Evan’s every move.
A group of rough-looking individuals blocked his path, eyeing him with suspicion. “Look what we got here,” one of them sneered, stepping forward menacingly. “Take a wrong turn, did you? How about we help relieve you of anything of value hey.”
Evan tensed, realizing that trouble had found him again. His mind raced, considering his options. Before the situation escalated, a cloaked figure emerged from the shadows, standing between Evan and the potential threat.
“Leave him be,” the figure commanded, a voice of authority cutting through the tension.
The group, momentarily taken aback, exchanged uneasy glances. “Come on You lot. let’s go down to Percy’s.” Said the same man as before.
The cloaked figure turned toward Evan, lowering the hood to reveal the face of a young priestess with gentle features. Her eyes, filled with compassion, met Evan’s gaze.
“Are you all right?” she asked, concern evident in her voice.
Evan, caught off guard by the intervention, nodded gratefully. “Thanks. I didn’t need more trouble tonight.”
The priestess offered a reassuring smile. “The slums can be unforgiving sometimes. Everyone here has to fight to survive. You seem like you need help. Follow me to the temple, you’ll find safety there.”
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The Priestess walked off ahead as Evan debated going with her. “I promise you no harm will come to you in the temple.” She said as she waited for Evan to follow.
Evan followed her, turning left and right in a twisting maze. Before long, they reached a humble temple nestled in the heart of the slums. Walking up the entrance stairs the priestess held her hand out for Evan to enter.
As Evan walked inside, the noise and smell of the slums disappeared. The air inside carried a peace that contrasted sharply with the chaos outside.
As Evan stopped to stare at the sight in front of him, the priestess, spoke. “You’re safe here. My name is priestess Rhea. The temple provides solace to those in need. Now, if you follow me I will take you to the refuge in the back.”
Evan followed Rhea through a doorway at the rear of the room, walking past a small shrine next to the doorway. The shrine held a statue of the goddess Cora, the goddess of Fertility, Spring, and the Underworld.
“The goddess has a way of guiding those who seek refuge,” she said, her eyes glinting with a hint of mysterious delight. “Rest here, may the goddess’s light illuminate you and guide your path.”
Evan watched as Rhea walked away with a sigh, he turned and rolled out the sleeping roll that was in the corner of the room. “One goddess’s guidance is enough for me.” Thought Evan as he lay down. “Don’t need another to try and help me any more than what mine has. Ha. No, thank you.” Laughed Evan as he sat up looking around for a blanket. “Not even a blanket hey. Well, I should be glad that I am alive at this point. I need to find where Isolde is and see if she will help me. Might even be able to find out who this boss figure is pulling the strings.” He sighed again before closing his eyes. “Hopefully tomorrow is a better day.”
Evan lay on the makeshift bed, giving up on sleep when he heard a voice calling him. “Evan,” she whispered, gently shaking him awake. “The guards are here, they say they are looking for someone who matches your description. You must get out of here. I’ll do what I can to hold them off. Follow me.”
Evan nodded, rising from the thin mattress. He followed Rhea through the dimly lit corridors, the flickering candles casting dancing shadows on the walls. As they reached the back entrance, Rhea turned to him, a sadness in her eyes.
“May the goddess watch over you,” she whispered, placing a hand on Evan’s forehead. Her murmured blessings lingered in the air as she turned around and began making her way towards the sounds of someone pounding the temple doors.
Evan slipped through the back door, stepping into the cool night air. The stench of the slums intensified as darkness settled in, a mixture of dampness, rot, and the distant aroma of old street food. The narrow alleys cast long, twisting shadows and the occasional flickering lantern revealed glimpses of furtive figures lurking in the corners.
Moving silently through the mess of streets, Evan’s senses were heightened as he scanned for anyone who might be following him. Turning a corner, he spotted Sylas leaving a building across the street. The sounds coming from inside and the girls standing around the entrance made Evan shake his head, as he watched Sylas walk down the street. The massive great sword strapped to his back glinted subtly in the dim light.
“Well. Well. Well. What is he doing here?” Thought Evan. “I wonder if he knows where Gromm is.”
Evan trailed behind Sylas, the rhythmic clinking of the sword hitting Sylas’s armour and the hushed whispers of the night the only noises that could hide Evan’s movements. They weaved through the slums until they reached a two-story stone building on the outskirts. Sylas paused before entering. Evan stepped and grabbed the door before it closed as he slipped inside.
The interior was dimly lit, a narrow hallway with doors set down on both sides. Evan listened as he slowly crept forward, in the first room to the right, Evan recognized Gromm’s gruff voice, its tone laced with bitterness and hostility.
“I don’t care how much gold we’re getting paid, I won’t be doing this much longer. The guards are getting too close, and I won’t end up rotting in a dungeon for that boss of ours.”
Evan slipped into the next room and crouched behind a stack of crates, heart pounding as he listened through the wall. As he eavesdropped on the conversation, Evan slowly put together what they were discussing.
“The Boss wants us to move up the timeline. We need to break into the Duskmire mansion to kill Isolde and her sister Elara. Tomorrow night is the deadline we have.” Said Gromm.
“Does he think we haven’t been trying? That place has more guards and defences than the king’s palace.” Replied a voice Evan didn’t recognise.
Evan strained to listen from his concealed position, the crates offering just enough cover to keep him hidden. The coldness in Gromm’s voice sent a chill down his spine. “They are after Isolde and her sister. I need to stop them.” Thought Evan
“Look, Gromm, breaking into that place is suicide. We need a solid plan, not just charging in like a bunch of fools,” interjected another voice, it was gruffer, more of a growl than speech.
“I don’t care about the plan. The Boss gave an order, and we will follow it. If you don’t like it, you can join Isolde in the afterlife,” Gromm growled, his tone leaving no room for argument.
Evan’s mind raced. Isolde was in danger. He needed to warn her, to devise a plan to protect her from this imminent threat. Evan considered his options, contemplating the best course of action.
“I need to get moving. I need to find the mansion and talk to Isolde.” Thought Evan as he stealthily slipped out of the building. “Shit. I don’t know where anything is here. Hmm. Maybe I should wait for them and tail Gromm. Or even the others. If they head out to gather information for the Boss and their plans, then he should at least head to the mansion to scout.”
Evan waited in the shadows as Gromm and 6 others left the building they were in and began to make their way through the alleyways. Gromm continued to bark orders as the group discussed their strategy. Evan silently followed them from a distance, sticking to the shadows of the narrow streets.
They weaved through the winding alleys of the slums, before crossing over into the richer area of Sylvanreach. Duskmire Mansion stood tall as the group approached it, a looming silhouette against the night sky. The tall iron and stone fence surrounding the mansion made it stand out from the surrounding area.
The fence, adorned with intricate wrought ironwork, bore patterns of twisted vines and thorns, creating an imposing yet elegant barrier. The moonlight glinted off the sharp edges, casting eerie shadows on the cobbled path leading to the mansion’s grand entrance.
Evan’s thoughts raced, as he trailed the group, he couldn’t help but feel that he would end up in the middle of the attack to come. “Am I going to fight to protect this family? I barely even know them. No. I can stand by and watch people harm others and not do something. Lily would demand I protect them.” He thought as he watched Gromm and the others walking around the fence.
Evan crouched in the shadows, concealed by the night as he waited for Gromm and the others to return. The slums were alive with murmurs and distant sounds, but the group’s footsteps grew louder, heralding their approach.
As they disappeared into a nearby building, Evan decided to bide his time and wait for a more opportune moment. The sun slowly brought a dim light to the city as it began to rise. Evan felt the weight of exhaustion seeping into his bones, as he kept watch for any activity.
As the Town began to wake for the new day, Evan slipped into an Empty room on the top floor of a building opposite the mansion. “I’ll stay here for today.” He told himself, almost as if he was trying to convince someone of the fact. Evan yawned as he lay down on the hard wooden floor. A thin layer of dust made him sneeze. “I need sleep. I won’t be able to protect anyone if I don’t get some sleep.”
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The sun dipped below the horizon, casting long shadows across the streets, as Evan, now wearing a tattered cloak to obscure his features, approached Duskmire Mansion. The iron fence loomed before him as he studied it for a moment, the intricate patterns and the imposing height.
Evan scaled the fence, straining at the effort, the wrought iron cutting into his hands. He landed on the other side, narrowly avoiding a patrolling guard as he hid behind the shrubs lining the inside wall. Sticking to the shadows, Evan slowly made his way around to the back of the mansion. An open window on the ground floor gave him a way to get inside the building. With caution, he slipped inside, avoiding the gaze of the guards.
Moving through the mansion’s corridors silently, Evan made his way to the staircase that led to the upper levels, hiding inside rooms as he hid from the guard patrols and the hushed whispers of servants.
As Evan reached an upper level, he spotted Isolde as she walked into one of the rooms. His eyes narrowed with a mix of confusion and frustration. Evan slipped in after her and softly closed the door behind him.
“Why did you say I was part of the attack?” he asked quietly, revealing himself.
Isolde, startled, looked at him in surprise. “What are you doing here?” she whispered back.
“I need answers,” Evan insisted, stepping closer to her.
Before Isolde could respond, the door swung open, revealing her sister, Elara. Her eyes narrowed at the intruder, and she immediately launched a gust of wind pushing Evan back.
“Isla, who is this?” Elara demanded, her magical energies crackling around her.
“He’s not here to harm us,” Isolde replied, trying to defuse the situation.
Elara ignored Isolde as she continued her assault, Evan slid under a chair that sped past his head, as he avoided her magical attacks without retaliating. Isolde stepped between them, trying to reason with her sister.
“Elara, stop! He’s not an enemy. I can explain,” Isolde pleaded.
“Get out of the way Isla. I won’t let him hurt you anymore.” Shouted Elara.
“Why does this always happen to me.” Thought Evan as he raised his hand, pointing it at Elara.
“Don’t make me hurt you. I only want answers. Why am I being accused of attacking Isolde? I saved her life.” Asked Evan.
“Stop now, both of you.” Groaned Isolde. “You are both behaving like spoilt children. Let me explain what is going on. Please. You can go back to trying to kill each other after ok.”