In the back room of Aldrec's store, Mors sat deep in thought. His eyes were closed, his face an expressionless mask as the shadows around him seemingly bent, as if try were trying to touch him.
A black fog rolled around the floor, surrounding him as it swayed menacingly in the slight draft entering from the doors. At this moment in time, Mors fit the description of a demon perfectly and would cause even the strongest of warriors to shake in fear.
As the last dying rays of light fell, the entire room was shrouded in darkness. The only sound was the occasional creaking of wood and Mors' deep, steady breathing.
Having finished mentally preparing, Mors stood up and slowly opened his eyes; that burned with malicious intent. The air around him momentarily hummed as his blood-lust exploded forth before he was able to repress it.
Smiling at the terrified howls of dogs nearby that had felt his aura, Mors walked over and started unpacking the suit of armour and weapons he had taken from the blacksmiths.
After equipping plain greaves and arm guards, Mors fixed the clasps of a smooth silver breastplate and two viciously spiked pauldrons before putting on a haunting, spartan-like helmet that completely masked his face.
Picking up a massive bastard sword and swinging it around a few times to check his manoeuvrability, Mors placed it on the scabbard on his back and added a small short sword to his waist before taking one last look around the room and picking up two large rucksacks.
Flinging them over each shoulder, he was just about to leave the room when he paused and returned the table where he placed a small brown bundle. -"Sometimes it's not about killing whats in front of you, but protecting what's behind."
Mors stepped out into the cold night are and took a deep breath before he started walking, his plated boots resounding menacingly against the floor.
Soon he entered a small area in which a well stood at the centre. Without pausing, he walked past it and flicked his wrist, sending a small blue stone down it and entering the water with a little splash.
At the edge of the square, Mors hesitated briefly before pulling a similar looking bundle to the one he left at Aldrec's out of his rucksack. The moment he turned the corner, he locked eyes with two armed men.
The guards eyed Mors suspiciously as Mors approached before shrugging and turning back to each other. The guard on the left restarting their conversation. "Fucking adventures, always walking around like there is going to be a battle. We have enough problems at the moment without having to jump at every shadow."
The guard on the right scratched his chin as he looked at Mors mockingly. "I wouldn't worry about it; they can play at being real soldiers all they want, they will never be as good as us."
Mors quickly passed and, making sure they were not watching, suddenly threw the small sack into the gap between the guard post and the next building before continuing into the night.
Mors continued this strange behaviour, along with many others throughout the night, only stopping when he had all but emptied the bags and the sky faintly began to lighten with the approaching dawn. -"Looks like I am running out of time... I need to speed this up."
Making his way to where Aldrec had marked the prominent slavers and beast tamers, Mors finally stopped in front of a huge, sand coloured building with a single, double door entrance. The words 'Danik's Monster House' were engraved on the walls, surrounded by all manners of weird and mysterious creatures.
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Mors sighed in disappointment. -"Compared to those in Alzor, this is truly pathetic... I hope this isn't a waste of time."
Opening one of the doors and walking in, Mors was greeted by a tired looking watchman, who looked up unenthusiastically. "Sorry were closed, come back later to try your hand at taming one of our legendary beasts."
Ignoring the man, Mors walked towards the large door behind him, causing him to scramble to his feet. "SIR! YO..."
The man's words were cut off as his head separated from his body. Continuing, Mors quickly navigated the maze of corridors and stepped out into an enormous sand-floored room with twenty large cages surrounding it.
The moment Mors walked into the room, it exploded in the enraged screams of the cage's occupants, letting Mors know he had found the right place.
The room Mors was standing in was reserved for the most dangerous, untrained monsters that the taming collars could not control. In the centre of their foreheads, bright green gems had been magically embedded, some still bleeding from the procedure, so that, with the right master gem, tamers could issue their orders.
In the cage closest to Mors, an enormous silver ape, ten times the size of a man, slammed into the bars before it jumped back in confusion. It had done this act many times and was always delighted when it made its tormentors jump in fear however the humanoid in front of him didn't even flinch and instead looked at him as if the great ape were nothing more than an annoyance.
Without uttering a sound, Mors met the eyes of each monster, causing them to retreat to the back of their cages and lower the eyes.
The scent of fresh blood hung heavily in the air around Mors, and a terrifying chill crept over them as if they were standing in front of some ancient, tyrannical monster.
Monsters, especially high-level ones like these had exceptionally good instincts and immediately picked up on this as well as the soul-shattering killing intent emanated by Mors' small body. Mighty as they were, this creature in front of them was in a completely different league and they could do nothing but submit.
When the last of the monsters had silenced, Mors reached into his rucksack and pulled out a large green stone, the size of a man's head and held it out in front of him causing the green stone on each monster to glow. "Serve me for a single day, and freedom shall be yours."
Hesitantly, the monsters raised their heads. "Tomorrow, the earth shall shake, and the air shall be filled with the screams of your oppressors. Once it starts, you are to escape and kill anything not wearing a red armband OR any that are the same as me."
Mors' once again looked at each of the cowering creatures, causing them to flinch. "There is a female hiding in this city that is precious to me. Find her, and get her safely out of the city. Once this is done, you are free, and I will owe you."
Suddenly the monsters let out shrieks of fear as Mors let his killing intent wash over them causing the air to crackle menacingly. "Do not let her get hurt... for not even death shall save you from my wrath."
After making sure the monsters were obedient, Mors freed them from their restraints and exited the building. Looking at the brightening sky, he quickly headed towards a similar looking building in the distance.