Chapter 31 – The Hunt Begins

The moon hung high over St. Catherine, casting pale silver light over the sprawling city below. The streets were quiet, save for the occasional patrol of city guards or the murmurs of late-night travelers. But for Zayne and his friends, the night was just beginning.

Inside Mystic Heights Academy's underground training hall, the four stood in a tight circle, tension thick in the air. The revelation of The Eclipsed Hand and its connection to Zayne's parents had set something ablaze within him. He wasn't going to sit back and wait for them to strike.

They had to move first.

The Plan

Zayne placed a map of St. Catherine on a stone table in the training hall. He had spent the last few hours marking possible locations where they could gather intel.

"There's a tavern near the old adventurers' district," Zayne said, pointing to a red X on the map. "It's called The Rusted Blade. A lot of rogue adventurers and mercenaries hang around there. If anyone has information on The Eclipsed Hand, they'll be there."

Malo leaned over the map, arms crossed. "Sounds like our best lead. But places like that don't give out info for free. We're gonna have to make them talk."

Dante cracked his knuckles. "I'm fine with that."

Tallesia sighed. "Let's try not to cause a scene. The last thing we need is the city guards sniffing around."

Malo smirked. "No promises."

Zayne looked at each of them. "We move in pairs. Malo and I will go in first. We'll see if we can get information quietly. If that doesn't work, we'll handle it our way."

Tallesia nodded. "Dante and I will watch the exits. If things go sideways, we'll cover you."

With the plan set, the four grabbed their weapons and prepared to leave. As Zayne strapped his sword to his back, he felt a familiar heat in his chest—an urgency he hadn't felt in years.

Tonight, they were hunting for answers.

The Rusted Blade

The Rusted Blade was exactly what Zayne expected—a dimly lit, smoke-filled den packed with shady adventurers, thieves, and mercenaries. The smell of ale and sweat filled the air, and the sound of drunken laughter mixed with the occasional clash of fists.

Zayne and Malo stepped inside, keeping their hoods up. They scanned the room, looking for anyone who seemed like they might have connections to The Eclipsed Hand.

At the bar, a group of rough-looking adventurers sat drinking. One of them—a scarred man with a missing eye—caught Zayne's attention. He had the look of someone who had seen too much and survived worse.

Zayne nudged Malo. "Him."

Malo smirked. "Let's go make a friend."

They approached the man, sliding into the empty seats beside him. The man glanced at them, taking a slow sip of his drink.

"Don't recognize you two," he muttered. "You new around here?"

Zayne kept his expression neutral. "Something like that."

Malo leaned forward. "We're looking for information. A certain group. Maybe you've heard of them—The Eclipsed Hand."

The man's grip on his mug tightened ever so slightly. "Never heard of 'em."

Zayne sighed. "That's funny. Because I think you have."

The man turned to them fully now, his single eye cold. "Even if I did, why would I tell you?"

Malo grinned. "Because if you don't, things get unpleasant."

The man chuckled, shaking his head. "You kids have no idea what you're getting into." He stood up, downing the rest of his drink. "Walk away. Trust me. You don't want to go down this road."

Zayne's patience snapped. He grabbed the man's arm before he could leave. "Tell me what you know."

The tavern went silent.

Several patrons shifted in their seats, hands inching toward weapons. The man looked at Zayne's hand, then back at him.

"You really want to do this, boy?"

Zayne's eyes glowed faintly. "I don't have time for games."

The man exhaled. "Alright. You want answers?"

He suddenly swung his elbow toward Zayne's face. Zayne dodged, but the movement sent the tavern into chaos.

The Fight

Before Zayne could react, another man lunged at him from behind. He ducked, sweeping his leg under the attacker, sending him crashing to the floor. Malo wasted no time, his shadow magic exploding outward as he grabbed another thug by the collar and slammed him into a table.

The Rusted Blade erupted into a full brawl.

Dante and Tallesia, who had been watching from the entrance, rushed in as fists and weapons flew.

Tallesia drew her twin lightning-infused daggers, slicing through the air with crackling energy. "So much for keeping things quiet!"

Dante landed a powerful uppercut on a mercenary, sending him sprawling. "I knew this would happen."

Zayne blocked a punch, twisting his opponent's arm before slamming him against the bar. He turned back to the scarred man, who was now watching with mild amusement.

"You're still standing?" Zayne growled.

The man smirked. "You're good, kid. But you're not ready for The Eclipsed Hand."

Zayne narrowed his eyes. "Why?"

The man tossed a coin on the counter. "Because they've been watching you."

Before Zayne could react, the man vanished into the chaos.

A New Threat

After the fight, the group slipped out of the tavern, bruised but victorious. They regrouped in a secluded alleyway, catching their breath.

"That could've gone better," Tallesia muttered.

Zayne clenched his fists. "We were so close."

Dante frowned. "But did you hear what he said? They've been watching us."

Malo rubbed his chin. "Which means they're already moving."

Zayne exhaled. "Then we move faster."

From the shadows, a pair of glowing red eyes watched them, unseen.

The hunt had only just begun.