Riven stepped forward slowly, brushing the vines aside as he approached.
He could only hope that whatever Alric had been doing down there hadn't already been completed. If it had, then this entire trip would amount to little more than a wasted morning.
He stepped inside.
The cave swallowed the outside light quickly, leaving the chamber dim and cool. Damp air lingered in the enclosed space, carrying the faint scent of moss and wet stone, while the slow dripping of water echoed softly somewhere deeper within the rock.
The cave itself was small.
Riven walked deeper inside, his gaze moving carefully across every inch of the uneven walls.
Nothing about the chamber suggested a passage leading downward.
There were no tunnels branching off into darkness, no cracks wide enough for a person to slip through, and no hidden staircase carved into the stone. The entire cave seemed little more than a hollow pocket in the rock.
Yet he clearly remembered the sensation from that night.
Alric had been below him.
Riven frowned slightly.
He began inspecting the walls more carefully, running his fingers along the rough stone as he slowly moved around the chamber, examining every uneven ridge and narrow crevice that might conceal some kind of hidden mechanism.
Nothing moved.
Nothing reacted.
After a few minutes he crouched down and knocked lightly against the cave floor.
The dull sound that answered him carried no hollow echo.
He tried again a few steps away, knocking against another section of stone before moving to the back wall and repeating the process.
Every strike produced the same result.
Solid rock.
Riven straightened again, his brows drawing together.
"…Strange."
He was certain of what he had sensed that night. The Arachnotoxin had placed Alric somewhere beneath this cave.
There had to be a way down.
After a moment of thought, Riven tapped a pouch on his waist.
A faint shimmer appeared.
Moments later a small dark spider crawled into existence and dropped lightly onto the cave floor.
The Predator Spider stretched its thin legs curiously before looking up at him.
Riven gestured toward the walls.
"Search for a way down with me."
The spider tilted slightly, as if puzzled by the words, but still it seemed ready to help. It scurried across the stone floor and began climbing the walls, its small body slipping easily into narrow cracks that were far too small for a human to inspect.
While the creature explored the upper sections of the cave, Riven resumed his own search.
He walked slowly around the chamber again, knocking against different parts of the walls as he moved, listening carefully for any change in sound that might indicate a hollow section hidden behind the stone.
But no matter where he tested, the results remained the same.
Solid.
Time passed.
Eventually the spider returned, crawling down the wall near the entrance before stopping beside a small rock where the faint daylight reached the cave floor.
Riven glanced at it.
"…Nothing?"
The spider twitched its legs faintly.
Riven let out a quiet breath through his nose and stepped back toward the entrance.
Outside, the forest air felt warmer compared to the damp chill inside the cave.
For a moment he simply stood there, staring at the rocky hill surrounding the entrance.
Then he began circling it.
If the passage wasn't hidden inside the cave itself, perhaps the true entrance lay somewhere along the outer rock formation.
He searched carefully, pushing aside vines and low branches while examining every crack and uneven slope along the stone.
One full circle.
Then another.
But no matter how closely he inspected the rock face, he found nothing that resembled a hidden passage.
Eventually Riven stopped.
His brows furrowed as he looked back toward the cave entrance.
"…How?"
He was certain that Alric had been somewhere beneath this hill.
Yet no matter how carefully he searched, there was no visible way to reach whatever lay below.
After a long moment he exhaled slowly.
Whatever entrance Alric had used was hidden far better than he had expected, and continuing to search blindly would accomplish nothing.
Riven turned away from the cave.
The forest rustled softly as he stepped back between the trees and began the journey back toward Greyford.
For now, returning to the manor was the smarter choice.
Eventually—
Alric would come here again.
Probably.
And next time, Riven intended to be watching closer.
The forest gradually thinned behind him as Riven made his way back toward the road leading to Greyford. Morning had already settled over the land by the time the city walls came into view, the rising sun casting long shadows across the stone ramparts and the fields beyond.
The gates were open now, and the flow of early merchants and farmers entering the city provided enough movement that Riven passed through without drawing any attention. He kept a calm pace as he walked through the streets, the familiar sounds of the waking city gradually replacing the quiet rustle of the forest.
By the time he reached Silvercrest Manor, the estate was already alive with activity.
Servants moved through the courtyard carrying baskets and tools while a few guards stood watch near the gate, their armor catching the morning light. Riven crossed the courtyard without slowing, nodding briefly to the guards before stepping inside the manor.
The halls were brighter now than when he had left earlier, sunlight filtering through the tall windows as the household settled into its daily rhythm.
He had just reached the corridor leading toward his room when a familiar voice called out.
"Young Master."
Riven turned.
Evan was approaching from the opposite end of the hall, holding a folded piece of paper between his fingers.
"For you."
Riven raised an eyebrow slightly.
"A letter?"
Evan nodded.
"It was delivered not long ago. The servant who brought it said it was meant specifically for you."
Riven took the letter, glancing briefly at the outside.
There was no seal.
No name.
Just a simple fold.
"Did they say who sent it?" he asked.
Evan shook his head.
"No, Young Master. The messenger left immediately after delivering it."
Riven studied the paper for a moment longer before giving a small nod.
"That's fine."
Evan bowed slightly and stepped aside, leaving him alone in the corridor.
Riven pushed open the door to his room and stepped inside.
The quiet space greeted him immediately.
He closed the door behind him and walked toward the table near the window before finally unfolding the letter.
The paper rustled softly as he opened it.
Riven's eyes moved across the paper slowly.
A letter.
Addressed to Alric.
For a moment he simply stared at it, the thought crossing his mind almost immediately.
Maybe I can learn something from this.
So far most of what he knew about the real Alric had come from fragments—rumors, brief conversations, and cautious exchanges that never revealed much more than the surface. If someone was writing to him personally, however, there was always the chance that the letter might contain something more useful.
Riven unfolded the paper completely.
The handwriting caught his attention immediately.
Delicate.
Carefully formed.
Not the rushed scribble of a merchant or servant, but the neat, elegant strokes of someone clearly used to writing.
Riven blinked once.
A girlfriend?
The thought slipped through his mind before he finished reading the short message.
Meet me this evening.
Golden Sparrow Pavilion.
That was it.
No name.
No signature.
Just the location and time.
Riven stared at the paper for a few seconds longer.
Then he folded the letter again slowly.
Interesting.
Even if it wasn't anything important, there was still a chance he could learn something about the real Alric by going.
It might help him understand what was going on here.
So he could be better prepared for anything that might happen.
He slipped the letter into his ring.
Evening it is.
>>>
The sun had already dipped below the rooftops by the time Riven left Silvercrest Manor again.
Greyford's streets were lively at this hour, lanterns hanging from doorways and street poles while the evening crowds filled the markets and restaurants. The scent of food drifted through the air as merchants called out to passing customers and laughter spilled from the taverns lining the busier roads.
The Golden Sparrow Pavilion stood near one of the larger squares of the city.
It was a tall building with wide windows and soft lantern light glowing warmly from inside. Conversations and music drifted faintly into the street as servants moved between the tables carrying trays of food and wine.
Riven slowed his steps as he approached.
He didn't enter.
Instead he remained outside for a moment, standing near the edge of the street as his eyes scanned the interior through the wide windows.
Most of the tables were occupied by groups.
Merchants sharing drinks.
Families gathered around meals.
Nobles chatting loudly with their companions.
Every table held several people.
Except one.
Riven's gaze shifted upward.
Second floor.
Near the window.
A lone figure sat quietly at a small table.
A girl.
From this distance he couldn't make out her face clearly, but the faint outline of her figure was visible through the warm lantern light. She sat upright with composed posture, her hands resting lightly near the table while her gaze occasionally drifted toward the entrance downstairs.
Waiting.
Riven leaned slightly against the opposite wall and continued observing.
Minutes passed.
Customers came and went.
Servants moved between tables.
Yet the girl remained alone.
Still waiting.
Riven frowned faintly.
…It has to be her.
He exhaled quietly.
There was only one way to confirm it.
Riven pushed himself away from the wall and began walking toward the entrance.
His expression remained calm.
But somewhere deep inside, a small thread of unease tightened.
Pretending to be Alric normally was one thing.
Pretending to be him on a date… was another matter entirely.
Riven stepped through the doorway.
This won't be easy.