Chapter 26: The Wolf and the Shadow
As Corven and Rose wandered deeper through the twilight-lit streets of Underzen, taking in the jagged architecture and the unnatural beauty of the glowing crystal veins snaking through the walls, a sudden figure approached them from across the cobbled path.
Clad in a worn black cloak over a set of steel armor dyed an inky, matte black, the figure moved with a certain purpose—heavy boots thudding softly against the stone as the crowd naturally parted around him. A massive greatsword rested across his back, its hilt bound in old leather and glinting faintly beneath the city’s low-hanging magical lights.
"You two are new here, right?" the figure asked, his voice a confident baritone with a laid-back edge.
He was beastkin—clearly canine in lineage. Short, bristled ears poked through a tousle of brown hair, and his amber-gold eyes shimmered faintly, giving off a low, animalistic glow. His skin was a deep, earthy brown, and his physique was nothing short of imposing: easily over six feet tall, broad in the shoulders, with a frame built for battle.
"Yeah? Need something?" Corven replied, eyeing the man with a mixture of caution and curiosity.
Rose didn’t bother answering, simply crossing her arms beside Corven, tapping one foot against the ground in a silent rhythm of impatience—or readiness.
"Want a job?" the beastkin offered, a grin forming as he gestured loosely with a gloved hand. "I’m guessing you two aren’t exactly dripping in coin right now."
His laugh was rough and easygoing, the kind that suggested both experience and mischief.
Corven raised an eyebrow, intrigued but guarded. "A job, huh? Sounds interesting. But why us?"
The beastkin scratched the back of his head, ears twitching slightly as he let out a half-chuckle, half-sigh. "Well, having a vampire with us makes things easier—and most of the ones down here are too stuck up their own asses to say yes."