The tavern was silent. The only sound was the faint crackling of a dim fire in the corner, its warmth barely reaching Raizen's face. He stood before the enigmatic figure known as the Crimson Mask, the weight of their conversation hanging in the air like a thick fog.
"You're making a mistake," Raizen said, his voice steady but edged with growing tension. "I'm not here for games. I need answers about the Crown of Shadows. And I'll get them — one way or another."
The Crimson Mask gave a slow, deliberate chuckle, his voice muffled by the veil that covered his face. "You speak as though you understand the gravity of what you seek, but you're blind to the true nature of the Crown. It's not just power, Captain Crow — it's a force that binds the world itself."
Raizen's pulse quickened. He had been hunting for answers for so long, and now, finally, he was face-to-face with someone who knew the secrets of the Crown. But this man — this shadow in crimson — had made it clear that information didn't come easily.
"You claim to know its power. Then tell me, what is it really?" Raizen demanded, his fists clenched at his sides. His eyes burned with intensity, but the Crimson Mask remained unfazed.
The figure leaned back, slowly removing the crimson mask from his face. What lay beneath it was nothing extraordinary — a pale face, sharp features, eyes that seemed to gleam with a knowing, predatory glint. His expression was calm, almost disinterested, as though Raizen's anger meant little to him.
"You don't understand," the Crimson Mask said softly. "The Crown of Shadows is not merely an artifact, nor is it a weapon. It's a vessel, an anchor to a power older than the world itself. And it chooses its wielders. It corrupts them, bends them to its will, until they become mere shadows of what they once were."
Raizen felt a pang of unease in his chest. "And you know this because… you've wielded it?"
The Crimson Mask smiled, but there was no humor in it. "I've seen its effects. I've witnessed entire kingdoms fall, families torn apart, lives consumed by ambition. The Crown is not something you control. It controls you."
Raizen's mind raced. Could the death of his brother — the destruction of Noctis — all be tied to this cursed object? The more he learned, the darker the path became. But he had no intention of backing down now.
"I'm not afraid," Raizen said through gritted teeth. "I'm not afraid of power or the price it demands. I'll do whatever it takes to take control of it."
The Crimson Mask's eyes glittered with a strange mixture of admiration and amusement. "Is that so? Then let us test your resolve."
Before Raizen could react, the room around him seemed to shift. The air grew thick, charged with an electric tension. Shadows coiled along the walls like living creatures, and suddenly, the Crimson Mask was gone. In the blink of an eye, he reappeared behind Raizen, a knife gleaming in his hand.
Raizen spun around just in time, barely dodging the blade that slashed toward his throat. He stepped back, drawing his own sword, and faced the Crimson Mask in a battle-ready stance.
"Is this how you test your guests?" Raizen sneered, his eyes narrowing.
The Crimson Mask didn't answer. Instead, he moved like a blur, his speed far beyond that of any ordinary man. He struck with precise, deadly force, each attack calculated to force Raizen into a corner. The clang of steel against steel echoed through the tavern, and the tension in the air was palpable.
Raizen fought back with equal intensity, but he was beginning to realize just how outmatched he was. The Crimson Mask was no mere mortal — his agility, his skill, his understanding of combat far surpassed Raizen's. It was as if he could predict every move Raizen made, countering with eerie precision.
"You think you can control the Crown, Captain?" the Crimson Mask taunted, his voice low and mocking. "You can barely control yourself."
Raizen gritted his teeth, frustration boiling in his veins. This wasn't just a test of strength; it was a battle of wills. The more Raizen fought, the more he realized that this was about proving something much deeper — a test of his heart, his resolve.
With a final, desperate lunge, Raizen struck with all his might, his sword aiming for the Crimson Mask's chest. But the man was faster, sidestepping and sending Raizen crashing into the ground with a brutal strike to his side.
Pain shot through Raizen's body, but he forced himself to rise. Blood trickled from a cut on his cheek, and his breath came in ragged gasps. The Crimson Mask stood over him, the knife in his hand glinting ominously.
"You're still too weak," the Crimson Mask said, his voice barely a whisper. "But there's potential in you, Raizen D. Crow. I'll give you that."
Raizen glared up at him, refusing to show weakness. "Then tell me. Tell me what I need to know."
The Crimson Mask's smile faded as he gazed down at Raizen. "You've proven your resolve. But that alone won't be enough. The Crown of Shadows is not something you can simply take. It will test you, break you, and when you think you're on the edge of victory, it will pull you back into the darkness. But if you're truly ready to face that darkness… I can help you."
Raizen's heart pounded in his chest. He had come for answers, and now, it seemed, he had crossed a threshold. This man — this devil in crimson — was offering him something he had long sought: a path to the Crown.
The Crimson Mask reached into his robes and pulled out a small, dark gemstone. It was cold to the touch, and when Raizen looked at it, he felt an unsettling pull, like the weight of the world pressing against his soul.
"This," the Crimson Mask said, "is the first key. It will lead you to the next piece of the puzzle. But beware, Raizen. You are playing with fire."
Raizen took the gemstone, his fingers brushing against its smooth surface. He felt a strange surge of power coursing through him, but also an overwhelming sense of danger.
"I don't fear the fire," Raizen said, his voice steady, filled with resolve. "I'll burn this world to the ground if I have to."
The Crimson Mask's smile returned, colder than ever. "We shall see, Captain Crow. We shall see."
End of Chapter 2: The Crimson Mask