Damien read as the carriage rumbled through the countryside heading for the city of DarkVale. He finished the chapter he was reading and placed a marker to mark his place as the city gates came into view. He began to consider why he was in the city. He was only 20 years old and already a Scholar at the royal academy. The head of the royal academy had chosen him to do an investigation of the Academy of DarkVale. Rumor had it that several dark artifacts that were supposed to be held at the academy were being found in possession of dark cults. What really prompted the investigation was an incident reported to have occurred in the region of Silverleaf. The incident had seen a massive death toll and the destruction of the entire valley forest and town. The only survivors had disappeared and were sighted occasionally but were lying low for the time. The incident that occurred and the creatures described were spoken of in a book that had been discovered. The tome called the old ones was being investigated at the Academy of DarkVale before being sent to the capitol to be secured. The appearance of creatures spoken of in the tome made the higher ups wonder if someone had found a means to summon the entities. So, Damien was here he took off his glass rub his brown eyes as the carriage moved under the city walls and came onto the cobble streets. In a few minutes the carriage came to a stop before the gates of the Academy.

  Damien looked out of the carriage windows as the driver spoke to the gate guards and the gate opened. The carriage passed into the enclosed grounds of the Academy and Damien looked out at the stone building standing in the grounds. The carriage stopped before a large dark stone building fronted by columns. It was the central library, archive, and administrative building of the Academy. Damien got out of the carriage, he stretched out his slim body and ran a hand through is black hair before turning to his driver. Damien told him to wait there as he would not be long and turned straightening his rumbled black clothing as his move towards the main entrance. He entered the library inside he saw other researchers and scholars moving around the bookshelves or sitting reading at desks. He walked to the main desk where the main librarian sat. He spoke to her and asked where the Head of the Academy’s office was. Damien was directed up to a passage where some stairs were located and the main offices would be down the corridor. Damien followed the directions given and as he approached the offices. A door opened and a young man stepped out he was hooded and cloaked but he could see his face. He looked upset as he passed Damien. Damien did a double take at the young man’s face it was angelic, and he saw some golden hair under the hood. Damien starts back again and found the office of the Academy Head. He entered the room and saw the older man sitting at the desk writing in a scroll. The Academy Head looked up from his scroll and looked at Damien. “I am sorry young man, as I told your friend I will not let you see the book. Now get out of my office” The Academy Head said. Damien smiled and said “I fear you have mistaken me for someone else. I am Damien I am here on the business of the Royal Academy”. The Academy Head did a double take and sneered “Nice try I am not going to fall for such a transparent trick”. Damien kept smiling and took out a letter he showed the Academy Head the seal on the letter as he handed it to him. The Academy Head paled when he saw the seal of the Royal Academy and opened the letter and began to read. Damien knew what was in the letter it authorized him to investigate the Academy. The Academy Head looked up at Damien “So you are here to investigate, I am Nerick the Head of this Academy. How can I help you?” Damien looked at him “You do not need to do much just make sure that I can inspect the restricted areas. What did the guy who was here earlier want?” Nerick sighed “That young man wanted to see the Old Ones tome for some reason. Since it is restricted to see it I told him No” Damien smiled and asked, “Do you know who is was?” “He said his name was Seth,” said Nerick. “Do you need a place to rest are you starting now?” asked Nerick. “No, I already have a place to stay I will return to begin my investigation,” said Damien. Damien took his leave of Nerick and headed back to his carriage he was tired and wanted to rest. As the carriage moved through the city streets he thought about what he had been told. Could the man that he had seen be Seth from the Silverleaf incident. Soon the carriage stopped in a courtyard of a well-appointed villa. The villa belonged to Damien’s family, and he sent word ahead he was going to be occupying it while he was investigating. Damien got out of the carriage and a group of servants came. They took Damien’s luggage and lead the carriage horses to stables. The villa keeper came up to Damien. “My lord the villa has been prepared as you requested”. “Thank you, have a bath drawn up and a meal prepared” Damien said as he walked into the villa.

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