Chapter 3: CONTRACT.
The group moved through a narrow corridor, its walls marred with dark patches of mold that seemed to thrive in the damp, stale air. The flickering light of the torch cast wavering shadows that played tricks on the eyes, making the hallway appear longer than it was.
Scurrying feet echoed beneath them as rats darted across the cracked stone floor, vanishing into crevices and cracks. The scent of mildew and decay hung heavy, a testament to the neglected state of the place.
At the end of the corridor stood a wooden door, weathered with age and marked by deep grooves where countless hands had pushed it open. The blond man gave a nod, and Tod, the brute, shoved the door wide with a grunt. It creaked as it swung open, revealing a small but unexpectedly lavish office that seemed out of place in such a dismal setting.
The office was furnished with opulent, albeit slightly worn, decor. A plush, crimson rug with intricate golden patterns covered most of the stone floor, muffling the sounds of their footsteps.
Velvet drapes, heavy and deep blue, framed the lone window, though they were drawn tightly shut, allowing only a sliver of light to penetrate the room. A grand mahogany desk sat in the centre, polished to a dark sheen, and scattered with parchment and quills, some tipped with gold.
Behind the desk, a high-backed chair upholstered in black leather loomed, giving the impression of power. Brass candle holders stood on either side of the desk, their flames casting a warm, wavering glow that danced across the walls, adorned with faded portraits of stern-faced figures. Shelves lined one side of the room, crammed with tomes bound in cracked leather, their spines etched with ancient runes and titles in forgotten languages.
The merchant stepped in first, rubbing his hands together in anticipation, followed by the blond man whose sharp eyes surveyed every detail, assessing the value of the place. Tod brought up the rear, hauling Yomi’s weakened body over his shoulder and dropping him unceremoniously on the rug.
"Welcome, dear customer, to my humble office," the merchant said, a thin smile spreading across his face as he gestured to the chair opposite him. "Please, make yourself comfortable."
The blond man glanced at Yomi, who lay crumpled on the floor, his breathing ragged and eyes hollow, before turning his attention back to the merchant.