Belial sat quietly in the darkened hotel room, leaning back against the closed curtains, his mind spinning in thought. The visions that the cursed skull had given him still lingered in the back of his mind, vivid and unsettling.

Was that someone from the war?  he wondered, his gaze absent as he stared at nothing in particular.

The images passed in his eyes—chaotic battles, rivers of blood, and the haunting faces of demons—left him with an eerie sense of familiarity. He’d fought in plenty of battles, seen enough bloodshed for a lifetime, but this felt different. There was something ancient about those visions, something tied to the very origins of the dark forces he had fought against for so long.

Time slipped by unnoticed as Belial sank deeper into his thoughts. He only snapped out of his trance when the sky outside darkened, signaling the arrival of nightfall. A soft knock on the door alerted him to movement from the adjoining room, where Azick had been resting after his earlier ordeal.

Belial rose to his feet, his senses sharp again. They were back on duty now, and the weight of responsibility settled once more on his shoulders. He and Xin stood by the doorway, watching as Azick gathered his belongings. The merchant, looking haggard but determined, grabbed the cursed artifact last, holding it with a certain reverence—and perhaps a bit of fear.

Azick glanced toward the doorway, meeting the gazes of both Belial and Xin. He nodded, a silent signal that it was time to move. Without a word, the trio made their way up the hotel's wooden stairs , stepping lightly not to make an unnecessary noise.

The receptionist glanced up as they approached the desk. Azick handled the formalities quickly, signing them out and exchanging a few brief words. The exchange was mundane, but the atmosphere was heavy with the knowledge of what they carried with them. The cursed skull remained sealed in its box, a dark presence that all three of them were acutely aware of.

Once outside, the cool night air greeted them. The electric-powered wagon was waiting where they had left it earlier, its dark exterior blending into the shadows of the street. Belial took the driver’s seat again, his hands resting on the worn-out silver-lined railings of the wagon’s control panel. Recalling the nuances of driving the wagon from earlier, he quickly got a feel for it again. The hum of the electric engine broke the silence as they pulled out onto the road.

Belial’s eyes flicked to the rearview mirror, where he caught a glimpse of Azick in the backseat, clutching the cursed box with both hands. Xin sat beside him, his gaze alert and scanning the surroundings as they drove through the quiet streets.

“So…” Belial’s voice broke the silence, his tone even. “Are you going to tell us where exactly we’re going?”

Azick hesitated for a moment, as if debating how much to reveal. Finally, he sighed and answered, “We’re headed to Seasberk. My client is waiting there. After the transaction is complete, and I’ve made it safely to my safehouse, I’ll give you my signature for the quest… and the compensation,” he added, his tone a bit more tense as he glanced at Belial through the rearview mirror.

Belial met his gaze in the mirror, his expression unreadable. He had made it clear earlier that they would need extra payment for the increased risk this mission now posed. Azick, after some initial reluctance, had agreed, but there was still tension between them.

After a brief pause, Belial gave a curt nod. “Good,” he muttered, turning his attention back to the road. The city streets of Seasberk were still some distance away, but they were getting closer by the minute.

In the backseat, Xin couldn’t help but smirk slightly. Poor guy, he thought, watching Azick’s tense posture. He must be holding back tears because of Belial.

The journey to Seasberk was uneventful, though the weight of the cursed artifact never left their minds. Occasionally, Belial would briefly look at the rearview mirror, focusing on the dark box in Azick's lap. He still sensed it there, a slight pull at the boundaries of his awareness. There was no peaceful rest inside that skull.

After what seemed like an eternity, they eventually reached Seasberk. As soon as they entered the city, sold at the different food stalls on the streets. Belial reduced the speed of the wagon while they made their way through the narrow roads, scanning the storefronts with his eyes. The majority of them appeared to focus on seafood, with clams being the favored choice.

The streets were full of activity, even at this late time. Lamps were suspended from the structures, illuminating the cobblestone streets with a cozy light. Vendors were trying to make sales by calling out to people walking by, as groups of individuals assembled nearby to eat, drink, and savor the refreshing ocean air.

“Seasberk,” Xin murmured, glancing out the window. “Its been awhile since i've been here.”

“You had a concert here before?.”Belial asked, recalling a poster of a certain masked musician he saw when he first arrived.

Xin nodded,  his gaze still glued to the window.

“It’s a port city,” Azick said from the backseat, his voice somewhat distant. “People come and go at all hours. Trade never stops.”

The wagon kept moving along the roads until it arrived at a more tranquil neighborhood with bigger, more spread out buildings. Azick guided them to a quiet alley where they could park discreetly.

“We’re here,” Azick said quietly. He stepped out of the wagon, still holding the cursed artifact close to him. “I’ll meet my client nearby. Wait here until I return.”

Belial and Xin exchanged a glance before getting out of the wagon as well. They wouldn’t let Azick go too far without keeping an eye on him. This whole situation was still wrapped in too many mysteries for them to trust it completely.

The electric wagon pulled up to a large, looming structure that looked like a church, though Belial and Xin weren't entirely sure what kind. Its gothic arches stretched up toward the night sky, casting long shadows across the street. The walls, made of dark stone, gave the building a solemn, almost intimidating presence. There were no signs or names marking it—just a vast, ominous building nestled into the edge of the city.

Belial stepped out of the wagon first, his eyes narrowing as he surveyed the cathedral’s entrance. Xin followed close behind, his hand instinctively resting near the hilt of his weapon. Azick, with the box containing the cursed artifact still clutched to his chest, motioned for them to follow him inside.

Upon entering, Belial quickly observed the impressive scale of the cathedral's interior. Large stained-glass windows decorated the walls, and at the opposite side of the room was a massive angel statue. The angel appeared so lifelike with its intricately carved long flowing hair and noble face. However, Belial experienced a shiver down his spine while gazing at it.

That face… it’s the same one from the nightmare cave, Belial recalled. He recognized the angel as the same figure  pushed down, during one of his more harrowing experiences. A faint smirk crossed his face as the memory of that fight flickered in his mind.

“Well, now what?” Belial asked, his voice carrying a hint of arrogance.

Azick, without missing a beat, replied, “We pray.”

Belial scoffed. “I’ll sit this one out,” he muttered, stepping back. 

Xin shifted uncomfortably, his usual easy-going demeanor giving way to awkwardness. “Yeah, same here. I’m not exactly religious.”

Azick appeared unfazed. He made his way to a rear seat cathedral , knelt, down, and started silently  praying. Belial and Xin stood casually behind the rear seat, Scanning the room for any abnormalities.

Following a brief period of uncomfortable quiet, Belial's eyes suddenly sparkled, indicating a moment of recognition. Xin observed and prepared to speak, but Belial had already placed his hand on the katana's hilt before Xin could utter a word. With a smooth gesture, Belial drew the sword, swiftly turning his body towards Xin, his gaze fixed on something in the background.

“What the—?” Xin’s heart raced. Was there someone behind him?

Quickly, Xin spun around, scanning the shadows of the cathedral. His heightened senses had been active the whole time, and yet, he hadn’t detected anyone. It didn’t make sense. But now that Belial had reacted, Xin’s own instincts sharpened. And then– in the corner of his eyes,he saw it—to the left of them, a shadowy figure stood silently.

How did I not sense them? Xin thought, panic creeping into his mind. I was scanning with my Hax the whole time.

The shadowy figure didn’t move at first, standing almost completely still, its presence more ethereal than human. Xin’s grip on his weapon tightened, but before he could make a move, Azick spoke from the back of the cathedral, his voice unnervingly calm.

“I brought the artifact.”

The tension in the air grew as Azick approached the shadowy figure, carrying the box with the cursed skull. The figure didn’t speak, but its attention was clearly fixed on the box in Azick’s hands. The aura around the box began to grow stronger as Azick moved closer, and suddenly, the whispers began again. This time, the pressure in the room was palpable. The maddening ravings from earlier returned, stronger than before, pressing down on the three of them with an intensity that made their ears ring and their vision blur.

Belial clenched his jaw as the wave of despair enveloped him. The murmurs increased in volume, forming a collective of spectral voices that challenged his mental stability. Even though he had wrapped it in layers of darkness, he could still sense the malevolent energy coming from the artifact.

What is this pressure? he thought, struggling to maintain control. And this man’s ether… it’s like that woman-..

Azick, seemingly unaffected by the madness around him, handed the box over to the figure. For a moment, the figure held it, as if weighing the dark energy within. Then, without a word, it nodded in approval. The aura from the box flared, and the ravings intensified, the pressure in the room growing almost unbearable. But just as quickly as it had come, the presence of the figure and the cursed energy began to subside.

The mysterious person brought out a small pouch of money and threw it in the direction of Azick's feet. As the pressure in the room eased, the three men found themselves gasping for air, their bodies relaxing as tension was suddenly released.

Belial let out a sudden breath, massaging the back of his neck. “What the hell was that?” he muttered, though he knew Xin was probably thinking the same thing.

Xin nodded in agreement, his hands still shaking slightly from the intensity of the experience. “That wasn’t normal. Who was that guy?”

Azick, who had been silent throughout the exchange, finally spoke as he picked up the bag of coins.Hel let out a deep relieved sigh, as if he was holding his breath the entire time “He’s… someone who deals in artifacts like this. We don’t talk much. I’m just the middleman.”

Belial and Xin exchanged a glance. Something about this whole situation didn’t sit right, but before either of them could press Azick further, the merchant gestured toward the door. “It’s time to leave. The transaction is complete. Let’s get to the safe house.”

The three of them quickly departed from the cathedral, strolling through the now-empty streets of Seasberk. As dawn broke, the city came to life, with the first day of light peeking over the horizon and illuminating the cobblestone streets.

By the time the sun completely rose the three had already arrived at the safe house. The structure was ordinary, a basic stone building situated between two bigger buildings. Azick guided them indoors, placing the box on a table before facing Belial and Xin.

“Your hunter cards, please,” he requested, his tone formal.

Belial frowned slightly, confused. “What for?”

Azick pulled a pen from his coat pocket and gestured again. “To finalize the mission. I’ll sign off on it, and once it’s recorded, you’ll get your payment.”

Still somewhat skeptical, Belial handed over his hunter card, and Xin followed suit. Azick took both cards, signed his name on the designated line, and in an instant, the signature vanished from the card, signaling that the quest was officially complete.

“There,” Azick said, handing the cards back to them. “It’s done. Thank you for your service.”

Belial pocketed his card and gave Azick a sharp nod. “Yeah, just make sure you don’t put yourself in another situation like this without proper details next time.”

Azick chuckled nervously, clearly relieved that the ordeal was over. “I’ll keep that in mind.”

With their task complete, Belial and Xin left the safe house. They made their way to the train station, where they caught the first train back to Silva City.