Bro, I'm not an Undead!

Once again!

The dreadful presence of an individual that Skullius had spent hours searching for two days ago had resurfaced!

The Hybrid Luman's brow couldn't help but twitch as he expanded his senses, trying to pinpoint the exact location of this individual whom he could tell was moving.

He wouldn't let whoever it was get away this time!

The Hybrid Luman zipped from his position and stormed towards where he felt the presence of this figure. He strayed from paths that had heavy patrols of Capital Order Knights and continued to tail his target, this whole endeavour leading him on into the sunset.

At the end of it all, his target settled into one of dozens of taverns that were lined in a narrow district within the city, its streets chock full of drunks and whores, some of whom were powerful despite the depravity.

Skullius stood before the half closed doors to the tavern that held what he desired.

What was all this for?

It was a force of attraction.

In this establishment was someone with a presence that caused Skullius to pursue without knowing why.

It was clear that this individual wasn't in a habit of controlling their terrifying presence, at least the residue of it, otherwise many like him would be felt moving throughout the city while releasing bursts of bloodlust, but this further characterised this person as someone of interest.

At least to Skullius it did.

The Hybrid Luman opened the door to the tavern.

Contrary to what he expected the overall atmosphere to be like, there was a subdued atmosphere, hushed tones and normal voices dabbing the air.

It was almost like a civilised setting, with the scantily dressed waiters that would have been seducing the customers walking around with stiff steps while those who had clearly come here for a good time took controlled sips from their cups instead of the chugs they would have on any other day.

A serving booth was directly positioned opposite Skullius from the door several paces away, a nervous man behind the arched table where an assortment of drinks were placed drawing further and further away from the sole existence that sat on the abundant stools placed for customers' convenience.

One existence.

One man.

Tables and chairs had been moved away from him, making his seated figure stick out like a sore thumb.

It was clear why.

Ordinary or not, no one could entertain the suffocating energy this man leaked which couldn't exclusively be tied to bloodlust, now that Skullius was close enough to examine it.

Skullius was intrigued all the more. He took a few steps towards the man on the isolated stool before a hand whipped from behind him to clutch onto his wrist!

A rather gruff and skinny old man who donned a horrified expression pulled on Skullius.

The Hybrid Luman turned to him with a passive visage, having allowed this since he didn't detect any hostility.

"Boy. Where are you going?!" the old man exclaimed in a hushed tone, looking to have dreaded in Skullius' stead this bold action of his.

"Isn't it obvious?" Skullius asked. "To get a drink."

"Are you daft?!"

The old man tried to forcefully draw Skullius back but was shocked to find the young man not budging an inch.

His mates who sat around the table with him gave Skullius a strange look, one of them adding on.

"I advise against it, boy. Can't you feel it? Ever since this man came in here... the air just changed. By Listafelle's tears, no one besides the waitresses has had the gall to stand up and move about. I fear that if we do..."

The man didn't finish his sentence but he and his collective group stole a glance at the man who sat on his lonesome, his presence dictating the movements of hundreds of men, some of whom were powerful experts.

Skullius narrowed his eyes and pulled his hand away from the old man who squeezed on it.

The group thought the change in the Hybrid Luman was him understanding the situation but unbeknownst to them, it was something else.

"Let me go about my business," Skullius said as to the group's surprise, he began again, walking towards the arched bar table.

"Get back here! You could get us all killed!" the gruff old man barked, keeping his volume down but to no avail.

Skullius relaxed upon hearing those words. Thank goodness these guys were only looking out for themselves.

As he moved forward, many gazes darted towards him, some utterly stupefied, some incredibly furious and others pitying him.

All the men and women watching as he reached one of the stools at the bar and sat on it trembled, anticipating the worst.

The barkeep wore a hopeful but anxious look as he saw Skullius arrive.

Maybe... just maybe...

Skullius didn't turn to the man that had everyone petrified immediately. Instead, he whisked out a gold coin, planted it on the table and pointed towards a bottle behind the barkeep.

The barkeep being experienced at his job quickly took the bottle and silently poured its contents into a glass for Skullius despite wondering, with how his new customer looked, how he was able to see.

The Hybrid Luman took the bottle and finally turned to the man a stool to his right.

His Koten which was continuously refined with constant usage picked up on the man's features.

He was a bit bulky, his size being larger than Skullius' own by a bit.

Medium length hair draped over his temple somewhat gracefully, its leather black colouration which was lost to Skullius, looking smooth under the light from the crude, candlelit chandelier high up. Similarly coloured, small, slanted eyes rested on his face, fully focused on the task he was engaging in at this moment as his thin lips rapidly moved while seeping small bits of sound.

He wore a thin vest that showed his powerful, well contoured arms that were riddled with callouses and scars. With his left hand, he was scribbling in a small book thoughtfully, while his other kept scratching unsettlingly on the table.

Over all this, Skullius shockingly discovered that this man was producing an extraordinarily constant stream of mana from every part of his body, a ridiculous feat!

This was something he had discerned from anyone before.

Every single part of his body harmoniously carried the same flow of mana, save for one.

Mana coiled around a spiral shaped tattoo on his arm which made Skullius grow vigilant.

A Control Seal!

Was this guy a witness or a contender?

The Hybrid Luman raised his glass and took a sip from it.

A bitter yet satisfying taste washed over his tongue, bringing a special, overpowering choking effect that didn't actually affect Skullius.

The Hybrid Luman merely raised his brows in surprise and nodded his head.

'This is good,' he thought.

"Ah, friend. Mind reading this for me?" the man to Skullius' side said, passing his notebook to the barkeep.

The man's words caused the entire tavern to turn silent as everyone was drawn to his voice.

Dark eyes which didn't show any wisp of emotion rested on the barkeep who was temporarily frozen in utter terror, dictating that this ask wasn't actually an ask.

The barkeep gulped hard and secretly turned his gaze to Skullius as if calling for help but the Hybrid Luman didn't lift a finger.

The man was left to hold the little book up with trembling hands, lubricating his rapidly drying throat as he read out loud what the seemingly emotionless customer before him had written.

"The mistress of the empty lands called me to her dry bed,

She adorned herself in silky red that bled on her skin,

I was forbidden from racing on her curves and abiding in her warmth,

She had none such comfort after all, yet her cold heart had a soothing beat,

Her fingers five were pressed on my lips as she raised her silky veil,

Underneath was naught but the dark and a welcome that drew away my breath,

A taste and sight than now hangs on my blade,

In my hands,

In my eyes,

On my tongue,

The mistress with silk's unending voice is constantly on my ear,

O how she loves my brisk dance that sends more silk red to her veil,

O how I yearn for her tide that favours me and me alone,

For me and me alone that she favours has she prepared a grand stage,

One with ambitious cloaks that loathe my mistress and her veil,

Yet I remain to abide by inevitable veil, feeding it for eternity."

...

As a freakish silence ensued, Skullius couldn't help but feel like he was drawing closer to why he was pulled to this man.