Meeting with Mr. Blackwood

Aldwyn's eyes scanned the crowd and found the gaze of Mr. Blackwood, sitting at a corner with a glass of wine. He had a sharp jawline and piercing black eyes watching him, a clean-shaven head covered in intricate tattoos. The music swelled around them, a crescendo of strings.

„This is the scene from one of my visions... It always seemed very strange to me, but it also comes true!" He thought as his eyes met Mr. Blackwood's.

As the dance concluded, the Sylvan Siren curtsied gracefully, her eyes never leaving Aldwyn's. "Thank you," she said, her voice a soft purr that seemed to echo through the ballroom. "It's not often I find such a... capable partner." With a knowing smile, she slipped away.

Aldwyn made his way to a quiet corner, his mind racing with the implications of Mr. Blackwood's interest. He leaned against the cool stone, the crimson wine in his hand untouched, as he contemplated his next move.

„This Backwood wants something from me, but what could it be? Why me in particular? He seemed a bit suspicious back then, but according to the Sylvan Siren I have nothing to be worried about."

„As far as I remember correctly, he said back then, that our businesses might overlap in a certain way. Besides, he also said then that he was interested in the whispers of the outer darkness... What could he want from me?"

„I just can't figure out what he wants... I should hear him out eventually, maybe it's something that will benefit me. I should also leave lila out of this, it would be unnecessary to include her..." He thought to himself.

....

The ball had ended and the guests had begun to trickle out of the grand estate, their laughter and chatter echoing through the halls as they donned their coats and gathered their things. The opulent decorations and the vibrant lights of the chandeliers cast an eerie glow on the faces of the departing aristocrats.

Lila had returned to Aldwyn's side, her cheeks flushed from the exertion of the dance and the excitement of the evening's revelations. She looked at him with a mix of curiosity and concern. "What did she want?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Aldwyn took a deep breath, "It was an old... acquaintance."

They took their cloaks from the attentive servant, the heavy fabric whispering against their skin as they shrugged them on. The warmth of the fireplace was replaced by the cold embrace of the night air as they stepped out onto the cobblestone path, the sound of their boots echoing in the quiet of the evening.

The carriage was already waiting for them. The coachman tipped his hat as they approached, his face obscured by the shadows cast by the gas lamps that lined the drive. Lila's hand trembled slightly as she climbed the steps, the crimson wine having loosened her inhibitions just enough to make the evening's events seem more surreal than ever.

As she settled onto the velvet seats, the warmth from the carriage's interior seemed to envelop her in a cocoon of safety. Yet, when she looked back to offer Aldwyn a hand up, she found him standing firmly on the cobblestones, his silver eyes unreadable in the flickering light. "I'll walk," he said curtly.

Just as lila was about to say something, he closed the door and knocked on it twice, the signal for the coachman to drive off. The carriage jolted into motion, the rhythmic clack of horse hooves against stone a steady beat that matched the racing of her heart.

In the dimly lit carriage, Lila looked sadly at the floor, the plush velvet a stark contrast to the cobblestone outside. She wondered why Aldwyn had been so strange since the ball. His usual coldness had been replaced with a distant, almost haunted look, his eyes often glazed over as if he saw something she couldn't. She took another sip of the wine, feeling the warmth spread through her body.

Aldwyn waited, his cloak billowing in the chilly breeze, as carriages passed by, their interiors a blur of silk and fur. His eyes searched the shadows for any sign of his contact.

Finally, a sleek carriage drawn by two black horses pulled to a halt before him. The door swung open, revealing an opulent interior lined with velvet. From the shadows, Mr. Blackwood's hand emerged, beckoning him with a knowing smile.

Aldwyn climbed in, his eyes never leaving the other man's as he took his seat opposite. The carriage lurched forward, the cobblestones giving way to the smooth clack of the wheels on the main thoroughfare. The tension in the air was palpable, thick like the fog.

The Sylvan Siren sat silently beside him, her emerald eyes reflecting the flickering lamplight from outside.

"Your dance was... invigorating," Mr. Blackwood said, his voice tinged with irony.

Aldwyn's eyes narrowed, "What is it that you want from me?"

Mr. Blackwood leaned back into the velvet cushions, his smile widening. "Ah, straight to business. I admire that. But first, let me ask you a question: when was the last time you truly enjoyed yourself?"

„What does this guy want from me?!" Aldwyn asked himself.

Aldwyn's gaze remained unwavering. "I'm here to discuss your assignment, not to make small talk."

Mr. Blackwood's smile grew a touch wider, the shadows playing across his tattooed head. "Very well. I've noticed your... discomfort with Sir Riven. He's quite the character, isn't he?"

The carriage took a sharp turn, and Aldwyn felt the world outside spin with the motion. "I don't trust him," he said flatly.

Mr. Blackwood's smile remained unchanged. "Ah, but you don't have to. You see, I have a proposition for you."

He leaned forward, his eyes gleaming like onyx in the dim light of the carriage. "Sir Riven has something of mine, something quite valuable. An artifact, if you will. It was stolen from my collection."

"What does that have to do with me?" Aldwyn replied.

Mr. Blackwood's smile grew colder. "Sir Riven's interest in your companion goes beyond the range of regular interest. I suspect he has marked her as one of his next targets." His eyes flickered to Aldwyn.

"What are you implying?" Aldwyn's voice was a whisper of steel.

Mr. Blackwood leaned back, his eyes never leaving Aldwyn's. "Sir Riven is a man of many faces. He follows the Shapeshifter Pathway, an ancient and powerful art. And it seems he has taken quite a shine to your female companion."

„Shapeshifter Pathway? Never heard of it... It seems that my knowledge is still very sketchy." He joked about himself mentally.

Realizing that Aldwyn was reflecting on the meaning of the Shapeshifter Pathway, Mr. Blackwood continued speaking. "The pathway belongs to Selthar, the old moon goddess, as well as that of the prophet and astronomer Pathway."

"As far as I can tell, Sir Riven is currently on the cusp of Stage 5 of the shapeshifter, the name is Werewolf! That's exactly why I suspect his interest in your female companion... According to my information, there is a certain requirement to reach this stage."

"The requirement is to 'mark' a specific person. After that happens, he has to wait until the next full moon to start the ritual, which will lead to her death." He added.

Aldwyn felt a cold fury rising within him. "What do you want from me?"