Shadows of Mythos

Chapter 5: Shadows of Mythos

Mythos, the most powerful force in the world, had held its iron grip over the remnants of human civilization ever since the first international dimensional portal opened on Earth.

Formed in the aftermath of the chaos that followed, Mythos's primary goal was to protect what little remained of humanity from the onslaught of otherworldly horrors.

Over the decades, they had established mansions in nearly every city and village, each commanded by a powerful Mythbound warrior.

These mansions served as both fortresses and command centers, assigning missions to exploring Mythbounds, the most critical of which was to clear the surrounding areas of monsters that had managed to breach into their world.

Among these bastions of power, the Ashwood Mansion had once stood tall and proud, its halls echoing with the footsteps of legendary Mythbounds. But those days were long past.

The original owners—Lucian's parents—had mysteriously vanished into a dimension, leaving the mansion in the hands of their mortal son.

The remote village of Lor, where the mansion resided, was a desolate settlement, surrounded by dense forests teeming with dangerous monsters. Few Mythbounds dared to tread there, and with the Ashwood Mansion now under the care of a powerless youth, incapable of offering protection to wanderers through the treacherous forest, Ashwood Mansion had become a target of scorn and contempt.

Sylass, like many others, saw Ashwood Mansion as easy prey. But they were all in for a rude awakening.

____^_^_____

Sylass sat in his dimly lit chamber, the cold silence interrupted only by the crackling of a lone candle. His eyes narrowed as he stared at the box before him.

His usual air of confidence was now tinged with suspicion.

The box had been delivered anonymously mere moments ago. At first glance, it seemed like a trivial attempt to get his attention—an annoyance more than anything else.

But when he opened it, his heart skipped a beat.

Inside were three severed heads, bloodied and grotesque. Sylass's gaze lingered on the face of the old Mythbound he had sent to "persuade" Lucian into handing over the Moon Shadow Syrum.

The other two heads belonged to his guards, their expressions frozen in lifeless terror.

The sight was jarring, but not entirely unexpected.

Sylass's sharp mind immediately pieced it together: this had happened far too quickly. The men had only just left for the ashwood mansion.

For them to be killed and sent back in such a short time meant one thing—a gap in strength so vast that it had barely been a fight.

His brow furrowed. Who could it be? he thought. Lucian is a mere mortal. Useless. Weak. A nobody. He couldn't have done this, even if his life depended on it.

No, this was the work of someone else—someone hiding in the shadows of Ashwood Mansion.

For a moment, Sylass's fingers twitched, the urge to destroy something creeping up on him. But he quickly suppressed it. Anger had its place, but now wasn't the time. No, this required careful calculation.

"Whoever did this must be powerful," Sylass murmured to himself, his voice a low rasp in the dim light. "Far stronger than anyone in this region. Could Mythos have left a guardian behind? Someone watching over that wretched place from the shadows?"

He ran his hand through his hair, his expression unreadable. It would make sense. Even if Lucian is weak, his parents were formidable.

Maybe Mythos isn't willing to completely abandon the mansion just yet.

<it seems the tale of the twin berserker gaining their strength from a treasure hidden deep in Ashwood as some truth to it, and Mythos has an eye on it and aren't willing to let go just yet>

His eyes flicked to the letter that had accompanied the heads, resting ominously in the box. With deliberate slowness, he reached for it, as if already anticipating the contents.

The message was simple, but chilling: "Try this again, and it will be your head in a box."

Sylass's lips twitched into a faint smirk. Bold. Confident. They think they can scare me off with a little theatrics?

But his smirk faded just as quickly. No… they have the strength to back it up. I'll need to change my approach.

Sylass closed the box with a decisive thud and rose to his feet, his mind already racing through possibilities. He had never expected the plan to go off without a hitch—he had sent the old Mythbound expecting resistance—but this? This was faster than even he had predicted, he had wanted to wait out Lucian coming of age and then legally sieze the mansion with the excuse that Lucian was never gonna be strong enough to protect it and the people of Lor, his plan has been successful this far as he has planted seed of resentments in the hearts of villagers, but then Lucian got his hands on that syrum which made him nervous, forcujg him to directly interfere, only to discover the presence of an hidden protector.

"Attendant!" Sylass's voice sliced through the air, and his servant entered swiftly, sensing the tension.

"Bring Toby here. Now."

The attendant bowed and rushed off, leaving Sylass alone with his thoughts once more. Patience. I need patience. The timing has to be right, and Toby… he must be kept in line, only when im completely sure will any move be made.

Soon enough, Toby appeared, his face groggy and irritated. "Father, what's this about? I was just getting some rest—or is the syrum here already?" Toby's eyes lit up in anticipation.

"Look." Sylass pointed to the box, cutting his son off. Toby's eyes widened in shock as he saw the heads.

"What—how—?" Toby stammered, his face pale. He recognized these men all too well, they were the one sent to acquire the syrum now their heads were here, how?

"The acquisition of the Moon Shadow Syrum has failed," Sylass said, his voice cold, though laced with the tiniest hint of disappointment.

"I will continue with my other plans. If I cannot secure another Syrum by the time of the Ascension Vision, you'll have to make do without it."

Toby clenched his fists, his frustration clear. "This is ridiculous! How could they fail? I'll go get it myself if your men are too—" he doubted Lucian could do this and that those guards must have been done in by someone else.

"You will do no such thing!" Sylass's voice thundered, shaking the room.

Toby froze, fear flashing in his eyes. Sylass loomed over him, his aura of dominance suffocating.

"Do you think this is a game, boy? You don't have the slightest idea what you're up against."

He paused, letting the weight of his words sink in. Toby's defiance withered under his father's gaze.

"You are not to cross paths with Lucian again. If you disobey me, it will not be the heads of my men in that box next time."

Sylass turned to the attendant. "Seeker Brian, take him to his room. Keep him there until I say otherwise."

Seeker Brian nodded, grabbing Toby by the arm. As they left, Sylass's expression darkened. His thoughts were already turning, adapting.

Ashwood Mansion was more dangerous than it appeared, but the power there—whoever it was—wouldn't move unless provoked. He would bide his time.

The battle for the mansion was far from over, and Sylass, in his cunning, was already three steps ahead, besides Lucian wasnt the only one with a backing.