The stone steps spiral down beneath the cheerful bakery storefront, lit by brass fixtures powered by glowing runic stones. The warm scent of fresh bread from above gradually gives way to stranger odors - machine oil, arcane reagents, and the metallic tang of blessed silver. Each step deeper brings a noticeable drop in temperature, until breath starts to mist in the air.
Rainier leads Du with a measured pace, his dark cloak trailing behind him. "Our work in the Sacred Dawn requires absolute dedication," he intones gravely. "The creatures we hunt are ancient and cunning. They wear the faces of nobility, of trusted friends. Each night could be our last as we face the eternal darkness that—"
A sudden burst of steam interrupts him, followed by the sound of breaking glass and a dwarf's muffled curse. As they reach the bottom of the stairs, the sanctum opens up into a converted wine cellar. Brass pipes line the vaulted ceiling, and workbenches cluttered with strange devices line the walls.
"Cedric," comes an elegant, sharp voice, "please tell me that wasn't the prototype vampire detection array." Lirielle stands by a desk covered in weathered scrolls, her crystalline staff casting prismatic patterns that dance across walls lined with maps and incident reports. Red markers dot the city districts, tracking recent attacks.
"Just a temporary setback!" Cedric emerges from behind a workbench, adjusting a brass gauge with singed fingers. "The thaumaturgical resonance needs fine-tuning for detecting the older bloodlines, but—" He notices Du. "Ah! Our new recruit. Cedric Shale, resident engineer. If you need equipment for handling the nightwalkers, I'm your dwarf." He pauses, then adds hopefully, "Also, if you happen to know any Dark Elves who specialize in blood magic—"
"Focus, Cedric," Rainier sighs, but he's interrupted again as Kiyomi bounds over, her massive greatsword gleaming with fresh-etched runes. Her black cat ears perk up with interest.
"New teammate?" she chirps, tail swishing enthusiastically. "Don't worry if Rainier seems intense—he takes the whole 'eternal vigilance' thing very seriously."
Rainier's face darkens, gesturing to a wall of portraits—faces of missing citizens, potential victims. "Our work demands nothing less than—"
"Yes, yes, eternal vigilance against the forces of darkness," Lirielle interjects, not looking up from her tome. "Though I must admit, your dedication would be more impressive if you weren't stealing my coffee every morning."
Rainier sighs, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Ignore them. What matters is that you’re here to fight the darkness. The rest... well, you’ll get used to it."
