Selene and Shadowbrother – Another Confrontation
Night in the City – Something Approaches
The night in the merchant city was unusually restless.
The wind blew stronger, the lanterns flickered, and shadows slipped between the rooftops.
Selene Veyra stood on the roof of Wolf Lodge, watching the city.
Her dagger was in her hand, her movements tense, her gaze sharp.
Something was approaching.
Something only she could sense.
The air changed.
Tightened.
Froze.
Selene slowly lifted her head.
"You're here."
Shadowbrother Appears – For the First Time in Full Power
A figure darted between the rooftops.
Fast.
Precise.
Perfectly silent.
Shadowbrother.
But now… he was different.
Stronger.
Darker.
His movements were no longer human — but something more.
His mask was black with silver lines, but in his eyes…
shadows moved.
Selene stepped forward.
"What happened to you? This… isn't natural."
Shadowbrother's voice was distorted, as if several layers spoke at once.
"Nature… is weak. The empire… is dying. And I… adapted."
Selene watched him with narrowed eyes.
"That's not adaptation. That's… corruption."
Shadowbrother slowly raised his hand.
The air trembled.
"Corruption is frightening only to those who fear change. You… still follow the old rules."
Selene's dagger glinted.
"And you… betrayed them."
The Second Clash – Faster, Deadlier, More Personal
Selene didn't wait.
With a single motion she lunged forward, her dagger flashing in the moonlight.
Shadowbrother dodged, his movement so light it seemed he walked on air.
The two shadow hunters danced across the rooftops.
Dagger clashed against dagger.
Footsteps whispered across the tiles.
The wind carried the sound of their movements.
But now… something was different.
Shadowbrother was faster.
Much faster.
Selene could barely follow him.
"This… can't be human."
Shadowbrother smiled.
"It isn't."
Selene leapt back — but Shadowbrother was already behind her.
His dagger stopped at her throat.
"That's the second life you've lost… against me."
Selene didn't move.
"What do you gain from this? Why are you doing this?"
Shadowbrother's voice was soft.
"Because I need you. And because… I do not want your death."
Selene froze.
"Why?"
Shadowbrother fell silent for a moment.
Then spoke quietly:
"Because you were the only one who believed in me. In the old days. And I… do not forget."
Selene's heart skipped a beat.
"Then why did you defect? Why did you leave us?"
Shadowbrother stepped back slowly.
"Because the empire betrayed us. And because… I work for someone else now."
Selene's eyes narrowed.
"Valerius."
Shadowbrother did not answer.
And that was the answer.
On the Rooftops – A Decision Is Made
Selene stepped forward.
"If you work for Valerius… then you are an enemy. And I… will stop you."
Shadowbrother slowly lifted his head.
"Try. But remember… I am not the comrade you once knew. And you are no longer the old Selene."
In the next moment, he vanished.
As if he had never been there.
Selene remained alone on the rooftop.
Her dagger trembled in her hand.
"What happened to you… Shadowbrother? Why did you let Valerius control you?"
The wind gave no answer.
Selene Knows Their Next Encounter Will Be Fatal
Selene returned to Wolf Lodge.
Her steps were slow, her gaze dark.
Noelle and Ersi immediately approached her.
"Selene… what happened?" Noelle asked.
Selene sat down slowly.
"I met him again. And… he has changed. Something… dark is working inside him. Something I don't recognize."
Ersi frowned.
"Then we have to stop him."
Selene nodded.
"Yes. But our next encounter… won't be like this. It won't be a conversation. It will be a fight. And… someone won't return."
Silence filled the inn.
The storm was approaching.
And Selene knew:
Their next clash would not be a test.
But fate.
Lord Valerius's Next Move
The Imperial Palace – Valerius Has Lost His Patience
Lord Valerius Arcturus stood before the window, watching the city.
His eyes were cold as the blade at his side.
His servant bowed behind him.
"My lord… Wolf Lodge has refused the demand."
Valerius nodded slowly.
"Of course. Hope is always stubborn. But hope… is fragile."
The servant looked up.
"What are your orders?"
Valerius smiled.
"Begin the second phase. The blockade was only the beginning. Now… we cut out their heart."
The servant bowed.
"Yes, my lord."
Valerius pointed at the map.
Around Wolf Lodge, three new marks appeared.
"The water.
The fire.
The shadow."
He slowly ran his hand across the map.
"Each of them has a weakness. And I… know them all."
Wolf Lodge – Strange Guests Arrive
The next afternoon, three strangers arrived at the inn.
Not soldiers.
Not mercenaries.
Not mages.
Merchants.
Or at least… they looked like merchants.
Behind the counter, Noelle immediately sensed something was wrong.
The water around her vibrated faintly.
Ersi sat on the stairs, and her fireball suddenly popped.
Kagura stood at the gate and instinctively placed her hand on her sword.
Selene watched from the shadows.
Tessa turned pale.
"These… are Valerius's men. Just in disguise."
One of the "merchants" stepped forward.
"Good day. We heard Wolf Lodge's supplies have… dwindled. We can help."
Noelle's eyes narrowed.
"At what price?"
The man's smile was cold.
"Only a small favor. Allow us into the back part of the inn. We only… wish to look around."
Selene stepped forward.
Her voice cut through the air like a blade.
"No."
The man's smile vanished.
"Lord Valerius does not appreciate refusal."
Ersi snorted.
"Neither do we."
The man bowed slowly.
"Then… I will deliver the message."
The three disguised men left.
Silence filled the inn.
The Message – Valerius Is No Longer Playing
Tessa spoke with a trembling voice.
"That… was a threat. A direct threat."
Selene nodded.
"Valerius is no longer watching. No longer negotiating. No longer testing. Now… he acts."
Noelle took a deep breath.
"Then we prepare."
Ersi clenched her fist.
"Let him come. I'm waiting."
Kagura placed her hand on her sword.
"The warriors of the island do not retreat."
Selene stepped forward slowly.
"Valerius's next move… will not be this polite."
The City – The Attack Begins
That evening, when the inn had almost quieted down, shouts echoed from the city.
Noelle ran to the window.
"What's happening?"
In the distance, flames rose.
Not a large fire.
Not destructive.
Just big enough to cause panic.
Ersi shouted:
"This… is a warning."
Selene nodded.
"Valerius's men lit it. Not to burn… but to frighten."
Tessa turned pale.
"The city… might turn against us."
Noelle clenched her fist.
"Then we protect it. Because if the city fears… Valerius wins."
In the Palace – Valerius Is Pleased
The servants delivered their report.
"My lord, the fire… was successful. The city is afraid. And Wolf Lodge… reacted."
Valerius smiled.
"Excellent. Fear is the strongest weapon. And I… wield it masterfully."
He slowly raised his glass.
"The next step: isolate them. Completely."
His servant bowed.
"Yes, my lord."
Valerius's eyes gleamed.
"Wolf Lodge… will fall. And when it falls… the imperial throne will be mine."
War Has Begun
Beyond the windows of Wolf Lodge, the city lights flickered.
In the distance, the fire slowly died.
But the fear… remained.
Noelle, Ersi, Kagura, Selene, and Tessa knew:
Valerius was no longer watching.
No longer negotiating.
No longer threatening.
Now… he was attacking.
And his next move would be far more dangerous.