Yan, The Necromancer (Part 1)

"Of course I am," Yan replied, his silver eyes focused on Kaizen with a disturbing intensity. "And that is exactly why I will not join you."

Kaizen remained silent for a moment, absorbing Yan's words. He felt the weight of this refusal, not only in his words, but in the way Yan positioned himself, in the almost disturbing calm that emanated from him. Alaric, for his part, remained attentive, but couldn't help the slight tension that formed in his shoulders. Yan's rejection was predictable, but still unsettling.

The mist around them seemed to thicken, as if reacting to Yan's denial, almost becoming an entity of its own, lurking like a hungry creature on the prowl for its prey. Kaizen felt a slight pressure in his ears, as if the swamp was whispering, trying to invade his thoughts.