Mia stood in the dimly lit tunnel, the black crystal Kael had given her pulsing faintly in her hand. Its violet light cast eerie shadows on the stone walls, and the system's warning echoed in her mind: The artifact is cursed. Survival probability: 10%. She glanced at Kael, his smirk still lingering as he watched her, his storm-gray eyes glinting with something she couldn't quite place—amusement, curiosity, or something darker.
"Cursed," she repeated, her voice tight. "Care to explain what that means? Or are you just going to stand there looking smug?"
Kael chuckled, the sound low and dangerous. "You'll figure it out, little shadow," he said, turning to walk deeper into the tunnel. "Lord Eryntis keeps the artifact in his manor on the eastern edge of Vaelor City. It's a shard of the same crystal you're holding—a key to my plans. Get it, and don't die in the process. I'd hate to lose my newest toy so soon."
Mia glared at his back, her grip tightening on the crystal. "I'm not your toy," she muttered, but he didn't respond. The system's mission timer blinked in her vision: Retrieve the Artifact from Lord Eryntis. Reward: 150 Shadow Points. The timer for her original mission—kill Lord Varen—was still ticking down at 23:47:19. She was juggling two death sentences now, and Kael wasn't making it any easier.
She tucked the crystal into her tunic and followed Kael's directions out of the tunnel, emerging into a narrow alley on the outskirts of Vaelor City. The two moons hung high above, casting a silvery glow over the cobblestone streets. The eastern district was quieter than the city center, its manors surrounded by high walls and guarded gates. Lord Eryntis' estate was easy to spot—a sprawling mansion with ivy-covered walls and glowing blue wards shimmering along the perimeter.
"Magical security," Mia muttered, crouching behind a stack of crates across the street. "Of course." She focused, pulling up her system stats:
*Shadow Points: 50*
*Skills: Shadow Veil (Level 1), Enhanced Agility (Level 1)*
*Available Upgrades: Poison Blade (75 Points)*
She was faster now, thanks to Enhanced Agility, but Shadow Veil's 10-second duration and 30-second cooldown weren't ideal for a prolonged infiltration. Still, she had to make do. The wards hummed with energy, and she spotted two guards patrolling the gate, their armor clinking softly in the night.
Mia waited until the guards turned a corner, then activated Shadow Veil, blending into the darkness. She darted across the street, her movements quicker and more precise than before, and scaled the wall with surprising ease. Her new body's muscle memory was a lifesaver—she'd never been this athletic back on Earth. She dropped into the manor's garden, landing silently in a patch of shadows.
The wards didn't react, but the air felt heavy, charged with magic. Mia crept toward the manor, sticking to the shadows as she scanned for an entry point. A second-story window was cracked open, its curtains fluttering in the breeze. She climbed the ivy, her fingers finding holds instinctively, and slipped inside.
The room was a study, lined with bookshelves and a large desk cluttered with scrolls. A faint glow came from a locked cabinet in the corner, its door inscribed with more glowing wards. That's got to be it, Mia thought, approaching cautiously. She examined the lock—no keyhole, just a rune that pulsed with blue light. "Magical lock," she whispered. "Great."
She glanced at the crystal Kael had given her. It was warm now, its violet light brighter, as if reacting to the cabinet. On a hunch, she pressed the crystal to the rune. The ward flared, then dimmed, and the cabinet clicked open. Inside was another shard of black crystal, larger than the one Kael had given her, its surface swirling with violet and red energy. The moment she touched it, a wave of cold washed over her, and the system chimed:
*Warning: Cursed Artifact Detected. Effects: Unknown. Proceed with caution.*
"Unknown effects. Super helpful," Mia muttered, tucking the shard into her tunic beside the other crystal. But as she turned to leave, the air around her grew frigid, and the shadows in the room began to move. They twisted and writhed, forming shapes—clawed hands, glowing eyes, snarling maws. Shadow beasts, like the one she'd fought in Kael's tunnel, but smaller and far more numerous.
The curse. It had to be. Mia drew her dagger, her heart racing. The beasts lunged, and she activated Shadow Veil, vanishing into the darkness. She slipped past the first wave, aiming for the window, but the skill's duration ran out, and a clawed hand slashed at her arm. Pain seared through her, and she stumbled, blood dripping onto the floor. The beasts howled, drawn to the scent.
Mia gritted her teeth, using Enhanced Agility to dodge another attack. She slashed at a beast, her dagger cutting through its shadowy form, but more kept coming. The room was filling with them, their numbers overwhelming. She had no choice—she had to run. She dove for the window, crashing through the glass and landing hard in the garden below. The impact knocked the wind out of her, but she forced herself to her feet, clutching the shard as she sprinted for the wall.
The wards flared as she passed, and an alarm blared through the estate. Guards shouted, their boots pounding toward her. Mia scaled the wall, her injured arm screaming in protest, and dropped to the street on the other side. She didn't stop running until she was several blocks away, her lungs burning as she ducked into an alley.
She collapsed against the wall, panting, and checked her arm. The gash was deep, but the bleeding had slowed. The system chimed:
*Mission Complete: Retrieve the Artifact from Lord Eryntis. Reward: 150 Shadow Points.*
*Skill Unlocked: Poison Blade (Level 1) – Coats your weapon in shadow poison, dealing damage over time. Cooldown: 60 seconds.*
Mia let out a shaky laugh, relief washing over her. She had 200 Shadow Points now, and a new skill. But the shard in her tunic felt heavier, its energy pulsing against her chest. She pulled it out, examining it in the moonlight. The violet and red swirls seemed to form patterns—runes, maybe, or a map. It was tied to Kael's plans, he'd said. But what kind of plans required a cursed artifact that summoned shadow beasts?
She returned to the tunnel entrance Kael had shown her, her steps slower now as exhaustion set in. He was waiting for her at the iron door, his arms crossed, his expression unreadable. "You're late," he said, his voice cold. "I was beginning to think you'd failed."
Mia held up the shard, her jaw tight. "I got it," she said. "And I'm still alive, no thanks to you. Care to explain why that thing summoned a pack of shadow monsters?"
Kael's eyes glinted as he took the shard, his fingers brushing hers for a moment. "It's a fragment of the Voidheart," he said, his tone almost reverent. "A key to power the gods fear. The curse is a small price to pay." He looked at her, his gaze lingering on her injured arm. "You did well, little shadow. I'm impressed."
Mia snorted, though her cheeks warmed at the praise. "Impressed enough to tell me what you're planning? Or why you need this creepy rock?"
Kael's smirk returned, but there was a sharpness to it now. "All in good time," he said. He stepped closer, his presence overwhelming, and tilted her chin up with a finger. "But first, tell me something. How did a mere assassin survive a curse that should have killed you?"
Mia's heart skipped a beat. He knew something was off—he had from the start. The system, her reincarnation, her very existence in Eryndor—it was all wrong, and Kael could sense it. She opened her mouth to lie again, but the system chimed, its message chilling:
*Warning: Kael Draven suspects your origins. Deception failure risk: 80%.*
She swallowed hard, meeting his gaze. "I'm… not like the others," she said carefully. "Let's leave it at that."
Kael's eyes narrowed, and for a moment, she thought he'd press further. But then he stepped back, his smirk softening. "Keep your secrets, little shadow," he said. "For now." He turned, the shard glowing in his hand. "Rest. You'll need your strength for what's coming."
Mia watched him disappear into the tunnel, her mind racing. She'd survived the heist, but Kael's suspicions were growing. And the Voidheart—what kind of power could scare the gods? She had a sinking feeling she was about to find out.
---
*To be continued…*