Leaving the Library The journey out of the ruins was tense. Not because they were being chased. Not because something had attacked. But because the silence was worse. Ethan could feel it—the weight of something watching them, lingering just beyond the edges of perception. The whispers from the obsidian door had faded, but the mark on his chest still burned. Faintly. Steady. Like an ember waiting to reignite. And that terrified him. Because whatever was sealed behind those chains? It hadn’t been speaking to them. It had been speaking to him. On the Road Again They left the ruins by midday, retracing their path back toward Portland.

  Leah carried the stone tablets, carefully wrapped in cloth. Gareth led the way, keeping them moving at a steady pace. Kara walked at the rear, her sword loose in her grip, eyes scanning the horizon.

  Ethan kept his head down, deep in thought. They had found more than just knowledge. They had found proof that the Shadow-Touched weren’t just a new phenomenon. They had existed long before the System descended. And worse? People had tried to study them. Understand them. And in doing so, they had nearly destroyed themselves. Ethan exhaled, rubbing his chest where the sigil pulsed beneath his shirt. He had a bad feeling about what was coming next. And for the first time, he wasn’t sure if he wanted to know the answers.

  They made camp just before sunset, setting up in a clearing near a river. Ethan sat near the edge of the fire, sharpening his daggers. The Twin Shadowfangs gleamed under the flickering light, their black steel reflecting the embers. Kara stretched her arms, letting out a long breath. “Well. That was sufficiently horrible.” Leah gave her a tired look. “You say that about every mission.” “Because every mission is horrible,” Kara shot back. “Especially when they involve ancient, cursed ruins and possibly evil magic doors.” Gareth, who had been silent most of the trip back, finally spoke. “We need to decide what we’re telling Elias.” That killed the conversation immediately. Ethan glanced up. Leah shifted. “We have to tell him something. The Guild has a right to know.” Kara scoffed. “You think they’ll believe us? That we found some secret ancient order experimenting with monsters the System won’t even register?” She shook her head. “No chance.” Gareth exhaled. “We tell them about the library. We tell them about the records we found. But we don’t mention…” He hesitated. “…the door.” Ethan frowned. “You think they’ll try to open it?” Gareth nodded. “If we give the Guild a reason to investigate, they’ll send someone. And we have no idea what happens if that seal breaks.” Ethan looked down at his chest. He had a feeling he knew exactly what would happen. And it wouldn’t be good.

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  The others settled in, taking turns on watch. Ethan took the last shift, sitting by the dying fire as the night stretched on. The stars were bright, the world quiet. But Ethan couldn’t shake the feeling that something was still wrong. The air felt too still. The trees too silent. Then— A flicker of movement in the darkness. Ethan’s grip tightened on his daggers. His Perception spiked, stretching outward— And for a brief moment, he felt it. Not a monster. Not a beast. Something human-shaped. Watching. Waiting. Just beyond the tree line. And then— Gone. Like it had never been there. Ethan exhaled slowly. If someone was tracking them— It wasn’t just the Shadow-Touched anymore. It was something else. Something new. And that was almost worse.

  They reached Portland by midday, passing through the city gates without issue. But the Guild Hall was different this time. Ethan noticed it the second they stepped inside. The air was tense. Adventurers sat in tight clusters, speaking in hushed voices. There was an undercurrent of unease. Something had happened. And then— A familiar voice. “Ethan.” Elias Thurman stood near the Guild’s mission board, arms crossed. His sharp gray eyes studied them carefully. “You’re back.” Ethan nodded. Elias motioned toward the private meeting room. “Let’s talk.” A Partial Truth Elias listened in silence as they relayed the events at the library ruins. They told him about the ancient records, the Order of Black Dawn, and the studies on the Shadow-Touched. But they didn’t mention the obsidian door. Or the chains holding it shut. Elias sat back when they finished, his fingers tapping against the table. “This changes things,” he murmured. Leah frowned. “You believe us?” Elias sighed. “I’ve heard stories before. Stories about things older than the System.” He looked at Ethan. “And I know you’re not lying.” Ethan stiffened slightly. “What do you mean?” Elias’ gaze flickered toward his chest. “You’ve changed,” he said simply. Ethan’s pulse spiked. Did he know about the mark? Did he see it? But Elias didn’t press. Instead, he exhaled. “There’s something you need to know.” He leaned forward. “While you were gone… another team went missing.” Silence. Kara’s expression darkened. “Another one?” Elias nodded. “A high-ranked party. Sent to investigate the eastern forest ruins.” Leah frowned. “But we just came from the north. Are you saying—” “They never reported back,” Elias said. His next words were calm. Even. But heavy.

  “We think they ran into the same things you did.” Ethan felt a cold weight settle in his stomach. This wasn’t just one incident. It was spreading. The Shadow-Touched. The disappearances. The Guild was starting to realize something was wrong. But Ethan already knew the truth. This wasn’t just getting worse. It had already begun. And the Master was waiting for him to realize it.