When Dawn meets Dusk

Chapter 10: Enigmas and Shadows

It had been two days, and the parasites still hadn't returned. Brendan was starting to get impatient, his annoyance growing with each passing hour. He had trusted those cursed brothers to bring Raymond back to him, dead or alive, but so far, there was no word. The early morning darkness pressed in on him—it was 4 a.m., and he couldn’t sleep. His mind was consumed by two things: the fact that Raymond was still alive, and the enigma that was Cheryl. She had always been a puzzle, a woman who showed little emotion, except when it came to Ezyati. And that baffled him more than anything.

Brendan sighed heavily, running a hand through his hair. The sleepless nights were starting to wear on him, and just as he was about to head back to his quarters, he heard a voice.

“Overlord Brendan,” a familiar voice said softly, echoing through the corridor.

Brendan turned to see Rayyan, his raised assassin, standing before him. The young man, whom Brendan had taken under his wing, bowed deeply in respect.

“I’ve searched everywhere,” Rayyan said, his voice steady, “but I couldn’t find anything definitive about Cheryl’s bond with Ezyati.”

Brendan’s eyes narrowed slightly, his frustration clear, but he didn’t lash out. Rayyan had always been loyal to him, and Brendan couldn’t bring himself to scold the boy. Instead, he forced a smile, albeit a strained one.

“Thank you for trying, Rayyan,” Brendan said, his voice low but calm. “It’s frustrating, but I’m sure we’ll get answers soon enough.”

Rayyan bowed once more and vanished into the shadows, leaving Brendan alone in the quiet corridor. As Brendan turned to retreat to his chambers, he didn’t notice the dark figure lurking in the far corner of the hallway.

Cheryl stood in the shadows, her sharp eyes narrowed. She had heard everything. Her lips curled into a faint smirk as she whispered to herself, "No wonder he’s been hanging around more often…"

Back in Gearspire, the trio and Nazmal walked through the bustling city streets. The air was filled with the soft hum of machinery and the flickering glow of neon lights. Gearspire was unlike any place Raymond or Lily had ever seen—its advanced technology was intertwined with ancient shadows, creating a blend of innovation and mystique.

Nazmal, no longer in his horse form, walked beside the group in his humanoid shape. His form was still shadowy, dark tendrils trailing from his body as he moved, but he looked more like a man than the shadow horse he had been before. However, his curiosity was now piqued by Medousa, the strange jellyfish-like creature that floated around Lily.

Nazmal’s golden eyes were fixed on Medousa, his gaze filled with intrigue. “What… is that?” he asked, his voice a deep, resonant tone that seemed to echo within the very shadows of the city.

Medousa, sensing the attention, quickly retreated behind Lily’s hair, her small jellyfish body trembling slightly. She had no face to express emotion, but her unease was palpable.

Lily, noticing Medousa’s sudden shift, frowned slightly but didn’t question it. She reached up and gently patted Medousa, offering silent comfort. Nazmal, however, was still staring.

“She doesn’t like being stared at,” Raymond said pointedly, stepping between Nazmal and Lily, his tone protective.

Nazmal blinked, his gaze shifting to Raymond. “I wasn’t staring in malice,” he said calmly, though his eyes still flickered with curiosity. “I’ve simply never seen a creature like her before.”

“Well, now you’ve seen her,” Lily interjected, her voice soft but firm. “So stop gawking.”

Nazmal chuckled, his shadowy form rippling. “Fair enough. I meant no offense.”