Cedric stepped cautiously into the building, his eyes immediately noticing the stark difference from the previous night. The crates that had been piled up during the chaotic struggle were now completely gone. The once cluttered storage room was empty, save for a few scattered pieces of furniture—a couple of tables and an old chair. It looked like a different place entirely.
Magnus followed closely behind him, his heavy boots echoing on the wooden floor. "What the... Where’d all the crates go?" he muttered, his brows furrowing in confusion. “This place was packed last night.”
Tristan stepped inside, glancing around the empty room with a skeptical look. “So, this is where you guys fought those creatures? Doesn’t look like anything happened here.”
Cedric’s eyes narrowed as he carefully walked toward the spot where they had barricaded themselves the night before. "It doesn't make sense," he murmured. “The crates, the debris—everything is gone.”
Faylinn poked her head out of Cedric’s shirt, her glowing eyes scanning the empty building. She let out a soft, confused mew, mirroring the confusion Cedric felt. He knelt down near the wall where the scuffle had occurred and noticed something—a faint mark on the floor. The faint scratch marks from where the creatures had clawed at the door were still there, but everything else had been wiped clean.
“Someone came in here and cleared it all out,” Cedric said quietly, standing back up. “The crates, the signs of the fight… all gone.”
Magnus, already on edge, ran his hand through his hair, his expression turning dark. “They cleaned up after us. Like we were never here.”
Cedric nodded in agreement, his eyes scanning the room one more time. "And look at this," he pointed to a set of newly installed boards on a window at the back of the building. “That’s fresh wood. Whoever did this wanted to patch up any signs of damage.”
Tristan glanced at the boards, then back at Cedric. “But why? What’s the point of covering this up?”
Magnus sighed, rubbing his chin. “What the hell is going on in this city…”
Cedric walked back to the doorframe, running his hand over the wood and finding the faint, barely noticeable scratches. “They didn’t get everything,” he said, pointing to the marks. “There’s proof that something attacked us here.”
“So, what now?” Magnus asked, glancing between Cedric and Tristan.
Cedric scribbled a few quick notes into his worn diary, the soft scratching of his quill the only sound breaking the silence in the empty building. He closed the book with a quiet snap and turned to face Tristan and Magnus, who both wore expressions of varying confusion. Cedric’s gaze was distant as he pieced together the events of the previous night.
“Once the morning bell rang,” Cedric began, his voice thoughtful, “the creatures stopped attacking and retreated. Almost like they just… disappeared.”
Cedric sighed and tucked his diary away. “We need more than this."
Magnus scratched his head, clearly still baffled. “Retreated where? That doesn’t make any sense. One moment we’re fighting for our lives, the next they’re all gone without a trace?”
Tristan’s brow furrowed as he leaned against the wooden frame of the door, deep in thought. “If the horde was as large as you two say, they couldn’t have just vanished without anyone noticing. The guards didn’t report anything, and the streets were quiet this morning. No signs of panic or anything unusual. So where could they have gone?”
Cedric nodded in agreement, his eyes narrowing slightly. “That’s exactly what’s bothering me. There’s no way an entire group of creatures could just slip away unnoticed. Not with the numbers we saw last night. It's like they never existed in the first place.”
Magnus crossed his arms, clearly unsettled. “You’re telling me we fought phantoms? Or is someone covering it up?” He glanced around the building again, as if expecting to find another clue hidden in plain sight.
Cedric took a slow breath, his mind racing as he tried to piece it all together. “I don’t think they were phantoms, Magnus. There were too many signs—the scratches, the way they moved. But whoever—or whatever—they are, they’re being hidden. And well.”
Tristan nodded, though he still seemed skeptical. “But by who? And why? What could anyone gain by hiding these creatures?”
Cedric shook his head slowly. “I don’t know yet. And until we find more information, we don’t have anything solid to go on. Just these scratch marks aren’t enough to prove anything.”
The room fell into a tense silence as Cedric’s words hung in the air. They all knew something was wrong, but without answers, all they had were questions. And the city, with its strange prices and eerie stillness, was becoming more and more suspect by the minute.
Tristan tilted his head, arms crossed as he leaned against the doorframe. "Anything else unusual about them, besides their numbers and how quickly they vanished?" he asked, his voice calm but clearly probing for anything that could make sense of the strange situation.
Cedric nodded slowly. "Despite how monstrous they looked, their behavior was... almost human. The way they moved, how they attacked us—there was a structure to it, like they were organized. It wasn’t just a wild mob. They hoarded together, like soldiers or... people used to acting as a group."
Tristan’s brow furrowed as he considered the implications. "So what are you saying? They could have been humans? Or something pretending to be human?"
Cedric let out a small sigh, brushing his fingers across the cover of his diary. "I don’t know for sure. But there’s a chance these creatures were human at one point, or they've been around humans long enough to mimic their behavior. The way they operated didn’t feel... alien. It felt familiar. Calculated."
Magnus, who had been keeping an eye on the streets outside, glanced back at them with a frown. "That’s unsettling. If they were human once, what happened to them? And if they’re not human, why the hell do they act like it?"
Cedric shrugged. "That’s what we need to find out. Without more information, we’re left guessing."
Tristan tapped his chin thoughtfully. "And you mentioned Garrick. You were following him before you ran into these creatures, right?"
Cedric nodded. "Yeah. Garrick was moving through the city, stopping at random places. It seemed suspicious, so we followed him. That’s when things went sideways, and we got caught up with those... things."
Magnus walked back inside, closing the door behind him and crossing his arms. "You think Garrick's involved in this mess? Maybe those creatures are tied to him somehow?"
"It’s possible," Cedric replied. "I don’t trust him, and the timing of our encounter with the creatures after following him seems too convenient to be a coincidence."
Tristan paced the floor, his face thoughtful. "If Garrick’s involved, we’ll need to be careful. He’s slippery, and if he’s tied to these creatures, we could be stepping into something much larger than we thought."
Cedric sighed. "It’s all speculation for now. But Garrick’s definitely someone we need to keep an eye on. Whether he's behind it or just a part of it, he’s not innocent."
Magnus nodded, cracking his knuckles. "Well, if it comes down to it, I wouldn’t mind bashing his head in. He's always been a snake."
Cedric shared a glance with Tristan, the uncertainty still hanging in the air. "Let’s keep watching him. Whatever’s going on in this city, we’ll figure it out."
Magnus raised an eyebrow, noticing the way Cedric laid out the plan with such clarity and precision. "You’ve got a real knack for this, you know," Magnus said, his voice curious. "Your thoughts... the way you summarize everything, it's really organized. Like you’ve done this before."
Cedric paused for a moment, meeting Magnus’s gaze. "Yeah, I’ve done it before," he replied softly
Magnus squinted. "What were you, a career thinker or something? Some kind of tactician?" His tone was half-joking, but there was genuine curiosity behind it.
Cedric stood there, silent for a few seconds longer than usual, his mind racing for answers that weren’t clear. "I don’t know," he admitted, a rare vulnerability creeping into his voice. "It just feels... familiar. Like I’ve done this for a long time, but I can’t remember why or where."
Magnus watched him, puzzled, but didn’t push the subject further. Cedric quickly refocused, turning back to the matter at hand. "Anyway, we don’t have enough information to draw conclusions yet. We need to gather more."
He glanced at Tristan, his voice firm and clear. "Tristan, go to Caelum. If the creatures of this scale went unnoticed in his city, then either he’s involved or he's not doing a great job keeping things under control."
Tristan nodded, his expression thoughtful. "Got it. I’ll see what I can dig up."
Cedric then turned to Magnus. "You head back and warn Elysia and Liora about what happened last night. Make sure they’re on alert. Then meet me at the square. We’ll track down Garrick together and see if we can find out what he's really up to."
Magnus nodded, cracking his knuckles. "Sounds good. I’m ready to confront that slippery bastard anytime."
With the plan set, the three men exchanged determined looks before parting ways. Cedric headed back to retrace Garrick’s steps, Tristan made his way to Caelum to demand answers, and Magnus rushed back to the manor to inform Elysia and Liora. Each of them carried a sense of urgency and purpose, knowing that whatever they were dealing with, it was far from over.
----------------------------------------
Cedric moved through the streets, retracing Garrick’s steps from the day before. Each place he visited was seemingly ordinary at first glance. Some were simple shops, filled with common goods and run by owners who appeared unremarkable. He browsed through a store selling tools and supplies, pretending to be just another customer.
The shopkeeper greeted him warmly, chatting about the day’s business. Nothing about the interaction seemed off, yet Cedric couldn't shake the feeling that something was lurking beneath the surface.
As he left, Cedric’s mind raced with questions. Is the shopkeeper part of Garrick’s scheme? Or is he simply another pawn, unaware of the larger game being played?
The next stop was less welcoming. Cedric found himself standing before a storage building similar to the one from last night. The place looked abandoned, tucked away in a quiet part of the city where few people seemed to pass. But when he pushed open the door and stepped inside, the scene was much different. The building was empty, much like the one from the previous night, yet the floors were clean, and there were subtle signs of recent activity. Scuff marks on the ground, a few crates stacked neatly in the corner, as if someone had been in and out frequently.
Someone’s definitely using this place, but for what? Cedric thought, his eyes narrowing as he examined the room further. It seemed like a perfect hideout—one that could easily go unnoticed by the general population.
Still, no clear answers revealed themselves, so Cedric moved on, his steps leading him toward the waterway once again. As he approached, the dry river stretched out before him, winding through the city like a scar. Cedric walked alongside it, following its path toward the city’s exit. His boots crunched against the cobblestone, the absence of water giving the entire scene an eerie, desolate feel.
Finally, he reached the outskirts of the city, where the waterway continued on into the distance, beyond the walls and out into the open land. Despite the fact that Garrick had claimed demons had taken control of the waterway, only a handful of guards stood at the gate. They looked relaxed, almost bored, standing there as if guarding nothing of particular importance. Cedric studied their postures, their disinterest raising even more red flags.
For a place supposedly to defend from demons, this hardly seems like a fortress prepared for an invasion, Cedric thought, his brow furrowing.
He glanced down the path the river once took, imagining the waters that should have flowed freely here. Something didn’t add up. The lack of security, the strange behavior of the creatures last night, Garrick’s suspicious movements—it all pointed to something larger at play. But what?
Cedric made his way back to the square, glancing over the bustling market as he approached a vendor selling cloaks. After a brief, frustrating negotiation, he handed over an exorbitant amount of gold for a couple of oversized garments.
The price was steep, but he needed something to conceal himself in the crowded streets. Slipping the cloak over his shoulders, he adjusted the hood and blended into the throng of people.
A few moments later, Magnus arrived, his large frame unmistakable even in the crowd. Cedric tossed the second cloak to him.
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“Dress up,” Cedric said simply. “We need to blend in.”
Magnus raised an eyebrow as he pulled on the cloak. "Blend in? Not easy when you're built like a brick wall, but alright."
As Magnus changed, he asked, "What did you find?"
Cedric filled him in. “Empty buildings, dry river with barely any guards posted, and no sign of those creatures from last night. Everything’s been cleaned up, like it never happened.”
Magnus scowled under his hood. “Doesn’t make any sense. Something's being hidden.”
They walked together through the streets, moving toward the site where the scaffolding had collapsed during the fight the previous night. When they arrived, they saw a small crowd gathered, murmuring amongst themselves, while guards busied themselves with cleaning up the scattered debris.
“Did a fight break out last night?” one bystander asked.
“What kind of fight involves an explosion?” another replied.
Cedric surveyed the scene, taking in the broken crates and scattered supplies, but there was no sign of the bloodshed or chaos they had witnessed. No blood, no bodies, no trace of the monstrous beings they had fought.
"What about the warehouse?" Magnus asked as they made their way along the shore.
Cedric nodded. "That’s our next stop."
As they walked, Cedric observed the docks, which were strangely quiet for a city of this size. With only a handful of ships anchored, the question nagged at him. "Where do the citizens get their products?" he thought aloud. "With so few ships, this city must have a bottleneck in its supply chain. Maybe that’s why the prices are so high—low supply with high demand."
Magnus nodded in agreement, looking at the few distant ships preparing to load or unload cargo. "Could explain the whole price gouging issue. Doesn't make things any easier for us, though."
Cedric watched as workers loaded the few ships in the harbor, their movements deliberate but sparse. The cargo didn’t look substantial, more like a patchwork operation rather than a fully functioning port city. "It's unsettling. This place should be more active if it’s this critical to the region’s trade."
They continued their walk to the warehouse, passing the last ship in the dock. As they arrived at the building, it was eerily deserted—no workers, no cargo, nothing. The warehouse was empty, save for a few pieces of furniture that hinted at some form of recent activity.
Magnus grunted in confusion. "Wasn't this place packed with crates last night?"
"Yeah," Cedric agreed, kneeling to inspect faint traces on the ground where crates and boxes had been stored. "The crates were moved, and there's evidence of transport. Maybe Garrick’s been managing cargo shipments on behalf of Caelum, but it’s all too suspicious."
Magnus shook his head with a smirk. "Garrick managing shipments? He’s a snake, not a merchant. The only thing he’s good for is getting into trouble."
Cedric frowned, standing up. "It’s not adding up. There’s no sign of the creatures or anything else from last night, and now the warehouse is cleared out."
Magnus folded his arms. "So, what now?"
Cedric thought for a moment. "We head back to the manor for now," he finally said. "We rest up, and tonight we go out again."
Magnus raised an eyebrow. "Seriously? After what happened last night, you want to head back out there?"
Cedric nodded. "We need more information. If these creatures come out at night, we need to figure out where they’re coming from—and more importantly, where they go."
Magnus sighed but relented. "Well, if you’re going back, I’m coming with you. No way you're doing this alone."
Cedric gave a small nod of appreciation. "We’ll be smarter this time. Gather information and keep our distance. We’ll have to play it safe."
With their plan in place, they left the empty warehouse and turned toward the manor, mentally preparing for another dangerous night in the city.
----------------------------------------
As the sun began to set, Cedric and Magnus prepared to leave the manor once again. Tristan stood by the door, watching them gather their things, his brow furrowed in concern.
"Are you sure you don’t need me with you this time?" Tristan asked, his tone serious. He had been worried ever since they had returned from the city earlier that day, especially after hearing about the mysterious creatures they had encountered the night before.
Cedric shook his head, adjusting his cloak. "If anything happens, we’ll come straight back. It’s better if you stay here in case something goes wrong. Keep an eye on the others." He glanced toward the manor where Elysia and Liora were resting, knowing they needed protection in case anything unexpected occurred while he and Magnus were gone.
Tristan nodded slowly, though he wasn’t entirely convinced. He glanced at the maids, who stood nearby, and instructed them to attend to the ladies. "Be careful out there," he added, a touch of concern still lingering in his voice.
With a brief nod, Cedric and Magnus slipped out of the manor, the cool evening air greeting them as they made their way into the city. The streets were already starting to empty, with townsfolk heading home as the twilight deepened.
"Where to?" Magnus asked, his voice low as they walked down the cobbled streets.
"The bell tower," Cedric replied, scanning their surroundings. "We need a vantage point, somewhere we can observe the city without being seen."
Magnus grunted in agreement, and they moved quickly through the darkening streets. The city was quieter now, with only a few stragglers making their way home and the occasional guard patrolling the area. Cedric kept his hood up, trying to blend in with the shadows as they made their way toward the bell tower.
They reached the base of the tower without attracting attention, and after ensuring the coast was clear, they slipped inside. The stairs spiraled upward, and their footsteps echoed softly as they ascended. Magnus grumbled quietly about the climb, but kept pace, knowing it was necessary for their plan.
Once they reached the floor just below the bell, they stopped. The view from here was perfect—high enough to see the surrounding city, but still concealed by the shadows.
"This should do," Magnus said, peering out of the narrow window. "We can see most of the streets and docks from here."
Cedric nodded in agreement, his eyes scanning the familiar landscape of the port city. The lanterns flickered below, casting long shadows across the streets as people hurried home, leaving the streets increasingly deserted. The once-bustling marketplace had quieted down, and the docks, already sparsely populated, seemed even more desolate now.
Magnus leaned back against the stone wall, looking at Cedric. "And what are we hoping to see tonight?"
"Whatever those creatures were from last night," Cedric said quietly, his eyes not leaving the view. "I want to know where they came from, and where they disappear to."
As the last remnants of daylight vanished, the port city was swallowed by darkness. Cedric and Magnus sat in silence, their gazes fixed on the streets below. They were on edge, waiting for any sign of the strange creatures that had attacked them the night before. The only sounds were the occasional creak of the tower’s structure and the distant murmur of the city, now mostly quiet as the night settled in.
Faylinn, nestled within Cedric’s collar, gave a low, uneasy growl, her glowing blue eyes fixed on the streets, mirroring the tension that gripped him. She could sense something was about to happen.
They continued to observe the quiet city below, the air heavy with anticipation. The shadows cast by the flickering street lanterns gave the city a serene, almost peaceful appearance—yet Cedric's gut told him otherwise.
Then, Cedric spotted some movement. He narrowed his eyes, adjusting his position slightly for a better view. "That's Garrick," he whispered to Magnus. "He doesn’t seem bothered by anything at all."
Magnus leaned in closer, his eyes following Garrick as he moved along the darkened street. The man walked casually, like he was on an evening stroll, with no sense of urgency or caution in his demeanor.
"Where are the creatures?" Magnus asked, his voice low and confused. He scanned the surrounding area, expecting the same monstrous figures they had encountered the previous night, but there was nothing. Just Garrick, walking as if nothing out of the ordinary had happened.
Cedric didn't have an answer, and they both continued to watch. The eerie stillness made Cedric’s skin crawl. Faylinn’s low growl returned, her ears flattening in warning. Whatever was happening, she could feel it coming before they could see it.
Then, something else moved.
A few doors from various buildings opened quietly, and people began stepping out, one by one. They all seemed normal at first glance—men, women, even a few older children. But as Cedric watched, something unsettling caught his eye. These people, too, were heading in the same direction as Garrick, walking in unison.
"What is this?" Cedric murmured, more to himself than to Magnus. He pointed, signaling Magnus to see the strange procession forming below.
They observed in silence as more and more people emerged from homes, inns, and shops, all gathering and walking together in the same direction. There was no rush, no panic—just a steady, deliberate march toward... somewhere.
"No creatures," Magnus muttered, shaking his head in disbelief. "No chaos. Just people walking."
"But where are they going?" Cedric whispered, still watching as the crowd slowly swelled in number.
There was an unnatural calm about the entire situation. No one spoke. No one broke from the line. They simply walked in silence, heading toward a destination known only to them.
"We need to follow them," Cedric said quietly, his mind racing with questions. "Something isn't right about this."
Magnus grunted his agreement, and both of them quickly descended from the bell tower, blending into the shadows once more, determined to find out what was really happening in the depths of the port city.
Cedric and Magnus moved carefully through the darkening city streets, their senses heightened as they followed the strange procession. The group of townspeople had gathered quietly, with no chatter or interaction, as if they were all in a trance. Cedric kept a close eye on Garrick, who walked confidently ahead of them, leading the way. Magnus stayed close to Cedric, his hand never straying far from his pendant, ready to activate his armor at a moment’s notice.
As they approached the dried-up waterway, Cedric motioned for Magnus to stop and crouch behind a nearby stone wall. They peered over the edge, watching as the group began to descend into the dry riverbed. The river, which had once been a lifeline for the city, now lay barren, its bed cracked and covered in debris. The few remaining puddles of stagnant water reflected the faint moonlight, adding to the eerie stillness of the scene.
Faylinn, perched on Cedric's shoulder, let out a faint whimper, her bright eyes darting nervously toward the darkened sewer entrance, sensing the unnatural presence within.
One by one, the citizens made their way down, disappearing into a large, dark opening in the stone walls that led directly into the city's sewer system.
"Are we really doing this?" Magnus muttered under his breath, his nose wrinkling at the thought of following them into the sewers.
Cedric nodded, his eyes scanning the surroundings. "We have to. Something’s happening down there, and we need to find out what it is."
Faylinn shifted uneasily, her small frame tensing as if to warn them of the danger ahead, but Cedric gave her a soft pat, trying to reassure both her and himself before they moved forward.
After the last of the townspeople had entered the sewer, Cedric and Magnus slipped into the riverbed, keeping low as they followed the crowd. The opening to the sewer was wide enough for several people to enter at once, but as soon as they stepped inside, they were hit by the stench of rotting waste and stagnant water. The tunnel was barely lit, with only slivers of moonlight filtering through the grates above, casting faint shadows on the slimy walls.
The tunnel’s stone walls were slick with grime and filth, coated in layers of moss and algae. The sound of their footsteps echoed softly as they splashed through the murky, ankle-deep water that pooled at the bottom of the passageway. The path was narrow, forcing them to move single file, and the air was thick with a damp, musty odor that clung to their skin.
Magnus grunted as he sidestepped a particularly large pile of rotting debris. "This place is a nightmare. If these people weren’t insane before, walking through here would do the trick."
Cedric remained silent, his mind focused on the task ahead. The deeper they went, the more oppressive the atmosphere became. The constant sound of dripping water from the overhead pipes only added to the suffocating feeling. Here and there, faint rays of light pierced the darkness through the sewer grates, casting long, eerie shadows on the walls.
The path ahead of them eventually split into two, forming a circle that surrounded a large room. The two men pressed themselves against the wall as they neared the entrance to the chamber.
Magnus leaned in closer to Cedric, trying to avoid splashing through the murky water. "What do you think they’re doing down there?"
Cedric peered into the large, circular room at the center of the sewer. They had managed to keep a safe distance by moving along the narrow ledge that surrounded the room, giving them a vantage point without stepping into the crowd itself. The room was massive, the ceiling arched high above with faint moonlight trickling in from small grates far overhead.
In the center of the chamber, a raised platform stood, and there, Garrick was watching the growing crowd below him. The people who had emerged from their homes moments before had gathered in a trance-like state, their eyes blank, staring at the platform as if waiting for a command.
Cedric and Magnus crouched on the sewer's ledge, concealed by the shadows. The circular path they were on encircled the room completely, providing a full view of what was happening below. Cedric leaned in closer, keeping his movements quiet.
"This room was built for something larger than just a secret gathering," Cedric whispered.
Magnus frowned. "You think this is connected to the creatures from last night?"
"Maybe." Cedric's eyes followed Garrick's movements as he stood on the platform. "But I can’t tell what they’re doing here."
The crowd, now standing motionless, filled the center of the room, their bodies bathed in the faint light coming from the sewer grates above. Magnus noticed that more people were still coming, shuffling in from various side tunnels, all converging on this one location. Yet, there were no creatures, no monstrous beings like they had seen the night before.
"This doesn’t make sense," Magnus muttered. "Where are the creatures? Shouldn’t they be swarming us by now?"
Cedric shook his head. "Maybe they don’t appear until later. Or maybe they’re already here, hidden in plain sight."
As they watched, Garrick raised his hand, silencing the quiet murmurs that had spread through the crowd. He began to speak, but his voice was too low for Cedric and Magnus to hear clearly from their position. Cedric strained to make out the words, catching only fragments.
"...resources... control... they don’t know… soon..."
Magnus gripped his axe, his eyes narrowing as he tried to piece together what was happening. "Do we go down there and find out what this is?"
"Not yet," Cedric replied. "We need to know more before we make any move. We don’t know if these people are just pawns or if they’re in on whatever Garrick is planning."
From their vantage point, they could see the sewer running around the large room like a moat, with small bridges connecting the outer path to the central platform. Cedric’s eyes flicked to the bridges, each of them barely wide enough for one person at a time. If they needed to get closer or make an escape, they’d have to act quickly.
"Let’s keep watching," Cedric said. "We might learn more about his plan if we stay hidden."
As they crouched low on the ledge, the atmosphere in the chamber shifted. The crowd seemed to sway slightly, their movements synchronized, as if responding to an invisible force. Cedric’s instincts told him something was very wrong, but without the creatures or direct confrontation, they had little to go on.
Garrick’s voice echoed through the large chamber, bouncing off the cold stone walls of the sewer. From their vantage point, Cedric and Magnus could hear every word clearly.
"...As I was saying, you are all blessed," Garrick continued, raising his arms. "For it is Lord Caelumbras who walks with us on this sacred path. But we are not alone, my friends. Together, we will restore balance to this broken world. And it is Argoth himself, the chosen one, who aids us in the revival of our true god, Morgath!"
Magnus furrowed his brow, leaning toward Cedric. "True god? What the hell is he on about?"
Cedric narrowed his eyes, keeping his gaze fixed on Garrick as he continued his speech. He knew something wasn’t right the moment they had started following Garrick, but this was worse than they had imagined. Then Garrick said a name that turned Cedric’s blood cold.
"Morgath, our true ruler of this region, imprisoned unjustly by those who fear his power."
Cedric’s heart skipped a beat. Morgath, the ancient Demon Lord who had once threatened the entire continent of Druvia. Cedric knew the legends all too well, having heard them from Elysia. Morgath had nearly consumed the land in darkness, and it had taken the combined efforts of all six great kingdoms to imprison him. And now Garrick is talking about reviving him.
"That’s impossible..." Cedric whispered to himself. He thought Morgath was just a myth—a demon lord sealed away long ago. But here Garrick was, speaking about him as though his return was imminent.
Magnus turned to Cedric, his face tight with concern. "Morgath... wasn’t he supposed to be sealed away forever?"
Cedric clenched his fists. "No. But if they’re trying to bring him back, this isn’t just some scheme to control the city. This is something much, much worse."
Garrick raised his hands to silence the murmurs of the crowd. "For centuries, Morgath has been imprisoned, but the time of his return draws near. And it is through us, his loyal followers, that we will break his chains and bring him back to his rightful place as the ruler of this world."
Cedric’s heart raced. This wasn’t just about controlling the market—this was a cult dedicated to reviving one of the most dangerous beings in history.
Garrick’s voice grew louder, more confident. "And while we work toward this glorious cause, we will maintain control over the city. Supplies may slow, but do not fear. Soon, we will no longer be bound by the needs of mere humans. We will have power beyond measure, for Morgath will reward his faithful."
A ripple of excitement passed through the crowd. Cedric's mind raced, trying to piece it all together. "He’s controlling the market... but why stop trade entirely? What does Garrick gain by starving the city?"
Magnus leaned in closer. "He's probably using the trade route blockade to build his power base. They’ve been cutting off supplies, raising prices, and controlling the market, all while spreading this Morgath nonsense."
Cedric nodded, the pieces falling into place. "So the story about demons attacking the waterway—it’s all a lie. They’re keeping the river dry to ensure the city remains isolated and dependent on their control."
Magnus frowned. "If they’re trying to bring Morgath back, it makes sense they’d want to weaken the region first. But why now? What’s changed?"
Cedric wasn’t sure. Something had shifted recently—perhaps with Argoth, or with the balance of power in Druvia. Whatever it was, Garrick and his followers were using it to manipulate the city, and if they weren’t stopped, the consequences would be catastrophic.
Garrick’s voice interrupted his thoughts. "Our 'esteemed guests' in the city may have already drawn attention to our work. Some of you may have encountered them last night. Be vigilant. They are not to be trusted."
Cedric’s eyes narrowed. Garrick was referring to them—he knew they were in the city and suspected they were getting too close. They had to act fast.
"We’ve seen enough," Cedric whispered to Magnus. "Go back to the manor and inform Tristan. We’ll need to mobilize everyone. If Garrick is trying to revive Morgath, we need to stop him before he gets any closer to completing his plan."
Magnus nodded. "What about you?"
"I’m staying here a bit longer," Cedric said, his eyes never leaving Garrick. "There’s got to be something here—evidence, documents, anything we can use to prove what they’re doing. I’ll gather what I can and meet you back at the manor."
Magnus hesitated for a moment, clearly not thrilled with the idea of leaving Cedric alone in the sewer, but he knew they didn’t have time to argue. "Just don’t take too long. We can’t afford to lose you."
Cedric gave him a nod. "Go."
With one last glance at Garrick and the cultists, Magnus slipped away into the shadows, leaving Cedric alone to gather the evidence they needed to expose Garrick’s twisted plan.
Cedric moved cautiously along the outer path of the sewer, circling the large room where the crowd had gathered. The foul stench of the sewer was suffocating, but he ignored it, his mind focused on the task at hand. Morgath, he thought again. If they truly managed to free him, the entire region—maybe even all of Druvia—would be in grave danger.
They needed to find a way to stop this before it's too late.