Sethius sprints through the dimly lit streets, his muscular build and agile frame moving with surprising speed. With a muttered incantation, he enhances his physical abilities, feeling a surge of energy that pushes him forward. He reached the house of the apothecary.

The apothecary's name was Marcus, and he was well known throughout the lower districts for his kind heart and willingness to help anyone in need. His house was one of the best looking in the area, with a small garden in front and large windows that let in plenty of natural light.

Despite his success, Marcus never forgot his humble beginnings and remained a friendly face in the community. Many people, including Sethius, had sought his advice or assistance at one point or another.

Although they were not particularly close, Sethius had always respected Marcus for his dedication to his craft and his willingness to help those in need, even when they could not afford to pay for his services.

Sethius entered the house, a once beautiful building now stained with blood and death. The door was ajar, swinging softly in the wind, creaking with an eerie moan. He pushed it open, and the first thing he noticed was the scent of copper and decay, the unmistakable smell of blood. The floorboards creaked under his weight as he made his way through the dimly lit room.

Sethius' heart sank as he saw the gruesome sight before him. Marcus lay on the ground, his lifeless eyes staring up at the ceiling. His body was contorted in a grotesque position, blood seeping out of multiple wounds. The room was in disarray, with furniture overturned and shattered glass scattered on the floor. It was clear that there had been a struggle.

He heard footsteps echoing from a nearby room, and quickly moved towards it, but once he arrived at the room no one was in sight, he quickly began scanning the area for any clues. The noise he could hear from the streets indicated that a crowd was forming outside. He paid them no heed and continued his search, but he knew he had to move faster, his sharp eyes scanning the shadows for anything out of place.

The room was small and cluttered with shelves filled with broken medicine vials and jars of various herbs. The air was thick with the pungent smell of mixed herbs and medicines, with a faint scent of blood lingering in the air. The dim light of a flickering lantern hanging from the ceiling was the only source of illumination.

As Sethius searched the room for any clues, finally he spotted a small wooden box on the floor, partially hidden by the debris. The box had an intricate crest on it that he had never seen before, which piqued his curiosity. He carefully picked it up and examined it, feeling the weight and texture of the wood in his hand.

Sethius had a hunch that this box might hold the key to the mystery behind this gruesome murder, so he began searching for any hidden compartments. His intuition led him to a small, hidden latch locked with a spell that he managed to open thanks to his exquisite mana control. Inside the box, Sethius finds a small, intricately carved amulet. The amulet is made of a dark metal that seems to absorb the light around it, and its surface is etched with strange, runic symbols that seem to pulse with an eerie, green light. The amulet is attached to a thin, black cord that looks like it has been worn around someone's neck for a long time. The cord is frayed in places, and there are signs of wear on the metal clasp that fastens it together. Despite its small size, the amulet seems to carry an aura of darkness and foreboding, and Sethius can't help but feel a sense of unease as he gazes upon it.

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He felt a knot form in his stomach, a mix of fear and dread. His hand shook slightly as he picked up the amulet, feeling the weight of it in his palm. The design was unmistakable, a symbol he had seen before during his days in the city guard. Memories of his days in the city guard flooded back to him, memories he had tried to forget. He took a deep breath, trying to calm himself, but the sight of the amulet only fueled his curiosity and determination to uncover the truth.

Despite the chaos around him, Sethius remains focused, using his experience as both a mage and knight to search the room with a critical eye. He takes note of the bloodstains on the floor, the position of the furniture, and the shattered glass. As he stands up to leave, he realizes that this is just the beginning of a much larger mystery, and his quest for answers has only just begun.

As Sethius exits the apothecary's house, he is met with a huge crowd that was a mix of curious onlookers and concerned neighbors. Some had gathered there out of sheer curiosity, while others had heard the commotion and had come to see what was happening. They spoke in hushed tones, and whispers of what had happened could be heard. Some are peeking through the windows; others are pacing back and forth. The atmosphere was tense and uneasy, with an undercurrent of fear and suspicion.

As soon as they notice Sethius' arrival, a hush falls over the crowd, and all eyes turn towards him. The whispers begin, their words barely audible. "Ashen Butcher," some say, with a hint of fear in their voices. "What's he doing here?" others wonder aloud, their suspicion clear. Sethius can feel their eyes on him, their unease palpable.

He scans the crowd for any familiar faces, but all he sees are strangers. Some of them quickly turn their heads away once their eyes meet. Sethius can sense their judgment and resentment, but he knows he must focus on finding the truth behind Marcus’s murder.

As Sethius walked away from the house, the crowd parted to make way for him. People looked at him with a mix of awe and fear. But despite the fear, there was also a sense of admiration for his abilities, and some even looked at him with a glimmer of hope that he would be able to solve the mystery of Marcus' death and bring the perpetrator to justice.

As Sethius steps grew distant from the house, the darkness of the street engulfs him. The only light comes from the flickering magic lamps mounted on the walls, casting long and eerie shadows across the cobblestones. The smell of blood quickly gave way to the scent of the lower district, a pungent and unpleasant smell, a mixture of sewage, garbage, and smoke from various sources such as cooking fires and industrial furnaces. The odor of stale ale and alcohol also lingered in the air from the numerous taverns and inns scattered throughout. The scent of sweat and unwashed bodies prevalent due to the crowded living conditions and lack of sanitation. But even though the smell was repulsive at least the familiarity gave Sethius some comfort.

Sethius feels a rush of conflicting emotions. His curiosity is piqued by the strange amulet he found, but it's tempered by anger over the apothecary's death. He also senses the potential for more violence to come, which causes a tingle of excitement to run through him.

Despite the darkness, Sethius moves smoothly, his enhanced reflexes and speed allowing him to navigate the street with ease. He feels the eyes of the crowd on him, watching him as he passes by, but he pays them little attention. His mind is racing, piecing together the clues he's gathered so far.

As he moves further away from the apothecary's house, he knows that he's only scratched the surface of something much greater. Sethius is both eager and wary to uncover the truth behind this gruesome event, knowing that it could lead him down a dangerous path.

"I'm curious, Sethius," I said. "What's the story behind that amulet you found?"

Sethius looked down at the amulet in his hand and sighed. "It's the symbol of an ancient cult," he said. "One that's been around since time immemorial. It's shrouded in mystery, but I remember the symbol from my days at the city guard. One of the few friends I made on the guard was obsessed with this cult, for a reason no one knew about. He shared many stories with me about it.

He told me it was an ancient and mysterious organization with dark and twisted beliefs. It is rumored that the cult was founded by blood mages who delved into forbidden magic and arcane arts, using human sacrifices to fuel their rituals and gain power. They are known for their secrecy and their willingness to do anything to achieve their goals, no matter how heinous or immoral it may be.

The cult's practices involve strange and terrifying rituals that are shrouded in secrecy. They are said to use the blood of their victims in their ceremonies and make offerings to dark entities that are beyond human comprehension. Some even say that they have made pacts with demons or other supernatural entities to gain even more power.

Because of their secrecy, little is known about the cult's inner workings or its true goals."

I raised an eyebrow. "Interesting. Do you think this cult has anything to do with the murder of Marcus?"

"It's hard to say," Sethius replied. "But it's certainly worth looking into."