Chapter Thirteen: The Expert

The woman's piercing blue eyes seemed to bore into Dorian's soul as she smiled. "My name is Dr. Sophia Patel," she said. "I'm an expert in... certain areas of research."

Dorian's eyes narrowed, his mind racing with questions. What kind of research was she involved in? And what did she know about the artifact?

Kael gestured for Dorian to follow him. "Let's talk," he said. "Dr. Patel has knowledge that can help us understand the artifact's true potential."

Dorian nodded, following Kael and Dr. Patel into a room filled with various pieces of equipment and strange devices. Dr. Patel began to explain the artifact's properties, speaking in a tone that was both confident and enthusiastic.

"This artifact is a relic from an ancient civilization," she said. "It contains a unique energy signature that can be harnessed and controlled."

Dorian listened intently, fascinated by the depth of Dr. Patel's knowledge. She spoke with authority, and her words were laced with a sense of wonder.

As they discussed the artifact's potential, Dorian couldn't help but feel a sense of excitement. This was it. This was the discovery that could change everything.

But as the conversation went on, Dorian began to notice that Dr. Patel seemed to be avoiding certain topics. She would skirt around questions, or change the subject altogether.

"What's wrong, Dr. Patel?" Dorian asked, his eyes narrowing. "You seem to be hiding something."

Dr. Patel's smile faltered for a moment, before she regained her composure. "I'm just being cautious," she said. "There's a lot at stake here, and I don't want to risk revealing too much."

Dorian's eyes locked onto hers, searching for any sign of deception. He wasn't sure if he believed her, but he knew he had to tread carefully.

As the conversation continued, Dorian couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to Dr. Patel's story than she was letting on. He made a mental note to keep a close eye on her, to see if he could uncover any hidden motives.

The meeting concluded with a plan to conduct further research on the artifact. Dorian felt a sense of anticipation building up inside him. What secrets would they uncover? And what lay ahead for them?

As they left the safe house, Dorian turned to Kael. "I don't trust her," he said, his voice low.

Kael raised an eyebrow. "Why not?" he asked.

Dorian hesitated, unsure of how to articulate his concerns. "I just get a bad feeling about her," he said. "Let's keep an eye on her, okay?"

Kael nodded, a small smile playing on his lips. "I'll make sure to keep an eye on her," he said. "But for now, let's focus on the task at hand. We have a lot of work to do."

Dorian nodded, his mind racing with possibilities. What lay ahead for them? And what secrets would they uncover about the artifact?