Drayk entered his mansion, still processing everything that had happened in the past few days. The weight of his title, the battles he had fought, and now, the mystery of the Nexum Runes. As he crossed the grand hall, he felt a slight warmth in the palm of his hand.
He looked down as the rune he carried began to glow.
"Huh? What now?"
The glow wasn't random. It was a call, a signal. Something inside that mansion was reacting to the rune.
Intrigued, Drayk walked through the corridors, observing how the intensity of the light changed as he moved. When he passed by the library, the glow intensified drastically.
"Looks like this is the place..."
He stepped inside. The tall shelves were filled with ancient books, many covered in dust, as if no one had touched them for centuries. Drayk walked through the room, feeling the rune's glow pulse stronger and stronger.
That's when he saw it.
A different light reflected off the shelves. It wasn't the rune, but something reacting to its power. A small beam of light revealed the outline of a hidden arcane symbol on the wall.
"You've got to be kidding me..." — he murmured, stepping closer.
He reached out and touched the symbol. In an instant, a magical lever appeared, materializing from the rune's energy.
Drayk didn't think twice. He pulled the lever.
The sound of ancient mechanisms activated, and a section of the bookshelf slowly moved, revealing a secret door. However, before he could even be impressed by the cliché hidden passage, he noticed something even stranger.
Behind the first door... there was another.
This second door was not normal. It pulsed, emanating a different kind of energy. The air around it vibrated, and Drayk felt a shiver run down his spine.
"Is this... a portal?"
The only way to find out was to step inside.
Without hesitation, Drayk touched the door and opened it. In an instant, a powerful light engulfed him. His body was pulled inside, as if reality itself had swallowed him into another place.
When the light dissipated, Drayk found himself in a massive hall, so vast that its ceiling was barely visible. Around him, rows of armor, weapons of all kinds—swords, spears, bows—were perfectly arranged on stands. At the center, an altar.
And on it, five slots, shaped exactly like the rune he carried.
"So this is where they belong..."
Wasting no time, he stepped forward and placed the Nexum Rune into the altar.
The rune's glow immediately intensified, radiating an overwhelming energy. Drayk took a step back, feeling the magical pressure rising around him.
The altar began to vibrate. The runic lines covering its structure shone in golden hues, as if a powerful magic was about to be activated.
For a moment, Drayk believed something grand was about to happen.
But then... nothing.
The light faded. The altar stopped glowing.
[Activation failed.]
Before he could understand what had gone wrong, the rune shone again—but this time, the light completely enveloped him.
His body was pulled into the rune.
When he opened his eyes, Drayk was no longer in the training center.
The environment around him was a dark void, but not a threatening one. In the middle of this emptiness, there was a woman.
Her long black hair shimmered like the rune itself. Her sharp golden eyes carried the imposing presence of something far beyond human. Her body was slender, but her presence... overwhelming.
She stared at him for a few seconds before speaking.
"Welcome, Drayk. I am Nexum, the creator of the Runes."
Drayk couldn't hide his surprise. Nexum wasn't just a guardian of the runes... she had created them.
And if she was capable of such a feat, just how powerful was she really?
Before he could ask, she continued:
"I imagine you have many questions. But first, I need to tell you something important. The four remaining Runes... are not completely lost."
Drayk narrowed his eyes.
"What do you mean? Where are they?"
"They are in the possession of the Order of the Eclipse."
The name echoed in Drayk's mind like thunder.
"So it's true... they still exist."
Nexum nodded.
"During the fall of Drakhal City, the Order looted the place. They managed to recover only four of the five runes and used them to reward their most powerful members. Each one was given to one of the Four Great Generals of the Order."
Drayk crossed his arms, processing the information.
"If you know this, does that mean you can still sense the runes?"
Nexum closed her eyes for a moment before shaking her head.
"I knew where they were. But years after the rise of these generals, a powerful magic sealed the communication between me and the runes."
"So, you can't sense them anymore?"
"No. But if you find one of them and recover a rune, I might be able to break the seal."
Drayk sighed. "Great. As if everything else wasn't enough, now I have to face four elite warriors from a secret organization that conspired to destroy my people."
"At least now I know where to start."
Nexum observed him with an assessing gaze.
"You are different from the last dragon king."
Drayk raised an eyebrow.
"Different how?"
"He hesitated. You… have already decided you're going to face this, haven't you?"
Drayk smirked.
"I don't really have another choice, do I?"
Nexum stared at him for a few more seconds before a faint smile crossed her lips.
"Very well, Drayk. Our people are counting on you."
The rune glowed once more, and in the blink of an eye, Drayk was sent back to the real world.
He opened his eyes and found himself once again in the training center, standing before the altar. The rune he had placed still pulsed faintly, until its glow finally stabilized.
Drayk stepped through the magical door back into the mansion. As soon as his feet touched the floor, a familiar notification appeared in his mind.
[Notice: Nexum's visions have been recorded in your memory.]
[...] At that very moment, a violent headache struck him, as if his mind were being crushed by an avalanche of information. He dropped to his knees, clutching his forehead as flashes invaded his consciousness.
Disjointed scenes began to take shape. The four generals of the Order of the Eclipse. He saw their faces clearly, each one named as a lord of a territory— the four largest in the human kingdom. They were influential, direct subordinates of the king… but not loyal to him. In fact, together, they had enough power to overthrow him and take control of the kingdom for themselves.
Drayk took a deep breath as the pain finally subsided. The exact location of the runes was still a mystery, but now he had a starting point. Whether the runes were still in the generals' possession or hidden somewhere, he would have to find out for himself.
Still recovering, Drayk noticed Orzath approaching. The guardian observed him with an analytical gaze, as if he already knew something had happened.
"You managed to connect with the rune?" — Orzath asked.
Drayk stood up, massaging his temples.
"Yes… I met Nexum. And that's not all. She showed me everything she knew."
He then recounted the memories he had received. Orzath listened in silence, reflecting on the information before giving a slight smile.
"This could make our journey easier. I can take you to all the cities, but I suggest we start with Galdoria."
Drayk crossed his arms.
"And why Galdoria?"
"Among all the lords I've encountered, the one there seems to be the weakest. This will give us a better chance of finding a clue without raising suspicion."
Drayk nodded. It made sense.
"Alright. I'll prepare for the trip."
Orzath took a step back and made a calm gesture.
"Meet me at the cave entrance when you're ready."
As the guardian left, Drayk remained there, lost in thought. Nexum's memories… there was something more to them.
He focused, and as expected, a new sequence of notifications appeared.
[Notice: Nexum has granted you access to use 'Greed.']
{Str. 250 | Int. 190 | Dex. 300}
[Notice: Your dimensional magic has been enhanced.]
(The user can now create portals to travel between previously visited locations.)
[Notice: Nexum has gifted you her most powerful magic.]
(Ability 'Wisdom of the Void': Nexum was known for her colossal learning capacity. The bearer of this ability acquires knowledge 5x faster.)
[Notice: The ability has been upgraded.]
(Ability 'Forge of Knowledge': In addition to accelerated knowledge absorption, the bearer now gains experience 5x faster in any skill they practice.)
Drayk's eyes widened. His stats had jumped again, his dimensional magic now allowed him to travel anywhere he had already been… and this new ability.
"So that's it… If Nexum gave me this much power, it means the challenges ahead will be even greater."
He closed the notification and headed for the cave exit.
Outside, at the foot of the mountain, Orzath and Kaelon were waiting for him.
Kaelon, with a confident smile, crossed his arms.
"You really think I was going to let you go alone?"
Drayk let out a sigh.
"Kaelon, this isn't a casual trip. You could be discovered."
Before Kaelon could argue, Orzath raised a hand, interrupting the discussion.
"Don't worry. I can conceal your identity."
With a gesture, the guardian cast a spell, and in an instant, Kaelon's draconic features vanished. His scales disappeared, his golden irises now appeared human.
"Done. Now no one will recognize you as a Drakhor."
Drayk looked at Orzath, impressed by the magic he had just witnessed.
"And what about me? Can you do the same to me?"
The guardian, however, shook his head.
"Altering the form of a Primordial Dragon is beyond my power. Your presence is far too strong."
Drayk sighed. That meant the mask would still be necessary.
"Alright… Let's go." — he said, somewhat disappointed.
Orzath raised his hands and opened a portal, revealing the landscape near the city of Galdoria.
Drayk observed the guardian's technique. It was similar to his own dimensional magic. Since Orzath had already visited the location, he could use it to shorten the journey.
He looked at Kaelon, then at Orzath.
"Time to find out what this lord is hiding."
As Drayk, Orzath, and Kaelon stepped through the portal, it closed behind them, leaving them standing before the bustling port city of Galdoria.
Unlike Valnark, the city had no walls. Its strategic location and natural defenses provided protection against direct invasions. Large plantations stretched across the surrounding area, fueling a thriving trade that spread through its busy streets.
Orzath observed the movement and explained:
"Galdoria is a key piece in the commerce of the human continent. Its economy drives not only this region but also much of the royal territory."
Drayk noticed something peculiar. The Adventurers' Guild here seemed even more active than in Valnark. He watched adventurers patrolling the streets as if they were part of the local guard.
"This doesn't seem normal…" — he commented. "It's like they're taking over the city's security."
Orzath nodded.
"It's a common partnership in some cities, but here it seems even more intense. It could be that the lord's influence has something to do with it."
Drayk recalled the case of the adventurers who had gone to explore the ancient ruins. If the current general of the Order, lord of the city, was using adventurers more directly, then the guild might be neck-deep in this.
To gather more information, the group decided to split up.
Orzath would explore the taverns, listening in on conversations and trying to pick up any useful rumors. Kaelon would dive into the alleys and poorer districts, where dangerous information often circulated. Drayk would try to infiltrate the Adventurers' Guild, as he was already registered and could move unnoticed.
They agreed to meet in front of the guild building by nightfall.
Orzath chose a tavern called "The Black Raven," a noisy and crowded place. The smell of strong ale and roasted meat filled the air. The clientele was mostly adventurers. But something unusual caught his attention.
"Almost everyone here is from the Assassin class…"
That was strange. Assassins were a minority class in traditional guilds. It was rare to see so many gathered in one place.
He ordered a drink and stayed there for a few hours, watching and listening as much as he could. He exchanged a few words with the waitress, tried to strike up conversations with other patrons, but no relevant information came up.
The only certainty was that this city was different. Something out of the ordinary was happening.
He could only hope that Kaelon or Drayk had better luck.
Meanwhile, Kaelon took a more direct approach. He intimidated small-time criminals lurking in the city's alleys, forcing them to talk.
After several interrogations, he kept hearing the same name repeated over and over:
"Malek."
Malek was the leader of a group called the "Assassins' Guild." Separate from the Adventurers' Guild, this new organization received contracts directly from the lord, bypassing all bureaucracy.
Kaelon discovered that many Assassins were abandoning their official affiliations to join the new guild. By doing so, they began working directly for the lord and his political forces, with no oversight from the crown.
He knew Drayk needed to hear this.
Drayk entered the grand headquarters of the Galdoria guild, hoping to gather information about the city's political structure.
It didn't take long for him to realize he wasn't welcome there.
After only a few steps inside, a group of adventurers surrounded him.
"What's an Assassin doing here?" — one of them growled.
Drayk stopped. Damn. The mask had given him away.
Another adventurer stepped forward, crossing his arms.
"The guild doesn't take Assassin contracts anymore. You should know that."
Drayk remained calm.
"I've traveled a long way. My registered guild is in Valnark. We don't have that kind of division there."
The adventurers exchanged glances. One of them chuckled.
"Valnark, huh? But to get here, you would've passed through several cities where this division has already happened. So tell me, how have you managed to stay an Assassin for so long without any trouble?"
The conversation was becoming more tense.
Drayk realized they didn't believe him. And worse—they were starting to surround him in a not-so-friendly manner.
His blood was already boiling, ready to react, when a heavy presence filled the room.
An imposing man, radiating an overwhelming aura, stepped into the circle. His cold gaze analyzed Drayk for a moment before he spoke.
"This has gone far enough."
The adventurers around him immediately stepped back, respecting the man's authority.
He turned to Drayk.
"Leave the guild. Now."
Drayk didn't move. He didn't like taking orders.
The man narrowed his eyes.
"If I see you here again, it won't end in conversation."
Drayk clenched his fists. His pride screamed for him to fight back, but he knew a battle here could complicate things even further.
In the end, he swallowed his anger and left the guild.
The sun was already setting when the three reunited in front of the guild building.
Orzath observed them and immediately noticed that none of them looked satisfied.
"Judging by your face, Drayk, I assume you didn't get much out of it."
"I was kicked out." Drayk huffed. "The guild stopped accepting Assassin contracts, and they don't allow anyone with that class here."
Kaelon stepped forward.
"That makes sense. I found out that the city has its own Assassins' Guild, which works directly for the lord. That's why the traditional guild cut the contracts."
Drayk crossed his arms.
"So that's how he maintains power… He controls the adventurers and still has a group of assassins under his command."
Orzath let out a sigh.
"And guess what? The tavern I visited was full of Assassins. That explains everything."
Drayk pondered.
"If this lord is gathering so many Assassins under his wing, then the rune might still be in his possession. But if it's not…"
Orzath finished his thought.
"Then he knows where it is."
The trio fell silent for a moment. They had a lead. Now, they needed to decide their next move.
Drayk took a deep breath.
"Time to make this lord pay for what he did to my people."