Chương 34: Enigma's Favor
*5 Days later*
The carriage ride to Helgarde had been uneventful, the countryside passing by in a blur of greens and browns. Upon his arrival, Aldwyn felt a pang of nostalgia, mixed with a sense of foreboding. The city's once familiar streets now held secrets and enemies around every corner.
He stepped off the carriage, the smell of horse dung and rain-soaked cobblestone filling his nose. Helgarde had always been a place of stark contrasts, where the grandeur of the wealthy cast long shadows over the squalor of the poor.
Aldwyn made his way through the crowded streets, his eyes scanning for any signs of trouble. His senses were on high alert, his twin blades whispering reassurances beneath his cloak. The city was different now, the air thick with tension and the whispers of the Baron's influence.
As he approached the hall of sword, the sound of steel on steel rang out from within, the rhythmic dance of blades echoing through the hallowed halls.
Master Sewell, stepped out of the shadows, his greeting a curt nod. "Welcome back, Aldwyn," he said, his voice a mix of sternness and respect.
Aldwyn returned the nod, "I trust my room is as I left it?"
Master Sewell's expression remained stoic. "It has been untouched," he said. "But there are letters waiting for you, three of them."
„Three letters? I wonder who would send me those letters..." Aldwyn was a little surprised.
His room was exactly as he'd left it: sparse, with a single bed, a wooden desk, and a chair. The letters lay on the desk, their seals unbroken.
The first one was from Lady Célia, her delicate script sprawled across the parchment like spider webs. The wax seal was imprinted with the image of a blooming lily, her family's crest. His heart skipped a beat as he broke the seal, the scent of her perfume wafting through the air like a ghostly embrace.
Aldwyn was surprised, he hadn't expected a message from her. „The last time we spoke, she insulted me and wasn't on good terms with me. Has she got over the death of her sister?"
It spoke of debts paid and favors owed, but the tone was one of begrudging respect rather than the venom he had grown accustomed to.
„So that means her favor is still valid? That's good, very good." Aldwyn was surprised, but glad.
The second letter was from Craig Gaines. "I hope this letter reaches you Aldwyn. This is regarding the letter of recommendation, which is still outstanding as a reward. Once you are back, I would appreciate it, if you could visit the Merchant's Guild personally, so that I can hand it over to you. Meet me at 8pm, I'll be there from Monday to Friday."
„That's weird... Didn't he tell me he'd send them to me as soon as the Crimson Merchant issue was resolved? But that didn't happen..." Aldwyn had a strange feeling about it.
He put the letter aside and picked up the third one. This letter was only marked with the initials E.
He opened the letter and there was only one single sentence written. "I'd like to claim the favor, meet me as soon as you're back, at the house of New Genisis!"
„That can only be Enigma... I didn't expect him to demand the favor so quickly." Aldwyn thought, his eyes lingering on the letter.
Aldwyn put the letters aside and reflected on them. „Lady Célia can be kept waiting for a while, the favor won't run away. I couldn't think of one right now."
„Then the thing with Craig Gaines... Maybe I'm overthinking it too much. It could very well be, that he just doesn't have the confidence to go outside at the moment, simply because he was involved in it."
„The smartest move would probably to visit Enigma first. I don't want to keep him waiting any longer. Still, I'm surprised that he's working so closely with the Baron. Sure, he had information about him, but the fact that he's so deeply involved worries me..."
Aldwyn stepped into the shadow of an alley, allowing his cloak to melt into the darkness. His senses heightened, he slipped through the streets of Helgarde like a silent specter, avoiding the eyes of the townsfolk.
The House of New Genesis loomed ahead, its grandeur a stark contrast to the dilapidated buildings surrounding it. The heavy oak door creaked open, revealing a dimly lit foyer.
"Aldwyn," Enigma's voice called out, beckoning from the depths of the mansion. "I've been expecting you."
Aldwyn's eyes adjusted to the dimness as he moved through the foyer, the flicker of candlelight casting eerie shadows on the walls. "What is it that you want?" he asked, his tone cold and direct.
"Ah, straight to the point," Enigma chuckled, emerging from the shadows with a dramatic flourish of his cloak. His gaze was as sharp as ever, his eyes gleaming with an intensity that seemed almost inhuman.
"My dear friend," he began, "You know how much I appreciate brevity, but do come in, won't you?" He gestured to a nearby chamber, the door already ajar, revealing the flicker of candlelight and the faint scent of incense.
Aldwyn stepped inside, his boots echoing on the cold marble floor. The room was lined with bookshelves that reached up to the vaulted ceiling, tomes of all shapes and sizes whispering secrets that were as ancient as the stones themselves. In the center stood a large, ornate table, littered with parchments, inks, quills and a map of Helgarde.
Enigma took a seat at the table, his eyes never leaving Aldwyn. "The favor I ask of you," he began, his voice a mix of excitement and solemnity, "is one of grave importance. Surely you've heard of the Lycan-cult?"
Aldwyn's eyes narrowed, his grip on the hilt of one of his blades tightening imperceptibly. "I do," he said, his voice low.
"Good," Enigma leaned back in his chair, his eyes gleaming with an unsettling light. "I want you to offer them an alliance on our behalf. Their leader is a man named Lupin. I assume you know where to find him?"
„An alliance with the Lycan cult? Is this the point that my vision showed me?" Aldwyn's mind raced. The Lycan-cult was notorious for their savage rituals and bloody raids.
"Why?" he asked, his voice even. "What do you stand to gain from such an alliance?"
"Ah, always the skeptic," Enigma chuckled, his eyes glinting with amusement. "If we wish to maintain our influence... let's call it 'freedom of operation', we need allies who are not easily swayed by gold or fear."
Aldwyn remained silent, his gaze unwavering.
"Think of it as an insurance policy," Enigma continued, his smile widening to reveal his perfect teeth.
Aldwyn studied the man before him, the candlelight playing tricks with the shadows on his face. "The Lycan-cult is dangerous, unpredictable," he said, his voice measured. "What makes you think they'd be willing to negotiate?"
Enigma's smile grew cold. "They are indeed, but they are not without their own goals and ambitions. Lupin desires power, a place at the table, so to speak. And we, my dear Aldwyn, can offer him that."
Enigma added, "Also, if they refuse, they will be our first priority to eliminate. So they are either with us or against us."
„That's suicide... If I appear there like this, I'll be slaughtered without hesitation."
The room was filled with a tension that could be cut with a knife, the air thick with the scent of dusty tomes and the unspoken understanding of the gravity of their conversation.
"Do I have a deadline?"
"Two weeks," Enigma replied, his eyes never leaving Aldwyn's face. "After that, our... arrangement will be null and void."
Aldwyn nodded slowly, his mind racing with the possible consequences of his actions. "Very well," he said, his voice like ice. "I will seek out Lupin and present your offer."
"Excellent," Enigma leaned forward, his hands steepled beneath his chin. "I knew I could count on you. Now, go, and may fortune favor your steps."
Aldwyn slipped back into the shadows of the alley, his thoughts a tumultuous storm. The Lycan-cult was a force of chaos, a blight on the city that had to be dealt with, but to ally with them? The thought left a bitter taste in his mouth.
„Maybe I should see the scholar again before I start. I want to make sure there is nothing unusual happening." He thought, as he made his way back to the streets of Helgarde. The rain had started to fall, turning the cobblestones slick and shiny.
The air was thick with the scent of wet earth and the distant rumble of thunder. The streets grew quieter as the rain grew heavier, the town's folk seeking shelter in the warmth of their homes and taverns.
Aldwyn arrived at the university district, the grandeur of its ancient buildings starkly contrasting with the squalor of the rest of Helgarde. The rain pattered against the cobblestones, sending droplets flying as he approached the walls of the scholar's abode.
The door opened to reveal a man in spectacles, his eyes widening in surprise at the sight of the drenched swordsman. "You?" the scholar asked with surprise. "To what do I owe this... unexpected pleasure?"
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