My Tribrid System.

Lucius took a steady breath, brushing himself off with a quiet confidence. Though everyone else had been left a little rattled by the intense display of Tahir's power, he remained composed. Standing tall, he watched as John gently placed Tahir on the long cushion, his expression showing only mild surprise.

John turned to Lucius, his tone firm but not accusing. "Care to explain what happened here?"

Lucius held his gaze, meeting John's question with calm sincerity. "I had no part in provoking him," he answered. "Mark acted on his own. We had no intention of forcing anyone's hand." He glanced at Mark, who shifted uncomfortably under his gaze, then added, "I'll ensure this doesn't happen again."

Kris took a step forward, his voice steady as he addressed Lucius. "Good. Let's get this straight—if we're going to talk about an alliance, it's got to be an equal one."

Lucius gave a nod of agreement. "That's exactly what I had in mind. We don't intend to control or overpower you; this is about mutual respect and shared goals." He paused, taking in the group, then added, "And I understand the need for discretion. You have my word."

Just then, a faint sound came from the cushion. Tahir stirred, slowly opening his eyes, his gaze sweeping over his team and the room. He took a steadying breath, visibly piecing together what had happened.

"Everyone… this doesn't leave the room," he said firmly, his voice still a bit rough but carrying authority. "Whatever was seen here, it stays here. Agreed?"

Lucius gave him a respectful nod, fully understanding the weight of Tahir's words. "You have my word," he promised again, his tone resolute.

Kris looked to Lucius, extending a small communication device. "In that case, let's stay in touch. This should make coordination easier," he said, passing it over. Lucius accepted it and handed Kris a similar device from his own set, a small token of their newfound alliance.

With that, Tahir and his team gathered themselves, preparing to step outside. As they exited, they were met by Rian, who had clearly been waiting for them.

"Everything settled?" Rian asked, looking between them with a raised eyebrow.

Kris gave a nod, a faint smile on his face. "Let's just say we're on the same page now."

With an understanding look, Rian fell in step with them as they moved on, the weight of recent events settling behind them as they continued forward.

Under the dimming light of evening, Viktor and Alaric, two vampire knights from a distant faction, made their way through the quiet streets of Two Fang. They weren't accustomed to tracking individuals, but their instincts told them something was off. The faint scent of a vampire, something familiar yet different, lingered in the air. It wasn't enough to follow, but it was enough to raise suspicion.

They stopped in front of a small market stall, where a few people were still browsing, and Viktor took the lead in speaking. His tone was calm, but his eyes sharp. "We're looking for someone," he began. "Pale skin, dark eyes, an unusual presence. Have you seen anyone like that pass through here recently?"

The merchant behind the counter glanced up, his eyes widening for a brief moment before he recovered. "No, no one like that. You must have the wrong place," he muttered, wiping his hands on his apron as if trying to dismiss the conversation.

Alaric stepped forward slightly, studying the man more intently. "Are you sure? He might have been in the area recently. He's... different from most."

The merchant shifted nervously, but again, he shook his head. "I swear, we haven't seen anyone like that around here."

Viktor's suspicion grew, and without another word, he gave Alaric a subtle nod. They turned and walked away, but Viktor's mind raced. There was no mistaking it—the description they had was too close to one of their own, someone they had been tracking for a different reason: Tahir, the leader of Devil's Dune. His scent had been faint but unmistakable. It was him they were looking for.

"I don't believe him," Viktor muttered as they disappeared into the shadows of an alleyway. "He's hiding something."

Alaric agreed, his eyes narrowing. "Maybe we should stick around. If he's been here before, he might come back."

They found a quiet spot where they could observe the market, blending into the darkness. But they didn't know that their conversation had already caught the attention of someone else.

A nearby resident, overhearing their exchange, quickly left the area and made his way to the heart of Two Fang. He entered the building where the faction leader, a tall, stern man named Rian, was overseeing the evening operations. The resident quickly relayed what he had heard.

"There are two strangers asking about someone... someone who fits the description of the Devil's Dune leader—Tahir. They didn't mention his name, but they were talking about someone pale, with a strong presence," the man explained in a hushed voice.

Fin's eyes narrowed. His mind immediately pieced together the pieces. The description matched Tahir—pale, with an aura that set him apart from most. As leader of the Devil's Dune, Tahir was well-known, and the fact that two strangers were asking about him was not something to be taken lightly.

"Stay here," Fin instructed, his voice calm but firm. He reached for a small communication device and activated it. Moments later, the device crackled to life, and Tahir's voice came through.

"Tahir, this is Fin. We've had two strangers asking about someone who fits your description. They didn't give your name, but it's clear they're looking for you. Be cautious. I suggest you stay on alert."

Tahir's voice grew sharp with concern. "Did they say anything else?"

"No, they didn't mention much. But the way they were asking, I'm certain they're looking for you. You should keep your distance from them."

Tahir paused for a moment, thinking, before replying with a firm tone, "I'll be careful. Thank you for the warning."

Fin nodded, though his expression remained serious. "If they make any more moves or try to approach you, let me know immediately. I'll take care of it."

After the communication ended, Fin turned to the man who had reported the conversation. "Keep an eye on those two. They may not be as harmless as they seem."

The two vampire knights, still unaware that they had raised suspicions, lingered nearby. They believed they were hidden well enough, but their presence had already sparked a reaction. Fin warning to Tahir had been sent, and it was only a matter of time before they would cross paths again whether they knew it or not.

Tahir motioned for John to follow him outside, his face more serious than usual. The night air was cool, the soft breeze rustling the leaves around them as they moved a little ways from the others. Tahir stopped, turning to face John.

"John, I've been getting some strange vibes lately," Tahir started, his voice low, filled with an unsettling calm. "I think someone's looking for me. I've caught wind of a few people asking about my whereabouts."

John's expression shifted, his concern now visible in his narrowed eyes. He glanced over his shoulder, ensuring the others weren't nearby to overhear their conversation. "What do you mean? Who's looking for you?"

"I don't know their names yet," Tahir continued, his gaze distant, almost as if he was piecing together fragments of information in his mind. "But they seem to have some knowledge about me. They know enough to be dangerous, which means I can't just ignore it. They know about my connection to the Devil's Dune and… I'm sure they're aware of my abilities."

John's face hardened, his hand instinctively moving to the hilt of his sword. "That's not good. If they know who you are, then they're a threat. What's your plan?"

Tahir exhaled slowly, looking down at his feet for a moment before meeting John's gaze again. "I'm planning to go to Two Fang tomorrow. I'll speak to them directly."

John's brow furrowed at the mention of Two Fang. "Isn't that dangerous? You don't even know who's after you or what they want."

Tahir gave a small, almost humorless chuckle. "It's dangerous, yeah. But we've faced worse. If they want something from me, I need to find out what it is. Sitting back and waiting for them to make the first move would put us all in more danger."

John nodded slowly, understanding Tahir's reasoning, but the worry still lingered. "You've got a point there, but be careful. Two Fang isn't a place to take lightly. Even if they're not directly involved with whatever's going on, they could be a step closer to finding out what this is all about."

Tahir nodded in agreement. "I know. But we need to act fast. The longer we wait, the harder it will be to track down whoever's behind this. And if they get to me first…" His voice trailed off, and John could see the weight of his words.

"We'll go with you," John said firmly, his loyalty evident in his voice. "No matter what happens, we'll be there to back you up."

Tahir gave him a small, appreciative smile. "Thanks, but I think it's better if I go alone. I don't want to drag everyone into something they don't need to be involved in. Besides, if anything goes wrong, you all need to be able to move quickly without being held back."

John seemed about to argue, but then he stopped himself. "I get it. Just… be careful. We can't afford to lose you."

Tahir nodded, his expression serious. "I'll be fine. You all should rest up tonight. Tomorrow's going to be a long day. We'll need all the energy we can muster."

John hesitated for a moment, then gave a small sigh. "Alright, I'll trust you. But make sure you tell the others. They need to know what's going on, especially if you're going to make a move this big."

Tahir clapped him on the shoulder, his eyes gleaming with a hint of determination. "I'll let them know. Don't worry."

With that, the two of them stood in silence for a moment, the weight of the situation settling in. John's mind was still racing with the implications of what Tahir had just said. If the people searching for Tahir were as dangerous as he seemed to think, then the stakes were higher than ever.

"Alright," John finally said, his voice a little softer now. "I'm off to bed. But make sure you discuss this with the rest of the team before tomorrow. Don't go in blind."

"I will," Tahir said. "Get some rest. We'll need it."

John gave one last look to Tahir before heading back inside, leaving him alone with his thoughts. The night was quiet, but Tahir couldn't shake the feeling that something was about to change. He'd have to be ready for whatever was coming, even if it meant stepping into the heart of danger.

As he made his way back to the group, he knew that tomorrow would be a pivotal moment. One way or another, the truth would come out—and Tahir was determined to be the one to uncover it first.