Lyra, her face a mask of controlled fury, looked down at Liam, the traitor who had jeopardized their entire operation. "Why did you choose to betray us?" she demanded, her voice steady but edged with anger.Liam, his eyes gleaming with defiance, spat in Lyra's face. "I told you already. I was with the Hidden Hands from the start. I didn't betray you; you were just too foolish to see it," he sneered, his words laced with contempt.Lyra clenched her jaw and calmly wiped the spit from her face. She refused to let Liam's provocation rattle her, though her hands itched to draw blood.Xander, standing a few steps away, watched the exchange silently, his arms folded. His gaze was fixed on Liam, assessing and cold, but he made no move to intervene. This was Lyra's interrogation, and he respected her need to handle it her way.With a swift motion, Lyra slapped Liam across the face, the sound echoing in the clearing. "Who do you answer to?" she pressed on, refusing to be derailed by his taunts.
Undeterred by the situation's growing intensity, Xander refocused on Liam, his voice laced with an unmistakable threat. "What else do you know about the Hidden Hands?" he demanded, his eyes narrowing.Ron, unable to contain his discomfort with the scene unfolding before him, shouted, "This is torture! This is wrong!"Xander shot a glance over his shoulder at Ron, his expression hardening. "Stop being a whiny bitch, Ron," he growled, his patience wearing thin. He was fully committed to extracting information by any means necessary.Turning back to Liam, Xander's voice took on a more menacing tone. "You have one more chance to tell us everything, or I will suck out all your blood," he threatened, his fangs bared as a stark reminder of his capabilities.Liam, visibly shaken and overcome with fear, clasped his hands over the puncture wounds on his neck. His eyes wide with terror, he shouted, "Okay! Okay, I'll tell you everything! Just don't drink my blood, please!"Lyra stepped forward,
Xander strode back into the camp with a determined look on his face, his steps purposeful. He moved towards his gear, preparing for a journey. His actions caught the attention of the rebels, a silent question in their eyes about his next move.Lyra approached him, her expression a mix of concern and curiosity. "Where are you going?" she asked, noting the resolve in his demeanor."I'm going to kill Celina Krovian," Xander stated bluntly, his voice carrying a tone of finality.Lyra's eyes widened at his declaration. "You can't just rush into this. We need to plan this out, think it through," she urged, trying to infuse some caution into his plan.Xander, however, seemed undeterred. "I have thought about it, and this is the only way," he replied firmly. "She's a member of the Hidden Hands and Marvin's daughter. Killing her will hurt Marvin more than burning any ale factory or mine."Lyra understood the strategic importance of his target but still felt the need for caution. "I won't stop
As Xander and Lyra approached the city gates of Emberlyn, the conversations around them buzzed with discussions about Celina Krovian and her recent, unconventional decrees. People spoke with a mix of admiration and skepticism about her feminist-focused rules, which were shaking the traditional foundations of the Duchy.A group of women near them were animatedly discussing the changes. "Celina's really stirring things up," said one woman, her eyes shining with excitement. "She's challenging centuries of male-dominated rule."Her friend nodded in agreement. "It's about time we had someone in power who thinks about women's rights. But not everyone's happy about it. She's making quite a few enemies."Meanwhile, a pair of older gentlemen expressed their disapproval. "She's upending the natural order of things," grumbled one, shaking his head. "What next? Women leading armies?"His companion harrumphed, "The Duchy's going to fall into chaos at this rate. You mark my words."As they neared t
The tension in the dark alleyway snapped as the thugs, initially bolstered by their numbers, charged at Xander with a mix of bravado and bravura. "Get him, boys!" the leader shouted, swinging a crude iron club.Xander moved with a grace that belied his lethal intent, his blood mage abilities enhancing his reflexes. The first thug lunged at him with a knife, but Xander sidestepped smoothly, grabbing the man's wrist and twisting it sharply. The knife clattered to the ground as the thug howled in pain."Take him down!" another thug yelled, swinging a chain.Xander, using his enhanced speed, caught the chain mid-air and yanked it, pulling the thug off balance. With a swift, brutal motion, he elbowed the thug in the face, sending him sprawling to the ground.The thugs, seeing their companions taken down so effortlessly, began to falter, their initial courage waning. "What is he?" one of them whispered in fear.Xander's eyes glowed with a predatory light as he advanced. Another thug charg
Keeran sat in his office, surrounded by a sea of parchments, scrolls, and books. The room was dimly lit, with only a few candles casting a warm glow over the cluttered desk. He leaned back in his chair, his eyes tired from hours of reading and searching through countless documents. On the table, amidst the chaos of his research, stood a portrait of his late disciple, Theo.The portrait depicted Theo with a gentle smile, a stark contrast to the grim determination etched on Keeran's face. The memory of Theo's untimely death still weighed heavily on Keeran's heart, fueling his relentless pursuit of Xander, whom he believed responsible for the chaos that had unfolded in Emberlyn.Since Xander's escape from Emberlyn, after the infamous slaughter of the mage hunters and the assassination of Duke Krovian, Keeran had dedicated himself to tracking down the elusive blood mage. He was convinced that Xander was the linchpin in the series of tragic events that had led to Theo's death.Keeran was s
Keeran and Brie made their way to Duchess Celina's palace, a grand structure that stood as a testament to the power and prestige of the Duchy of Krovian. The palace, with its high walls and ornate architecture, exuded an air of elegance and authority.As they entered the throne hall, they were immediately struck by its splendor. The hall was vast and opulently decorated, with high vaulted ceilings and grand chandeliers casting a soft glow over the room. Tapestries adorned the walls, depicting the history and achievements of the Duchy. At the far end of the hall, on an elevated dais, sat Duchess Celina on her throne, a figure of grace and power.Celina was a woman of striking beauty, with flowing blonde hair and piercing blue eyes that seemed to command attention. She exuded a regal presence, her posture and demeanor reflecting her status as the ruler of the Duchy.At that moment, Celina was engaged in a discussion with a female minister, her voice calm and assertive. "We must ensure
Xander made his way to the Rusty Tankard, a well-known tavern in the heart of Emberlyn. The establishment exuded a cozy, old-world charm with its dim lighting, wooden beams, and walls adorned with memorabilia from years past. The atmosphere was a blend of warmth and lively chatter, a haven for both locals and travelers.As Xander entered, he was immediately immersed in the vibrant buzz of conversation, much of it centered around the recent changes in the Duchy. At one table, a group of patrons was deep in discussion, their tones mixed with frustration and disbelief."I can't believe the new laws Duchess Celina is enforcing," one patron grumbled, shaking his head. "She's demanding equal property rights for women, which is fine, but it's causing chaos in inheritance cases."Another joined in, sounding exasperated. "And what about the trade restrictions she's imposed? She says it's to boost local businesses, but it's hurting our trade with neighboring kingdoms. My shipments have been del