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Chapter 44
The Third Elder
The evening streets of Valencrest glowed with gentle magic as the sun dipped below the hills. Lanterns floated softly above the cobblestones, their warm golden light swaying like friendly fireflies on a summer breeze. They cast a cozy glow that made every stone sparkle and turned the whole city into a living dream. Music floated from open tavern doors—soft flutes and cheerful drums mixing with happy laughter. The air smelled wonderful: roasted meats turning on spits, sweet pastries fresh from the ovens, and the faint, flowery scent of night-blooming vines that climbed the walls and sparkled with tiny dew drops of light.
But Alex no longer noticed any of the beauty around him.
His eyes stayed locked on one man walking ahead through the crowd. The stranger looked ordinary in every way—a simple gray shirt, plain trousers, and easy steps like any tired worker heading home. Yet on the back of his collar, stitched in dark thread, sat a small black scorpion mark. It looked harmless at first glance, but Alex felt a cold pull in his chest, like a whisper of shadow touching his dragon blood.
"…Hmm," Alex breathed.
Max leaned in close, his voice low and watchful.
"Your Highness?"
Alex did not turn his head. His gaze followed the man like a hawk watching a rabbit in the grass.
"…Isn't that…"
Memories rushed through his mind, clear as a still pond. In the old stories of this world, the Eclipse Covenant was a hidden group that worked like spiders in the dark corners of the empire. They pulled strings from the shadows, always planning something cruel. And inside that group sat five powerful elders—five leaders who carried out the worst of their plans.
Alex's breathing grew slow and steady. His heart beat like a quiet drum.
"…The Third Elder," he whispered to himself.
Max frowned, stepping even closer so no one else could hear.
"The Third what, Your Highness?"
Alex kept his voice to the softest breath.
"System. Scan that man."
A gentle blue window shimmered into view right in front of his eyes, soft and clear like morning mist. A friendly chime sounded in his mind.
Ding!
Cost: 2000 SC
AGREE?
Alex did not pause for even a second.
"Yes. Do it."
The system hummed warmly, like a helpful friend nodding along. Then the information flowed in.
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Name: Malrec Voss
Age: 45
Title: Third Elder of Eclipse Covenant
Potential: A+
[Stats — Click to View]
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Alex's eyes sharpened like a blade.
"Show stats."
The window grew a little bigger, glowing softly.
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STR: A
AGI: A-
INT: A
MANA: A+
AURA: B+
LUCK: C
CHR: C+
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Skills
• Curse Mark Engraving
• Blood Sacrifice Ritual
• Shadow Cloak
• Soul Corruption Hex
• Forbidden Summoning Magic
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Alex's face grew serious in the lantern light. A small frown creased his brow.
"…Damn," he muttered under his breath.
Max noticed the change right away.
"What did you see?"
Alex answered quietly, his voice steady but heavy.
"A dangerous man. More dangerous than he looks."
His thoughts spun like leaves in a sudden wind. What is he doing here in Valencrest? In the old stories, the Eclipse Covenant had planned a huge ritual far away in the western provinces. They wanted to sacrifice a whole village to call forth a piece of an Ancient God—a dark and twisted power that could shake the world. The ritual was meant to fail back then, five years before bigger troubles came.
But now… something felt different.
Alex's frown deepened just a touch. The timeline had already shifted because of him. He had stopped bandit raids, broken up hidden plots, and even fought Eclipse members back in the royal city. His choices had changed things.
What if the Covenant had moved their plan here instead?
To this peaceful city full of his family and kind people?
A cold chill ran down his spine, like icy fingers brushing his neck.
Did the timeline change again?
…Is it because of me?
He looked at the happy faces around him—children sharing glowing candies, families laughing under the floating lanterns. This city felt like home now. Grandfather's warm hugs, Leon's playful sword fights, Lyria's bright smile.
He would not let shadows touch any of it.
Max saw Alex's serious look and waited patiently.
"Your Highness?"
Alex's voice turned firm and cold.
"Max."
"Yes?"
"We're following that man."
Max understood at once, his hand resting lightly on the hilt of his sword.
"You suspect something big."
Alex nodded slowly, eyes still on the stranger.
"I think he's planning something very dangerous. Something that could hurt everyone here."
Max adjusted his cloak to move easier in the crowd.
"Understood. I'm right behind you."
They slipped through the busy streets like quiet shadows. The man walked calmly at first, passing colorful market stalls where vendors called out last-minute deals and where the smell of honey cakes made Alex's stomach growl for a moment.
Then the stranger turned down narrower lanes.
The lantern light grew softer and fewer.
The happy music faded behind them.
The buildings here were older, their stone walls leaning close like old friends sharing secrets. Long shadows stretched across the ground, and the air felt cooler, heavier.
The man stopped for a breath beside a plain storage building that looked forgotten. He glanced around once, quick as a fox. Then he pushed open a wooden door and vanished inside without a sound.
Alex and Max reached the corner just seconds later.
Max whispered, "He went in there."
Alex stared at the plain door. It looked ordinary, but his dragon senses tingled with warning. A faint, sour smell of old magic leaked from the cracks, like spoiled milk mixed with smoke.
"…This feels wrong," Alex said softly.
He opened the system again.
"System."
"Yes, host," came the calm, friendly voice in his mind.
"Do you have anything that can hide our presence?"
A new screen appeared right away, glowing gently.
Invisibility Potion — Minor
Duration: 10 minutes
Cost: 1500 SC
Alex did not think twice.
"Buy it."
Ding!
Two small crystal vials appeared in his open palm, cool and smooth like river stones. Each one held a swirling silver liquid that sparkled softly. He handed one to Max.
"Drink this."
Max trusted him completely.
They both drank the potion in one quick sip. It tasted like cool mint and fresh rain. Their bodies shimmered for a heartbeat, like heat rising from summer stones, and then they faded away completely. Alex could still see Max as a faint outline, and he knew the magic would keep them hidden from eyes and ears.
Alex reached out and pushed the wooden door open slowly. It creaked just a little, but the sound felt muffled by the potion's gentle spell.
Inside, stone steps led downward into darkness.
A hidden bunker, tucked away like a secret cave beneath the city.
Faint torchlight flickered far below, casting dancing orange glows on the walls. Alex and Max moved down the stairs as quiet as falling leaves. The air grew colder with every step, carrying a whisper of dark magic that made Alex's skin prickle.
Voices drifted up from deeper underground, low and serious.
"…Nothing must go wrong this time."
"…This event must be completed at any cost."
"…The god will grant us the world we desire."
Alex froze on the steps.
His suspicions were right.
The Eclipse Covenant was here, right under the peaceful city.
They reached the bottom and peeked into a hidden chamber. Strange runes glowed on the stone floor—twisted lines that pulsed with a sickly purple light, like veins under bad skin. Dark crystals stood in a wide circle, each one humming with trapped shadows that twisted inside like living smoke. Cloaked figures stood around the circle, their hoods pulled low, faces hidden.
At the center stood the man from the street—the Third Elder, Malrec Voss. He held a glowing black crystal in his hand, its surface crawling with faint red lines like tiny lightning bolts of evil.
"…Yes," Malrec said in a smooth, cold voice. "Everything is proceeding according to plan."
The crystal flickered brighter. A distorted voice answered from inside it, sounding like wind through cracked bones.
"Good. The summoning must not fail this time."
Malrec nodded once.
"The sacrifice preparations are almost complete. The blood lines are ready. The city will not know until it is too late."
Alex's blood ran cold.
Sacrifice…
They were planning to hurt innocent people right here in Valencrest.
His family's home.
The thought made his dragon blood stir with quiet anger, a warm fire deep in his chest.
Malrec lowered the black crystal.
"Prepare the next stage. Gather the marked ones tonight."
Then he turned and walked deeper into the bunker, his footsteps echoing softly.
Alex glanced at Max.
Even through the invisibility, he could see Max's face had turned stone-serious, jaw tight with worry.
Alex whispered, so quiet it was almost only breath,
"We can't fight them here."
Max nodded once.
"There are too many. And that magic… it feels wrong."
Alex made his choice in a heartbeat.
"We need help. Real help."
The two of them backed away up the stairs as silently as they had come. The potion's magic held, hiding every footstep. Once they stepped outside into the cool night air, Alex whispered the command to end the spell.
Their bodies shimmered back into view under the floating lanterns.
Max looked toward the grand castle glowing in the distance, its white walls warm and welcoming against the dark sky.
"The Duke must know right away."
Alex nodded, his eyes hard with determination.
"Yes."
He took one last look back at the plain storage building. It looked harmless again, but now he knew the poison hiding beneath it.
"The Eclipse Covenant is planning something huge," Alex said.
"And if we're right… this entire city might be in danger. Grandfather, Uncle Cedric, Leon, Lyria—everyone."
His voice grew stronger.
"We have to stop it before it starts."
Without another word, they rushed through the streets toward the castle. The happy music and lantern light now felt like a fragile shield around them. Alex's steps were quick but steady, his mind already turning over plans. The dragon blood inside him burned brighter, ready to protect the family and the peaceful land that had welcomed him so warmly.
The night air rushed past their faces as the castle gates came closer, tall and strong under the stars.
Whatever the Eclipse Covenant planned, Alex would not let it touch Valencrest.
Not while he could fight.
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End of Chapter 44
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