Time stopped inside The Rusty Tankard. Every eye was fixed on the mysterious man in the dark corner. The crystal held by the female Inquisitor, named Seraphina, glowed brighter purple—a warning of powerful energy not of this world.
"I command you... show me your face!" Seraphina shouted again. Her soldiers slowly surrounded Valerius' table.
Valerius slowly raised his hand. But instead of removing his hood, he grasped his ale glass. In a swift motion, he threw the liquid towards the crystal while whispering a short incantation.
"Obsidiana."
The ale turned into dark smoke in the air, enveloping the Inquisitors' vision. Amidst the confusion, Valerius stood up. He had no intention of wasting his meager power fighting an entire squad of soldiers, especially not knowing the capabilities of these modern Knights.
"Blasphemy!" a soldier shouted, swinging his sword through the smoke.
But Valerius was already gone. Using his remaining speed, he jumped out the back window of the tavern, where the raven Malphas was waiting.
"Lord, to the alley!" Malphas called.
Valerius quickly navigated the dark parts of Oakhaven. He heard the church bells ringing—the signal for hunting a "heretic" or "demon."
"Malphas, where can we hide?" Valerius asked, panting. His body wasn't used to sudden movements after a millennium of sleep.
"There's an abandoned warehouse at the edge of town, Lord. We can stay there for the night. But we need to move fast, that Inquisitor... she has the Eye of Truth."
They reached an old warehouse filled with rotting wood. Inside, Valerius immediately sealed the door with a weak Shadow Lock. He leaned against the wall, his pale skin looking even whiter from exhaustion.
"1% power is a curse," Valerius muttered. "I can't even handle a simple Inquisitor."
"Don't worry, Lord," Malphas said, reverting to human form. "I have good news. While observing, I heard about a Black Market in Oakhaven. They say they're selling an artifact from ancient times."
Valerius looked up. "A Relic?"
"I'm not sure, but the description... a ring with a black gem that devours light. Sounds like the Ring of Despair, one of your former General Vorgath's possessions."
Valerius' eyes sparkled. If he could recover even one of his Relics, his power would increase significantly. The Ring of Despair wasn't just a weapon; it was a Mana reservoir that would help him avoid exhaustion from using magic.
"When is the sale?" Valerius asked.
"Midnight tomorrow, under Oakhaven Bridge," Malphas replied. "But there's a problem. The Black Market is run by the Syndicate of Shadows—a group of criminals who fear nothing, not even the church."
"Criminals..." Valerius smiled bitterly. "I'd rather deal with thieves than sanctimonious zealots. Malphas, prepare everything. Tomorrow, we'll take back what's ours."
As he rested, Valerius looked through a small hole in the warehouse. He saw the grand cathedral of the Union of Light shining in the town center. His hatred was no longer just anger; it had become cold determination.
"You built this peace on my defeat," he whispered to the air. "Now, watch how I dismantle it piece by piece."
The next morning, an announcement was posted throughout the town:
A large bounty for anyone who could identify the "Man with Red Eyes."
Seraphina wouldn't stop until she caught the threat to their "peace."
The cat-and-mouse game had begun.