[Cards] Wraith's Circlet (Patreon)

Lian stepped into the cave, torch held as a shield against the dark. His order had sent him after the lair of a nameless specter; hardly a mission for a newly-titled paladin, but times being what they were….

Just as the outside sunlight faded behind him, his torch was doused by a blast of cold air. He fumbled with the torch briefly before opting to drop it entirely, clutching his sword in both hands instead. The shadows deepened in front of him, but he tread bravely forward all the same. As the chill of death ran down his spine, like a foot treading on his grave, the dark gave way to reveal a distant point of cool, arcane light.

Pushing himself toward the light, Lian came at last to an open chamber filled with empty scroll shelves around a weathered desk. At its center lay a letter, its ink still fresh as he read its contents.

At the entrance to the room, an unnoticed patch of shadow detached itself from the rest and moved silently toward the mouth of the cave. As the sunlight touched the shadowed form, it revealed itself to be a man like any other, crowned with a simple, silver circlet. He hoped his words rang true to the young invader, and prayed that their paths wouldn't come to cross again.