Leaving the shadowy confines of the Shadow Market, the antiquities dealer's rasped words echoing in his mind: "Whispering Fen Teahouse... Lower City Ward, near the old canals... Ask for Jasmine tea." He now had a concrete, if cryptic, next step in his search for information related to the [Broken Twin Blade Hilt] and, by extension, Elder Jian.
He consulted his Silverhaven city map, locating the Lower City Ward. It was an older, less prosperous section of the metropolis, crisscrossed by ancient, now mostly decorative, canal systems that predated the city's current expansive walls. The architecture here was a mix of weathered stone and dark timber, leaning buildings casting deep shadows even in the middle of the day. It took him nearly half an hour to navigate the winding streets from the edge of the Shadow Market to the area the dealer had described.
The "old canals" were more like sluggish, algae-choked waterways now, bordered by narrow, cobbled towpaths. Tucked away on one such towpath, almost hidden behind a larger, dilapidated warehouse, was a small, unassuming building. Its wooden sign, faded and creaking slightly in the damp breeze, depicted a stylized lotus flower amidst swirling mists. Below it, barely legible, were the words: "The Whispering Fen Teahouse." There were no bright lights, no welcoming calls; the windows were made of frosted, opaque glass, and the heavy wooden door was closed tight. It exuded an air of deliberate privacy and discretion.
"This has to be it. Definitely fits the 'discreet information brokering' vibe. Looks like the kind of place where secrets are bought and sold over lukewarm tea."
Drake took a moment to observe, [Relic Hunter] active. The skill picked up no immediate threats, no magical traps on the entrance, just the faint, jumbled energy signatures of multiple individuals inside, overlaid with a subtle warding magic likely designed to dampen sound and prevent eavesdropping. Satisfied it wasn't an obvious trap, he pushed open the heavy door and stepped inside.
The interior was dimly lit by a few paper lanterns casting soft, amber light. The air smelled of exotic teas, incense, and damp stone. It was surprisingly quiet despite being moderately occupied; hushed conversations emanated from several secluded booths, separated by intricately carved wooden screens or heavy velvet curtains. The patrons were a mix – robed figures who could have been scholars or mages, cloaked individuals who looked like they'd be more at home in the Shadow Market, and a few heavily armed adventurers keeping to themselves. A stoic, stern-faced Proprietor (Level ?? NPC) with an unreadable expression stood behind a long, polished darkwood counter, wiping down a teacup.
Drake approached the counter, the eyes of several patrons briefly flicking towards him before returning to their own business. "Jasmine tea, please," Drake said quietly but clearly. As he spoke, he casually rested his hand near his belt for a moment, allowing the unique, dark metal pommel of the [Broken Twin Blade Hilt] to be subtly visible, a gesture he hoped the Proprietor would understand as a continuation of the query type from the Shadow Market.
The Proprietor paused his wiping, his gaze sharp and appraising as it met Drake's. He gave a curt, almost imperceptible nod. "Jasmine. An acquired taste." His voice was low and gravelly. "The corner booth by the rear window is available. Your order will be brought shortly."
Drake nodded his thanks and made his way to the indicated booth. It was the most secluded one in the teahouse, offering a view of a small, mossy back alleyway but shielded from the main room. He sat down, his back to the wall, observing the other patrons discreetly. A few minutes later, a silent, almost wraith-like server NPC delivered a steaming porcelain cup of fragrant Jasmine tea and a small plate of rice cakes, then departed without a word.
Drake sipped the tea. It was... genuinely good. He waited. Just as he was beginning to wonder if he'd misunderstood something, a figure slipped silently into the booth opposite him. The newcomer was androgynous, clad in dark, nondescript traveler's clothes with a hood pulled low, obscuring their features in the dim light. Only their eyes, sharp and intelligent, glinted from the shadows.
"The Jasmine selection is for those with specific inquiries," the figure said, their voice a low, neutral whisper. "You seek knowledge pertaining to certain archaic symbols, and perhaps an individual who values their anonymity above all else." It wasn't a question.
"Okay, they were expecting me, or at least this line of inquiry. The Shadow Market dealer must have sent word, or this is a standard procedure."
"I was directed here," Drake replied, keeping his voice equally low. "I seek information regarding an Alvari artifact," he subtly indicated the Hilt at his belt without fully drawing it, "and the one who might understand its purpose – a master known as Elder Jian."
The Broker nodded slightly. "Such information is... sensitive. And rarely sought. Elder Jian does not suffer fools, nor those who disturb his meditations without due cause." They paused. "A fee is customary for facilitating contact with such reclusive parties. Fifty silver should suffice to prove the sincerity of your intent."
Drake had anticipated this. Fifty silver was a fair price for what could be a crucial lead. He placed the coins on the table. << Silver Coins Deducted: 50 >> The Broker's hand deftly swept them up. "Very well." They leaned forward slightly. "Elder Jian indeed resides within Silverhaven. His sanctuary is not easily reached. He is cloistered within the uppermost, restricted archives of the Great Library, a section sealed to all but the Arch-Librarian and those with ancient dispensations."
"Great Library... restricted upper archives. Figures. How do I get in there?"
"Access through official channels is... unlikely for one such as yourself, no offense intended," the Broker continued, as if reading his mind. "However, there are older paths, forgotten ways for those who know where to look. The Old Archive building, the one near the Scholar's Quarter where you likely first encountered the public traces of the symbol you bear..." Drake nodded, [Perfect Recall] instantly bringing up the image of the building and the Scribe he'd spoken to. "...it holds a secret. On its third floor, western wing, search for a misaligned repository shelf, one that seems out of place amongst the ordered stacks. Behind it lies a concealed Alvari locking mechanism."
The Broker then described a very specific sequence of actions: "The mechanism is keyed to celestial Solstice patterns. You must press the ancient runes in this order: First, the 'Twin Moons Ascending' rune, then the 'Sun at Zenith', followed by the 'Falling Star', and finally, the 'Darkened Orb'. This sequence, if performed correctly, will grant temporary access to the old service tunnels that connect directly to the deep, restricted levels of the Great Library archives. From there, you must find Jian's specific sanctum yourself – look for a door that absorbs all sound, an anomaly in that echoing place."
[Perfect Recall] captured every detail: Old Archive building, third floor, western wing, misaligned shelf, the four specific rune names and their sequence. This was it. The direct path to Jian.
"This information is reliable," the Broker stated, their voice still a whisper. "How you use it, and whether Elder Jian chooses to receive you, is your own affair." With that, the figure stood, gave a slight nod, and melted back into the shadows of the teahouse as silently as they had arrived.
Drake finished his Jasmine tea, the fragrant liquid doing little to calm the excitement thrumming within him. He had it. After days of searching, from the Scribe to the Shadow Market to this clandestine teahouse, he finally had a viable, if unorthodox, path to Elder Jian. He left the remaining coins for the tea on the table and exited the Whispering Fen Teahouse, stepping back out into the slightly less oppressive gloom of the Lower City Ward.
His objective was clear. He needed to return to the Old Archive building and find that misaligned shelf. The final stage of his search for Elder Jian was about to begin.