Following a devil's quest was dangerous. Berdini knew that certainly, and yet despite his usual good judgement he was on a journey on his own, following notes that he had jotted down for himself from Shetani's directions. Normally he would have sent one of his followers, or at least brought an entourage with him, but something about that just seemed wrong today. She trusted him to find something that was hers, truly hers, and he was determined to find it without the prying eyes of others.
He imagined what his reward might be, what having her presence in his mind would be like exactly. It was a risk, a great one. But power never came without some degree of that, and it practically oozed from Shetani. Perhaps that was what made the creature so attractive. She didn't attempt to hide what she was, and what she could do. He could imagine a life travelling with a creature like that, killing for the sake of offering her another host. What fun they could have together.
He shook his head, shaking loose those ideas from his mind. One step at a time, careful and determined, just like all his schemes.
He arrived at the entrance of the cave and watched it's entrance for a moment. He was dressed differently today than any of the people in Myrken were used to seeing him. His clothing coarse and suited for enduring the sort of trials that the cave might put him through. He dressed like a dandy, but when it came down to it, there was far more to the Illusionist. He had built a life on creating things that weren't there. He had been his own engineer, and the muscles that were visible now beyond rolled up sleeves were usually so well hidden beneath the elegant shirts and dress coats. There was more to him than any of those idiotic people might ever imagine. It made him miss Altias, drawing from the memories of the other man's first realizations of his strength. How easily his lover had surrendered. Shetani would not give so sweetly, he was sure of that, but he anticipated how even an inch of surrender from her would be truly intoxicating.
He blinked again. He needed to stop thinking. Not knowing what waited for him within the cave he would need all his focus, and with new resolve he'd step into it's darkness.