A Tragic Beginning

Gathering the Small Traces I barely made it past the patrolling soldiers and arrived at the point I assumed to be the epicenter of the explosion. Judging by the size of the crater, I could calculate the exact force of the explosion. A sudden feeling of despair overtook me, but I quickly brushed it off, and gathered my thoughts to see if I could find a clue to help unravel this mystery. How much time had passed? I'm not sure, but I eventually had looked over every nook and cranny and found nothing. Just when I was about to give up and retreat, I spotted something sparkling from a spot not too far off. Simultaneously, I heard the footsteps of the soldiers draw closer. With no time to think, I instinctively ran towards the shining object. The very moment my hand was about to wrap around the mysterious Black Stone, I felt the cold steel of a blade press up against my neck.