The first drops of rain pattered against the chapel's broken roof as Lucian studied the note in his hands. The raven had dropped it at his window just before dawn—a single scrap of parchment with three words:
"Follow the birds."
Lucian frowned. The System offered no clues, only a new quest notification:
[Investigate the Raven's Clue]
[Reward: +10% Favor with Seraphina]
He found Seraphina in the castle gardens, pretending to inspect the roses while her ladies-in-waiting chattered nearby. As Lucian approached, she snapped a thorny stem with deliberate precision.
"You're late," she murmured.
"I had a visitor." Lucian handed her the note.
Seraphina's eyes flickered silver for a heartbeat her Fate Reader ability activating. "The ravens belong to no one," she said quietly. "But they watch everything."
A shadow passed overhead. The blue-eyed raven circled once before flying west, toward the forest.
The Hidden Path
The forest smelled of damp earth and pine. Lucian and Seraphina moved silently, their boots sinking into the moss. Every few minutes, the raven reappeared, guiding them deeper into the woods.
Then a clearing.
A circle of stones stood in the center, their surfaces carved with faded runes. The raven perched on the tallest one, watching them.
[Location Discovered: Ancient Shrine]
[Purpose: Communication with the Demon Realm]
Seraphina traced the carvings. "This shouldn't exist. The Church destroyed all these shrines decades ago."
Lucian's System pulsed. "Footsteps. 200 yards northeast."
They ducked behind the stones just as two figures emerged from the trees:
A hooded man his robes too fine for a woodsman.
A soldier in Church armor carrying a locked chest.
The hooded man spoke first. "You're sure the beasts will attack only the western villages?"
The soldier nodded. "As ordered. But the High Inquisitor wants proof the Demon King commanded it."
Seraphina's grip on Lucian's arm tightened. The attacks were staged.
The hooded man took the chest. "Tell Valtor his payment is here. And remind him—without our alchemy, his 'holy relics' are just pretty rocks."
As they turned to leave, the raven let out a piercing cry. The men froze.
"Who's there?!"
Lucian reacted instantly. He grabbed Seraphina's hand and activated his newest ability:
[Shadow Step]
[Effect: Briefly become undetectable]
The world blurred. For three heartbeats, they were nothing but mist. When the shadows cleared, the men were gone—but the chest remained, half-hidden under ferns.
Inside lay vials of crimson liquid and a ledger. Seraphina flipped it open, her face paling.
"These are names. Nobles, merchants... even my uncle. All paid by the Church to fake demon attacks."
Lucian's System updated:
[Quest Completed: Expose the Church's Deception]
[Reward: Seraphina's Loyalty → 55%]
But before they could celebrate, a new alert flashed:
[Warning: High Inquisitor Valtor is moving toward your location]
[Estimated Time: 12 minutes]
Seraphina snapped the ledger shut. "We need to go. Now."
As they fled, the raven took flight ahead of them—its blue eyes gleaming with something almost like approval.
The Return
Back at the castle gates, Seraphina hesitated. "That ledger is proof, but if we reveal it too soon, the Church will kill us before we can speak."
Lucian nodded. "Then we play their game a little longer." He met her gaze. "You pretend nothing's wrong. I'll make sure the right people see this information."
For the first time, Seraphina smiled—a real one, not the icy mask she wore at court. "Be careful, Lord Darkthorne. I've seen futures where you're annoyingly hard to kill. I'd hate to be disappointed."
[New Quest: Plant the Evidence]
[Objective: Get the ledger to the Royal Spymaster before the Church finds out]
As Lucian slipped into the shadows, the raven watched from the castle walls. Its message had been delivered.
The game had changed.