Shawn

The only noise that can be heard is the sound of the light snowfall behind me as I stare at the group of people laying around in the middle of my cabin floor.

Playing cards.

I almost lower my weapon just from the absurdity of this, but I manage to keep myself ready for any attacks. They may not have any noticeable weapons in arms reach, but they could still have magic.

Why exactly are they here anyways?

And why are they playing cards in my cabin?

I mean, who just goes into a random house and starts playing cards?

Out of the four people, the two elves look rather similar.

Could they be related?

"Why are you in my house?" I coldly ask the intruders while releasing a little bit of miasma around myself.

None of them say anything for a few seconds as they glance at each other while sweating.

Huh, I guess my little display of miasma is having its desired effect.

At this point, they should realize what I am. Or at least part of what I am.

After all, the only race that has eyes like mine are draugr, and I doubt they even know what a Shadow Hunter looks like.

My mother's side isn't exactly the most social of people, so not very many people actually get to see a Shadow Hunter.

"I'm sorry sir, we were sent by the Adventurers Guild to search this island for any residents," says the male of the two elves.

"Uh huh, and how does that answer why you are sitting in my house playing cards?" I ask while slowly spreading my miasma across the threshold of my cabin as I step inside.

I have to admit, I wasn't expecting them to sweat buckets at the sight of me.

Especially considering that it is freezing on this island.

I can only live here due to my nature as a draugr being naturally resistant to the cold.

These people, however?

They would probably freeze if they tried to live here.

Anyways, I think I've scared them enough.

I stop emitting miasma, while keeping the miasma in place at the threshold of my cabin just so that they don't try to run away.

Although, I kind of doubt that they would run. I am pretty sure that they are all at higher levels than me, judging by their auras.

They are probably just afraid of my background, as well as my powers as a member of one of the ruling races.

After all, the higher one's level of race is, the stronger they are.

Sure, a common level race could beat a rare level race if they had multiple levels on them, but there is still a distinct advantage in the higher-level race's natural abilities and skills.

The other elf clears her throat before saying, "We decided to wait in your cabin for whoever left the footprints outside. Am I to assume that those footprints were yours then?"

Hm, this one is interesting. She doesn't seem to be afraid.

A slight smirk appears on my face as I answer, "Yes, they were mine."

The male elf seems to get over his fear as he calmly asks, "May I ask why you are living here alone?"

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Another interesting one.

I glance back and forth between the two elves for a couple of seconds before answering, "To be left alone."

My answer seems to surprise the two elves; judging by their sudden stillness at least.

"Why would you want to be left alone? You should come with us!" One of the humans suddenly blurts out.

Both of the elves hurriedly turn to the human and simultaneously shout, "Hank!"

"What?" The human asks in confusion.

I can't hold it in anymore and laugh at their actions.

All three of them turn to me in surprise.

"I get the feeling that he gets you in trouble a lot," I say after I finish laughing.

Both of the elves let out a sigh as the other remaining human says, "All of the time."

The first human, I think his name was Hank, turns towards him and slaps his arm.

"Hey! You cause just as much trouble as I do!" Hank shouts at him.

"No I don't!" The other human shouts in response before turning towards the male elf and asking, "Hank causes more trouble than I do, right?"

The female elf suddenly interrupts and says, "You both cause a lot of trouble, so can we go back to the matter at hand?"

Both of the humans reluctantly stop their bickering and nod their heads in agreement.

Well, this is an interesting bunch to be sure.

"But Josh is right. Hank does cause more trouble," the female elf adds with a short nod of her head.

"The hell I do!" Hank shouts back.

"Guys, stop it. We have more important things to do right now than argue," says the male elf.

I am starting to see who keeps this party together at least.

"Introductions first, I am Aldred. It is a pleasure to meet you sir," the male elf says with a short bow.

I nod my head in response to his introduction as the female elf steps forward.

"Hello, my name is Amber. It is a pleasure to meet you," the female elf says with a curtsy.

"Nice to meet you two," I say before turning to the two humans and asking, "And you two are?"

"I am Hank Rennar," Hank says with a nod of his head.

"Finally, I am Josh Rhelen. It's nice to meet you!" Josh says with a smile.

All four of them look towards me after Josh finishes introducing himself.

I guess it's my turn then?

"Before I introduce myself," I say while turning around and reaching my free hand out towards the miasma blocking the entrance.

The miasma swiftly converges into a ball and rushes to my hand.

I then turn around and clench my hand into a fist.

"My name is Shawn Blake," I say while releasing my now empty fist and bowing.

I lift a brow at the two humans after hearing them gasp in surprise at hearing my family name.

"By now you should know what I am, so why is my family name so surprising to you?" I bluntly ask.

"Well, um, you never know. There could be another race somewhere that has the same type of eyes, right?" Hank says, looking towards Josh for support.

Josh nods his head and says, "Yeah, he is right!"

"Idiots..." I hear Amber mutter.

"Hank, you know as well as any that each of the five ruling races have their own distinctive feature that marks them as royalty in their racial line, and that pitch-black eyes are the distinctive feature of the ruling race of the undead. Don't be an idiot," Aldred says in an embarrassed tone.

A few seconds pass in silence before I sense two presences approaching my cabin.

"There are two people coming," I state while squinting my eyes.

Just how many people are coming here anyways?

My house is not an inn!

"Those are probably our other party members. They went to secure the trail to the dungeon from the central hub on the island," Aldred explains.

I rub my temples and let out a short groan of annoyance.

My poor island is being ruined by the Guild.

I mean, I knew that it would happen one of these days, but this soon?

Actually, why would the Adventurers Guild want to come here anyways?

"Why did the Adventurers Guild send you here anyways?" I ask Aldred while paying attention to the two people I sense walking towards my cabin.

"Actually, we were asked to by the Island Lord of The Isle of Drifting Ash. I am not entirely sure as to what he wants to do here though," Aldred answers my question surprisingly quickly.

Why is he answering my questions so freely?

It can't be because of my royal status, can it?

Aldred seems to notice my inner questions somehow and says, "We were never told that we couldn't share any of this information, so why not share it? It's not like it will hurt us."

I slowly nod my head in understanding.

I guess that makes sense.

The two remaining party members soon reach the entrance to my cabin.

An orc? That is kind of surprising, but whatever.

Both the orc and the new human girl freeze in surprise upon seeing my eyes, but the orc manages to calm down rather quickly.

Oh? This party is just full of interesting people.

"These are the last two members of our party, Varthurg and Elizabeth," Aldred says while pointing to the orc and the human.

"Nice to meet you all, as I have said before, my name is Shawn Blake," I reintroduce myself for the two newbies.

I briefly notice the orc's eyes move to the cards on the floor in the middle of my cabin before a flash of desire runs through them.

I guess he likes playing cards then?

"By the way Shawn," Aldred says, interrupting my thoughts, "I know that what Hank said earlier was a bit rude, but it isn't a bad-"

"No," I bluntly decline before he can even finish the request, "I am not leaving this island."