Awaking to a new day, Aldrin still felt good. The lingering deed had refreshed his mind and body. Feeling rejuvenated, he needed to figure out a way to get past magical locks, and he was in the perfect place to do so. While Aldrin had been mapping out the city, he came across a shop called Rune-Keys.
He needed to hurry now that he had cut off the supply from the Slavers. His current plan of action was to hopefully acquire a Potion that would allow him to bypass the magical lock on Tanyth’s study and whatever lies behind the vault-like doors beneath the library.
Taking his daily dose of blood, he headed down to begin his new plan. He saw Pierre was up early, getting a head start on the day. He had found a new joy here as he experimented with different ingredients. Lately, he had been working on restocking essential Potions for the road ahead.
That very same road looked bleak to Aldrin, since Pierre had yet to find any traces of a cure. However, he tracked down the Heilsdale Flower, saying that it comes from the swampy lands of Eliohend. It was both a stressor and a relief to Aldrin because he was happy to know that the only thing that could harm him came from the birthplace of most of the lethal poisons in the world. However, it also begged the question as to who would be crazy enough to venture into Eliohend for the flower in the first place.
But he was soon about to join the crazy list since the longer he spent here, the more it became a dead end. That would make them move to Plan B, the Progenitor Lands which they would need to be drastically stronger for. Luckily, once they got to the coastal mercenary town of Ebira, they could take on Contract Quest, which was people handing out Quests rather than having it assigned to your Adventurer Guild Badge.
Jared’s mood was a lot better, to say the least, after a full night of rest in bed. He along with Pierre were at their claimed corner booth eating breakfast.
“How was last night?” Pierre asked, making room for Aldrin to sit down.
“I probably put the city in a lot more danger, but on the plus side, I saved some people last night,” Aldrin replied.
“Saved them how?” Jared skeptically asked.
“I gave them their freedom and some money,” He nonchalantly answered.
“And how do you feel?” Pierre asked.
Aldrin sat back against the cushioned booth, “Honestly, better than I have since becoming what I am.” Both of them smiled softly at him and continued to eat their food.
“How did you place the city in more danger though?” Jared asked.
“Gave the Zombies down there a food source,”
“Wait!” Jared yelled before remembering where he was. “There are Zombies underneath the city now?” he whispered the last part.
Aldrin nodded, realizing that sooner or later the people of the city will have to know.
“What do we do now then? I mean, your sister is on her way so we can wait until she gets here to do something, right?” Jared asked after a few moments of silence.
“We just kick start it early,” Adrin suggested, earning incredulous looks from the both of them.
“What do you mean?” Pierre asked, his brows furrowed.
Aldrin filled them with the entire events of the cave, including the Homunculi being controlled by a Puppeteer, and the Death Gorger.
“So today, I am going to see about a Potion that will help us get past the magical locks somehow. Then we storm the castle, so to speak,” He said.
“So we are siding with the Zombies then?” Jared quietly asked.
Aldrin gave him a sympathetic look. “Not necessarily. Not unless something crazy happens.”
“At this point, a cure won’t be uncovered here; not anymore because of whatever the Queen and her Court are doing. So we have to move to Plan B,” he added.
“When did Adeline say she could be here?” He changed the subject.
“Counting yesterday, she should be here in about two more days. She had agreed to send half of her forces a day ahead to assess the situation; so expect shiny armored people tomorrow if you go out.” Jared answered.
Pierre rubbed his chin, his eyes alighting with the plan Aldrin alluded to. “You want to break in the day Adeline gets here, don’t you?”
“That’s exactly it. You said we aren’t city strong yet, but that doesn’t mean we can’t find out more with a little help. Half her forces are already going to be here in case things get out of control and with her arriving later, I am hoping they can contain it. Then we escape during the chaos and make our way to Folos for Jared’s quest.” Aldrin grinned, pleased with his idea.
“Best case, Adeline can at least hold the line too if she hasn’t already called for reinforcements. Which I’m sure she has, judging that she knows firsthand how bad these can be. Worst case, the city is lost.” Pierre simplified the plan.
Jared let out a heavy exhale of air.
“I thought you were going to love this crazy idea Jared,” Aldrin teased.
“Oh no, it's not that! The plan is solid! I’m just thinking about the supplies we will need,” Jared answered, forcing on a smile.
Pierre laughed, “Don’t worry, I already have the Potions ready to go and making more to sell later on. We just gotta get food and traveling kits.”
“I’ll do that and stash the carriage outside of town somewhere so we can get to it,” Jared added.
They chatted for the rest of their breakfast before parting ways, each with their own mission in mind. Moving through the throngs of people, Aldrin made his way to Rune-Keys. The shop matched the dreary decor of the rest of the city with its concrete foundation and brick walls. Two windows on the front of the store enabled Aldrin to see how busy it was. Hoping to find what he was looking for based on how busy it was, his hope skyrocketed.
Opening the front, it was louder than he expected as people shouted for certain potions clamoring to be in the front. It was as drab on the inside, with concrete flooring and bare brick walls with nothing to show for them. Only the usual back room where the stores kept their supplies was the feature that made it feel bigger than what it was. Four clerks, three men, and a woman all dressed in white long-sleeved button up shirts were doing their best defending against the tide, but they were drowning. Aldrin weaved through the people to the front. They subtly shifted out of his way. Some eyes observed him carefully, noticing how unusually graceful he made his way to the front.
“Aldrin?” A dulcet cultured voice pierced through the noise.
Turning to see who had called him, he recognized her as Evie, the Giantess who was secretly with the Bugbear.
“Evie?” He shouted over the cacophony of noise inside the store.
“You heard me over this?” She confusedly asked.
“Good hearing.” He pointed at his ears, giving her a calm smile.
“Are you leaving town soon?” She asked.
“Yes, and you should too,” Aldrin warned before a clerk came to greet him.
“Potion?” The clerk's powerful voice drew Aldrin’s attention. His black hair was stylishly slicked back with grease, brown eyes conveyed friendliness that paired with his magnetic smile.
“I need something to get past magical locks,” Aldrin said, watching the clerk nod his head and run to the back. Soon he came back carrying three flasks and placed them before Aldrin to Inspect.
Mimicry Puddy: This sparkling dark green liquid is able to bypass Tier 4 locks and below by shifting to fit the keyhole.
Keeps the lock intact.
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Ashfounder’s Remains: This brightly lit flaming red potion blows up Tier 4 locks and below, leaving nothing but a reminder of what stood before you.
Destroys the lock and/or door.
Drilileon Venom: Taken straight from the notorious sand fiend of Eurai’s sandy terrain, its venom is capable of melting Tier 5 locks and below.
Destroys the lock.
“All of them. How much?” Aldrin said without hesitation.
“1 gold, 11 silver,” the clerk said, focusing on something else in front of him.
Aldrin placed the amount on the counter that lit up a green runic symbol underneath.The same symbol then copied itself underneath the Potions allowing for Aldrin to swipe them into his Inventory.
He thanked the clerk and headed out, running into Evie who stood waiting with her scarred arms crossed. Long lines interlaced with symbols in Giantese tattooed her light tawny skin from her head down. She was wearing her iron chainmail chest with leather gloves, pants, and fingerless gloves. Her brown hair braided in a wrap atop her head, steel-gray eyes assessed every movement around her, three claw marks ran diagonally across her features, her nose had looked like it had been broken and mended plenty of times, and thin pink lips were pursed into a thin line.
Her eyes zeroed in on Aldrin, she moved to stand in front of him. Aldrin could only imagine what her true size would be like if she was already a few inches taller than his 6’0 self.
“Your warning. What do you imply? What do you know about the kidnappings?” she asked, her voice contradicting her intimidating armored figure.
“All I can say is look into the Research District. I’m sure you’ll find something there.” Aldrin answered smoothly.
She tilted her head and narrowed her eyes at him, “Something about you. . .”
“Evie!” a guttural voice barked.
Both turned to look at the Bugbear frantically pushing his way towards them. Concern formed on Evie. Her scrutinizing features turned into a scowl. He clutched a cut on his arm ignoring the many stares as people walked by.
“What is it Khudar?” She asked once the Bugbear got close.
“Inkathu and Beltaine got captured!”
“How?”
“We found the kidnapper.” He flicked his dull yellow eyes to Aldrin.
“Let’s go,” Evie said, sparing a glance at Aldrin before they disappeared among the crowd.
Aldrin thought that part of the Slavers were operating within the city, kidnapping the people here to be sold elsewhere. Apparently, he was wrong and someone else entirely was behind it. Luckily, he had chosen not to investigate it at the time, otherwise he would have run into that group sooner. Seeing that Evie was already suspicious only cemented the fact that why wouldn’t take lightly to what he was. Regardless, under the effects of Daywalker, he wouldn’t be any use to them anyway. He had a bigger worry at the moment, one that would eventually decide the fate of the city.
With the Potions needed for the upcoming plan, he had wanted to study the walled off area of the Research District to see if there were any other entrances or weak points. At least during the day, he would be less obvious about what he was doing.
By the time he had reached the entrance, the sun had moved to be a quarter away from the horizon. He hated being limited by the sun because he wasted so much time being unable to fly through the air. The thought made him stop in his tracks, causing someone to bump into his legs.
“Sorry!” Aldrin waved off the glaring Goblin that walked around him.
He continued walking, coming to the fact that he had admitted to liking a part of being a Vampire. Although it was cool to him, minus the blood drinking part, he just hated how people would react. He wondered if someone else who came from Earth would have liked this better and had an easier time to adapt. It didn’t matter now. He needed to understand and come to the fact that this may be permanent.
He walked up and down along the street, discreetly searching for anything that would help avoid any bloodshed to get in, specifically so none of them would have to fight anybody to get out. He proved to be lucky as there was only one entrance and if they caused a distraction somewhere else, they could sneak in through the front. It pleased him to know that another part of the plan worked in their favor.
“Now for the long way back,” he sighed.
He knew by the time he would arrive back at the inn, it would be night. He had also come to find it weird that there was no crime in the city except for the kidnapping. There were too many coincidental things that didn’t add up. There was a glaring puzzle piece missing and he wouldn’t find it in this city. Whoever it is erases their tracks. He also wondered how he got embroiled in this just by looking for a cure for himself. A part of him almost wondered if something more was driving these factors from behind the scenes. He frowned at that thought.
“Fate kills people in the first place,” Aldrin shook the idea from his brain.
Feeling the burning effects of the sun begin to die down on his skin, he felt his usual strength return to him. He no longer felt constricted within his own body and it was an uncomforting feeling. He would almost compare it to losing control of the vampiric monster that lies dormant inside him now.
Vampiric Awareness prickled at the back of his neck, telling him that something behind him meant danger. He would confront them once he reached The Gleaming Marigold; he hoped to avoid causing another scene in the city since the first one went poorly enough. He sped walked, irritated at the fact that he couldn’t use any of his abilities without giving himself away.
Whatever was infringing on the edge of the ability had stayed within his radar. It also kept pace with him and kept the same constant distance if he sped up or slowed down. He looked at one of the shops, briefly glancing behind him to see the person following him. Noticing Aldrin’s behavior, it stopped following altogether. However, he still kept his senses primed for any oddities.
Making it back to the inn, it was a little packed since another wave of Adventurers had entered the city throughout the day. It was also the day that others left, probably assigned a new Quest which Aldrin felt a pang of grief strike him remembering his old group. People were drinking and chatting as usual, giving the atmosphere a jovial feeling of camaraderie.
“Dwarven Killer as usual?” Thakheam greeted him once Aldrin made it towards the Dwarf.
“No, not tonight. Thanks though. Jared or Pierre, make it back yet?” Aldrin asked.
“Haven’t seen either since the morn’ when they left ‘ere,” Thakheam answered.
System Notice!
Supernatural Reflexes Activated!
New Added Effect: Time Allotted: Dexterity divided by 2
Ends in 13 seconds or when instant death passes!
Cooldown: 1 Month
“What?” Aldrin said, briefly looking around to see everything frozen before activating Shapechange turning himself into fog. He took a last look at Thakheam, whose eyes were wide in shock as something reflected off the shine in them. The only thing Aldrin saw next was a flash of white blind him, a concussive blast blowing away, scrambling his orientation of the world.
Title Activated!
Chosen of Kilinos:
Immune to fire.
He reformed, feeling the cobbled stone grating against his cheek. His vision had black dots throbbing in and out. Screams echoed and sounded far away as he clutched at his head, or at least attempted to as his limbs felt like lead.
Warning!
You have been disoriented!
He felt deft hands roll him over. A blurry, unfamiliar figure entered his vision. Aldrin could barely focus to see that the figure’s mouth was moving, then pushed something that faintly glowed red into his mouth. Its bland taste entered his mouth, causing him to spit it out. His senses began to come back into tune thanks to Regeneration and Undead Body. The long black braided hair and ashen skin of a Dark Elf was the first thing he saw. Flickering lights from flames lighted half his youthful face under the night sky.
“Are you ok?” His hoarse voice asked.
“I’m fine. What happened?” Aldrin groggily asked, sitting up.
“The Gleaming Marigold. .”His black eyes looked away.
Aldrin looked at what used to be the inn, his temporary home. Something inside him snapped when he saw the ruined building engulfed in flames, along with the buildings that were its neighbors. People screamed either in pain or out of fright. His recovering hearing picked up people rushing in this direction. Looking at the destruction in front of him, his fangs and claws lengthened to dangerous points, making the Dark Elf next to him jump back in surprise.
“It is you who we felt that awakened,” The Dark Elf whispered as Aldrin stood up.
Aldrin turned his furious gaze to the Dark Elf, who bowed in response, “What is your order, Old One?” The Dark Elf humbly asked.
“Clear the city.” Aldrin declared, his rage clouding his control over himself, causing his eyes to turn from their usual green to glowing red. Inside, the vampiric beast purred, knowing it will get a chance to feast again. The Dark Elf bowed and slinked off towards the oncoming panicked crowd.
Aldrin found the connection he had with the Zombie Horde within. Mentally taking a hold of it, he sent a pulse towards the other end with one instruction, begin.