Orion had never been prone to paranoia, but caution had become his constant companion ever since he left the protective embrace of the Crypt. The days of peaceful slumber were long gone, replaced by a state of perpetual alertness. Now, as a fugitive in enemy lands, labeled a criminal, vigilance was his only safeguard against the lurking dangers.
On this early morning, Orion's eyes snapped open, their sharpness betraying no trace of sleepiness. His senses, finely attuned through countless trials, detected a flurry of mana signatures encroaching upon his sanctuary. Multiple mages were converging on the inn where he had sought refuge. At first, he entertained the notion of a routine inspection, but as their presence grew closer, the truth crystallized—their intent was unmistakably hostile.