The Thorne of Destiny

Adrian walked briskly under the cover of night, the streets mostly quiet now that the city had calmed after the earlier chaos. Lanterns hung from the eaves of shopfronts, casting long shadows across the cobbled paths.

Even though things hadn't gone back to how they were previously, it was still relatively better than before. Adrian didn't pay any attention to this, though, as he just walked toward his intended target.

Even before he reached the building, he could see its magnificence from down the street. The building was large with three stories, much different from what was normally present in the outer city.

This store was the one that Miss Julia, the inn manager who purchased the Stoneveil crocodile from him, recommended to him. Honestly, he was expecting the store to be at the same level as the inn. Big, but not too big.

But this store completely exceeded his expectations. Adrian even wondered why someone would bother opening it in the outer city. With how grand the building was, he could tell that the person was wealthy. They could easily open the store in the inner regions of the city, or even the core.

What Adrian did not know was that the owners indeed had stores in the inner and core regions of the city. He just hadn't seen them before. Shaking his head, Adrian dismissed all mundane thoughts from his mind as he finally reached the entrance.

Even though it was nighttime, the sign was big, bold, and lit up by multiple lanterns that were lit outside.

As soon as he came by, the gazes of the two guards fixated on him.

From them, Adrian could feel a subtle pressure pressing down on him. However, he acted like he didn't feel it. He simply walked past them and entered the store.

Inside, the scent of dried flowers and bitter roots hung thick in the air. Rows upon rows of wooden shelves lined the walls, filled with jars labeled in meticulous calligraphy.

Behind that counter stood a young female clerk in green robes embroidered with the apothecary's sigil, a cauldron entwined with blooming lotus. She was sorting through an order slip, her expression focused, but her voice was chipper when she glanced up.

"Welcome, honored customer," she said, her tone polite but perfunctory. "How may I assist you?"

Adrian didn't respond immediately. Instead, he reached into his robes and withdrew a small token. It was the same token Miss Julia had given him. He didn't know what kind of status Miss Julia had, but since she said that the inn and the apothecary were related, he decided to simply try it.

He wouldn't lose anything from it and might even gain something in return. The moment the clerk's eyes landed on it, she became confused for a moment. But after studying it carefully for a few seconds, her posture stiffened, her demeanor shifting from polite indifference to deferential in an instant.

"Ah—my apologies, honored guest," she said, bowing slightly. Adrian was a bit startled by her quick change in attitude, but was able to quickly get over it. Years of being the scion of a noble house had already made him used to people bowing their heads to him.

He simply nodded his head before speaking.

" I would like to purchase some herbs." With that, he retrieved a piece of paper that was tucked inside his robe. On it was everything he wanted to buy, along with their quantity.

The clerk disappeared for a few minutes to gather everything he wanted to buy. Adrian spent that time glancing around, finally taking in the store as a whole.

Aside from the shelves filled with different herbs, there were also some people shopping. Adrian had thought that since it was nighttime, there wouldn't be many people here. But evidently, he was wrong.

There were just as many people shopping at night as there would have been during the day.

A formation flared to life across the entire district, glowing with ethereal runes—Mistshroud-style, but adapted with the Bound Star's essence.

It wasn't meant to trap.

It was meant to reveal.

The entire district lit up, and the demonic aura was pulled from the shadows like rot being burned away.

The city guards saw them now—clearly.

Saw the monstrous, twisted truth of the invaders.

City Lord Richard rose from his beast and shouted, "Kill them all!"

Chaos Erupts

The battle exploded in all directions.

The demonic cultivators struck at everyone. Their illusions spread like wildfire. But they hadn't expected this many enemies. They hadn't expected the Mistshroud formations.

Adrian danced through the battlefield, mist curling around his blade. One demon screamed as her arm was severed, her corruption dissolving under the light of his star-powered sword.

Another tried to retreat—but the formation closed around her.

Adrian's strike pierced her through.

One left.

The final demonic cultivator—stronger than the others, with chains wrapped around his arms and a serpent tattoo that glowed with infernal power—snarled at Adrian and raised both hands.

"Do you know what I am, boy?"

"Dying," Adrian replied.

Their battle was savage—brutal and fast. The demonic cultivator lashed out with dark Qi and soul-damaging techniques, but Adrian's mist and swordplay adapted each time.

In the end, Adrian shattered the man's defenses with a single empowered strike.

The Bound Star gleamed in his chest like a rising sun.

And when the final blow landed, the man's chains cracked—then shattered.

He didn't scream.

He whispered, "He knows now... He'll come for you."

Then he was gone.

Aftermath

The battle left the Temple District in ruins, but the city had seen the truth.

Richard stood, blood staining his robes, unable to deny what had happened. His guards were dead. His lies exposed. His power slipping.

Adrian vanished into the mist once more, before the man could act.

Mistshroud Estate – Before Dawn

Adrian returned quietly.

He didn't speak as he passed through the halls, mist trailing behind him. Bella met him near the gate.

"You killed them?"

Adrian nodded. "One survived and fled. But he knows now."

She didn't ask who.

She didn't need to.

Adrian looked east, toward the open horizon.

"It's time."

"Time for what?"

"For us to leave."

A crimson dawn bled across the sky.

The air was unnaturally still.

Atop the eastern gatehouse, Captain Morin gripped his spear tighter as he peered down at the winding road beyond the city. He'd stood guard for decades, but this morning, something felt off—like the city was holding its breath.

A small caravan approached.

Three covered carts. Two oxen. A single escort riding ahead in dull grey robes.

Harmless. Unassuming.

But Morin's instincts screamed.

"Let them through," came a voice behind him.

He turned—and froze.

City Lord Richard stood alone, without retinue or fanfare. His face was pale. Hollow. As if the soul had already left him.

"But—my lord—"

"I said let them through."

Morin hesitated… then lowered his hand.

The gates groaned open.

The caravan rolled forward.

And in that moment, Adrian Thorne—cloaked and veiled—rode past the City Lord without a glance.

Richard didn't move. Didn't speak.

He simply watched the Mistshroud pass beyond the walls.

And vanish into the morning mists.

Hours Earlier – Mistshroud Estate

The estate buzzed with activity.

Cultivators packed supplies. Scribes sealed scrolls. Formation masters carved protective scripts into the carts. Adrian moved through it all, silent and focused.

Jayson fastened the straps of his travel gear, sword across his back, lips tight with tension.

Olivia stood beside Storm, who now wore a protective vest made of beast-leather. The tiger cub's silver wings flexed impatiently, sensing something beyond the walls.

Bella stood on the overlook, eyes scanning the city skyline.

"They'll come after us," she said.

"They already are," Adrian replied. "But not here. Not yet. Richard's not that stupid."

Bella frowned. "Then who is?"

"Someone worse."

He didn't elaborate.

He didn't need to.

In a crumbling crypt below Stonehold, four cloaked figures knelt before a stone altar. Atop it, a severed hand twitched—still alive, pulsing with demonic energy.

A deep voice echoed through the chamber. "He has left the city."

The leader, cloaked in scarlet bone-stitched robes, raised his head. The Dust Order.

"The Raven Chain failed. The Obsidian Catacombs fell. The Bound Star awakens."

Another voice hissed from the shadows. "Should we pursue?"

"Not yet," said the leader. "We let him believe he is free."

The hand spasmed.

"Then we hunt."

Forest Road – Outside Stonehold

The caravan moved in silence.

Mist drifted between the trees, soft and familiar.

Jayson rode near the front, scouting with wary eyes. Olivia sat in one of the carts beside Elder Laen, who handed her a thin manual on formation theory. She didn't smile, but her eyes glinted with purpose.

Storm lay curled beside her, tail flicking.

Bella walked alongside the last cart, spear slung across her back, senses sharp.

And Adrian rode at the center, wrapped in layers of silence.

He could still feel the weight of Stonehold behind them.

He could still hear Julian's last screams.

But it was done.

They were no longer fleeing.

They were carrying something forward.

Mistshroud lived.

Later That Night – Campfire in the Hills

A small fire crackled beneath a canopy of stars. The group had made camp beside a ruined shrine—overgrown and forgotten, once part of the Mistshroud's pilgrimage routes.