Kaizen wiped the sweat from his brow, his breathing steady despite the intensity of the battle that had just taken place. Around him, the ruins bore the scars of their skirmish—cracked stone, dust settling in the air, and bodies of fallen enemies groaning in pain. Rei stood beside him, her twin daggers glinting under the dim light of the setting sun. Though victorious, both of them knew this was only the beginning.
"We need to move," Rei said, sheathing her weapons. "More of them could be on their way."
Kaizen exhaled, his mind racing through possible escape routes. The Eclipse Order had finally made their move, proving that their presence in the shadows was not just a distant rumor. If they were after him, then whatever was written in the scroll he carried was more valuable than he had initially thought.
"Agreed," he nodded. "But we need to figure out what's on this scroll first. If we keep running without answers, we're just delaying the inevitable."
Rei glanced at him, her expression unreadable. "I know a place," she said after a moment. "There's a scholar in the underground markets of Ilse Port. If anyone can decipher that scroll, it's him. But getting there won't be easy."
Kaizen smirked. "Since when has anything been easy?"
Without another word, the two of them moved swiftly through the ruins, their steps light yet purposeful. The city beyond was alive with the hum of the night. As they approached the outskirts, Kaizen pulled his hood up, blending into the crowd. Rei did the same, her eyes scanning their surroundings with sharp precision.
Ilse Port was a dangerous place, known for harboring criminals, mercenaries, and bounty hunters looking for their next prize. It was also a hub of forbidden knowledge, where information flowed as easily as gold exchanged hands. Kaizen knew that stepping into its heart meant taking a gamble—but it was a risk worth taking.
They reached the port under the cover of darkness. The scent of salt and fish mixed with the aroma of cheap ale, and the sound of drunken laughter and quiet murmurs filled the air. Ships, large and small, rocked gently in the harbor, their sails barely visible under the moonlight. The underground market was hidden beneath one of the warehouses, accessible only to those who knew where to look.
Rei led the way through the maze of alleyways, stopping before a narrow passageway obscured by stacked crates. She tapped twice on a hidden panel of wood, and a faint clicking sound echoed before a concealed door slid open. Kaizen followed her inside, where the air was thick with the scent of ink and parchment. Candles flickered along the walls, casting eerie shadows across the room.
"Welcome, travelers," a raspy voice greeted them. An old man sat behind a cluttered wooden desk, his beady eyes scrutinizing them from behind a pair of round spectacles. "What knowledge do you seek?"
Kaizen stepped forward, pulling the scroll from his coat. "I need this translated."
The scholar raised a bushy eyebrow, carefully unrolling the parchment. His eyes widened slightly as he traced the faded characters with a trembling finger. Minutes passed in silence as he absorbed the contents, his expression shifting between intrigue and unease.
"Where did you find this?" he finally asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
Kaizen exchanged a glance with Rei before answering. "In the ruins east of here. Why?"
The scholar exhaled deeply. "Because this... this is no ordinary scroll. It speaks of something ancient, something that should have been lost to time."
Kaizen leaned in. "Go on."
The old man hesitated before continuing. "It mentions an artifact—a fragment of knowledge from the Void Century. A key to unlocking a power that once threatened to reshape the world itself. If the Eclipse Order is after this... then you are in grave danger."
Rei stiffened. "Then we need to destroy it."
The scholar shook his head. "No. Destroying it would mean erasing something that could change history. But keeping it puts you at risk."
Kaizen's mind churned with possibilities. The Void Century—a time deliberately erased from history. And now, he held a piece of it in his hands.
Before he could respond, a loud crash echoed from above. The sound of heavy boots followed, accompanied by urgent shouting.
"They found us," Rei hissed.
Kaizen clenched his fists. "Then we fight our way out."
The storm was no longer gathering.
It had arrived.