Corrupted blood lord

Teclos examined every millimeter of his house for any kind of clue: boot marks, blood, stolen items, drag marks... anything he found useful.

He followed the boot tracks outside, along with two lines carved into the soil, no doubt from Saldia being dragged away by one of them.

The trail was messy, broken by dirt, stone, and the slush gathered between the houses, but it was there. And now that it was so late into the night, it would stay fresh and undisturbed by other people for some time still. He also found a crushed bundle of herbs that must have fallen from her pocket while following that trail.

Teclos picked it up with trembling hands.

He followed every small sign he could find, sometimes losing the trail completely, only to find it again several streets later. A faint drop of blood on a stone. A scratch against a wall. Footprints leading through alleys.

Like a bloodhound, focused and determined, his senses stretched out again and again, searching for any sign they might have left behind.

He searched areas of the slums faster than any normal person could have managed. Yet still, he had the nagging feeling that his time window was slowly closing, that he wasn’t fast enough.

After combing through the slums, the trail clearly led him toward the inner city gate.

Teclos stopped in front of it, breathing raggedly from running nonstop.

The gates were illuminated by lantern light, separating the slums from the cleaner streets beyond. Two guards stood there, leaning on their spears, while a third sat near the gatehouse with his helmet pushed back.

One of them looked up as Teclos approached.

"Gate’s closed for the night."

Teclos stepped closer, forcing himself to speak clearly and urgently.

"My mother was taken. She might have been brought through here. Her name is Saldia. Red hair, middle-aged, herbalist, usually wears a blue shawl these days. Did you see anyone bring a woman through here tonight?"

The guard stared at him for a second, then shrugged.

"No."

Teclos looked at the other guard. "Really?"

"We didn’t see anything, boy."

The third guard near the gatehouse gave a lazy yawn. "Lots of people pass through before closing time. Could’ve missed her."

Teclos clenched his jaw.

"Then open the gate, please. I need to search inside."

The first guard straightened slightly, his eyes flicking over Teclos’s clothes, his face, and the desperation he was failing to hide.

"Entry after hours costs two silver."

Teclos stared at him.

"What?"

"Two silver," the guard repeated. "Late entry toll."

"There was never anything like a late entry toll..."

"Tonight there is." The guard smirked.

Teclos’s eyes narrowed. "You’re making that up."

The guard shrugged and smiled faintly. "You want in or not?"

Teclos looked at the gate behind them, then back at the guards.

He had enough money, but it was all at home... he would lose precious time. A bitter laugh almost escaped him. Of all the things to stop him now.

Asshole guards and two silver coins.

"My mother was kidnapped," he said slowly. "I don’t have time for this."

The guards just smiled at him, and all of them shrugged. "Well, come back tomorrow then." It made Teclos understand what kind of people they were.

"No coin, no entry."

Teclos took one step forward regardless, and his shadow stirred faintly beneath him.

The second guard lowered his spear.

"Careful there, boy. You wouldn’t want to rot in prison because of two measly coins."

For a moment, Teclos almost tore through them and the gate both.

But if he fought right now, the trail could vanish completely. The inner city would lock down and more guards would come. Hell, even Inquisitors might be called, and he would lose whatever small chance he still had.

His fingers curled until his nails drew blood from his palm.

Then he turned around and rushed home as fast as he was capable.

The guards laughed behind him.

"Run fast, boy! Maybe she’ll still be waiting!"

Their laughter followed him down the street, and he wanted to rip their heads off, but now was not the time.

Teclos moved like a blur.

He reached the door in less than a minute, rushed inside, and went straight to his bedroom. He instantly summoned multiple dark hands and tore through the wooden floor.

The wood cracked and splintered everywhere.

Until he saw and pulled out three small sacks of coins from a hidden compartment.

He tossed all three sacks into his dark dimension, closed it, and vanished from his spot, rushing back toward the gate.

A minute later, he was back near the inner gate.

Before stepping into the lantern light, he opened his dark dimension to take out one sack. His fingers moved quickly through the coins. He counted exactly two silver pieces and no more, then threw the sack back into the darkness and closed it.

Once that was done, he walked forward.

The guards saw him and grinned.

"Back already?"

Teclos held out the two silver coins.

"Open the gate now."

The first guard took the coins and rolled them between his fingers as he looked at the others.

The guards smiled among themselves again and added another absurd condition.

"Actually, the fee just increased to three more silver coins."

Teclos froze in place.

The first guard chuckled. "Late-night trouble costs extra."

For a second, there was only silence between them.

Then Teclos looked up and laughed. "Hah! I can’t believe this shit... My mother was kidnapped tonight, and you have the audacity to play games with me?"

The last part of his sentence ended in a low growl.

It was so chilling and full of bloodlust that all three guards got goosebumps on their skin.

Dark mana erupted from beneath Teclos, and the guards had no time to react before black hands shot out from the ground. They wrapped around their throats and slammed them violently against the stone wall beside the gate.

All three choked at once, gasping for air.

Their spears clattered to the ground as they tried to pry the dark hands open.

Teclos continued and simply demanded entry.

"You either let me in now," he said, his voice hollow, "or you die."

The guards clawed at the hands around their necks, feet kicking against the stone. Their faces turned red, then pale, their eyes bulging in panic.

Then the door to the guard station opened.

A man stepped out, older than the others, with short gray hair, a trimmed beard, and a sword at his hip. His shadow was a lot deeper than theirs. Stronger.

The captain looked at the three guards pinned to the wall.

Then at Teclos and the dark hands crushing their throats.

He sighed.

"There is no need for violence."

Teclos slowly turned his eyes toward him.

The captain raised both hands slightly.

"You can go through. My boys just played a nasty prank on you. A stupid one."

Teclos did not release them.

The captain’s gaze sharpened slightly, but he still did not reach for his sword.

"Open the gate," Teclos demanded.

The captain leisurely walked toward the gate and took his keys from his pocket. The gate groaned open, and he stepped aside, gesturing for Teclos to leave.

Teclos did just that, but without taking his eyes off the captain as he passed.

Only after he crossed the gate did the darkness around the guards vanish.

All three dropped to the ground, coughing and gasping for air.

Teclos wrapped himself in shadows the next instant and disappeared into the inner city.

Behind him, one of the guards wheezed, "We should... sound the alarm. That bastard has to... pay."

The captain looked down at them.

"No."

"But captain! He attacked city guards!"

The captain smiled without warmth.

"You just extorted the wrong desperate man. Be happy you’re alive."

The guard’s face twisted.

"He threatened to kill us..."

"Yes," the captain said. "And if I hadn’t stepped out, he would have."

Then he looked toward the open gate, where Teclos had already vanished.

"Besides, you heard his story. He will not find her."

The guards slowly looked up, and their captain’s smile faded.

"And if he does get close, he will die by that person’s hand anyway."

The three guards exchanged uneasy looks, as they clearly knew something, but none of them said another word.

The captain glanced at the two silver coins still clutched in one guard’s hand.

"Oh, and since I saved your asses, those two silver will be split into four equal parts."

"Captain..."

"Shut it."

The guard shut his mouth.

—

Inside the inner city, Teclos searched everything.

Every street.

Every alley.

Every side path between the houses and villas.

He moved over rooftops, under balconies, behind walls, and across gardens. He questioned beggars, servants returning late, drunk young nobles stumbling home, stable boys, and anyone else unlucky enough to cross his path.

Most knew nothing, and the longer he searched, the tighter his chest became.

Every passing minute felt like a door closing.

Every empty street felt like he would lose her forever.

He searched until the first pale hints of sunlight began touching the roofs. Teclos was tired, but he did not slow down.

Then, near a quiet street lined with large estates, he found a clue.

A small torn piece of cloth caught on the iron edge of a fence.

The cloth was blue.

Teclos rushed over and took it carefully between his fingers.

It was Saldia’s shawl.

His breath stopped for a moment.

Then his gaze slowly lifted.

The cloth had been caught near the outer wall of a large villa. The estate beyond it was dark, elegant, and heavily guarded. Lanterns burned near the gates. Men patrolled the grounds in sets of two.

Teclos unfurled his senses and searched through the courtyard, the guards, and the servants’ quarters. Lastly, he tried to look inside the villa.

But he couldn’t see anything. His senses were being blocked.

The same kind of dead space he had felt at Morholt’s estate.

His hand closed around the torn cloth. There was no other choice... he had to get inside and check.

He began mapping the guards’ movements immediately. Two near the main gate. Two walking near the left wall. Another pair crossing the rear every thirty seconds.

There was a blind spot near the stable roof if he used Shadow Steps carefully. He could slip in from above, reach the second-floor balcony, and search from there.

He was already preparing to move when a voice came from behind him.

"What are you doing spying on my house, good sir?"

Teclos went cold.

The voice was somehow familiar.

It was calm, with a hint of a sinister undertone.

He turned around slowly.

A man stood several steps behind him, dressed neatly despite the hour, black hair with bits of gray neatly combed back, his trimmed beard catching the faint lantern light. His posture was relaxed, almost lazy, but everything about him felt like a blade hidden beneath a pleasant exterior.

It was Axel.

For a heartbeat, Teclos simply stared in disbelief.

Then his face twisted into a scowl.

"Huh," Axel said, tilting his head. "Well... the world sure is small."

"Axel," Teclos spat.

Axel smiled faintly. "Still a brat who can’t greet his elders, I see."

Teclos’s fingers twitched near his sword.

Axel’s eyes flicked down once, then back to his face.

"So," he said lightly, "what are you doing here at my home, spying on me?"

Teclos did not answer immediately.

His mind raced.

Could he trust him?

No.

Could he afford not to ask?

Also no.

The situation was urgent. And if Axel had anything to do with Saldia’s disappearance, maybe his face would give something away.

"I’m looking for my mom," Teclos said. His voice came out rougher than he wanted. "She was kidnapped tonight. Have you seen anything?"

For the first time, Axel’s expression changed slightly.

"Your mother?"

He frowned and scratched his beard, looking genuinely thoughtful.

"No. I haven’t seen anyone... well, besides you snooping around."

Teclos watched him closely.

Axel did not look nervous. He did not glance toward the villa. His breathing did not change. His tone stayed calm and almost bored.

Nothing.

He looked back toward the estate once, then nodded.

"Fine."

Axel’s smile returned.

"Fine? That is all? You can come inside if you want... have some tea with your old master."

Teclos turned and walked away. "You are not my master," he spat.

Axel watched him go for a few seconds before turning back toward his estate.

A guard near the gate stiffened in surprise as Axel approached from the street.

"Sir? Were you on an outing?"

"A minor inconvenience," Axel said. "Do carry on. I am going to bed now."

"Yes, sir!"

The guard saluted and bowed.

Teclos kept walking until Axel’s estate was out of sight.

Then he searched the entire area again.

Every wall.

Every street.

Every gutter.

And like he expected, he found nothing else.

Eventually, he passed back through the gate. The captain was still there, leaning near the station with a cup in hand.

He looked Teclos over and smiled.

"Haven’t found her?"

Teclos said nothing.

The captain lifted his cup slightly.

"Want us to search for her? It’s going to cost you, though."

Teclos slowly turned his head.

His eyes were empty and malicious enough that the captain’s smile stiffened for a second.

Then Teclos continued walking.

The captain watched him leave and let out a low whistle.

"Sheesh... the boy sure has a nasty stare."

Then he went back inside the guard post.

—

Teclos returned home and sat on his bed.

For a while, he did nothing.

He simply lay down and stared at the ceiling as if defeated.

Morning came.

Then afternoon.

Then night.

For the next few days, he continued his routine like a corpse pretending to search for her.

He told Zamas what had happened. Surprisingly, the fat man cursed, questioned a few people, and sent some Black Hounds to help. Derrick, Falcon, Vera, Wallace, and even Garren searched with him at different times.

They found nothing.

No ransom note.

No witness.

The city seemed to have swallowed her whole somehow. But Teclos did not stop watching.

On the fourth night, while lying in bed with his eyes closed, he felt it.

A shadow, jumping down from the city wall and moving away toward the inner parts of the city.

Teclos’s eyes opened.

He lay on his bed for a moment and stayed perfectly still.

Then he quickly stood up and walked straight to the nearest smithy.

It was closed, but that did not stop him.

He pressed one hand to the lock and shaped his darkness into a thin key that perfectly matched the keyhole. The lock clicked softly, and he stepped inside.

He took every throwing knife the blacksmith had.

Then a well-made claymore.

Then a plated tunic, shin guards, and wrist guards.

He stored everything inside his dark dimension and walked back into the night.

Axel had not let anything slip when he talked to him that day.

But Teclos knew he was hiding something, and more than that, he had been following Teclos for days.

Watching him search and fail.

The problem now was simple.

Axel’s senses were sharp, and his combat power was an insurmountable wall. So Teclos could not fight him head-on.

He needed Axel to leave his estate.

And when he did, Teclos would go inside.

This time, he would not leave without answers.