Adrian, now in his 'humanl' form, navigated the bustling streets of Oakhaven, the scent of woodsmoke and damp earth filling his nostrils. He was mentally replaying Elara's words, piecing together the fragmented state of Aethelgard, when a light tap on his shoulder pulled him from his thoughts.
He turned to find a woman standing behind him, seemingly materializing from the shadows of a nearby alley. She was clad in a practical, dark leather armor, a hood of the same material pulled low over her brow, almost entirely obscuring her face, though he caught a glimpse of intense, discerning eyes. A sturdy, unadorned short sword hung at her hip.
"Forgive my intrusion, traveler," she said, her voice low and even, devoid of the usual Oakhaven cheer. "My name is Yena. I'm an adventurer." She lowered her hood just enough to reveal a sharp, intelligent face, marked by a faint scar near her left eyebrow. Her gaze lingered on him, unsettlingly analytical. "I couldn't help but... sense something about you."
Adrian's internal alarm bells, remnants of his human self, went off. Had his disguise failed? Had Nyxal's immense power somehow bled through? He kept his expression neutral, a practiced skill from years of online role-playing. "A sense? What do you mean?" he asked, trying to sound genuinely curious rather than wary.
Yena shrugged, a subtle movement of her broad shoulders beneath the cape. "It's hard to explain. A... faint scent. Of deep shadows, ancient power. Not malicious, necessarily, but profound. I've been around long enough to recognize the aura of true seasoned adventurers, those who've walked paths few others dare. You carry something akin to that, yet different. I can't quite pinpoint it." She eyed him for another moment, then chuckled softly, a dry, rustling sound like autumn leaves. "Perhaps it's just the old adventurer's intuition playing tricks. Or maybe you've merely had a particularly long journey through dark lands."
Adrian relaxed, a flicker of relief passing through him. So, his 'Chameleon's Visage' was strong, but not perfect. Some essence of Nyxal lingered, detectable by those with heightened senses or experience. He decided to lean into the "seasoned adventurer" angle. "Indeed," he replied, a knowing smile playing on his lips. "One tends to pick up a few things, and a few... 'scents'... on the road. The world is a dangerous place these days, wouldn't you agree, Yena?"
"More dangerous than ever," Yena confirmed, her gaze hardening slightly. "The gnoll raids are one thing, but there's a shift in the air, a tension that goes beyond mere skirmishes. We're seeing creatures emerge from the Whisperwood that haven't been spotted in centuries. And the whispers of forgotten gods and ancient evils... they grow louder with each passing week."
"You speak as if you've heard these whispers yourself," Adrian probed, steering the conversation. This was precisely the kind of information he needed.
Yena nodded, her eyes meeting his directly. "As I said, I've seen a fair bit. And the Adventurers' Guild isn't just for taking down goblins, traveler. It's a network, a place where information is currency. The higher-tier missions, the true threats, they often come with riddles rather than clear objectives. Those 'prophecies' Elara might have mentioned at the inn? Some of us take them very seriously."
"And what do you take seriously?" Adrian asked, his voice low, conveying a shared understanding. He was enjoying this dance of subtle probing.
Yena considered him for a moment, her gaze piercing. "The reawakening of powers best left undisturbed. The fragmentation of the demonic factions – they used to be more unified, or at least, their activities were predictable. Now it's chaos, and that kind of chaos usually points to something bigger pulling the strings, or a power vacuum waiting to be filled. If you're truly seeking adventure, traveler, then you'll find more than just coin at the Guild. You'll find questions." She paused, then extended a gloved hand. "Perhaps our paths will cross again at the Guild, or on the road. Good fortune, traveler."
"And to you, Yena," Adrian replied, taking her hand. Her grip was firm, calloused, the touch of a genuine warrior. As she melted back into the crowd, Adrian felt a surge of exhilaration. This was it. Real interactions, real stakes. Yena's intuition about his power, his "scent," was a clear warning, but also a confirmation that his disguise, while imperfect, was effective enough to allow him to gather crucial intelligence. The Adventurers' Guild was now his definite next stop.