A Web of Lies

The night had descended fully by the time Kaelith and Elowen retreated to the safety of an abandoned tavern on the edge of the town. The flickering light of a single candle cast dancing shadows across the stone walls, adding to the uneasy atmosphere that clung to them like a shroud.

Kaelith paced the length of the room, his mind racing. The encounter with Dorian had left him shaken, and not just because of the manipulator's ominous words. There had been something in Dorian's gaze—something that had seen straight through him, as if the man knew about the dark power lurking inside Kaelith, the Umbral Nexus.

"He's planning something big," Kaelith muttered, more to himself than to Elowen.

Elowen sat by the dusty window, her greatsword resting at her side, its blade catching the faint candlelight. Her expression was unreadable, but there was a storm behind her eyes. "He's always planning something. That's what makes him dangerous."

Kaelith stopped pacing and looked at her. "But this time it's different. He's here for a reason. And whatever it is, we can't let him succeed."

Elowen's jaw clenched, her hands tightening into fists. "Dorian never shows his hand unless he's already ten steps ahead. If we don't act soon, it might be too late to stop him."

Kaelith leaned against the wall, crossing his arms. He hated feeling like a puppet on strings, but right now, it was clear that Dorian was pulling those strings. The man had already swayed the town's Guild Masters to his side, probably spinning his web of promises and threats like he always did.

But what troubled Kaelith more than anything was the question of why. Why was Dorian so interested in the Vault? Why now? What did he know that Kaelith and Elowen didn't?

As if sensing his thoughts, Elowen spoke. "It's the Vault, isn't it? He's after something in there."

Kaelith nodded, pushing off the wall and moving to sit across from her. "It has to be. The Keepers spoke about the Abyss. Dorian must have learned something... something we don't understand yet."

"The Abyss," Elowen whispered, her gaze distant. "That place... it felt alive. Like it was waiting for something. Or someone."

Kaelith met her eyes. "What if it's waiting for him?"

The thought hung heavy between them, the weight of it almost unbearable. The Abyss—an ancient force that had stirred at Kaelith's presence in the Vault—could it be connected to Dorian in some way? Was Dorian the key to unlocking something even darker?

Elowen stood, her posture rigid. "We can't let him anywhere near that Vault. If he's after something there, we need to stop him before he gets it."

Kaelith clenched his fists, feeling the stir of the Umbral Nexus inside him, whispering dark promises. He knew Elowen was right, but the situation was far more complicated than simply stopping Dorian. The manipulator was a master of deception, always several steps ahead, and Kaelith couldn't afford to fall into another one of his traps.

"We need to learn more," Kaelith said, forcing himself to think clearly. "Dorian's always got a hidden agenda. We need to figure out what his endgame is."

Elowen raised an eyebrow. "And how exactly do you plan to do that?"

A slow smile spread across Kaelith's face. "We ask him."

Elowen blinked, her eyes narrowing. "You want to go straight to Dorian? That's suicide, Kaelith."

Kaelith shook his head. "Not directly. I'm not an idiot. But we've dealt with enough of his lackeys before. There's bound to be someone in this town who knows what he's after. All we need to do is find them... and make them talk."

Elowen considered his words for a moment, her expression softening as she realized what Kaelith was suggesting. "You're thinking like a manipulator now."

Kaelith's smile faded. "I'm thinking like someone who's running out of time."

They spent the next hour gathering their gear, preparing for the task ahead. Kaelith adjusted the twin single-edged swords strapped to his back, their weight a familiar comfort. Elowen's greatsword gleamed ominously as she slid it into its scabbard, her face set in grim determination.

The streets were quieter now, the bustling life of the town reduced to faint whispers and the occasional flicker of lantern light. The shadows seemed to grow thicker the deeper they ventured, wrapping around them like a cloak as they moved through the narrow alleyways.

Kaelith had a single target in mind—one of Dorian's contacts in the town, a low-level mercenary who had worked with him in the past. It wasn't much to go on, but Kaelith had learned long ago that even the smallest thread could unravel an entire web if pulled hard enough.

They reached a small, run-down tavern on the outskirts of the market square. The windows were cracked, and the building itself looked like it had seen better days. Inside, the muffled sounds of conversation and clinking mugs drifted through the heavy wooden door.

Kaelith motioned for Elowen to wait outside. "I'll go in first. Watch the entrance. If anything goes wrong, you'll know."

Elowen's lips pressed into a thin line, but she nodded. "Be careful."

With a deep breath, Kaelith pushed open the door and stepped inside. The air was thick with the smell of stale ale and sweat, the dim lighting casting long shadows over the patrons who sat huddled at their tables. His eyes scanned the room quickly, landing on a familiar face at the far corner.

Koryn, a wiry man with a sharp nose and nervous eyes, sat nursing a mug of ale. He hadn't noticed Kaelith yet, too engrossed in whatever shady deal he was discussing with the man across from him.

Kaelith moved silently through the crowd, his steps measured and deliberate. When he reached Koryn's table, he leaned forward, placing both hands on the surface.

"Koryn," Kaelith said softly, his voice barely above a whisper, "we need to talk."

The man jumped, nearly spilling his drink as his eyes shot up to meet Kaelith's. Fear flickered in them, but Koryn quickly masked it with a forced smile.

"Kaelith... it's been a while."

Kaelith's expression remained cold. "You've been working with Dorian."

Koryn's smile faltered. "I don't know what you're talking about—"

Before the man could finish his sentence, Kaelith leaned closer, his voice dropping to a dangerous whisper. "Don't lie to me, Koryn. I don't have time for games. You're going to tell me what Dorian's planning, or you're going to regret it."

Koryn swallowed hard, his eyes darting toward the door as if he were considering making a run for it. But the way Kaelith's hand rested on the hilt of his sword made it clear that running wouldn't end well for him.

After a tense moment, Koryn sighed and lowered his voice. "Alright, alright... but you didn't hear it from me."

Kaelith leaned back, giving Koryn just enough space to talk.

"He's after something in the Vault. Something old. Powerful. Some kind of artifact. I don't know exactly what it is, but whatever it is, Dorian thinks it'll give him the upper hand."

Kaelith's heart raced. So, it was the Vault. But what artifact could be so important that even Dorian would risk everything to get his hands on it?

"What else?" Kaelith pressed.

Koryn hesitated, then leaned in closer. "There's a group. People Dorian's been working with. Not from around here. Outsiders. They're... different. And they're dangerous."

Kaelith's blood ran cold. Outsiders. His thoughts immediately went to the demons and beings from beyond the known realms—the ones he had feared might become involved. If Dorian had aligned himself with such forces, the stakes had just gotten much higher.

Kaelith stood, his mind already working on the next steps. "Thanks for the information."

As he turned to leave, Koryn grabbed his arm, his voice trembling. "You didn't hear it from me. If Dorian finds out I talked..."

Kaelith met Koryn's eyes, his expression deadly serious. "He won't. But if I find out you're lying... you'll wish Dorian was the one coming after you."

Koryn paled and released his grip, nodding frantically.

Without another word, Kaelith exited the tavern and rejoined Elowen outside. She looked at him expectantly, and he gave her a single nod.

"It's worse than we thought," Kaelith said quietly, his mind already racing with the implications. "Dorian's working with outsiders. And they're after something in the Vault."

Elowen's expression darkened. "Then we need to move fast."

Kaelith's jaw tightened as the weight of the situation settled in. The storm was coming, and they were running out of time.