OfCr-125: Lucid {P}

The Outskirts were no place for the faint-hearted. Stretching beyond the protective walls of civilization, they were a wasteland of broken cities, treacherous terrain, and the occasional ‘Buck—outlaws who survived against all odds. Simon leaned back in his creaking chair at the edge of the local Outskirts saloon, the faint scent of cheap ale and desperation hanging in the air. His mask, a sleek black visage with faint glowing runes, made it impossible to read his expression. "Youâ€...

The biting wind cut through the silence as Simon tightened the straps on his mask. It was custom-made—slick and black, covering his entire face except for a sliver of his eyes, which burned with focus. He leaned against the railing of the boat, his gloved fingers tracing the frost building on its surface. Ji-Yong emerged from below deck, his dark coat flapping in the wind like a flag of authority. His presence was steady, a grounding force for their crew. Despite the chill, his expre...

The ancient castle loomed on the hill, its jagged towers silhouetted against a silvered moon. Simon adjusted the strap of his mask, the leather creaking faintly, and glanced at his companions. Ji-Yong, armed with his signature curved blade, scanned the surrounding forest with wary eyes, while Jericho, hulking and silent, clutched a lantern that cast long shadows against the crumbling stone. Lucid, the youngest and most impulsive of the group, fiddled with a rune-etched medallion dangling from...