He took a moment to orient himself, referencing the basic city map available to newcomers while cross-referencing it with the more detailed annotations on his [Cartographer's Route Maps] where they overlapped with the city outskirts. Silverhaven was divided into numerous distinct wards: the chaotic sprawl of the Market Ward near the gates, the imposing structures of the Citadel Ward housing guilds and garrisons, the quiet, academic air of the Scholar's Quarter surrounding the Great Library, and older residential districts blending seamlessly with preserved Alvari ruins.
"Jian is reclusive. Not likely to be found through standard channels. But need to try the obvious first."
His initial attempts proved fruitless, just as he suspected. He approached several Silverhaven City Guards patrolling the main thoroughfares. "Excuse me, Officer. I'm looking for someone named Elder Jian, possibly knowledgeable in ancient swordsmanship or Alvari history?" The responses were universally unhelpful: polite shrugs, blank stares, suggestions to check the public registry, or simply "Never heard of him, citizen. This city holds millions."
He spent an hour navigating the crowded Market Ward, inquiring at information kiosks and even discreetly asking less scrupulous information brokers. The result was the same. No public record, no known figure matching that name and description operating openly.
"Standard approach failed, as expected. Kallan emphasized his seclusion. He won't be found easily. Need to think like someone trying to find a hidden master... focus on the Alvari connection."
Drake found a quiet bench in a small park within the Scholar's Quarter, near the imposing shadow of the Great Library. He closed his eyes, activating [Perfect Recall]. He meticulously reviewed every memory fragment related to his quest:
Master Kallan's words: "Seek out 'Elder Jian' in the city of Silverhaven... Show him the hilt... legacy... Alvari swordsmanship far beyond standard Warrior disciplines... reclusive..."
The Hilt itself: [Broken Twin Blade Hilt], ??? Quality, Soulbound, 'mirrored purpose'.
The Artifact Disc: [Weathered Alvari Artifact], humming energy.
The Tuning Stone: [Alvari Tuning Stone], reacting to Alvari energy, displaying cryptic patterns.
The Cartographer's Maps: Frequent use of Alvari symbols for navigation.
The 'Basics of Alvari Artifice' tome: Illustrations of navigational symbols, locking mechanisms, energy conduits.
Scholar Willem's comment: Tuning Stones used to harmonize devices, reacted to Mana flows pre-Shattering.
Archivist Hemlock's comment: Residue near concealed Alvari mechanisms.
"The common thread is Alvari. Jian is tied to their legacy, specifically swordsmanship. He's likely hidden within or connected to areas with strong Alvari influence, or circles that study them – scholars, antiquarians, maybe even fringe martial arts schools."
His strategy shifted. He reactivated [Relic Hunter], the boost from his [Cartographer's Compass] making the skill feel slightly sharper, more sensitive. He began systematically exploring the districts his recall suggested were most promising: the Scholar's Quarter, the Antiquarian District noted on his map, and particularly, sections of the Old Quarter where ancient Alvari structures were visibly integrated into the city's fabric – walls built upon Alvari foundations, canals following old conduit lines, plazas centered around weathered Alvari plinths.
He ignored the bustling crowds, the overt energy signatures of player enchantments or city infrastructure. He focused [Relic Hunter] on seeking faint, old, stable Alvari energy signatures, the kind that might persist in undisturbed locations or along paths used discreetly for centuries. He looked for subtle symbols carved into archways or paving stones, patterns that resonated with the motifs he'd seen on his artifacts or in the Artifice tome.
For hours, he walked, observed, scanned. He found numerous minor points of interest – a hidden plaque with faded Alvari script (stored by Recall), a deactivated conduit junction humming faintly, an antique shop specializing in (mostly mundane) pre-Shattering artifacts. Interesting, but none felt like the path to Jian.
Then, in a quiet, unassuming residential street in the oldest part of the city, near the crumbling remnants of an ancient Alvari aqueduct, [Relic Hunter] picked up something different. Not a strong source, but a faint, persistent trail of residual energy, barely distinguishable from the background hum, leading away from the main streets. It wasn't the chaotic residue Hemlock described near active mechanisms, but something calmer, more deliberate. Following it, he noticed subtle, almost invisible Alvari symbols etched onto cornerstones or gateposts along this specific path – symbols matching navigational waypoints from the Cartographer's map and the Artifice tome.
"This is it. Not a public road, but a marked path... visible only to someone looking for these specific signs. Someone is still using these Alvari markers within the city itself."
The trail led him through increasingly quiet, winding backstreets, away from the city's main hubs. Finally, it terminated at a high, plain stone wall, unbroken except for a single, heavy, unadorned wooden gate. There was no sign, no indication of what lay beyond, only the faint Alvari energy trail seeming to pool near the gate itself, along with one final, subtle symbol carved into the stone beside it – a simplified representation of twin blades crossed within a circle.
Drake stood before the silent gate. The surrounding street was empty, the sounds of the bustling city distant here. He could sense a feeling of tranquility, of isolation, emanating from beyond the wall. This place felt deliberately hidden, accessible only to those who knew how to follow the ancient signs. [Relic Hunter] confirmed the faint energy signature persisted beyond the gate.
"This has to be the place. Or at least, connected to Jian. The trail led directly here, the symbol... it feels right. But how do I get inside? Just knock?"
He had followed the clues, navigated the massive city using his unique skills, and arrived at what felt like the doorstep of the reclusive master. Phase one of finding Jian was complete – he'd located his likely sanctuary. The next step, making contact and proving himself worthy of whatever came next, felt like an entirely new, perhaps even more difficult, challenge. He took a breath, composing himself, ready to face the unknown behind the silent gate.