Death's Successor Completed.

Chapter Eighteen Infiltration Shane pov

Shane packed his bag, adding tomes on the magical resistance. He studied the history between magical creatures and humans and their conflicts. As a hobby, besides studying elemental magic, his room creaked under the weight of his boots. The tower seemed empty. Since Racheal and Luna left for the monastery, he packed his formal clothes, thinking of the king's court. He advised the king, but once he found out, he'd stopped aging. Shane left the castle and moved into the tower. To find his cure, taking a toll on his friendship with Elizebath and his addiction to knowledge root taking a toll on his sanity.

Preferring the company of animals to humans, he opened the dragon sanctuary. He dug into his wardrobe, pulling out a red shirt and black jacket with golden buttons; he missed the singing of the dragons. Shane made the heartbreaking decision to remove the enchantments, stopping the wild dragons from leaving the sanctuary. After one final health check, they immediately flew into the sky, joining the wild dragons, migrating to the warmer continents for breeding.
Even the young dragons in the pit returned to the local mountains, where the local tribe of fire dragons lived. Shane zipped his bag. Matthew shut off the equipment in the lab, Shane assured him, he wouldn't be needing it anymore, except for the belt of potions he already brewed.

Shane added the belt and wore his formal pants, but didn't change his travelling boots. Shane glanced around the small study he used for his personal room. He spent many nights in this cosy space, researching magical cures for illnesses, before falling asleep at his writing desk.

He touched the rough stones. "Farwell, my sanctuary, may your stones remain standing for another thousand years," Shane muttered. He descended the stairs, Finding Matthew in the living room, writing a letter for a waiting message dragon. "They have only been gone for two days." Shane remarked.
"I know. I hope Luna arrived at the monastery safely. The Tundra Planes are mysterious filled with unknown dangers. I cannot even enter the northern part of Aerilon. Delmora is selectable to the cold." Matthew signed the letter, rolling it up into the tube and sending the tiny dragon outside the tower.

"Are you sure you want to join the syndicate? Convincing Blacksail won't be easy as they flooded her estate in the corrupted market, and she's spending thousands of irons on repairs since the dragons cracked the domes." Matthew said.
Shane leaned in the doorway. "So, where are we headed?"
"Matthew stood, grabbing his bag. "Sunlight meadows, a small village in the east, they're known for their strawberry farms. Hopefully, the lurkers haven't destroyed the place, but Blacksail's powerful enchantments protect the estate." Matthew said. The lord mounted his personal stallion. They leave the tower, the rotting smell of the enchanted forest, made their eyes water.
"Matt, cover your mouth. The air is toxic since the abyss queen freed herself. She damaged the area by stealing the enchanted lake's healing magic." Shane explained. Through the black mask he wore, Matthew followed his advice.

"Do not forget Shane. Logan was the one who stole the magic. Who knows what other deeds the abyss queen commanded him to do? He will need to make amends for the damage he has done, starting with helping Luna." Matthew said.

Shane nodded in silent agreement. They hadn't talked before besides conducting business. He hated Matthew's greed and self-gain, but spending the last two days with him, Shane saw glimpses of his actual personality.
The rain drowned them around midday when they reached sunlight meadows. Matthew's skin sizzled upon connecting with the droplets of rain. "Shouldn't he have returned to the underworld by now?" Shane thought.
His unbuttioned top revealed the fading white mark, left over from Luna's treatment, traditionally Matt would return to the underworld after a few days, but so far, the runes showed no signs of flaring to life even after three, what exactly had Luna done?

The smell of burning hay and smoke lingered in the moist air. Villagers were putting out the remains of a barn fire. Matthew concealed his Delmora features using his hood. "They consider me a demon." He whispered.
They planted strawberry fields along the dirt pathway. The locals picked them by hand, filling wicker baskets, while glancing in their direction. "Guess people aren't too welcoming these days,"
"Our destination is outside the village." Matthew refused to make eye contact with any of the humans, instead he kept his eyes focused on the wooden cart passing them filled with baskets of ripe strawberries. Matthew snatched a few, biting into the tangy fruit." Want to try one?" he offered Shane one.
"You know what stealing is, right?,"
"He won't miss a few, there delicious. Of course, I know what stealing is, but the difference between me and you are, I don't care, wizard."
"Clearly, I, however, do not turn down free food, "Shane said, taking the strawberry from Matt. Eating the fresh fruit. They passed by the local alchemist. They treated the villagers' illnesses with natural medicine if their affliction wasn't magical.
"At lease with the colder weather, the alchemist is making a fortune." Matthew said.
"Not everyone can afford the treatment in a village this small. They barely even have a market. Why would the leader of a crime organisation set up here?" Shane asked.
"Not so loud, wizard." A growl escaped Matt's throat as armoured enforcers walked the streets, part of the king's army.