As the sky gradually darkened, the gala came to an end, and the nobles began to exit the grand hall of Mooncrest Castle. Atheria let out a relieved sigh, her shoulders visibly relaxing."It's finally over," she remarked, her voice tinged with exhaustion.Xander stood leaning against one of the elegant marble pillars, his gaze fixed on the procession of nobles leaving the hall. The chandeliers above cast a soft, golden glow, illuminating the opulent surroundings. "Yes," Xander replied, his eyes scanning the departing nobles. "But our work is far from finished."He couldn't shake the feeling of unease that had settled over him earlier. The ease with which King Roberts had agreed to their terms still troubled him, and he knew they needed to be vigilant in the coming daysAs Xander waited by the pillar, his thoughts consumed by the impending meeting with King Roberts, a young maid approached him. "Excuse me, my lord," she began politely, her voice soft and respectful, "the king is waiti

Bloodhound, with his feral grin, scoffed at Velrian's magical defenses. "Magic tricks won't work against me," he hissed, his voice dripping with menace.In a sudden, vicious strike, Bloodhound swung his crimson blade at the ethereal sword and shield conjured by Velrian. The sword and shield shattered into a burst of glowing specks of light, leaving Velrian stunned by the sheer power of the attack.Bloodhound wasted no time. With a burst of unnatural speed, he closed the gap between himself and the bewildered mage. His blood sword was raised high, poised to cut through Velrian's head in a single, deadly stroke.In a desperate bid to defend himself, Velrian cast another spell, summoning a powerful protective barrier. The barrier shimmered with an ethereal light, forming a semi-transparent, dome-like shield around him. It was a potent defense, radiant and formidable.Bloodhound, undeterred and exuding malevolence, growled with mockery at the shimmering barrier. "Is this all you've got?"

The eerie laughter still echoed through the hall, setting Atheria's nerves on edge. She couldn't pinpoint the source of the chilling voice. As she strained her senses to the fullest, she suddenly noticed a dark, flickering shape running like a shadow on the wall. Panic seized her as she realized that whatever this presence was, it wasn't human.Bloodhound, on the other hand, reacted quite differently. He seemed exhilarated by the hunt, his eyes glinting with predatory excitement. His lips curled into a sinister grin as he taunted the unseen intruder."Why don't you show yourself?" Bloodhound's voice dripped with menace. "I'd rather not waste time hunting you down. If you step into the light, I promise to make your death quick and relatively painless. Relatively."Bloodhound's voice oozed with menace, his lips curling into a sinister grin. "If you don't, I'll tear into your flesh, drink your blood, and stomp you into a paste when I find you."Atheria, standing beside him, rolled her ey

Xander and Atheria rode for several hours, their horses carrying them swiftly through the night. As they approached the outskirts of Diamond City, the moonlight revealed the glistening walls that surrounded the city.Atheria looked at the city wall, her voice filled with a mix of hope and trepidation. "Hopefully, this all ends soon."Deep within Xander, Bloodhound growled ominously. "I have a feeling things are just about to heat up," he muttered, his voice a sinister undertone to their journey.As Xander and Atheria rode closer to the city, the landscape transformed. They soon found themselves on a tranquil path leading to the city gates. The moonlight filtered through the leaves of a massive banyan tree, casting intricate patterns on the ground beneath. The air was filled with the gentle rustling of leaves and the distant sounds of the city.Atheria's keen eyes spotted a figure sitting beneath the banyan tree, and she leaned toward Xander, asking, "Is that Jackson?"Xander squinted

The early morning sun cast a warm golden glow over the quaint fishing village as Thomas and James arrived, their burden still unconscious on their shoulders.Villagers bustled about their daily routines, setting up their fishing gear and preparing for a day at sea. But their activities came to an abrupt halt as they caught sight of the two fishermen, Thomas and James, carrying the mysterious young man.Gasps of astonishment and murmurs of concern rippled through the crowd. Women paused in their tasks, clutching baskets of fresh fish, while children's eyes widened with curiosity."Who is he? What happened?" The questions echoed through the small coastal settlement as they hurried towards the scene.Thomas, looking worried but resolute, set his gaze upon James. "Go fetch the village elder, James. And let them know we've got an injured man here," he instructed in a hushed tone.James nodded and darted off towards the elder's modest dwelling at the center of the village.The villagers for